The anatomy and histology of the reproductive tract of the male Babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis).

The anatomy and histology of the reproduction organs of the male Babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis) were studied in 21 specimens collected between birth and approximately 17 years of age. In adult animals the testes were located in a subanal position against the caudal surface of the thigh musculature. Average adult testis length was 68.9 ± 5.1 mm, width was 40.3 ± 5.7 mm, and depth was 47.9 ± 7.0 mm (N = 11). The average combined adult testicular weight was estimated to be 82.7 ± 23.2 g (N = 11). The testes of newborn Babyrousa had descended through the inguinal canal into the scrotum before birth. Adult seminiferous tubules had an average diameter of 199 ± 33.6 µm (N = 9) and were randomly distributed among a smaller volume of Leydig cells. Connective tissue was sparse. In one 13-month-old prepubertal animal the diameter of the seminiferous tubules was 85.3 ± 16.1 µm (N = 7). The spermatozoa was 42.2 ± 4.9 µm (N = 19) long and had a flat, paddle shaped head, 6.3 ± 0.6 µm (N = 50) long, 3.9 ± 0.5 µm (N = 47) wide, and a thickness of approximately 0.5 µm. An apical ridge along its front represented the acrosome. The two adult vesicular glands each had an irregular shape and were approximately 48.7 ± 7.4 mm long, 25.6 ± 4.3 mm wide, and 20.6 ± 8.7 mm deep (N = 6). The prostate, comprising a corpus and disseminate parts, lay ventral to the vesicular glands partly embedded in the dorsal wall of the urethra. The paired adult bulbourethral glands were approximately shaped like prolate (elongated) spheroids and had a length of 51.2 ± 14.2 mm, a width of 22.6 ± 4.5 mm, and a depth of 14.4 ± 4.5 mm (N = 7). The secretions from the bulbourethral glands drained into the urethral recess, which in adults measured approximately 10 to 14 mm in length and was located caudodorsal to a narrowing of the pelvic urethra. The penis was 330 ± 16 mm long and 8.2 ± 0.6 mm in diameter, and rotated approximately two and a half turns counterclockwise along its longitudinal axis toward its free end. The small prepucial diverticulum situated dorsocranial to the penis tip in adult and prepubertal Babyrousa, in adults measured 22.0 ± 1 mm in length and 17.5 ± 2.6 mm (N = 3) in width.

Anatomy and histology of the reproductive tract of the female Babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis).

The anatomy and histology of the female reproductive tract of the Indonesian wild pig Babyrousa celebensis was studied by means of reproductive tracts obtained from seven animals aged between two and 22 years of age. The ovary appeared to have the ability to ovulate up to four ova at one time. However, the combined ovarian output seemed to average 1.86 ova. Ovulation can take place at any time from puberty to old age (22 years). The opening to the uterine tube was indicated by a 'flower-like' array of tall, broad epithelial 'petals' arising from the luminal surface of the funnel. The mucosal surfaces of these structures were covered in a mixture of prominent ciliated cells and bulbous secretory cells. The uterine tube followed a tightly convoluted path to the tip of the uterine horn. The uterus was proportionately short. The anatomical construction of the uterus was similar to those of other suids in that the columnar endometrium was heavily folded, there was a rich supply of uterine glands in the lamina propria, and the uterus was provided with a good blood supply. The cervix was thick walled and had a spiral lumen.

Application of dual radiotelemetric technique in studying drug-drug interaction between diclofenac sodium and ranitidine HCl in volunteers.

Drug-drug interaction between a commercial diclofenac sodium enteric-coated tablet (Voltaren; V) and a ranitidine HCl tablet (Zantac; Z) was evaluated using a dual radiotelemetric technique according to a randomized three-way Latin-Square crossover design balanced for carryover effects. V and Z were given either alone or in combination (Treatment V, Z, V/Z), with a 14-day washout period between treatments. Eighteen fasted subjects swallowed a tethered. Heidelberg pH capsule to provide continuous gastric pH. Then the assigned treatment drug and another Heidelberg pH capsule were given simultaneously. The free pH capsule provided information regarding gastric residence time (GRT). Serial blood samples were obtained for up to 12 hr after dosing and drug levels were determined by validated HPLC methods. Treatment effects on AUC, Cmax, Tmax, Tlag, Tmax-Tlag, and T1/2 were not significant except Cmax, which differed slightly for both V and Z when given in combination as compared to alone. Gastric residence times were 46, 33, and 51 min for Treatments V, Z, and V/Z, respectively. Gastric exposure of the enteric-coated tablet of diclofenac was estimated by pH values obtained from the tethered capsule. Median pH values at 3 and 15 min prior to gastric emptying were 3.8 and 4.9 for the combination treatment versus 2.1 and 2.7 for diclofenac alone. The results of this study indicated that there was minimal drug-drug interaction between diclofenac and ranitidine. The gastric pH range resulting from this study did not influence the oral absorption of enteric-coated diclofenac.

Application of radiotelemetric technique in evaluating diclofenac sodium absorption after oral administration of various dosage forms in healthy volunteers.

A radiotelemetric technique with the Heidelberg capsule (HC) was used to improve the quality of data generated in a bioavailability study involving an enteric-coated (EC) formulation. Further, changes in plasma levels of the drug from other dosage forms were related to changes in pH environment as determined by the HC. Eight healthy male subjects received the following treatments, 15 min after a light breakfast, according to a randomized, four-way crossover design: (A) HC and 75 mg of a diclofenac sodium aqueous buffered solution: (B) HC and one 75-mg Voltaren EC tablet; (C) HC and one 100-mg Voltaren slow-release (SR) tablet; and (D) HC alone. Each treatment was separated by a 1-week washout period. Two additional subjects subsequently received Treatment B only. Multiple peaks were observed in the drug plasma level-time profiles for the buffered aqueous solution which, in all cases, occurred before gastric emptying of the HC. The multiple peaks were not observed for the Voltaren SR tablet, but a variable absorption lag time occurred which coincided with the gastric residence time of the SR tablet. For the EC tablet the variability of individual plasma level-time profiles was drastically reduced when the time after dosing was adjusted to coincide with gastric emptying of the HC. Finally, the lag time between gastric emptying of the EC tablet and the onset of drug absorption was consistently at 1 hr for all subjects. This lag time was longer than the in vitro disintegration or dissolution times measured under USP conditions.