Slc:Hartley guinea pigs frequently possess duplication of the caudal vena cava.

The formation of the caudal vena cava is a complex process involving development, regression, and anastomosis. In mammals, the normal caudal vena cava runs to the right side of the abdominal aorta, while duplication of the caudal vena cava has been identified as a congenital abnormality in both companion animals and humans. The present study demonstrates that Slc:Hartley guinea pigs frequently possess asymptomatic duplicated caudal vena cava. The prevalence was 30% and 24% for males and females, respectively, with no sex-related differences. In accordance with Saad et al. (2012)'s criteria, duplicated caudal vena cava were classified into two distinct variations. The dominant variation was a complete duplication without iliac anastomosis where the left caudal vena cava continued from the left common iliac vein and joined the left renal vein; the left renal vein ran to the right to join the right caudal vena cava. The alternative variation was an incomplete duplication where the left caudal vena cava joined the right infrarenal caudal vena cava at a more cranial point than in normal cases; the renal segment was unchanged. Iliac anastomosis was not found in any cases. Duplicated caudal vena cava neither affected the body weight nor the kidney weight. In conclusion, Slc:Hartley guinea pigs frequently possess asymptomatic duplicated caudal vena cava in the absence of iliac anastomosis and appear to be a novel and useful animal model for duplicated caudal vena cava in animals and humans.

Medetomidine hydrochloride efficiency and safety in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), in doses estimated through allometric extrapolation / Eficiência e segurança do cloridrato de medetomidina no cobaio (Cavia porcellus), em doses calculadas por extrapolação alométrica / Eficiencia y seguridad del clorhidrato de medetomidina en cobayo (Cavia porcellus), en dosis calculadas por extrapolación alométrica

In this study, medetomidine hydrochloride, an alfa2 adrenergic receptor agonist, was administered to five adult guinea pigs (three males and two females) to verify the efficiency and safety of using doses calculated by using an allometric scale. A surgical procedure was performed to insert a polyethylene cannula that advanced 2.0 to 2.5 cm into the left carotid artery until the aorta. A minimum recovery period of two days was observed before any other manipulation or pharmacological test were performed. The cannulas were washed every two days with heparinized saline flow and remained patent for two to three weeks after insertion. After surgery, each animal was placed in an open box measuring 45x25x20cm, in a quiet room with soft lighting. The “MS” group received exactly the allometrically calculated dose, while the “2MS” group received twice the allometric dose and the “½ MS” group received half the allometric dose. Parameters were measured and analyzed at 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after injection. Body mass was 709.6±169g, 742±172.87g and 710±160.2g for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Body temperature was 101.68±0.19ºF; respiratory rate was 85.2±4.54 strokes per minute; heart rate was 297.13±3.46 beats per minute; PaO2 at 81.7±9.43mmHg; PaCO2 at 34.49±1.59mmHg; pH was measured at 7.41±0.07; hematocrit at 38.4±1.31%; total protein was 4.33±0.29g/dL, glucose was measured at 97.13±3.75mg/dL; systolic blood pressure was 85.53±2.50mmHg; diastolic pressure at 7.,40±3.74mmHg; and mean blood pressure was 78.73±1.13mmHg. Straightening postural reaction was lost at 7.20±2.05, 12.80±3.56 and 8.67±3.06 minutes for groups “2MS, MS and ½ MS”, respectively...

Neste estudo administrou-se cloridrato de medetomidina, um agonista de receptores adrenérgicos alfa2 , a cinco cobaios adultos (três machos e duas fêmeas) para verificar a eficiência e segurança do uso de doses calculadas por meio de extrapolação alométrica. Um procedimento cirúrgico foi realizado para inserir uma cânula de polietileno que avançou 2,0 a 2,5 cm no interior da artéria carótida esquerda, até a aorta. Um período mínimo de recuperação de dois dias foi respeitado antes de qualquer outra manipulação ou teste farmacológico. As cânulas eram lavadas a cada dois dias com fluxo de solução salina heparinizada e permaneceram patentes por duas a três semanas após sua inserção. Após a cirurgia, cada animal foi colocado em uma caixa aberta medindo 45x25x20cm, em uma sala silenciosa com iluminação suave. O grupo “MS” recebeu exatamente a dose alometricamente calculada, enquanto o grupo “2MS” recebeu o dobro da dose alométrica, e o grupo “½ MS” recebeu a metade da dose alométrica. Parâmetros foram mensurados e avaliados aos 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90 e 120 minutos após a injeção. A massa corporal foi 709,6±169g, 742±172,87g e 710±160,2g para os grupos 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente, a temperatura corporal foi 101,68±0,19ºF, a frequência respiratória foi 85,2±4,54 movimentos por minuto, a frequência cardía ca foi 297,13±3,46 batimentos per minute, a PaO2 foi 81,7±9,43mmHg, a PaCO2 foi 34,49±1,59mmHg, o pH foi 7,41±0,07, o hematócrito foi 38,4±1,31%, a proteína total foi 4,33±0,29g/dL, a glucose foi 97,13±3,75mg/dL, a pressão sistólica foi 85,53±2,50mmHg, a pressão diastólica foi 71,40±3,74mmHg, e a pressão sanguínea média foi 78,73±1,13mmHg...

En esta investigación se ha administrado clorhidrato de medetomidina, un agonista de receptores adrenérgicos alfa2 , a cinco cobayos adultos (tres machos y dos hembras) para verificar la eficacia y seguridad del uso de dosis calculadas por extrapolación alométrica. Se realizó un procedimiento quirúrgico para introducir una cánula de polietileno penetrando 2,0 a 2,5 cm en la arteria carótida izquierda, hasta la aorta. Se ha respetado un período mínimo de recuperación de dos días antes de cualquier otra manipulación o teste farmacológico. Las cánulas eran lavadas a cada dos días con flujo de solución salina heparinizada, y permanecieron patentes por dos a tres semanas después de la inserción. Después de la cirugía, cada animal fue acomodado en una caja abierta con medida de 45x25x20cm, en una sala silenciosa con iluminación suave. El grupo “MS” recibió exactamente la dosis alométricamente calculada, mientras el grupo “2MS” recibió el doble de la dosis alométrica, y el grupo “½ MS” recibió la mitad de la dosis alométrica. Parámetros fueron mensurados y evaluados a los 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90 y 120 minutos después de la inyección. El peso corporal fue 709,6±169g, 742±172,87g y 710±160,2g para los grupos 1, 2 y 3 respectivamente, la temperatura corporal fue 101,68±0,19ºF, la frecuencia respiratoria fue 85,2±4,54 movimientos por minuto, la frecuencia cardíaca fue 297,13±3,46 batimientos por minuto, la PaO2 fue 81,7±9,43mmHg, la PaCO2 fue 34,49±1,59mmHg, el pH fue 7,41±0,07, el hematocrito fue 38,4±1,31%, la proteína total fue 4,33±0,29g/dL, la glucosa fue 97,13±3,75mg/dL, la presión sistólica fue 85,53±2,50mmHg, la presión diastólica fue 71,40±3,74mmHg, y la presión sanguínea promedia fue 78,73±1,13mmHg. La reacción postural de enderezamiento fue perdida en 7.20±2,05, 12,80±3,56 y 8,67±3,06 minutos, para los grupos “2MS, MS y ½ MS”, respectivamente...

Stereociliary anomaly in the guinea pig: effects of hair bundle rotation on cochlear sensitivity.

Histological analysis of cochleas from 100 albino guinea pigs (Hartley strain) obtained from Charles River Laboratories revealed an apparently congenital anomaly in 24% of animals, with roughly equal prevalence in males and females. In affected animals, 15-50% of the first-row outer hair cells (OHCs) showed distinctly abnormal orientation of the W-shaped stereociliary array. These abnormal hair bundles could be rotated by up to 180 degrees from the normal quasi-radial orientation. Second- and third-row OHCs appeared normal in all cases. Cochlear sensitivity was assayed in a subset of animals via compound action potentials (CAPs): CAP thresholds in affected animals were, on average, elevated by 5-10 dB with respect to normal controls. If the contributions of individual OHCs to cochlear 'amplification' add linearly, and if the total OHC contribution corresponds to approximately 45 dB of 'gain', a quantitative correlation of the degree of stereociliary rotation and the degree of threshold shift in these ears suggests that first-row OHCs make a larger contribution to the cochlear amplifier than either of the other OHC rows.

[Congenital malformation of the skeleton in Weiser-Maples guinea pigs].

Some abnormalities were observed in the occipital bone, cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae of Weiser-Maples guinea pigs. In the occipital bone, the medial basilar impression was suggested to occur in 40 (32.8%) out of 122 animals. The basilar impression was classified into right, left and both side types and observed in 24, 11 and 5 animals, respectively. The basilar impression was known to be accompanied in human with some anomalies such as platybasia, Klippel-Feil syndrome, deformation of foramen magnum and so-on. These anomalies were also observed in guinea pigs. The fusion of the axis with the 3rd cervical vertebra was observed in 12 (10.5%) out of 114 animals. The deformation was sometimes observed in the temporal, interparietal, atlas and axis as well as the occipital bone. The fusion of the 7th cervical vertebra with the 1st thoracic vertebra was found in 46 (51.7%) out of 89 animals. This fusion was thought to have no relation with the basilar impression. Weiser-Maples guinea pigs are now in 19 generations of sibmating. Because these abnormalities as mentioned above are all thought to be inherited, the selective breeding will make Weiser-Maples guinea pigs suitable for the study of the basilar impression.