Effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in entire male pigs

This study evaluated the effect of supplement of raw potato starch (RPS) on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma from entire male pigs. The study also evaluated relationships between plasma levels of skatole and testicular steroids at three different live weights (LW) of approximately 90, 100 and 115 kg. A total of 111 entire male pigs of a crossbred (Yorkshire dams×Swedish Landrace sires) were used. Animals were raised either in mixed pens, with females and males, or single-sex pens. Each pen contained seven or nine pigs. The most fast-growing three pigs from the pens with nine pigs were slaughtered when they reached 90 kg LW, and the remaining pigs were slaughtered at 115 kg LW. All pigs were fed the same commercial diet until the average pen weight reached 100 kg. Then, 33 out of 80 remaining pigs received RPS, 0.6 kg per pig and day, for 2 weeks prior to slaughter. Blood samples were taken from the pigs at three occasions: first, the day prior to first slaughter occasion, low-weight group; second, the day prior to change in diet, middle-weight group; and third, the day prior to second slaughter occasion, high-weight group. Plasma was analysed for the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate. Fat samples were taken at slaughter and analysed for the levels of skatole and androstenone. The levels of skatole and testicular steroids in plasma were significantly higher in entire male pigs from the high-weight group fed no RPS compared to those from low- and middle-weight groups. The levels of the investigated compounds did not differ between low- and middle-weight groups (P>0.1). The diet with RPS induced a decline in skatole levels in plasma and fat (P<0.001), but not plasma levels of testicular steroids and fat levels of androstenone (P>0.05). Skatole levels were positively correlated to testosterone and oestrone sulphate levels in the middle- and high-weight pigs fed no RPS as well as to testosterone in the low-weight group. In the high-weight group fed RPS, skatole levels were not correlated to any of the analysed compounds. Approximately 26% of the entire male pigs (11 out of 43) from the high-weight group fed no RPS produced skatole levels in fat above 0.20 μg/g, whereas the pigs from the low- and high-weight group fed RPS did not produce skatole levels above 0.20 μg/g in fat. Androstenone levels in fat were high in all groups. In total 47% (52 out of 111) pigs expressed androstenone levels above the rejection levels in fat of 1.0 μg/g and 88% (98 out of 111) had androstenone levels above 0.5 μg/g. It was concluded that a lower slaughter weight and the supplement of raw potato starch to the diet could be used to reduce skatole levels in entire male pigs. Androstenone levels in fat, however, could not be reduced by either a lower weight at slaughter or dietary manipulation.     

Night-time Melatonin Secretion and Seasonally Delayed Puberty in Gilts

This study was conducted to determine whether the seasonal delay in puberty in autumn is driven by individual differences in night-time melatonin secretion in domestic gilts at the attainment of puberty. A group of spring-born gilts (n = 30) were expected to reach puberty in autumn by the age of 7 months. Eighteen of these gilts were selected in pairs on the basis of matched days of birth. By the expected time, half of the animals showed oestrous symptoms (group CYCLING, n = 9) with the rest remaining silent (group SILENT, n = 9). Afterwards, all gilts were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters for frequent blood sampling. Blood samples were collected from all animals three times during the day followed by three times in the night at 2-h intervals for 48 h. The samples were analysed by a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results show a consistent 25-fold rise (on average) in night-time melatonin concentration in every animal sampled with group averages ranging from 0.28 +/- 0.04 to 0.37 +/- 0.06 pg/ml at day and from 10.20 +/- 2.16 to 10.67 +/- 0.05 pg/ml at night. Night-time group mean values between CYCLING and SILENT gilts did not differ significantly (10.26 +/- 0.67 and 10.38 +/- 0.94 for the CYCLING; 10.67 +/- 0.05 and 10.20 +/- 2.16 for the SILENT). When 10 pg/ml was used as a threshold value, six individuals did not reach it during the night (low responders). Two of these gilts were CYCLING and four were SILENT. In conclusion, the results presented imply no involvement of the level of night-time melatonin concentration in the seasonal delay of puberty in gilts.     

Full pedigree quantitative trait locus analysis in commercial pigs using variance components

In commercial livestock populations, QTL detection methods often use existing half-sib family structures and ignore additional relationships within and between families. We reanalyzed the data from a large QTL confirmation experiment with 10 pig lines and 10 chromosome regions using identity-by-descent (IBD) scores and variance component analyses. The IBD scores were obtained using a Monte Carlo Markov Chain method, as implemented in the LOKI software, and were used to model a putative QTL in a mixed animal model. The analyses revealed 61 QTL at a nominal 5% level (out of 650 tests). Twenty-seven QTL mapped to areas where QTL have been reported, and eight of these exceeded the threshold to claim confirmed linkage (P < 0.01). Forty-two of the putative QTL were detected previously using half-sib analyses, whereas 46 QTL previously identified by half-sib analyses could not be confirmed using the variance component approach. Some of the differences could be traced back to the underlying assumptions between the two methods. Using a deterministic approach to estimate IBD scores on a subset of the data gave very similar results to LOKI. We have demonstrated the feasibility of applying variance component QTL analysis to a large amount of data, equivalent to a genome scan. In many situations, the deterministic IBD approach offers a fast alternative to LOKI.     

Multinuclear–Multiflagellar Sperm Defect in a Bull – a New Sterilizing Sperm Defect

The development and use of modern techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), gene knockout and sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome- specific probes, have significantly increased our knowledge about sperm defects. We describe a new oligoasthenoteratozoospermic defect in a bull. Because of its morphological characteristics the defect was named the multinuclear-multiflagellar sperm defect. All spermatozoa in the ejaculate were abnormal. Many of the spermatozoa had multiple nuclei and multiple sperm tails. All spermatozoa lacked an acrosome, and only seldom did spermatozoa have a mitochondrial helix in the midpiece area. Meiosis and spermiogenesis were severely affected in this otherwise phenotypically normal bull. The sperm defects resembled the phenotype of a targeted gene knockout Hrb(-/-) (HIV-1 Rev-binding/interacting protein) mutant mouse strain, which is expressed as sterility in males, while females remain fertile. Since the father of this bull has been extensively used in at least three countries the defective gene has possibly become widespread in the red and white breeds (Ayrshire, Swedish Red and White, Norwegian Red) in the Nordic countries. However, it is not proved that the father of this bull is a carrier of this defect.     

The combined effects of temperature and GnRHa treatment on the final stages of sexual maturation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) females

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) females (2 SW), maturing for the first time, were reared under one of three temperature regimes (high: 14.3 ± 0.5°C; natural: 10.6 ± 1.0°C; and cold: 6.9 ± 1.0°C) in combination with one of two experimental treatments; an injection of GnRH analogue (GnRHa) contained in biodegradable microspheres, or a sham injection (microspheres only). The six experimental groups were then reared under simulated natural photoperiod for 4 weeks. Blood samples were drawn for analysis of plasma steroid levels and the fish were inspected for ovulation weekly. Batches of stripped eggs were incubated in triplicate incubators in raceways until the eyed stage. Treatment with GnRHa resulted in a substantial advancement and synchronization of ovulation at all temperatures, while exposure to cold water also appeared to advance ovulation slightly. While 75% (warm and cold) to 90% (natural) of GnRHa fish ovulated during the 4-week trial, only 30% of sham-treated females exposed to cold water, and none of the sham-treated fish held at higher temperatures, ovulated during this period. Survival rates of embryos to the eyed-stage were significantly higher for broodstock exposed to cold water. Plasma levels of testosterone (T), 17β-oestradiol (E₂), and 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP) were all significantly affected by treatment with GnRHa and, to a lesser extent, temperature. The efficiency of GnRHa in counteracting the negative effects of high temperature on ovulation and the associated changes in circulating sex steroids suggest that temperature inhibition operates at least in part at the brain or pituitary.     

Crystallinity of wood and the size of cellulose crystallites in Norway spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis>)

X-ray diffraction was used to study variations in the crystallinity of wood and the average thickness and length of the crystallites of cellulose as a function of the number of the year ring in Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. The crystallinity increased from ring 4 to ring 10 from the pith and was constant after ring 10. The crystallinity of mature wood was about 30% ± 5%. The average thickness and average length of the crystallites were 3.2 ± 0.1nm and 28 ± 2nm, respectively; and no systematic variation of these values with the number of the year ring was observed. The mean microfibril angle decreased near the pith but was constant in the mature wood.     

Physiological and metabolic properties of a digestion-resistant maltodextrin, classified as type 3 retrograded resistant starch

There is a growing interest in highly fermentable dietary fibers having the potential to reduce risks of disease through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Recently a digestion-resistant retrograded maltodextrin (RRM), classified as type 3 resistant starch was developed. Systematic work to determine its molecular and physiological properties was carried out to determine (1) the fraction resistant to digestion in vitro and in vivo, (2) its postconsumption effect on blood glucose in healthy volunteers, and (3) its in vitro fermentation pattern, at different ages, by use of pooled fresh human fecal inoculum. RESULTS: The digestion resistant fraction obtained in vivo from ileostomy patients (59.4%) is similar to that obtained by the AOAC method for measuring retrograded resistant starch (59.7%). The relative glycemic response after consumption of 50 g of RRM was 58.5% compared to glucose set as 100%. When exposed to colonic microbiota, in vitro obtained indigestible fractions behave similarly to those obtained in vivo in ileostomy patients. Fermentation of RRM and production of butyric acid is negligible during the first months of life but develops subsequently during weaning. In adults, RRM fermentation results in a high yield of SCFA, with butyrate representing 21-31 mol % of total SCFA. The high yield of SCFA during colonic fermentation, observed from weaning age on, as well as the potential to help reduce glycemic load may be of benefit to a number of health-related functions in the host. Further study on clear clinical end points is warranted.     

Photoperiod and temperature affects seasonal ovarian gene expression of p450 aromatase and gonadotropin receptors in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) broodstock

Photoperiod and temperature modulated the seasonal pattern of ovarian gene expression of P450 aromatase, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone receptor and Luteinizing Hormone receptor in Atlantic salmon broodstock.