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.     

The Activity Ratio of the Cytosolic MDH/LDH and the Isoenzyme Pattern of LDH in the Peripheral Leukocytes of Dogs,Cats and Rabbits

The activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the pattern of the isoenzymes of LDH were determined in the peripheral blood leukocytes of dogs, rabbits and cats. Rabbits had significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations than dogs or cats. Feline leukocytes showed higher LDH and lower MDH activities than canine or rabbit leukocytes. The M/L ratio, defined as the MDH activity divided by the LDH activity in cytosolic fractions, was considered to be a good indicator with which to evaluate the metabolic state in animal tissues. The M/L ratio was highest in canine and lowest in feline leukocytes. LDH-2 and LDH-3 isoenzymes were dominant in canine leukocytes. LDH-1 and LDH-2 were dominant in rabbit leukocytes, whereas LDH-5 was dominant in feline leukocytes. It was evident that there were significant differences in energy metabolism between the leukocytes of dogs, rabbits and cats.