Effect of a synthetic appeasing pheromone on behavioral, neuroendocrine, immune, and acute-phase perioperative stress responses in dogs.

Objective: To study the effects of a synthetic, dog-appeasing pheromone (sDAP) on the behavioral, neuroendocrine, immune, and acute-phase perioperative stress responses in dogs undergoing elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy.

Design: Randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Animals: 46 dogs housed in animal shelters and undergoing elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy.

Characterisation of the anticholinesterase activity of two new tacrine-huperzine A hybrids.

The effects of two tacrine-huperzine A hybrids, (+/-)-huprine Y and (+/-)-huprine Z, have been evaluated. Bovine and human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition were assayed by Ellman's method. The two huprines were more active than both tacrine and (-)-huperzine A as inhibitors of both human and bovine AChE, and they acted as mixed-type AChE inhibitors.