Interrelationship of βeta-2 microglobulin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in streptozotocin -induced diabetes mellitus in rabbits

Measurement of serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) are used as indicators of glomerular filtration rate. The increased levels of these biomarkers are usually detectable at advanced stages of kidney complications. The aim of this study was to find the interrelationship of beta-2 microglobulin (β2M), BUN and Cr in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in rabbits. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 65 mg kg-1 of STZ in rabbits. The levels of serum insulin, glucose and three above mentioned biomarkers were measured one day before (day -1) and on days 1-3 after injection of STZ and continued weekly to the end of the experiment (12 weeks). A statistically significant increase of serum β2M, BUN, Cr and glucose levels, and a significant decrease of insulin levels were observed in diabetic animals. However, β2M levels increased as early as one day after STZ injection compared to Cr and BUN that elevated at day two, suggesting a probable diagnostic advantage of β2M over currently used biomarkers in diabetic related kidney complications

Selenium supplementation in the form of selenium nanoparticles and selenite sodium improves mature male mice reproductive performances

Objective(s): The current study was conducted to examine the possible protective and retentive effects of one-week intra-peritoneal (IP) administration of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), compared to its bulk counterpart, selenite sodium (Ss), after one complete cycle of spermatogenesis in mature male mice. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male mice were divided into 3 groups. Control group was administrated phosphate-buffered saline (IP) and the other groups received Ss (0.50 mg kg-1) and Se-NPs (0.50 mg kg-1) for seven successive days. Then, the animals were monitored for 28 days and finally sacrificed and tissue and blood samples were taken. Histopathological features, sperm quality, in vitro fertilization (IVF) capability and selenium (Se) content in testicular tissue were analyzed. Antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase as well as total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels were assessed in blood and the tissue samples. Results: Remarkable differences were found in sperm characteristics, histopathological features and oxidative stress biomarkers between control and treatment groups. Moreover, IVF evaluation and tissue Se concentration examination weren’t similar for Se-NPs and Ss. Conclusion: Conclusively, Se-treated groups had more antioxidant capacity than the control group, but sperm quality and histopathological features revealed that Se-NPs might possess more antioxidative and retentive potential compared to Ss in one spermatogenesis cycle

Investigation of hematological and biochemical parameters in small ruminants naturally infected with Babesia ovis

Babesia ovis plays an important role in causing anemia and kidney dysfunction in affected animals. There are few extensive studies about hematological and biochemical findings of small ruminants' babesiosis caused by B. ovis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of babesiosis on some hematological and biochemical parameters in infected small ruminants with B. ovis. A total of 280 sheep and 122 goats from 40 herds were randomly examined for the presence of B. ovis in blood samples. Of 402 samples, 67 animals (16.7%) were positive for B. ovis of which 52 (18.5%) were sheep and 15 (12.2%) goats, respectively. The infected animals were divided into four subgroups according to parasitemia rates (<1%, 1%, 2%, and 3%). As a control group, 67 uninfected animals were also selected from the same farms. With increase in parasitemia rates, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBCs), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while, total leukocyte count, number of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil showed a significant increase (P < 0.05). Infected animals presented a significant elevation (P < 0.05) of total proteins and significantly lower level (P < 0.05) of albumin compared to non-infected animals. Significant elevation (P < 0.05) of BUN, creatinine, cholestrol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL level were found with parasitemia progression

Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D and C Concentrations in Cats With Gingivostomatitis

ABSTRACT Aim of Study To investigate serum vitamin C and D concentrations of cats suffering from gingivostomatitis. Materials and Methods Serum concentrations of vitamins C and D were evaluated in 30 cats of various breeds, including 15 healthy cats and 15 with gingivostomatitis. Results Serum vitamin D concentration in the healthy cats (35.36 ± 15.39 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that of the cats with gingivostomatitis (17.54 ± 10.50 ng/mL) (p < 0.05). There was no difference in serum vitamin C concentration between the healthy cats (3.7 ± 0.74 mg/100 mL) and those with gingivostomatitis (3.1 ± 0.72 mg/100 mL) (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that cats with gingivostomatitis are predisposed to vitamin D deficiency. Further studies are required to confirm this finding in a larger study sample and to investigate the potential utility of vitamin D supplementation

Stress, lipid profile and inflammatory responses to flunixin meglumine administration in surgical and non-surgical castration in donkeys

Donkeys are in the Equidae family but have several differences from horses. There are many studies on the pathophysiology of pain and its clinical signs in horses, but data are limited for donkeys. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate biochemical effects of flunixin meglumine in donkeys subjected to pain induced by bloodless and surgical castration. Twenty healthy male donkeys were randomly divided into four groups: 1- Surgical castration with flunixin injection, 2- Surgical castration without flunixin injection, 3- Non-surgical castration with flunixin injection, and 4- Non-surgical castration without flunixin injection. Blood samples were collected a day before surgical procedures; four hours, one day, and two days after castration. Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, fibrinogen, cortisol, triglyceride, and cholesterol significantly increased in non-surgical castrated group compared to the other groups. Moreover, the levels of the measured parameters were significantly higher in the non-surgically castrated group compared to the surgically castrated group. Furtheremore, flunixin meglumine administration reduced the levels of the mentioned parameters, and it was significant for TNF-α and fibrinogen in the surgically castrated donkeys. However, in the nonsurgically castrated animals, there was a significant reduction in the levels of all mentioned parameters except for fibrinogen. It was concluded that non-surgical method, compared to the surgical method, was accompanied by more inflammation, stress, and pain; therefore, the surgical method could be suggested as a preferred technique for the castration of donkeys. Furthermore, the injection of flunixin meglumine could be suggested in the castration of donkeys, particularly in the bloodless technique

Generation of Mature Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in the Presence of Heparin and Monocyte Conditioned Medium: Phenotypic and Functional Comparison

ABSTRACT Background: Dendritic cells (DC) induce tumor or pathogen-specific T cell responses in humans. Several laboratories have developed culture systems, including maturation factors for human DC from peripheral blood monocytes. We comprehensively compared standard maturation stimulus, an autologous monocyte-conditioned medium (MCM), with heparin for their ability to promote uniformly mature DC that elicit T cell responses. Methods: A short (4-day) priming of plastic adherent monocytes with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4 with or without heparin was followed by 48-hour incubation in MCM to generate fully mature and stable DC. Phenotypic and functional analyses were carried out using anti-CD14 and anti-CD83 monoclonal antibodies, and mixed lymphocyte reaction, respectively. Results: We found that fully matured DC with a large amount of cytoplasm and copious dendritic projections were visible at the end of culturing period in the presence of MCM, heparin and MCM plus heparin. Thus, DC generated with these maturation factors are nonadherent and have typical satellite morphology. Flow cytometric analysis using anti-CD14 (monocyte marker) and anti-CD83 (mature DC marker) revealed that expression of CD14 decreased in MCM plus heparin-treated DC, and the expression of CD83 was increased when heparin and MCM used as a maturation factor. Functionally, MCM and MCM plus heparin-treated DC showed stronger mixed leukocyte reaction than heparin alone. Conclusion: These results support the use of the MCM with heparin as maturation factor that could result in functionally mature monocyte-derived DC in comparison to either MCM or heparin alone. Iran. Biomed. J. 15 (3): 79-84, 201

Assessment of the Amount of Hepatohistopatological and Enzymatic Changes after Chronic Lead Intoxication In Utero and Throughout Life in Rat

Background and Objectives: In order to evaluate the functional changes of liver after lead intoxication, activity of enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as pathological changes of the liver were assessed in the present study.Methods: Male and female Albino Rats (40 in total) in five 8-rat groups were exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15, and 40mg lead acetate dissolved in 1 liter drinking water, from the onset of embryonic life to 16th week of life. At the end of 16th week, the animals were anesthetized with chloroform, and blood sampling from heart was performed. After serum separation for biochemical analysis, liver was taken out and fixed in 15% formalin for histopathological studies. Activity of ALT, AST, and ALP, as well as lead concentration of the serum samples were measured using spectrophotometrical method and graphite furnace atomic absorption, respectively. The tissue sections were histologically studied under light microscopy after staining by hematoxylin/eosin. The results were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey's test, and p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: In this study, liver enzymes activities had direct relation with the serum lead concentration, and showed a significant increase compared to the control groups. Histological changes were observed as inflammation, lymphocyte infiltration to liver tissue, and liver cells necrosis.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, long-time exposure to lead results in dose- and time-dependent liver injury

Evaluation of clinical and paraclinical effects of intraosseous vs intravenous administration of propofol on general anesthesia in rabbits

This prospective study aimed to compare the intraosseous (IO) and intravenous (IV) effects of propofol on selected blood parameters and physiological variables during general anesthesia in rabbits. Thirty New Zealand White rabbits were studied. Six rabbits received IV propofol (group 1) and another 6 rabbits, were injected propofol intraosseously (Group 2) for 30 minutes (experimental groups). Rabbits of the third and fourth groups received IV and IO normal saline at the same volume given to the experimental groups, respectively. In the fifth group IO cannulation was performed but neither propofol nor normal saline were administered. Blood profiles were assayed before induction and after recovery of anesthesia. Heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, saturation of peripheral oxygen and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded. Heart rate increased significantly 1 to 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia in experimental groups (P < 0.05). Although mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from baseline, values remained above 60 mm Hg (P < 0.05). Respiratory rate decreased significantly in experimental groups, but remained higher in group 2 (P < 0.05). The lymphocyte count decreased significantly in group 1 (P < 0.05). The concentration of alkaline phosphatase in all rabbits, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma- glutamyl transferase in the first group and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the third group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Total bilirubin decreased significantly in group 2 (P < 0.05). All measured values remained within normal limits. Based on the least significant physiological, hematological and biochemical effects, the IO injection of propofol appears to be safe and suitable method of anesthesia in rabbits with limited vascular access