Visceral inflammation, including that arising from bladder inflammation, reduces the threshold to sensation of innocuous or noxious stimuli applied to peripheral structures (referred hyperalgesia). Cystitis may induce transient or persistent plastic changes mediated by neurotrophins, particularly nerve growth factor (NGF), which contribute to increased nociceptive input. In this study, acute or subacute cystitis was induced in female rats by one or three (at 72-h intervals) 400-microl intravesical instillations of 1 mM acrolein. Sensitivity of the hindpaws to mechanical and thermal stimuli was determined before and 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after treatment. Other groups of rats were treated with intravesical or intrathecal k252a [a nonspecific antagonist of tyrosine kinase (trk) receptors, including trkA, the high-affinity receptor for NGF] before the first or third acrolein instillation. Some rats were intraperitoneally injected with specific NGF-neutralizing antiserum or normal serum before acrolein instillation. Acute and subacute cystitis induced mechanical, but not thermal, referred hyperalgesia that was attenuated by intravesical pretreatment with k252a. Systemic treatment with NGF-neutralizing antiserum before instillation of acrolein suppressed subsequent mechanical referred hyperalgesia. Expression of NGF was increased within the bladder by acute or subacute cystitis and in L6/S1 dorsal root ganglia by subacute cystitis. These results suggest that the bladder-derived NGF acting via trk receptors at least partially mediates peripheral sensitization to mechanical stimuli associated with acute and subacute acrolein-induced cystitis.

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Cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) are G-protein coupled receptors that are expressed throughout the body. Cannabinoid receptor are expressed in the urinary bladder and may affect bladder function. The purpose of this study was twofold: to confirm the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the bladder, the L6/ S1 spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and to determine the effects of acute and chronic bladder inflammation on expression of cannabinoid receptors. Acute or chronic bladder inflammation was induced in rats by intravesical administration of acrolein. Abundance of CB1 and CB2 protein and their respective mRNA was determined using immunoblotting and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. We confirmed the presence of CB1 and CB2 receptor protein and mRNA in bladder, L6-S spinal cord, and DRG. Acute bladder inflammation induced increased expression of CB2, but not CB1, protein in the bladder detrusor. Chronic bladder inflammation increased expression of bladder CB2 protein and mRNA but not CB1 protein or mRNA. Expression of CB1 or CB2 in spinal cord or DRG was unaffected by acute or chronic bladder inflammation. CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in the bladder and its associated innervation, and CB2 receptors are up-regulated in bladder after acute or chronic inflammation. CB2 receptors may be a viable target for pharmacological treatment of bladder inflammation and associated pain.Cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) are members of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. CB1 is expressed primarily in the central nervous system (CNS) and is the most abundant GPCR in the brain [19]. CB2 is expressed by leukocytes, including mast cells [6], lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils [2], and CB2 is also expressed at low levels in the CNS in both microglia and some neurons [8,22]. Cannabinoid receptors have also been detected in peripheral tissues, including urinary bladder [10]. Endocannabinoids and cannabinoid agonists decrease motility in normal and inflamed bladder, suggesting that CB receptors may have functional effects on the bladder [4,12,13]. Hyperalgesia associated with turpentine-induced acute bladder inflammation was prevented by administration of a cannabinoid agonist [6]. While there is interest in the use of cannabinoids to treat bladder disorders, effects of inflammation on expression of cannabinoid receptors in the bladder have not been described.*Address correspondence to: Dr. Dale E. Bjorling, Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive Drive, Madison, WI 53706, bjorlind@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu, Tel: 608-263-4808, Fax: 608-263-7930. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the productio...

; 4 Professor Senior do Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias da UFPR.RESUMO -Com o objetivo de estabelecerem-se parâmetros segundo a predisposição racial, etária, sexual, localização da incidência do TVT em cães, além das modalidades de diagnóstico e tratamento, foi realizado um estudo estatístico em 52 clínicas de Curitiba e Região Metropolitana, em 1998. Constatou-se que o TVT é principalmente encontrado em animais do sexo feminino que permanecem abandonados nas ruas ou ainda aqueles que freqüentemente atingem as vias públicas. Também concluiu-se que a história e o exame físico dos pacientes, freqüentemente, constituíram-se meios de diagnóstico para o TVT em cães. Entre as modalidades de tratamento, observou-se que a cirurgia foi empregada somente nos casos que exigiam citorredução neoplásica prévia à terapia com agentes anticancerígenos. O sulfato de vincristina na dose de 0,5 a 1,0 mg/ m 2 , administrado semanalmente via endovenosa, durante 6 semanas consecutivas, constituiu-se em opção eficaz no controle do TVT, pois não se observou colateralidade, recidivas e/ou metástases nos cães tratados nesse período.Palavras Chave: Tumor Venéreo Transmissível; Sulfato de Vincristina; Cão.ABSTRACT -A survey has been carried out on the incidence by breed, age, sex and dogs wondering habits of the canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) and the therapeutic procedures to which they were submitted. The survey was carried out during 1998 in 52 Veterinary Clinics from Curitiba and its Metropolitan Region. Among 42 cases of TVT recorded during that year, 61.9% (n = 26) were female and 38.09 (n = 16) male dogs. The higher incidence of TVT in female dogs may be due to the fact that they stay abandoned or wondering in streets. Among the therapeutic procedures used for the treatment of TVT bearing dogs, surgical neoplasia citoreduction is frequently used previously to the administration of anticancerous drugs. A weekly intravenous administration of Vincristine -0.5 -1.0 mg/m 2 -during 6 successive weeks, constitutes the best option for the treatment and control of TNT. No bad effects, recidivism and/or metastasis were found in dogs subjected to this therapeutic procedure.

Highlights Prevalence of adult heartworm (HW) infection was 4 % in cats and 28 % in dogs. Combining antigen and antibody testing led to an overall 19 % positive cats. Prevalence did not differ between dogs and cats with added feline antibody testing. Dirofilaria repens microfilariae were identified in one dog and one cat. Acanthocheilonema reconditum microfilariae were identified in four dogs.