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Biomedical subjects

K G Braund

Publications and source records attributed to K G Braund.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Attempted reinnervation of the equine larynx using a muscle pedicle graft.

Laryngeal hemiplegia was induced in 4 ponies via a left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy. Reinnervation of the denervated left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle was then attempted using a muscle pedicle graft from the right cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle. In 3 ponies there was no return of abductor function and failure of graft survival. In the fourth pony there was return of abductor function along with survival of the muscle bridge, however, there was evidence of reinnervation across the neurectomy site. Muscle-to-muscle neurotization of the paralyzed equine larynx, utilizing the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle, does not appear to be a clinically useful technique.

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Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in a dog.

A 12-year-old spayed Golden Retriever with mycosis fungoides was treated by use of a chemotherapy protocol that included vincristine. After 16 weekly vincristine injections, the dog began to have signs of peripheral neuropathy. Results of electromyographic examination were consistent with muscle denervation, and motor nerve conduction velocity was depressed. Histologic examination of a common peroneal nerve biopsy specimen revealed severe nerve fiber degeneration. Clinical response and pathologic evidence of improvement were observed after the drug had been discontinued for 2.5 months.

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Lipid fluidity and composition of the erythrocyte membrane from healthy dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy.

Erythrocyte membranes and their liposomes were prepared from clinically normal dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy. The "static" and "dynamic" components of fluidity of each membrane were then assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques using limiting hindered fluorescence anisotropy and order parameter values of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and fluorescence anisotropy values of DL-2-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid and DL-12-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid, respectively. Membrane lipids were extracted and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The results of these studies demonstrated that the lipid fluidity of erythrocyte membranes, and their liposomes, prepared from dystrophic dogs were found to possess significantly lower "static and dynamic components of fluidity" than control counterparts. Analysis of the composition of membranes from dystrophic dogs revealed a higher ratio of saturated fatty acyl chain/unsaturated chains (w/w) and lower double-bond index. Alterations in the fatty acid composition such as decrease in levels of linoleic (18:2) and arachidonic (20:4) acids and increase in palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids were also observed in the membranes of dystrophic animals. These associated fatty acyl alterations could explain, at least in part, the differences in membrane fluidity between dystrophic and control dogs.

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Fibre type proportions of the buccinator muscle in clinically normal adult dogs.

In order to provide normal morphological data and reference values for fibre type proportions, against which changes due to facial nerve paralysis or primary facial muscle myopathies can be compared, a histological and histochemical study was carried out on the buccinator muscle of clinically normal adult dogs. Using myosin adenosine triphosphatase under acidic pre-incubation (pH 4.3) conditions, three histochemical fibre types--1, 2A and 2C were recognised. There was no significant difference in mean diameter between left- and right-sided buccinator muscle samples for type 1 versus 2. Mean diameters of fibre types were: type 1, 27.02 +/- 6.61 microns and type 2, 29.05 +/- 7.75 microns. The histographical distribution of fibre type diameters was unimodal. The buccinator muscle had a type 2 fibre predominance with a mean type 1 to type 2 ratio of 32:68. The number of fibres with internal nuclei was less than or equal to 1 per cent, atrophy-hypertrophy factors typically were less than or equal to 200, and variability coefficients approximated 250. Muscle spindles were not observed in any muscle sample.

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Morphologic and morphometric study of the facial nerve in clinically normal adult dogs.

A morphologic and morphometric study was carried out on the facial nerve: to determine normal histologic data in myelinated fibers of clinically normal young adult dogs; to establish reference values for mean fiber diameter, and to delineate the relative diameter frequency distribution curve. Few degenerative changes were observed in single teased-nerve fibers and semithin cross-sectional nerve preparations. Statistical difference was not observed between left and right facial nerves. The distribution of fiber diameters in the facial nerve was unimodal. Mean (+/- SD) fiber diameter of the facial nerve was 3.92 +/- 1.18 microns. Approximately 89% of fibers in the facial nerve had diameter between 3 and 6 microns. Fiber diameter ranged from 2 to 12 microns; however, less than 1% of fibers had diameter greater than 8 microns.

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Remote effects of cancer on the nervous system.

The veterinary literature suggests that malignant tumors can induce clinical and subclinical paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, especially involving the PNS. Further studies should help to clarify the intensity and prevalence of polyneuropathy with specific tumor types; however, the true prevalence may always be uncertain because it will vary with the stage and duration of the illness, the diligence with which it is sought, the techniques of investigation used, and the criteria for diagnosis. Finally, the development of polyneuropathy as well as any other neurological syndromes in older dogs and cats should alert the clinician and pathologist to search carefully for an underlying malignancy.

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Elemental composition, water, and total lipid content in peripheral nerves, spinal cord and brain of healthy adult dogs.

Peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain of healthy adult dogs were analysed biochemically for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, aluminium, silicon, total chloride, total tissue water and total lipid content. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for elemental quantitation of the hydrochloric acid tissue extracts. Cerebrum and spinal cord had similar values for all parameters measured. Total sodium values were higher in nerves compared to central nervous system (CNS) (brain and spinal cord), while respective values for potassium were lower. Tissue levels of calcium, iron and silicon were comparable in brain, spinal cord and nerves. However, magnesium concentrations were two to three times higher in CNS than in nerves; and the reverse was true for aluminium levels. Tissue concentrations of zinc and copper were marginally higher in CNS than in nerves.

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Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy.

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.

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A histologic and immunocytochemical study of choroid plexus tumors of the dog.

Sixteen choroid plexus (CP) tumors in 12 male and four female adult dogs were analyzed microscopically. Tumors were in the lateral (six), third (six), and fourth (four) ventricles. The average age of the dogs was 6 years. Tumors were classified by the following criteria: 1) choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), which resembled normal choroid plexus and had low mitotic activity; 2) choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), which resembled normal choroid plexus and had low mitotic activity; 2) choroid plexus papilloma with atypical features (atypical CPP), which had increased cellular density, nuclear atypia, two to four mitoses per 40x microscopic field, necrosis, and infiltration of the brain parenchyma and/or leptomeninges; and 3) choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), which had marked nuclear atypia, poorly formed papillae, greater than four mitoses per 40x microscopic field, abnormal mitotic figures, and/or extraneural metastasis. The 16 tumors were classified either as CPP or atypical CPP (none as CPC). Statistically significant associations between brain infiltration and necrosis and atypical CPP were identified. Immunohistochemical studies in 11 tumors demonstrated staining for keratin in three tumors, two of which also reacted with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). There was no immunoreactivity with glial fibrillary acidic protein or epithelial membrane antigen. Choroid plexus from one of three control dogs stained focally for cytokeratin only. It is concluded that normal choroid plexus and CP tumors in the dog express epithelial, but not glial differentiation.

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Congenital hypomyelinating polyneuropathy in two golden retriever littermates.

Serial peripheral nerve biopsies from two golden retriever littermates with chronic neurologic disease were taken for morphologic and morphometric evaluation. Teased nerve preparations were difficult to interpret due to the lightness of myelin staining. Light and electron microscopic findings were characterized by the following: reduced number of myelinated axons, presence of myelinated sheaths inappropriately thin for the caliber of the fiber, poor myelin compaction, increased numbers of Schwann cell nuclei, increased concentration of neurofilaments in myelinated axons, many Schwann cells with voluminous cytoplasm, and increased perineurial collagen. Onion bulb formation was not seen. In contrast to control data, a poor correlation was seen between numbers of myelin lamellae (ML) and axonal circumference (AC). The frequency distribution of ML ranged from 5 to 55 lamellae in affected animals (mean, 28 lamellae) compared to 20 to 140 lamellae in controls (mean, 66 lamellae). The ML/AC ratio was significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) in nerves of affected dogs. Morphometric results indicated that fibers of all calibers were hypomyelinated.

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Isoelectric focusing under dissociating conditions for analysis of muscle protein from clinically normal dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary myopathy.

Protein profiles of whole homogenates of anconeus (slow twitch) and biceps femoris (fast twitch) muscles of clinically normal dogs and of Labrador Retrievers with hereditary myopathy (HM) were resolved on flat bed polyacrylamide isoelectric-focusing gels. Three methods of sample solubilization were performed. The solubilization buffer, with high concentrations of urea, precipitated the zwitterionic detergent, but use of the buffer containing 3% NP-40, 9.2M urea, and 0.1M arginine resulted in better resolution and stability of pH gradient. Gels of anconeus muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 2 protein bands specific to anconeus muscle, whereas gels of biceps femoris muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 3 protein bands amplified in biceps femoris muscle that were barely detectable in anconeus muscle. The staining intensity of protein bands in biceps femoris muscles from Labrador Retrievers with HM was decreased, relative to controls. The quantitative analysis of peak height ratios of biceps femoris muscle revealed significant (P less than 0.05) differences between profiles of clinically normal dogs and Labrador Retrievers with HM.

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Analysis of muscle elements, water, and total lipids from healthy dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy.

Skeletal muscles from healthy dogs and Labrador Retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy were examined morphologically and histochemically and were analyzed biochemically for Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Cl-, total muscle water, and total neutral lipid content. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for elemental quantitation of hydrochloric acid tissue extracts. Muscle samples from dystrophic dogs contained substantially increased concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Cl-, and a considerable reduction in the content of K+ and Mg2+ compared with samples from healthy dogs. Total muscle water and total fat content was higher in muscles from dystrophic dogs. Most muscle samples from dystrophic dogs had a type-2 fiber deficiency and an increase in number of fibers with internalized nuclei.

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Intracellular electrolytes and water analysis in dystrophic canine muscles.

Skeletal muscles from normal dogs and labrador retrievers with a hereditary muscular dystrophy were examined morphologically and histochemically and were analysed for sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) ions and total muscle water. The partition of total muscle water and electrolytes between intracellular and extracellular phases was calculated on the basis of the chloride space method as the estimate of extracellular fluid volume. Muscle samples from dystrophic dogs contained significantly increased concentrations of Na+, Cl-, total muscle water, and a significant reduction in the level of K+ compared with normal values. There was a significant increase in the intracellular water and Na+ levels with a concomitant reduction of intracellular K+ content. Most dystrophic muscle samples had a pronounced type 2 fibre deficiency and a marked increase in numbers of fibres with internalised nuclei.

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Further characterization of the biology of Hammondia heydorni.

Hammondia heydorni oocysts, recovered from the diarrheic feces of a dog suffering from corticosteroid toxicosis, were sporulated and characterized morphometrically. Sporulated H. heydorni oocysts were administered to three dogs, five goats, a calf and three guinea pigs, and tissues from these inoculated animals fed to coccidia-free dogs to determine species susceptibility to H. heydorni. Morphometric characteristics of H. heydorni oocysts were similar to previous descriptions. Oocysts were not excreted in the feces of dogs inoculated with oocysts. Dogs fed tissues from goats killed 14, 28 or 42 days after inoculation (d.a.i.) with oocysts excreted H. heydorni oocysts in their feces after consuming goat tissues. Dogs fed tissues from a calf killed at 28 d.a.i., and from goats killed 21 and 56 d.a.i., did not excrete oocysts in their feces. Developmental stages of H. heydorni were not observed in histologic sections of tissues from any of the animals.

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Muscle biopsy samples for histochemical processing: alterations induced by storage.

Skeletal muscle samples from two healthy dogs were stored in ice at 0 C for up to 30 hours to examine the influence of time on cell morphology and morphometry. Cytochemical and histochemical properties of muscle to 18 hours were not markedly different from fresh frozen tissue. Samples stored to 30 hours were still satisfactory, despite a decline and unevenness in depth of staining. Morphometry from samples stored at 0 C for 6 hours or longer is not recommended, due to the statistically significant increase in diameter (from 21 to 25%) of type I and type II fibers.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Morphologic and morphometric studies of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles in clinically normal adult dogs.

To establish normal histologic and histochemical data and to determine reference values for fiber type proportions (percentages, mean fiber diameters, atrophy and hypertrophy factors, and variability coefficients), a histochemical study was carried out on intrinsic muscles of the larynx (cricothyroid, cricoarytenoid lateralis, cricoarytenoid dorsalis, and thyroarytenoid muscles) of clinically normal dogs. Using myosin adenosine triphosphatase stain under acidic preincubation (pH 4.3) conditions, 3 histochemical fiber types--1, 2A, and 2C--were recognized. The percentage of type-2C fibers varied from 1 to 2% in thyroarytenoid muscles to approximately 10% in cricoarytenoid lateralis muscles. There was no significant difference in mean diameter between left- and right-side specimens of each muscle for type 1 vs type 2. The largest fibers (mean +/- SD) of both types were observed in the cricothyroid muscles (type 1, 38.19 +/- 7.76 microns; type 2, 43.25 +/- 8.66 microns), and the smallest fibers were found in the thyroarytenoid muscles (type 1, 29.38 +/- 5.12 microns; type 2, 33.84 +/- 6.20 microns). Respective mean diameters of fiber types from cricoarytenoid dorsalis (type 1, 32.05 +/- 5.69 microns; type 2, 38.95 +/- 7.75 microns) and cricoarytenoid lateralis (type 1, 33.75 +/- 5.98 microns; type 2, 37.09 +/- 7.01 microns) muscles were similar. The histographic distribution of fiber type diameters was unimodal in all muscles. In each muscle, the mean fiber diameter of type-2 fibers was greater than that of type-1 fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Morphologic and morphometric studies of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves in clinically normal adult dogs.

Morphologic and morphometric studies were performed on the vagus nerve and its major branch, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN): (1) to determine normal histologic data in myelinated fibers of clinically normal young adult dogs, (2) to establish reference values for mean fiber diameter in the vagus nerve and in the proximal and distal portions of the RLN, and (3) to delineate relative frequency distribution curves for each nerve. Few degenerative changes were observed in single teased-nerve fiber preparations. There was no statistical difference between left and right sides of the vagus nerve or between the proximal and distal portions of the RLN (right and left sides). In contrast to the unimodal distribution of fibers in the vagus nerve and the proximal portion of the RLN, the distribution of fibers in the distal portion of the RLN was bimodal. Mean (+/- SD) fiber diameters of the vagus nerve and in the proximal portion of the RLN (3.02 +/- 1.44 microns and 3.63 +/- 1.49 microns, respectively) were not significantly different, despite a shift to large-diameter fibers in the latter. However, mean fiber diameters of distal and proximal portions of the RLN (5.56 +/- 1.88 microns and 3.63 +/- 1.49 microns, respectively) were significantly (P less than 0.001) different. Approximately 86% of fibers in the vagus nerve and 76% of fibers in the proximal portion of the RLN, had a diameter less than 5 microns, and about 70% of fibers in the distal portion of the RLN had a diameter greater than 5 microns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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