Stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-I production by recombinant bovine growth hormone in Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

We have previously reported growth-promoting effects of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) in Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, after 4 weekly injections or a single injection of slow-releasing formulation (Posilac^®) (Leedom et al. 2002). In order to obtain further understanding of the role of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis in growth in the tilapia, the effects of rbGH on plasma and mRNA levels of IGF-I were examined. Plasma IGF-I levels were significantly increased after rbGH and Posilac^® injections, and a significant correlation was observed between plasma IGF-I levels, body length and mass in both treatments. IGF-I mRNA levels in the liver and in the skeletal muscle were also significantly increased after rbGH and Posilac^® injections, indicating that IGF-I gene expression in these tissues is under control of circulating GH. IGF-I mRNA levels in the gill were not affected by treatment. Liver IGF-I mRNA levels were significantly correlated with body length and with body mass after rbGH and Posilac^® injections. These results indicate that the growth-promoting effect of rbGH in this species is mediated to a significant extent via its stimulation of hepatic production of IGF-I and the resulting increase in plasma IGF-I, and also possibly through locally produced IGF-I in the skeletal muscle, acting in a paracrine or autocrine fashion.     

Conservation of aquatic invertebrates: concerns,challenges and conundrums

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Pharmacokinetic parameters for single‐ and multi‐dose regimens for subcutaneous administration of a high‐dose ceftiofur crystalline‐free acid to neonatal foals

The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of single‐ and multi‐dose ceftiofur crystalline‐free acid (CCFA) administered subcutaneously at a dose of 13.2 mg/kg to 12 neonatal foals 1–3 days of age. Six foals received a single subcutaneous dose, while 6 additional foals received 4 doses of CCFA at 48‐h intervals. Blood samples were collected at pre‐determined times following drug administration, and plasma concentrations of ceftiofur free acid equivalents (CFAE) were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Following single‐dose administration of CCFA, the mean ± standard deviation maximum observed plasma concentration was 3.1 ± 0.6 μg/mL and observed time to maximal plasma concentration was 14.0 ± 4.9 h. Following multi‐dose administration of CCFA, the mean ±standard deviation times above CFAE concentrations of ≥0.5 μg/mL and ≥2.0 μg/mL were 192.95 ± 15.86 h and 78.80 ± 15.31 h, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC_0→∝) was 246.2 ± 30.7 h × μg/mL and 172.7 ± 27.14 h × μg/mL following single‐ and multi‐dose CCFA administrations, respectively. Subcutaneous administration of CCFA at 13.2 mg/kg in neonatal foals was clinically well‐ tolerated and resulted in plasma concentrations sufficient for the treatment of most bacterial pathogens associated with neonatal foal septicemia. Multi‐dose administration of four doses at dosing interval of 48 h between treatments maintains appropriate therapeutic concentrations in neonatal foals.     

A comparative study of live attenuated F strain-derived Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccines

Commercially available attenuated strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) are commonly used within the layer industry to control MG-induced mycoplasmosis. Among these are two live MG vaccines derived from the moderately pathogenic MG "chick F" strain. In the present study, the commercially available F strain derivatives were compared for their ability to elicit seroconversion, persist in vivo, and protect against virulent MG-induced airsacculitis. In addition, a noncommercial laboratory-derived high-passage F strain isolate was included in the study. Commercial (Hy-Line W-36) layers were placed in biological isolation units at 9 wk of age (woa). At 10 woa, birds within each biological isolation unit were treated via eye-drop application with one of the three F strain-derived vaccines at one of four levels (1x, 10(-1)x, 10(-2)x, or 10(-3)x). For the commercially available F strain derivatives, 1x equaled the manufacturer's recommended dose. The 1x dose of the noncommercial laboratory-maintained F strain derivative equaled 20 microl of a 48 hr culture. For wk 1-6 postvaccination (p.v.), sera were collected weekly from each bird, and seroconversion was assessed via serum plate agglutination (SPA). Virulent MG (strain R(low)) challenge occurred via intratracheal inoculation at 7 wk p.v. Necropsies were subsequently performed to assess challenge-associated airsacculitus. For each F strain derivative applied at 1x and 10(-1)x, 100% seroconversion, as measured by SPA, was demonstrated by 6 wk p.v., and rates at the 10(-2)x dosage were 10% and 90% for the commercial vaccines and 60% for the laboratory-derived strain in this period. Following challenge, airsacculitis was observed in 66.67% of the nontreated controls but not in any 1x- or 10(-1)x-treated bird independent of applied F strain derivative.     

Variants of somatotropin in cattle: gene frequencies in major dairy breeds and associated milk production

The amino acid sequence of bovine somatotropin (bST) varies at position 127 where either valine or leucine is found. The frequencies of leucine₁₂₇ and valine₁₂₇ bST gene alleles in cows (n = 302) and sires (n = 70) from major dairy breeds (Holstein, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, and Ayrshire) were determined using DNA extracted from whole blood or spermatozoa. A 428 base pair fragment of the bST gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and variants of the bST gene were detected as polymorphisms by Alu I restriction endonuclease digestion of PCR products. Restriction enzyme DNA fragments for the leucine₁₂₇ variant were 265, 96, 51, and 16 base pair and for the valine₁₂₇ variant were 265, 147, and 16 base pair as a polymorphism of bST was present in the 147 base pair DNA fragment. Frequencies of leucine₁₂₇ and valine₁₂₇ alleles for cows (n=302) were 1.0 and 0 for Brown Swiss, .93 and .07 for Holstein, .92 and .08 for Guernsey, .79 and .21 for Ayrshire, and .56 and .44 for Jersey, respectively. In Holstein sires used for artificial insemination (n=70), the frequency of leucine₁₂₇ and valine₁₂₇ alleles was .96 and .04. Estimates of transmitting ability for milk production tended to be greater for Holstein cows that were homozygous for leucine₁₂₇ bST and Jersey cows that were homozygous for valine₁₂₇ bST whereas Holstein sires with different bST genotypes were similar. In summary, frequencies of alleles for the bST gene were not similar in different dairy breeds and estimates of milk production were correlated with bST gene variant in cows but not sires.     

Dominant-negative mutants of a toxin subunit: an approach to therapy of anthrax

The protective antigen moiety of anthrax toxin translocates the toxin's enzymic moieties to the cytosol of mammalian cells by a mechanism that depends on its ability to heptamerize and insert into membranes. We identified dominant-negative mutants of protective antigen that co-assemble with the wild-type protein and block its ability to translocate the enzymic moieties across membranes. These mutants strongly inhibited toxin action in cell culture and in an animal intoxication model, suggesting that they could be useful in therapy of anthrax.     

Direct observation of the distribution of radiolabelled ethirimol in soil by resin impregnation and autoradiography

A procedure for examining the distribution of ethirimol in soil is described. Soil samples containing ethirimol are initially freeze-dried at ?5 to ?10°C, impregnated with Araldite resin and hardeners under vacuum and then maintained for 16 h at room temperature followed by 24 h at 100°C, to complete curing. The impregnated soils may then be sectioned and the radiolabelled pesticide located by autoradiography. The distribution of ethirimol within the soil was found to be unaffected by either freeze-drying or impregnation. The method enables the distribution to be determined on a small scale directly in undisturbed soil sections from both the laboratory and the field. It was used to investigate the effects of soil type on the movement of ethirimol. Structural and textural factors appear to have an important influence on the redistribution of this fungicide and may override the effects of adsorption.