Routine and specialized laboratory testing for the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases in dogs and cats

Abstract: The diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases can be challenging. The first step is recognition that the disease involves the neuromuscular system (muscle, neuromuscular junction, peripheral nerve, and ventral horn cells of the spinal cord). Many neuromuscular diseases share clinical signs and cannot be distinguished based on clinical examination. Routine laboratory screening, including a CBC, biochemical profile, and urinalysis, can identify some of the most common systemic abnormalities that cause muscle weakness and myalgia, such as hypo‐ and hyperglycemia, electrolyte disorders, or thyroid abnormalities, and may suggest a specific diagnosis, such as diabetes mellitus, hypo‐ or hyperadrenocorticism, renal failure, or hypothyroidism. Increased creatine kinase activity, increased cardiac troponin I concentration, and myoglobinuria are useful in detecting skeletal and cardiac muscle damage. Identification of acetylcholine receptor antibodies is diagnostic for acquired myasthenia gravis. For primary muscle or peripheral nerve diseases, tissue biopsy is the most direct way to determine specific pathology, correctly classify the disease, and determine the course of additional laboratory testing. For example, inflammatory, necrotizing, dystrophic, metabolic, or congenital myopathies require different laboratory testing procedures for further characterization. Many neuromuscular diseases are inherited or breed‐associated, and DNA‐based tests may already be established or may be feasible to develop after the disorder has been accurately characterized. This review focuses on both routine and specialized laboratory testing necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis and determine an accurate prognosis for neuromuscular diseases.     

双峰驼眼神经和上颌神经的研究

作者运用大体解剖学方法对双峰驼的眼神经和上颌神经进行了详细的解剖学研究。研究结果表明双峰驼的眼神经和上颌神经均起于三叉神经节,其中眼神经的分支有颧颞支、泪腺神经、额神经、额窦神经、肌支、鼻睫神经以及连于睫状神经节的交通支。鼻睫神经分为滑车下神经和筛神经。筛神经分为鼻内支和鼻外支。鼻睫神经有交通支连于睫状神经节。上颌神经分出颧面支、副颧面支、颧骨神经,鼻后神经、腭大神经、腭小神经和上齿槽后支,其主干延续为眶下神经。颧骨神经在眼眶后部分出。鼻后神经在翼腭窝内分为数支参与构成翼腭神经丛。腭大神经分出腭副神经以及进入鼻腔底壁的侧支。     

双峰驼面神经解剖

双峰驼的面神经在伸出茎乳突孔之前发出岩大神经、镫骨肌神经、鼓索和一加入岩小神经的交通支,并接受一条来自前庭耳蜗神经的交通支和迷走神经的耳支。面神经穿出茎乳突孔之后发出耳后神经、耳内支,腮腺支二腹肌支、颈支、耳睑神经,上颊支和下颊支。6/10例面神经发出一交通支连于舌咽神经。耳后神经与第一、第二颈神经之间不见有交通支。耳后神经和耳内支有侧支分布于腮腺和腮耳肌。上颊支在犬齿肌深面分为许多小支与眶下神经的分支形成一神经丛。下颊支在下颌骨的外侧面与颏副神经有较粗的交通支相连。     

早熟和正常中华绒螯蟹大颚器官发育及超微结构

对早熟和正常发育的中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheirsinensis)大颚器官(mandibularorgan,MO)进行解剖学和组织学研究,发现早熟蟹的MO在当年秋季已充分发育,MO细胞直径在当年11月达到最大值;而正常发育幼蟹的MO在当年细胞排列紧密,直到翌年秋季才充分发育。正常发育成蟹(二秋龄蟹)的MO细胞直径在10月达到最大值,明显大于早熟蟹(P<0.05)。表明早熟蟹MO较正常发育蟹提早一年发育,但是,秋季早熟蟹MO的发育速度和发育良好程度均不及二秋龄蟹MO的发育,这可能是早熟蟹卵黄发生过程较缓慢,较二秋龄蟹滞后约一个月达到次级卵黄发生末期的原因。中华绒螯蟹MO细胞超微结构的显著特征是丰富而形态多样的光面内质网和具小管状内嵴的线粒体,以及丰富的游离核糖体。     

早熟和正常中华绒螯蟹大颚器官发育及超微结构

对早熟和正常发育的中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheirsinensis)大颚器官(mandibularorgan,MO)进行解剖学和组织学研究,发现早熟蟹的MO在当年秋季已充分发育,MO细胞直径在当年11月达到最大值;而正常发育幼蟹的MO在当年细胞排列紧密,直到翌年秋季才充分发育。正常发育成蟹(二秋龄蟹)的MO细胞直径在10月达到最大值,明显大于早熟蟹(P<0.05)。表明早熟蟹MO较正常发育蟹提早一年发育,但是,秋季早熟蟹MO的发育速度和发育良好程度均不及二秋龄蟹MO的发育,这可能是早熟蟹卵黄发生过程较缓慢,较二秋龄蟹滞后约一个月达到次级卵黄发生末期的原因。中华绒螯蟹MO细胞超微结构的显著特征是丰富而形态多样的光面内质网和具小管状内嵴的线粒体,以及丰富的游离核糖体。     

The repair effects of Achyranthes bidentata extract on the crushed common peroneal nerve of rabbits

In this study the effect of the Achyranthes bidentata root aqueous extract on regeneration of the crushed common peroneal nerve in rabbits by using a combination of electrophysiological assessment and histological aspect were investigated. The examined functional and morphological parameters suggest that A. bidentata extract could accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration in a dose-dependent manner (10-20 microg/kg, i.v.).     

Persistent Bilateral Mydriasis Associated With a Pituitary Adenoma in a Horse

Severe bilateral mydriasis and bilaterally decreased vision were observed in a 23-year-old crossbred warmblood gelding with a history of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Ten years after the onset of clinical signs, it was killed humanely because of worsening of clinical signs and loss of therapeutic responsiveness. Postmortem examination of the head was performed to confirm the suspected pituitary neoplasm and to investigate secondary oculomotor lesions. Pathomorphologic examination revealed an expansile space-occupying pituitary adenoma and degenerative changes in the preganglionic oculomotor nerve, ciliary ganglion, and optic chiasm. The ocular clinical findings share features of a cavernous sinus syndrome.     

鸡脑桥内神经核团的形态学研究

试验利用3只白来杭鸡脑制成的冰冻切片，经Nissl法染色，光镜观察分布于脑桥内的神经核团位置、形态及细胞组成。结果表明：中央上核位于中脑内；三叉神经运动核划分为内侧亚核和外侧亚核；三叉神经感觉主核前极在三叉神经运动核前极近平面；上橄榄核为一单一圆形核团；桥外侧核划分为两个亚核；首次观察到鸡脑桥中存在面神经副核；尾侧线形核、桥吻侧网状核、桥尾侧网状核、展神经核、耳蜗神经核、前庭神经核群等核团与前人观点一致。     

In vitro and in vivo gene therapy with CMV vector-mediated presumed dog ��-nerve growth factor in pyridoxine-induced neuropathy dogs

Due to the therapeutic potential of gene therapy for neuronal injury, many studies of neurotrophic factors, vectors, and animal models have been performed. The presumed dog β-nerve growth factor (pdβ-NGF) was generated and cloned and its expression was confirmed in CHO cells. The recombinant pdβ-NGF protein reacted with a human β-NGF antibody and showed bioactivity in PC12 cells. The pdβ-NGF was shown to have similar bioactivity to the dog β-NGF. The recombinant pdβ-NGF plasmid was administrated into the intrathecal space in the gene therapy group. Twenty-four hours after the vector inoculation, the gene therapy group and the positive control group were intoxicated with excess pyridoxine for seven days. Each morning throughout the test period, the dogs'' body weight was taken and postural reaction assessments were made. Electrophysiological recordings were performed twice, once before the experiment and once after the test period. After the experimental period, histological analysis was performed. Dogs in the gene therapy group had no weight change and were normal in postural reaction assessments. Electrophysiological recordings were also normal for the gene therapy group. Histological analysis showed that neither the axons nor the myelin of the dorsal funiculus of L₄ were severely damaged in the gene therapy group. In addition, the dorsal root ganglia of L₄ and the peripheral nerves (sciatic nerve) did not experience severe degenerative changes in the gene therapy group. This study is the first to show the protective effect of NGF gene therapy in a dog model.