Use of the advanced micro-osmometer model 3300 for determination of a normal osmolality and evaluation of different formulas for calculated osmolarity and osmole gap in adult dogs

Objective: To determine a reference interval of whole blood and plasma osmolalities for dogs using the Advanced Micro Osmometer Model 3300, to compare calculated osmolarity to measured osmolality, to determine a reference osmole gap, and to determine the best formula for calculated osmolaity. Design: Prospective, observational. Setting: Tertiary referral and teaching hospital. Animals: One hundred healthy adult dogs. Interventions: None. Measurements: Serum and whole blood biochemistry and osmolality assessments. Results: The mean and median of the measured whole blood osmolality were 323 and 320 mOsm/kg, respectively, with a standard deviation of 13.2 mOsm/kg. The mean and median of the measured plasma osmolality were 313 and 310 mOsm/kg, respectively, with a standard deviation of 13.2 mOsm/kg. The formula that was closest to predicting the measured whole blood and plasma osmolality was ((1.86(Na+K))+(BUN/2.8)+(Glucose/18))/0.93 followed closely by the traditional formula of (2(Na+K))+(BUN/2.8)+(Glucose/18). The mean calculated osmolarities using these formulas were 314.1 and 313.25 mOsm/L, respectively. The mean osmole gap using these formulas was 3.49 and 4.41 mOsm, respectively, for whole blood and ?2.01 and ?1.1 mOsm, respectively, for plasma. Conclusion: The Advanced Micro Osmometer Model 3300 was successful in measuring the osmolality in relative agreement with the current published reference intervals for osmolality. Measured osmolality correlated well with traditional calculated osmolarity.     

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.     

MORPHOLOGIC FEATURES OF PEROSOMUS ("SHORT SPINE") IN FARMED SALMON (SALMO SALAR)

This study was done to characterize morphologically the spinal changes in stunted salmon, 1.5–2 years of age, spontaneously appearing in a Swedish fish farm. Radiographic examination and alizarin-alcian blue preparations showed compressed areas of the spine, most often near the dorsal fin. Of the average 50–52 vertebrae, 20–30 were often compressed, resulting in an average shortening of the fish by 23%. The histopathologic character of the shortened spine was a replacement of the chorda (intervertebral pad or disc) with a poorly differentiated hyaline cartilage, in which proliferative and degenerative processes produced a very irregular pattern. The origin of this cartilage, which had severely impaired ossifying capacity, was perichordal and it often had direct connections with the growth centers of the vertebrae. The disappearance of the large strongly convex (spheric) chorda and the arrest of the vertebral endochondral ossification resulted in narrow disc-like vertebrae in contrast to the normal X-shaped ones. The pathologic changes resemble those observed in chondrodystrophic types of perosomus ("short spine") in certain mammals, including humans, and in turkeys.