Energy utilisation of carbohydrate, fat and protein sources in newly hatched broiler chicks

1. TME, TMEn and metabolisability (TME/gross energy) of energy-yielding foodstuffs were determined in 1, 3 and 10 d old broiler chicks, using the assay method developed by Murakami et al. (1994), in order to characterise energy utilisation during the 10 d after hatching. 2. TME, TMEn and metabolisability of dextrin and starch were low in chicks aged 1 d, and increased with age up to 10 d. Energy values of glucose and maltose at days 1 and 3 could not be determined because of the sudden death of birds soon after the feeding. TMEn and metabolisability of cereal sources were lower in d-old chicks than in those aged 3 and 10 d. At all ages, maize was better utilised than wheat and sorghum. 3. In the fat sources (coconut oil, beef tallow and safflower oil) no age dependency was observed in TME, TMEn and metabolisability. 4. Bioavailability of soyabean meal and fish meal was lower at 1 d than at 3 d and 10 d. Energy utilisation from casein was the highest among the protein sources tested and it was not age dependent. 5. It is concluded that energy utilisation of carbohydrate and protein sources during 10 d post-hatch tended to increase with age. Among the energy yielding foodstuffs fat sources seem to be better utilised, with no age dependency.     

Physicochemical properties of akabane virus: A member of the simbu arbovirus group of the family bunyaviridae

The multiplication of Akabane virus was not inhibited in the presence of 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine, indicating the presence of RNA. The virus was considered to have an envelope, as it was sensitive to ether and chloroform. It was readily inactivated by deoxycholate and trypsin, but was not precipitated by protamine sulphate. The virus was very labile at pH 3 and also rather heat-labile. Akabane virus was readily filtered through membrane filters of 200 or 100-nm pore size, but not through 50-nm filters. Equilibrium centrifugation in a CsCl density gradient gave a peak of infectivity and hemagglutinin at a density of 1.22 g/ml. The peak fractions thus obtained contained numerous virus particles, roughly spherical, variable in size, 70 to 130 nm in diameter, and mostly having a ragged, closely adherent envelope with projections, when examined, following phosphotungstic acid negative staining, in an electron microscope.     

Matrix-metalloproteinases-2 and -9 production in bovine endometrial cell culture

In vitro cell culture is a convenient tool for studying cellular mechanisms. In the present study, production of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) in bovine endometrial (containing both epithelial and stromal cells) monolayer cells was examined. Blastocysts attached to the endometrial cells in a monolayer culture were examined for their effects on MMP-2 production. Initial attachment of blastocysts to the monolayer inhibited MMP-2 production by endometrial cells. But once trophoblast cells began to migrate into the endometrial cell layer, MMP-2 production increased, and at the same time MMP-9 production also became evident in the medium. In order to understand how blastocysts affected MMP-2 production, we examined the effect of progesterone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), and interferon-tau (IFN-tau) supplementation. It was IFN-tau that inhibited the production of MMP-2. In addition, progesterone at a lower dose appeared to inhibit MMP-2 production. Both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta strongly stimulated the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9, whereas IGFs had no effect. Based on these findings, it appears that conceptus has the capacity to inhibit MMP activity.     

Cerebral high-grade astrocytoma (glioblastoma) in a cat

A cerebral tumour was found in the right frontal lobe of a 7-year-old female mongrel cat. The mass showed infiltrative growth and caused deformation of the corpus callosum. Histopathologically, the tumour cells showed anaplasia, pleomorphism and mitotic figures. Necrosis and vascular proliferation were prominent. The neoplastic cells surrounded areas of necrosis, but as an indistinct pseudopalisade formation. Immunohistochemically, low numbers of tumour cells labelled positively for anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-S100 protein. Electron microscopically, the majority of tumour cells had no filaments and cytoplasmic processes, but the differentiated cells presented cytoplasmic filaments and glycogen granules. Based on these findings, the tumour was diagnosed as cerebral high-grade astrocytoma, glioblastoma.     

Matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 activities in bovine follicular fluid of different-sized follicles: relationship to intra-follicular inhibin and steroid concentrations

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play very important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during ovarian follicular development, ovulation and atresia. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of gelatinases in follicular fluid in various sized bovine follicles. Bovine ovaries were collected from local slaughterhouse and follicular fluid from follicles of 2 to over 25 mm in diameter was collected. Gelatinase activity within the follicular fluid was analyzed by gelatin zymography. The concentration of inhibin in the follicular fluid was also measured by immunoblot analysis. The proMMP-2 and alpha-subunit (alphaN) inhibin was detected in all follicles regardless of their size. The abundance of proMMP-2 varied with follicular size, while alphaN inhibin increased significantly (P<0.01) in follicles of 10-14 and 15-20 mm in size. There was a positive and negative correlation between estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) concentrations with abundance of proMMP-2, respectively. Follicles of diameter over 25 mm had greater proMMP-9 activity than other follicles. These same follicles had significantly (P<0.01) lower inhibin levels than follicles of 10-14 and 15-20 mm in size. In conclusion, these results suggest a significant role of these proteases in growth and development of bovine follicle, particularly proMMP-2 and active MMP-2 activities in the follicular fluid could serve as markers of follicular health while abundance of proMMP-9 may possibly denote a follicular cyst.     

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided over-the-wire catheterization of the portal and hepatic vessels in cattle

A new method for catheterization of the portal and hepatic veins in cattle by means of the over-the-wire system was investigated to maintain more reliable long-term patency of catheters. Four cattle were used to evaluate the success rate, patency and safety of the procedure. The catheters, coated by urokinase were patent as long as they were in situ. In addition, the introducer was useful to prevent the catheter from being broken. No complications developed during the10 days after the procedure. Two cows were then euthanized. Post mortem findings were minimal. The results of the study reported here are promising, the benefits are significant and there is no apparent disadvantage to its use.