J Am Assoc Lab Anim
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Jan 2012
Comparative StudyThromboelastography values from pigtail macaques ( Macaca nemestrina): effects of age and sex.
Thromboelastography is a clinical laboratory test used to assess global hemostasis. With technologic advances and the test's reemergence in human medicine, its utility in veterinary medicine is being explored. Because assays for PT, aPTT, and d-dimers require platelet-poor plasma, whereas thromboelastography is performed on whole blood, thromboelastography provides a more accurate representation of coagulation and allows the identification of hypocoagulable, hypercoagulable, and hyperfibrinolytic states. ⋯ We used a sample of 50 pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) to determine whether age or sex influence thromboelastography values. Of 5 measured and 2 calculated variables produced by thromboelastography, sex had a significant effect only on the lysis-30 parameter, which also showed significant interaction between age and sex; values increased with age in male macaques but decreased with age in female macaques. In addition, we used the data to define reference intervals for thromboelastography parameters in pigtail macaques.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Jan 2012
Using remifentanil in mechanically ventilated rats to provide continuous analgosedation.
Remifentanil is a potent synthetic opioid with sedative effects. Intravenous remifentanil provides deep sedation and analgesia in laboratory animals during experimental procedures. We hypothesized that remifentanil would provide effective analgosedation during assisted mechanical ventilation without affecting respiratory mechanics in rats. ⋯ Similarly, no differences were observed in the tidal volume, respiratory rate and minute ventilation, and gas exchange was equal in all rats at all time points. Frequent assessment of sedation by toe pinch documented loss of the pedal withdrawal reflex in all rats. We conclude that continuous remifentanil infusion provides sufficient analgosedation for mechanically ventilated rats without compromising hemodynamics, respiratory function, or gas exchange.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Nov 2011
Comparative StudyDetermination of plasma fibrinogen concentrations in beagle dogs, cynomolgus monkeys, New Zealand white rabbits, and Sprague-Dawley rats by using Clauss and prothrombin-time-derived assays.
The most widely used technique for determination of fibrinogen concentration is the Clauss fibrinogen (FIB(Clauss)) assay, which measures the clotting time of plasma after addition of excess thrombin. More recently, the PT-derived fibrinogen (FIB(PT)) assay has been developed, based on the relationship between fibrinogen concentration and the kinetics of clot formation during the prothrombin time. The objective of this study was to compare the fibrinogen concentration determined by the FIB(Clauss) and FIB(PT) assays in citrated plasma samples from healthy dogs (n = 40), monkeys (n = 40), rabbits (n = 26), and rats (n = 58) by using an automated coagulation analyzer. ⋯ In conclusion, the FIB(PT) assay is a rapid and economical method for estimating fibrinogen concentration in plasma samples from dogs, monkeys, rabbits, and rats. However, it should not be used without restriction. Further studies are required to investigate the performance of this assay in animals with various pathologic states, including coagulopathy, dysfibrinogenemia, and hypo- or hyperfibrinogenemia.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of multimodal analgesia on the success of mouse embryo transfer surgery.
Multimodal analgesia is promoted as the best practice pain management for invasive animal research procedures. Universal acceptance and incorporation of multimodal analgesia requires assessing potential effects on study outcome. The focus of this study was to assess effects on embryo survival after multimodal analgesia comprising an opioid and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) compared with opioid-only analgesia during embryo transfer procedures in transgenic mouse production. ⋯ A total of 99 surgical sets were analyzed, comprising 199 Crl:CD1 female mice and their 996 offspring. Neither yield (pups weaned per embryo implanted in the surgical set) nor birth rate (average number of pups weaned per dam in the set) differed significantly between the CB and VB conditions. Multimodal opioid-NSAID analgesia appears to have no significant positive or negative effect on the success of producing novel lines of transgenic mice by blastocyst transfer.
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J Am Assoc Lab Anim · May 2011
Performance and longevity of a novel intraosseous device in a goat (Capra hircus) model.
We performed 2 studies to assess the function and longevity of a novel intraosseous catheter device. For study 1, 9 goats were assigned to 3 groups (intraosseous catheter in the proximal humerus, intraosseous catheter in the proximal tibia, or standard jugular catheter). Devices in the tibia remained in place for less time than did those in the humerus, and no goats exhibited radiographic evidence of resulting damage or structural change in surrounding bone. ⋯ Bloodwork indicated mild elevations of WBC counts from baseline in some cases. Bacterial growth was found in samples from 4 of 18 goats at various time points. Our study indicated that intraosseous catheters may remain safely in place for more than 24 h, but animals should be monitored closely for negative side effects for several days after removal.