滋阴益气活血组方对STZ糖尿病模型大鼠糖代谢的影响

为探讨滋阴益气活血组方对链脲佐菌素(STZ)糖尿病大鼠糖代谢的影响,用STZ尾静脉注射45 mg/kg诱导建立糖尿病大鼠模型,将符合糖尿病诊断标准的大鼠,随机分为模型对照组(n=15)和组方治疗组(n=15)。同时设立正常对照组(n=20)。组方治疗组灌胃滋阴益气活血组方水煎液10 mL/kg.d,模型对照组和正常对照组灌胃相当剂量的生理盐水,灌胃期为56 d。灌胃第14、28、42、56天眶后静脉丛采血,离心制备血清以测血糖(GLU),第56天测血清糖化血清蛋白(GSP),处死大鼠取肝脏测肝糖原的含量。用组方治疗组水煎液连续灌胃8周后,该组大鼠的体重相对于模型对照组处于上升趋势;第56天时,血糖极显著低于模型对照组(P0.01),基本接近正常水平;糖化血清蛋白含量极显著低于模型对照组(P0.01),肝糖原含量极显著高于模型对照组(P0.01)。滋阴益气活血组方能够改善和纠正糖尿病大鼠糖代谢的异常,对临床研究中药治疗糖尿病具有指导意义。     

蜂胶对糖尿病大鼠血糖的影响

将复制糖尿病模型的 72只SD大鼠随机分为模型组 ,蜂胶水提液低剂量组、高剂量组 ,蜂胶醇提液低剂量组、高剂量组和阳性对照组 (拜糖苹 ) ,另取 12只为正常组。除正常组和模型组外 ,各组分别给予不同的试验药物。给药过程中 ,每周取血一次 ,测空腹血糖 ,给药 7周后 ,取血测定空腹血糖和果糖胺。试验结果表明 ,蜂胶水提液和醇提液均能控制糖尿病大鼠空腹血糖的升高 ,并且随着时间的延长效果越来越明显。     

藏药红景天对兔血液生理指标和组织生化的影响

红景天水煎剂每日按2mL/kg体重灌胃给予10只3月龄试验兔。给药前2d(为对照值)和给药后第2、7、14、21天分别进行血液生理指标测定,并且分批扑杀兔,取肌肉组织和肝组织测定肌糖原和肝糖原含量,对给药前和给药后检测结果进行比较。结果表明:红景天可以使动物血液红细胞数(RBC)、血红蛋白含量(HGB)显著升高;使肌糖原、肝糖原含量显著增加;对幼稚型细胞影响显著;而对白细胞数(WBC)、嗜酸性粒细胞、淋巴细胞、单核细胞的影响不显著。     

复方苦豆子对自发性高血压复合高脂血症大鼠脏器的保护作用和降压调脂的作用机制

为观察复方苦豆子对自发性高血压复合高脂血症大鼠肝脏、肾脏的保护作用,并探讨其降压调脂的作用机制。用48只自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)喂饲高脂饲料建模,4周后随机分为5组:模型组,复方苦豆子高、中、低剂量组[11.13、5.56、2.78 g/(kg·d)],阳性对照组,SHR对照组;10只Wistar大鼠为正常对照组,试验8周。给药后8周,于大鼠眶后静脉丛取血,测定血浆肾素活性(PRA)、血管紧张素II(AngII)水平和内皮素(ET)、总一氧化氮合成酶(T-NOS)、内皮型一氧化氮合成酶(eNOS)含量。取大鼠肝脏、肾脏,测肝系数、肝脏脂质[胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)],制作石蜡切片,进行苏木精-伊红(H.E.)染色。结果显示,与模型组比较,药物高、中剂量组PRA、AngII明显降低(P0.01);ET含量中剂量组明显降低(P0.01),高剂量组明显降低(P0.05);各给药组血浆T-NOS含量都明显升高(P0.01),各给药组血浆eNOS含量明显升高:中剂量组(P0.01),高剂量、低剂量组(P0.05);肝系数和肝脂质明显降低(P0.01);各给药组肝脏和肾脏病理改变明显变轻。表明复方苦豆子对自发性高血压复合高脂血症大鼠肝脏、肾脏具有保护作用,降压、调脂的机制可能与肾素血管紧张素系统(RAAS)和内皮素系统调节有关。     

中药复方制剂对小鼠抗疲劳作用的影响

健康成年昆明种雄性小鼠300只,随机分为5组,分别为复方一组、复方二组、复方三组、阳性对照组、空白对照组。连续给药2周后,让小鼠进行负重游泳试验,并测定游泳时间、血乳酸、肝糖原、肌糖原、血清尿素氮、血清肌酸激酶、乳酸脱氢酶各指标的变化。结果表明,3个中药复方制剂均能不同程度延长小鼠负重游泳时间,复方二对小鼠的抗疲劳作用最明显(P<0.05)。     

基于PI3K/AKT/GSK3β通路探讨解毒通络调肝方对2型糖尿病认知障碍大鼠的影响

55只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、解毒通络调肝方组以及盐酸二甲双胍组，其中45只采用高糖高脂联合腹腔注射链脲佐菌素的方式诱导2型糖尿病模型，给药4周后麻醉处死取样。Morris水迷宫试验法测试大鼠空间学习能力，血生化检测空腹血糖、空腹血清胰岛素，HE染色法观察SD大鼠海马组织病理变化，免疫组织化学法检测BDNF蛋白表达，Western blot法检测CREB、GLUT4、PI3K、AKT、GSK3β蛋白表达。结果提示：与对照组相比，模型组空腹血糖、空腹血清胰岛素显著升高(P<0.01),水迷宫试验相关指标提示大鼠空间学习能力降低(P<0.01),BDNF蛋白阳性表达明显降低(P<0.01),CREB、GLUT4、PI3K、AKT蛋白表达也均呈现出明显降低(P<0.001,P<0.01),GSK3β蛋白表达升高(P<0.001);与模型组相比，给药组大鼠空腹血糖、空腹血清胰岛素均明显下降(P<0.01),水迷宫试验相关指标提示大鼠空间学习能力提升(P<0.01),BNDF阳性表达增加(P<0.01),CREB、GLUT4、PI3K...     

沙棘总黄酮对糖尿病大鼠心肌晚期糖基化终产物及其受体mRNA表达的影响

为观察沙棘总黄酮对患糖尿病及并发心脏病大鼠的影响,采用腹腔注射链脲佐菌素（STZ）复制糖尿病大鼠模型,将成模大鼠随机分为沙棘总黄酮组、氨基胍组、糖尿痛组,糖尿病组与正常对照组每天灌服纯化水。14周后检测各组大鼠血糖、糖化血红蛋白、血清和心肌晚期糖基化终产物及其受体mRNA水平。试验结果表明：与糖尿病组相比,沙棘总黄酮组大鼠血糖值、糖化血红蛋白值、血清和心肌晚期糖基化终产物含量、心肌晚期糖基化终产物受体mRNA表达水平均下降（P〈0．01）。因此,说明沙棘总黄酮具有良好降血糖和糖化血红蛋白作用,还可降低血清、心肌中晚期糖基化终产物含量及心肌晚期糖基化终产物受体mRNA的表达水平。     

灵芝活性组分在小鼠体内的降糖功效研究

为了探究灵芝活性组分灵芝多肽、多糖的降血糖机理,采用四氧嘧啶建立糖尿病小鼠模型,经不同组分灵芝提取物灌胃连续4周后测定空腹血糖值、胰岛素浓度、肝糖原、肌糖原含量、肝脏SOD活性MDA含量。结果表明,灵芝多糖能有效增加小鼠血清胰岛素浓度(P0.05);灵芝多肽和多糖可显著降低糖尿病小鼠空腹血糖含量,降糖率分别为19.1%和29.8%;显著增强小鼠肝脏SOD活性(P0.05),升高率分别为13.4%和19.7%;降低肝脏MDA含量(P0.05),且分别降低了27.8%和35.1%。     

黄芪杂多糖对试验型糖尿病肾病大鼠的治疗作用及其机制的研究

目的:给予糖尿病肾病(DN)模型大鼠一定剂量的黄芪杂多糖(Astragalus heteropolysaccha-rides,AHPS),观察AHPS对DN大鼠的治疗效果并探讨其机理。方法:50只雄性健康SD大鼠随机选取10只作为假手术对照组(简称正常对照组);其余大鼠行左侧肾脏切除术+STZ腹腔注射诱导复制DN模型。将33只成模大鼠随机分为3组,即模型对照组(简称病理对照组)、黄芪杂多糖(600mg/kg)治疗组(简称中药治疗组)、洛汀新+糖适平治疗组(简称西药治疗组),分别灌胃给药8周,共观察10周,10周末检测24h尿蛋白定量、空腹血糖、肾功能(血清尿素氮、血肌酐),测定血清TGF-β1、HGF含量,并称重计算肾脏肥大指数(肾重/体重)。结果:(1)经黄芪杂多糖治疗8周后,大鼠体重较病理对照组显著增加(P0.05);(2)黄芪杂多糖给药组空腹血糖、肾肥大指数均较病理对照组极显著降低(P0.01):(3)黄芪杂多糖给药组24h尿蛋白定量、血清尿素氮、肌酐均较病理对照组极显著降低(P0.01)。(4)黄芪杂多糖给药组大鼠血TGF-β1表达较病理对照组极显著下调(P0.01),HGF表达极显著增加(P0.01)。结论:黄芪杂多糖对DN模型大鼠具有一定的治疗作用,其机制可能是通过降低空腹血糖,减少24h尿蛋白,抑制实验性DN大鼠血清中致纤维化因子TGF-β1的表达,促进HGF表达来抑制细胞外基质的积聚,从而保护肾功能。     

2型糖尿病合并肾性高血压模型的建立及评价

制备一种发病过程类似于人类2型糖尿病合并肾性高血压疾病的大鼠模型。大鼠高脂高糖膳食4周后,予快速腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ)溶液28mg/kg,制作成2型糖尿病模型。2周后,连续3d均测得空腹血糖(FBG)≥7.8mmoL/L或随机血糖(RBG)≥16.7mmol/L,为2型糖尿病成模标准。待血糖稳定后,再用改良的"两肾一夹法"结扎肾动脉,造成一侧肾动脉狭窄,形成肾性高血压。2周后,连续3d均测得大鼠收缩压(SBP)≥140mmHg,同时FBG≥7.8mmol/L或RBG≥16.7mmol/L,确定为2型糖尿病合并肾性高血压模型制作成功。4周后,模型大鼠血糖、血压稳定。与空白对照组相比,复合模型组大鼠出现体重减轻、空腹血糖升高、糖化血红蛋白值升高(P0.01),血压升高(P0.01);与糖尿病组和假手术组相比,复合模型组大鼠血肌酐,尿素氮变化不明显(P0.05),但血压明显升高(P0.01);同时,彩超结果显示,复合模型组大鼠左侧肾脏、肾动脉直径均变小,血流速增快。大鼠高脂高糖膳食后,用低剂量链脲佐菌素(STZ)溶液腹腔注射,再用改良的"二肾一夹"法制备的2型糖尿病合并肾性高血压大鼠模型,在一定程度上较好地模拟出该疾病的发病特点,可为2型糖尿病合并肾性高血压后的临床及试验研究提供一个稳定、实用、有效的新模型。     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

A brief history of the prevention of infectious diseases by immunisations

Infectious diseases have always been a terrible scourge for humans. The appearance of these plagues, as they were called without distinction, was generally connected to various conditions: asters, climatic changes or religious reasons. The concept of contagious, and then infectious, diseases came slowly. Variolation, i.e. transmission of ‘virulent’ matter to induce a natural disease and the immunity against it, was brought from Constantinople to England by Lady Montague, in 1721. This ‘variolation’ technique was also often performed in veterinary medicine against diseases like sheep-pox or pleuropneumonia. As ‘vaccination’ is the term generally accepted for ‘immunisation’, variolation can be the word designating such a technique. The second period of the history of immunisation began, in 1880, with the studies of Pasteur and his collaborators. A great number of bacterial vaccines were developed: dead, live but attenuated or only parts of pathogens. The viruses were produced in animals, then in eggs and at last, in tissue cultures. Second generation vaccines appeared with genetic engineering: recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines, nucleic acids vaccines, and markers vaccines, among others. These novel technologies can permit the development of new ones and improve the quality of the vaccines already existing.     

Micronutrient Content of Certain Tropical Conventional and Unconventional Feed Resources of Southern India

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.     

Bovine Mastitis in Selected Areas of Southern Ethiopia

A study on bovine mastitis, designed to determine the causal agents, prevalence of infection and impact of risk factors in three cattle breeds, was conducted in selected areas of southern Ethiopia. A total of 307 lactating and non-lactating cows, of which 162 were indigenous Zebu, 85 Jersey and 60 Holstein-Friesian, were examined by clinical examination and the California mastitis (CMT) test. Of these, 40.4% were positive by CMT and bacteriology for clinical or subclinical mastitis, with prevalence rates of 37.1% and 62.9%, respectively. Out of 1133 quarters examined, 212 (18.7%) were found to be infected, 83 (39.2%) clinically and 129 (60.8%) subclinically. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly higher in Holstein-Friesian than in indigenous Zebu, in non-lactating cows than in lactating cows, in the early lactation stage than in the mid-lactation stage, in cows with lesions and/or tick infestation on skin of udder and/or teats than in cows without this factor, and in the wet season than in the dry season. Mastitis increased with parity number (R = 0.9). Of 248 CMT and clinically positive udder quarter samples analysed microbiologically, 212 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and 36 were negative. Of the 199 positive samples, Staphylococcus accounted for 39.2%, Streptococcus for 23.6%, coliforms for 14.1%, Micrococcus and Bacillus species for 8.0% each and Actinomyces or Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) for 7.0%. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli, in this study area.     

不同日粮氮水平对山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同日粮氮水平对内蒙古白绒山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成(MCP)的影响,以达到提高氮利用率,减少环境污染和饲料资源的浪费。试验选用9只体况良好、体重为(43.83±2.95)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,按体重随机分为3组,每组3只。日粮分为低氮7.5%、中氮10.5%、高氮13.5%3个氮水平。试验使用常规试验方法分析测定粪尿血液等生化指标,通过全收尿法和尿嘌呤衍生物法估测MCP。结果表明:随着氮水平增加,氨氮(NH3-N)浓度、氮摄入量、尿氮排出、尿中尿素氮(UUN)和MCP显著增加(P0.05),干物质采食量(DMI)显著降低(P0.01);沉积氮占总摄入氮的比例在中氮组最高,MCP在高氮组最高。综上所述,适当降低日粮氮水平可减少粪尿氮排放,提高反刍动物氮利用率。     

Microsporidial keratopathy in two dogs

A microsporidial keratopathy is described in two dogs. Both dogs presented with a unilateral stromal keratopathy characterized by multifocal coalescing opacities, and the diagnosis was made on histopathologic examination of keratectomy specimens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded corneal tissue was performed in one dog, and the morphologic features were consistent with Nosema species infection. Both dogs were initially diagnosed and treated by superficial keratectomy. One dog received additional antifungal medication and underwent a penetrating keratoplasty following local recurrence two years later. No other systemic lesions attributable to the microsporidial infection were identified clinically. The clinical and diagnostic pathology findings, treatment, and follow‐up are discussed.     

优质肉鸡S3系体重与体尺性状指标的主成分分析

为研究地方优质肉鸡S3系体重和体尺性状之间的内在相关性,12周龄时选取同一饲养条件下的150只鸡(公母各半)进行体重和体尺性状等7个指标的测定。结果表明:S3系公鸡的体重、体斜长、龙骨长、胸角均显著高于母鸡(P0.05);公母鸡体重、体斜长、胸宽、胫围这4项指标变异系数较大,有较大选育空间;体重与体斜长、龙骨长、胸宽、胸角、胫围呈极显著正相关(P0.01),相关系数分别为0.57、0.52、0.51、0.49和0.47,与胸深、胫长呈显著相关(P0.05),相关系数分别为0.44和0.39;其他各体尺指标间也存在不同程度的正负相关性(P0.05或P0.01);体重和7个体尺性能指标综合成5个复合指标,累计贡献率达92.6355%,其中第l、2、3、4、5主成分分别解释总变异的36.5353%、22.8642%、13.3115%、10.4535%和8.4710%;各主成分的特征根分布较广,经统计计算入选的5个主成分所包含信息的侧重点各有相同,分别都在一定程度上反映了S3鸡的体型特征和生长发育规律,为今后选育出更加符合市场需求的屠宰加工优质型肉鸡指明了的方向。     

Efficacy of tropicamide,homatropine, cyclopentolate,atropine and hyoscine as mydriatics in Angora goats

Abstract

AIM: To document the efficacy of five commercially available mydriatics for their potential for diagnostic and therapeutic use in Angora goats.

METHODS: Over 8 weeks, the mydriatic effects of 1% tropicamide, 2% homatropine, 1% cyclopentolate, 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine were evaluated. Given as block treatments, drugs were applied randomly to one eye of 10 Angora goats, and the contralateral eye served as a control. Vertical and horizontal pupil diameters were measured to document onset ofeffect, time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical/horizontal pupil diameter between eyes, time to maximum pupillary dilation, and duration of mydriatic action.

RESULTS: Onset of mydriasis for all drugs occurred within 15 minutes. Time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical pupil diameter between eyes was shortest for 1% tropicamide and 0.25% hyoscine (0.5 h), then 2% homatropine and 1% atropine (0.75 h), and longest for 1% cyclopentolate (1.5 h). The maximum vertical pupillary dilation occurred earliest with 1% tropicamide and 1% atropine (2 h), followed by 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (4 h), and latest with 1% cyclopentolate (8 h). The duration of vertical dilation of the pupil was shortest with 1% tropicamide (6 h), then 2% homatropine (12 h), 1% cyclopentolate (12 h), 1% atropine (24 h), and longest for 0.25% hyoscine (96 h).

The time to reach maximum horizontal dilation of the pupil in treated eyes was shortest with 1% cyclopentolate (1 h), followed by 1% tropicamide (1.5 h), 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (3.5 h), and 1% atropine (4 h). The duration of horizontal pupil dilation was shortest with 1% tropicamide (4.5 h), and longest with 0.25% hyoscine (48 h).

CONCLUSION: All five mydriatics induced clinical dilation. Tropicamide (1%) had the shortest duration of effect, but gave incomplete dilation. Good dilation was achieved with 1% cyclopentolate and 2% homatropine, but took too long to reach maximum dilation for routine mydriasis. The largest vertical dilation of the pupil was achieved with 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine, but pupils remained dilated for more than 24 h.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For routine mydriasis in goats, it is recommended that 1% tropicamide be used, though there may be incomplete dilation. For a longer duration of mydriasis, such as in the treatment of anterior uveitis, 1% atropine or 0.25% hyoscine would be the drugs of choice.