Drug therapy is warranted for many dogs with liver disease. Glucocorticoids (âsteroidsâ) have been used to prolong survival times in dogs with liver disease due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, although their use and appropriate dosage protocols are somewhat controversial.
chiasma. pl. chiasmata [L., Gr.] chiasm; in genetics, the points at which members of a chromosome pair are in contact during the prophase of meiosis and because of which recombination, or crossing over, occurs on separation.
Optic chiasma. The optic chiasm or optic chiasma is an X-shaped space, located in the forebrain, directly in front of the hypothalamus. Crucial to vision, the left and right optic nerves intersect at the chiasm, thus creating the hallmark X-shape. One-half of each nerve's axons (their long, threadlike portions) enters the opposite tract at this location, making it a partial decussation (crossing). While rare, optic gliomas â tumors â can grow within the chiasm or in conjunction with hypothalamic tumors. Gliomas can directly affect the optic nerves.