Fascicular nerve biopsy in the dog

A nerve fascicular biopsy technique that preserves the functional integrity of the parent nerve is reported in the dog. Fascicular biopsies from ulnar and peroneal nerves did not produce clinical sensory or motor deficits. Electrodiagnostic testing for the modalities of latency, duration, amplitude, and conduction velocities were not markedly altered after fascicular biopsies. Morphometric analysis of muscle fiber types, delineated by histochemic techniques, revealed no statistical (P greater than 0.05) difference between muscles from biopsied or control limbs. Fascicular biopsies resulted in small neuromas in all dogs.     

Muscle biopsy using the muscle punch--removal technique, transport and evaluation ability

Histopathological striated muscle examination is one of the most important and sensitive tests in diagnosis of muscle and/or nerve diseases. Although muscle biopsy is a relatively easy procedure, it is not frequently performed in small animal practice conditions. Different biopsy techniques have been described in veterinary literature. Punch biopsy of striated muscle appears to be a less invasive and quicker method in comparison with traditional surgical excision technique. Additionally, punch biopsy provide good quality and adequate amount of muscle tissue for diagnostic histopathological evaluation. The aim of this study is to describe striated muscle punch biopsy technique and to encourage use of it under the conditions of small animal practice. The described biopsy method can be specially advantageous in screening of inherited muscle diseases in affected litters or even wider animal population.     

Muscle biopsy samples for histochemical processing: alterations induced by storage

Skeletal muscle samples from two healthy dogs were stored in ice at 0 C for up to 30 hours to examine the influence of time on cell morphology and morphometry. Cytochemical and histochemical properties of muscle to 18 hours were not markedly different from fresh frozen tissue. Samples stored to 30 hours were still satisfactory, despite a decline and unevenness in depth of staining. Morphometry from samples stored at 0 C for 6 hours or longer is not recommended, due to the statistically significant increase in diameter (from 21 to 25%) of type I and type II fibers.     

Muscle potentials evoked by magnetic stimulation of the sciatic nerve in unilateral sciatic nerve dysfunction

Magnetic stimulation of the sciatic nerve and subsequent recording of the muscle-evoked potential (MEP) was performed in eight dogs and three cats with unilateral sciatic nerve dysfunction. Localisation of the lesion in the sciatic nerve was based on the history, clinical neurological examination and on results of electromyography examination. Aetiology of the sciatic nerve lesion was diverse. A significant difference was found in MEP between the normal and the affected limbs. In addition, absence of conscious pain sensation, absence of voluntary motor function and a poor outcome seemed associated with the inability to evoke an MEP in the affected limb.     

Lung biopsy.

There are many techniques that can be used to arrive at a diagnosis in dogs and cats with signs referable to the pulmonary system. Biopsy of the pulmonary parenchyma remains the technique of choice when a diagnosis is absolutely required; it is also the technique with the greatest potential for serious complications during and after the procedure. This potential caused most veterinarians to refrain from performing biopsy in the majority of their respiratory cases. Nevertheless, newer, sophisticated biopsy equipment and techniques are now available, with lower complication rates. As more veterinarians become comfortable with this technology, pulmonary biopsy will become more commonplace, and more definitive diagnosis will be obtained. This will benefit the client, the patient, the practitioner, and the profession.     

Peripheral nerve biopsy for diagnosis of globoid cell leukodystrophy in a dog

Saphenous nerve biopsy was performed to diagnose globoid cell leukodystrophy in a 3-month-old West Highland White Terrier. The dog had progressive neurologic disease that appeared to involve the cerebellum, spinal cord, and lower motor neurons to the hind limbs. Light and transmission electron microscopic findings of the nerve biopsy specimen established the diagnosis. Peripheral nerve biopsy may provide a reliable antemortem method for diagnosis of globoid cell leukodystrophy.     

Renal biopsy: methods and interpretation.

Renal biopsy most often is indicated in the management of dogs and cats with glomerular disease or acute renal failure. Renal biopsy can readily be performed in dogs and cats via either percutaneous or surgical methods. Care should be taken to ensure that proper technique is used. When proper technique is employed and patient factors are properly addressed, renal biopsy is a relatively safe procedure that minimally affects renal function. Patients should be monitored during the post biopsy period for severe hemorrhage, the most common complication. Accurate diagnosis of glomerular disease, and therefore, accurate treatment planning,requires that the biopsy specimens not only be evaluated by light microscopy using special stains but by electron and immunofluorescent microscopy.     

Muscle metabolic changes associated with long-term inhalation anaesthesia in the horse analysed by muscle biopsy and microdialysis techniques

During anaesthesia in the horse, muscle blood flow has been found to be reduced, possibly leading to hypoxia or ischaemia in the muscle. The aim of this study was to use the muscle biopsy and microdialysis techniques to determine whether long-term inhalation anaesthesia in laterally recumbent horses induces metabolic changes in gluteal muscle indicative of anaerobic metabolism. Muscle biopsies and plasma samples were taken from seven horses at the start and end of halothane anaesthesia. In six isoflurane-anaesthetised horses, given three pharmacological provocations (dobutamine, detomidine, acepromazine), repeated blood samples and microdialysis was performed during anaesthesia and muscle biopsies were taken before and at the end of anaesthesia. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate (IMP) creatine phosphate and lactate concentrations did not differ between dependent and non-dependent muscles at either sampling time. Creatine phosphate decreased in both the halothane (-38%) and isoflurane (-28%) group. In the halothane group, ATP was decreased (-15%) at the end of anaesthesia, while IMP was increased (+32%). Lactate in muscle and plasma increased in both groups. Lactate in dialysate increased after induction and remained elevated above plasma concentrations. These results show that long-term inhalation anaesthesia in horses is associated with an anaerobic metabolic response within the muscle and that microdialysis can be used to detect metabolic changes within the muscle during equine anaesthesia.     

Muscle disorders and rehabilitation in canine athletes.

Muscle disorders associated with physical exertion in human athletes include delayed-onset muscle soreness, muscle strain, muscle tears, rhabdomyolysis, and acute and chronic compartment syndromes. Given that the structure of muscle is similar among different species, it is reasonable to expect that dogs experience the same phenomena. This article focuses on several of the muscle disorders of bird dogs, namely, coccygeal muscle injury and infraspinatus muscle contracture, and on those of dogs involved in tracking-obedience-protection training, namely, fibrotic myopathy, with an additional discussion of muscle strain. For injury prevention, one important area that can be adapted to canine athletes is the incorporation of warm-up and cool-down into the training program.     

Renal biopsy in the pig.

In the pig, needle renal biopsy proved a safe and simple procedure which caused little discomfort to the animal. It proved a valuable method for following serial changes in renal histology and can therefore be applied to the study of both spontaneous and experimental renal diseases in pigs.     

Percutaneous lung biopsy in cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To determine safety of lung biopsy in healthy cattle and compare 3 biopsy instruments for suitability of use. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 60 healthy cows. PROCEDURE: Bilateral lung biopsy through the ninth intercostal space was attempted in all cows. The procedure was performed with cows standing and restrained by an assistant. To study the short-term effects of lung biopsy, 50 cows were slaughtered 1 day after the procedure and examined. To study the long-term effects of lung biopsy, the remaining 10 cows were examined daily for 10 days and then slaughtered. Three biopsy instruments--the Autovac biopsy cannula, the Tru-Cut needle, and the Bard Biopty-System--were evaluated. RESULTS: 2 cows collapsed momentarily during the procedure but recovered quickly. The remaining cows did not develop adverse effects, and general attitude and condition were not affected. Postmortem examination of the 50 cows slaughtered 1 day after the procedure revealed lesions < or = 5.0 mm long and with a surface area < or = 4.0 mm2 at 108 of 154 (71%) biopsy sites involving the pulmonary pleura. Biopsy specimens were obtained during 48 of 50 (96%) procedures in which the Tru-Cut needle was used, during 38 of 39 (97%) procedures in which the Bard Biopty-System was used, and during only 1 of 11 biopsy procedures in which the Autovac cannula was used. At postmortem examination of the 10 cows slaughtered 10 days after the procedure, lesions were seen as small scars; adhesions were not observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Percutaneous lung biopsy is a safe procedure in healthy cows.     

Retinal and optic nerve diseases.

Basic knowledge of the normal appearance and variations of the equine fundus coupled with frequent practice in ophthalmology will allow equine practitioners to be confident when assessing the equine fundus during ophthalmic examinations. Once the normal variations are mastered, appreciation of retinal, choroidal, optic nerve, and vitreal abnormalities is possible. Congenital and acquired lesions of the equine retina, optic nerve, and vitreous are discussed and illustrated.     

Equine laryngeal hemiplegia. Part IV. Muscle pathology

This study confirmed that neurogenic muscle pathology exists in intrinsic laryngeal muscles supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerves in horses subclinically and clinically affected with laryngeal hemiplegia. An important additional observation was the occurrence in three out of four laryngeal hemiplegic horses of neurogenic muscle changes in a hindlimb muscle, the extensor digitorum longus, a muscle supplied by another long peripheral nerve. This finding suggests that a polynenropathy exists in laryngeal hemiplegic horses, and supports the classification of this disease as a distal axonopathy. Comparison of the degree of pathology in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles and that of the recurrent laryngeal nerves innervating them, demonstrated a strong correlation between the extent of damage in the distal left recurrent laryngeal nerve and the overall degree of muscle pathology. The muscle damage in clinically affected horses is a reflection of the nerve damage present in the most distal portion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The more variable pathological changes found in proximal levels of the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves probably reflects the ongoing nature of the pathological process affecting nerve fibres. The existence of a subclinically affected group of horses, the earliest involvement of an adductor, the left cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle, and the presence of changes in the right intrinsic laryngeal muscles all confirmed the findings of previous workers.     

Consequences of Selection on Muscle Composition. A Comparative Study on Gracilis Muscle in Wild and Domestic Pigs

European domestic pigs are derived from the European wild pig by genetic selection and differ in their muscular-growth ability. Thus, it was the aim of this study to investigate the consequences of genetic selection on muscle composition and fibre size in the gracilis muscle. Fibre typing based on the ATPase reaction revealed that this muscle in wild pigs is composed mainly of type-I and -IIa fibres, whereas, in domestic pigs, type-IIb fibres were predominant. For all fibre types, domestic pigs had about threefold larger fibres than wild pigs. Type-I fibres tended to be the smallest fibres in domestic pigs, but the largest fibres in wild pigs, which may be due to long-term training effects in the free-ranging animals. Giant fibres as an indicator of degeneration were obvious only in the domestic-pig samples. Their occurrence, as well as the larger fibre size and the predominance of type-IIb fibres in domestic pigs, may be ascribed to high concentrations of growth hormone. It is concluded that selection for muscular growth may favour metabolic dysbalances within the muscle and, therefore, degenerative processes.