Evaluation of bilateral vasocystostomy for canine sterilization.

This study was aimed to evaluate canine vasocystotomy as a testosterone-preserving method of sterilization and investigate its potential post-operative complications. Five healthy adult male dogs underwent surgical procedure to transplant vasa deferentia to the urinary bladder. Under general anesthesia, caudal abdomen was opened and both vasa deferentia were ligated and transected. Then, the proximal free ends were sutured to mucosal layer of urinary bladder on its cranio-dorsal aspect. Serum testosterone level was measured on a weekly basis. Six-week postoperative assessments were performed including semen and urine sampling, ultrasound, contrast vasography, and tissue sampling. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in serum testosterone levels compared to its baseline value. Along with non-motile and broken spermatozoa, no cast or crystals were observed in urine samples. Semen analyses revealed azoospermia. No vasal obstruction or contrast leakage was observed in vasographs indicating bilateral patency in all dogs. Normal thickness of the bladder was found in ultrasounds. Histopathology showed normal testicular architecture and no inflammatory response was found in bladder or vas deferens following vasal transplantation. No significant change was found in testicular volume at the end of the study. This study suggested that vasocystostomy could be considered as an alternative method for canine sterilization with no significant changes in the testosterone concentrations and no evidence of postoperative complications. The preservation of testosterone could be regarded as an advantage and makes this approach favorable compared to the routine methods of sterilization especially for herding and guard dogs, because it prevents overpopulation while maintains the functionality.

Evaluation of the Effect of Titatnium Dioxide Nanoparticles/Gelatin Composite on Infected Skin Wound Healing; An Animal Model Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of titanium dioxide /gelatin nanocomposite on wound healing in mice as a model study. METHODS: Fifty male rats were randomized into five groups of ten animals each. In group I, 0.1 mL sterile saline 0.9% solution was added to the wounds with no infection. In group II, the wounds were infected with MRSA and only treated with 0.1 mL the sterile saline 0.9% solution. In group III, infected wounds were treated with gelatin. In group IV, animals with infected wounds were treated with 0.1 mL titanium dioxide nanoparticles. In group V, animals with infected wounds were treated with titanium dioxide /gelatin nanocomposite. Wound size was measured on 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 20 days after surgery. RESULTS: Reduction in wound area indicated that there was significant difference between group IV and other groups (p<0.05). Quantitative histological and morphometric studies and mean rank of the qualitative studies demonstrated that there was significant difference between group IV and other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Titatnium dioxide nanoparticles/gelatin composite offered potential advantages in wound healing acceleration and fibroblast proliferation on early days of healing phases. Acceleration in wound repair could be associated with earlier wound contraction and stability of damaged area by rearrangement of granulation tissue and collagen fibers.

Local Xenotransplantation of Bone Marrow Derived Mast Cells (BMMCs) Improves Functional Recovery of Transected Sciatic Nerve in Cat: A Novel Approach in Cell Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) on functional recovery of transected sciatic nerve in animal model of cat. METHOD: A 20-mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a silicone nerve guide filled with BMMCs in BMMC group. In Sham-surgery group (SHAM), the sciatic nerve was only exposed and manipulated. In control group (SILOCONE) the gap was repaired with a silicone nerve guide and both ends were sealed using sterile Vaseline to avoid leakage and the nerve guide was filled with 100 µL of phosphate-buffered saline alone. In cell treated group ([SILOCONE/BMMC) the nerve guide was filled with 100 µL BMMCs (2× 106 cells/100 µL). The regenerated nerve fibers were studied, biomechanically, histologically and immunohiscochemically 6 months later. RESULTS: Biomechanical studies confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in BMMCs transplanted animals compared to control group (p<0.05). Morphometric indices of the regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in BMMCs transplanted animals than in control group (p<0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in BMMCs transplanted animals was clearly more positive than that in control group. CONCLUSION: BMMCs xenotransplantation could be considered as a readily accessible source of cells that could improve recovery of transected sciatic nerve.