Differences in hematologic RI between Wistar rats obtained from different breeders underscore the need to evaluate untreated control animals for comparison, rather than using historical RI, to detect compound-related effects in preclinical safety studies. Valid RI for control animals are needed and should be verified when using a new supplier to avoid misinterpretation of data. Low reference limits for some variables, such as WBC counts, in rats from one source may preclude their use in studies in which detection of leukopenia is required.

Objective To assess the effect of initial antimicrobial therapy with a new highly potent quinolone (sparfloxacin) on the outcome of infection, especially acute and chronic inflammation, in a rat model of unilateral Escherichia coli epididymitis. Materials and methods The study included 60 SpragueDawley rats, each of which received 0.1 mL of an E. coli (0:6 strain) suspension (10 6 colony forming units/mL) injected into the right ductus deferens. At 24 h after infection an oral antimicrobial treatment with sparfloxacin was initiated in half of the animals. The rats were killed 14 days, 3 and 6 months after infection, and both epididymes and the prostate gland cultured to re-isolate E. coli . To evaluate the grade of inflammation in both epididymes, histological variables, including acute and chronic inflammation and scar formation, were evaluated and a total inflammatory score, representing the sum of all variables, computed. Results Whereas antimicrobial therapy eradicated the pathogen, in untreated animals the pathogen was detectable for up to 6 months after infection in the infected epididymis and/or the prostate gland, while the contralateral epididymis was sterile. The inflammatory reaction in the infected epididymis was significantly less in treated animals ( P < 0.001). Subclinical nonbacterial inflammation was present in the contralateral epididymis. Conclusions Although adequate antimicrobial treatment eradicated the pathogen and reduced the grade of epididymal damage, inflammation was not avoided. Subclinical inflammation of the contralateral epididymis may contribute to impaired fertility. These results indicate that an inflammatory reaction initiated by bacteria might persist as a nonbacterial process despite early therapy, or by bacteria undetectable by conventional culture techniques, and may compromise male fertility.

Background: Treatment of diabetes type 2 using chronic pharmacological inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DP4) still requires an in-depth analysis of models for chronic DP4 deficiency, because adverse reactions induced by some DP4 inhibitors have been described. Methods: In the present study, a novel congenic rat model of DP4 deficiency on a ''DP4-high'' DA rat

BackgroundCanine reticulated platelets (r-PLTs) i.e., juvenile PLTs reflecting thrombopoiesis can be measured automatically with the hematology analyzer Sysmex XT-2000iV using manual gating options. However, the impact of interferences on r-PLT measurements performed with the gates published previously (Pankraz et al., Vet Clin Path 38:30–38, 2009; Gelain et al., High fluorescent platelets fraction in macrothrombocytopenic Norfolk terrier, 2010) is largely unknown.The aim was to compare different published gates for measurement of r-PLTs with the Sysmex XT-2000iV with an own, optimized gate (“Oellers-gate”) and to establish reference intervals (RIs) in > 120 dogs.Data of 362 measurements of diseased and healthy dogs were analyzed retrospectively. Several gates were applied and RIs for r-PLTs and platelet indices were established for pet dogs and a group of 153 healthy Beagles kept under defined housing conditions. Intra-assay precision (CV) was also assessed.ResultsIn 30/362 samples, interferences consistent with small erythrocytes/reticulocytes were seen in the previously published gates but not in the “Oellers-gate”. Good correlation was found between the different gates (rs: 0.88–1.00). RIs for the “Pankraz-gate”, the “Gelain-gate”, and the “Oellers-gate” were 0.0–1.2, 0.2–3.7 and 0.2–3.9 % respectively. CVs were ranging between 22 and 41 %.ConclusionsOptimization of previously published gates minimized interferences of small erythrocytes with r-PLT measurements.

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