Effect of acepromazine or xylazine on tear production as measured by Schirmer tear test in normal cats

Objective  To evaluate the effect of acepromazine or xylazine on Schirmer tear test 1 results in clinically normal cats.
Animals  Sixteen healthy cross-breed cats.
Procedure  The animals were randomly divided into two groups of eight cats each. The first group was sedated with acepromazine alone (0.2 mg/kg) and the second group received only xylazine (2 mg/kg). All cats had Schirmer tear test (STT) readings taken prior to sedation and at 15 and 25 min postsedation.
Results  Sedation with acepromazine or xylazine in cats with normal pre-sedation STT 1 values caused a statistically significant decrease in mean values of tear production in both groups. In acepromazine group the mean ± SEM STT at T₁₅ and T₂₅ were 4.31 ± 0.98 ( P  < 0.001) and 5.18 ± 1.07 ( P  = 0.002). The post-treatment mean ± SEM values in xylazine group were 2.18 ± 0.97 ( P  < 0.001) and 2.62 ± 1.17 ( P  = 0.001) at 15 and 25 min respectively. Comparison between T₁₅ and T₂₅ in acepromazine group ( P  = 0.49) and xylazine group ( P  = 0.56) revealed no significant differences.
Conclusion  These observations indicate that both acepromazine or xylazine significantly reduced tear production in clinically normal cats. In cats, clinicians should measure STT values prior to utilizing acepromazine or xylazine as sedatives in order to accurately assess the results. Moreover, sterile ocular lubricant or tear replacement should be used as a corneal protectant during sedation with these drugs.     

Growth and flowering of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) as influenced by foliar application of organic fertilizers

Foliar application effects of two commercial organic fertilizers: Drin and Algaren on growth and flowering of two cultivars (‘Mahallati’ and ‘Dezfuli’) of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) were examined. This research was carried out in a complete randomized design with factorial arrangements including two factors (cultivars and organic fertilizers), each treatment with three replications. Drin and Algaren improved vegetative growth in tuberose and concentration of 0.4–0.6 mL L^?1 Drin and concentration of 0.6 and 0.8 mL L^?1 of Algaren could be recommended for foliar application on tuberose. This is the first report on using new types of organic fertilizers on ornamental bulbous plants. Further experiments are needed to clarify more the effects of these organic fertilizers on bulbous plants.