Cervical masses in dogs and cats 1. Investigation and management

Abnormalities in the cervical region can be challenging to investigate and manage; however, the area is a common location for disease processes in dogs and cats. The anatomy of this region can make investigations and treatment difficult and a thorough understanding of this is essential before embarking on management and treatment of conditions in this location. Due to the various anatomical structures in the cervical area, there is often a long potential differential diagnoses list for mass lesions in this region. It is important to perform a thorough and logical investigative process in order to manage these masses appropriately. This article discusses investigation and management of cervical masses, while a second article, to be published in a subsequent issue of In Practice, will focus on differential diagnoses

The Effect of the Oral Administration of Salvia Rhytidia Extract on Neural Cell Numbers of Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus Following Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rat

Backgrounds & aim: Forebrain ischemia induces complete interruption of brain blood flow and neuronal injury. In the present study the effect of Salvia rhytidia extract on cell numbers of the cerebral cortex and different hippocampal regions following ischemia-reperfusion (IR) was evaluated. Methods: In the present experimental study, Thirty-five adult male rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats. Control group (1), sham group (3), and 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as ischemic groups. (2, 4, 5, 6, 7). Left common carotid and left vertebral arteries were occluded by tourniquet for 10 min. Group 2 received no drug .sham group (3) received normal saline without ischemia. Group 4 received Salvia (3.2mg/kg) and group 5 received silymarin (50 mg/kg), 2 h after ischemia. Group 6 received the same dose of Salvia and group 7 received the same dose of silymarin 0, 24, 48, and 72 hrs before ischemia. After 24 h reperfusion, the brains of rats were prepared for histological studies. The cells were counted and cerebral and hippocampal tissue sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin. The data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Duncan as posthoc test. Results: Significant decrease was observed in the neural cell numbers of cerebral cortex and pyramidal layer of CA1 and CA2 regions of the hippocampus in groups 2, 4 and 5 compared to control group (p=00000). No significant decrease was observed in neural cell numbers of cerebral cortex and all hippocampal regions in groups 3, 6, 7. Pyramidal layer of CA3 and granular layer of dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus in groups 2, 4 and 5 compared to control. Conclusion: Saliva extract with aintoxidan effect similar to silymarin protects the forebrain from ischemia injuries and reperfusion

Effect of soy milk on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in newborn ovariectomized rats

Abstract Background & aim: Soy contains the largest concentration of isoflavones, they are structurally similar to estradiol and mimic its effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of soy milk on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in newborn ovariectomized rats. Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on 30 newborn female rats. In day 7, 20 rats were randomly chosen and ovariectomy surgery was performed on them. Then the rats were divided to six groups of five rats each: control group, ovariectomized rats (no treatment), sham group and 3 groups of ovareictomaized rats treated by soy milk in doses 0.75, 1.5 and 3 ml/kg/day. In day 60, the brains of all rats were dissected and histological studies for determination of thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampus were done. The collected data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: Our results indicated that low estradiol following ovariectomy decreased thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions and soy milk in high dose increase the levels of estradiol, thickness of cerebral cortex and thickness of hippocampal regions. Conclusion: soy milk can compensate the effect of ovariectomy on thickness of cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions. Key words: Soy Milk, Hippocampus, Cerebral Corte

Phrenicotomy alters phrenic long-term facilitation following intermittent hypoxia in anesthetized rats

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) can induce a persistent increase in neural drive to the respiratory muscles known as long-term facilitation (LTF). LTF of phrenic inspiratory activity is often studied in anesthetized animals after phrenicotomy (PhrX), with subsequent recordings being made from the proximal stump of the phrenic nerve. However, severing afferent and efferent axons in the phrenic nerve has the potential to alter the excitability of phrenic motoneurons, which has been hypothesized to be an important determinant of phrenic LTF. Here we test the hypothesis that acute PhrX influences immediate and long-term phrenic motor responses to hypoxia. Phrenic neurograms were recorded in anesthetized, ventilated, and vagotomized adult male rats with intact phrenic nerves or bilateral PhrX. Data were obtained before (i.e., baseline), during, and after three 5-min bouts of isocapnic hypoxia. Inspiratory burst amplitude during hypoxia (%baseline) was greater in PhrX than in phrenic nerve-intact rats (P < 0.001). Similarly, burst amplitude 55 min after IH was greater in PhrX than in phrenic nerve-intact rats (175 ± 9 vs. 126 ± 8% baseline, P < 0.001). In separate experiments, phrenic bursting was recorded before and after PhrX in the same animal. Afferent bursting that was clearly observable in phase with lung deflation was immediately abolished by PhrX. The PhrX procedure also induced a form of facilitation as inspiratory burst amplitude was increased at 30 min post-PhrX (P = 0.01 vs. pre-PhrX). We conclude that, after PhrX, axotomy of phrenic motoneurons and, possibly, removal of phrenic afferents result in increased phrenic motoneuron excitability and enhanced LTF following IH