Ultrasonographic appearance of torsion of a testicular seminoma in a cryptorchid dog

An intra-abdominal testicular tumour was diagnosed in a 10-year-old, male, cryptorchid golden retriever. Upon surgical removal, torsion of the testis was found. The histopathological diagnosis was seminoma. The ultrasound examination in this case revealed a parenchymal mass lesion. An ultrasound examination is a useful supplemental diagnostic tool for differentiation of abdominal mass lesions.     

Use of a flexed dorsoplantar radiographic view of the talocrural joint to evaluate lameness in two dogs.

A flexed dorsoplantar radiographic view of the talocrural joint was a useful additional view to diagnose abnormalities of the lateral trochlear ridge of the talus of 2 dogs. This view outlined the subchondral bone of both trochlear ridges of the talus and the apposing cochlea tibiae of the distal portion of the tibia. The tarsus was flexed at the level of the talocrural joint, and an x-ray beam was centered on the joint. With this additional view, fractures of the lateral trochlear ridge were readily diagnosed. This view would help to demonstrate osteochondral lesions of the lateral trochlear ridge.     

DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF THE DOG

A group of 160 Beagles were studied radiographically to determine the pattern of degenerative changes within the vertebral column, especially involving the intervertebral discs. The normal radiographic appearance of both disc and surrounding vertebrae is described. Disc space narrowing and calcification of discal tissues provide radiographic patterns that assist in diagnosis and prognosis. Because of the older age of the dogs, severe degeneration of the endplates with marked instability between vertebral segments was seen.     

COMPARISON OF FAST SPIN-ECHO AND CONVENTIONAL SPIN-ECHO MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPINAL IMAGING TECHNIQUES IN FOUR NORMAL DOGS

Various magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques have been used to assess lumbar spinal abnormalities in people. Four, young adult, clinically normal dogs were used to compare images of the spinal cord acquired using conventional spin-echo and rapid acquisition relaxation-enhanced (RARE), commonly called fast spin-echo (FSE), magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Lateral myelograms were made as an anatomic control. The T2-weighted FSE technique was characterized by better image quality than the T2-weighted conventional spin-echo technique. The short acquisition time with the FSE technique allowed increases in the matrix size and number of excitations, thus improving resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. In canine lumbar spinal MR imaging, use of a FSE technique is recommended to reduce the overall time for imaging and to improve image quality.     

Trans-endothelial and trans-epithelial transfer of lactoferrin into the brain through BBB and BCSFB in adult rats

The transportation of intravenously administered bovine lactoferrin (bLF) into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was immunohistochemically investigated in adult rats. Administered bLF was detected in the vesicular membranes of endothelial cells in cerebral blood vessels 10 min after the infusion. Numerous immunoreactive small vesicles were also detected at the ependymal cells in the choroid plexus. Moreover, the bLF concentration in the CSF was significantly increased at 1-2 hr after the intravenous infusion of bLF (10 or 30 mg/kg). These findings clearly demonstrate that LF is possibly transported into the brain matter even in adult animals.     

Spondylosis deformans in the female beagle dog: A radiographic study

Spondylosis deformans is a generalised disease of ageing resulting in formation of bony osteophytes around degenerating intervertebral discs throughout the vertebral column. It is noninflammatory and needs to be differentiated from spondylitis, which is either an infectious or noninfectious inflammatory process. Lateral radiographs of 310 female beagle dogs from a closed colony showed development of spondylosis deformans that was age-dependent and located principally at discs numbers 5, 15, and 20 to 23. It was noteworthy that disc 26 was minimally involved whereas this location has been previously reported to have frequent involvement in larger breeds of dogs. None of the dogs studied had clinical signs causing their removal from the colony, further supporting the concept that spondylosis deformans as a bony response to disc degeneration is not a cause of severe pain or lameness.     

Proliferation of canine intervertebral disk chondrocytes in three-dimensional alginate microsphere culture

Proliferation of chondrocytes from nucleus pulposus (NP) and anulus fibrosus (AF) was confirmed in three-dimensional culture using alginate microspheres. Cells isolated from NP and AF were incorporated in microspheres and cultured for 14 days. Round mononuclear cells of 20-25 microm in diameter proliferated and formed aggregates. At day 14, alcian blue positive matrix surrounded the proliferating cells. The cells had cytoplasmic vacuoles stained positively by toluidine blue. On electron microscopy, the cells contained proteoglycan vacuoles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm and synthesized collagen fibrils and electron dense granules surrounding the cell. These features of the cells were characteristic for chondrocytes. This culture system should be useful to further investigate metabolic activities of intervertebral disk chondrocytes.     

Temporal dynamic changes in synthesis of chondroitin sulfate isomers in canine articular chondrocyte culture

To investigate temporal dynamic changes in the synthesis of chondroitin 6-sulfate (CS6) and chondroitin 4-sulfate (CS4) in vitro, normal articular cartilage of femoral heads was harvested from three dogs. Chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in alginate microspheres for 21 days. On days 7, 14 and 21, DNA content was quantified by fluorometric assay using Hoechst 33258. On days 14 and 21, proteoglycans were extracted, and the amounts of CS6 and CS4 were quantified after chondroitinase ABC digestion using capillary electrophoresis. The DNA content and amounts of CS6 and CS4 increased during the culture period. The amounts of CS6 and CS4 divided by DNA content revealed that the synthesis of CS6 was more up-regulated than CS4.