Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of miloxicam in the horse

The novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) miloxicam was administered intravenously to six New Forest ponies at a dosage rate of 0.6 mg/kg in a two-part cross-over study. In each part, three horses received miloxicam and three were given a placebo preparation. The actions of miloxicam, compared to placebo, were assessed in a carrageenan-sponge model of acute inflammation. The rise in skin temperature over the site of the acute inflammatory reaction was less in treated ponies, but differences were not statistically significant. Concentrations of the enzymes acid phosphatase (AP) and lysozyme in inflammatory exudates harvested at 4, 8, 12 and 24 h were not significantly different in drug-treated animals compared with those receiving placebo. Concentrations of protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in exudate and exudate leucocyte numbers were significantly reduced in drug-treated horses when data for all sampling times were pooled. The differences were not significant, however, at each sampling time. Exudate concentrations of the eicosanoids, bicyclic-PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2, were reduced significantly by miloxicam at most sampling times, and serum TXB2 was also significantly reduced at 4 and 8 h but not at 12 and 24 h after drug administration. These pharmacodynamic findings correlated with the pharmacokinetic properties of miloxicam. The plasma concentration-time curve was defined by a three-compartment open model in one pony and by a two-compartment model in five ponies. Mean values for pharmacokinetic parameters for the five ponies were: t1/2 alpha 0.40 h; t1/2 beta 2.70 h; Vd area 0.158 l/kg; ClB 41.87 ml/kg/h. Exudate concentrations of miloxicam were initially similar to and eventually greater than concentrations in plasma, and this may explain the more prolonged inhibition of eicosanoid synthesis in exudate than in serum. These findings demonstrate the value of relating, in a single experimental study, drug action on a range of variables to drug fate in the body.     

Adverse reaction to procaine penicillin G in horses

Adverse reactions to intramuscular injections of procaine penicillin G are reported in 11 horses, five of which died. The clinical findings are presented and suggest central nervous involvement in most cases. Post mortem findings in one horse were consistent with anaphylaxis whereas in other cases the clinical findings, duration of treatment, speed of onset and subsequent completion of treatment supports diagnosis of an acute procaine toxicity syndrome.     

Quantifiable morphokinesis on parts of the hypothalamo-adenohypophyseal-gonadal axis of hormonally castrated boars. I. Studies on boars treated with chlormadinone acetate]

A clearly morphokinetic effect was recorded from the parts of the hypothalamo-adenohypophyseo-gonadal axis in boars that had been treated with chloromadinone acetate (CAP). Luteinising hormone release is inhibited by CAP, which is reflected in an increase of luteinising hormone cells in their storage form. This leads to statistically significant decline in androgenic testicular tissue percentage and in the cell nucleus volumes of Leydig's cells. Excessive weight decrease of the testicle is caused primarily by some 60 per cent reduction in tube length. The neurons of the tested hypothalamic nuclear region, that is the nucleus praeopticus medialis, have shown that in treated animals cell nucleus volumes were significantly depressed.     

Ergebnisse der Anwendung von Gonave®"Berlin Chemie" zur Ovulationsinduktion in der Spontanbrunst beim Rind

Inhalt: Gonavet®“Berlin Chemie”, ein synthetisches Gonadotropin-Releasing-Hormon, wurde zur Ovulationsinduktion bei spontan brünstigen Rindern eingesetzt. Verabreicht wurden 0,1 mg Gonavet vor der Insemination in einer Zeitspanne von maximal vier Stunden. Die Erprobung umfaβte 935 Versuchs- und 911 Kontrolltiere in 12 Betrieben. Bei allen Tieren wurde ca. 24 Stunden nach der Insemination eine Ovulationskontrolle vorgenommen. Ovulations- und Trächtigkeitsrate dienten als Prüfparameter. Die Ovulationsrate konnte um 10,4% angehoben werden; in elf von zwölf Herden ging der Anteil an nicht termingerechten Ovulationen zurück. Die Trächtigkeitsrate wurde um 6,1% verbessert. Von den zwölf Herden trat eine Erhöhung der TR in acht ein (1,1 bis 17,5%), in einer Herde waren die Konzeptionsergebnisse bei Versuchs- und Kontrolltieren identisch und in drei Herden erzielte die Kontrollgruppe bessere Trächtigkeitsergebnisse (2,1 bis 9,7%). Die Anwendung des Praparates ist bei Tieren mit einer Ovulationsstorung angezeigt. Contents: The induction of ovulation in the spontaneous estrous in cattle by Gonavet “Berlin Chemie” Gonave®“Berlin Chemie”, a synthetic gonadotropinreleasing-hormone was used for induction of ovulation in spontaneously estrous cattle. 0.1 mg Gonavet were applied no more than 4 hours prior to insemination. A total of 935 experimental and 911 control animals of 12 farms were included into the study. Ovulation was assessed in all animals about 24 hrs following insemination. Rates of ovulation and pregnancy were used as endpoints. Ovulation rate was increased 10.4%; in 11 out of 12 farms, the number of on-time ovulations improved. Rate of pregnancy also improved for 6.1%. In about 8 out of the 12 herds pregnancy rate increased between 1.1 and 17.5%. In one herd conception rates were not different between experimental and control animals. In three herds the control groups had better conception rates (2.1 to 9.7% increase) when compared to experimental groups. Gonavet® ist indicated in cases of ovulatory problems.     

南疆灌区冬小麦/夏玉米改良模式增产潜力与机理分析

田间试验系统地比较了新冬20/沈玉2002不同套种模式（“522模式”与“952模式”）及“521模式”下保麦10号/蠡玉35、保麦10号/登海3672、新冬20/蠡玉35的产量、叶面积指数、光合势及干物质积累等性状的差异。结果表明,“522模式”新冬20/沈玉2002周年产量（17 838.2 kg·hm^-2）较“952模式”(16 550.9 kg·hm^-2)增产7.8%,其中,冬小麦增产18.4%。“521模式”保麦10号/蠡玉35、保麦10号/登海3672、新冬20/蠡玉35周年产量为19 905.0～20 751.0 kg·hm^-2,其中,冬小麦产量为9 740～10 275 kg·hm^-2、夏玉米产量为9 630～10 211.0 kg·hm^-2;冬小麦孕穗期和开花期叶面积指数分别为6.0、5.0左右,返青至成熟的总光合势290.2～324.3×10⁴·m²·d·hm^-2;夏玉米生育期111 d,大喇叭口期至吐丝后20 d的叶面积指数均保持在4左右,生育期间总光合势233.1～257.5×10⁴·m²·d·hm^-2,冬小麦和玉米总光合势为523.3～581.8×10⁴·m²·d·hm^-2;总干物质量38 569.1～40 487.0 kg·hm^-2;冬小麦产量的边际效应为85.7%～112.9%。“521模式”比“952模式”大幅度增产,是小麦行数和边行数及边际产量增大的结果,并将夏玉米播期提至麦收前15 d左右,延长玉米生育期（达110 d左右）,优化株行配置使玉米增产显著,实现全年超高产。“521模式”同时充分利用了冬小麦边际补偿效应和玉米时间补偿效应,较“952模式”易获得周年超高产。并对超高产栽培技术进行了讨论。     

Preliminary Studies on Cryopreservation of Common Tench (Tinca tinca) Embryos (Work in Progress)

Vitrification could provide a promising tool for the cryopreservation of fish embryos. However, to achieve cryopreservation using vitrification, chilling sensitivity and cryoprotectants toxicity were determined using tench embryos at four developmental stages (11, 17, 23 and 29 h). Embryos treated with alcalase (2 ml/998 ml, 2 min at 22°C) were exposed to chilling with/without warming. Other embryos were exposed to methanol and glycerol at the concentration of 10% and 20% for periods of 20 min. At last, embryos were incubated at special incubator cages where hatching rates were counted. Regarding chilling sensitivity and exposure to chilling followed by warming, the hatching rates of embryos decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after exposure to 0°C at all developmental stages except the 29-h stage compared with the controls. The embryo stage most sensitive to chilling was 11-h stage. The 29-h stage exhibited the least sensitivity to low temperature while 17-h and 23-h stages were intermediate in their sensitivity to chilling. The toxicity of methanol increased significantly (p < 0.001) with developmental stage for 11, 17 and 23-h stages. The highest hatching rates of tench embryos were obtained with 29-h embryos using various concentrations of methanol. The hatching rates of tench embryos exposed to glycerol concentrations were approximately similar to those embryos exposed to methanol concentrations except for 11-h embryos that showed no hatching. Unfortunately, we could not obtain living embryos in any of the conditions examined after vitrification. In conclusion, it was quite difficult to vitrify the tench embryos during this study using various vitrifying solutions and the method reported by Chen & Tian (2005) and further studies are needed to achieve successful cryopreservation.