Pituitary and adrenocortical responses to corticotropin-releasing factor in pigs

A study was conducted to determine whether differences in adrenocortical response to exogenous adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) were an accurate reflection of an animal's perception of and response to stressful stimuli, or whether the pituitary gland might modulate adrenocortical responsiveness. Sixteen Large White x Landrace female pigs, of which 8 had high adrenocortical response to ACTH and the other 8 had low response, were administered IV a bolus of synthetic human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) at dose rates ranging from 0.002 to 2 micrograms/kg of body weight. Blood samples were collected at known times for up to 2 hours after administration of hCRF. Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results indicate that hCRF stimulated the pituitary gland of high- and low-responding pigs to secrete ACTH, which in turn stimulated the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol. Plasma ACTH concentration, before or after hCRF administration, was not significantly different between the high and low responders. However, high-responding pigs had higher cortisol concentration after hCRF administration than did low-responding pigs. Thus, the differences in adrenocortical response to ACTH between the 2 groups of pigs were not attenuated by variation in pituitary response. It is concluded that adrenocortical responsiveness to ACTH is an accurate indicator of the perception of and the response to stress.     

Pituitary ACTH and adrenocortical secretion in critically ill dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pituitary-adrenal function in a population of critically ill dogs by measuring serial plasma concentrations of basal cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 20 critically ill dogs admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). PROCEDURE: Basal plasma cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH concentrations were measured for each dog within 24 hours of admission and daily until death, euthanasia, or discharge from the ICU. Established reference ranges for healthy dogs were used for comparison. Survival prediction index (SPI) scores were calculated for each dog within 24 hours of admission. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between initial concentrations of basal cortisol, ACTH-stimulated cortisol, and endogenous ACTH in 13 dogs that survived and those in 7 dogs that died. High initial basal endogenous ACTH concentrations were correlated with subsequent high values. Low basal ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations were predictive of higher subsequent values. All basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations were within or above the reference range in the 52 plasma samples collected from the 20 dogs during hospitalization. The SPI scores correlated with outcome (ie, alive or dead), but none of the plasma hormone concentrations correlated with SPI score or outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that none of the critically ill dogs in our study population developed adrenal insufficiency during hospitalization in the ICU.     

Immunity to Lancefield's group E. streptococcus: flank inoculation of susceptible and immune swine

Healthy swine flank inoculated with Lancefield's group E Streptococcus sp developed characteristic signs of streptococcal lymphadenitis of swine; however, abscesses were found in prefemoral lymph nodes rather than in cervical lymph nodes. After 6 months, swine (recovered from the cervical form of streptococcal lymphadenitis of swine caused by oral exposure to group E Streptococcus) were flank inoculated with group E Streptococcus sp. Only transitory signs of diseases developed and abscesses did not develop in the prefemoral lymph nodes.     

热应激对猪的影响研究进展

夏季南方高温高湿的气候条件极易使猪产生热应激,特别是集约化高密度的饲养环境,热应激带来的损失已经十分明显,因此研究行之有效的方法缓解热应激问题,降低损失,对养殖也具有重要经济意义。     

Heat stress assessment by swine related vocalizations

In intensive swine farms, stressful conditions in the climate, namely heat stress, affect animal behaviour and welfare. Pigs reared in commercial fattening housing suffer from temperature increases and from their inability to get free to refresh themselves any time they need to. The closed and dense environment further worsens this condition.     

Virus isolation and immune responses in susceptible swine exposed with pseudorabies virus (Shope strain).

Eighteen seronegative swine weighing from 9 to 11 kg were exposed intranasally with the Shope strain of pseudorabies virus (PRV) and were observed for 21 days in an experiment to detect virus shedding and immune responses. All swine had PRV in their nasal passages at 7 days after exposure; they also had precipitating antibodies to PRV as determined by the microimmunodiffusion test (MIDT) and very low levels of virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies. The PRV was isolated from only 2 swine at postexposure day 14; all swine were MIDT positive, and VN titers ranged from 4 to 128. Virus was not isolated from the swine at 21 days after exposure, but all were MIDT positive; VN titers ranged between 8 and greater than or equal to 256.     

Halothane induced vasomotion of coronary, renal and iliac arterial rings in malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine.

Animals were identified as porcine malignant hyperthermia susceptible by halothane testing and were slaughtered at 90 kg of body weight. Coronary, renal and iliac arteries were isolated, dissected and 5 mm rings were mounted in 20 mL organ baths with modified Krebs solution maintained at 37 degrees C and oxygenated with 95% O2, 5% CO2. Halothane at 0%, 0.5%, 2% and 5% concentration was bubbled in the organ baths and mechanical responses were recorded over a period of 25 min. Halothane free arteries remained quiescent and the arteries from the halothane sensitive and from the halothane resistant groups reacted similarly. All arteries in the presence of halothane responded with an initial contraction of short duration followed by a relaxation and both phenomena occurred in a concentration-dependent fashion. The iliac artery was the most sensitive to halothane and responded to 0.5% concentration while coronary and renal arteries maintained the resting tension of 4 g. These results demonstrate that vascular smooth muscle, like skeletal muscle and unlike respiratory smooth muscle, has a direct pharmacological response to halothane. These observations led to the postulate that halothane by its transient but significant vasoconstrictive action could be a contributing factor to initiate the fulminant reactions occurring in malignant hyperthermia.     

Compensatory increase in calcium extrusion activity of untreated lymphocytes from swine susceptible to malignant hyperthermia

We tested the hypothesis that lymphocytes from swine with susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH) had calcium extrusion activity higher than unaffected swine. Cytoplasmic concentration of ionized calicum was determined by use of dual emission spectrofluorometry and measurement of the ratio of free to calcium-bound form of the fluorescent calcium dye indo-1. Net calcium accumulation and unidirectional calcium extrusion rate were dependent on intracellular calcium concentration. Calcium extrusion from calcium-loaded lymphocytes was monitored while calcium influx was inhibited by suspending the cells in calcium-free medium with a calcium chelator. Net calcium accumulation of untreated lymphocytes was monitored in calcium-replete medium. A novel method of calculation of ionized calcium was used. This method confirmed our previous findings of lower ionized calcium concentration (86 +/- 40 and 370 +/- 216 nmol/L; P less than 0.01) and slower rates of calcium accumulation 39 +/- 16 and 127 +/- 52 nmol/L/min) in untreated lymphocytes from MH-susceptible swine compared with controls. These changes were attributable to calcium extrusion activity two- to three-fold higher in lymphocytes of MH-susceptible swine (154 +/- 36 and 408 +/- 47 nmol/L/min at 175 nmol/L; 972 +/- 111 and 1,690 +/- 505 nmol/L/min at 425 nmol/L). These data were compatible with our model of higher calcium extrusion activity being a compensatory adaptation of MH-susceptible swine lymphocytes to their hypersensitivity to stimuli that increase cytoplasmic calcium concentration.     

Effects of etomidate on adrenocortical function in canine surgical patients

Adrenocortical function in canine surgical patients given etomidate at 1 of 2 dosages (1.5 mg/kg of body weight or 3 mg/kg, IV) was evaluated and compared with that of dogs given thiopental (12 mg/kg, IV). The adrenocortical function was evaluated by use of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests and determination of plasma cortisol concentrations at 0 minute (base line) and 60 minutes after ACTH administration. At 24 hours before administration of either drug (ie, induction of anesthesia), each dog had an increase in plasma cortisol concentration when given ACTH. The ACTH stimulation tests were repeated 2 hours after induction of anesthesia. Dogs given thiopental had base-line plasma cortisol concentrations greater than preinduction base-line values, but did not increase plasma cortisol in response to ACTH stimulation. Postinduction ACTH stimulation tests in dogs given etomidate at either dose indicated base-line and 60-minute plasma cortisol concentrations that were not different from preinduction base-line values. Therefore, adrenocortical function was suppressed 2 and 3 hours after the administration of etomidate in canine surgical patients.     

猪源乳酸杆菌的安全性及抗逆性评价

对本实验室自行分离自猪肠道的3株乳酸杆菌进行安全性和抗逆性检测,采用体外法对分离自不同生理阶段猪(仔猪、生长肥育猪、母猪)肠黏膜和食糜的罗伊乳杆菌(Lactobacillus reuteri)LA5、植物乳杆菌(L.plantarum)L47和约氏乳杆菌(Ljohnsonii)L63进行生长特性、溶血性、有害代谢产物、...