Addition of palm olein to lard-supplemented diet indicates myocardial dysfunction and augments oxidative stress by authophagy-lysosome pathway in rats

This study evaluated a prolonged effect of palm oil addition to lard-supplemented diet (PLD) on the oxidative status, lysosomal enzyme activities, markers of hepatotoxicity and basic lipid profile in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received PLD (10% of total fat: 7.5% from palm oil and 2.5% from lard), and the control group received lard-supplemented diet (2.5% fat) from 28 days of age for 14 weeks. Histopathological evaluation of the liver from animals fed the PLD showed slight steatosis and signs of mild chronic inflammation. Reduction of extramedullary hematopoiesis and an increased ratio of red/white pulp were observed in the spleen. PLD induced oxidative stress (evaluated in the liver, heart, spleen, muscle and kidney) evidenced by an increase in conjugated dienes and malondialdehyde in all tissues except the muscle; protein carbonyl derivatives were increased as well. The changes in the antioxidant enzyme activities in the evaluated tissues were ambiguous except for the prominent increase in the heart. Lysosomal enzyme activities showed a tendency to increase in the heart and kidney and to decrease in the muscle and spleen. The De Ritis ratio, which is a biomarker of hepatotoxicity, was higher in the heart from animals fed the PLD. The palm oil addition to the lard-supplemented diet-induced prominent oxidative stress, particularly in myocardial tissue with involvement of the authophagy-lysosome pathway.     

Congenital white muscle disease in a Belgian blue calf

In this case report about white muscle disease (WMD) in a Belgian Blue herd, the disease is described both as an individual and as a herd problem. Aetiology, diagnosis, and therapy of WMD are discussed. WMD is a disease of animals with muscle damage due to the presence of free radicals. Unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane are transformed into a radical form in a chain reaction: a fatty acid next to the fatty acid radical can be transformed into another free radical. In healthy animal the chain reaction is stopped by anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase. WMD can occur when more free radicals are produced than the available anti-oxidants can deal with. The disease occurs in calves, lambs, and foals.     

Relationship between selenium content of forage, blood and organs of sheep, and lamb mortality rate

The investigation comprised 12 herds, totalling 660 sheep, in the counties of Stockholm and Uppsala. The selenium content of specimens of forage, whole blood, muscle, liver, and kidney was determined by a fluorimetric method. Data on the number of born and dead lambs were collected 4—5 months after lambing. Dead and sick lambs were subjected to necropsy and to clinico-chemical analyses, respectively.The selenium content of hay and corn was lower than 60 ng per g, which some authors regard as the minimum level of Se requirement for protection against white muscle disease in sheep. The analyses of forage mixtures containing oil concentrates and beet pulp showed selenium levels that were about 2—5 times as high as this minimum level.In herds in which the animals had not been treated with selenium preparations prior to sampling, there was a significant positive correlation between the selenium content of the forage and that of whole blood. A relationship was also noted between the selenium content of forage and of organs.In 9 out of the 12 herds the selenium concentrations in whole blood were on the level that is considered to be representative of white muscle disease.A high mortality rate was recorded for lambs whose mothers had low selenium levels in their blood.Prophylactic and curative treatment with selenium plus vitamin E orally and/or parenterally probably reduced lamb mortality rate in the herds fed a low-selenium diet.     

Yellowtail insulin-like growth factor 1: molecular cloning and response to various nutritional conditions

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) plays an important role in fish growth. This study investigated the IGF1 response to various nutritional conditions in yellowtail. First, we cloned 1,075 bp of yellowtail IGF1 cDNA, which codes for a protein of 185 amino acids (aa). This is composed of 44 aa for the signal peptide; 68 aa for the mature peptide comprising the B, C, A, and D domains; and 73 aa for the E domain. The mature yellowtail IGF1 showed high identity to IGF1 of other teleosts. Insulin-like growth factor 1 mRNA expression in the liver and white muscle was measured to observe the IGF1 response to various nutritional conditions, because the liver has the highest IGF1 expression and white muscle comprises the largest fraction of the fish body. Only white muscle IGF1 mRNA expression decreased significantly by 3 wk of fasting and recovered by refeeding. In subsequent feeding ratio (1%, 2%, and 3%/BW/d) experiments, significant correlations to growth were observed in white muscle IGF1 mRNA expression at 2- and 6-wk points and in hepatic IGF1 mRNA expression at 4 wk point. These data suggest that IGF1 expression both in hepatic and white muscle is important for somatic growth in yellowtail. Furthermore, white muscle IGF1 mRNA expression showed better responses to somatic growth and nutrition status in our two experiments than hepatic IGF1 mRNA expression.     

Relative roles of polysomes and cytoplasmic enzymes in regulating bovine skeletal muscle protein synthesis

Activities of cytoplasmic enzyme or polysomal fractions, both prepared from longissimus muscle of bovine animals differing markedly in muscle growth were measured in cell-free, protein synthesis assays. Two groups of animals were used: 1) eight animals comprising two "double-muscled" animals fed a high-energy diet, two "double-muscled" animals fed a low-energy diet, two "normal" animals fed a high-energy diet and two "normal" animals fed a low-energy diet and 2) six animals differing in age and sex and including two bull calves, 87 and 145 kg; two 18- to 24-mo-old animals, 411 and 596 kg and two cows, 594 and 681 kg. Ability of cell-free, protein-synthesis systems prepared from muscle of different animals to incorporate amino acids into TCA-precipitable protein differed significantly and was in direct correlation with phenotypic muscle growth. Mixing experiments using cytoplasmic enzymes from one set of animals with polysomes from another set showed that source of cytoplasmic enzymes had a greater effect on rate of in vitro protein synthesis than source of polysomes. Cytoplasmic enzymes and polysomes from double-muscled animals and animals fed a high-energy diet supported more rapid in vitro protein synthesis than the same components from normal animals or animals fed low-energy diets. The "double-muscling" characteristic had a greater effect on rate of in vitro protein synthesis than did high or low-energy diets. Cytoplasmic enzymes and polysomes from calves supported a greater rate of in vitro protein synthesis than the same components from 18- to 24-mo-old animals or cows. Based on these limited results in one species and with two groups of animals in that species, cytoplasmic enzymes may have a greater role in limiting rate of muscle protein synthesis in the current population of domestic animals than polysomes. Composition of the crude cytoplasmic enzyme fraction used in this study is unknown, but it likely contains elongation and termination factors in addition to aminoacyl-tRNA synthases and regulatory RNA.     

Spontaneous extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the neck skeletal muscle of a Crlj:CD1 (ICR) mouse

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is extremely rare in humans and animals, especially in rodents. This is the first case report on spontaneous extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the neck skeletal muscle of a Crlj:CD1 (ICR) mouse (36 weeks, dead). Necropsy revealed a solid white mass located in the neck skeletal muscle (scalenus muscle). Histological examination showed that the tumor consisted of atypical polygonal cells, a small osteoid clump, and bone tissue. Mitotic figures were observed. Serial sections showed that neoplastic cells lacked clear invasive proliferation to adjacent normal skeletal muscle and continuity with normal bone tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the neoplastic cells were positive for osteocalcin, osterix, vimentin, and S-100. Based on these results, the tumor was diagnosed as extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the neck skeletal muscle.     

A familial degenerative neuromuscular disease of Gelbvieh cattle.

A degenerative skeletal muscle disease with vascular, neurologic, and renal lesions and a probable familial distribution was identified in 4-20-month-old purebred Gelbvieh cattle. Thirteen affected animals were confirmed from 6 separate beef herds, with a mortality rate of 100%. Clinical signs in affected animals consisted of ataxia, weakness, and terminal recumbency. Gross and histologic muscle lesions were indicative of nutritional myopathy of ruminants, with a lack of myocardial lesions in most cases and only rare myocardial changes in a few animals. Acute to chronic lesions in most large skeletal muscle groups consisted of degeneration, necrosis, regeneration, fibrosis, and atrophy. Fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles was a common feature in multiple tissues. Lesions in the spinal cord white matter and peripheral nerves consisted of degeneration of the dorsal columns and axons, respectively. Changes in the kidneys consisted of chronic interstitial nephritis with fibrosis, hyaline droplet change and tubular epithelial vacuolar change and were most severe in the older calves. Intracytoplasmic myoglobin and iron were demonstrated within the hyaline droplets in degenerate renal cortical tubular epithelial cells. Vitamin E levels were deficient in most (6/7) of the animals tested. Investigation of the pedigree of affected animals revealed a common ancestry for all but 1 of the animals whose parentage could be traced. This investigation suggests that a hereditary metabolic defect, possibly involving antioxidant metabolism, could be responsible for this condition. Renal disease, possibly secondary to myoglobinuria, may be unique to this bovine condition.     

Impaired mitogen responses in lambs with white muscle disease

Lymphocytes from healthy lambs produced vigorous but variable responses to phytolectins when tested in whole blood culture. Differences between groups with low glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities and groups supplemented with selenium were not significant. However, animals with low GSHPx activities and white muscle disease reacted feebly to mitogen. No correlation was found between levels of GSHPx activity and the numbers of leucocytes in the circulation.     

Postmortem metabolism of glycogen in the muscles of healthy pigs and in pigs with the malignant hyperthermia syndrome

Post mortem glycolysis patterns were investigated in healthy pigs and in pigs with malignant hyperthermia syndrome (MHS). The beginning of glycolysis in the muscle of MHS-sensitive pigs is shifted, it is earlier than in the muscles of MHS-resistant animals. This earlier beginning is documented by lower glycogen values, higher lactate values, and also by the lower pH value as soon as 15 minutes after the slaughter of animals in this group. In the muscles of pigs with malignant hyperthermia syndrome the process of glycolysis is accelerated by the pre-slaughter stress. This is demonstrated first of all by a faster increase in the lactate content and by a faster decrease in the pH value in all periods of investigation. No discernible acceleration in the glycolysis pattern following the stress was observed in the MHS-resistant pigs. Glycogen depletion occurred in both groups of animals in all three types of muscles, the highest loss was recorded in white fibers.     

Effect of porcine stress syndrome on the solubility and degradation of myofibrillar/cytoskeletal proteins.

This study examined the effect of stress classification (stress-positive, stress-carrier, stress-negative) of pigs on selected properties of postmortem muscle, including protein solubility and degradation of proteins such as titin. Longissimus muscle samples were removed 45 min postslaughter, divided into samples, and stored at 0 to 2 degrees C for analysis at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 d postmortem. Whole-muscle samples (homogenates) and purified myofibrils were prepared from each sample for analysis by SDS-PAGE. A portion of each muscle sample also was extracted 1) with a low-ionic-strength solution to obtain a sarcoplasmic protein fraction and 2) with two different high-ionic-strength solutions to obtain a myofibrillar/cytoskeletal protein fraction for measurement of protein solubility and for analysis of extracts by SDS-PAGE. No significant differences were observed between muscle from stress-negative and stress-carrier animals in this study. Sarcoplasmic (P less than .05) and myofibrillar/cytoskeletal (P less than .01) protein solubility was lower in muscle samples from stress-positive animals than in muscle samples from stress-carrier and stress-negative animals at all postmortem times studied. The high molecular weight protein titin was degraded more slowly postmortem in muscle from stress-positive than in muscle from stress-negative animals, as observed by SDS-PAGE analysis of whole-muscle samples (homogenates) an myofibrils. The combination of lowered protein solubility and reduced rate of postmortem degradation of structural proteins such as titin may explain, at least in part, the reduced quality and protein functionality of muscle from stress-positive pigs.     

The Comparative Morphology of the Muscle Tissues and Changes of Constituents in the Pig Types

The authors have revealed the main value characteristics of pork production by testing in five different types of pig the volume of contractile and collagen proteins, that of proteoglycans, the constituents of blood and the enzymes of the blood plasma. The contractile proteins of the muscle tissues basically determine the quality of pork. The same applies to the water retention capacity, colloidal characteristics and glycogen content of meat. The amount of contractile proteins has decreased in the best meat producing types of pig. Parallel with the decrease of white meat, and with the increase in the volume of ham, chop and chuck the contractile protein content of muscles decreased. The scientific fact according to which there is a certain correlation among the changes in the volume of contractile proteins, blood sugar level, blood serum CPK and the intensity of activity of the LDH enzymes promotes the qualifying of live animals and the work of the geneticists aiming at the increasing of the contractile protein content of the muscle tissues of pigs by selection. According to tests carried out by us the primary cause of PSE changes is a decreased volume of contractile proteins. Increased stress sensitivity and all the other factors have but a secondary importance and are all consequential. The decrease in the quantity of contractile proteins or--it is better to put it this way--the lack of the proper amount of such proteins characterizing a fully developed pig's organism is caused by the nowadays usual breeding technologies and can be well explained by those selection activities which aim at a one-sided kind of pork production.     

Abnormal biochemical and haematological indices in trypanosomiasis as a threat to herd production

Blood samples were collected from 46 domestic ruminants comprising of 23 trypanosomiasis infected and 23 uninfected control groups to study some biochemical and haematological effects of trypanosomiasis under natural condition. The effect of trypanosome infection in ruminant animals showed that infected animals had significantly lower (P<0.05) packed cell volume, erythrocyte count and higher (P<0.01) mean cell volumes than uninfected animals. Leucocytosis, reticulocytosis and thrombocytopenia were also observed. The infection also produced a decrease in albumin (P<0.001), significant increase in total protein and bilirubin levels. These changes were not seen in the animals that were not infected. The outcome of the work shows that herds are severely affected by the disease, and therefore supports the prospect of routine check as an epidemiologic tool in trypanosomiasis based on its abnormal effects in blood.     

桑叶的营养价值及其在畜禽生产中的应用研究进展

桑叶含粗蛋白质、维生素(维生素A、维生素C)、微量元素(铁、锰、铜、锌)等营养组分及黄酮类等多种活性成分,是理想的动物蛋白质资源。研究发现,在猪生产中,添加15%桑叶可能会影响育肥猪的生长,但添加适量的桑叶(6%左右)可延缓宰后肌肉pH降低,增强肌肉的抗氧化能力,同时,桑叶可提高肌肉脂肪沉积,对肌肉氨基酸和脂肪酸组成(增加不饱和脂肪酸的含量)均有影响,并改善肉的风味。在家禽生产中,添加桑叶能降低鸡肉的pH,且可通过改变肌肉脂肪酸组成改善肉品质。此外,桑叶的活性成分已被证实能提高细胞或小鼠的抗氧化能力,具有降血脂、血糖及动脉粥样硬化等作用。本文简述了桑叶的营养价值及其在猪、肉鸡、蛋鸡生产中的应用,旨在为其作为蛋白质资源进一步应用于畜禽生产提供一定参考。     

Enteritis in sheep and goats due to Yersinia enterocolitica infection

Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 5, serotype 02,3 was isolated from the intestine of 38 sheep and 8 goats submitted to the laboratory for disease diagnosis. Infected animals were usually young, had diarrhoea and were in poor condition or emaciated. A number were moribund or dead when submitted. Characteristic microabscesses were demonstrated in the intestine of 5 of 38 sheep and 3 of 8 goats and no alternative cause of morbidity or mortality was established in these animals. Of the 33 sheep and 5 goats infected with Y. enterocolitica in which microabscesses were not demonstrated, a number of other diagnoses were made, including internal parasitism (18), selenium deficiency or white muscle disease (6) and cobalt deficiency (2), so that morbidity and mortality were possibly unrelated to Y. enterocolitica infection. Five of 6 sheep exposed experimentally by mouth to Y. enterocolitica biotype 5, serotype 02,3 developed an intestinal infection. Although infected sheep showed no clinical evidence of disease and haematological and biochemical indices remained normal, multiple intestinal microabscesses typical of yersiniosis were demonstrated in 3 of 5 infected sheep. It is concluded that Y. enterocolitica biotype 5, serotype 02,3 is an enteropathogen of sheep and goats. Since sheep and goats may be the specific hosts of this bacterium, its virulence for these species is apparently low. Morbidity and mortality may, therefore, be unusual manifestations of infection.     

Porcine stress syndrome and PSE meat: clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, etiology and animal rights aspects

A review is given about the clinical symptoms, pathogenesis and aetiology of the porcine stress syndrome, furthermore aspects of animal welfare are discussed. The current breeding programmes of pig industry in Germany in many cases include animals with a mutation of the ryanodine-receptor (RYR-1)-gene--homozygous or heterozygous. This situation is the result of an intensive breeding of pigs during the last decades with the intention of increased lean carcass content and corresponding proceeds. The homozygous pigs are more stress susceptible (porcine stress syndrome) and produce meat of poor quality (PSE), which is also the case to some extend in heterozygous animals. The clinical symptoms of this muscle disease are characterised by a deficit of oxygen and a rapid glycolysis accompanied by a production of lactic acid and acidosis primarily in II B white muscle fibres. There is no doubt that a very close causal relation exists between the mutation of the RYR-1 and the porcine stress syndrome as well as the poor meat quality. The present knowledge of this disease, the genetic background, the physiology and pathophysiology of the mutation of the RYR-1 leads to the imperative conclusion to eliminate this mutated RYR-1 by selection of healthy pigs, which has been done successfully in other countries with important pig production. This conclusion is also supported by simple economic reasons because fertility, reproduction and daily weight gain are significantly reduced in stress susceptible pigs. Furthermore, it should be emphasised that regular breeding with the mutated RYR-1 is also a matter of animal welfare. The evident correlation between the mutated RYR-1 and the porcine stress syndrome, which includes degeneration of the muscle, pain and even life threatening malignant hyperthermia, can easily lead to the accusation in the public that diseased animals are used for pig meat production. Consequently, the authors would like to urge the breeding companies and the responsible authorities to discuss the problem with the intention to finish the current breeding programmes using animals with the mutated RYR-1 within a reasonable period of time.     

白介素15对骨骼肌和脂肪组织的调节作用

白介素15(IL-15)是近年发现的一种细胞因子,存在于多种细胞和组织中,具有促进淋巴细胞和NK细胞增殖和增强它们生物活性的功能.近年的研究发现,IL-15还可阻碍骨骼肌蛋白的降解,另外可通过直接作用于脂肪细胞来降低动物体内脂肪沉积.本文从IL-15的结构、受体及对骨骼肌和脂肪组织的调节作用作一综述.     

不同羽色和性别番鸭屠宰性能及肌肉成分比较研究

研究旨在比较不同羽色及性别番鸭在屠宰性能及肌肉成分上的差别,为选育优良番鸭品种提供依据。试验选取1日龄黑羽番鸭、白羽番鸭及黑白花番鸭公、母共324羽,按羽色、性别分为6个处理,每处理设6个重复,每重复9只鸭,各处理饲喂相同日粮,试验期90d。结果表明：雄性黑羽番鸭屠宰率、全净膛率显著高于雄性白羽及黑白花羽番鸭（P〈0．05）,而雌性黑白花番鸭及白羽番鸭的胸肌率和瘦肉率相近且均显著高于雌性黑羽番鸭（P〈0．05）;各处理番鸭肌肉中汞、镉、砷、铅含量无显著差异（P〉0．05）,且均很微量;各同羽色雄性番鸭肌肉水分、无氮浸出物和粗蛋白质含量均基本略高于其同羽色雌性番鸭,而各处理雌性番鸭肌肉粗脂肪、粗灰分含量则高于其同羽色的雄性番鸭;雄性白羽番鸭和黑白花番鸭肌肉粗蛋白质含量相近且均显著高于雄性黑羽番鸭（P〈0．05）;各同羽色番鸭中基本上肌肉氨基酸含量均以雄性高于雌性,而同性别的番鸭比较,雄性白羽番鸭肌肉中多种氨基酸的含量显著高于雄性黑羽及雄性黑白花羽番鸭（P〉0．05）;同时雌性各羽色番鸭肌肉中多种氨基酸含量呈现出：黑白花番鸭〉黑羽番鸭〉白羽番鸭,但该趋势不显著（P〉0．05）。试验结果表明,雄性黑羽番鸭屠宰性能有一定优势,白羽番鸭肌肉养分和氨基酸含量优势明显。     

The Post-larval Development of Lateral Musculature in Gilthead Sea Bream Sparus aurata (L.) and Sea Bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)

Fibre-type differentiation of lateral musculature has been studied in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata (L.) and sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) during post-larval development using ultrastructural, histochemical and morphometric techniques. The study showed three muscle layers: red, intermediate (or pink) and white. Initially, most of the red muscle showed low myosin ATPase (m-ATPase) activity fibres, whereas near the transverse septum some small high m-ATPase activity fibres appeared and later acquired a rosette aspect. Afterwards, during adult growth the red muscle showed a histochemical mosaic appearance. The pink muscle in sea bass was observed at the beginning of juvenile development by the oxidative technique (NADH-RT reaction) whereas in gilthead sea bream it was also observed at the end of larval development. The pink layer consists of high m-ATPase activity fibres. However, along the muscle development other low and moderate m-ATPase activity fibres were observed close to the red and white muscles, respectively. The white muscle of juvenile fish showed a histochemical mosaic appearance near the pink muscle. In adult specimens the mosaic white muscle spread out occupying the whole of the myotome. Morphometric analysis shows a significant increase in mean fibre diameter during post-larval development, as shown by the Student's t-test (hypertrophic growth). Skewness and kurtosis values of fibre diameters point to the generation of a new fibres from the myosatellite cells (hyperplastic growth).     

Standardization of an experimental disease model of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in the equine

A reproducible experimental disease model in horses using Streptococcus zooepidemicus was developed. An intravenous challenge dose of 1 X 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU), followed 24 h later with another challenge of 1 X 10(8) CFU of Strep. zooepidemicus produced the desired disease model. The disease was characterized by depression, pyrexia, anorexia, abnormal lung sounds, inflammation of joints, moderate to severe lameness, gradual loss of condition and emaciation. The effects of the disease on hematology, serum chemical profile and different protein fractions were studied. The disease state had no effect on serum glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus and enzymes SGOT or SGPT. However, the alkaline phosphatase showed a gradual decline. The serum iron levels dropped markedly and remained low to the last day of observations (post-infection day, PID 13). On serum protein electrophoresis, the albumin showed a gradual decrease; whereas, alpha II, beta and gamma globulin levels rose suggesting an immune response. The elevation of rectal temperatures and white blood cell counts related well with clinical observations. The serum iron levels proved very helpful in predicting the severity of clinical signs and often dropped before the onset of clinical signs and pyrexia.     

Effect of dietary clenbuterol and cimaterol on muscle composition, beta-adrenergic and androgen receptor concentrations in broiler chickens

Illegal dietary supplementation with beta(2)-agonists has been shown to increase protein deposition and decrease fat accretion in domestic animals. In poultry the metabolic and endocrine responses to beta(2)-agonists are not fully elucidated. In this trial the effects of dietary clenbuterol (1 p.p.m.) and cimaterol (1 p.p.m.) on muscle composition and endocrine response of male broiler chickens were studied. Dietary clenbuterol induced a slight, but in general not significant, improvement of zootechnical performances and carcass yields. Chemical composition of muscle was not influenced by dietary treatments, even if a slight improvement of protein content was observed in treated groups. No effects on fatty acid composition of meat were detected. Both clenbuterol and cimaterol treatments caused a downregulation in testicular androgen receptors and in pulmonary, cardiac and central nervous system beta-adrenergic receptors.