Premature bovine parturition induced by ponderosa pine: effects of pine needles, bark and branch tips

Three components of Ponderosa pine trees were administered via gavage to pregnant cows to determine their ability to induce premature parturition. When tips of branches, bark or needles were administered (2.7 kg/day) starting at 250 d of pregnancy, early parturition was induced in an average of 3.4, 5.0 and 9.1 d, respectively, compared to 31.8 d for water gavaged controls (P less than 0.01). Less pine material was required to induce parturition with tips and bark (9.4 and 11.2 kg/cow, respectively) than with needles (25.0 kg/cow P less than 0.05). Cows fed pine material retained fetal membranes longer after parturition; 13.0 d for needles, 10.5 d for bark and greater than 3.0 d for tips versus less than 0.5 d for controls (P less than 0.01). However, 2 of the cows fed tips died within 48 hours after parturition with fetal membranes intact and the other 2 cows fed tips became depressed, pyrexic and emaciated. They survived after extended veterinary care with antibiotic and fluid therapy. Administration of pine materials modified serum progesterone concentration profiles; there was significant elevation in progesterone 1-3 days after pine material was administered. Subsequently, pine material induced a premature decline in progesterone levels prior to parturition, which occurred more rapidly in cows fed bark and tips suggesting a dose response relationship. Pine material also modified serum cortisol concentration profiles; the main difference was a prolonged elevation in cows receiving tips. Branch tips and bark from Ponderosa pine are more potent in inducing parturition than needles.     

Effect of feeding pine needles on ovine reproduction.

Estrous cycles were not altered in 30 mature ewes fed pine needles 11 to 13 days prior to breeding. Pregnancy and lambing rates were not affected by the feeding of pine needles. An antiestrogenic effect of pine needles on the reproductive process in ewes was not clinically detectable. There was no indication of any toxic effects on ewes consuming a 37% pine needle diet.     

Embryotoxic effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure in mice.

Pregnant CD-1 mice were administered T-2 toxin by gastric intubation on day 11 of gestation at dosages of 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg. The T-lymphocyte dependent antibody response against sheep red blood cells which was evaluated in the offspring at six weeks of age was not affected by T-2 toxin exposure. Individual birth and weaning weights were not influenced by T-2 toxin, but the litter size was reduced in the high dose group, without affecting the number of implantation sites per dam. The number of female offspring produced by dams exposed to 1.5 mg/kg T-2 toxin was less compared to other treatment groups, suggesting that the female fetus was more susceptible to embryolethal effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure. These results suggest that prenatal T-2 toxin exposure is unlikely to be a significant health problem with respect to primary humoral immunity. At the dosages given, T-2 toxin produced substantial embryotoxicity without alteration in antibody production. The embryolethal effects are a primary limiting factor which may preclude the expression of any immunoteratological manifestations associated with humoral immunity under natural field conditions.     

松针粉在畜禽生产中的应用

松针粉营养丰富,具有抑菌、抗氧化和提高免疫力等作用,本文就松针粉的营养价值、作用及其在畜禽生产中的应用作一综述。     

松针粉的研究及应用进展

松针粉富含多种营养成分,并且具有一定的药用价值。文章对我国松针的资源概况、松针粉的营养价值、药效及在生产上的应用情况进行概述,并对松针粉未来的研究方向进行展望。     

松针在反刍动物上的应用研究进展

松针粉富含多种营养成分,并且具有一定的药用价值,在猪和禽类上应用较多,在反刍动物上的应用报道较少。文章对我国松针的化学成分及在反刍动物上的应用情况进行概述,促进松针在反刍动物上的应用。     

松针粉的研究及应用进展

我国的松针资源丰富,价格低廉,含有多种维生素和矿物质元素,具有很高的营养价值。根据松针粉的这些特性,将其应用于畜牧业生产可以提高动物的生产性能,降低生产成本,为畜牧业生产做出巨大贡献。     

松针多糖对肉鸡生产性能和免疫功能的影响

本研究旨在探讨松针多糖对肉鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响。选取240只1日龄的815肉鸡,随机分为4个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复15只鸡,分别在基础饲粮中添加0(对照)、0.05%、0.10%和0.15%的松针多糖提取物。试验期为42d,测定处理组生长性能、免疫器官指标、血清免疫指标。结果显示,在生长前期(1-21d),松针多糖对肉鸡的生产性能没有影响(P0.05),0.05%多糖组白细胞介素2的浓度极显著高于对照组(P0.01),对肿瘤坏死因子、胸腺素及免疫器官指标影响不显著(P0.05)。在生长后期(22-42d),0.10%多糖组平均日增重显著高于对照组(P0.05),对平均体重及料重比无显著影响(P0.05),0.05%多糖组肿瘤坏死因子浓度显著高于对照组(P0.05),而对白细胞介素2、胸腺素及免疫器官指标影响不显著(P0.05)。结果表明,饲粮中添加适量的松针多糖在一定程度上可以提高肉鸡的免疫功能和生产性能,0.10%的松针多糖添加量较为适宜。     

Specific effects of blood plasma from beef cows fed pine needles during late pregnancy on increasing tone of caruncular arteries in vitro.

Consumption of Ponderosa pine needles by cows during late pregnancy results in the premature delivery of viable calves. Previous observations made at necropsy suggested that vascular insufficiency in the caruncular bed was associated with this induced parturition. The present studies used the perfused caruncular arterial bed of an isolated bovine placentome to determine whether blood plasma collected from cows fed pine needles contained a vasoactive factor(s). Changes in caruncular arterial tone (i.e., long-term changes in vessel diameter) and phasic contractility (i.e., transient reductions in vessel diameter) were evaluated. Tone was quantified as the pressure exerted against a constant intraluminal flow and as the force of contraction during K(+)-stimulated depolarization of membranes. Phenylephrine, an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist, was used to stimulate a phasic contractile response. Jugular blood was collected from beef cows fed pine needles (n = 4) or a control diet (n = 4), during the last 3 d of gestation, and plasma was used for two studies. In Study 1, placentomes were perfused with decreasing dilutions (1:150 to 1:40) of plasma pooled over the last 3 d of pregnancy from cows fed pine needle or control diets. Caruncular arterial perfusion pressures and responses to K+ progressively increased (P less than .05) with decreasing dilutions of plasma from cows fed pine needles, and responses to phenylephrine remained constant. Caruncular arterial perfusion pressures and responses to K+ and phenylephrine remained constant during perfusion of plasma from cows fed the control diet. In Study 2, the changes in vasoactivity of plasma (1:60 dilution) from cows fed pine needles was evaluated during the last 3 d of pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ingestion of ponderosa pine needles by late-pregnant cows on uterine blood flow and steroid secretion.

Consumption of Ponderosa pine needles by late-pregnant beef cows results in the premature delivery of a viable calf. We have demonstrated the presence of a factor(s) in plasma from cows fed pine needles that specifically increased uterine arterial tone (i.e., decreased arterial diameter) in vitro. This study was designed to investigate changes in uterine blood flow and steroid secretion/uptake by the gravid uterus of cows fed pine needles to induce premature parturition. Sixteen beef cows were laparotomized on d 240 of gestation, and an electromagnetic blood-flow probe was placed around the uterine artery supplying the gravid horn. Cows were randomly assigned on d 250 of gestation to a control (n = 8; 8.2 kg/d of alfalfa hay) or pine needle (n = 8; 2.7 kg/d of pine needles + 5.5 kg/d of alfalfa hay) diet. Uterine blood flow was monitored, and systemic blood (uterine arterial and[or] jugular venous) and uterine venous blood samples were collected daily between 0630 and 0800, just before feeding. Five of eight cows fed pine needles calved prematurely (average day of gestation = 260.2 +/- .6) compared with cows fed the control diet, which calved on 287.6 +/- 3.4 d of gestation. Uterine blood flow in the control cows remained constant from d 250 through the day of parturition. In contrast, uterine blood flow of cows fed pine needles that calved early decreased progressively (P less than .01), declining to 25.2% of its original value by the day of parturition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

松针粉在动物生产中的作用及开发前景

松针粉是一种高效的天然绿色添加剂,主要由马尾松等松类树种的针叶经过一系列工艺加工而成。松针味苦、性温、有补充营养、健脾理气、祛风燥湿、杀虫和止痒等功效。近年来很多试验证实:松针含有动物生长所必需的生物活性物质和营养成分,含有丰富的胡萝卜素、叶绿素和多种维生素,并含有多种氨基酸、微量元素及植物杀菌素,它能增强动物机体的新陈代谢、防治疾病、促进生长和提高生产性能。松针来源于山林,受污染少,而且是可再生资源,是生产绿色食品、保健食品和绿色添加剂的可贵资源,今后对松针粉的开发和利用将会越来越受到人们的重视。1松针…     

松针粉对生长肥育猪生产性能的影响

日粮中添加 4 %～ 5 %松针粉 ,可使生长肥育猪的日增重、饲料转化率、经济效益分别提高 8%～ 12 % (P <0 .0 5 )、3%～ 9%和 2 3%～ 38%。     

Effect on abortion of feeding Korean pine needles to pregnant Korean native cows

We studied the frequency and timing of abortion and the serum levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone in Korean native cows fed pine needles during pregnancy. Fifteen pregnant cows were randomly assigned to groups of 5. The control group was fed a concentrate and rice straw, and the other 2 groups were fed, in addition, either 1.3 or 2.7 kg (dry weight) of Korean pine needles daily, starting at an average of 91 d of gestation and continuing until 245 d of gestation. The health status of the dams and the viability of the fetuses were ascertained by rectal palpation and ultrasound scanning during pregnancy. Simultaneously, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum 17β-estradiol and progesterone. Two abortions in mid-pregnancy (at 126 and 150 d of gestation) occurred in the group ingesting the higher daily amount of pine needles. Premature parturition occurred at 259 d of gestation in this group and at 241 and 252 d of gestation in the group ingesting the lower daily amount of pine needles. The serum 17β-estradiol concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at 4 mo of gestation and the serum progesterone level significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 8 mo of gestation in the group ingesting more pine needles daily than in either of the other 2 groups. These results suggest that the ingestion of pine needles may play a role in abortion in Korean native cows by increasing the serum 17β-estradiol concentration and decreasing the serum progesterone concentration.     

松针粉饲喂肉兔的效果研究

松针粉是在抚育幼林时，将修剪下来的幼嫩枝条和针叶收集起来，经过干燥、粉碎而成。松针粉色绿、幽香，是近年来人们正在开发的一种营养价值较高的畜禽饲料添加剂。据测定，松针粉中胡萝卜素含量一般在69—356mg／kg、维生素C含量约为950～2203mg／kg、维生素E含量一般在201～1266mg／kg、蛋白质含量8％-11．9％、粗脂肪含量3．8％-13．1％，含有的微量元素多达40余种，比苜蓿草含有的微量元素还要丰富。     

Effects of Ponderosa pine needle ingestion of uterine vascular function in late-gestation beef cows.

Consumption of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) needles (PN) by beef cows during late gestation results in premature delivery in association with profound constriction of the caruncular arterial bed. Further, PN extracts and plasma from PN-fed cows increase uterine arterial tone in vitro. Uterine arterial tone is a measure of the arterial resistance to stretch and controls the baseline rate of flow through the vascular bed. Uterine arterial tone results from the uptake of extracellular Ca2+ into smooth muscle cells through specific membrane channels called potential sensitive channels. Functional potential sensitive channels remain open for prolonged periods after activation, allowing a continuous uptake of Ca2+ and the maintenance of uterine arterial tone. Recent evidence from our laboratory has demonstrated that a group of estrogen metabolites produced by the placenta and(or) endometrium, called catechol estrogens, inhibits Ca2+ uptake through the potential sensitive channels. During gestation, progressive decreases in uterine arterial tone are observed, with resultant increases in uterine arterial blood flow. Thus, the continuous production of catechol estrogens may be necessary to maintain the pronounced uterine vasodilation that is required for fetal survival. Ponderosa pine needle extracts exhibit antiestrogenic activity, as evidenced by their inhibition of estrogen-induced uterine hyperemia. Data from our laboratory show that after consumption of PN by beef cows during late gestation, uterine arterial blood flow progressively decreased to less than 50% of prefeeding rates before premature delivery of a live calf.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

松针粉对生长猪生长性能及免疫功能的影响

为探究饲料中添加松针粉对生长猪生长性能及免疫功能的影响,选择品种、胎次相近,平均体重为(60.92±0.46)kg的杜×长×大(Duroc×Landrace×large white)三元杂交猪108头,按完全随机设计法分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复6头猪,试验周期41 d。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验A组饲喂基础日粮+2%松针粉(等量替代麸皮),试验B组饲喂基础日粮+2%松针粉(直接添加)。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验A组的日增重提高2.88%,采食量提高1.94%,料肉比降低3.91%(P > 0.05);试验组B日增重降低3.43%,采食量降低3.91%,料肉比降低 0.53%(P > 0.05);试验A组与B组的咳嗽率均有所降低,分别降低64.22%和53.43%(P > 0.05);试验A组与B组血清中免疫球蛋白IgG和IgM含量较高,但三个试验组之间差异不显著。因此,在饲料中用2%松针粉等量替代麸皮或直接添加2%松针粉均有提高猪只生长性能、降低咳嗽率、提高免疫功能的趋势(P > 0.05)。     

Evaluation of histopathologic and physiologic changes in cows having premature births after consuming Ponderosa pine needles

Premature calving, typified by early expulsion (17 to 43 days) of weak or dead calves and accompanied by retained placentas, was induced in 8 of 9 pregnant cows fed a mixture of Ponderosa pine needles and alfalfa hay. Five control cows of comparable gestation age fed only alfalfa hay maintained normal pregnancies until they were euthanatized at the time the pine needle-treated cows were producing premature calves. Serum specimens from all cows were assayed for progesterone concentration and ovaries and placentomes were examined for histopathologic changes. There were no bacterial, fungal, chlamydial, or viral agents determined to be associated with the premature births. Serum progesterone concentration in the treated cows decreased progressively and were 0.4 to 1.5 ng/ml at the time of premature calving. Histopathologic changes were evident in the placenta and corpora lutea of treated cows only. The number of binucleate trophoblastic giant cells in placentomes was less than normal and the number of necrotic luteal cells in corpora lutea was greater than normal.     

Effects of feeding ponderosa pine needles during pregnancy: comparative studies with bison, cattle, goats, and sheep.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effect of feeding dried pine needles (Pinus ponderosa; PN) on the abortion rate of ruminants. In Exp. 1, cattle were fed 5.4 kg of PN daily for 21 d starting at 116, 167, 215, or 254 d of pregnancy. The PN did not cause abortions when started at 116 d; thereafter, the percentage of cows that aborted increased linearly, and the interval to abortion decreased linearly (both P < .01); all cows fed PN beginning at 254 d aborted. In Exp. 2, cattle were fed .7, 1.4, or 2.7 kg of PN for 21 d or 2.7 kg for 1 or 3 d. Sheep and goats were fed .8 and .5 kg of PN, respectively, starting at 121 d of pregnancy. The PN induced some abortions in cattle when fed for 1 (11%) or 3 (30%) d, but the abortion rate was greater (P < .01) when the PN were fed for longer periods of time (80, 90, and 100% aborted in 19, 17, and 10 d for .7-, 1.4-, and 2.7-kg doses, respectively). No goats or sheep aborted in response to PN feeding. Pregnancy rates during the next breeding season for cows that aborted in response to the PN were slightly higher than rates for control cows (94 vs 87%). In Exp. 3, buffalo (Bison bison) and cattle were fed 2.25 kg of PN from the same collection. Abortions were induced in all buffalo and cattle that were fed PN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

鲜松针饲喂产仔南江黄羊效果的研究

鲜松针酸合少量混合精料，矿物质添加剂及青干草饲喂南江黄羊产母羊，对照组母羊平均日增重３.2g ,羔羊平均日增重１７２.4g,毛利５４２．４８元，实验组母羊平均日增重８.7g ,羔羊平均日增重２03.2g,毛利７４５.40元，试验期试验组所获得毛利比对照组高２０２．９２元。