EFFECT OF SINGLE DOSE DEXAMETHASONE ADMINISTRATION ON METABOLISM RELATED PARAMETERS IN LACTATING FAT TAILED SHEEP

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a single dose glucocorticoid administration on the parameters related to energy metabolism in sheep. Forty healthy lactating fat tailed ewes, 2-3 years old, were obtained from the Farm of the University of Kafkas. The animals were divided into control (n=20) and treated group (n=20). Ewes in the treatment group (n=20) was parenterally given a single dose of 0.025 mg/kg dexamethasone (Deksavet %0.4 enj.(R), Interhas, Istanbul-Turkey) at the beginning of the study. Ewes in the control group (n=20) were parenterally given the same dose of placebo at the beginning of the study. All animals were blood sampled before the drug administration and on the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), 5(th) and 7(th) day of injection. Sera samples were analysed for the determination of concentrations of insulin, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB), non esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin and phosphorus. Cholesterol, glucose (P < 0.001) and insulin (P < 0.05) concentration obtained on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 were significantly higher than the baseline values on day 0. Concentrations of cholesterol and glucose peaked on day 7 and 3, respectively. NEFA concentration was significantly lower during the experiment except for day 7 when it peaked (P < 0.05). Other examined parameters did not significantly change when compared to the baseline values. Comparison of the control and the treated group revealed a statistically significant increase in the concentrations of glucose on day 2, 3, and 4, cholesterol on day 3, 4, 5, and 7, insulin on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 while concentrations of NEFA decreased on day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 and phosphorus concentrations decreased on day 4

Serum sialic acid and oxidative stress parameters changes in cattle with leptospirosis

This study was designed to disclose some indicators of oxidative stress and inflammation in natural cases of bovine leptospirosis. For this purpose, 12 bulls exhibiting clinical signs of leptospirosis and 10 healthy bulls were used. Animals were subjected to thorough clinical examination and the clinical signs were recorded. All animals were blood sampled in order to determine serum total sialic acid (TSA), lipid bound sialic acid (LBSA), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), uric acid (UA), total protein (TP), albumin and glucose. Urine samples were collected from each animal and examined under dark-field microscope to observe spirochetes. Diseased animals exhibited clinical signs suggesting leptospirosis and the diagnosis was supported by positive dark-field microscope examination. Mean TSA (mmol/L), LBSA (mmol/L), TP (g/dl), albumin (g/dl), glucose (mg/dl), MDA (mu mol/L), GSH (mg/dl), NO (nmol/ml), and UA (mg/L) levels were 1.63 +/- 0.02, 0.40 +/- 0.10, 7.18 +/- 0.24, 3.23 +/- 0.5, 64.96 +/- 1.88, 5.71 +/- 0.11, 78.68 +/- 0.72, 7.94 +/- 0.34, and 8.75 +/- 0.41 in healthy bulls, and 2.50 +/- 0.05, 0.70 +/- 0.2, 9.27 +/- 0.17, 2.55 +/- 0.62, 107.93 +/- 2.52, 8.82 +/- 0.14, 47.85 +/- 1.85, 14.57 +/- 0.63 and 15.85 +/- 0.80 in leptospirosis cases, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Increased TSA, LBSA, MDA, NO, UA, TP, glucose and decreased GSH and albumin concentrations were suggestive of inflammation and oxidative stress in diseased bulls. The results obtained may suggest that oxidative damage along with other mechanisms might have taken part in the pathogenesis of bovine leptospirosis and further detailed studies are needed to fully understand the mechanism(s) of the disease

Protective effect of L carnitine against diclofenac sodium toxicity in mice

This study investigated the eventual protective effects of L-carnitine against renal and liver damage caused by high doses of diclofenac sodium in mice. A pilot study, designed to determine the highest toxic dose of diclofenac, was conducted on 32 Swiss Albino adult mice randomly divided into 4 equal groups according to the drug dose: 0 (control), 2.5 (low), 5 (moderate) and 10 mg/kg/day (high dose) for 5 days by the subcutaneous route. Serum biochemical parameters (BUN and creatinine concentrations and AST, ALT and ALP activities) were measured as well as GSH and MDA contents in liver and in kidney at the end of the treatment. The 2 highest dosages of diclofenac have induced significant increases of the serum markers and MDA accumulation in tissues whereas the kidney and liver GSH contents were depressed in parallel. Besides, a strong dose-effect relationship was evidenced. In the second experimental step, 4 groups of 8 mice received subcutaneous injections for 5 days of saline solution (NaCl, 20 mL/g body weight/day) (group I), of L carnitine (500 mg/kg/day) (group II), of diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg/day) (group III) and of diclofenac (10 mg/kg/day) plus L carnitine (500 mg/kg/day 3 days before and 2 days during the diclofenac treatment) (group IV) respectively. The diclofenac treatment alone or in combination with L carnitine induced liver and kidney damage as attested by significant increases of the serum markers and by tissue MDA accumulation. Nevertheless, these variations were significantly reduced in co-treated mice. Whereas the GSH pools in liver and kidney were markedly depressed in the group III, they were significantly enhanced in mice treated with L carnitine alone, and remained unaffected in co-treated mice (group IV) compared to the controls. These results demonstrated that the diclofenac toxicity is due to lipid peroxidation and impairment of the antioxidant systems in liver and kidney and that a co-treatment with L carnitine can partially alleviate it by restoring antioxidant capacity

Effects of reduced glutathione on nitric oxide level, total antioxidant and oxidant capacity and adenosine deaminase activity

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous GSH, an important antioxidant containing thiol group, on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant capacity (TOC), adenosine deaminase (ADA), a significant indicator of cellular immunity, and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in rabbits

Effects of therapeutic doses of Pregabalin on QTc interval in conscious rabbits

Pregabalin (PRG) is a new antiepileptic drug that has been used as supportive therapy for partial seizures in patients. Although many neuro-psychiatric and non-cardiac drugs are known to prolong ventricular repolarization as manifested by QTc prolongation on ECG of which provokes torsades de pointes, there is limited data available regarding the characteristics of QT interval in conscious laboratory animals after PRG administration. For that purpose, effects of different therapeutic doses of oral PRG administration on Heart Rate (HR), QT and QTc values in rabbits were evaluated at a predefined time interval in this research

Seroepidemiological Study of Toxocariasis among Volunteers Animal Husbandry Workers and Veterinary in Southern Anatolia in Turkey in 2014

Background:Human toxocariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of Toxocaracanis. We examine the Toxocara seroprevalance in veterinarians and animal husbandry workers living in the Mugla Province, Turkey to evaluate better the risk factors for Toxocara exposure. Methods: In 2014, 376 volunteers participated in the study in 2014. All blood specimens were tested using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit and ELISA positive samples were confirmed by Western Blot (WB) method. Results: The seroprevalence of Toxocara, as determined by WB, was 8%. A statistically significant correlation was evident between patient age and Toxo­cara positivity among animal husbandry workers (P = 0.029). A strong associa­tion was also evident between sex and seropositivity in the animal husbandry group (P=0.024). Veterinarians working in pet clinics did in fact exhibit higher Toxocara seropositivities relative to those of other groups (P = 0.029). A statisti­cally significant difference was detected between the rural geographic areas surveyed (P = 0.04). Conclusion: In Mugla Province, seroprevalence of Toxocara is lower than other regions. Despite the low seroprevalence observed, especially in high risk professions toxocariasis remains an important medical concern within the region.