In vitro availability of iron from cereal meal with the addition of protein isolates and fenugreek leaves (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

In vitro iron availability was determined from a standard cereal meal (C) with and without the addition of protein isolates from bovine milk (BP), groundnut milk (GP) and soybean milk (SP). A second set of studies were done to investigate the potentially available iron from fenugreek leaves per se and the effect of their addition on the available iron from the cereal meal. The potentially available iron from the meal increased from 4.91% to 6.73% on the addition of BP. The next best enhancer was GP (4.91% to 6.17%). Although the addition of SP increased the total iron content of the cereal meal significantly, the percent available iron decreased compared to the other milk proteins. The addition of fenugreek leaves (100 g/meal) to the meal increased the total iron content of the meal significantly (3.24 mg to 9.12 mg) (p<.001), however, the available iron was observed to decrease (4.91% vs 4.34%).     

Polycyclic Musks in Water, Sediment, and Fishes from the Upper Hudson River, New York, USA

Synthetic musks are used in many consumer products for their pleasant odor and their binding affinity for fabrics. In the early 1990s, polycyclic musks were reported to occur in air, water, sediment, wildlife, and humans from many European countries. Concentrations of polycyclic musks, particularly 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-[??]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapthalene (AHTN), have been reported to increase over time in the environment. In this study, concentrations of musks in water, sediment, fish, and mussel were determined from three locations along the upper Hudson River. HHCB and AHTN were detected in water (n?=?5; 3.95?C25.8 and 5.09?C22.8 ng/L, respectively), sediment (n?=?3; 72.8?C388 and 113?C544 ng/g, dry weight), fish (n?=?30; <1?C125 and <1?C32.8 ng/g, lipid weight), and zebra mussel (n?=?4; 10.3?C19.3 and 42.2?C65.9 ng/g, lipid weight) samples. Bioaccumulation factors of HHCB calculated for white perch, catfish, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass were in the range of 18 to 371, when the concentrations in fish were expressed on a wet weight basis; the factors were in the range of 261 to 12,900, when the concentrations in fish were expressed on a lipid weight basis.     

Effects of Dibutyl phthalate and phthalic acid on chlorosis recovery in iron‐deficiency stressed sorghum cultivars

The effects of DBP (Dibutyl phthalate) and PA (Phthalic acid) supplied to the nutrient medium of Fe‐deficiency stressed sorghum cultivars, CSH‐5, 2077‐A, and CS‐3541 were examined. It was found that both the chemicals (50 mg/1) caused recovery of the cultivars CSH‐5 and 2077‐A in 4 days of treatment. Furthermore, the growth of roots, especially the adventitious roots, was increased by the chemicals.     

Evaluation of salt tolerance in cowpea and tobacco: Effects of NaCl on growth,relative turgidity and photosynthesis

The physiology of NaCl induced stress was studied in two prop species, cowpea and 4 cultivars of tobacco one of which (Jayashree) is salt sensitive. It was found that the growth of all the cvs of tobacco was reduced by the presence of NaCl (100 mH) in the nutrient medium. While the fresh wt per unit area of the leaves of salt‐tolerant tobacco cv. I and PV‐7 (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and MPS‐219 (N. rustica L.) was increased’ significantly, it was decreased in the salt‐sensitive Jayashree. The dry wt per unit leaf area was decreased much more in I, PV‐7 and J than in NPS‐219. The total chlorophyll was reduced in all and more so in Jayashree.

The relative turgidity % was found to decrease in the primary leaves of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in the first 6 days of treatment with 100 mM NaCl in the nutrient medium while the decrease was less significant in the first and and second trifoliate leaves, showing that there was readjustment with growth of the plant to salinity. The ¹⁴C fixation in the leaf disks of cowpea grown in NaCl was much less than in the control plants. The studies reveal that there is a general reduction in the growth of both tobacco and cowpea following NaCl treatment and this effect is due to a decrease in the total chlorophyll and a reduced rate of photosynthesis.     

Uneven ripening in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) berries in India is linked to seed viability

Uneven ripening (UR) is a physiological disorder of unknown origin in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) leading to wine of inferior quality. A preliminary study found wide variations in total dehydrogenase activity (TDH) of seeds from unevenly ripe berries. In our experiments, gibberellin (GA₃) applied to young grapes increased seed TDH activity and reduced the incidence of uneven ripening to 2% compared with 35% in the control. In contrast, paclobutrazol (PBZ) decreased TDH activity and increased the incidence of the disorder to 58%. GA₃-treated berries had higher concentrations of sucrose and TDH activity in seed representing mature seeds with high viability. In contrast, PBZ-treated and control berries had higher concentrations of glucose and lower TDH activity, indicating immature seeds with low viability. These results suggested that competition among developing berries can lead to differences in seed gibberellin content, seed viability and the rate of berry growth resulting in green, purple, and black berries at harvest. The study established the role of seed viability in uneven ripening and demonstrated that the incidence of the disorder is reduced by the application of GA₃ to immature berries.     

Premature seed germination induced by very-long-chain fatty acids causes jelly seed disorder in the mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivar ‘Amrapali’ in India

Jelly seed (JS) in ‘Amrapali’ mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a physiological disorder, the cause of which has long remained obscure. The disorder is distinguished by the appearance of jelly-like tissue in the pulp adjoining the stone, although the fruit show no external symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine the causative factor inducing the JS disorder in ‘Amrapali’ mango. Studies showed, for the first time, that JS in ‘Amrapali’ mango arose at the start of germination-associated events in the seed of developing fruit. The trigger for premature seed germination originated from reduced synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in the seed of developing fruit. This then promoted the production of cytokinins, leading to the onset of premature germination-associated events in the seed. Consequently, a large increase in the activities of pectinolytic enzymes in JS pulp occurred that led to the rapid degradation of pectin and excessive softening of the pulp, to the consistency of jelly. The application of plant growth regulators to developing fruit showed that gibberellic acid (GA₃) increased the incidence of JS, while paclobutrazol reduced the incidence of JS, confirming that the onset of early germination during fruit maturation and ripening played a primary role in the incidence of the JS disorder.     

A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat

We present a case of globosus amorphus delivered from a goat and subjected to radiography and histological examination. Radiography revealed a lack of development of any organ system; histological sections showed evidence of lymphoid aggregations, mononuclear infiltrations, blood capillaries, and dense fibroblasts.     

Endocrine,blood metabolite,and meat quality changes in goats as influenced by short-term,preslaughter stress

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of short-term, preslaughter stress on physiological responses and meat quality in goats of different age groups. The goats (n = 28) were classified into young (6 to 12 mo of age) and old (24 to 30 mo of age) groups, feed deprived overnight, and slaughtered at three different times (replicates). On each slaughter day, goats were either subjected to a 2-h transportation stressor (TS) or remained unstressed in holding pens (NS) before slaughter. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture from TS and NS goats at 2, 1, and 0 h before slaughter. Muscle glycogen and pH were measured on samples from longissimus muscle (LM) collected at 15 min and 24 h postmortem, and instrumental measures of meat color were obtained on the LM after a 24-h chilling period at 4 degrees C. The TS goats had higher plasma cortisol (P < 0.01) and glucose (P < 0.05) concentrations than NS goats. The rates of increase in plasma cortisol, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were greater in TS than in NS goats (stressor treatment x blood sampling time, P < 0.01). Muscle glycogen concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in NS than in TS goats and higher (P < 0.01) in old vs. young goats; however, pH measured at 15 min and 24 h postmortem was not (P > 0.05) influenced by stressor treatment. Water-holding capacity of meat was not (P > 0.05) influenced by stressor treatment. Older goats had lower (P < 0.01) L* values and greater (P < 0.01) a* and chroma values than the younger goats. The a* and chroma values of loin cuts from young goat carcasses were lower in the TS than NS treatment groups, but this effect was absent in the old goat carcasses (stressor treatment x age, P < 0.05). Cooking loss percentages and shear force values for loin chops aged for 7 d were not (P < 0.05) affected by stressor treatment; however, old goats produced tougher (P < 0.01) loin chops than young goats. These results indicate that short-term preslaughter transport can cause noticeable changes in stress responses and muscle metabolism in goats.     

Evaluation of substance P as a neurotransmitter in equine jejunum

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether substance P (SP) functions as a neurotransmitter in equine jejunum. SAMPLE POPULATION: Samples of jejunum obtained from horses that did not have lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. PROCEDURE: Jejunal smooth muscle strips, oriented in the plane of the circular or longitudinal muscle, were suspended isometrically in muscle baths. Neurotransmitter release was induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) delivered at 2 intensities (30 and 70 V) and various frequencies on muscle strips that were maintained at low tension or were under contraction. A neurokinin-1 receptor blocker (CP-96,345) was added to baths prior to EFS to interrupt SP neurotransmission. Additionally, direct effects of SP on muscle strips were evaluated, and SP-like immunoreactivity was localized in intestinal tissues, using indirect immunofluorescence testing. RESULTS: Substance P contracted circularly and longitudinally oriented muscle strips. Prior treatment with CP-96,345 altered muscle responses to SP and EFS, suggesting that SP was released from depolarized myenteric neurons. Depending on orientation of muscle strips and stimulation variables used, CP-96,345 increased or decreased the contractile response to EFS. Substance P-like immunoreactivity was detected in the myenteric plexus and circular muscle layers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Substance P appears to function as a neurotransmitter in equine jejunum. It apparently modulates smooth muscle contractility, depending on preexisting conditions. Effects of SP may be altered in some forms of intestinal dysfunction. Altering SP neurotransmission in the jejunum may provide a therapeutic option for motility disorders of horses that are unresponsive to adrenergic and cholinergic drugs.