Effects of aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, and their combinations in the diets of growing pigs

In 2 studies, the effects of dietary aflatoxin (AF) and deoxynivalenol (DON) were evaluated in growing crossbred barrows. The first study consisted of 4 treatments of 5 barrows each (6 weeks old) at dosages of 0 mg of DON and AF (control), 2.5 mg of DON/kg of feed, 0.75 mg of AF/kg of feed, and 2.5 mg of DON + 0.75 mg of AF/kg of feed. Pigs were fed their respective diets for 21 days. Treatment with DON caused decreases in weight gains, but no other treatment-related differences could be attributed to diets. In a second study, the experimental design consisted of 4 treatments of 5 barrows each (6 weeks old) at dosages of 0 mg of DON and AF (control), 3 mg of DON/kg of feed, 3 mg of AF/kg of feed, and 3 mg of DON + 3 mg of AF/kg of feed fed ad libitum for 28 days. The pigs were observed twice daily for clinical signs, hematologic and serum biochemical measurements were made weekly, and body weights and feed consumption were determined weekly. Body weight gains were significantly depressed by the AF and the AF + DON treatments for days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Body weights and body weight gains were only slightly reduced in the DON treatment. Changes in serum enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were noticed in pigs given treatments with AF alone and those given AF + DON.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of active immunization against GnRH on LH, FSH and prolactin storage, secretion and response to their secretagogues in pony geldings

Six pony geldings were actively immunized against GnRH conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to study 1) the relative dependency of LH and FSH storage, secretion and response to GnRH analog on GnRH bioavailability and 2) the effects of reduced GnRH bioavailability on GnRH storage in the hypothalamus. Five geldings were immunized against BSA. Geldings were immunized in December and 4, 8, 14, 20, 26 and 32 wk later. Ponies immunized against GnRH had increased (P less than .01) GnRH binding in plasma within 6 wk. By June, plasma concentrations of LH and FSH in ponies immunized against GnRH had decreased (P less than .02) by 86 and 59%, respectively, relative to ponies immunized against BSA. The LH response to an injection of GnRH analog, which did not bind to anti-GnRH antibodies, was reduced (P less than .005) by 90% in ponies immunized against GnRH relative to ponies immunized against BSA. In contrast, the FSH response to GnRH analog was similar (P greater than .1) for both groups. Immunization against GnRH reduced (P less than .05) weight of the anterior pituitary (AP) by 31%, LH content in AP by 91% and FSH content in AP by 55% relative to ponies immunized against BSA. There was no effect of GnRH immunization on prolactin characteristics or on GnRH concentrations in the median eminence, preoptic area or body of the hypothalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetic studies of cimetidine hydrochloride in adult horses

Histamine type II (H2) antagonists inhibit gastric acid secretion and are useful in treating gastric and duodenal ulcer disease. To provide some information on the pharmacokinetics of the H2 antagonist cimetidine, adult horses were given 3.3 mg/kg cimetidine intravenously (iv) or 3.3 and 10 mg/kg orally. Plasma cimetidine concentrations after 3.3 mg/kg orally were too low to measure. Following 3.3 mg/kg iv, cimetidine displayed two-compartment characteristics with a t1/2 of 0.083 +/- 0.039 h and t1/2 of 2.23 +/- 0.64 h. The total body clearance was 0.443 +/- 0.160 litre/h/kg and the mean residence time was 2.74 +/- 1.11 h. This clearance and t1/2 are similar to that in man. The volume of distribution (Vss) and volume of the central compartment (Vc) were 1.138 +/- 0.230 and 0.276 +/- 0.102 litre/kg, respectively. After a single oral dose of 10 mg/kg as crushed tablets, peak plasma concentration of 1.81 +/- 0.82 micrograms/ml occurred at approximately 1.4 h. Oral absorption of cimetidine appeared variable and slow with an extent of absorption of 0.296 +/- 0.183 and a mean residence time for absorption of 1.99 +/- 0.79 h. This was less than in man. Based on a desired average steady state plasma concentration of 1.0 microgram/ml, 11.0 mg/kg/day iv and 48 mg/kg/day orally can be recommended in adult horses.