Effects of Atipamezole and Naloxone on Electroencephalographic Spectral Edge Frequency 95 in Dogs Sedated by Acupuncture at GV20 and Yintang Point

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antagonism of acupuncture-induced sedation by electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency (SEF) 95 in 10 healthy intact male Miniature Schnauzer dogs (4.2-6.1kg; 2-3 years old) without neurological disorder. The GV20 and Yintang acupoints were administered for 20 min. While the dogs were conscious, SEF 95 baseline values were recorded at 2-min intervals for 4 min. Then acupuncture was administered at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints. During the acupuncture procedure, the SEF 95 values were recorded at 2-min intervals for 10 min. Subsequently, antagonist drugs, naloxone and atipamezole, were administered through the cephalic vein. The SEF 95 values were then measured again at 2-min intervals for 10 min. Those values were found to be significantly increased after administration of atipamezole in dogs sedated by acupuncture at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints (p<0.05). However, the SEF 95 values in the naloxone groups did not show any significant changes before and after administration of the antagonist. It was concluded that sedation induced by acupuncture at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints might be partially associated with the alpha(2)-adrenergic system.     

Different central manifestations in response to electroacupuncture at analgesic and nonanalgesic acupoints in rats: a manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Acupuncture analgesia is an important issue in veterinary medicine. This study was designed to elucidate central modulation effects in response to electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints. Manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats after sham acupuncture, sham EA, or true EA at somatic acupoints. The acupoints were divided into 3 groups: group 1, analgesic acupoints commonly used for pain relief, such as Hegu (LI 4); group 2, nonanalgesic acupoints rarely used for analgesic effect, such as Neiguan (PC 6); and group 3, acupoints occasionally used for analgesia, such as Zusanli (ST 36). Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5-T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. The results showed that there was no neural activation caused by EA at a true acupoint with shallow needling and no electric current (sham acupuncture). When EA at a true acupoint was applied with true needling but no electric current (sham EA), there was only a slight increase in brain activity at the hypothalamus; when EA was applied at a true acupoint with true needling and an electric current (true EA), the primary response at the hypothalamus was enhanced. Also, there was a tendency for the early activation of pain-modulation areas to be prominent after EA at analgesic acupoints as compared with nonanalgesic acupoints. In conclusion, understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways provides not only an evidence-based approach for veterinary acupuncture but also a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

Traditional Chinese channel diagnosis, myofascial pain syndrome and metacarpophalangeal joint trauma in the horse

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Thoroughbred racehorses in training using traditional oriental techniques for meridian or channel diagnosis (CD) before and after intra-articular (IA) therapy of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and to determine the incidence and significance of channel abnormality in the diagnosis of fetlock disease.Background: In traditional oriental channel diagnosis, key diagnostic acupoints are palpated and evaluated for sensitivity. Pathological sensitivity of acupoints is referred to as channel imbalance in oriental medicine, and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with trigger points (TrP's) in western medicine. If there is an abnormally sensitive acupoint, and the sensitivity can be changed markedly by the IA injection of a diagnostic or therapeutic medication, then the mechanism for the propagation of the observed channel imbalance must be related to an intra-articular phenomenon.Design and Patients: Three hundred twenty-seven (327) Thoroughbred racehorses were evaluated for abnormal reactivity of the specific acupoints: Large Intestine (LI) 18, Small Intestine (SI) 16, Triple Heater (TH) 15, Urinary Bladder (UB) 42, a Lung Meridian Associated Point, and Urinary Bladder (UB) 14, a Pericardium Meridian Associated Point. Acupoint reactivity was graded on a scale of I–IV, where GdI=normal sensitivity, GdII=slight sensitivity, Gd III=pain or abnormal sensitivity, and Gd IV=active evasion by the horse. Grades III and IV were considered to be pathological. The evaluations were unblinded in that pre-and post-treatment evaluations were made by the same examiner. All horses whose medical and working history and acupuncture evaluation suggested pain referable to the fetlock(s) were injected intra-articularly with either a local anesthetic or an articular therapeutic product. The horses were subsequently evaluated for a change in acupoint sensitivity, either ten minutes for the local anesthetic or twenty-four hours for the medications, after the initial injection.Results: Intra-articular medication of the fetlock joint markedly changed the pathological channel imbalance in 176 (54%) racing horses in training. The majority of these, 111 (63%) were not lame. Eighteen (10%) were frankly lame (≥ Gd II/V) and became sound with IA anesthesia of the fetlock joint. The remaining 47 (27%) were lame as a result of extra-articular or nonfetlock pain and were not made sound with IA fetlock anesthesia despite a marked change in acupoint sensitivity. The diagnoses were made with conventional regional nerve blocks.Of the 176 horses with channel imbalance, LI/LU was involved in 100%, 158 (90%) had involvement of SI/HT, 46 (26%) involved TH, and 16 (9%) involved the PC channel. Channel imbalance was defined as the presence of one or more of the described acupoints in excess, that is with a Gd III–IV sensitivity. Each point in excess reflected abnormality in either the actual channel, LI, SI, and TH, or in the case of the associated points, UB 42 and UB 14, the LU and PC channels, respectively. Concomitant sources of foreleg pain were found. Seven (4%) horses with fetlock related channel imbalance also had interphalangeal related imbalance, and 7 (4%) had carpal related imbalance as well as fetlock imbalance. Ninety-three (53%) had imbalance related to the hind legs. Five (3%) were lame due to IA fetlock pathology yet had no channel imbalance.Conclusions: Thoroughbred horses in training had a consistently high percentage of CD imbalance with TrP's that could be directly related to IA structures of the fetlock and alleviated with IA drugs. The distribution of channel imbalance suggested the site of fetlock pathology, with LI/LU (dorso-medial and medial) > SI/HT (dorso-lateral and lateral) > TH (dorsal midline) > PC (caudal midline). Extra articular fetlock pathology did not result in CD imbalance. CD is an additional method of evaluating the influence of medications, shoeing, and training regimes on most of the innervated structures of the metacarpophalangeal joint.     

Motility of the large intestine and flow of digesta in pigs

The motor function of the large intestine of pigs is incompletely understood. Here the ileo-caecal-colonic motility is investigated by means of chronically implanted extraluminal strain gauge transducers and simultaneous videofluoroscopy in six pigs. Motility parameters were evaluated by computer and manually. The dominant feature of the ileal motility were aborally propagating giant contractions (velocity: 3.9 (0.7) cm sec(-1)) occurring at intervals of 7-12 minutes. They pushed the ileal digesta into the caecum. Despite a fed-state, migrating motor complexes occurred at intervals of 131.5 (8.1) minutes consisting of repetitive peristaltic waves. The motility of the caecum showed clustered contractions representing haustral movements. Transfer of caecal digesta and gas into the colon was caused by peristaltic contractions. The motility of the proximal colon was characterised by long peristaltic waves resulting in a rapid aboral transport of gas and a slow aboral flow of digesta. The propagation velocities along the centripetal and centrifugal loops of the colonic coil were 2.8 (0.6) and 5.7 (0.8) cm sec(-1), respectively. About half of the colonic waves were coordinated with the ileal giant contractions and the caecal peristaltic waves. The contraction parameters showed pronounced differences between the ileum and large intestine. The contraction rise time of the caecal and colonic contractions was about twice that of the ileal contractions (5.1 (0.2) and 4.4 (0.6) seconds versus 2.2 (0.1) seconds). Consequently, the maximal frequencies of the caecal and colonic contractions were about half compared with the ileal contractions (5.3 (0.4) and 6.1 (0.1) contractions min(-1) versus 11.8 (0.3) contractions min(-1)). Results show that the contractile patterns and motor functions of the individual intestinal segments differ markedly.     

Effects of medetomidine on intestinal and colonic motility in the dog

The motor responses of the jejunum and colon to stimulation of α₂-adrenoceptors by medetomidine and clonidine were investigated in four dogs. In fasting dogs, medetomidine, at a dose rate of 30 μg/kg i.v., disrupted the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) pattern of the small intestine for about 2 h. Similar, but shorter-lasting effects were also induced by clonidine (30 μg/kg i.v.) on the jejunum. The administration of α₂-agonists inhibited colonic motility in fasting dogs, although medetomidine-induced inhibition was preceded by a short period of increased muscle tone. All these effects were reversed by the α₂-antagonists atipamezole (0.15 mg/kg i.v.) and yohimbine (0.20 mg/kg i.v.). In fed dogs, medetomidine (30 μg/kg i.v.) induced a strong increase of the tone on the proximal colon, while the activity of the medium and distal colon was completely suppressed. Yohimbine (0.50 mg/kg i.v.) immediately restored the activity of the colon and induced a propagated giant contraction and defaecation by the animal. These data confirm the importance of a₂-adrenergic receptors in the control of intestinal and colonic motility in the dog.     

Electroencephalography (EEG) spectral edge frequency for assessing the sedative effect of acupuncture in dogs

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an effective method for the evaluation of sedation or anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to examine the sedative effect of acupuncture by electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency (SEF) in Miniature Schnauzer dogs (4.2-6.1 kg, 1-2 years old). The acupuncture points "GV20 and Yintang" were applied for 20 min. Sedation level was assessed before, during, and after acupuncture by spectral edge frequency 95 values and the Ramsay sedation score. The spectral edge frequency 95 values were significantly reduced during acupuncture on GV20 or Yintang point and returned to the baseline values after acupuncture releasing. The Ramsay sedation score (RSS) also showed the acceptable sedation level during acupuncture. It was concluded that an acupuncture application at GV20 or Yintang point used in the present study would be a valuable method to induce the sedation in dogs.     

PILOT STUDY TO ASSESS MEAL PROGRESSION THROUGH THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF HABITUATED DOGS DETERMINED BY FLUOROSCOPIC IMAGING WITHOUT SEDATION OR PHYSICAL RESTRAINT

A limiting factor of radiographic contrast studies is the requirement for restraint of the animal in order to reduce movement artifacts. To demonstrate that gastrointestinal transit can be analyzed by a barium meal in nonsedated and unrestrained dogs, a pilot study of six adult Labrador retriever dogs was undertaken. Study subjects were selected by convenience sampling from an available population of Labrador dogs and were trained to stand motionless during radiographic fluoroscopy. Following a meal containing 7% w/w powdered barium sulfate, radiographic images were generated using a digital fluoroscope C‐arm, at intervals of 5, 15, and 30 min, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h. A qualitative assessment of fill density using a 5‐point scale was made for the stomach, small intestine, and ascending, transverse, and descending regions of the colon at each timepoint. Gastric emptying half‐time occurred between 1 and 2 h postmeal. Mean fill density of the small intestine increased from 15 min postmeal and reached a peak at 3 h postmeal. Mean fill density of the proximal large intestine mirrored that of the small intestine. The distal large intestine remained empty for the first 2 h postmeal, then increased between hours 2 and 5 postmeal, and was subsequently at maximum fill density from hour 6 postmeal onwards. Fluoroscopic observation of a barium contrast meal provided an effective indication of the amount and progression of ingested food through the various regions of the gastrointestinal tract in habituated, fully conscious dogs.     

DEVELOPMENT OF REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR THE LARGE INTESTINAL TRANSIT OF RADIOPAQUE MARKERS IN DOGS

Ten healthy dogs were fed 30 1.5 mm and 10 5 mm radiopaque markers (BIPS, MedID, Grand Rapids) mixed with sufficient quantities of a high fibre diet to meet 25% of their estimated daily caloric requirements. Abdominal radiographs were made at two hour intervals until 90% of the small and large markers had left the colon. The mean residence times (MRT) of each size of marker in the proximal, distal and total colon were calculated using kinetic analysis. The MRT's of the small markers were 4.9 hours (SD 4.4), 7.1 hours (SD 3.3) and 12.0 hours (SD 7.1) respectively. The MRT's of the large markers were not significantly different from the small markers except in the proximal colon where they were significantly shorter (3.2 hours, SD 2.3). Reference colonic filling and colonic transit curves for both sizes of markers were constructed. These may be useful to detect abnormal colonic transit in dogs.     

The effect of motilin on the regulation mechanism of intestinal motility in conscious horses

Laparotomy was performed on seven thoroughbreds to attach a force transducer to the proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, and ileum, as well as to the serous membrane of the cecum. Following observation of intestinal motility in conscious horses, they were intravenously injected with motilin (0.6 microgram/kg) to examine its effect on intestinal motility. Strong contractions peculiar to horses were observed in small intestine. Further, motilin caused strong contractions in the proximal jejunum. The results suggested the involvement of motilin in the regulation mechanism of intestinal motility.     

Effect of acupuncture on intraocular pressure in normal dogs

The effect of acupuncture on intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated in normal dogs. After determination of baseline pressure, acupuncture was applied at 3 acupoints (LI-4, LIV-3 and GB-37) for 20 min. After acupuncture treatment, IOP were significantly lowered 2.7 +/- 0.1 in left eye, 1.7 +/- 0.7 in right eye, respectively (p<0.05). From these results of this study, an acupuncture therapy may be valuable treatment for decreasing on IOP in dogs.     

后海、后三里、大肠俞对大鼠便秘及胃肠运动神经递质的影响

后海（GV-1）、后三里（ST-36）、大肠俞（BL-25）是治疗动物便秘的常用穴位,本文旨在明确3个穴位对大鼠便秘的缓解作用及其对胃肠运动相关神经递质的调节作用,比较3个穴位作用途径的异同,探索便秘的优势穴位。选取SPF健康大鼠60只,随机分为6组。除对照A组外,其他5组大鼠每只每天灌服3 mg·（kg·d）^-1洛哌丁胺,建立便秘模型。5 d后,在便秘模型基础上,西药治疗C组灌服莫沙必利1.38 mg·（kg·d）^-1混悬液,D、E、F组分别针刺GV-1、ST-36、BL-25各30 min,连续6 d。检测血清5-羟色胺（5-HT）、生长抑素（SS）、血管活性肠肽（VIP）、P物质（SP）,结肠组织中5-羟色胺3受体（5-HT₃R）mRNA、5-羟色胺4受体（5-HT₄R）mRNA相对表达量及结肠组织结构。结果显示：造模5 d后,模型B组大鼠出现典型便秘症状,血清中5-HT、SS含量显著增加,VIP、SP显著下降,结肠组织5-HT₃R和5-HT₄R mRNA显著降低。西药治疗组和3个穴位组大鼠的便秘症状均显著缓解,首粒粪便时间缩短,粪便含水量增加,粪便长度增加。另外,针刺GV-1使血清中SS含量极显著降低36.34%（P<0.01）,5-HT含量显著下降。针刺双侧ST-36下调血清中5-HT含量23.93%,显著增加结肠组织5-HT₃R、5-HT₄R mRNA相对表达量（P<0.01）。针刺双侧BL-25,血清中VIP、SP含量分别提高27.48%、22.75%,显著降低5-HT含量。另外针刺3个穴位均可增加结肠杯状细胞表达。GV-1、ST-36、BL-25缓解便秘的途径有一定差异,但均能缓解大鼠便秘,改善胃肠道运动,调节胃肠道神经递质的含量,其中GV-1对便秘的改善作用最为显著。     

回阳九针术对绝育犬苏醒质量的影响分析

旨在研究回阳九针术对犬的术后苏醒质量及血液流变学指标的影响效果。本研究将8只健康犬随机分为对照组和针刺组并进行绝育手术，每组各4例。对照组按照正常手术程序进行麻醉并手术，针刺组在对照组处理的基础上，手术结束后苏醒前针刺回阳九针穴。收集两组的苏醒用时、循环和呼吸指标，体温和血液流变学等指标，表示为“均数±标准差”，并采用t检验分析。结果显示，针刺组恢复吞咽反射和首次抬头用时显著低于对照组（P<0.05）；针刺组犬首次抬头时HR显著大于对照组（P<0.05）；针刺组麻醉90 min后血液流变学指标中Hηb 200·s^-1、Hηb 150·s^-1、Mηb 50·s^-1、Mηb 30·s^-1、Lηb 10·s^-1、Lηb 1·s^-1、EDI、ET、高切流阻、中切流阻、低切流阻、QwX、差值与对照组均存在显著差异（P<0.05），Hηr 200·s^-1、Mηr 30·s^-1、Lηr 1·s^-1、BR、Br、EAI、VAI、ERI差异极显著（P<0.01）。表明针刺回阳九针术可以缩短手术犬的苏醒时间、改善苏醒时心率、降低麻醉后血液黏稠度、缓解血液黏度上升等，从而提高犬苏醒质量的作用。     

Upregulation of toll-like receptors in chronic enteropathies in dogs

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to result from a dysregulated interaction between the host immune system and commensal microflora. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), but their role in enteropathies in dogs is unknown. HYPOTHESIS: That there is a dysregulation of TLRs recognizing bacterial MAMPs in dogs with IBD. ANIMALS: Sixteen healthy beagles and 12 dogs with steroid-treated (ST) and 23 dogs with food-responsive (FR) diarrhea. METHODS: Prospective, observational study. mRNA expression of canine TLR2, 4, and 9 was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in duodenal and colonic biopsies obtained before and after standard therapy. Samples from control dogs were taken at necropsy, with additional biopsies of stomach, jejunum, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node in 6 dogs. RESULTS: There were significant differences (P< or = .017) in expression of TLR2, 4, and 9 between the 6 sampled locations in healthy control dogs (lymph node > small intestine > or = colon). Before therapy, ST expressed more mRNA than control dogs for all 3 receptors (P < .05). There were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment values, even though 32/35 dogs improved clinically. No associations were found when comparing receptor mRNA expression with either histology or clinical activity scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Bacteria-responsive TLR2, 4, and 9 are upregulated in duodenal and colonic mucosa in IBD. This might lead to increased inflammation through interaction with the commensal flora. The absence of significant changes after therapy despite clinical improvement might point toward the existence of a genetic predisposition to IBD as described in human IBD.     

Effects of erythromycin on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon of dairy cows

The effects of erythromycin on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon of dairy cows were investigated in a prospective study. Four Simmental x Red-Holstein crossbred cows of similar body weight and condition with seven pairs of bipolar electrodes implanted in the intestine (one each in the distal ileum, caecum and proximal colon, and four in the spiral colon) were included. Erythromycin lactobionate (1 mg kg(-1)) and 0.9% sodium chloride solution (NaCl) were administered to each cow in a random order. Erythromycin was diluted with NaCl and both treatments were administered slowly intravenously over a period of 5 min 1 h after onset of a phase III of the bovine colonic migrating myoelectric complex (bcMMC). A 3-6-day washout period was scheduled between trials. Significant differences between the results of the treatments were observed for spike duration in phase I as well as for spike duration and duration of spiking activity during phase II of the second bcMMC, which were significantly higher after erythromycin treatment than after NaCl. These findings suggest an indirect effect of erythromycin on colonic motility in cattle.     

Pharmacopuncture Versus Acepromazine in Stress Responses of Horses During Road Transport

Acupuncture has been shown to have the beneficial effect of reducing stress responses in animals and humans. Pharmacopuncture is the injection of subclinical doses of drugs into acupoints to give therapeutic results without side effects. This study compared the effects of injecting the usual dose of acepromazine (ACP; 0.1 mg/kg, intramuscularly [I.M.]) with those of pharmacopuncture (1/10 ACP dose at the governing vessel 1 [GV 1] acupoint) on the stress responses of healthy horses undergoing road transport for 2.5 hours. Four different treatments were applied immediately before loading, with 8 animals/treatment: injection of saline or ACP (0.1 mg/kg, I.M.) at the base of the neck; and injection of saline or 1/10 ACP (0.01 mg/kg) at the GV 1 acupoint. The road transport increased heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, body temperature, and serum cortisol of the untreated horses (injected with saline at the base of the neck). Pharmacopuncture at GV 1 reduced the average HR and transport-induced increase in HR at unloading, without changing the other variables. On the other hand, ACP (0.1 mg/kg) produced significant sedation and reduced the transport-induced increase in respiratory rate but without preventing the stress-induced increase of cortisol. Other acupuncture points and drugs should be tested to verify the beneficial effect of this therapy to reduce stress in horses during road transport.     

Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.     

Equine colonic motility: interactions among wall motion, propulsion, and fluid flow

Transmission of intestinal content with respect to wall position and intraluminal pressure was studied using implanted catheters in portions of the haustrated left ventral colon and nonhaustrated pelvic flexure and left dorsal colon in 3 conscious, standing, and feeding ponies. Wall position and content movement was studied in 1 noncatheterized conscious pony that was standing and eating. When coordinated wall movements involving greater than or equal to 30 cm of adjacent colon were seen, point-to-point content movement accompanied intraluminal pressure peaks occurring in the same direction. Near the pelvic flexure, intraluminal pressure peak maximums coincided and reduced colonic diameters and reduced intercatheter distances. Qualitative observation of 3 related aspects of intestinal motility: wall motion, propulsion, and fluid movement can be studied in the conscious feeding pony.     

Atresia coli in calves: 26 cases (1977-1987)

Atresia coli was identified in 26 calves. In calves with abdominal distension, progressive depression, and the absence of feces since birth, atresia coli should be suspected. Surgery was performed on 24 calves, involving decompression of the distended large intestine followed by colonic anastomosis. Nine calves were subsequently discharged; 3 of those calves reached breeding age. As an adult, 1 of the calves produced 5 offspring unaffected by atresia coli. Early postoperative mortality was associated with hypothermia, peritonitis, and ischemic necrosis of the large intestine. Calves with visible signs of peritonitis at surgery had a poor prognosis. Four calves had motility disturbances of the colon after surgery. These were characteristic of a functional obstruction and were unresponsive to treatment. Surgery was most successful in calves that were bright, alert, and ambulatory.     

Detection of apoptotic cells in intestines from horses with and without gastrointestinal tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To identify apoptosis in equine intestines and determine whether apoptosis is associated with gastrointestinal tract disease or a specific tissue layer of intestine. ANIMALS: 38 horses that underwent surgery or were euthanatized for small or large intestine obstruction, strangulation, or distension and 9 control horses euthanatized for reasons other than gastrointestinal tract disease or systemic disease. PROCEDURE: Specimens were collected at surgery from intestine involved in the primary lesion and distant to the primary lesion site or at necropsy from several sites including the primary lesion site. Histologic tissue sections were stained with H&E, and apoptosis was detected by use of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling technique. The number of apoptotic cells per hpf was counted in the mucosa, circular muscle, longitudinal muscle, and serosa. RESULTS: Apoptotic nuclei were seen in all layers of intestine. An increased number of apoptotic cells was found in the circular muscle of the intestine from horses with simple obstruction, compared with strangulating obstruction or healthy intestine. Intestine distant from a primary strangulating lesion had higher numbers of apoptotic cells than did intestine distant from a simple obstructive lesion or intestine taken at the site of a strangulating or simple obstructive lesion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intestine from horses with obstructing or strangulating lesions in the small intestine and large colon had high numbers of apoptotic cells possibly because of ischemic cell injury and subsequent inflammation. Whether substantial apoptosis affects intestinal function is not yet known.     

Follow-up studies by large intestinal biopsies and necropsy in dogs with clinical signs of large bowel disease.

The results of follow-up studies in 77 dogs with clinical signs of large bowel disease are presented. In 32 dogs colonic and/or rectal biopsy follow-up studies were done, combined with necropsy in seven dogs. In 45 dogs a follow-up necropsy only was done. The time between the first and the last series of biopsies varied from three to 729 days and between the first series of biopsies and necropsy from one to 980 days. Colitis found in 45 dogs in the initial biopsies was still present in 29 cases in the follow-up biopsy studies and/or at necropsy. Eleven cases showed hystiocytic ulcerative colitis. In general, adenoma, carcinoma and lymphosarcoma were confirmed in the follow-up examination, except for one adenoma, which appeared to be a carcinoma at necropsy. In cases in which the differential diagnosis was adenoma or carcinoma, the necropsy diagnosis was always carcinoma and in cases of a differential diagnosis of lymphosarcoma and/or colitis, lymphosarcoma was always diagnosed at necropsy. Several dogs without colonic changes in the initial biopsies had other gastric or small intestinal lesions at necropsy such as gastritis and enteritis of the small intestine, or tumors, in these areas.