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The aim of the study was to provide diagnostic imaging data on rabbit prostate complex by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with regard to their use in morphological investigations of the gland. Six anaesthetised sexually mature clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits, 8 months of age, with body weight 2.8x3.2 kg were used. The pelvic cavity and pelvic organs were investigated in the sagittal, dorsal and transversal planes from the 7th lumbar (L7) to the 1st coccygeal (C1) vertebra with 2-mm slice thickness using a Magnetom Essenza 1.5T tunnel MRI scanner. The prostate complex (proprostate, prostate and paraprostate parts) demonstrated signal hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI images. The prostate capsule was hyperintense compared to glandular parenchyma. The prostate complex was visualised on slices between the caudal part of the first sacral and cranial part of the third sacral vertebrae. The prostate part signal was hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI images. The shape of the prostate complex in dorsal view was craniocaudally elongated, oval and localised bilaterally from prostatic urethra in ventrodorsal view. The transverse T2 image of the pelvis through the 2nd sacral vertebra delineated the prostate part of the gland as a bilateral bilobed oval structure with hypointense parenchyma, embraced by a hyperintense capsule. The intrapelvic localisation and the shape of MRI image of healthy rabbit prostate complex is a species-specific morphological feature. The signal hyperintensity of rabbit prostate complex was higher on T2-weighted images. The T2 hyperintensity of prostate part vs hypointensity of proprostate and paraprostate parts provide evidence for the presence of substantial amount of glandular elements, presuming a dominating role of prostate part in the secretory function of the glandular complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the normal sonographic features of rabbit kidneys with regard to their use in diagnostic imaging of renal lesions in this species. Materials: Twelve sexually mature clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg were examined after anaesthesia. Methods: A diagnostic ultrasound system with microconvex multifrequency 6.5 MHz probe was used. The animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency. The transabdominal paravertebral imaging approach was used. Longitudinal and transverse scans of the kidneys were obtained. Six rabbits were sacrificed, their kidneys removed and studied in isotonic liquid medium. Results: The shape of kidneys was elliptical. The fibrous capsule was visualized as a straight hyperechoic band. The fatty capsule was hyperechoic and with irregular borders. The cortex exhibited a heterogeneous echogenicity. The acoustic density of the cortex was lower than that of the liver. The echoicity of the medulla was lower as compared to the cortex and the structures of the kidney pelvis. The latter appeared as a centrally located hyperechoic structure. The post mortem examination showed that kidneys were oval and hyperechoic. The kidney pelvis was seen as a centrally located longitudinal finding, and the renal hilum - as a centrally located hyperechoic finding. Conclusions: The transabdominal paravertebral approach was a good method for visualization of rabbit kidneys. The dorsal recumbency of the subjects allowed the visualization. The in vivo results corresponded to those from the post mortem study. The rabbit kidney was oval in shape. The hypoechoic peripheral zone is occupied by the cortex and the medulla, while the hyperechoic central zone - by the kidney pelvis. The cortex was less echoic than the liver parenchyma. The kidney pelvic cavity had a lower acoustic density than its walls, due to the presence of peripelvic adipose tissue. The present results could be used in the interpretation of normal and pathological renal findings in the rabbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous and visceral fat depots in healthy New Zealand White rabbits. Twelve clinically healthy rabbits with an average weight of 3.00±0.03 kg were used. The fatty acid composition of interscapular, inguinal, pericardial, perirenal and omental fat depots was determined by gas chromatography. The palmitic (C16:0) and linoleic (C18:2) acids, followed by oleic acid (C18:1) prevailed in all fat depots. The highest percentage of palmitic acid (C16:0) was detected in subcutaneous depots: inguinal (41.05±1.80%) and interscapular (38.30±0.73%), whereas the highest percentage of linoleic acid (C18:2) was found in the visceral depots: perirenal (44.26±0.96%) and pericardial (42.77±1.19%). Among the saturated fatty acids, myristic (C14:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) were established in higher content in subcutaneous depots than in visceral ones. Palmitoleic acid (C16:1) content in the pericardial fat depot was 10.63±2.60%, while in the interscapular, perirenal, omental and inguinal FD it was almost twice lower (P<0.001). In the omental depot, a-linolenic acid (C18:3) content was significantly higher only vs the interscapular depot (P<0.05). The high content of saturated fatty acids in the subcutaneous depots determined their higher atherogenic and saturation index, unlike visceral ones, where a significantly higher content of unsaturated fatty acids was reported. Differences in fatty acid composition of subcutaneous and visceral fat depots proved the specific metabolism in each of them. On the other hand, this led to differences in the nutritional value of various parts of rabbit carcass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) facilitates the release of cholesterol from lipoproteins and plays a key role in the synthesis of steroid hormones in the adrenal glands. For the current study, 6 male and 6 female clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits, aged 3.5 months were used. Enzyme histochemical reaction (per Gomori) was performed on fresh cryostat sections, and through the Tween method, a strong positive expression of LPL in the sinusoid capillaries of the liver lobules, the lumen, and the smooth muscle cells of the walls of interlobular arteries and veins was shown. A moderate LPL expression in zona glomerulosa and weak expression in zona fasciculata were observed in the adrenal glands, whereas no LPL expression was found in both the cortical zona reticularis and the adrenal medulla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]