Urinary excretion of meperidine and its metabolites

The urine of male and female mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and dogs, given meperidine hydrochloride, 20--40 mg/kg ip, was analyzed by GLC for meperidine, normeperidine, p-hydroxymeperidine, and total (free and conjugated) meperidinic and normeperidinic acids. More than 90% of the excreted drugs was found in the 24-hr urine. Meperidine was observed in the urine of mice, rats, guinea pigs, and cats, but only a trace amount was observed in the urine of rabbits and dogs. Normeperidine, p-hydroxymeperidine (except in the mice), and total meperidinic and normeperidinic acids were observed in all species. All of the species studied have the capacity to N-demethylate meperidine to normeperidine and to hydrolyze meperidine and normeperidine to their respective acids. The male has a higher N-demethylating activity that the female with the exception of mice. Ester hydrolysis is a major metabolic pathway for meperidine metabolism.     

Interspecies reactivities of anti-human macrophage monoclonal antibodies to various animal species

We examined interspecies reactivities of eight anti-human monocyte/macrophage monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), Am-3K, PM-2K, X4, X14, Ber-MAC3, GHI/61, EBM/11, and KP1, with various animal tissues including rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, goats, pigs, bovines, horses, and monkeys. All MAbs recognized monkey macrophages. Pig macrophages were detected by most MAbs except for EBM/11 and KP1. Of the eight antibodies, AM-3K showed the widest interspecies reactivity. It reacted with macrophages of all animal species examined, except for rats. Western blot analysis revealed a similarity in the antigens recognized by AM-3K among guinea pigs, rabbits, and humans. Other anti-human MAbs demonstrated distinct reactive patterns against macrophages in animals. The immunostaining patterns of all of these MAbs in animal tissues were similar to those found in humans, although some MAbs, such as AM-3K, EBM/11, and X4, displayed more restricted reactivity in animals than in humans. These results indicate that some anti-human monocyte/macrophage MAbs are also available for immunohistochemical detection of monocyte/macrophages in animal tissues. Among them, AM-3K is considered to be the most useful MAb for identifying macrophages in various tissues of animals.     

Relation between image-based assessment of distal radius trabecular structure and compressive strength

This study was undertaken to explore the spinal cord segments controlling the canine and human vas deferens and differentiation of the mammalian sympathetic pathways to the vas deferens. Thoracolumbar white communicating rami (WCR) were electrically stimulated in the dogs. Stimulation of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbar WCR elicited an elevation of intraluminal pressure of the vas deferens in 2, 10, 16, and 14 of 20 dogs examined, respectively, whereas stimulation of sympathetic chain (between the 13th thoracic and 1st lumbar ganglia), 13th thoracic WCR, intermesenteric plexus, and 5th lumbar WCR showed no response in any of the 10, 2, 12, and 5 dogs examined, respectively. Anatomical study of the 118 human lumbar splanchnic nerves of 55 cadavers showed that almost all lumbar splanchnic nerves (96%) originated from L2 and/or L3 sympathetic chain ganglia (L1-2 spinal cord levels). Comparative anatomical study of the mammalian sympathetic pathways to the vas deferens showed that the caudal mesenteric plexus is not divided in rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs and is partially divided into two plexuses in monkeys and completely in humans and that separation of the sympathetic component in the pelvic nerve (isolation of the sacral splanchnic nerve) is in progress in the primate. These results indicate that spinal cord segments controlling the vas deferens are L1-4 in the dog and probably L1-2 in humans and that differentiation of the sympathetic nerve pathways is proceeding at both main and compensatory pathways to the vas deferens in the primate.     

The insulo-acinar portal and insulo-venous drainage systems in the pancreas of the mouse, dog, monkey and certain other animals: a scanning electron microscopic study of corrosion casts

Scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts of the pancreas from monkies, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice showed certain species differences in the occurrence of intralobular and interlobular islets and in the microcirculatory pattern of these islets. Interlobularly located islets were frequently found in the mouse and guinea pig, as has been previously established in the rat (Murakami and Fujita, 1992); they emitted insulo-venous efferent vessels directly draining into veins. In contrast, the intralobular islets in the guinea pig usually issued insulo-acinar portal vessels continuous with the lobular capillary network. In the mouse, they usually emitted both the insulo-acinar portal and insulo-venous efferent vessels. The insulo-venous efferent vessels, including those of the interlobular islets, could partly be portal in nature since they occasionally issued portal branches directed to the lobular capillary network. In rabbits, cats, dogs, pigs, cattle and monkies, as in men (Murakami et al., 1992), essentially all islets in the pancreas were intralobular in location and usually emitted the portal vessels only. In the mouse and rabbit, as in the rat (Murakami and Fujita, 1992), the islet received afferent vessels in its superficial aspect and issued efferent vessels from its deep aspect. In the Formosan monkey, as previously reported in the rhesus monkey (Fujita and murakami, 1973), the afferent vessels usually ran deep into the islet which emitted vessels from its superficial aspect. In other animals examined in this study, as in humans (Murakami et al., 1992), no consistent rule concerning the microcirculatory pattern within the islet could be determined.     

Reovirus antibodies among animals in Taiwan

Serum specimens for reovirus antibody survey were collected from 60 pigs, 50 buffalos, 30 rabbits, 30 guinea pigs, 20 albino rats, 60 Swiss mice, 15 Taiwan monkeys, 14 goats and 12 dogs. Serum antibodies were measured by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. HI antibodies to reovirus were found in a high percentage of pigs, albino rats, Swiss mice, dogs and goats, and less frequently in rabbits, guinea pigs, Taiwan monkeys and buffalos.     

Heart muscle regeneration

A review of literature on the possibility of regeneration of muscle fibers under the artificial myocardium trauma in frogs, newts, lizards, newborn kittens, rats and guinea pigs, in very small foci of trauma in adult dogs and rabbits, under the stimulation of regeneration in adult rats, rabbits and dogs. The data are given about growth and secondary differentiation of muscle fibers in the myocardium of chick, mammal and human embryos, as well as of adult cocks and rabbits under the definite conditions of explantation. It was noted that the sources and mechanism of formation of muscle fibers remained as yet unclear, as well as the causes preventing the myocardium regeneration in adult mammals under routine conditions of traumatization. It is stressed that the problem of myocardium regeneration is as yet not solved and, being one of the most important biological problems, needs further studies.     

Animal research in psychology: Declining or thriving?

From Dialog's PsycINFO database the number of studies with 6 species reported in the Psychological Abstracts was calculated for each year from 1967 to 1988. Also, the number of studies with an additional 11 species were calculated for each year from 1973 to 1988. A hand search in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Learning and Motivation was also conducted to explore trends in studies on 12 species from 1970 to 1987. The numbers of studies on many species (e.g., baboons, bats, chimpanzees, dolphins, gerbils, guinea pigs, gorillas, hamsters, lemurs, mice, pigeons, rats, seals, and snakes) have remained stable. There has, however, been a steady decline in the numbers of studies on selected species (e.g., cats, dogs, and rabbits). Possible reasons for changing trends in studies on selected species include: increased costs, the cognitive emphasis in psychology, and arguably, animal rights activism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Computer image analysis of brain CT images for discriminating hypodense cerebral lesions in children

Nitric oxide (NO) was detected by chemiluminescence in exhaled air from awake humans, anaesthetized rabbits, guinea pigs, germ-free rats and conventional rats. Rabbits exhibited the highest concentrations, followed by guinea pigs, humans and rats. There was no significant difference between germ-free rats and control rats. The authenticity of NO was confirmed in cold-trap experiments. Intravenous administration of inhibitors of NO synthase (0.01-300 mg kg-1) to guinea pigs dose dependently reduced NO concentrations in exhaled air with the following potency order: L-N omega-nitro-arginine-methylester > asymmetric NG,NG-dimethyl-L-arginine-dihydrochloride = L-NG-mono-methyl -arginine = L-N5- (1-iminoethyl)-ornithine = aminoguanidine > L-canavanine. The effect of the NO synthase inhibitors was partly or fully reversed by L-arginine (1 g kg-1 i.v.), and L-arginine per se induced a significant increment of NO in exhaled air. In rats, L-N omega-nitro-arginine-methylester was considerably less potent than in guinea pigs. The concentration of NO in exhaled air increased 3-fold when changing from in situ blood auto-perfusion of rabbit lungs to in situ perfusion with saline medium. Addition of L-N omega-nitro-arginine-methylester to the saline perfusion medium evoked a reduction of NO concentrations in the air from the ventilated perfused lungs. Perfusion of lungs with Ca(2+)-free medium induced significant decrements in NO concentrations in exhaled air, an effect partly reversed upon reintroducing Ca2+ into the medium. In conclusion, NO was detected in exhaled air from humans and animals by chemiluminescence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of 3H-1-norepinephrine uptake by ouabain is species dependent

Tissue slice to medium ratios of 3H-1-norepinephrine (3H-1-NE) were used to study the effect of ouabain on uptake of norepinephrine. The effects of ouabain were studied in slices of heart and spleen from three different species: rat, guinea pig, and dog. The drug produced a species as well as a concentration dependent inhibition of norepinephrine uptake in both types of tissue. In order of decreasing sensitivity, the following relationship between species was observed: dogs greater than guinea pigs greater than rats. Since 3H-1-norepinephrine uptake under the present experimental conditions represents uptake into sympathetic nerve terminals, it was concluded that Na+-K+-ATPases of sympathetic nerve terminals have species dependent differences in ouabain sensitivity similar to those of myocardium.     

Acute toxicity of ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether in the guinea pig

Acute toxicity values, such as oral and percutaneous LD50s, are often used as the basis for classifying chemicals into toxicity categories, and their subsequent regulation. Such values obtained for ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (EGBE; 2-butoxyethanol) in rats and rabbits indicate that it is moderately toxic. However, the cause of death in these acute studies appeared to be secondary to acute intravascular haemolysis, an effect for which guinea pigs and humans are much less sensitive than rats, mice and rabbits. Recently-conducted acute toxicity studies in the guinea pig resulted in an acute oral LD50 of 1400 mg/kg, an acute percutaneous LD50 of greater than 2000 mg/kg, and a 1-hr LC50 greater than 633 ppm. These data are compared with published acute toxicity values, and indicate that the predicted acute toxicity of EGBE in humans, based on data from the guinea pig, would be less than that observed in other animal species. Based in part on the guinea pig data, EBGE is no longer classified as a poisonous substance by either the United Nations or US Department of Transportation.     

Characterisation of excitatory and inhibitory transmitter systems in prostate glands of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and pigs

Excitatory and inhibitory transmitter systems were investigated in strips of prostate glands from rats, guinea pigs, pigs and rabbits. In strips from all species, electrical field stimulation (1 ms pulses at 1-30 Hz for 10 s) produced frequency-dependent contractions which were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). In strips from rats, guinea pigs and rabbits, contractions were reduced by prazosin (1 microM), guanethidine (10 microM) and atropine (2 microM), indicating the presence of noradrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms. However, the smooth muscle in the pig prostate appears to have a non-(nor)adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) excitatory innervation for which the transmitter was not identified. When noradrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms were blocked by guanethidine and atropine, respectively, and tone was raised with noradrenaline or methoxamine, field stimulation produced relaxations only in strips of rabbit prostate, and these were greatly reduced by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM), providing functional evidence for a nitrergic relaxant innervation. In accord with this, nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity was considerably higher in rabbit than in rat or pig prostates.     

Spatial organization of facial vibrissae and cortical barrels in the guinea pig and golden hamster

The arrangements of vibrissae in guinea pigs and golden hamsters were previously reported to be different from those in mice and rats. Whereas the mystacial pads in mice and rats include four straddlers and five rows of vibrissae, guinea pigs were described to possess six rows of irregularly aligned mystacial vibrissae and no straddlers, and golden hamsters to include seven vibrissal rows and also no straddlers. We found that all of these four species possess similar vibrissal arrangements within the mystacial pad. To demonstrate this similarity, we developed a new method of sinus hair visualization in flattened and cleared preparations of the mystacial pad. Intrinsic muscles of the mystacial pad that were revealed in thick histological preparations showed clearly the structural and functional relationships between straddlers and vibrissal rows. To verify this finding, and to extend the knowledge of vibrissal cortical representations in guinea pigs and golden hamsters, we have investigated the spatial organization and the functional vibrissal representations of barrels in the posteromedial barrel subfield (PMBSF) of these rodents. The barrel morphology was clearly preserved in Nissl-stained sections and sections processed for cytochrome oxidase of flattened cerebral cortices. We demonstrate that the vibrissal arrangement in the mystacial pad is replicated in the PMBSF of guinea pigs and golden hamsters and that this arrangement is similar to that found in mice and rats. To facilitate comparative studies, these findings strongly recommend the use, in guinea pigs and golden hamsters, of the same classifications and nomenclatures that are used in mice and rats to describe mystacial vibrissae and cortical barrels.     

Using asymmetric jaws to junction with previously treated areas

This study was conducted to determine and compare the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in red blood cells of cattle, horses, pigs, goats, dogs, rabbits, rats and mice. The highest GST activity was found in mouse red blood cells followed by that of rats, dogs, cattle, pigs, goats and horses with the lowest activity in rabbits. There were significant differences between the GST activities from these various species. The species differences in GST activities correlate with the reported variable responses of the different species to different toxicants since erythrocyte GST plays a significant role in the detoxification of circulating xenobiotics.     

Tetracycline resistance in Staphylococcus spp. from domestic animals

A total of 838 staphylococcal isolates representing 19 different species were obtained from cattle, cats, dogs, ducks, guinea pigs, horses, mink, pigeons, pigs, rabbits, and turkeys. From these 228 (27.2%) isolates were shown to be resistant to tetracycline and to carry one or two of the tetracycline resistance (tet) genes tet (K), tet (L), tet (M), or tet (O) with seven different distribution patterns. Additional resistances to one or more antibiotics were observed in 153 (67.1%) of the tetracycline resistant isolates. The tet (M) gene was found in 94.3% of the resistant S. intermedius isolates while the tet (K) gene predominated in most of the other staphylococcal species irrespective of the host animal. The tet (K) and tet (L) genes were located on plasmids while the tet (M) and tet (O) genes appeared to be associated with the chromosome.     

Autoregulation of central and peripheral growth hormone receptor mRNA in domestic fowl

LHRH neurons in guinea pigs, as in primates and other non-rodent species, are broadly distributed in the basal forebrain. In this study, knife cuts were made in the anterior hypothalamus, effectively separating more caudally positioned hypothalamic LHRH neurons from those in rostral preoptic areas. Guinea pigs with knife cuts displayed an LH surge in response to steroid administration. There was no significant difference in the number of LHRH neurons that expressed Fos in conjunction with an LH surge, although fewer total LHRH neurons were detected in the forebrain of knife-cut versus sham-cut animals. Knife-cut animals displayed a larger percentage of LHRH/Fos neurons in one region of the caudal hypothalamus than sham-cut animals. The area and perimeter of the LHRH reaction product within the cytoplasm of LHRH/Fos neurons were smaller than those of single-labeled LHRH neurons in sham-cut animals and in the caudal hypothalamus, but not the rostral preoptic area, of knife-cut animals. We conclude that caudal hypothalamic LHRH neurons separated from rostral preoptic regions are capable of sustaining an LH surge in guinea pigs. This finding is important, as LHRH neurons are present in the caudal hypothalamus, as well as in preoptic areas, of a large number of mammalian species, including humans.     

Experimental studies on acute and chronic action of azelastine on nasal mucosa in guinea pigs, rats and dogs

Azelastine (CAS 37932-96-0) nasal spray (Allergodil, Rhinolast, Astelin) was investigated in acute experiments in guinea pigs and after a 26-week local application period with daily repeated administration for effects on ciliary beat activity (acute experiments) and morphology of nasal mucosa. The commercially available spray did not inhibit ciliary beat activity in guinea pigs nor did it cause any inflammatory or atrophic changes after 26-week daily local application on nasal mucosa in rats and dogs.     

Comparison of sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and radioimmunoassay for determination of exogenous glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide in plasma

A sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) for determination of exogenous glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide (GLP-1(7-36)amide) in plasma samples from pharmacokinetic studies is described. The assay employs an N-terminally directed antibody and a C-terminally directed antibody. The ELISA has a working range from 10 to 500 pmol l-1, and can be applied to plasma samples from humans, dogs, pigs, minipigs, cats, rabbits, and rats. The assay was compared to a validated radioimmunoassay (RIA), employing an antibody directed against the mid-region of GLP-1. After s.c. administration of GLP-1(7-36)amide, the plasma immunoreactivity of GLP-1 (P-GLP-1-IR) measured by ELISA was markedly lower than P-GLP-1-IR measured by RIA. After HPLC fractionation of plasma samples with subsequent RIA and ELISA analyses of the fractions, this difference was shown to be due to cross reaction with biologically inactive fragments of GLP-1(7-36)amide in the RIA but not in the ELISA.     

The art of nursing

The specific motility patterns of the forestomach of ruminants, composed of three structurally distinct compartments (rumen, reticulum, omasum), require an elaborate intramural innervation. To demonstrate the complex structure of the enteric nervous system (ENS), whole mount preparations obtained from different sites of the bovine forestomach were submitted to immunohistochemical procedures in which neuronal (protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament 200) and glial (protein S-100, glial fibrillary acid protein) markers were applied. Immunohistochemistry performed on whole mounts allowed a detailed two-dimensional assessment of the architecture of the intramural nerve networks. Generally, the myenteric and submucosal plexus layers were composed of ganglia and interconnecting nerve fiber strands, whereas the mucosal plexus consisted of an aganglionated nerve network. However, the texture of the ENS showed considerable regional differences concerning the ganglionic size, shape and density and the arrangement of nerve fiber strands. The myenteric plexus of the ruminal wall, showing a low ganglionic density and wide polygonal meshes, contrasted with the nerve network within the ruminal pillar which consisted of ropeladder-like nerve fiber strands and parallel orientated ganglia. The highest ganglionic density was observed at the reticular groove, the most prominent ganglia were found within the omasal wall. Branches of the vagal nerve frequently ramified within the myenteric plexus layers. The submucosal plexus of the rumen was divided into an external and internal layer; the reticular submucosal plexus followed the cristae and cellulae reticuli, the omasal submucosal (sublaminar) plexus showed intra- and parafascicular ganglia apart from ganglia located at the junctions of the nerve network. The mucosal plexus of the rumen consisted of thin nerve fascicles ramifying between the ruminal papillae, and reticular mucosal nerve fibers passed throughout the base of the cellulae reticuli. The highly specialised nerve network of the intralaminar omasal plexus showed radial and transverse trajectories reflecting the spatial arrangement of the intralaminar musculature. The demonstrated structural complexity of the ENS reflects the functional complexity of the ruminant forestomach and indicates the relatively high degree of autonomy in coordinating the different motility patterns required for the processing of the ingesta.     

Pulmonary arterial lesions in Takayasu arteritis: relationship of inflammatory activity to scintigraphic findings and sequential changes

Peroxisomal proliferators (HPP), such as ciprofibrate and clofibric acid, are species-specific drugs. Since HPP-coenzyme A derivatives might be involved in their action, we studied the subcellular distribution of liver ciprofibroyl-CoA hydrolase in rat and in two HPP-unresponsive species, humans and guinea pig. Total activity was similar in the three species and was not induced by clofibric acid treatment. In guinea pig, as in humans, the enzyme is localized in the mitochondrial and soluble fractions and no changes are observed after drug treatment. In the rat, the enzyme has a microsomal localization, but upon clofibric acid treatment it changes to a mitochondrial and soluble distribution, as in unresponsive species. These results raise the possibility that drug-induced hydrolases in rats might be normally expressed in humans and guinea pigs.     

Effects of carbenoxolone Na on acute and chronic gastric ulcer models in experimental animals

Effects of carbenoxolone Na on acute or chronic types of gastric lesions or ulcer models produced in rats, guinea pigs, or dogs were studied. Carbenoxolone Na, given either orally or intraperitoneally, produced a significant inhibition of stress-induced gastric lesions in intact or in pylorus-ligated rats. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced or serotonin-induced gastric lesions in rats were also inhibited significantly by pretreatment with the drug. However, carbenoxolone Na did not affect the development of Shay ulceration in rats even though the peptic activity in gastric juices was markedly reduced by the drug. Histamine-induced gastric lesions in guinea pigs were not prevented by pretreatment with carbenoxolone Na. Although carbenoxolone Na, given for 10-20 days, did not promote the healing of stress-induced gastric lesions and acetic acid gastric jlcers in rats, it significantly accelerated the healing of chronic gastric ulcer produced in dogs by 3 weeks' treatment. Carbenoxolone Na prevented the acid back-diffusion caused by ASA without any influence on Na+ efflux in pylorus-ligated rats.