Limbs Of Animals Research Articles

Necessary conditions for oscillatory instabilities in active mechanical networks

Active mechanical networks represent systems spanning many domains and length scales, from actin meshes in cellular systems to limbs in animals and robots. Understanding the stability properties of internally actuated active networks is central to biological and engineering applications. Stability is governed by an interplay between actuation, kinematic constraints, external forces, and the viscoelastic properties of the mechanism. Unlike passive mechanisms, active systems under kinematic constraints are subject to loads that are a function of the internal actuation.

Experimental investigation of animals survival adequacy and efficacy in case of their soft tissues gunshot wounds using the thermometry technique

The problem of gunshot wounds treatment is one of the urgent and incompletely resolved issues of modern surgery. Diagnosis of gunshot wounds is currently not efficient enough. There was a need to improve the content and scope of medical care with the possibility of strengthening its diagnostic chain. The aim of the work is to substantiate experimentally the feasibility and effectiveness of using diagnostic infrared thermometry in gunshot wounds of the soft tissues of the extremities. Experimental studies were performed under the chronic experimental conditions on Shinshilla breed rabbits which were subjected to gunshot wounds followed by laboratory, morphological and functional examination for 5 days. The animals were divided into 3 groups depending on the type of gunshot wound that was inflicted. The animals were removed from the experiment by the introduction of chloroethyl anesthesia on the 1st, 3rd and 5th days, after which the soft tissues with the capsule surrounding the fragment were subjected to histological and electron microscopic examination. On the 1st day of the study, a significant decrease in the diameter of the blood vessels of the affected area was determined in the group of animals that were subject to injury with firearms and metal fragments from the explosion of a grenade and an improvised explosive device. It was in these groups that the highest mortality rate was registered. Under the specified conditions of injury to the limbs of animals, as well as when injured by a pneumatic weapon with a temperature of fragments of 100 oC, pronounced changes in pulse and respiratory rate were noted. In further studies on rabbits on the 3rd and 5th days of the experiment, the actual results did not differ from those obtained 24 hrs after injury. Those rabbits that survived after the reproduction of various gunshot wounds had the greatest value. The results of their thermometric measurements were evaluated in the dynamics of experimental gunshot wounds and revealed the dependence of animal survival after gunshot wounds on the temperature of the limb in the area of the wound.
 There are the following leading criteria in favor of animals further survival after gunshot wounds - the presence of a perforating vessel in the area surrounding the affected space; the size of the diameter of the vessels in the adjacent area; no hemorrhage in the muscle tissue located near the affected area; comparable with normal data of the functional parameters of the animal's body – heart rate, blood oxygen pressure and respiration; thermometry results. The limb thermometry has the important prognostic value after their gunshot wound in terms of experimental animals survival. The correspondence of high thermometry indexes after a gunshot wound vs the higher risk of an animal death is statistically reliable and, accordingly, insignificant thermometric dynamics throughout the experiment is in favor of a positive outcome after injury. It is extremely important to evaluate thermometry data during the first 24 hours after receiving gunshot wounds, since we found out the maximum validity of this method in the early time intervals. All this, with adequate clinical testing and verification, has the most important medical prospects, aimed primarily at saving time for diagnostic measures and procedures. Thermometry allows to judge the activity and severity of connective tissue inflammation or sclerosis in the lesions of each wound and provides the possibility of clinical application of remote thermography as a non-invasive method of diagnosis and prediction of complications in wounded with gunshot and explosives in various wounds.

Macrobiotus naginae sp. nov., a New Xerophilous Tardigrade Species from Rokua Sand Dunes (Finland).

Animals that colonize soil show specific adaptations to soil. Compared to closely related species living on the surface, the limbs of soil-dwelling animals are often shortened, reduced, or absent to allow a less restricted passage through cavities between soil particles. This pattern of limb reduction has also been observed in tardigrades, where multiple lineages that colonized the below-ground habitat show independent reduction and/or loss of legs and claws. In the tardigrade superfamily Macrobiotoidea, leg and claw reductions are a common trait found in the Macrobiotus pseudohufelandi complex. This rarely found species complex currently contains four nominal taxa. Here we describe, with the use of integrative taxonomy, Macrobiotus naginae sp. nov., a new species in the Macrobiotus pseudohufelandi complex from inland sand dunes in Finland. We also provide a dichotomous key to the Macrobiotus pseudohufelandi complex to assist with their identification in future studies.

Prevention of diseases of the limbs in highly productive cows in the conditions of the industrial complex

The object of the study was cows of a black-and-white Holstein breed on tethered maintenance, housed in cowsheds of 200 animals each. Milk productivity per day averaged 36.2 kg per cow. The following main etiological factors of the occurrence and development of finger diseases were identified: violations of the conditions of keeping and feeding cows, lack of regular pruning and clearing of hooves, year-round stable maintenance and lack of exercise. When analyzing the biochemical composition of blood, it was revealed that the protein level in 67% of animals was higher than the normative indicators and was in the range of 89.7 - 91.2 g/l, the reserve alkalinity of blood serum in 86.5% of cows was reduced, which was 33.2 - 41.2 vol%, the ratio between albumins and globulins was violated. Also, 45.7% of the cows studied had a decrease in glucose levels in relation to the normative indicators. A set of measures for the prevention of diseases of the fingers in cows has been developed and its clinical effectiveness has been determined. A detergent and disinfectant called Compomol DS Step antipodermite is proposed for the rehabilitation of limbs in animals. This remedy has not only detergent -antiseptic properties against fresh wounds of the sole of the fingers, crumb, tissues of the arch of the interhoof slit and corolla, but also promotes rapid granulation of wounds, seals the horny wall of the hooves, forms a protective film with a long-lasting antimicrobial effect. The results obtained in production conditions indicate that the double use during the week of foot baths with a 5% solution of Compomol DS Step antipodermite reduces the incidence of limbs in cows by 26.3%, compared with the use of a 5% solution of copper sulfate.

Hospitalisation and Disease Severity Alter the Resting Pattern of Horses

In humans, hospitalisation, disease type, and environmental factors evidently affect the quality of sleep, further influencing patient recovery. The objective of the present study was to report the resting and lying behaviour of hospitalised horses, and whether lying behaviours differ depending on the physiological severity of joint damage. We hypothesised that the resting and lying behaviour can change during the hospitalisation and physiological severity of joint damage affect the time of rest in horses. A descriptive observational study was performed to evaluate the effect of hospitalisation on the recumbency time of 8 adult horses with different degrees of osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint. The horses’ rest time was monitored using cameras during the first 5 days of hospitalisation. The total time of lateral recumbency and frequency of recumbency were greater after the 4th day of hospitalisation (P<,05), while the total time of sternal recumbency was greater after the 3rd day (P <0,05). Furthermore, we compared the recumbency time among animals with different degrees of osteoarthritis on the 5th day of hospitalisation. Increased recumbency time in mild osteoarthritis spared the animal's limb and reduced the overload on the affected limb; however, severe osteoarthritis decreased the frequency and time of recumbency probably due to greater difficulty during joint flexion in the transition from standing to recumbency. The severity of disease appeared to affect recumbency time, as horses with mild osteoarthritis spent more time in recumbency whilst those with severe osteoarthritis may have been partially sleep-deprived because they lay down less.

Investigation on tensile characteristics of femur bone 3D model by using FDM

Three dimensional model of femur bone design was done by Pro Engineering. In the three dimensional model rear limb in nature animals of human thigh is known as the thigh bone. PLA materials are furnished to design by the use of 3d modeling design. The tested bone structures and filament areas are adopted from the tensile characteristics and results. FDM is the important stage of creating the layers by layers techniques from the bottom up approach models. Tensile strength of femur bones printed with varying in-fill densities of 15%, 45% and 75%. The printing patterns are used as triangular, horizontal and vertical line. The slicing software of FLASH PRINT was used to create the tool path required for the printing. The material used in this work was Poly Lactic Acid (PLA). ASTM D638 was used to determine the tensile strength and the density of the in-fill rise of base the material's tensile strength increases gradually. The maximum tensile strength of 1230 N was observed for hexagonal pattern with 75% in-fill density model.

Evaluation of neuraxial administration of bupivacaine in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

ObjectiveTo assess the success rate, onset, duration and extent of motor/sensory block following neuraxial injection of two dosages of bupivacaine in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, crossover experimental study. AnimalsA total of 10 adult bearded dragons (0.3 ± 0.1 kg). MethodsAfter sedation with alfaxalone (15 mg kg–1 subcutaneously), neuraxial injections were performed with 1 or 2 mg kg–1 bupivacaine hydrochloride (0.5%, treatments BUP-1 and BUP-2, respectively) in a randomized treatment sequence with a 7 day washout period. If the initial bupivacaine injection was not successful within 10 minutes, a second injection was performed at the same dose. Mechanical stimulation of limbs, 25%, 50%, 75% of the trunk’s length and cloacal tone were assessed. ResultsSuccess rate following the first neuraxial injection was 95%, which increased to 100% after the second injection. Motor/sensory block were noted by 5 minutes after the injection of bupivacaine at either dose. BUP-2 was associated with more cranial spread. The median (range) duration of cloacal tone loss was longer following treatment BUP-2 [120 (75–225) minutes] than followed treatment BUP-1 [83 (25–135) minutes; p = 0.03]. Duration of pelvic limb motor block was comparable between both doses, lasting a median of 68 minutes in both treatments (p = 0.94). There was a transient, not clinically relevant increase from baseline in heart rate in treatment BUP-1 only. No significant difference from baseline in respiratory rate was noted in either treatment; however, two animals in treatment BUP-2 became apneic (10–20 minutes). Conclusions and clinical relevanceBupivacaine (1 mg kg–1) is recommended for neuraxial anesthesia in bearded dragons. In treatment BUP-2, extensive cranial spread resulted in apnea and motor block of the thoracic limb in several animals; therefore this dose is not recommended.

FEATURES OF CONFORMATION TYPE OF COWS FIRSTBORN UKRAINIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE DAIRY CATTLE IN THEIR PHENOTYPIC RELATIONSHIP WITH MILK YIELD

Evaluation of animals for breeding Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed was carried out according to the method of linear classification of type in the breeding farms of LLC "Vladana" and the experimental farm of the Institute of Agriculture of the North-East of the NAAS (EF IANE). The estimation of cows in the herd of BF "Vladana" (83.8 score) on this set of milk-type traits in comparison with peers of the EF IANE (82.3 score) showed a significant advantage of the former with a highly reliable difference of 1.5 score (P &lt;0.001). The average estimate at the level of 84.2 and 83.0 score in cows of the herd of SF "Vladana" and NAAS EF IANE indicated about fairly good development of their body. The best condition of limbs in animals of the herd BF "Vladana" with 83.5 score and slightly worse than in peers EF IANE (82.5 score) with a highly significant difference of 1.0 score (P &lt;0.001) in favor of the former. Udder in animals of the breeding farm "Vladana" with an average grade of 84.7 score was on the 2.3 score higher (P &lt;0.001) compared with peers in the EF IANE (82.4 score). In general, firstborn cows of controlled farms in the BF "Vladana" and EF IANE, which were classified according to the final type assessment, received an average score of 84.2 and 82.8 of 88 possible for animals of this age, which corresponded to the level on the international scale "Good Plus". The results of the estimation of first-born cows in the controlled farms show that the degree of the main descriptive traits development of conformation, provided by the method of linear classification, differed by significant intra-herd and inter-herd variability. A sufficient level of reliable positive relationship with milk yield was found both by group traits, except for limbs, and by the vast majority of descriptive traits of the conformation, with slightly higher correlation coefficients in cows of BF "Vladana". The determined phenotypic correlations between linear conformation traits and milk yield per lactation indicate about their reliability in the selection of cows by productivity.

Peculiarities of cytolytic syndrome development with associated injury of the abdominal organs and massive blood loss in the experiment

The function of the organs responsible for detoxification processes, in particular the liver, deserves a special role in the conditions of combined trauma. It is proved that ischemia-reperfusion of the limb caused by the imposition of a tourniquet, is the cause of significant toxemia. Under such conditions, it becomes clear that the detoxification function may be impaired, especially against the background of blunt combined trauma to the abdominal organs complicated by massive bleeding. Changes in the detoxification function of the liver are indicated by markers of the cytolytic syndrome. However, there is no clear understanding of how ischemia - limb reperfusion affects the development of cytolytic syndrome.Objective of research: to study the effect of massive blood loss associated with ischemia-reperfusion of the limb on the cytolytic syndrome indicators in case of injury of the abdominal organs. Materials and methods. 100 mature albino male Wistar rats with the body weight of 190-220 grams kept on standard vivarium forage were used in the experiment. The animals were divided into the control and 3 research groups (containing 10 animals each). Arresting bleeding tourniquet was applied proximally on the lower limbs of rats from the first research group for 120 minutes under thiopental-sodium anesthesia (40 mg/kg-1), which caused development of ischemic-reperfusion. Closed abdominal injury was simulated by means of delivering two dosed blows in the region of the abdominal cavity in the second research group; massive blood loss was simulated by means of cutting the femoral vessels and bloodletting from 25 to 30 % of the circulating blood volume in the group. Injuries from the first two groups were combined in the third group. The control group of animals received anesthesia without formation of any injuries. With the aim to determine alterations of cytolytic syndrome the activity of enzymes – markers of cytolytic syndrome ALT and AST were determined by means of a unified method. The animals of the research groups were removed from the experiment under thiopental-sodium anesthesia by means of the total bloodletting from the heart.Results. Analysis of the results of the study found that cytolytic syndrome develops irrespective of the kind of injuries simulated. Thus, even during a day of post-traumatic period ALT and AST activity increases which is clearly registered in all the three research groups. Further destruction of cellular membranes increases till the 3rd day, which is manifested by a considerable increase of ALT and AST activity in the blood serum. This process continues till the 7th day. A tendency to ALT and AST decrease is observed only in the 1st group on the 7th day. Comparison of the 2nd and 3rd research groups within the time interval enables to understand that application of tourniquets on the limbs of animals with closed abdominal injury and massive bleeding deteriorates cytolytic processes.Conclusions: Simulated injuries in the research groups were associated with the occurrence of cytolytic processes possessing a tendency to develop in the period of early signs of traumatic disease. Ischemic-reperfusion syndrome of the limbs accelerates considerably the development of systemic changes with abdominal injuries and hypovolemic shock, which was manifested by a considerable increase of ALT and AST parameters in the group with abdominal trauma and massive blood loss and becoming higher than that of the control in end of the experiment.

Thermal pharmacology: history and definition

The literature review shows that temperature pharmacology is a new scientific and practical direction of pharmacology, in which the local effect of drugs on individual tissues, organs or parts of the body is realized at a certain local temperature. This trend was formed in Russia at the end of the 20th century due to the fact that such great surgeons as V.A. Negovsky, E.N. Meshalkin and V.I. Shumakov proved in clinical conditions that hypothermia prolongs the safety of the brain, heart and kidneys in the absence of arterial blood and/or oxygen. Then, under the influence of the successful use of local hypothermia for therapeutic purposes in such areas as resuscitation, transplantology and surgical treatment of heart and major vascular diseases, the study of the mechanism of action of local hypothermia as a medicine began. Intensive research in this area began in 1981 at the Department of Pharmacology of the Izhevsk Medical Institute. In the following years, the features of the local action of local hypothermia, drugs and their combinations on mitochondria, blood, blood vessels, myocardium, intestines and limbs of experimental animals and patients in normal conditions, as well as in hypoxia and ischemia were studied. Very soon, the results of research allowed to reveal the main mechanisms of action of local hypothermia and the laws of temperature dependence of the local action of drugs. This allowed to invent several original methods of pharmaco-cold and pharmaco-warm effects that increase the effectiveness of treatment of arterial obstruction of the extremities, inflammatory processes and parenchymal bleeding. It is indicated, that the main provisions of temperature pharmacology were formulated by 1988. The chronology of resolving the contradictions that arose at that time between the widespread public opinion and new ideas about the role of local temperature in the mechanism of local action of drugs in hypoxia, ischemia, inflammation of organs and tissues, and bleeding is shown. Achievements and prospects of development of temperature pharmacology in medicine, biology, pharmacology and pharmacy are shown.

Linear polysaccharides reduce production of inflammatory cytokines by LPS-stimulated bovine fibroblasts

Chronic lesions in the limbs of farm animals cause lameness due to chronic infection and inflammation. Exploratory treatments for chronic wounds in humans may be suitable for adaptation into the field of animal care. Specifically, antimicrobial linear polysaccharides like oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) and chitin/chitosan are biodegradable hemostats that are being explored to promote healing of chronic wounds but have not been directly compared using the same biological specimen. Despite their current use in humans, linear polysaccharides possess features that may preclude their use as biodegradable bandages. For example, ORC promotes inflammation when it remains in vivo and chitin/chitosan stimulate size-dependent proinflammatory responses. In order to assess the use of these materials to treat chronic wounds we have compared their effects on cellular toxicity and in stimulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines by bovine epidermal fibroblasts. While neither polysaccharide increased cell mortality, on average, they caused minor alterations in expression of proinflammatory cytokines from cells isolated from different animals. Both polysaccharides reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines stimulated by microbial lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that the polysaccharides used in this study are relatively inert and may improve healing of chronic epidermal wounds in farm animals.

Anatomical and ontogenetic influences on muscle density

Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), an important biomechanical variable, is an estimate of a muscle’s contractile force potential and is derived from dividing muscle mass by the product of a muscle’s average fascicle length and a theoretical constant representing the density of mammalian skeletal muscle. This density constant is usually taken from experimental studies of small samples of several model taxa using tissues collected predominantly from the lower limbs of adult animals. The generalized application of this constant to broader analyses of mammalian myology assumes that muscle density (1) is consistent across anatomical regions and (2) is unaffected by the aging process. To investigate the validity of these assumptions, we studied muscles of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the largest sample heretofore investigated explicitly for these variables, and we did so from numerous anatomical regions and from three different age-cohorts. Differences in muscle density and histology as a consequence of age and anatomical region were evaluated using Tukey’s HSD tests. Overall, we observed that older individuals tend to have denser muscles than younger individuals. Our findings also demonstrated significant differences in muscle density between anatomic regions within the older cohorts, though none in the youngest cohort. Approximately 50% of the variation in muscle density can be explained histologically by the average muscle fiber area and the average percent fiber area. That is, muscles with larger average fiber areas and a higher proportion of fiber area tend to be denser. Importantly, using the age and region dependent measurements of muscle density that we provide may increase the accuracy of PCSA estimations. Although we found statistically significant differences related to ontogeny and anatomical region, if density cannot be measured directly, the specific values presented herein should be used to improve accuracy. If a single muscle density constant that has been better validated than the ones presented in the previous literature is preferred, then 1.0558 and 1.0502 g/cm3 would be reasonable constants to use across all adult and juvenile muscles respectively.

CARM1 Regulates AMPK Signaling in Skeletal Muscle.

SummaryCoactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is an emerging mediator of skeletal muscle plasticity. We employed genetic, physiologic, and pharmacologic approaches to determine whether CARM1 regulates the master neuromuscular phenotypic modifier AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). CARM1 skeletal muscle-specific knockout (mKO) mice displayed reduced muscle mass and dysregulated autophagic and atrophic processes downstream of AMPK. We observed altered interactions between CARM1 and AMPK and its network, including forkhead box protein O1, during muscle disuse. CARM1 methylated AMPK during the early stages of muscle inactivity, whereas CARM1 mKO mitigated progression of denervation-induced atrophy and was accompanied by attenuated phosphorylation of AMPK targets such as unc-51 like autophagy-activating kinase 1Ser555. Lower acetyl-coenzyme A corboxylaseSer79 phosphorylation, as well as reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, was also observed in mKO animals following acute administration of the direct AMPK activator MK-8722. Our study suggests that targeting CARM1-AMPK interplay may have broad impacts on neuromuscular health and disease.

Surgical correction of polymelia in ISA-brown Chicken: A case report

Polymelia is a congenital anomaly which is associated with extra limbs in animals and humans. Predisposing factors are associated with genetic, environmental agents, or a combination of factors. A case of polymelia was observed in 5 days old ISA-brown chick during a routine check in commercial poultry farm with about 5000 pullets of ISA-Brown strain. On physical examination, there were two extra limbs located caudally, initially touching ground but as the bird grows, the extra limbs were off the ground, rigid, shrunken, smaller, and non-functional yet responded to stimulus. Radiographic evaluation with plain X-ray revealed that the extra limb originated from the left acetabulum, having one short femur pointing caudally, one short tibiotarsus bones bifurcated into two and giving rise to two tarsometatarsus bones, each having four curled digits. Surgical amputation of the extra limb was carried out when the chicken was 10 weeks old under xylazine and ketamine anaesthesia. Full recovery was attained in 14days and the chicken was walking normally without any deformity in the gait.

Forelimb myology of armadillos (Xenarthra: Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae): Anatomical correlates with fossorial ability.

Descriptions of myology reflect adaptations of the post-cranium and are essential for understanding the functional morphology of animal limbs. Armadillos (Cingulata) are the most species-rich group of the basal superorder Xenarthra, which is evident by their various lifestyles (subterranean vs. terrestrial) and levels of fossoriality (fossorial vs. semi-fossorial). While there have been several studies on limb bone proportions in numerous armadillos, limb myology has been reported for a limited number of species. Many of these descriptions need updating, and detailed quantitative muscle data are available only for nine-banded armadillos. The main objective of this study is to assess the forelimb myology of the pichi (Zaedyus pichiy), screaming hairy (Chaetophractus vellerosus), large hairy (Chaetophractus villosus), and pink fairy (Chlamyphorus truncatus) armadillos with comparisons to previous observations to specify muscle traits that indicate scratch-digging specializations in cingulates. Several myological features are variable among the species studied, including the origin of m. trapezius pars cervicalis, presence of a distinct m. rhomboideus profundus and m. omotransversarius, and number of heads present for m. triceps brachii and m. flexor digitorum profundus, all of which can be associated with variability in their respective habitats and functional habits. These traits are consistently observed in the members of the Euphractinae, whereas they are slightly divergent (i.e., reduced complexity) in the pink fairy armadillo despite a similar distribution of muscle mass in the limb retractors, elbow extensors, and carpal/digital flexors across species. The ecomorphology observed here among cingulates also confirms their recent reorganization into separate families and subfamilies.

Non-contact capacitive sensing for ECG recording in small animals

Rat electrocardiography (ECG) is frequently used in biomedical research as a model for exploring heart function in a wide variety of experimental conditions. Subcutaneous ECG is a common approach to record rat heart rhythm using implanted needle electrodes to sense the rat ECG signals with the animal under deep anesthesia. However, such an invasive measurement could cause inconvenience due to cumbersome animal preparation, and the anesthetics are likely to interfere with the autonomic regulation of cardiac rhythm. Most studies used the galvanic contact between animal limb and electrode sensing surface to record cardiac signals from small animals. However, the non-contact approach of capacitive ECG sensing for small laboratory animals has not been extensively investigated. This study aims to develop a non-contact ECG system to promote the ECG measurement of laboratory animals for biomedical research. The method utilizes the capacitive coupling technique to detect cardiac signals in awake rats (R-wave amplitude of only 0.2 mV) through a non-conductive layer. The proposed system generates non-contact ECG signals with distinguishable R-peaks at a limb-electrode capacitance above 8.5 pF and maximum through-thickness of the non-conductive layer of 0.4 mm for heart rate assessment. In conclusion, this study provides non-contact ECG monitoring based on capacitive electrodes to improve the throughput of ECG measurement procedures for biomedical research and establish a lower bound of coupling capacitance for non-contact application to heart rate. The new method is ideally suited for the rapid evaluation of autonomic regulation of heart rhythm in awake laboratory small animals.

Structural changes in skeletal muscles of the hind limbs of rats in acute ischemia-reperfusion and its correction by carbacetam, detected by polarization microscopy

Arterial tourniquets are used in clinical practice for angioplasty and arthroplasty, and in case of limb injuries, their use often occurs according to vital signs. After removing the tourniquet and blood supply restoration to the limb arises a multifactorial lesion of tissues both ischemic and distant from the site of ischemia. A number of publications have been devoted to the study of morphological disorders in muscle tissue in acute ischemia-reperfusion in the medical literature. However, the researches for effective means for drug correction of these disorders still continues. The aim of the study was to explore peculiarities of skeletal muscle remodeling of the hind limbs of rats, detected by polarization microscopy, in acute ischemia-reperfusion, caused by the application of an arterial tourniquet, and in the correction of reperfusion disorders by carbacetam. Microscopic examination of histological sections of skeletal muscles of the hind limbs of 60 rats below the site of application of the tourniquet under conditions of experimental acute ischemia-reperfusion was performed. Acute ischemia for all animals was caused by application of SWAT rubber bands on the hind limbs of animals, 5–6 mm in width, at the inguinal fold level within 2 hours under thiopental anesthesia. A reperfusion was modeled by removing the tourniquet. Half of the experimental animals in the reperfusion period for the purpose of correction intraperitoneally was administered the nootropic drug 1-oxo-3.3.6-trimethyl-1.2.3.4-tetrahydroindolo[2.3-c]quinoline (carbacetam) at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight once a day during the entire reperfusion period. The histological specimens of the skeletal muscles were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and were examined with a light microscope with polarization nozzle. Studies with using the polarization microscopy have shown that in the early reperfusion period morphological criteria for skeletal muscle remodeling expressed by deformation and anisotropy of muscle fibers, disappearance of their transverse striation, cracks and ruptures of fibers, and in the most severe cases there were signs of necrosis of the fibers with their fragmentation into separate lumps. Subject to the correction of reperfusion disorders by carbacetam, there is a decrease in the degree of damage and consistent acceleration of restoration of the skeletal muscles structure, which was the most pronounced in groups of animals with reperfusion terms after 1 and 14 days. Complex of features indicates, that at the tissue level the administration of carbacetam as reduces the ischemic-reperfusion lesion of the muscular fibers, as also accelerates the mechanisms of reparative rhabdomyohistogenesis. Thus, structural changes in the skeletal muscles of the limb after two-hour ischemia and subsequent reperfusion increased in the early reperfusion period and reached its peak after 1 day of reperfusion, and in the late period of reperfusion their reverse development took place. With the correction of disorders by carbacetam, the degree of damage was reduced and the recovery of the skeletal muscle structure of the limb was accelerated.

Effects of a Single and Course Application of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on the Physical Performance of Laboratory Animals

Previous publications reported the use of remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC) as a non-drug method for increasing physical performance. However, the reported data are of a contradictory nature. Aim: to evaluate the potential of rIPC for increasing the physical performance of laboratory animals. The study was performed on 72 white outbred male rats. An assessment of the physical performance was carried out using a modified Porsolt test. The hind limbs of non-anesthetized animals were subjected to preconditioning. The results of a single and course (during 5 days) application of rIPC was evaluated. A single use of rIPC increased the average swimming time in the experimental group by 38.5%. The course application of rIPC did not lead to significant changes in the indicators of physical performance in any of the animal groups.

Center of Pressure in the Paws of Clinically Sound Dogs in Comparison with Orthopedically Diseased Dogs

Simple SummaryThe analysis of the center of pressure is an important tool that allows conclusions to be drawn about the body balance of a patient. This balance can be altered by orthopedic or neurological diseases. To date, there are few data on the center of pressure in the paws of walking dogs. This study aimed to show the compensatory changes in the center of pressure parameters within the paw during stance-phase in the walking dog, with data being collected non-invasively by walking dogs with osteoarthritis and healthy dogs (control group) over a pressure platform. Differences in the center of pressure parameters were found between the affected and non-affected limbs of the diseased dogs, but also in comparison to the corresponding limbs of sound dogs. It was shown that dogs with osteoarthritis show different compensatory changes in the center of pressure parameters depending on whether a front or a hind limb are affected. This can reflect a compensatory redistribution of the body mass as well as compensatory changes of body balance. Based on these observations, a deeper investigation of the center of pressure within the paws of dogs would be of interest and a diagnostic application could become possible in the future.The center of pressure (COP) is recognized as a valuable tool for the assessment of orthopedic and neurologic disorders in humans. Relatively few studies are available in veterinary medicine, particularly concerning the COP in the individual paw. This study assessed the dynamic paw COP parameters during the stance phase of dogs with cox- or cubarthrosis (20 dogs each), as well as of 20 sound dogs. Data were obtained by walking over a pressure platform and analyzed within the diseased groups in comparison to the control group. Both diseased groups showed significant differences between the affected and non-affected limbs, but also in comparison to the reference limbs of sound animals. For coxathrosis, the primary increase was in the medio-lateral COP displacement and the COP area in both hind limbs. For cubarthrosis, the most prominent changes were an increase in the medio-lateral COP displacement in the ipsilateral hind limb and in the cranio-caudal COP displacement in the lame limb. Additionally, the COP area increased in both hind limbs. This can reflect a compensatory redistribution of the body mass as well as compensatory changes of body balance.

Antifungal itraconazole ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through a novel mechanism of action.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a loss of myelin, limb disabilities and dysregulation of gene expression. Unfortunately, there still is no treatment to cure MS. To explore a novel way to treat MS using currently available antifungal drugs. We built an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model to mimic MS and tested the effect of an antifungal drug - itraconazole - on EAE by comparing it with a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control group. We assessed the animal limb deficits with Weaver's scoring and used histology staining (including luxol fast blue (LFB) and hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) methods) to determine the demyelination in the spinal tissues. We also performed western blotting to quantify the expression changes of proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and apoptosis. The limb disabilities were greatly diminished and the demyelination in the spinal tissues of the EAE mice was mostly reduced following itraconazole treatment. The hyperactivation of the ER stress response and apoptosis pathway in EAE was also significantly diminished by the itraconazole treatment. In addition, the AMPK pathway was downregulated in EAE, its expression level bi-directionally affected the activity of the ER stress response, and its downregulation removed the beneficial effect of itraconazole. Our study revealed a new method for treating MS using currently approved antifungal drugs.