Some Pharmacodynamic Aspects of Cefepime

Some pharmacodynamic effects of cefepime, a new injectable semisynthetic cephalosporin, were studied in laboratory animals and the following results were obtained. Cefepime maximally stimulated isolated guinea pig's ileum, rat's colon (80 μg/mL bath), and rabbit's duodenum (400 μg/mL bath). Contrarily, complete relaxation of isolated rat's fundic strip was produced by 80 μg/mL bath. Effects of cefepime on isolated rat's uterine muscle were different according to stage of sex cycle. Cefepime did not induce any effects on the resting tonus of isolated guinea pig's tracheal chain and rabbit's aortic strip. Concentrations of 200 and 400 μg/mL bath induced marked inhibition in the force of muscular twitches of the isolated frog's gastrocnemius muscle which was less potent than that induced by procaine hydrochloride 2%. Cefepime completely blocked the neuromuscular transmission of frog's rectus abdominis muscle (40 μg/mL bath) and rat's phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm preparation (200 μg/mL bath). This blockade was reversed by acetylcholine and neostigmine. Cefepime produced dose-dependent negative inotropic effect on isolated rabbit's heart and guinea pig's auricles. There were no changes in blood pressure and rate of respiration in anaesthetized dog after cefepime injection. These findings indicate that cefepime has a low potential to produce adverse reactions at therapeutic doses.

Study of the morphology of ovary and cytology of oocyte as basis for establishing methods IVM, IVF and embryo transfer

In three types of domestic animals: cattle, pigs and sheep, morphology of ovary was studied. Results such as differences in shape, size within and between species, number of follicles in maturation, changes in sex cycle, connection of follicles in maturation are presented in figures. By method of aspiration, oocytes were isolated from ovaries and their cytology analyzed as the first step in methods of in vitro maturation (IVM), followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. These methods are wide spread in modern livestock production (cattle, horses) since they have many advantages of which the most important is to obtain more offspring from high quality female heads. Method has disadvantage: potential diminishing of biodiversity, therefore special attention is necessary in order not to endanger biodiversity and still get more offspring with high production abilities and traits. IVM, IVF and embryo transfer represent new approach to selection, fast and with similar effect like in conventional artificial insemination, therefore they should be applied in practice also in our country.

Anatomical-physiological basis of reproduction of domestic animals

Knowledge about forming of sex cells, fertilization and pregnancy is basis for biotechnological effect on reproduction. Beside artificial insemination which is regularly used in practice in Serbia, embryo transfer is method which will probably have wide application, since it enables good performances of male heads and improvement with genetic material of selected female heads. Method is especially useful in selection and breeding of cattle and horses, since in previous agricultural practice, number of offspring from single female head was relatively small. At the beginning it is important to study traits of ovaries in all stages of sex cycle and isolate egg cells which could mature in vitro conditions, in adequate medium until in vitro fertilization and transfer into recipient mother.