The spinal nerves that constitute the lumbosacral plexus and their distribution in the chinchilla.

In this study, the spinal nerves that constitute the lumbosacral plexus (plexus lumbosacrales) (LSP) and its distribution in Chinchilla lanigera were investigated. Ten chinchillas (6 males and 4 females) were used in this research. The spinal nerves that constitute the LSP were dissected and the distribution of pelvic limb nerves originating from the plexus was examined.

In vitro effects and in vivo efficacy of a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in cats with lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia.

Objective: To determine cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo efficacy of firocoxib (ML-1,785,713) in cats.

Animals: 5 healthy male and 14 healthy female domestic shorthair cats.

Procedure: Selectivity of firocoxib for inhibiting COX-2 was determined by comparing the potency for inhibiting COX-1 with that of COX-2 in feline blood.

Administration of a nonpeptidyl growth hormone secretagogue, L-163, 255, changes somatostatin pattern, but has no effect on patterns of growth hormone-releasing factor in the hypophyseal-portal circulation of the conscious pig.

The activity of the growth hormone secretagog, L-163,255, on growth hormone (GH), growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), and somatostatin (SRIF) levels was evaluated in a porcine model of hypophyseal portal blood (HPB) collection. Young, castrated pigs had HPB and jugular blood collected for approximately 300 min. The blood collection was divided into discrete periods: baseline (BL) approximately 180 min; GH response period (RSP) approximately 90 min; and positive control period following a GRF bolus, 30 min.

Hypophyseal-portal concentrations of growth hormone-releasing factor and somatostatin in conscious pigs: relationship to production of spontaneous growth hormone pulses.

A method of collecting hypophyseal portal blood (HPB) in conscious pigs was used to show the relationship between GRF and somatostatin (SRIF) concentration and peripheral GH response. Six male castrate pigs (approximately 63 kg body weight) had HPB and jugular blood collected individually for an average of 175 min each. Twenty-seven spontaneous GH pulses were detected in the 1050 min of total HPB collection.

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I responses after treatments with an orally active GH secretagogue L-163,255 in swine.

L-163,255 is a potent orally active spiropiperidine GH secretagogue. When administered iv or orally, L-163,255 caused GH to be increased in a dose-related manner, with a return to baseline by 90 min. After iv administrations of saline and L-163,255 at 1, 3, and 10 micrograms/kg, GH areas under the curves (GH AUCs) over 120 min were 377 +/- 136, 1151 +/- 413 (P < 0.