Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

The aim of this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gundelia tournefortii on some biochemical parameters in hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic mice. Male albino mice were induced hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic by daily injection of dexamethasone 1 mg/kg of body weight intramuscularly (i.m.), the mice randomly divided into five groups (6-8 mice in each group). The group 1: served as negative control group; the group 2: injected with dexamethasone at dose 1 mg /kg.b.w.i.m and served as positive control group; the groups 3, 4, 5: treated with extract of G. tournefortii at doses: 75, 150, 300 mg/kg.b.w. orally respectively companied with injection of dexamethasone 1 mg/kg.b.w.i.m. All treatment were once daily for 22 days. Dexamethasone treatment lead to significant increase in levels of glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride, and significant decrease of body weight, without any effect on level of total protein. G. tournefortii extract treatment at doses: 75 mg/kg.b.w. resulted significant decrease levels of glucose, and body weight. Beneficial effect were seen when mice treated with G. tournefortii at dose of 300 mg/kg.b.w. that lead to significant decrease in levels of glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol. These results indicate the usefulness of G. tournefortii extract as hypoglycemia and hypolipidemia in dexamethasone treated mice.

Two years old Awassi ewe was brought by the owner to the clinic of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul and he claimed that his animal had dystocia 12 hours ago. Fetal fluid was escaped since 3 hours ago. On clinical examination, the ewe was at term, as denoted by mammary changes and relaxed edematous vulva. The ewe was in a standing position and restlessness due to abdominal discomfort, without any abdominal contractions. Vaginal examination indicated that the cervix was dilated about 1 finger and the fetal membranes ruptured. No any medications were previously given to the ewe in the near past.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate serum glucose concentration and lipid profile in racing horses in Iraq. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 92 clinically healthy racing horses (males and females, Arabian and Cross bred), 2-8 years old at Equestrian Club, Baghdad. Investigations included serum measurements of glucose (sg) and lipid profile parameters; total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and the atherogenic ratio (LDL-C/HDL-C), in order to register the normal ranges and mean values of these measured parameters in Iraqi healthy racing horses. Results showed that the range and mean values ± standard error of sg were: 33.3 – 6.71 mmol/l and 5.17±0.07 mmol/l, respectively, whereas the TC was 2.07 – 4.22 mmol/l and 3.01±0.05 mmol/l, TG 0.6 – 1.47 mmol/l and 1.06±0.02 mmol/l, HDL-C 0.93 – 2.25 mmol/l and 1.50±0.03 mmol/l, LDL-C 0.10 – 2.12 mmol/l and 0.91±0.04 mmol/l, VLDL-C 0.31 -0.67 mmol/l and 0.55±0.02 mmol/l, respectively and the atherogenic ratio 0.66±0.03. The data present reference values and mean ± SE for sg and lipid profile parameters in healthy racing horses in Baghdad.