Roberto Rodrigues da Rosa Filho

Canine vestibular carcinoma (CVC) is a rare nosological entity that usually exhibits infiltrative and aggressive behavior. The present study describes the clinical, laboratory, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings of a case of CVC in a 12-year-old spayed mixed-breed bitch. The animal presented with an infiltrative and ulcerated vulvar mass, associated with fetid and hemorrhagic discharge, as well as severe anemia and leukocytosis. Histopathological examination revealed a malignant epithelial neoplasm ranging from tubular to solid arrangements, composed of poorly differentiated polygonal to round cells, displaying marked pleomorphism, frequent mitoses, and lymphovascular invasion. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed diffuse positivity for pan-cytokeratin, moderate cytoplasmic labeling for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), absence of S-100 expression, and positivity for uroplakin III (UPIII), a specific marker of urothelial differentiation. The integration of histopathological findings with the immunohistochemical profile allowed the definitive diagnosis of CVC of urothelial origin. This case highlights the importance of histopathological examination combined with immunohistochemistry for the characterization of poorly differentiated vulvovaginal neoplasms of the canine genitourinary tract.

The present study aimed to evaluate blood redox status and acute phase protein profile throughout two pharmacological treatment protocols for pyometra bitches, employing aglepristone either as a monotherapy or in combination with prostaglandin. A prospective study was conducted in 10 open-cervix pyometra bitches assigned to two groups: aglepristone (n = 5; subcutaneous injections of aglepristone on days 1, 2, and 8 after diagnosis) and aglepristone + prostaglandin (n = 5, aglepristone coupled with daily injections of cloprostenol from days 1 to 7). Blood samples were collected daily for the liver profile (alanine aminotransferase—ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin), acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein-CRP, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid-A), and redox analysis [antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidative stress (TBARS), and protein oxidation]. In the aglepristone group, there was increase in albumin concentration and SOD, while protein oxidation and GSH decreased progressively throughout treatment. The aglepristone + prostaglandin group had lower ALT levels but higher lipid peroxidation, GPx, and CRP. In conclusion, the combined use of prostaglandin modified the profile of oxidative markers, antioxidant enzymes, and C-reactive protein, thereby preventing the assessment of treatment efficacy. Conversely, albumin concentration proved a sensitive marker of therapeutic effectiveness in both treatment protocols for pyometra bitches.

The objective was to evaluate the influence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the duration of the luteal phase, progesterone concentrations and pregnancy rates in buffaloes undergoing embryo transfer. Twenty-nine buffaloes were synchronized. After estrus detection, the recipients were divided into three groups: Control (uterine manipulation), Flunixum Meglumine (manipulation + administration) and Firocoxib (manipulation + administration). Ultrasound evaluations and hormonal dosages were performed on days 6, 12 and 18 to determine the plasma concentration of P4 and the functional duration of the corpus luteum. The control group presented a larger CL area on day 0 than the FM group, there was a significant increase in plasma progesterone concentration between D6 and D12 (P < 0.05), and a significant decrease between D6-D18 and D12-D18. Additionally, 8 buffalo cows underwent in vitro embryo transfer and were divided into three groups: CONT (manipulation of the reproductive tract), FM group (manipulation + administration) and FIRO group (manipulation + administration). Pregnancy diagnosis was performed at 30 and 60 days. No statistically significant differences in pregnancy rates were observed between groups. It was concluded that a single application of FM and FIRO at the time of embryo transfer did not significantly increase conception rates.

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia–pyometra complex is a canine endometrial disorder, considered the most common and important among uterine diseases. The treatment of choice is ovariohysterectomy, but medical treatments have become an alternative. However, no studies have been performed in order to evaluate uterine hemodynamic changes during medical treatment for pyometra bitches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two medical protocols by means of clinical (heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature), medullar response (complete blood count (CBC)) and uterine hemodynamic evaluation in pyometra bitches. For such purpose, 10 bitches with pyometra were assigned to two groups: Aglepristone Group (n = 5) and Associative Group (aglepristone + prostaglandin; n = 5). The Associative Group had altered respiratory rate and decreased body temperature. The Aglepristone Group had decreased plasma protein, however, leukocyte count reduced over time for both therapeutic protocols. Uterine area and vascularization score decreased throughout treatment. There was a significant reduction in uterine perimeter, area and vascularization score. The Associative Group had lower final diastolic velocity and higher systole:diastole ratio (S/D), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI). In conclusion, both medical treatments are effective in reversing clinical and CBC changes of pyometra, especially aglepristone, however they cannot fully restore local uterine changes in a short-term evaluation. Conversely, associative therapy was more effective in decreasing uterine vascularization and modulating uterine blood flow.

In order to add information to physiology of sperm maturation and help to underline future antioxidant supplementation treatment to epididymal sperm, the aim of this study was to evaluate susceptibility of caput, corpus and cauda epididymal sperm to different reactive oxygen species (ROS) in dogs. Epididymal sperm was separately collected from each segment (caput, corpus and cauda) and subjected to 4 different ROS-challenges: superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, malondialdehyde (MDA) or maintained as control. After 30 min of incubation in each ROS, sperm was evaluated for sperm kinetics, plasma and acrossomal membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity and resistance to oxidative stress. Decreased total and progressive sperm motility and rapid velocity at epididymal corpus occurred after exposure to hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and MDA. However, for cauda epididymis, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde promoted higher deleterious effect regarding sperm motility and velocity. Only at cauda epididymis MDA decreased sperm mitochondrial activity index and no kinetics alterations (motility or velocity) occurred after exposure to superoxide anion in corpus and cauda epididymis. In conclusion, corpus and cauda epididymal sperm are highly susceptible to deleterious effect of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and hydroxyl radical. In addition, epididymal canine sperm is relatively resistant to superoxide anion damage.