Abstract. Idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV) (Alabama rot) is a potentially fatal disease of unknown etiology that affects the skin and kidneys of racing-and training-age Greyhounds. Ultrastructural examinations were performed on two healthy control Greyhounds and 1 2 Greyhounds diagnosed with CRGV based on the presence of characteristic, well-demarcated cutaneous ulcers of the extremities (1 2/ 12), thrombocytopenia (<200,000 plateletddl) (1 2/12), and acute renal insufficiency (BUN > 40 mg/dl, serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl) (7/ 12). Early glomerular ultrastructural changes included endothelial swelling, detachment, and necrosis; membranous whorl formation; and platelet adhesion and aggregation. Some capillaries were occluded with aggregated platelets, cellular fragments, and fibrin. Later changes included narrowing of capillary lumina and thickening of glomerular capillary walls by subendothelial accumulation of flocculent, amorphous, variable electron-dense material and occasionally erythrocytes, cellular processes, and fibrin. Glomerular endothelial cells were increased in number and plump, with villouslike cytoplasmic projections. Mesangial cell cytoplasmic processes occasionally were interposed between the endothelium and the basement membrane. No etiologic agents or electron-dense deposits typical of immune complexes were observed. Although the specific etiology was not determined, the ultrastructural changes suggest that glomerular endothelial damage is an important early event in the pathogenesis of CRGV.

Receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) are essential for osteoclast formation, function, and survival. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits RANK signaling by sequestering RANKL. This study evaluated the antiosteoclast and immunoregulatory effects of mouse rRANK-Fc, which, similar to OPG, can bind RANKL. The effect of RANKL inhibition by RANK-Fc on osteoclast function was determined by inhibition of vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3)-induced hypercalcemia. Mice were injected with a single dose of 0, 10, 100, 500, or 1000 μg of RANK-Fc; 100 μg of OPG-Fc; or 5 μg of zoledronate 2 h before 1,25(OH)2D3 challenge on day 0, and sacrificed on days 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 20. RANK-Fc doses of 100 or 500 μg were tested in a mouse respiratory influenza virus host-resistance model. A single dose of RANK-Fc ≥100 μg suppressed elevation of serum calcium levels and suppressed the bone turnover marker serum pyridinoline at day 4 and later time points, similar to those observed with OPG-Fc and zoledronate (p ≤ 0.01 vs controls). By day 6, both immature and mature osteoclasts were depleted by high doses of RANK-Fc (500 and 1000 μg) or 100 μg of OPG-Fc. RANK-Fc doses of 100 or 500 μg had no detectable effect on immune responses to influenza infection, as measured by activation of cytotoxic T cell activity, influenza-specific IgG response, and virus clearance. RANK-Fc inhibition of RANKL has antiosteoclast activity at doses that have no detectable immunoregulatory activity, suggesting that RANKL inhibitors be further studied for their potential to treat excess bone loss.

Results suggest that stanozolol is hepatotoxic in cats.

Abstract. Two hundred thirty greyhounds from Kansas were submitted to Kansas State University for necropsy to identify and document their diseases. Sex distribution was 124 females (I spayed) and 106 males (1 castrated). Age range was 5 days-150 months. The mean body, heart, and liver weights for adult dogs (> 12 months) were 30 kg, 367 g, and 1,019 g, respectively. Greyhounds were divided into six groups by histories: skeletal injuries, 24 (10%); nonskeletal injuries, 23 (10%); old age (X = 89 months), 25 (11%); poor performers, 83 (36%); sick, 68 (30%); and no history, 7 (3%). Gross lesions by system were as follows: skin, 85 (37%); lung, 13 (6%); skeletal, 36 (16%); gastrointestinal, 55 (23.9%); central nervous system, 3 (1%); thyroid, 5 (2%); cardiovascular and hemopoietic, 36 (16%); spleen, 30 (13%); male reproductive, 13 (12%); kidney, 9 (4%); liver, 7 (3%); and no gross lesions, 23 (10%). Correlation of the histories to the gross lesions showed that poor performers had the largest number with no gross lesions, the skeletal injury and sick groups had more gastrointestinal changes, and the nonskeletal injury and sick groups had most of the male reproductive abnormalities.

No abstract