In vitro survival of follicles collected from domestic cats' ovaries at different stages of oestrous cycle and cultured with IGF-1.

Optimal conditions for in vitro culture of feline ovarian follicles have not yet been defined. Follicular development is regulated by intraovarian growth factors, as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and during the different stages of the oestrous cycle, follicles are exposed to specific hormonal environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of IGF-1 on in vitro growth and granulosa cell (GC) viability of preantral follicles collected from domestic cats at follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle. Oestrus and ovulation were induced in 12 cats. A total of 39 and 32 follicles collected at the follicular and luteal phases, respectively, were individually cultured in vitro for 6 days in minimum essential medium media supplemented with or without IGF-1 (100 ng/ml). Follicles collected during the follicular phase and cultured without IGF-1 displayed a significant increase in size and higher GC viability (46.5 ± 22.1 µm, 66.7%, respectively) than that of follicles collected at the luteal phase and cultured without IGF-1 (26.7 ± 14.4 µm, 50%, respectively; p < 0.05). In contrast, when IGF-1 was added to the culture medium, no differences were observed in size or GC viability between follicles collected at the two phases of the cycle. Nonetheless, follicles collected at the luteal phase and cultured with IGF-1 had a significant increase in their diameter and GC viability (31.9 ± 15.9 µm, 63.6%, respectively) than that cultured without IGF-1 (26.7 ± 14.4 µm, 50%, respectively; p < 0.05). These data suggest that in vitro growth and GC survival of feline preantral follicles are affected by the oestrous cycle phase, and the IGF-1 exerts a positive effect on follicles collected at the luteal phase.

Leucogram and serum acute phase protein concentrations in queens submitted to conventional or videolaparoscopic ovariectomy / Leucograma e concentrações séricas de proteínas de fase aguda de gatas submetidas à ovariectomia convencional ou por videolaparoscopia

Thirty health queens were submitted to ovariectomy by conventional technique or by videolaparoscopy. In order to study the intensity of inflammatory response by means of acute phase protein analysis and white blood cell count, serum samples were taken before and until 144 hours after the surgical procedures. The protein concentrations that were significantly increased 24 hours after surgical procedures were: ceruloplasmin, hemopexin, haptoglobin, and α1-acid glycoprotein, 69.8 percent, 103.5 percent, 117.3 percent, and 199.0 percent, respectively, for conventional ovariectomy; and 22.3 percent, 46.1 percent, 79.8 percent, and 74.6 percent, respectively, for laparoscopic ovariectomy. Therefore, inflammatory response was more intense in queens submitted to conventional ovariectomy. Results indicate that the increase or decrease in acute phase proteins, as well as in white blood cells count, may be useful in the evaluation of inflammatory response induced by these surgical procedures.

Trinta gatas, saudáveis, foram submetidas à ovariectomia pela técnica convencional e por videolaparoscopia. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas com o objetivo de verificar a intensidade da resposta inflamatória por meio da análise das concentrações de proteinas de fase aguda e contagem de leucócitos antes e até 144 horas após procedimento cirúrgico. As proteínas que apresentaram aumento significativo 24 horas após a cirurgia foram: ceruloplasmina, hemopexina, haptoglobina e α1-glicoproteína ácida, 69,8 por cento, 103,5 por cento, 117,3 por cento e 199,0 por cento, respectivamente, para ovariectomia convencional, e 22,3 por cento, 46,1 por cento, 79,8 por cento e 74,6 por cento, respectivamente, para ovariectomia por videolaparoscopia. A resposta inflamatória foi mais evidente nas gatas submetidas à ovariectomia convencional. Os resultados mostram aumento e diminuição na concentração de proteínas de fase aguda e na contagem de leucócitos, podendo ser utilizados na avaliação da resposta inflamatória induzida por procedimentos cirúrgicos.

Age-related ultrasonography, cytology, and microbiologic exam of canine prostate / Ultrassonografia, citologia e exame microbiológico da próstata de cães em diferentes idades

The physiological parameters that could be reference for trustful diagnosis and prognosis of prostate disorders in dogs were obtained. Thirty six intact male dogs without clinical signs of neither prostatic nor reproductive disorders were allocated according the age in three groups. These animals were submitted to semen manual collection for microbiological exams; transabdominal ultrasonography to evaluate dimensions, ecogenicity, and texture of prostatic parenchyma and aspirative puncture with fine needle for cytological and microbiological analyses. Ultrasonography revealed that the predominant prostatic shape was round with regular surface. Dimensions varied according to age, being small in young animals and large in old ones. There was a positive correlation between prostatic dimensions and body weight. Microbiological exams detected microorganisms on seminal plasma from 11 dogs and prostate tissue aspirated from 10 animals, although they were healthy. Cytology did not reveal any inflammatory, proliferative, or neoplasic alteration in young and middle age dogs, but in three older dogs signs of hyperplasia/hypertrophy was found. It was observed positive correlation between age and cellular area but a negative correlation was observed between nucleus:cytoplasm ratio and craniocaudal dimension.

Obtiveram-se parâmetros fisiológicos que pudessem ser utilizados como referência para diagnóstico e prognóstico confiáveis de doença prostática em cães. Trinta e seis cães, sem sinais clínicos de doença prostática ou distúrbios reprodutivos, foram distribuídos em três grupos de acordo com a idade.Os animais foram submetidos à colheita manual de sêmen para exames microbiológicos, à ultrassonografia transabdominal, para avaliar as dimensões, a ecogenicidade e a ecotextura prostática, e à punção aspirativa com agulha fina, para análise citológica e microbiológica. A ultrassonografia revelou que a forma predominante da próstata foi globosa, com superfície de contorno regular. As dimensões variaram de acordo com a idade, sendo pequena em animais jovens e grande nos animais idosos. Houve correlação positiva entre as dimensões prostáticas e o peso corporal. Os exames microbiológicos detectaram microrganismos no plasma seminal de 11 cães e no tecido prostático aspirado de 10 animais, embora eles fossem saudáveis. A citologia não revelou nenhuma alteração inflamatória, proliferativa ou neoplásica nos cães jovens e de meia idade, mas, em três cães idosos foram encontrados sinais de hiperplasia/hipertrofia. Foi observada correlação positiva entre a idade e a área celular e correlação negativa entre a relação núcleo:citoplasma e a dimensão craniocaudal.

Evaluation of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities after laparoscopic or conventional ovariectomy in queens.

Creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are mainly muscle-specific enzymes, which can be associated with muscle tissue damage. The aim of this study was to assess the activities of CK and AST during the postoperative period, after conventional (G1) and videolaparoscopic ovariectomy (G2), in queens. A further group (G3) was subjected to anaesthesia only. Results demonstrate that there were significant differences between groups. The highest levels of CK were recorded in G1, however at a confidence level of p<0.05 there was no significant difference between groups during the first 6 hours after surgery. A significant (p<0.05) increase of CK values was identified between 0 h and 3 h in both groups (G1 and G2). Regarding AST activity there was no significant variation between groups, but again there was a significant difference between values at 0 h and 3h after surgery. In conclusion, ovariectomy performed by videolaparoscopy seems to cause less muscle damage when compared to the conventional method.

Acquired vesicovaginal fistula secondary to ovariohysterectomy in a bitch: a case report

Uma cadela de sete anos de idade foi trazida ao hospital veterinário "Governador Laudo Natel" pois apresentava estrangúria há dois meses. Os sinais clínicos desenvolveram-se dois dias após ovário-histerectomia de eleição. Exames radiográficos e ultrasonográficos sugeriram piometra de coto ou granuloma cervical e fistula vesicovaginal. Duas laparotomias foram realizadas para desfazer as adesões, mas não houve melhora nos sinais clínicos observados. Iniciou-se tratamento médico e oito meses depois o animal, novamente avaliado, apresentava-se sadio porém ainda com sinais de estrangúria.