Kinetic gait and subjective analysis of the effects of a tachykinin receptor antagonist in dogs with sodium urate-induced synovitis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ability of preemptive administration of a proprietary neurokinin-1 (NK(1)) receptor antagonist to attenuate limb dysfunction associated with monosodium urate-induced synovitis in the stifle joints of dogs.


METHODS
16 clinically normal adult mixed-breed dogs (8 males and 8 females).


METHODS
A crossover study was conducted in 2 phases. Dogs were assigned to 2 groups (8 dogs/group) and orally administered an NK(1) receptor antagonist (3 mg/kg) or a control substance once daily for 4 days. Synovitis was then induced in the left stifle joint by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate. Investigators were not aware of treatment group assignments. Dogs were evaluated by use of subjective lameness scores during standing, walking, and trotting and by use of ground reaction force data 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after urate injection. After a 21-day washout period, the experiment was repeated with each dog administered the other treatment and injected with monosodium urate in the contralateral stifle joint.


RESULTS
No significant differences were detected between the NK(1) receptor antagonist and control treatments with regard to peak vertical force, vertical impulse area, or subjective evaluations of lameness during standing, walking, or trotting, except during walking 24 hours after monosodium urate injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Preemptive administration of an NK(1) receptor antagonist failed to significantly improve subjective or objective outcome measures in dogs with monosodium urate-induced synovitis.
Punke
John P
JP
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Speas
Abbie L
AL
Reynolds
Lisa R
LR
Claxton
Ralph F
RF
Budsberg
Steven C
SC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D013264:Stifle / Q000473:pathology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014527:Uric Acid
D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D014527:Uric Acid