The development of the cauda equina syndrome in the dog and the involvement of spinal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (NOS-IR) and catalytic nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) activity were studied in a pain model caused by multiple cauda equina constrictions. Increased NOS-IR was found two days post-constriction in neurons of the deep dorsal horn and in large, mostly bipolar neurons located in the internal basal nucleus of Cajal seen along the medial border of the dorsal horn. Concomitantly, NOS-IR was detected in small neurons close to the medioventral border of the ventral horn. High NOS-IR appeared in a dense sacral vascular body close to the Lissauer tract in S1-S3 segments. Somatic and fiber-like NOS-IR appeared at five days post-constriction in the Lissauer tract and in the lateral and medial collateral pathways arising from the Lissauer tract. Both pathways were accompanied by a dense punctate NOS immunopositive staining. Simultaneously, the internal basal nucleus of Cajal and neuropil of this nucleus exhibited high NOS-IR. A significant decrease in the number of small NOS immunoreactive somata was noted in laminae I-II of L6-S2 segments at five days post-constriction while, at the same time, the number of NOS immunoreactive neurons located in laminae VIII and IX was significantly increased. Moreover, high immunopositivity in the sacral vascular body persisted along with a highly expressed NOS-IR staining of vessels supplying the dorsal sacral gray commissure and dorsal horn in S1-S3 segments. cNOS activity, based on a radioassay of compartmentalized gray and white matter regions of lower lumbar segments and non-compartmentalized gray and white matter of S1-S3 segments, proved to be highly variable for both post-constriction periods., J. Maršala, J. Kafka, N. Lukáčová, D. Čížková, M. Maršala, N. Katsube., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The long-term electrocardiographic recording with retrospective evaluation (Holter system) has been widely used not only in cardiology, but also in other disciplines of internal medicine and in pharmaceutical research. The Holter system can be used in mini-pig, sheep, dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, and rat. In this paper hardware, software, and anesthesia requirements are summarized with respect to the experimental work with various species. As the Holter systems work in bipolar mode, the use of bipolar leads in sagittal and transversal planes has been proved to be the most appropriate because of large amplitude of QRS complex and uncomplicated consequent automatic analysis of the record. In conclusion, Holter electrocardiography represents a simple and applicable method for monitoring the electrical activity of the heart in small animals’ experimental studies., P. Scheer ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy