Comparison of feasibility and safety of epidural catheterization between cranial and caudal lumbar vertebral segments in dogs

To compare the technical difficulty and safety of epidural catheterization between cranial and caudal lumbar region, thirteen dogs were randomly assigned to a cranial lumbar group (group CraL, n=6) or a caudal lumbar group (group CauL, n=6) depending on different epidural sites, and one dog was used as a negative control without catheterization. After general anesthesia, an epidural catheter was advanced 10 cm cranially from the interspace of L1-L2 in group CraL or from lumbosacral space in group CauL. Dogs were euthanized and catheter position and tip location were confirmed by laminectomy. Spinal cord samples were examined by macro- and microscopic observations. Success rate, time taken for epidural space confirmation and catheter insertion were compared, and overall technical difficulty was evaluated subjectively. Epidural catheter was inserted successfully in all dogs. Time needed from needle skin puncture to catheter placement and saline injection was 226 ± 63 and 229 ± 26 sec in groups CraL and CauL without significant differences. Three dogs in group CraL suffered subcutaneous blood, but no spinal cord injuries were found. Subjective evaluation score of the overall technical difficulty was slightly but significantly higher in group CraL than in group CauL (P=0.009). Epidural catheterization in cranial lumbar region could be performed as feasible and safe as that at the caudal lumbar vertebral region in medium or large dogs.     

Downgrading of heavy broiler chicken carcasses due to myodegeneration of the anterior latissimus dorsi: pathologic and epidemiologic studies

Recently, in some Brazilian poultry companies, a dorsal cranial muscular lesion has been increasingly detected in broilers, causing heavy economic losses due to carcass downgrading. The observed gross lesions located in the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle are characterized by yellowish discoloration of the skin and swelling on the dorsal cranial region of that muscle. When the ALD muscle is cut, subcutaneous edema, muscular superficial hemorrhage, pallor, adherence, and increased thickness and density are observed. Microscopically, findings indicate degenerative and polyphasic features, variation in fiber size and splitting, presence of hyaline, necrotic and regenerative myofibers, extensive fibrosis, and adipose tissue with lymphohistiocytic infiltration in all ALD muscles affected. The etiology of the lesion is unknown, and no detailed report was found in literature. The highest frequency of carcass downgrading due to this lesion was found in the heaviest and the oldest males of high-yield broiler strains (P < 0.01). This study is the first to describe the pathologic and some epidemiologic aspects of this new myopathy.     

Scanning electron microscopic observation of the architecture of collagen fibres in chicken M. iliotibialis lateralis

1. The collagen architecture of M. iliotibialis lateralis in chicken was observed under the scanning electron microscope after muscle maceration in NaOH. 2. Immunohistochemical methods showed Type I and III collagens to be distributed over both perimysium and endomysium. 3. Thick perimysium around secondary myofibre fasciculi was composed of many large longitudinal collagen bundles and a few small circumferential bundles. In contrast, thin perimysium around primary myofibre fasciculi showed mainly circumferential bundles. 4. Endomysium had a honeycomb-like structure and consisted of a fine collagen mesh, its main fibre striation being circumferential. 5. It is suggested that functional demand differs between thick perimysium and thin endomysium.     

Morphometric analysis of the cranial cavity and caudal cranial fossa in the dog: a computerized tomographic study.

This investigation was initiated to develop a reliable and simple computerized tomography (CT) method for evaluating the morphometry of the cranial cavity (CC) and caudal cranial fossa in the dog. We obtained linear, area, and volume measurements of the entire CC and the caudal fossa compartment in 24 dogs, using transverse and reformatted sagittal and dorsal CT images. The ratios between the CC and the caudal fossa volumes were calculated, as were the ratios between the CC and caudal fossa midsagittal (MS) areas. There were statistically significant correlations between absolute volume data and certain linear measurements, a positive correlation between volume ratio and weight, and significant differences in absolute volume values and volume ratio between males and females. The volume ratio, MS area, and certain linear measurements included in this study can be considered as accurate parameters to evaluate the relative size of the CC to caudal fossa in the dog. Such quantitative measures may be useful in systematically characterizing Chiari-type malformations and other developmental anomalies in the dog.     

黄花苜蓿和紫花苜蓿分子核型比较

黄花苜蓿(Medicago falcata L. 2n=32)是一种重要的野生豆科牧草,由于其突出的抗逆特性,被认为是用来进行苜蓿改良的优异遗传资源。本研究利用染色体荧光原位杂交技术(FISH),以不同荧光物标记的3种重复序列(5S rDNA,45S rDNA和C₀t-1 DNA),对黄花苜蓿和和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L. 2n=32)染色体进行了FISH分析和分子核型比较,以期在染色体水平上揭示二者之间的亲缘关系。结果表明:利用上述重复序列可以较好的将苜蓿32条染色体区分为16对特征不同的染色体。黄花苜蓿和紫花苜蓿绝大多数染色体FISH杂交特征表现一致或高度相似性,分子核型无显著区别,因此二者间在遗传上具有高度的相似性。     

Histochemical properties and collagen architecture of M. iliotibialis lateralis and M. puboischiofemoralis in male broilers with different growth rates induced by feeding at different planes of nutrition

1. The histochemical properties and the collagen content and architecture of the iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) and puboischiofemoralis (PIF) muscles were assessed in Red Cornish x New Hampshire cockerels reared on a high nutrient plane for 80 d (H80d), or a low nutrient plane for 80 d (L80d) or 95 d (L95d). 2. Final live weights were 3410 g in H80d, 2810 g in L80d and 3467 g in L95d. Both ITL and PIF muscle weights were lowest in L80d and did not differ between H80d and L95d. 3. ITL muscle was composed of fast-twitch myofibres such as IIA (high reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase, NADH-DH activity), IIB (low NADH-DH activity) and IIC (intermediate NADH-DH activity). The high percentage of type IIB myofibres in H80d (76.6%) and L95d (76.2%) birds were reflected in low percentages of type IIC myofibres (12.2%) in H80d birds and type IIA myofibres (8.2%) in L95d birds. Percentages of IIA, IIB and IIC myofibres in L80d cockerels were 12.4, 69.8 and 17.6%, respectively. 4. The myofibres in PIF muscle were divided into two basic types, I and IIA, and a transitional form (I-tr) from IIA to I. In the caudal region, all myofibres in H80d and L95d cockerels were type I but in L80d cockerels 15% of myofibres were categorised as type I-tr. In the cranial region, the great majority (52 to 63%) of myofibres were type IIA. Type I myofibres occurred at a higher percentage in H80d (30.5%) than L95d (21.8%) and type I-tr in L95d (15.7%) than H80d (7.3%) and L80d (11.5%). 5. The total amount of collagen was higher in ITL than PIF muscle in every bird group. In both muscles the highest collagen content was in L95d cockerels but the content did not differ between H80d and L80d birds. The thickness of thick and thin perimysia increased with muscle size. The circular collagen fibre in the thick perimysium was larger in ITL (6.1 to 7.0 microm) than PIF (3.7 to 3.8 microm) muscle but did not differ among the bird groups. 6. From these results, it was concluded that feeding on a high nutritional plane promotes growth of the thigh muscles, with accompanying enlargement of the perimysial thickness, no increase in collagen content and various changes of histochemical properties.     

Cardiac musculature of the cranial and caudal venae cavae and the pulmonary vein in the fowl.

The cardiac musculature of cranial and caudal venae cavae and pulmonary vein was examined to clarify its distribution pattern in the fowl using both light and electron microscopies. The musculature was distributed from the heart to the root of subclavian vein in the cranial vena cava, to the cranial margin of the liver in the caudal vena cava, and to the left and right distal pulmonary veins in the pulmonary vein, respectively. Judging from the morphology and distribution pattern in the venous wall, the cardiac musculature in the fowl is thought to share the same phylogenic origin with that in mammals. The ultrastructure of cardiac myocytes including transitional cells in the cranial vena cava and the pulmonary vein resembled that of atrial myocytes. While, the typical specialized myocytes such as Purkinje fiber were found in the caudal vena cava of the fowl.     

快速与慢速肉鸡脂肪生长与肌苷酸含量比较

本试验旨在相同条件下,比不同品种和性别肉鸡的脂肪生长量和肌苷酸含量及其相互关系。比较发现:(1)快速与慢速肉鸡的各项脂肪指标均无显著差异(p>0.05),但慢速鸡的肌肉脂肪、皮下脂肪和腹脂率分别比快速鸡高7%、13%和37%;(2)慢速肉鸡肌苷酸含量比快速高50%,且差异显著(p<0.05);(3)母鸡皮下脂肪(p<0.01)和腹脂率(p<0.05)显著高于公鸡,母鸡肌间和肌肉脂肪也分别高于公鸡6%和12%(p>0.05);(4)肌苷酸与腹脂率存在显著正相关(r=0.61,p<0.05)。     

猪宰后不同部位PSE肉与正常肉蛋白质变化的比较

为了研究猪宰后不同部位PSE肉与正常肉的蛋白质变化,为猪肉品质调控与PSE肉形成的研究提供参考,选取宰后背最长肌、股二头肌均为正常肉或PSE肉的175日龄杜长大阉公猪各6头,测定24 h内肌肉的pH值、离心失水率、蛋白质溶解度、钙蛋白酶活性及SDS-PAGE分析。结果表明:背最长肌正常肉的总蛋白溶解度显著高于PSE肉的总蛋白溶解度(P0.05),PSE肉肌浆蛋白溶解度24 h内变化不显著(P0.05),背最长肌正常肉的肌原纤维蛋白溶解度高于PSE肉;宰后0 h,股二头肌的钙蛋白酶活性显著高于背最长肌(P0.05),宰后8 h内正常肉的钙蛋白酶活性显著高于PSE肉(P0.05);正常肉与PSE肉的肌原纤维蛋白SDS-PAGE条带差异较大,肌浆蛋白SDS-PAGE差异不明显。结果提示:PSE肉与正常肉蛋白的变化差异主要在于肌原纤维蛋白,且股二头肌与背最长肌相比肌原纤维蛋白分解快;不同部位正常肉与PSE肉肌浆蛋白无明显降解。     

Myofibre composition and total collagen content in M. iliotibialis lateralis and M. pectoralis of Silkie and White Leghorn chickens

1. Using adult Silkie and White Leghorn (WL) chickens, fibre composition and total collagen content were compared between M. iliolibialis lateralis (ITL) and M. pectoralis (PT). 2. Fibres were divided into type IIR and IIW showing strong and weak reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase activities, respectively. 3. Fibre composition differed markedly between ITL and PT muscle. ITL muscle was composed of both types IIR and IIW fibre but PT muscle of only type IIW Breed difference on composition was noted only in ITL muscle of cocks (type IIR; Silkie 53.8% and WL 37.0%). 4. Total collagen content was greater in ITL muscles and in cocks in both muscles. However, a breed difference was observed only in the PT muscle of hens. 5. In conclusion, the total collagen content was affected by muscle location within the body and by sex rather than by fibre composition.     

三段冷却方式对淘汰奶牛背最长肌宰后生化变化和嫩度的影响

分别取淘汰奶牛的左侧背最长肌,在2℃冷却24h作为对照组;右侧背最长肌在2℃冷却3h,15℃冷却6h,然后在2℃冷却15h(三段冷却方式),作为处理组。测定结果显示,对照组的肌肉中心温度宰后10h时已降至4.1℃,处理组肌肉中心温度在宰后3⁹h维持在(16±0.5)℃范围内,到宰后13.5h降到4℃。处理组宰后8和24h的肌糖原含量显著低于对照组,宰后8h处理组的pH值显著低于对照组。这一结果表明,宰后4h开始处理组的肌糖原分解速度快于对照组,从而加快宰后处理组pH值的降低速度。处理组宰后8,24,48h的肌节长度显著大于对照组,宰后1和3d的剪切力值显著低于对照组。这一结果提示,淘汰奶牛宰后在2℃持续冷却,可能导致背最长肌的严重冷收缩,从而对嫩度产生负面影响,三段冷却方式可以改善淘汰奶牛宰后嫩度品质。     

Bronchoalveolar lavage of cranial and caudal lung regions in selected normal calves: cellular, microbiological, immunoglobulin, serological and histological variables.

Of a group of 30 clinically normal male Holstein calves two to eight weeks of age, six two week old and six four week old calves met various radiographical and clinicopathological criteria for normality. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy on cranial and caudal lung regions in all 30 calves and samples analyzed for free cells, microorganisms, and immunoglobulins. Lateral chest radiographs and lung biopsies were also conducted on each calf. Calves were euthanized and necropsied ten days after bronchoalveolar lavage was conducted. Reported in this paper are results from the 12 normal calves. Microorganisms were present in small numbers in the lower respiratory tract of some normal calves. There were no differences in the above parameters between cranial and caudal lobes. There were statistically significant changes in bronchoalveolar lavage cell proportions with age although there were no detectable differences in clinical signs. Four week old calves had a lower percentage of macrophages and a higher percentage of epithelial cells than two week old animals (p less than 0.05). There was also a trend toward an increased percentage of neutrophils in older calves but this was not significant (p greater than 0.05). Total bronchoalveolar lavage protein also appeared to increase with age (p less than 0.05). In both groups a higher proportion of IgG2 in bronchoalveolar lavage compared to serum was found, suggesting the presence of a local selective transfer mechanism into respiratory secretions.     

Comparison of lidocaine, xylazine, and xylazine/lidocaine for caudal epidural analgesia in horses.

Caudal epidural analgesia was achieved in 6 adult horses on 3 successive occasions at weekly intervals by injection of lidocaine, xylazine, and a combination of lidocaine/xylazine through indwelling epidural catheters. Analgesia was defined as a lack of response to pinprick and hemostat pressure in the skin of the perineal area. A significant (P < 0.05) difference was not found for time of onset of analgesia between lidocaine (4.3 +/- 0.8 minutes, mean +/- SEM) and the lidocaine/xylazine combination (5.3 +/- 1.3 minutes). Time to onset of analgesia after administration of xylazine was significantly (P < 0.05) longer (32.0 +/- 3.4 minutes) than that for either of the other 2 treatments. Duration of analgesia was significantly (P < 0.05) longer for the combination (329.8 +/- 6.2 minutes) than for either drug used alone (lidocaine, 87.2 +/- 7.5 minutes; xylazine, 204.2 +/- 12.9 minutes). Pulse and respiratory rates were not significantly altered by any of the drugs. Neurologic sequelae were not clinically apparent after administration of the drugs or after chronic epidural catheterization.     

In vitro effect of different mediators of apoptosis on canine cranial and caudal cruciate ligament fibroblasts and its reversibility by pancaspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk

Primary fibroblast cultures of canine cranial (CCL) and caudal (CaCL) cruciate ligaments were stimulated with different apoptosis inducers with or without preincubation of the pancaspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk. In contrast to CaCL fibroblasts, fibroblasts from CCL were significantly more susceptible to apoptosis inducers of the intrinsic pathway like doxorubicin, cisplatin and nitric oxide (NO)-donors and to Fas ligand (FasL), an apoptosis inducer of the death receptor pathway. Apoptotic response to staurosporine and the peroxynitrite donor GEA was similar in both ligament fibroblasts. Stimulation with dexamethasone or TNFα could not induce apoptosis in CCL and CaCL fibroblasts, in spite of present TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors. zVAD.fmk was able to prevent apoptosis in up to 66% of CCL cells when treated with FasL, cisplatin or doxorubicin but it had no effect on NO or peroxynitrite induced apoptosis. In conclusion, differential susceptibility to apoptotic triggers like FasL or NO between cranial and caudal cruciate ligament fibroblasts in vitro may be a reflection of the different susceptibilities to degenerative rupture of the ligament. These findings indicate that a general caspase inhibition does not completely protect canine CCL cells from apoptosis.     

Comparison of collagen content, distribution and architecture among the pectoralis, iliotibialis lateralis and puboischiofemoralis muscles with different myofiber composition in Silky cocks

The total amount of collagen, the relative distributions of types I and III collagens in perimysium and endomysium, and the collagen fiber architecture were compared among the pectoralis (PT), iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) and puboischiofemoralis (PIF) muscles in Silky cocks. All of the myofibers in the PT muscle were type IIB, the myofibers in the ITL muscle were divided into type IIA, 41.7% and IIB, 58.3%, and the PIF muscle was composed of type I, 24.6%; IIA, 64.6%; and transitional, 10.8%. The total amount of collagen differed significantly among the PT (2.92 mg/g), PIF (4.20 mg/g) and ITL (8.06 mg/g) material, where only the PIF was a whole muscle with epimysium. On the image analysis of the immunohistochemical preparations, the percentage area of perimysial collagen to the total area in each type differed significantly among the PIF, PT and ITL muscles, where it was 26.8, 50.0 and 74.4% for the type I collagen and 27.4, 32.9 and 61.7% for the type III collagen, respectively. In the scanning electron micrography of the perimysium in macerated preparations, thick bundles of collagen fibers were observed in the ITL muscle, thinner but broad platelets in the PT muscle, and a coarse tissue of thinner collagen fibers in the PIF muscle. However, the endomysial fabric of collagen fibrils was similar among the muscles. Small, transverse collagen fibers, which branched off from the thicker perimysia, occupied narrow interendomysial spaces and separated the primary myofiber fasciculi. The results indicate that the ITL muscle, localized in the distorted and overextended part of the leg and subject to strong external forces, had highly developed perimysial collagen fiber bundles, but the ITL endomysial collagen architecture was similar to that of the PT and PIF muscles.     

Comparison of tibial plateau angle between clinically normal Greyhounds and Labrador Retrievers with and without rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament

OBJECTIVE: To compare tibial plateau angle (TPA) between Greyhounds without damage to the cranial cruciate ligaments and Labrador Retrievers with and without damage to the cranial cruciate ligaments. DESIGN: Clinical study. ANIMALS: 87 client-owned dogs and 15 research colony Greyhounds. PROCEDURE: Standing position, horizontal-beam radiography was performed on Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers to determine standing TPA. Lateral radiography of the stifle joint was performed on all dogs to determine traditional TPA. Age and body weight were recorded for unaffected and affected Labrador Retrievers. RESULTS: Greyhounds had mean standing TPA of 1.56 degrees and mean traditional TPA of 22.50 degrees. Unaffected Labrador Retrievers had mean standing TPA of 3.52 degrees and traditional TPA of 27.97 degrees. Affected Labrador Retrievers had mean traditional TPA of 25.55 degrees. No significant difference was found in mean standing TPA between Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers. Standing TPAs in Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers were not significantly different from a plane drawn parallel to the ground. Significant differences in traditional TPAs were detected among all 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Greyhounds had mean traditional TPA of 22.50 degrees; similar angles should be considered normal for dogs. Although affected Labrador Retrievers had mean traditional TPA that was significantly greater than that of Greyhounds, the steepest TPA was found in unaffected Labrador Retrievers. Because Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers had similar standing TPAs, we conclude that although TPA may be associated with damage to the cruciate ligaments, many dogs with a steep TPA do not develop cruciate ligament disease.     

Comparative studies on the histochemical properties of M. iliotibialis lateralis from Kumamoto Cochin crossbred roaster and broiler chickens

1. Histochemical properties of M. iliotibialis lateralis were compared between Kumamoto Cochin (a Japanese native breed) crossbred roasters (KC roasters, 112 d of age) and normal broilers (56 d of age).

2. Myofibres were divided into Types II‐R, II‐I and II‐W showing high, moderate and low reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH‐DH) activities, respectively.

3. Subsarcolemmal formazan granules indicating very strong NADH‐DH activity in Type II‐R fibres were observed only in KC roasters. In both sexes the percentage of Type II‐R fibres present was greater in KC roasters than in broilers.

4. These results indicated marked differences in histochemical properties and meat quality between KC roasters and broilers.     

Fibre structure and metabolites in M. longissimus dorsi of Wild Boar, Pietrain and Meishan pigs as well as their crossbred generations

Fibre traits and glycolytic metabolites in musculus longissimus dorsi of European Wild Boar, Pietrain and Meishan as well as their F₁ and F₂ crossbred generations were evaluated and compared. Pietrain had the highest relative number of white fibres and the largest muscle fibres. Wild Boar showed the smallest muscle fibres. The R -value and lactate level of Wild Boar and Meishan were low, whereas Pietrain had high R -values and lactate levels. The glycogen level was highest in Wild Boar and lowest in Meishan. The F₁- and F₂-crossbreds often had trait values between those of their founder breeds. Several antagonistic relations between fibre characteristics, muscle metabolites and performance traits for carcass and meat quality have been found. They are family-specific and strongest within the crossbreds of the Pietrain-based families.