Study on Protein Nanomarker Combined with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor to Improve Vascularization of Rabbit Urethral Defect Tissue Engineering

To construct the tissue engineering urethral material that is closest to the normal urethral structure in the true sense in vitro. Abdominal ADSC from a 2-month-old New Zealand white rabbit was extracted and directly compounded with non-woven polyglycolic acid (PGA) (control group) to induce the differentiation of myoblasts and epithelial-like cells in vitro and shaped into urethral structure lumen Observation group); After Gd chelating protein nano-labeling and VEGF-loaded sustained release, the rabbit model of a long urethral defect was replanted and cultured for 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. There was no difference in urinary tract patency rate, urinary tract infection, and renal dysfunction rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The urine flow rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the residual volume decreased (P < 0.05). The blood vessel density and CD31 percentage in the observation group increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the conventional ADSC directly in contact with the composite material to construct the urethra, in vitro induction of ADSC to myoblasts and epithelial-like cells respectively, and then use the cell membrane technology to build a tissue engineering urethral material that is closest to the normal urethral structure in the true sense, and loaded with VEGF Loop release technology can significantly improve urodynamic functions, optimize tissue engineering urethral structure and vascularization, and is expected to become a new technology for constructing new tissue engineering urethral materials.

Alopecia and Dermatitis Caused by Lepoarcarus gibbus in a New Zealand White Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) – Clinical and Parasitological Diagnosis and Treatment

Aim: Ectoparasites associated dermatological disorders are frequently encountered in laboratory and pet rabbit medicine practice, however, L. gibbus is the only ectoparasite rarely reported in either pet and laboratory rabbits or hares as L. gibbus are usually asymptomatic. The aim of the present report is to describe a case of alopecia and dermatitis associated with Lepoarcarus gibbis in a rabbit from India. Presentation of Case: A 1.5 year old female New Zealand White rabbit was presented to the Dermatology Unit with erythema and poorly demarcated alopecia on the dorsal neck and face. A skin scraping and coat brushings were performed. On microscopic evaluation of hair samples, L. gibbus infestation was confirmed. Treatment with ivermectin (0.3 mg/kg) biweekly once for 3 doses proved effective. Discussion and Conclusion: L.gibbus may be presented with severe hairfall in the absence of other mites and treatment with ivermectin is effective. Based on the literature research this may be the first case report on alopecia and dermatitis due to L.gibbus in rabbit from India. Further studies should be planned on the prevalence of the mite as it is reported to have zoonotic potential.

Optimization and Transfollicular Delivery of Finasteride-Loaded Proniosomes for Hair Growth Stimulation in C57BL/6Mlac Mice

The study aimed to develop the finasteride-loaded proniosome (FLP) to enhance the transfollicular delivery of finasteride (FN). The response surface methodology (RSM) combined with central composite design (CCD) with three independent variables (FN concentrations, total lipid content, and cholesterol content) was used to optimize the FLP preparation. The particles size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading capacity of the FLP were analyzed. The transfollicular delivery of the optimum formulation was investigated in vitro. In vivo hair growth stimulation study was performed on C57BL/6Mlac mice dorsal areas. The Draize primary skin irritation test for erythema and edema was performed in the New Zealand white rabbit skin. The optimum FLP consists of 5.0 mM of FN, 10.1 mM of total lipid content, and 50.0% of the cholesterol in the total lipid. The prepared proniosome delivered the FN significantly (p < 0.05), compared to the naked finasteride solution in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The FLP treatment significantly increases the number and size of hair follicles in a dose-dependent manner. The efficiency of 1% FLP was comparable to the 2% minoxidil solution. The FLP exhibited no skin irritation after 72 h. Therefore, the results demonstrated that the FLP could stimulate hair growth via a transfollicular delivery system.

Synthesis of 111In-p-SCN-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab and its preclinical evaluation in EGFR positive NSCLC animal model

The aim of this study was to investigate labeling of nimotuzumab (h-R3) with 111In using p-SCN-Bn-DTPA as bifunctional chelate, evaluate its targeting potential against SK-LU-1, H226, H650, H661, and HCC4006 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines and correlate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression level with internalization kinetics, biodistribution and imaging accuracy using Balb/c mice and New Zealand White rabbit (NZWR) animal model. The amount of p-SCN-Bn-DTPA attached to h-R3 was assessed by measuring relative absorbance at 652 nm with ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine percent radiochemical purity (%RCP) and in vitro stability using excess amount of diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA). The in vitro stability in rat serum was estimated using iTLC-SG. EGFR expression level in each tumor was assessed by chemiluminescence. In vivo uptake in different organs of Balb/c mice and non-invasive imaging potential using NZWR bearing HCC4006 tumor, was evaluated with gamma camera. UV spectroscopy has confirmed the attachment of five p-SCN-Bn-DTPA (chelate) with one antibody. The HPLC indicated 98.85 ± 0.14% (n = 3) %RCP with high yield (>96%), specific activity 3.5 ± 0.0.25 mCi per mg and 94.25 ± 0.34% in vitro stability at 37 °C in mice serum. In excess DTPA no considerable transchelation was experiential from the 111In labeled p-SCN-Bn-DTPA-h-R3 to the challenger. The EGFR expression in HCC4006 was higher amongst all with band density of 23.53 relative to 1.00 of H226. Initially internalization was lower which went up 1.05 × 104 molecules per HCC4006 cell in 48 h. The optimal concentration of h-R3 for maximum uptake was 15 μg per animal. Higher uptake in target organ was observed in animal infected with HCC4006 cells. However, in excess pure h-R3 the uptake was significantly reduced indicating tumor specificity. HCC4006 target site was undistinguishable relative to background activity in the initial phase of imaging due to poor uptake. However, within 60 h the HCC4006 tumor was quite apparent. This experiment suggests that at optimal dosage of 111In labeled h-R3 can be used for localization and identification of EGFR positive NSCLC using gamma camera.

Enhanced nociception in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy

The most prevalent comorbidity of cerebral palsy (CP) is pain. In order to investigate the relationship between perinatal injuries that cause CP and nociception, we investigated mechanical and thermal sensitivity of New Zealand White rabbit kits after prenatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI), sham surgery without hypoxia, and after a typical, unperturbed gestation. A range of motor deficits were observed in kits born naturally after HI (40 minutes at 70-80% gestation) as previously described. We found that HI caused mechanical and thermal allodynia at postnatal day 5, which was accompanied by an expansion of peptidergic afferents (marked by expression of calcitonin gene related peptide; CGRP) in both the superficial and deep dorsal horn. Non-peptidergic afferents (marked by expression of isolectin B4; IB4) were unaltered in HI kits but overlap of the two populations (peptidergic and nonpeptidergic nociceptors) was increased by HI. Interestingly, HI-subjected rabbits exhibited allodynia, even in the absence of motor deficits. HI motor affected and unaffected kits had similar thermal sensitivity but affected kits had less mechanical sensitivity than HI unaffected kits. These findings suggest that prenatal neural injuries impact sensory and motor networks independently and that developing sensory circuits may be more vulnerable than motor circuits to perturbation by prenatal hypoxic-ischemic injury. In conclusion, pain experienced by individuals with CP could arise from developmental insults capable of causing the condition, and therapeutics that specifically target altered nociception in these individuals could be beneficial for treating and preventing chronic pain.

Electroporation safety factor of 300 nanosecond and 10 millisecond defibrillation in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts

Aims Recently, a new defibrillation modality using nanosecond pulses was shown to be effective at much lower energies than conventional 10 millisecond monophasic shocks in ex vivo experiments. Here we compare the safety factors of 300 nanosecond and 10 millisecond shocks to assess the safety of nanosecond defibrillation. Methods and results The safety factor, i.e. the ratio of median effective doses (ED50) for electroporative damage and defibrillation, was assessed for nanosecond and conventional (millisecond) defibrillation shocks in Langendorff-perfused New Zealand white rabbit hearts. In order to allow for multiple shock applications in a single heart, a pair of needle electrodes was used to apply shocks of varying voltage. Propidium iodide (PI) staining at the surface of the heart showed that nanosecond shocks had a slightly lower safety factor (6.50) than millisecond shocks (8.69), p = 0.02; while PI staining cross-sections in the electrode plane showed no significant difference (5.38 for 300 ns shocks and 6.29 for 10 ms shocks, p = 0.22). Conclusions In Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, nanosecond defibrillation has a similar safety factor as millisecond defibrillation, between 5 and 9, suggesting that nanosecond defibrillation can be performed safely.

Bacterial keratitis: similar bacterial and clinical outcomes in female versus male New Zealand White rabbits infected with Serratia marcescens

Females and males respond differently to a number of systemic viral infections. Differences between females and males with respect to the severity of keratitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria such as Serratia marcescens are less well established. In this study we injected female and male New Zealand White rabbit corneas with a keratitis isolate of S. marcescens and evaluated the eyes after 48 hours for a number of clinical and microbiological parameters. No statistical differences in bacterial burden and corneal scores were recorded between female and male rabbits although there was a non-significant trend toward a higher frequency of female rabbits demonstrating hypopyons. This data suggests that for experimental bacterial keratitis studies involving Gram-negative rods, a single sex or mixed group of rabbit is sufficient for evaluating pathology and bacterial burdens. This will reduce the number of animals used for subsequent studies.