The effects of ketamine hydrochloride and diazepam on the intraocular pressure and pupil diameter of the dog’s eye

Objective To determine the effects of 10% ketamine hydrochloride and 0.5% diazepam on intraocular pressure (IOP) and horizontal pupil diameter (HPD) in the canine eye. Procedures Ten healthy dogs for each treatment group were used in this study. In the first group, 20 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride was injected intravenously; in the second, 0.5 mg/kg diazepam was similarly injected; and in the third, a control group, 0.9% saline was used. In all groups, IOP and HPD were measured every 5 min for 35 min in the first group, and 60 min in the second and third group. Results A maximum increase in IOP was obtained 5 min after ketamine injection, with IOP of 23.2 ± 5.8 mmHg (a 45.0% increase compared to baseline) in the right eye and 22.9 ± 5.9 mmHg (a 43.5% increase) in the left eye (both significant at P < 0.01). A significant IOP increase was observed throughout the research period of 35 min. Statistically significant increases in HPD (P < 0.05) were observed only at 5 and 25 min after ketamine injection. A significant increase in IOP was obtained 10 min after diazepam injection, showing a maximum IOP 20 ± 5.0 mmHg in the right eye (9.3% increase) and 19.9 ± 5.1 mmHg (8.7% increase) in the left eye (both significant at P < 0.05). HPD decreased during the study period, reaching the lowest level 30 min post‐treatment. Conclusions This study showed a substantial increase in IOP after ketamine injection and a less substantial, but still significant increase after diazepam injection. These findings should be taken into consideration when using these drugs in dogs with fragile corneas, or in dogs predisposed or affected by glaucoma.     

Effect of topical anesthesia on evaluation of corneal sensitivity and intraocular pressure in rats and dogs

Objective To determine the effect of 0.5% proparacaine in tonometry by evaluating corneal touch threshold (CTT) and intraocular pressure (IOP). Animal studied Nine rats (18 eyes, Sprague–Dawley) and 10 dogs (20 eyes, Beagle) Procedures The IOP and CTT were measured in each eye before and after topical anesthesia with 0.5% proparacaine. The IOP was evaluated using Tonopen for dogs and Tonolab for rats. The corneal sensitivity was evaluated by CTT through a Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometer. Results The mean IOP was not significantly changed in rats or dogs before and after topical anesthesia. However, after application of proparacaine, CTT was significantly increased in both animal groups compared with that before application of proparacaine. Conclusion From this study, topical anesthesia was found to significantly lower the corneal sensitivity but have little effect on IOP measurements. In ophthalmologic examination, topical anesthesia can be used to reduce corneal sensation without an effect on IOP.     

Episodic blindness and ataxia in a horse with cholesterinic granulomas

An 11‐year‐old Oldenburg mare presented following three episodes of acute, transient blindness, ataxia, and disorientation within the preceding 7 months. Clinical improvement, including return of vision, occurred within 1 week of initiating corticosteroid therapy for each of the three episodes. However, mild right‐sided miosis was a consistent finding on ophthalmic examinations. Routine clinicopathologic testing revealed no significant abnormalities, and testing of cerebral spinal fluid for selected infectious diseases was unrewarding. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a hyperattenuating mass with peripheral mineralization in the rostroventral aspect of each lateral ventricle. The mare was euthanized due to a guarded to poor prognosis. On histopathology, the masses consisted of clusters of cholesterol clefts admixed with leukocytes, mineral deposits, and connective tissue. Cholesterinic granulomas of the lateral ventricles and hydrocephaly were diagnosed. Cholesterinic granulomas should be considered a differential diagnosis in horses presenting for intermittent blindness.     

Effects of Bacillus subtilis B10 spores on viability and biological functions of murine macrophages

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis B10 spores on the viability and biological functions of murine macrophage. RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated both with and without B. subtilis B10 spores for 12 h. Then cell viability was determined to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of B. subtilis B10 spores to the cells, and the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines were measured to analyze the functions of macrophages. The results showed that B. subtilis B10 spores were not harmful to RAW 264.7 cells and they also strongly enhanced the activities of ACP and LDH (P < 0.01), remarkably increased NO and iNOS production (P < 0.01), and significantly stimulated the secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐12 (P < 0.01) while they reduced anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 (P < 0.01). The outcomes suggest that B. subtilis B10 spores are not only safe for murine macrophages, but also can activate these cells and enhance their immune function. The above findings suggest that B. subtilis B10 spores are potentially probiotic.     

Physiologic and biochemical measurements and response to noxious stimulation at various concentrations of MS‐222 in Koi (Cyprinus carpio)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the physiological effect and response to noxious stimulation at five concentrations of MS-222 in koi (Cyprinus carpio).Study designProspective experimental study.AnimalsTwenty-one healthy adult unknown sex koi fish weighing mean 450 ± SD 120 g.MethodsEach fish was exposed to five different concentrations of MS-222 (50, 70, 110, 150 and 190 mg L^?1) in a random sequence during the same anaesthetic event. For each concentration of MS-222, vital functions such as heart rate (HR) (via Doppler) and opercular rate (OpR) were recorded after a standardized induction period. Response to two noxious stimuli in the form of haemostat clamp pressure applied on the tail and the lip was evaluated, and blood was drawn to measure biochemical and blood gas values.ResultsDecrease in response to noxious stimulation with an increase of MS-222 concentration both for the lip (p = 0.0027) and the tail (p < 0.0001) stimulus was observed. Biochemical values were unaffected by the concentration of MS-222 with the exception of lactate concentration which was weakly correlated with the duration of anaesthesia (r = 0.31, p < 0.001) and the number of times the fish was clamped or bled prior to sampling (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). Opercular rate decreased with the increase in anaesthetic concentration, and HR was not affected.Conclusions and clinical relevanceOur results indicated a decrease in response to stimulus and a decrease in OpR that were associated with increased concentrations of MS-222. This may assist in establishing anaesthetic protocols using MS-222 in fish and supports the use of supramaximal pressure stimuli to teleost fish under variable MS-222 concentrations as a model for future studies.     

Naltrexone does not affect isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration in cats

ObjectiveTo test whether naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, affects the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in cats, a species that is relatively resistant to the general anesthetic sparing effects of most opioids.Study designRandomized, crossover, placebo-controlled, blinded experimental design.AnimalsSix healthy adult cats weighing 4.9 ± 0.7 kg.MethodsThe cats were studied twice. In the first study, baseline isoflurane MAC was measured in duplicate. The drug (saline control or 0.6 mg kg^?1 naltrexone) was administered IV every 40–60 minutes, and isoflurane MAC was re-measured. In the second study, cats received the second drug treatment using identical methods 2 weeks later.ResultsIsoflurane MAC was 2.03 ± 0.12% and was unchanged from baseline following saline or naltrexone administration.Conclusion and clinical relevanceMinimum alveolar concentration was unaffected by naltrexone. Because MAC in cats is unaffected by at least some mu-opioid agonists and antagonists, spinal neurons that are directly modulated by mu-opioid receptors in this species cannot be the neuroanatomic sites responsible for immobility from inhaled anesthetics.     

Bison Versus Cattle: Are They Ecologically Synonymous?

Historically, the plains bison (Bison bison Linnaeus) was the most numerous and influential grazer on the Great Plains. Today 500 000 bison occupy North America among more than 100 000 000 cattle. In an attempt to restore their historical ecological role, bison are translocated onto landscapes previously manipulated for cattle use through water and fence development. We hypothesized that bison would use these landscapes similarly to cattle, thus maintaining homogenous grazing and reducing the restoration potential of bison at a landscape scale. We quantified differences between bison populations at different locations and spatial scales (American Prairie Reserve, Malta, Montana, USA, and Grasslands National Park, Val Marie, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2010–2011) and bison and cattle at similar locations and spatial scales using behavioral observations, movement analyses, and resource selection functions. Bison and cattle differed in all behaviors (grazing, standing, bedded, moving, other); however, landscape attributes resulted in behavior differences within species. Cattle spent a higher proportion of time grazing (45–49%) than bison (26–28%) and increased time at water. Bison moved at a 50–99% faster rate than cattle, and first passage time movement analyses identified selection of bison foraging patches (11 690 ha) larger than cattle foraging patches (48–615 ha). Similar to cattle, bison avoided most vegetation communities in relation to riparian communities and selected areas closer to water. Cattle selected for high plant biomass, whereas bison selected for intermediate plant biomass. This study has implications when bison and cattle are used to meet prairie restoration objectives. For bison, large landscapes that include variation in topography and vegetation communities are required. Furthermore, limiting manmade water sources may facilitate bison grazing patterns that more closely approximate historical bison use. For livestock, reduced movement and increased time spent grazing encourage grazing practices that increase heterogeneous grazing at a pasture scale.