Effects of supplemental β‐carotene on colostral immunoglobulin and plasma β‐carotene and immunoglobulin in Japanese Black cows

Data from 26 Japanese Black cows were collected to clarify the effects of supplemental β‐carotene on colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) and plasma β‐carotene and Ig in the cows. Cows were assigned to control or β‐carotene groups from 21 days before the expected calving date to 60 days after parturition. Supplemental β‐carotene was provided at 500 mg/day in the β‐carotene group. Supplemental β‐carotene drastically increased plasma β‐carotene concentrations in the cows from parturition to 60 days after parturition, and plasma β‐carotene concentrations in the control and β‐carotene groups at parturition were 202 and 452 μg/dl, respectively. Supplemental β‐carotene had no effects on plasma IgG₁, IgA or IgM concentrations at parturition. Supplemental β‐carotene increased colostral IgG₁ concentrations in the cows, but colostral β‐carotene, IgA and IgM concentrations were not affected by supplemental β‐carotene. These results indicate that supplemental β‐carotene is effective to enhance colostral IgG₁ concentrations and plasma β‐carotene concentrations in Japanese Black cows.     

Blood plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17β, testosterone and testosterone/oestradiol ratio in dogs with neoplastic and degenerative testicular diseases

Oestradiol-17β and testosterone blood plasma concentrations were measured in dogs with Leydig-cell tumours (n=20), Sertoli-cell tumours (n=6), seminomas (n=9), unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism (n=7), abdominal cryptorchidism (n=9, one bilateral), degenerate scrotal testicles (n=6, two bilateral), and animals with normal scrotal testicles (n=20). The testosterone/oestradiol ratio (testosterone concentration [ng/mL] × 100/oestradiol concentration [pg/mL]) was calculated.A considerably higher oestradiol concentration was found in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (29.0, 14.4–48.3 pg/mL; median, minimum–maximum; P=0.0256, Mann–Whitney test) and lower oestradiol levels were found in animals with seminomas (12.0, 3.4–17.6 pg/mL; P=0.0025) compared to the healthy control group (18.0, 8.6–31.5 pg/mL). Testosterone concentration was decreased in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.08, 0.03–0.77 ng/mL) when compared to the control group (1.95, 0.05–3.70 ng/mL; P=0.0012). Testosterone/oestradiol ratios differed from the control (9.6, 0.58–35.8) only in dogs with Sertoli-cell tumours (0.32, 0.06–2.80; P=0.0005). Clinical signs of feminization were observed in five dogs with Sertoli-cell tumour and one dog with a Leydig-cell tumour, and were more often associated with decreased testosterone/oestradiol ratios than with an increased oestradiol-17β concentration.     

α- and β-adrenoceptors in the sheep urinary bladder

A study was undertaken to determine the presence and distribution of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the sheep bladder body and base. In the bladder body, noradrenaline and isoproterenol induced relaxation which was significantly inhibited by propranolol, pafenolol and butoxamine. In the presence of propranolol (10(-5) M), noradrenaline induced a small contraction, as well as phenylephrine, but B-HT 920 failed to cause any effect on the bladder body. In the bladder base, noradrenaline caused a contraction that was significantly inhibited by prazosin but not by yohimbine. Phenylephrine also induced a contractile response in this structure which was inhibited by prazosin. Isoproterenol caused a relaxation that was significantly inhibited by propranolol and pafenolol but not by butoxamine. Relaxation was mediated by both beta 1 and beta 2-adrenoceptors in the detrusor muscle and by beta 1-adrenoceptors in the bladder base. Alpha 1-adrenoceptors contributed to maintain the detrusor tone and contract the bladder base.     

Cryptosporidium parvum infection in a mare and her foal with foal heat diarrhoea

Cryptosporidium infection was molecularly investigated in mares and in their neonatal foals for which the occurrence of foal heat diarrhoea was also assessed. Thirty-seven mare/foal pairs were included in the study. All foals were born in the same stud farm during 2006-2008 breeding seasons. Two faecal samples, one prior to and one after delivery were collected from each mare, whereas three faecal samples were taken from each foal, i.e. at 8, 10 and 12 days of age. All samples (74 from mares and 111 from foals) were divided into two aliquots, one of which was examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium by a commercially available microplate ELISA kit, while the second aliquot of all ELISA-positive samples was molecularly examined. Nine out of 37 examined foals presented foal heat diarrhoea and one of them scored positive for Cryptosporidium, together with its mare. More specifically, four samples belonging to the same mare/foal pair resulted positive for Cryptosporidium upon both ELISA and PCR. The sequence analysis of the COWP gene showed the occurrence of the zoonotic species Cryptosporidium parvum. The possibility that foal heat diarrhoea-like episodes may be due to neonatal cryptosporidiosis and their relevance for the health of horses and of humans handling diarrhoeic neonatal foals and their mares are discussed.     

Dietary supplementation of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate in animals – a review

The leucine metabolite β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate (HMB) has been studied by many researchers over the last two decades. In particular, the utility of HMB supplementation in animals has been shown in numerous studies, which have demonstrated enhanced body weight gain and carcass yield in slaughter animals; positive immunostimulatory effect; decreased mortality; attenuation of sarcopenia in elderly animals; and potential use in pathological conditions such as glucocorticoid‐induced muscle loss. The aim of this study was to summarize the body of research on HMB supplementation in animals and to examine possible mechanisms of HMB action. Furthermore, while the safety of HMB supplementation in animals is well documented, studies demonstrating efficacy are less clear. The possible reasons for differences in these findings will also be examined.     

Effects of β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots on β‐carotene status and colostral immunoglobulin in β‐carotene‐deficient Japanese Black cows

Data from 18 β‐carotene‐deficient Japanese Black cows were collected to clarify the effects of feeding β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots on β‐carotene status and colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) in cows. Cows were assigned to control or carrot groups from 3 weeks before the expected calving date to parturition, and supplemental β‐carotene from dry carrots was 138 mg/day in the carrot group. Plasma β‐carotene concentrations in the control and carrot groups at parturition were 95 and 120 μg/dL, and feeding dry carrots slightly improved plasma β‐carotene at parturition. Feeding dry carrots increased colostral IgA concentrations in cows and tended to increase colostral IgG₁, but colostral IgM, IgG₂, β‐carotene and vitamin A were not affected by the treatment. Feeding dry carrots had no effects on plasma IgG₁, IgA and IgM concentrations in cows, but plasma IgG₁ concentrations decreased rapidly from 3 weeks before the expected calving date to parturition. These results indicate that feeding β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots is effective to enhance colostral IgA and IgG₁ concentrations in β‐carotene‐deficient cows.     

Altered Expression of 3β‐HSD,CYP17 and 17β‐HSD in the Foetal Porcine Gonads in Response to Anti‐androgen Flutamide Exposure

We investigated whether the limited access to androgens during late prenatal period alters expression of steroidogenic enzymes involved in androgen production: 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5‐Δ4 isomerase (3β‐HSD), cytochrome P450 17α‐hydroxylase/17,20‐lyase (CYP17) and 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β‐HSD1) or type 3 (17β‐HSD3) in the foetal porcine gonads. Pregnant gilts were injected with anti‐androgen flutamide (for seven days, 50 mg/day/kg bw) or corn oil (control) starting at 83 (GD90) or 101 (GD108) gestational day. To assess 3β‐HSD, CYP17 and 17β‐HSD1 or 17β‐HSD3 expression, real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed. In testes from flutamide‐treated foetuses, increased 3β‐HSD and CYP17 mRNA expression was observed in the GD90 group, while decreased 3β‐HSD and 17β‐HSD3 mRNA expression and increased CYP17 mRNA expression were found in the GD108 group. CYP17 and 17β‐HSD3 were localized in Leydig cells. Following flutamide administration, the intensity of CYP17 immunostaining was higher in both treated groups, while 17β‐HSD3 intensity was lower in the GD108 group. In ovaries from flutamide‐treated foetuses in the GD90 group, mRNA level for 3β‐HSD was elevated, but it was diminished for CYP17 and 17β‐HSD1. In the GD108 group, flutamide treatment led to lower mRNA level for 3β‐HSD but higher for CYP17. 3β‐HSD was found in granulosa cells, while CYP17 was localized within egg nests and oocytes of forming follicles. Following flutamide treatment, the intensity of 3β‐HSD and CYP17 immunostaining was higher in the GD90 and GD108 groups, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining for 3β‐HSD was restricted to the ovary. Concluding, diminished androgen action in the porcine foetal gonads during late gestation induces changes in steroidogenic enzymes expression, which may led to changes in gonadal function. However, it seems that androgens exert diverse biological effects depending on the gestational period.     

Expression of VEGFR and PDGFR‐α/‐β in 187 canine nasal carcinomas

Radiotherapy represents the standard of care for intranasal carcinomas. Responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been reported but data on expression of target receptor tyrosine kinases (rTKs) is limited. This study characterizes the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)‐α and PDGFR‐β in canine intranasal carcinomas. Histological samples from 187 dogs were retrieved. Immunohistochemistry was performed using commercially available antibodies. Expression of rTKs was classified into weak, moderate or intense and additionally recorded as cytoplasmic, membranous, cytoplasmic‐membranous, nuclear or stromal. VEGFR was expressed in 158 dogs with predominantly moderate expression (36.9%) and a cytoplasmic‐membranous expression pattern (70.9%). PDGFR‐α was detected in 133 with predominantly weak expression (57.9%) and cytoplasmic pattern (87.9%). PDGFR‐β was identified in 74 patients with a predominantly moderate expression (17.6%) and cytoplasmic expression pattern (63.5%). Co‐expression of rTKs was common. These results confirm expression of VEGFR, PDGFR‐α and PDGFR‐β in canine intranasal carcinomas and support the utility of TKIs.     

β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate promotes leucine metabolism and improves muscle fibre composition in growing pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess leucine (Leu) vs. its metabolites α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC) and β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) on Leu metabolism, muscle fibre composition and muscle growth in growing pigs. Thirty‐two pigs with a similar initial weight (9.55 ± 0.19 kg) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 45 days: basal diet, basal diet + 1.25% L‐Leu, basal diet + 1.25% KIC‐Ca, basal diet + 0.62% HMB‐Ca. Results indicated that relative to the basal diet and HMB groups, Leu and KIC groups exhibited increased Leu concentrations and decreased concentrations of isoleucine, valine and EAAs in selected muscle (p < 0.05) and had lower mRNA levels of MyHC I and higher expression of MyHC IIx/IIb (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the basal and HMB‐supplemented groups. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of AMPKα and UCP3 were higher but the myostatin mRNA levels were lower in the soleus muscle of the HMB group than those from other groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that doubling dietary Leu content exerted growth‐depressing effects in growing pigs; dietary KIC supplementation induced muscular branched‐chain amino acid imbalance and promoted muscle toward a more glycolytic phenotype; while dietary HMB supplementation promoted the generation of more oxidative muscle types and increased muscle growth specially in oxidative skeletal muscle, and these effects of HMB might be associated with the AMPKα‐Sirt1‐PGC‐1α axis and mitochondrial biogenesis.     

The Relationship Among Vitamin C, β‐carotene,Vitamin A,Progesterone and Oestradiol 17‐β Concentrations in Plasma and Cyst Fluid of Holstein Cows with Ovarian Cyst

The aims of this study were to determine the concentrations of the progesterone, oestradiol‐17‐β, vitamin A, C and β‐carotene in plasma and cyst fluid and to relate these values with cystic diameter and membrane thickness of Holstein cattle with ovarian luteal cyst. 1650 Holstein cows were examined for the presence of the ovarian cyst and luteal and follicular cystic ovaries were obtained following slaughtering in personal slaughterhouse in Konya‐Turkey. 15 Luteal and 15 follicular cystic ovaries were distinguished by rectal palpation and by post mortem ultrasonographic examination. Plasma and cyst fluid, hormone and vitamin analyses were carried out by EIA method and spectrophotometric measurement respectively. Although there was no relationship between β‐carotene and vitamin A in plasma and cyst fluid of both cyst type and hormone concentrations, the vitamin C concentration of cyst fluid was found significantly higher in luteal cyst than in follicular cyst. Moreover, there is a positive correlation among values of the vitamin C concentrations of cyst fluid and cystic membrane thickness, plasma and the cyst fluid progesterone concentrations, but there is a negative correlation among the vitamin C concentrations of cystic fluid and oestradiol 17β levels of plasma and cyst fluid. In conclusion, vitamin C concentration of cyst fluid supported ultrasonographic and endocrinologic findings. Also, it can be postulated that vitamin C is probably effective on progesterone synthesis in the luteal tissue of cyst.     

Differential responses in anterior pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) content and LHβ- and α-subunit MRNA, and plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone, in bulls treated with the LH-releasing hormone agonist deslorelin

Anterior pituitary gland contents of LH and LHß- and α-subunit mRNAs, and circulating concentrations of LH and testosterone, were determined in bulls treated with the LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist deslorelin. Brahman (Bos indicus) bulls (14-month-old) were allocated to two groups and received the following: Control (n = 5), no treatment; Deslorelin (n = 4), four deslorelin implants (approximately 200 μg total deslorelin/day) for 36 d. Plasma concentrations of LH were higher in bulls treated with deslorelin on Day 1, had returned to typical levels by Day 8, and did not differ for control bulls and bulls treated with deslorelin from Day 8 to Day 29. Pituitary content of LH on Day 36 was reduced (P < 0.001) in bulls treated with deslorelin (33 ± 4 ng/mg) compared with control bulls (553 ± 142 ng/mg). Relative pituitary content of LHß-subunit mRNA was also reduced on Day 36 in bulls treated with deslorelin (Control, 0.65 ± 0.10; Deslorelin, 0.22 ± 0.04; P = 0.003). However, α-subunit mRNA relative content did not differ (Control, 0.73 ± 0.15; Deslorelin, 1.06 ± 0.12; P > 0.05). Plasma concentrations of testosterone were increased over the period of the experiment in the bulls treated with deslorelin compared with control bulls. This is the first demonstration of reduced pituitary content of LHß-subunit mRNA and LH, and unaltered content of α-subunit mRNA, in bulls treated with LHRH agonist. This was associated with apparently typical plasma concentrations of LH and elevated plasma testosterone. The anterior pituitary in bulls treated with LHRH agonist, therefore, undergoes classical desensitization and downregulation, but plasma LH and testosterone are not suppressed.     

Maternal and umbilical venous plasma lipid concentrations at delivery in the mare

The concentrations and fatty acid composition of the plasma free fatty acid, triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions were determined in maternal and umbilical cord vein blood samples taken at delivery from 17 mares. Maternal and umbilical vein plasma free fatty acid concentrations were of a similar order and a positive correlation was found between the two levels suggesting that the equine placenta is permeable to fatty acid. Substantial amounts of the essential fatty acids and their longer chain derivatives were seen in both umbilical vein plasma free fatty acid and phospholipid fractions supporting this view. Certain long chain polyunsaturated derivatives of the essential fatty acids found in the umbilical venous plasma phospholipid fraction were not seen in the maternal circulating lipids. The precursor fatty acids were readily available to both foetal and placental tissues and therefore must have been elongated and incorporated into phospholipid by either or both. Very small amounts of the essential fatty acids were found in adipose stores in the newborn foal and virtually no fat stores at all in the newborn foal liver.     

Effect of the diets with pumpkin silage and synthetic β‐carotene on the carotenoid,immunoglobulin and bioactive protein content and fatty acid composition of colostrum

Forty Simmental cows were divided into four groups with 10 per group to investigate the effect of a transition diet supplemented with synthetic β‐carotene and natural carotenoid‐rich feed (pumpkin silage) on chemical composition of the colostrum. The control group (I) was fed grass and maize silage and supplemental concentrates, group II additionally received 400 mg/day/cow of synthetic β‐carotene, in group, III 40% DM of maize silage was replaced with pumpkin silage to increase β‐carotene intake by 400 mg in relation to group I, and in group IV 60% DM of maize silage was replaced with pumpkin silage without adjusting for β‐carotene. Colostrum was collected from the cows within 5 hr of calving to determine colostrum composition, the content of immunoglobulins and carotenoids, total antioxidant status (TAS), the content of some bioactive proteins and the composition of fatty acids. The study showed that the experimental diets had no effect on the gross composition of colostrum. The content of α‐carotene, β‐carotene and violaxanthin was significantly higher in group IV than in group I and that of lutein higher in group IV than in groups I and II. Total antioxidant status of colostrum in group IV was significantly higher than in group I. Groups III and IV were characterized by a higher concentration of immunoglobulin IgG in relation to group I. IgM level in groups II, III and IV was significantly higher than in group I and that in groups III and IV was also higher than in group II. The highest IgA concentration was observed in group IV and the lowest in group I. Lysozyme concentration was higher in group IV compared to groups I and II. The diets had no effect on the total content of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in colostrum.     

Periovulatory changes in peripheral plasma progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the mare.

Concentrations of progesterone and estrogen were measured in peripheral blood plasma samples from mares around the time of ovulation. Samples were collected every 2 hours from 36 hours before, to 26 hours after, ovulation and assayed by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone concentrations were between 60 and 100 pg/ml for the period 24 hours before ovulation through 8 hours after ovulation. By 10 hours after ovulation, concentrations increased to 140 pg/ml and, by 26 hours after ovulation, reached 346 pg/ml. Plasma estrogen concentrations did not change significantly throughout the same period.