Variations in parameters of liver function and plasma progesterone related to underfeeding and ketosis in a dairy herd

Twenty-eight Norwegian Red Cattle dairy cows were fed silage ad libitum and restricted amounts of concentrates. Blood samples were collected before morning feeding, once or twice weekly, from 2 weeks before to 12 weeks after calving. Parameters of liver function, carbohydrate status and fertility were recorded in order to assess their interrelationships. Eight cows were treated for clinical ketosis. Four of these had to be treated 2 or 3 times. Aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin showed the highest within-animal coefficients of correlation with acetoacetate. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of carbohydrate status (indicated by plasma acetoacetate levels) on the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, though only a small part of the total variation was explained by this factor. The estimated volume density of liver fat in the 4th week of lactation averaged 6.0 +/- 6.4% (+/- SD) ranging from 0.1-25.1%. Liver fat content at this stage of lactation was not significantly correlated with other indicators of liver function or carbohydrate status. Cows treated for clinical ketosis had significantly lower plasma progesterone values at the time of first ketosis treatment than untreated multiparous cows. The frequency of high progesterone values (greater than 3 ng/ml) being significantly lower in treated than in untreated cows during the period from 3-5 weeks post partum, though not at later stages. In conclusion, the results revealed a significant relationship between carbohydrate status and liver function, and also between clinical ketosis and luteal function.     

Critical Observations on BSE Control in Italy

Eleven native sheep, 1–2 years old, of both sexes were randomly divided into two groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the experimental group and 5 serving as controls. The sheep in the experimental group were fed 80% Tribulus terrestris and 20% alfalfa hay and wheat straw, while the control sheep were given a mixture of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% wheat straw. Clinical signs of hepatogenous photosensitivity were observed from day 11, including reddening and crust formation on the muzzle, nose, ears and eyelids, depression, weight loss, icterus, conjunctivitis, and yellow discoloration of the urine. Laboratory findings on weekly samples indicated significant differences (p<0.05) in white blood cell count, total plasma protein and fibrinogen, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. There were no significant differences in the packed cell volume, in the neutrophil, lymphocyte or eosinophil counts, or in the serum calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium or chloride concentrations. At necropsy of the experimental animals, there were various degrees of generalized icterus and the livers were swollen and discolored by bile pigment. Histopathological examination revealed varying amounts of crystalloid material in the bile ducts and renal tubules, hepatocellular degeneration, biliary fibrosis and proliferation, renal tubular necrosis and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle.     

Effects of phenobarbitone on serum biochemical tests in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To investigate effects of phenobarbitone on serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase and concentrations of bilirubin, albumin, cholesterol and total protein in dogs. ANIMALS: Ten crossbreed experimental dogs and 10 client-owned dogs of mixed breeds treated chronically with phenobarbitone to control seizures. PROCEDURES: Experimental dogs were allocated to treatment (6 mg/kg oral phenobarbitone, n = 6) and control (no treatment, n = 4) groups in which serum biochemical tests were performed at intervals during a 3-month period. Biochemical tests were performed once on the 10 epileptic dogs. RESULTS: Phenobarbitone caused increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity but did not affect gamma-glutamyl transferase activity or bilirubin, cholesterol, albumin and total protein concentrations. Phenobarbitone had minimal effect on alanine aminotransferase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Individual dogs treated with phenobarbitone may have small increases in serum alanine aminotransferase activity and variable increases in alkaline phosphatase activity but are unlikely to have alterations in gamma-glutamyl transferase activity or bilirubin, cholesterol, albumin or total protein concentrations.     

Alanine aminotransferase apoenzyme in dogs

Unusually low serum activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was detected in a Rottweiler dog with gastric dilatation-volvulus. Activity of ALT in the same sample was found to be much higher (estimated increase of 14,225%) when measured by methods adding the cofactor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (P5P), indicating that nearly all serum ALT was in the apoenzyme form. An investigation was undertaken to determine the frequency of high serum aminotransferase apoenzyme levels in dogs. Eighty canine serum samples submitted to the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at Cornell University were assayed for ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the presence or absence of exogenous P5P. In 79 dogs, inclusion of P5P in the LAT assay resulted in a median decrease in AST activity of -6.3% (range -33.3% to 25.0%) in all 80 dogs. One dog had an increase of 336% in ALT activity after inclusion of P5P in the assay, but lacked a similar increase in AST activity. The reason for the high levels of ALT apoenzyme in the 2 dogs was not determined.     

Effect of dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio on activities of hepatic enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

This study investigated the influence of different dietary protein/carbohydrate ratios on activities of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism as well as on growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreo- chromis niloticus). Fish were fed semi-synthetic diets differing in their protein/carbohydrate ratio. The diets were formulated to be isolipidic and isoenergetic (on the basis of metabolizable energy). Fish were reared individually. After a prefeeding phase, tilapia were randomly assigned to three groups and were fed the experimental diets at a relatively low level. The study lasted 9 weeks. Proximate composition, gross energy content, and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) in the liver of fish were determined. While the mean growth rate and feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly among the feeding groups, the body composition showed significant differences. The dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio had no significant effect on the protein and energy gain, but the lipid gain was significantly higher in tilapia fed the low-protein diet. The activities of ASAT and ALAT per gram of liver and per gram of soluble protein were significantly increased in fish fed the high-protein diet. There was a significant positive correlation between the activities of ASAT and ALAT. The activities of both enzymes in the liver were significantly higher in fish with a higher protein gain. Measuring the activities of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism can provide more information about the metabolic utilized dietary protein.     

水分胁迫下斑茅3个逆境代谢相关基因表达的实时PCR分析

【研究目的】初步探讨斑茅3个关键逆境适应相关基因在水分胁迫下的表达机制。【方法】已克隆S-腺苷蛋氨酸脱羧酶、鸟氨酸氨基转移酶、甜菜碱脱氢酶3个基因和内参基因的基础上,应用定量PCR技术,对这3个基因在不同胁迫时间下的表达水平进行分析。【结果】斑茅的S-腺苷蛋氨酸脱羧酶、鸟氨酸氨基转移酶基因、甜菜碱脱氢酶基因表达在初期均受抑制,后期表达持续上调,但甜菜碱脱氢酶基因受水分诱导表达较前两个基因明显。【结论】这可能暗示着在斑茅中,脯胺酸和甜菜碱的合成受水分胁迫诱导,而甜菜碱的合成相对脯胺酸和多胺受水分胁迫诱导影响更大。这些研究为斑茅抗旱的分子机制提供初步的理论基础。     

Effects of the aglycone of ascaulitoxin on amino acid metabolism in Lemna paucicostata

Ascaulitoxin and its aglycone (2,4,7-triamino-5-hydroxyoctanoic acid, CAS 212268-55-8) are potent phytotoxins produced by Ascochyta caulina, a plant pathogen being developed for biocontrol of weeds. The mode of action of this non-protein amino acid was studied on Lemna paucicostata. Ascaulitoxin is a potent growth inhibitor, with an I₅₀ for growth of less than 1 μM, almost completely inhibiting growth at about 3 μM. Its action is slow, starting with growth inhibition, followed by darker green fronds, and then chlorosis and death. Most amino acids, including non-toxic non-protein amino acids, reversed the effect of the toxin when supplemented in the same medium. Supplemental sucrose slightly increased the activity. d-Amino acids were equally good inhibitors of ascaulitoxin activity, indicating the amino acid effects may not be due to inhibition of amino acid synthesis. Oxaloacetate, the immediate precursor of aspartate, also reversed the activity. LC-MS did not detect interaction of the compound with lysine, an amino acid that strongly reversed the effect of the phytotoxin. Metabolite profiling revealed that the toxin caused distinct changes in amino acids. Reduction in alanine, paralleled by enhanced levels of the branched chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine and nearly unchanged levels of pyruvate, might indicate that the conversion of pyruvate to alanine is affected by ascaulitoxin aglycone. In addition, reduced levels of glutamate/glutamine and aspartate/asparagine might suggest that synthesis and interconversion reactions of these amino group donors are affected. However, neither alanine aminotransferase nor alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase were inhibited by the toxin in vitro. Our observations might be explained by three hypotheses: (1) the toxin inhibits one or more aminotransferases not examined, (2) ascaulitoxin aglycone affects amino acid transporters, (3) ascaulitoxin aglycone is a protoxin that is converted in vivo to an aminotransferase inhibitor.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱酯酶水平与肝组织炎症关系的研究

目的：探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱脂酶（CHE）活性水平与肝组织炎症病理分级（G）的关系。方法：采用RI-1000TM全自动生化分析仪检测106例经病理证实的慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱脂酶（CHE）．丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性水平．统计分析血清ALT、AST、CHE水平与肝组织病理炎症分级（G0～G4）的关系。结采：血清CHE水平随着肝组织炎症活动度增高而降低,而ALT、AST水平随着肝组织炎症活动度增高而升高;G4级患者的血清CHE水平明显低于G1、G2、G3级患者,G3级低于G1、G2级．差异有显著性（P〈0．05或0．01）。G4级患者的血清AST水平明显高于G1、G2、G3级患者．但G1、G2、G3级患者AST水平以及各炎症分级之间ALT水平差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论：CHE比ALT、AST更能反映肝损害的严重程度、是一项有意义的无创性指标。     

Analysis of weaning‐induced stress in Saanen goat kids

In young ruminants’ life, weaning often coincides with a period of growth stasis and poor welfare. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of coping with the new diet on behavioural and haematological stress indicators in goat kids subjected to a commonly adopted weaning practice. Immediately after birth, male Saanen goat kids were divided into two groups: MILK and WMIX. All were fed colostrum for the first 3 days and then goat milk to the age of 29 days. After that, MILK kids continued to receive milk, while the WMIX kids underwent weaning and were completely weaned by day 48. Animal behaviour was recorded daily. From day 23–50, blood samples were taken weekly and analysed for indicators of stress and immune function. No abnormal behaviour, such as injurious behaviours or stereotypies, was observed in either of the experimental groups throughout the experimental period. During the last week, fasting plasma cortisol level was significantly lower, whereas plasma activity of both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly higher in WMIX kids, in relation to the MILK ones. Anyway, data were within the normal physiological range and no difference was observed neither in plasma haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, albumin and antithrombin III, nor in plasma immunoglobulin A and G, at any time, signalling no stressful condition. Therefore, differences observed in cortisol, ALT and AST could be the consequence of the metabolic changes that occur during the transition from pre‐ruminant to ruminant state. The gradual weaning at 48 days of age did not result in any stressful condition and had no negative effect on weight gain. Results suggest that parameters commonly adopted to provide information on animal stress, such as cortisol and aminotransferase activity, can vary in relation to the physiological status of the animals and may bias stress assessment.     

Effect of garlicin on viral myocarditis in mice

AIM: To investigate the effect of garlicin on mouse viral myocarditis and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Forty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, viral myocarditis group, low-dose garlicin group and high-dose garlicin group. The morphological changes of the myocardium were observed with HE staining. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured by colorimetric method. The protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-PARP and cleaved-caspase-8 in the myocardial tissues were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: The morphological observation with HE staining showed that garlicin inhibited the necrosis of the myocardium and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Compared with viral myocarditis group, garlicin dose-dependently decreased the levels of LDL, AST and CK. Moreover, garlicin treatment decreased the protein levels of Bax, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-PARP, accompanied with an increase in Bcl-2 expression. However, garlicin had no effect on the protein level of cleaved-caspase-8. CONCLUSION: Garlicin effectively attenuates the myocardial damage in mice with viral myocarditis through inhibition of intrinsic apoptosis pathway.