Neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis in a dog: an angiotropic lymphoma

Neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis was diagnosed in a nine-year-old, intact male German Shorthaired Pointer exhibiting progressive neurological signs over a six-month period. At necropsy, there was multifocal asymmetric, hemorrhagic necrosis within the cerebral hemispheres, centrum semiovale, caudate nucleus, and internal capsule. Histologically, there was extensive intravascular proliferation of pleomorphic mononuclear cells within the brain and multiple parenchymatous organs. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the absence of intercellular junctions between neoplastic cells. These cells were not attached to the vascular lining endothelium; Weibel-Palade bodies and a basement membrane were lacking. By indirect immunofluorescence, positive cytoplasmic staining of intravascular neoplastic cells for IgG was demonstrated. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique for Factor VIII related antigen was negative. As in man, this rare neoplastic disorder appears to be a lymphoma, apparently of the B cell line.     

DECREASED TOXICITY OF COPPER AND MANGANESE IONS TO SHRIMP NAUPLII (Penaeus stylirostris STIMPSON) IN THE PRESENCE OF EDTA

Although ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used routinely in the intensive culture of penaeid shrimp larvae to increase both the percentage of eggs that hatch and the survival of larvae, the mode of action is not known. To explain EDTA's beneficial effect this study compares the toxicities of copper and manganese divalent ions in the presence and absence of 10 mg EDTA/liter seawater. Toxicity was evaluated in terms of the percentage of Penaeus stylirostris nauplii surviving after 12 and 24 hours of exposure to either copper or manganese and in terms of the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to the protozoeal stage. In the absence of EDTA, copper and manganese ions were toxic to nauplii with copper causing 100% mortality at a much lower concentration (20 μM) than manganese (20,000 μM). In the presence of EDTA, survival of nauplii exposed to copper was increased but survival of nauplii exposed to manganese was not affected. At concentrations lower than the levels that reduce survival, copper ions (0.2 μM) and manganese ions (2 μM) reduce the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to protozoea. In the presence of EDTA, the percentage of nauplii that metamorphose to protozoea is increased with both nauplii exposed to copper ions and nauplii exposed to manganese ions. The beneficial effects of EDTA are probably due to the chelation of copper and manganese ions by EDTA. Chelation lowers the free concentration of these ions and thus reduces their toxicities.     

Hypertropic cardiomyopathy and hyperthyroidism in the cat

In a 21/2-year period, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was found at necropsy of 23 cats that died (13 cats) or were euthanatized (10) because of problems associated with hyperthyroidism. Of these, 4 (17%) also had evidence of cardiac failure (pulmonary edema or pleural effusion). The mean body weight of the cats with hyperthyroidism and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was significantly less (P less than 0.001) than that of clinically normal cats and cats with primary cardiomyopathy (congestive or restrictive) or excessive moderator band cardiomyopathy. In addition, the ratio of heart weight to body weight was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) in the 23 hyperthyroid cats than in the normal cats and cats with primary cardiomyopathy. Twenty (87%) of the cats had symmetric hypertrophy of the ventricular septum and left ventricular free wall, whereas the remaining 3 cats had disproportionate thickening of the ventricular septum, compared with the free wall, similar to what is found in cats with asymmetric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Histologic cardiac abnormalities included large, hyperchromatic nuclei, interstitial fibrosis, endocardial fibroplasia, fibrosis of the atrioventricular node, and marked disorganization of cardiac muscle cells. The study showed that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy develops in most hyperthyroid cats, some of which also develop congestive heart failure. Although the signs of heart disease in primary myocardial disease and thyrotoxic disease are similar, the characteristic signalment and clinical signs of hyperthyroidism should lead one to suspect the association of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with the hyperthyroidism.