Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Hamartomas are mostly benign tumor-like malformations characterized by a disorganized overgrowth of mature cells and tissues indigenous to the affected anatomical site. A 20-day-old male Kurdish foal was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Urmia University, Urmia, Iran, with a history of hematochezia and tenesmus. Clinical examination identified a pedunculated tissue mass within the rectal lumen. The abnormal mass was surgically excised via polypectomy under local anesthesia. Tissue samples were obtained, fixed in 10.00% neutral buffered formalin, and processed routinely for histopathological examination. Histopathological evaluation of the resected tissue confirmed the diagnosis of a cystic polypoid rectal hamartoma characterized by normal rectal epithelium overlying multiple cystic, blood-filled vascular spaces. The foal recovered without complications and no recurrence was noted during a long-term follow-up exceeding 18 months. This report underscored that congenital rectal hamartoma, while rare, should be considered as a differential diagnosis in neonatal foals presenting with hematochezia or dyschezia. Prompt surgical intervention is curative and associated with a favorable prognosis.

Abstract Surgery commonly causes post-operative pain that should be alleviated to prevent complications. In addition to the use of synthetic drugs, there has been a widespread desire to use medicinal plants for surgical pain management. Thymoquinone (TQ), a constituent of Nigella sativa black seeds, exhibits a potent anti-oxidant property. Celecoxib (CLX), a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is widely used in pain management. In the present study, the effects of TQ and CLX on pain caused by hind paw surgical incision were compared. Fifty-six rats were divided into four groups of 14 rats as intact, vehicle, TQ, and CLX groups. In each group, six rats were planned to record pain-related behaviors on days 1 - 10 and eight rats were designed for determination of serum biochemical alterations on days 1 (four rats) and 3 (four rats) after surgery. Oral administrations of TQ and CLX at a same dose of 10.00 mg kg^-1 alleviated paw lifting number (spontaneous pain) and paw withdrawal threshold evoked by von Frey filaments on metal mesh floor, improved the decreased contents of serum total anti-oxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, and restored the increased levels of serum malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The results suggested that TQ by employing anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, might relieve the pain induced by hind paw plantar incision, being comparable with CLX.

Abstract Skeletal muscle atrophy induced by denervation is one of the common disorders in traumatic nerve injuries. The aim of this study was the evaluation of histomorphometrical changes of extensor digitorum longus muscle after denervation and its regeneration by tissue engineering. Ninety adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six main groups (n = 15) in three time periods (2, 4 and 8 weeks; n = 5). Control group was treated without surgery, in transection (Tr) group left sciatic nerve was transected, in scaffold (S) group only collagen gel scaffold was used, in mast cell (MC) group mast cells were used, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) group was treated with mesenchymal stem cells and in MC+MSC group, mast cells along with mesenchymal stem cells were used. In the cellular groups, the scaffold and cells were mixed and placed in the transected nerve gap. The average diameter of muscle fibers, ratio of the muscle fibers nuclei to the fibrocytes nuclei (mn/fn), ratio of the muscle fibers nuclei number to the muscle fibers number (mn/mf), the average ratio of blood vessels to muscle fibers number (v/mf) and muscles weight in Tr group were the lowest compared to the other groups; but, in cellular and S groups, amelioration was observed according to the time period. However, in MC+MSC group, there were the highest ameliorative results. This study revealed that simultaneous use of MCs and MSCs mixed with collagen gel scaffold can be considered as a suitable approach to improve denervated skeletal muscle atrophy associated with sciatic nerve injury.