Changes in the Serum Prostatic Biomarkers During the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia with a 5alpha-reductase Inhibitor: Finasteride.

The monitoring of serum prostatic biomarkers during the treatment will help clinicians to know the statement of the response to finasteride in dogs affected by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The present study was aimed to assess changes in the serum canine prostate-specific esterase (CPSE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and prostate volume evaluation using ultrasonographic examination during the treatment with finasteride in BPH-induced dogs. Twenty dogs were divided into 4 groups (n = 5): BPH + finasteride group, dogs which were induced for BPH and received oral finasteride once daily for 1 month; BPH group, dogs which were induced for BPH and received placebo; finasteride group, normal dogs which received finasteride; and normal group, normal intact dogs which did not receive treatment. Blood sampling and ultrasonography examination were performed on days 0, 14, and 28. The administration of finasteride led to a significant decrease in the concentration of the prostate-specific biomarkers (PSA, CPSE), DHT, testosterone, and the volume of the prostate in BPH + finasteride group compared with the BPH group during 1 month. Interestingly, the PAP concentration did not change in the BPH-induced dogs and in dogs treated with finasteride. It seems that the monitoring of serum PSA and CPSE levels and ultrasonographic examination of the prostate are useful methods for following up the response to finasteride treatment in dogs affected by BPH.

Treatment of experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia with Tadalafil and castration in dogs.

New methods are being developed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in dogs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Tadalafil on the treatment of experimentally induced BPH in dogs. Twenty-five adult intact male dogs were randomly divided into five groups (n = 5): normal group; dogs induced with BPH and treated with Tadalafil (5 mg/day p.o.); dogs which received Tadalafil (5 mg/day p.o.); dogs induced with BPH and treated with castration; and dogs induced with BPH. For 4 sequential weeks, the hematologic and prostate-specific factors (dihydrotestosterone (DHT), serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), serum prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and canine prostatic specific esterase (CPSE)) were measured. Significant differences were observed in the level of PSA, CPSE, and PAP concentration between the normal vs. BPH-Tadalafil, BPH-castrated, and BPH groups. Treating BPH-induced dogs with Tadalafil or castration significantly declined the serum PSA, CPSE, and PAP levels compared to those of the untreated BPH-induced group. The treatment of normal dogs with Tadalafil did not affect prostate-specific biomarkers in comparison with normal dogs. In conclusion, and according to the prostatic indices, it could be stated that Tadalafil, compared with castration, could be used for the treatment of BPH in dogs.

Changes in specific serum biomarkers during the induction of prostatic hyperplasia in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Prostatic hyperplasia (PH) is one of the most important disorders in intact dogs. In this study, we aimed to induce PH experimentally using the combination of testosterone and estrogen and evaluate important factors associated with this disease. RESULTS: The results showed that in the induction group, prostate volume and prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration increased significantly on day 21 onwards compared to those of the control group. Canine prostatic specific esterase (CPSE) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations increased significantly on day 42 onwards while the testosterone levels increased on day 63. In addition, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) concentration did not change significantly in the control and induction groups. Biochemistry profiles and hematologic factors were measured for monitoring the function of liver and kidney, and there were no adverse effects following the induction of PH. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that testosterone and estrogen administration led to prostatic hyperplasia during 2 months. Investigating the size of the prostate, accompanied by prostate markers including CPSE, PSA, DHT, and testosterone, is helpful for the PH diagnosis. However, further studies should be carried out on PAP.

Changes in the oxidative stress factors and inflammatory proteins following the treatment of BPH-induced dogs with an anti-proliferative agent called tadalafil.

BACKGROUND: Finding a medical treatment which can combat cell proliferation and relax smooth muscles in canine benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) appears to be imperative. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress and inflammatory proteins following the treatment of dogs induced for BPH with an anti-proliferative agent called tadalafil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five adult intact male dogs were randomly designated into five groups (n = 5): Control group was not induced for BPH and not treated with tadalafil; dogs induced for BPH by testosterone enanthate and estradiol benzoate and treated with tadalafil (5 mg/day P.O.); dogs which received tadalafil (5 mg/day P.O.); dogs induced for BPH and treated with castration; and dogs induced for BPH. Oxidative stress factors (glutathione peroxidase [GPX], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase) and inflammatory proteins (haptoglobin, serum amyloid A [SAA], malondialdehyde [MDA]) were measured in the blood serum for four sequential weeks. RESULTS: Glutathione peroxidase and SOD serum levels declined in dogs in the BPH-induced group compared to those in the control group. Those levels diminished in BPH-induced castrated and tadalafil-treated groups. The changes in the GPX and SOD serum concentrations were not significant between the BPH-induced castrated group and BPH-induced tadalafil-treated group. Moreover, MDA concentration increased slightly in groups with BPH and groups which were castrated. Generally, however, there were no significant differences in the MDA serum concentrations between other groups. Haptoglobin and SAA concentrations increased in BPH-castrated group. Also, the differences in haptoglobin and SAA were not significant between the groups. CONCLUSION: Tadalafil could not control oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators which happened during BPH in dogs.

Evaluation of intravitreal injection of pentoxifylline in experimental endotoxin-induced uveitis in rabbits.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological effects of intravitreal injection of pentoxifylline (PTX) the management of an experimental model of uveitis. Fifty-two rabbits were divided randomly into six intravitreal treated groups as below: 1) Balanced salt solution (BSS), 2) Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) + BSS, 3) LPS + PTX 100 µg, 4) LPS + PTX 500 µg, 5) BSS + PTX 100 µg and 6) BSS + PTX 500 µg. Inflammation was evaluated by clinical examinations using slit lamp on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 post injections and histopathological examinations were also performed at the end of the study. Clinical examinations demonstrated a statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 2 on day 5 and day 7. Moreover, the comparison of clinical severity scores of group 1 with groups 3, 4, 5 and 6, on third, fifth and seventh post-injection days showed statistically significant differences. The mean histopathological inflammation intensity score in groups 5 and 6 was significantly higher than group 1. The mean histopathological inflammation intensity score in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 was significantly higher than group 2. Intravitreal injection of PTX in an experimental model of uveitis in rabbits not only does not reduce inflammation but also leads to inflammation when used alone or in combination with LPS.

Intra-vitreal injection of methotrexate in experimental endotoxin-induced uveitis in rabbit.

Uveitis is a major cause of vision loss. Methotrexate (MTX) has been widely used in uveitis due to its relatively safe profile. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different dosages of MTX via intra-vitreal administration for treatment of endotoxin induced uveitis (EIU) in an experimental model. Thirty-five healthy rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and all animals were tolerated intra-vitreal injections. The first group received normal saline (NS), the second group received normal saline plus Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS), (NS+LPS), the third group received 400 µg MTX plus LPS (LPS+MTX 400) and the fourth group received 800 µg MTX plus LPS (LPS+MTX 800). Intra-ocular inflammation was evaluated by clinical examination scoring during 7 post-injection days and histopathological examination at the end of study. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the histopathological and clinical scores. According to the clinical examinations, all groups demonstrated higher uveitis score than group 1 on first post-injection day. Also, groups 2 and 3 showed greater uveitis score than group 4. On the third, fifth and seventh post-injection days, clinical uveitis score in groups 2, 3 and 4 was significantly higher than group 1. The mean histopathological inflammation intensity scores in groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly higher than group 1. Single intra-vitreal injection of 400 µg and 800 µg of MTX did not show significant anti-inflammatory effects on EIU in rabbits.

Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp. in blood samples of dogs in southern Iran using polymerase chain reaction.

Ehrlichiosis is a zoonotic disease which has been reported from some regions of Iran. This study was aimed to determine the presence and prevalence of ehrlichiosis in suspected dogs referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Blood samples were collected from 98 suspected dogs with at least one of the five following findings: thrombocytopenia, anemia (hematocrit < 37.00%), gastrointestinal signs and respiratory and/or central nervous system diseases. Complete blood count was performed for each sample. After genomic DNA extraction, PCR assay was carried out using a commercial PCR kit. The results showed that only three out of 98 samples (3.06%) were positive for ehrlichiosis. There was no significant difference in hematological parameters between infected and non-infected cases. These results emphasize that ehrlichiosis has a low prevalence among examined cases in southern Iran. Further serological and molecular studies are needed to clarify the epidemiological feature of this infection in different areas of Iran.

Hemangiopericytoma in a young dog: Evaluation of histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

In the present study, we describe a subcutaneous mass between the left flank and hip in a 2-year-old male Great Dane dog. Histopathologically, cells appeared to be spindle shaped around a central capillary together with a fingerprint pattern. Immunohistochemical analysis presented that the neoplastic cells expressed vimentin, but did not stain for S-100 protein. On the basis of histopathology and immunohistochemical findings, the present tumor was diagnosed as canine hemangiopericytoma. Hemangiopericytoma could be considered in differential diagnosis list of any mass in the skin (even in young dogs) and must be identified histopathologically.

Intravascular hemolysis associated with Candidatus Mycoplasma hematoparvum in a non-splenectomized dog in the south region of Iran.

A 2-year-old male Pekingese dog was referred to Shiraz University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for anorexia and depression. The case had no history of surgery. Physical examination revealed no abnormalities except mild depression and fever. Small, coccoid, epicellular bacteria were detected on erythrocytes by microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained blood smears. Abnormalities noted in the complete blood count included regenerative anemia characterized by a marked reticulocytosis. Examination of the plasma showed visual evidence of slight intra vascular hemolysis. In addition, Howell-Jolly bodies, nucleated RBCs, increased immature neutrophils and thrombocytosis were found in this case. The urine was strongly positive for bilirubin, and the urine sediment had abundant bilirubin crystals. For polymerase chain reaction (PCR) purpose, total DNA was extracted from blood sample collected from dog. PCR was positive and phylogenetic analysis of concatenated data showed our isolate clustered within Candidatus Mycoplasma hematoparvum group. Treatment was performed by oral ciprofloxacin and prednisolone. The clinical signs improved after three days. Two month follow-up showed no recurrence. In conclusion, hemoplasmosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs with hemolytic process and pyrexia. The PCR evaluation for hemoplasma DNA should be included in the investigation of such cases to enable the rapid detection of this infection, which may be more common than previously estimated. Besides, ciprofloxacin might have an effect on treatment of hemoplasma in dogs, however, conducting further case studies are necessary to recommend successful treatment.