Pica behavior associated with buprenorphine administration in the rat.

Marked gastric distention was-observed in rats 20 h after they underwent partial hepatectomy under isoflurane anesthesia and received buprenorphine (0.3 mg/kg of body weight) after surgery. Hardwood bedding comprised the bulk of the gastric contents. A study was undertaken to determine the cause of the pica behavior (consumption of non-nutritive substances) and resultant gastric distention. Ten-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups. Group-1 rats (n = 11) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia, with buprenorphine (0.3 mg/kg) administered after surgery. Group-2 rats (n = 12) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia with buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg) administered after surgery. Group-3 rats (n = 24) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia, with saline administered after surgery. Isoflurane was administered at the same rate, concentration, and duration for all groups that underwent laparotomy (groups 1 to 3). Buprenorphine or saline was administered subcutaneously as a single injection when anesthesia was discontinued (groups 1 to 3). Group-4 rats (n = 6) received buprenorphine (0.3 mg/kg) only. Group-5 rats (n = 6) received buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg) only. Group-6 rats (n = 12) received saline only. Rats not undergoing laparotomy (groups 4 to 6) received buprenorphine or saline 18 to 20 h before euthanasia. Rats were housed individually in filter-topped polycarbonate cages containing hardwood bedding. A purified, pelleted diet and water were offered ad libitum. Food and water consumption were measured over the posttreatment period. Eighteen to 20 h after treatment, rats were euthanized, each stomach and its contents were weighed, contents were examined grossly, and wet and dry gastric content weights were recorded. All weights were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in rats receiving buprenorphine administered after surgery (groups 1 and 2), compared with rats of the control group (group 3). Weights of the stomach and contents, wet gastric contents, and dry gastric contents were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in rats receiving 0.3 mg of buprenorphine/kg only (group 4), compared with values for their controls (group 6). Hardwood bedding comprised the bulk of the gastric contents in all groups receiving buprenorphine. Stomachs of rats not receiving buprenorphine contained the purified diet with little or no hardwood bedding. These results indicate that a single injection of buprenorphine at a dosage of 0.05 or 0.3 mg/kg resulted in rats ingesting hardwood bedding, leading to gastric distention. It was concluded that pica behavior associated with administration of buprenorphine should be considered when evaluating experimental data from rats housed on contact bedding.

Hair pulling and eating in captive rhesus monkey troops.

Hair pulling and eating has not yet received attention in the nonhuman primate literature. Hair pulling and eating was recorded 388 times in two heterogeneous troops of healthy rhesus monkeys that were kept according to modern management practices. The behavior in question consists of the following sequence: pulling with the fingers (1/3 of cases) or with the teeth (2/3 of cases) tufts of hair from one's own or from a partner's coat; chewing the hair and finally swallowing it; the undigested material is excreted in the feces. Hair pulling was almost exclusively (378/388) partner-directed. It was observed 364 times between animals whose dominance relationships were known; it was performed in 96% (349/364) of observations by a dominant but only in 4% (15/364) of observations by a subordinate monkey. The recipient of hair pulling showed typical fear and/or avoidance reactions. In both troops young animals (2-8 years of age) engaged in hair pulling and eating significantly more often than old animals (10-26 years of age). There was no evidence that nutritional, toxicological or climatic factors were responsible for the manifestation of this behavior. It was concluded that, similar to trichotillomania in man, wool pulling and eating in sheep and muskox, and feather picking in poultry, hair pulling and eating is an aggressive behavioral disorder in rhesus monkeys reflecting adjustment problems to a stressful environment.

Sand-induced diarrhea in a foal.

A diagnosis of sand enteropathy was made in a 3 1/2-month-old Quarter Horse filly. Clinical signs included diarrhea and weight loss of 2 1/2 months' duration. Abdominal radiographs were useful in diagnosis of the condition and in evaluating response to therapy. The filly responded to treatment with psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid although full recovery took 2 months. Diagnosis and treatment of sand enteropathy is discussed.

[Diagnostic value of radioisotope methods of studying the thyroid of sheep]. / Diagnostichna stoinost na niakoi radioizotopni metodi pri izsledvane na shtitovidnata zhleza na ovtse.

Studies were carried out on the diagnostic effectiveness of the 131I-captation test, the thyro-cap, thyro-con, res-o-mat method, and the scintigraphic method in the investigation of sheep with hypo- and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. It was established that the first of these methods displayed negligible diagnostic capacity, embracing the changes in the inorganic phase of the iodine metabolism at hypo- and hyperfunction of the thyroid. The data obtained for the T-3, T-4, and FT-4 values on the basis of the radioimmune tests used reflected precisely and differentially the changes in the level of the hormone synthesis taking place in the thyroid at various physiologic conditions. Scintigraphic studies with 131I and 99mTc did not give account for the functional changes taking place in the parenchyma of the thyroid gland.

Blood lead concentrations of children and dogs from 83 Illinois families.

In comparison of blood lead concentrations (BLC) of 119 children and 94 dogs from 83 low-income suburban Illinois families, the mean BLC in the children was 8.9 mug/100 ml greater than that in the dogs. Demonstration of a BLC of diagnostic significance in a family dog increased the probability sixfold of finding a child in the same family with a BLC similarly increased. A history of pica in a family dog also increased the likelihood of finding pica in the family's children. It was concluded that family dogs may be useful sentinels of lead poisoning in children, and that veterinarians seeing dogs in clinical situations may have public health responsibilities with regard to lead poisoning.