Fetal mummification in a mare

A single mummified fetus was removed from the uterus of a 23-year-old mare that had been bred approximately 30 months previously. The mare had received supplemental progestin therapy for approximately 150 days after ovulation. This case represents the longest recorded occurrence of fetal mummification in the mare. Progestion administration may have contributed to the initial retention of the fetus in the uterus.     

Clinical exercise testing in the normal Thoroughbred racehorse

To evaluate normal cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of Thoroughbred horses to a standardised treadmill exercise test, we examined 28 horses ranging in age from 1 to 4 years. The group consisted of eight yearlings, eight 2-year-olds and twelve 3 and 4-year-olds. All horses except the yearlings were in training, and either racing or ready to race, at the time of examination. None of the horses had histories of performance problems. On the first day the horses received a full physical examination, resting electrocardiogram, upper respiratory tract endoscopy and either one or two acclimatisation runs on the treadmill. The following day they were given an exercise test on a treadmill inclined at 6 degrees (+10% slope). The test consisted of 3 min at 4 m/sec, 90 sec at 6 m/sec and 60 sec intervals at 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 m/sec. During the last 15 sec of each step, blood samples were collected for plasma lactate determination, expired respiratory gases were obtained using an open flow mask system for measurement of oxygen uptake, and heart rate was measured using telemetry electrocardiogram. From these measurements, various derived values were calculated, which have been used by others as indices of exercise capacity. These values included: V200 (speed at HR of 200 bpm), VHRmax (speed at which horses reached maximum HR), VO2-200 (oxygen uptake at a HR of 200 bpm), VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake), VLA4 (speed at which horses reached a plasma lactate of 4 mmol/l) and HRLA4 (HR at which horses reached a plasma lactate of 4 mmol/l). The yearlings had significantly lower values than the older age groups for most of the derived values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Atomic structure of PDE4: insights into phosphodiesterase mechanism and specificity

Cyclic nucleotides are second messengers that are essential in vision, muscle contraction, neurotransmission, exocytosis, cell growth, and differentiation. These molecules are degraded by a family of enzymes known as phosphodiesterases, which serve a critical function by regulating the intracellular concentration of cyclic nucleotides. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of phosphodiesterase 4B2B to 1.77 angstrom resolution. The active site has been identified and contains a cluster of two metal atoms. The structure suggests the mechanism of action and basis for specificity and will provide a framework for structure-assisted drug design for members of the phosphodiesterase family.     

Reproductive performance of commercial broodmares after induction of ovulation with HCG or Ovuplant™ (deslorelin)

Soon after Ovuplant™, the sustained-release implant containing the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist deslorelin, was approved for commercial use in the United States for induction of ovulation in mares, anecdotal field observations were reported that some Ovuplant™—treated mares that did not become pregnant experienced a delayed return to estrus and prolonged inter-ovulatory interval. Although those observations have been subsequently confirmed, further data on how mares respond to Ovuplant™ compared to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the post-treatment period is needed. The objective of this study was to further evaluate the clinical use of Ovuplant™ by comparing the reproductive performance of commercial broodmares treated with hCG or Ovuplant™. This retrospective study was completed by examining the 1999 reproductive records of 106 mares treated with hCG during 134 estrous cycles and 117 mares treated with Ovuplant™ during 151 estrous cycles. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in follicle size at the time of treatment (39.4 ± 0.5 vs. 38.9 ± 0.5 mm), interval from treatment to ovulation (2.2 ± 0.1 vs. 2.2 ± 0.1 days), proportion of mares that failed to ovulate after treatment (3.0 vs. 4.6 %), or per-cycle pregnancy rate (47.7 vs. 51.4 %) between hCG-and Ovuplant™-treated mares, respectively. The interval from ovulation to return to estrus (25.8 ± 1.3 vs. 15.5 ± 0.6 days) and the inter-ovulatory interval (30.4 ± 1.5 vs. 20.8 ± 0.6 days) were longer (P<0.001) for Ovuplant™-compared to hCG-treated mares, and the proportion of non-pregnant mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days after ovulation (31.4 vs. 1.5 %) was higher (P<0.001) for Ovuplant™-compared to hCG-treated mares, respectively. For Ovuplant™—treated mares, follicle size at the time of treatment tended (P<0.1) to be smaller for mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days compared to mares that returned to estrus within 30 days (37.1 ± 1.1 vs. 40.1 ± 0.6 mm, respectively). Also, the average date of ovulation during the calendar year was later (P < 0.05) for Ovuplant™—treated mares that failed to return to estrus within 30 days compared to those that returned to estrus within 30 days (May 15 ± 4 vs. April 30 ± 4 days). The results of this study confirm previous reports that although the ovulatory response and fertility were not different for hCG- and Ovuplant™—treated mares, mares treated with Ovuplant™ that did not become pregnant had a significantly delayed return to estrus and prolonged inter-ovulatory interval. Based on recently published information, it appears this effect is due to Ovuplant™—induced down-regulation of the pituitary gland, which suppresses subsequent follicular growth and development. This study also demonstrated that follicle size and/or season may influence the probability that Ovuplant™—treated mares would experience a delayed return to estrus/ovulation; therefore, further work is needed to determine whether these or other factors are related to this specific outcome following Ovuplant™—treatment.     

Cardiovascular effects of sevoflurane in Holstein calves

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiovascular effects of sevoflurane in calves. Study design Prospective experimental study. Animals Six, healthy, 8–12‐week‐old Holstein calves weighing 80 ± 4.5 (mean ± SEM) kg were studied. Methods Anesthesia was induced by face‐mask administration of 7% sevoflurane in O₂. Calves tracheae were intubated, placed in right lateral recumbency, and maintained with 3.7% end‐tidal concentration sevoflurane for 30 minutes to allow catheterization of the auricular artery and placement of a Swan‐Ganz thermodilution catheter into the pulmonary artery. After instrumentation, administration of sevoflurane was temporarily discontinued until mean arterial pressure was > 100 mm Hg. Baseline values were recorded and the vaporizer output increased to administer 3.7% end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration. Ventilation was controlled to maintain normocapnia. The following were recorded at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes after collection of baseline data and expressed as the mean value (± SEM): direct systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures; cardiac output; mean pulmonary arterial pressure; pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure, heart rate; and pulmonary arterial temperature. Cardiac index and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance values were calculated using standard formulae. Arterial blood gases were analyzed at baseline, and at 15 and 45 minutes. Differences from baseline values were determined using one‐way analysis of variance for repeated measures with post‐hoc differences between mean values identified using Dunnet's test (p < 0.05). Results Mean time from beginning sevoflurane administration to intubation of the trachea was 224 ± 9 seconds. The mean end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration at baseline was 0.7 (± 0.11)%. Sevoflurane anesthesia was associated with decreased arterial blood pressure at all sampling times. Mean arterial blood pressure decreased from a baseline value of 112 ± 7 mm Hg to a minimum value of 88 ± 4 mm Hg at 5 minutes. Compared with baseline, arterial pH was decreased at 15 minutes. Pulmonary arterial blood temperature was decreased at 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Arterial CO₂ tension increased from a baseline value of 43 ± 3 to 54 ± 4 mm Hg (5.7 ± 0.4 to 7.2 ± 0.3 kPa) at 15 minutes. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was increased at 30 and 45 minutes. Pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure increased from a baseline value of 18 ± 2 to 23 ± 2 mm Hg at 45 minutes. There were no significant changes in other measured variables. All calves recovered from anesthesia uneventfully. Conclusion We conclude that sevoflurane for induction and maintenance of anesthesia was effective and reliable in these calves and that neither hypotension nor decreased cardiac output was a clinical concern. Clinical relevance Use of sevoflurane for mask induction and maintenance of anesthesia in young calves is a suitable alternative to injectable and other inhalant anesthetics.     

Efficacy of the gnrh agonist deslorelin acetate for inducing ovulation in mares relative to age of mare and season

Deslorelin acetate (Ovuplant™, Fort Dodge), a GnRH agonist, is commonly used to induce ovulation in cycling mares. Although its efficacy in hastening ovulation has been previously reported, the effects of age of mare and month of administration on percent of mares responding and interval to ovulation have not been studied.Data was gathered from reproduction records of 376 mares receiving deslorelin acetate at the Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Colorado State University, from 1995 to 1999. Age of mare, date of administration, size of largest follicle at treatment, and interval to ovulation were recorded. Age of mare was categorized into five groups: 2–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19, and greater than or equal to 20 years. Date of administration was divided into four groups: March and April, May and June, July and August, and September and October.A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of mares aged 10–14 (98.5%) ovulated in response to deslorelin acetate than mares aged 2–4 or 5–9 (90.2% or 91.0%, respectively) or mares aged 15–19 or ≥ 20 (87.9% or 83.8%, respectively). Mares ≥ 20 had the lowest ovulation rate (83.8%). However, mares ≥ 20 that responded to deslorelin acetate had a shorter (p < 0.05) interval from treatment to ovulation (1.7 ± 0.1 days) than mares 2–4 and 5–9 years of age (1.9 ± 0.1 and 1.9 ± 0.0 days, respectively).Deslorelin acetate was more effective in inducing ovulation in the July and August (95.4%) (p < 0.01) and September and October (95.7%) (p = 0. 04) than in the March and April (81.1%). Mares treated in May through October also experienced shorter (p < 0.05) intervals to ovulation than mares treated in March and April.     

Twin pregnancies following transfer of single embryos in three mares: A case report

Spontaneous development of identical or monozygotic twins is a rare event in the horse. Monozygotic twins develop after division of a single embryo. This report documents three cases in which twin embryos developed following surgical transfer of a single morula stage embryo into the uterus of a synchronized recipient mare.