No adverse effects on periarticular tissue by intra-articular vitamin D analogue calcipotriol in a reduced-dose zymosan-induced arthritis model in rats.

Calcipotriol, a vitamin D analogue, is an antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory drug currently used in psoriasis. Here, our aim was to analyse the safety of calcipotriol for cartilage and bone in alleviated-dose (0.1 mg instead of usual ≥1mg dose) zymosan-induced arthritis in rats.

Central nervous system distribution of buprenorphine in pregnant sheep, fetuses and newborn lambs after continuous transdermal and single subcutaneous extended-release dosing.

Buprenorphine is used during pregnancy for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Limited data exist on the central nervous system (CNS) permeation and distribution, and on the fetal exposure to buprenorphine. The aim of our study was to determine the extent of buprenorphine distribution to CNS in the pregnant sheep, and their fetus at steady-state, and their newborn lambs postdelivery, using three different dosing regimens.

MATERNAL AND FETAL BUPRENORPHINE PHARMACOKINETICS IN PREGNANT SHEEP DURING TRANSDERMAL PATCH DOSING: Buprenorphine pharmacokinetics in pregnant sheep.

Background: Buprenorphine is used in the opioid maintenance treatment for opioid dependent patients, including pregnant women. Despite the wide use, limited data exists on buprenorphine pharmacokinetics and fetal exposure during pregnancy. The aim of our study was to determine the buprenorphine pharmacokinetics during transdermal patch dosing to pregnant sheep and, to determine the extent of transplacental transfer of buprenorphine to the fetus.

A single intra-articular dose of vitamin D analog calcipotriol alleviates synovitis without adverse effects in rats.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 and its derivatives have shown anti-arthritic and chondroprotective effects in experimental animal models with prophylactic dosing. The purpose of this preliminary study was to test the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol, vitamin D analog, as a treatment for a fully-developed knee arthritis in Zymosan-induced arthritis (ZIA) model. Forty 5-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three arthritis groups and a non-arthritic control group with no injections (10 rats/group).

Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine in pregnant sheep after intravenous injection.

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid, widely used in the maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women. Limited data exist on the pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine in pregnancy. We conducted a pharmacokinetic study to determine the pharmacokinetics of intravenous buprenorphine in pregnant sheep.

Effects of Estrogen Level, Dietary Loading, and Aging on Types I, II, and X Collagen Expression and Structure of Rat Mandibular Condylar Cartilage.

Aims: To investigate how estrogen level, dietary loading, and aging affect cartilage structure and the expression of major collagens (types I, II, and X) in rat mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC).

Methods: A total of 96 outbred Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly divided into two groups by ovariectomy (OVX) at 7 weeks old. One week later, the rats in each group were further divided into three subgroups on the basis of food hardness: hard food (diet board), normal food (pellet), and soft food (powder).

Oxycodone concentrations in the central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid after epidural administration to the pregnant ewe.

The main sites of the analgesic action of oxycodone are the brain and spinal cord. The present study describes the concentrations of oxycodone and its metabolites in the brain and spinal cord after epidural administration to the ewe. Twenty pregnant ewes undergoing laparotomy were randomized into two groups to receive epidural oxycodone: infusion group (n = 10, 0.

Foramen ovale blood flow and cardiac function after main pulmonary artery occlusion in fetal sheep.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? At near-term gestation, foramen ovale blood flow accounts for a significant proportion of fetal left ventricular output. Can the foramen ovale increase its volume blood flow when right ventricular afterload is increased by main pulmonary artery occlusion? What is the main finding and its importance? Foramen ovale volume blood flow increased during main pulmonary artery occlusion. However, this increase was attributable to an increase in fetal heart rate, because left ventricular stroke volume remained unchanged.

Pharmacokinetics of intra-articular vitamin D analogue calcipotriol in sheep and metabolism in human synovial and mesenchymal stromal cells.

Calcipotriol (MC903) is a side chain analogue of the biologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D]. Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects on stromal cells, calcipotriol is a promising candidate for the local treatment of arthritis. In this preliminary work, we studied the pharmacokinetics and safety of calcipotriol after an IV (0.

MMP-3 and MMP-8 in rat mandibular condylar cartilage associated with dietary loading, estrogen level, and aging.

Objectives: The structure of the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) is regulated by dynamic and multifactorial processes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of altered dietary loading, estrogen level, and aging on the structure of the condylar cartilage and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -3 and MMP-8 of rat MCC.

Methods: In this study, Crl:CD (SD) female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to dietary hardness: hard diet (diet board), normal diet (pellet), and soft diet (powder).

Oxycodone pharmacokinetics and fetal exposure after intravenous or epidural administration to the ewe.

Introduction: There are limited data on oxycodone pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and on fetal exposure after maternal administration. The present study describes the pharmacokinetics of intravenous (i.v.

Changes in Type I and Type II Collagen Expression in Rat Mandibular Condylar Cartilage Associated with Aging and Dietary Loading.

Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of diet board feeding as a model for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) research, characterize dietary loading-related morphometric changes in the mandibular condylar cartilage of aging rats, and investigate changes in type I and type II collagen expression in different age, sex, and diet groups.

Methods: Material was collected from a study that examined the effects of 1-year and 2-year diet board feeding on rats. In diet board feeding, rats must gnaw wood to reach their food, leading to a higher masticatory workload.

Classification and reporting of severity experienced by animals used in scientific procedures: FELASA/ECLAM/ESLAV Working Group report.

Directive 2010/63/EU introduced requirements for the classification of the severity of procedures to be applied during the project authorisation process to use animals in scientific procedures and also to report actual severity experienced by each animal used in such procedures. These requirements offer opportunities during the design, conduct and reporting of procedures to consider the adverse effects of procedures and how these can be reduced to minimize the welfare consequences for the animals. Better recording and reporting of adverse effects should also help in highlighting priorities for refinement of future similar procedures and benchmarking good practice.

Diurnal rhythms of blood glucose, serum ghrelin, faecal IgA and faecal corticosterone in rats subjected to restricted feeding using the diet board.

Laboratory rats are generally fed ad libitum, although this method is associated with obesity and an increased frequency of spontaneous tumours. It has been challenging looking for ways to limit feed consumption in group-housed rats without any setbacks to animal welfare and scientific results. The diet board, as a method of dietary restriction, was used in the present study.

Foetal Fentanyl Exposure and Ion Trapping after Intravenous and Transdermal Administration to the Ewe.

Opioids given to pregnant and parturient women are relatively freely transferred across the placenta. Spinal, epidural and intravenous fentanyl has been studied in pregnant women and neonates, but foetal safety of fentanyl dosing with transdermal patch during pregnancy and labour is not sufficiently studied. Foetal pH is physiologically lower than maternal pH, and thus, opioids, which are weak bases, are ionized and may cumulate to foetus.

Fentanyl Pharmacokinetics in Pregnant Sheep after Intravenous and Transdermal Administration to the Ewe.

Fentanyl is used for pain treatment during pregnancy in human beings and animals. However, fentanyl pharmacokinetics during pregnancy has not been fully established. The aim of this study was to characterize fentanyl pharmacokinetics in pregnant sheep after intravenous and transdermal dosing during surgical procedure performed to ewe and foetus.

Food and water intake, growth, and adiposity of Sprague-Dawley rats with diet board for 24 months.

Ad libitum (AL) feeding of rats leads to obesity and increased result variability, as well as premature morbidity and mortality. It may also alter metabolism and responses to foreign compounds. Moderate dietary restriction (DR) reduces these untoward effects without compromising the sensitivity of rodent bioassays.

Reducing suffering in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

This report is based on discussions and submissions from an expert working group consisting of veterinarians, animal care staff and scientists with expert knowledge relevant to the field. It aims to facilitate the implementation of the Three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of animal models or procedures involving experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an experimental model used in multiple sclerosis research. The emphasis is on refinement since this has the greatest potential for immediate implementation.

Reducing suffering in animal models and procedures involving seizures, convulsions and epilepsy.

This report is based on discussions and submissions from an expert working group consisting of veterinarians, animal care staff and scientists with expert knowledge relevant to the field and aims to facilitate the implementation of the Three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in the use of animal models or procedures involving seizures, convulsions and epilepsy. Each of these conditions will be considered, the specific welfare issues discussed, and practical measures to reduce animal use and suffering suggested. The emphasis is on refinement since this has the greatest potential for immediate implementation, and some general issues for refinement are summarised to help achieve this, with more detail provided on a range of specific refinements.

Comparison of ear tattoo, ear notching and microtattoo in rats undergoing cardiovascular telemetry.

Individual and permanent identification of experimental animals is a common and often essential research practice. There is little information available on the short-term effects of these procedures on the animals. In this study, seven rats were implanted with telemetric devices.

Refining cage change routines: comparison of cardiovascular responses to three different ways of cage change in rats.

Cage change is one of the unavoidable routines in laboratory rodent care. However, cage change disrupts the rodents' olfactory environment and can evoke stress reactions. In this study, the short-term cardiovascular responses to three different cage change procedures were compared with telemetric monitoring.

The effects of intra-cage aspen tube on cardiac morphology and gene expression.

According to the European recommendations rodents should be provided with a nest box if there is insufficient nesting material to build a complete, covered nest. Rats are generally poor nest builders; hence an additional structure is needed. Optimally, housing refinement may be combined with better science; at least it should not detract from the scientific integrity.

Guidelines for the veterinary care of laboratory animals: report of the FELASA/ECLAM/ESLAV Joint Working Group on Veterinary Care.

Veterinary professionals working in partnership with other competent persons are essential for a successful animal care and use programme. A veterinarian's primary responsibilities are defined by their own professional regulatory bodies, but in this area of work there are further opportunities for contribution, which will assist in safeguarding the health and welfare of animals used in research. These guidelines are aimed not only at veterinarians to explain their duties, and outline the opportunities to improve the health and welfare of animals under their care, but also at employers and regulators to help them meet their responsibilities.

Role of cage material, working style and hearing sensitivity in perception of animal care noise.

During daily care, laboratory animals are exposed to a variety of sounds which may have effects on welfare and also cause physiological and behavioural changes. So far, almost no attention has been paid to individual sounds or the sound level caused by animal care or the sound level inside the animal cage. In this study, sounds from selected rat care procedures were recorded: pulling cage out of the rack, placing it onto a table and replacing the cage back into the rack; with measurements made inside the rat cage and in the adjacent cage.