Anatomic Variations of the Perineal Arteries and Nerves in the Male and Female Dog and Its Clinical Implications.

The anatomic variations of the perineal arteries and nerves are studied in the dog. The aim of the study is to provide a more detailed understanding of the blood supply and innervation of the perineal region, providing detailed information on the perineal arteries and nerve distribution and their variability in male and female dogs. The study used 232 pelvic halves from 116 adult dogs and analysed the differences using the chi-squared test. The results showed that the presumptive model for perineal artery distribution described in N.A.V. was observed in 46% of the specimens. Additionally, a dorsal perineal artery "long type" was found in 13% of the dogs, and a perineal trunk was present in 41% of the dogs. In the study, there was no variation in perineal nerve distribution, and it was found that the perineal nerve did not run together with the dorsal perineal artery when it was the "short type" as described in the presumptive model for perineal artery distribution. Instead, it always followed the route of the dorsal perineal artery "long type" and the perineal trunk when they were present. The findings of the study may be useful for veterinary surgeons when approaching the perineal region in dogs.

Cutaneous wound healing: canine allogeneic ASC therapy.

BACKGROUND: Wound healing is a complex biological process comprised of a series of sequential events aiming to repair injured tissue. Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in cellular therapy in preclinical animal studies; a promising source of MSCs is adipose tissue (AT). In this paper, we evaluated the clinical value and safety of the application of cultured allogenic MSCs from AT for acute and chronic skin wound healing in a canine model. METHODS: Twenty-four dogs of different breeds between 1 and 10 years of age with acute and chronic wounds were studied. Morphology of the wounded skin was monitored for changes over time via serial photographs and histopathological studies. RESULTS: The percentage of the wounds that exhibited contraction and re-epithelialization were significantly different between wounds treated with adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and control wounds; this effect was observed in both acute and chronic conditions. At 90 days, re-epithelization of acute and chronic wounds reached more than 97%. Histopathological study revealed a reduction in inflammatory infiltrate and the presence of multiple hair follicles on day 7 after treatment with ASCs, promoting epidermal and dermal regeneration. To guarantee the safety of our treatment, we determined the serum levels of cytokine markers in our patients. ASC treatment upregulated granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) at the gene level, which may contribute to the recruitment of cells that participate in skin repair to the site of injury. CONCLUSIONS: The development of an allogenic ASC therapy to improve wound healing in a canine model could have a clinical impact in human treatment.

Body stalk anomalies in pig-Definition and classification.

The presence of body wall closing defects (abdominoschisis and thoracoabdominoschisis) in combination with other congenital malformations was studied in the pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). After clinical examination and literature review, body wall defects with multiple congenital anomalies in eight pigs were described, and classified using anatomical and embryological criteria. Several BSA presentations were identified and classified as follows: (a) BSA Type I: fetus with spinal and UC defects, thoracoabdominoschisis, anal atresia and/or other internal organs structural defects, and structural limb defects; (b) BSA Type II: fetus with spinal and UC defects, thoracoabdominoschisis, anal atresia and/or other internal organs structural defects, and nonstructural limb defects; (c) BSA Type III: fetus with spinal and UC defects, abdominoschisis, anal atresia and/or other internal organs structural defects, and structural limb defects; and (d) BSA Type IV: fetus with spinal and UC defects, abdominoschisis, anal atresia and/or other internal organs structural defects, and nonstructural limb defects. Two types of LBWC were differentiated: LBWC Type I: characterized by thoracoabdominoschisis and structural limb defects, and LBWC Type II: characterized by abdominoschisis and structural limb defects, corresponding to BSA type I and type III. This is the first report on BSA and LBWC in the pig.

Regenerative potential of allogeneic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells in canine cutaneous wounds.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have generated a great amount of interest over the past decade as a novel therapeutic treatment for a variety of diseases. Emerging studies have indicated that MSCs could enhance the repair of injured skin in canine cutaneous wounds. CASE PRESENTATION: A healthy 2 years old Bodeguero Andaluz dog was presented with multiple skin bite wounds. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy was administered for 8 days. On day three, 107 allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) were intradermally injected approximately equidistant to the ASCs treated wounds. Control wounds underwent conventional treatment with a topical antibacterial ointment until wound healing and closure. Wounds, skin morphology and healing progress were monitored via serial photographs and histopathology of biopsies obtained at day seven after ASC treatment. Histopathology revealed absence of inflammatory infiltrates and presence of multiple hair follicles in contrast to the non-ASCs treated control wounds indicating that ASC treatment promoted epidermal and dermal regeneration. ASCs were identified by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. The immunomodulatory role of ASCs was evidenced by coculturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells with allogeneic ASCs. Phytohemagglutinin was administered to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation. Cells were harvested and stained with an anticanine CD3-FITC antibody. The ASCs inhibited proliferation of T lymphocytes, which was quantified by reduction of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester intensity using flow cytometry. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional treatment, wounds treated with ASCs showed a higher regenerative capacity with earlier and faster closure in this dog.

Body wall defects and amniotic band syndrome in pig (Sus scrofa domesticus).

The amniotic band syndrome is a congenital condition. It is characterized by the presence of fibrous amniotic bands that may entangle or entrap different foetal parts in utero, resulting in deformation, malformation or disruption. We report on a female piglet presenting amniotic band adherences in the right abdominal flank, several body wall defects (gastroschisis, abdominoschisis with omphalocele), severe scoliosis, anomalous umbilical cord with single umbilical artery, anal atresia, anomalous liver and absent gall bladder, hypoplastic genitalia, ankylosis and arthrogryposis in pelvic limbs, and bilateral patellar agenesia. The ethiopatogenia is discussed, as well as the comparative and embryological implications.

VACTERL Association in a Female Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus).

VACTERL/VATER association is a condition defined by the presence of at least three of the following congenital malformations: vertebral defects (V), anal atresia (A), cardiac defects (C), tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TE), renal anomalies (R) and limb abnormalities (L). We describe a stillborn female piglet with cardiac anomalies, renal defects, vertebral anomalies, anal atresia and a single umbilical artery (SUA), which are the main features of VACTERL association. In addition, the piglet had a unilateral abdominal wall defect. This was the only affected animal in a litter of 16 piglets. The molecular inductive mechanisms of this disorder are discussed, as well as the comparative and embryological implications.

Stem cell factor supports migration in canine mesenchymal stem cells.

Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) are cells that can be defined as multipotent cells able to differentiate into diverse lineages, under appropriate conditions. These cells have been widely used in regenerative medicine, both in preclinical and clinical settings. Initially discovered in bone marrow, MSC can now be isolated from a wide spectrum of adult and foetal tissues. Studies to evaluate the therapeutic potential of these cells are based on their ability to arrive to damaged tissues. In this paper we have done a comparative study analyzing proliferation, surface markers and OCT4, SOX9, RUNX2, PPARG genes expression in MSC cells from Bone marrow (BMMSC) and Adipose tissue (ASC). We also analyzed the role of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) on MSC proliferation and on ASCs metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9 secretion. Healthy dogs were used as BMMSC donors, and ASC were collected from omentum during elective ovariohysterectomy surgery. Both cell types were cultured in IMDM medium with or without SCF, 10% Dog Serum (DS), and incubated at 38 °C with 5% CO2. Growth of BMMSCs and ASCs was exponential until 25-30 days. Flow citometry of MSCs revealed positive results for CD90 and negative for CD34, CD45 and MCH-II. Genes were evaluated by RT-PCR and metalloproteinases by zymografy. Our findings indicate morphological and immunological similarities as well as expression of genes from both origins on analyzed cells. Furthermore, SCF did not affect proliferation of MSCs, however it up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion in ASCs. These results suggest that metalloproteinases are possibly essential molecules pivoting migration.