Corneal sensitivity in healthy, immature, and adult alpacas.

Objective:   To determine the corneal sensitivity of healthy, immature, and adult alpacas to establish normal reference values for this species.

Animals Studied:   Six normal crias and 18 normal adult alpacas.

Procedures:   Corneal sensitivity was determined by evaluating the corneal touch threshold (CTT) in five regions of the cornea using a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer.

Inhibition of RVLM synaptic activation at peak hyperthermia reduces visceral sympathetic nerve discharge.

Hyperthermia is an environmental stressor that produces marked increases in visceral sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) in young rats. The brainstem in rats contains the essential neural circuitry for mediating visceral sympathetic activation; however, specific brainstem sites involved remain virtually unknown. The rostral ventral lateral medulla (RVLM) is a key central nervous system region involved in the maintenance of basal SND and in mediating sympathetic nerve responses evoked from supraspinal sites.