Shayaib Ahmad Kamil

Pathomorphological effects of Alloxan induced acute hypoglycaemia in rabbits

Abstract Alloxan is one of the frequently used beta-cytotoxic agents for the induction of Type-1 diabetes mellitus in animal models and is the drug of choice in rabbits. Its beta-cytotoxic action results in a sudden release of insulin leading to severe hypoglycaemia and even mortality if glucose therapy is not given. In the present investigation the pathological effects of alloxan induced acute hypoglycaemia were studied in rabbits. New Zealand White rabbits, 1–1.5 kg body weight, were administered alloxan @100 mg/kg b.w., as a single intravenous dose. Blood glucose levels were monitored (0 h, 20 min, 1 h, and then hourly up to 5 h) and clinical signs noted. Rabbits dead due to hypoglycaemia were necropsied and histopathology performed. Severe histopathological changes were observed especially in the brain (neuronal degeneration and necrosis), kidneys (nephrosis, nephritis) and liver (hepatosis, hepatitis) and also, other organs. Histopathological observation of beta-cytolysis was suggestive that the drug induced hypoglycaemia is insulin mediated. It was concluded that acute hypoglycaemia causes severe pathological changes and the alloxan induced immediate hypoglycaemia if not managed in time, might exacerbate the pathological effects of hyperglycaemia in the induced diabetic models.

Clinicopathology of sodium bicarbonate induced gout in broiler chicken model

Clinicopathological changes due to sodium bicarbonate induced gout in broiler chickens were investigated. Seven-day old broiler chickens were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=12). Group I served as vehicle-treated control, Group II and III were given sodium bicarbonate @ 2.5% and 5% respectively, in drinking water. Clinical signs developed progressively from 4th day of the exposure. 25% and 58.33% mortality was recorded in Group II and III, respectively. Deposits of chalky white urates were prominently seen in kidneys, liver, heart and proventriculus. Histopathological lesions included severe degeneration and necrosis of renal tubules and heterophil infiltrations; large focal areas of coagulative necrosis, congestion of central vein, fatty change and periportal and paraportal lymphoid infiltrations in liver; degeneration of cardiac muscles; and congestion and serous exudate in parabronchi of lungs. Thymus revealed severe congestion, degeneration and necrosis of lymphoid tissue with serofibrinous exudate. Massons Trichrome stain revealed fibrosis in kidneys, liver, heart and lung tissues, whereas De Galanthas stain showed urate deposits as tophi or amorphous material.

Clinical, haematological, and serum biochemical alterations due to spontaneously occurring pulmonary hypertension syndrome in broiler chicken reared under temperate climatic conditions of Northern Himalayas

The present study was aimed to investigate the clinical, haematological, and serum biochemical alterations in commercial broiler chickens affected with pulmonary hypertension syndrome. Clinical signs were recorded. Haematological indices were investigated using a MS-4 automatic haem-analyser (MELET Schloesing Laboratories, France). Serum biochemical indices were studied using diagnostic kits (Aspen Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Rapid Diagnostic Group of Companies, Karnal Road Industrial Area, Delhi, India) and semi-automatic blood chemistry analyser (model SFRI-BSA 3000, Lieu dit Berbanton, France) as per manufacturer’s literature. The specific clinical signs for pulmonary hypertension syndrome included potbelly with frog sitting posture, gasping, tortuous and distended blood vessels, prolonged bleeding, occasional diarrhoea, and cyanotic comb. Haematological profiling revealed significant increase in haemoglobin, haematocrit, TEC, MCH, and MCHC; and lymphocytic leukocytosis in clinically ascitic chicken as well as non-ascitic birds from ascitic flocks. Serum biochemical profiling showed significant increase in blood glucose, A:G ratio, serum bilirubin, AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, BUN, and creatinine levels; significant decrease in total protein, albumin, globulin, and HDL cholesterol levels; and non-significant changes in total cholesterol.