Disposition of plasma creatinine in non-azotaemic and moderately azotaemic cats.

The objectives of this study were to compare assay methods for plasma creatinine (Pl-creat) in cats and to describe the disposition of creatinine and iohexol in 12 healthy and moderately azotaemic cats. Exogenous creatinine and iohexol were injected simultaneously by intravenous bolus, and repeated blood samples were taken to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of each marker. Pl-creat was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Jaffé and enzymatic methods.

Involvement of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in the oxidative stress, death-signaling pathways, and renal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion.

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is a critical component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which is involved in the regulation of cell death. In the present study we investigated the role of PBR in the regulation of signaling pathways leading to apoptotic and necrotic damage and renal dysfunction in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion. Renal ischemia-reperfusion led to extended tubular apoptosis and necrosis that were associated with peroxidative damage, high levels of proapoptotic Bax expression, and low levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression, cleavage of death substrate, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activation of a key effector of apoptosis, caspase-3.

Effects of condensed tannins on established populations and on incoming larvae of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta in goats.

The use of tanniferous plants or tannins represents one alternative approach to the control of gastrointestinal parasites in ruminants but most data have been obtained in sheep. The current study was therefore performed in goats with two objectives: firstly, to investigate the effects of condensed tannins (CT) on adult populations of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta; secondly, to examine their effects on the establishment of infective larvae of these two species. In experiment 1, two groups of kids were infected with 6 000 L3 of T.

Prevention of apoptotic and necrotic cell death, caspase-3 activation, and renal dysfunction by melatonin after ischemia/reperfusion.

The pineal hormone melatonin has been reported to protect tissue from oxidative damage. This study was designed to determine whether melatonin could prevent cell events leading to tissue injury and renal dysfunction after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Using an in vivo rat model of I/R, we show a significant increase in kidney malondialdehyde concentrations, reflecting lipid peroxidation, and cell apoptosis measured by TUNEL staining.

Maternal serum urea resistant alkaline phosphatase in Down syndrome pregnancy.

Background: The normal levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in maternal serum are virtually the same as those observed in Down syndrome (DS) pregnancies at 14-20 weeks' gestation. Using urea inhibition of AP, we observed an atypical AP isoenzyme in the neutrophils of mothers with trisomy 21 fetuses.

Aim: To assess the use of urea as a selective inhibitor of serum AP in order to seek a possible diagnostic difference between normal and DS pregnancies.