Copper oxide needles administered during early pregnancy improves the copper status of ewes and their lambs

AIM: To determine the effect of copper oxide (CuO) needles administered orally to ewes in early pregnancy on the copper (Cu) status of ewes throughout gestation and lactation, and of their lambs from birth to weaning. METHODS: In mid-April, after mating, 12 twin-bearing ewes were given an oral capsule containing 5 g CuO needles while 12 others served as untreated controls. Changes in Cu status were monitored by determining serum and liver Cu concentrations on Days 1, 62, 117, 153, 185 and 216 in the ewes, and at 1, 36, 68 and 99 days of age for lambs. Pasture herbage samples were collected at about 60-day intervals for Cu, molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe) and sulphur (S) determinations. RESULTS: Copper status of the ewe flock was adequate, as initial mean serum and liver Cu concentrations were 15 micromol/L and 1,060 micromol/kg fresh tissue, respectively. The CuO needles did not affect serum Cu concentrations of the ewes or their lambs. Mean serum Cu concentration of all lambs at birth was about half that of ewes (8 vs 17 micromol/L), regardless of Cu supplementation, and not until at least 68 days of age was it similar to the dams'. Liver Cu concentrations of lambs at birth were also lower than that of the ewes (380 vs 640 micromol/kg fresh tissue among the controls), but changed little over time. CuO treatment increased liver Cu concentration in ewes for at least 185 days and in lambs for 36 days (p<0.05). Among untreated ewes, there was a seasonal decline in mean liver Cu concentrations, which were highest in autumn and lowest in early spring (1,060 vs 370 micromol/kg fresh tissue). The mean pasture mineral concentrations were Cu 5.7, Mo 0.48, Fe 194 and S 2,900 mg/kg dry matter (DM). CONCLUSIONS: CuO needles administered to ewes in early pregnancy increased their Cu status through gestation and early lactation, and the Cu status of their lambs for 36 days from birth. Serum Cu concentration was not affected by treatment but a marked rise was observed in all lambs between birth and 10 weeks of age. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Copper deficiency in young lambs may be conveniently and effectively prevented by treating ewes with CuO needles during early pregnancy. The serum Cu concentration in lambs <8 weeks old may not reflect the Cu status of the flock.     

Pine needle abortion in cattle: associated changes in serum cortisol, estradiol and progesterone

Nineteen spring-calving cows were used in an experiment to study the effect of feeding pine needles on incidence of premature parturitions (abortions) and the associated changes in serum cortisol, estradiol-17 beta and progesterone. The study was conducted over 2 years (1983, seven cows fed pine needles and three controls; 1984, six cows fed pine needles and three controls). Experimental feeding started at an average of 250 d of gestation and continued until parturition. Daily blood samples were taken from the start of feeding through 2 to 4 d after parturition. Feeding pine needles shortened gestation by 16 d and induced a premature normal rise in cortisol and estradiol-17 beta associated with parturition. Cortisol concentrations were also high at the beginning of the bleeding period and remained higher in pine needle-fed cows. An abrupt rise in progesterone concentration occurred after the start of pine needle feeding which then decreased sharply for 7 to 8 d before parturition and did not decrease to control concentrations until after parturition. We conclude that feeding pine needles to pregnant cows in late gestation causes abortions and that these abortions are directly caused by or are associated with changes in steroid metabolism.     

Pine needle abortion in cattle: pathological observations

Grazing of ponderosa pine needles by pregnant cows may cause abortion. The abortions are frequently accompanied by retained placenta. Death is not uncommon in cows that abort. Ten cows were placed on a ponderosa pine needle experiment. Six of these cows were fed pine needles and four served as controls. All six cows receiving pine needles aborted, and three of them died shortly after the abortion. Death was due to a severe septicemia. Although the cows were necropsied shortly after death, all tissues were necrotic. Other lesions are described. Three of the six calves died shortly after the abortion. The other three were small and weak but survived due to intensive care.     

松针多糖对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞免疫调节作用的研究

本试验旨在研究松针多糖对正常状态及脂多糖(LPS)刺激状态下小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的免疫调节作用。试验采用不同浓度的松针多糖作用于正常的和经LPS刺激的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,设空白对照组(加入100μL RPMI-1640培养基)、阳性对照组(加入100μL终浓度为5μg/m L的LPS)、松针多糖组(分别加入100μL 25、50、100、200μg/m L的松针多糖)和LPS+松针多糖组(加入与松针多糖组相同浓度的松针多糖和终浓度为5μg/m L的LPS,液体终体积为200μL)。噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测细胞活力,中性红吞噬试验检测巨噬细胞吞噬能力,Griess法检测一氧化氮(NO)的分泌量,酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法检测巨噬细胞培养上清液中白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)的分泌量。结果表明:1)对空白对照组相比,各松针多糖组巨噬细胞相对增殖率均显著或极显著提高(P0.05或P0.01),50、100和200μg/m L松针多糖组巨噬细胞中性红吞噬率显著或极显著提高(P0.05或P0.01),各LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞中性红吞噬率均极显著提高(P0.01),200μg/m L松针多糖组巨噬细胞NO分泌量极显著提高(P0.01),50、100和200μg/m L松针多糖组巨噬细胞TNF-α和IL-1β分泌量显著或极显著提高(P0.05或P0.01),50、100和200μg/m L松针多糖组巨噬细胞IL-10分泌量极显著降低(P0.01)。2)与阳性对照组相比,各松针多糖组巨噬细胞相对增殖率均极显著降低(P0.01),100和200μg/m L LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞中性红吞噬率极显著升高(P0.01),50、100和200μg/m L LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞NO分泌量极显著提高(P0.01),各LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞TNF-α分泌量显著或极显著提高(P0.05或P0.01),50、100和200μg/m L LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞IL-1β分泌量显著或极显著提高(P0.05或P0.01),100和200μg/m L LPS+松针多糖组巨噬细胞IL-10分泌量极显著降低(P0.01)。由此可见,松针多糖通过发挥其促炎作用调节巨噬细胞的免疫功能,进而增强机体抗疾病的能力。     

Ponderosa pine needle-induced parturition in cattle.

Needles of the Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) induce premature parturition in cattle when ingested during late pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. The closer to term, the more likely that pine needles will induce parturition. Experiments were designed to describe the clinical signs and behavior associated with ingestion of pine needles. Pine needles adversely affected only pregnant cows and did not seem to affect nonpregnant, cycling cows, sheep, goats, or rabbits. Premature parturition was more likely if cows ingested the needles after the 8th mo of pregnancy, if they ingested pine needles over a period of 3 d or more, and if cows ate a relatively large amount of pine needles (about 2.2 to 2.7 kg/d). A synthetic progesterone, melangesterol acetate, and a prostaglandin inhibitor (ketoprofen) seemed to be of some prophylactic benefit; however, further research is required to assess the practicality of the approach and the magnitude of the benefit. Ponderosa pine bark and new-growth branch tips, which seem to be more potent inducers of premature parturition, may be useful in the extraction and identification of the parturifacient component(s).     

Effect of body condition on consumption of pine needles (Pinus ponderosa) by beef cows

We determined whether cows in low (LBC) or high body condition (HBC) would consume different amounts of green pine needles (Pinus ponderosa). Cows (mature; open Hereford and Hereford x Angus) were fed a maintenance basal diet (alfalfa pellets) for Exp. 1 and 2; during Exp. 3 and 4, cows were fed high-protein and high-energy diets, respectively. Experiment 5 was a grazing study on rangeland during winter in South Dakota; diets were determined by using bite counts. Mean BCS (1 = emaciated, 9 = obese) was 7.5 for HBC cows and <4.0 for LBC cows during the experiments. During Exp. 1, LBC cows consumed more (P = 0.001) pine needles than did HBC cows (5.5 +/- 0.25 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.14 g/kg of BW daily, respectively). During Exp. 2, there was a day x treatment interaction (P = 0.001) as LBC cows consumed variable, but greater, amounts of pine needles than did HBC cows (3.7 +/- 0.19 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.12 g/kg of BW daily, respectively). When fed a high-protein/low-energy diet, LBC cows ate more (P = 0.04) pine needles than did HBC cows. When fed a low-protein/high-energy diet, there was a day x treatment interaction (P = 0.001) because LBC cows consumed more pine needles than did HBC cows for the first 3 d of the study, and then consumption by LBC animals decreased during the last 4 d. These experiments suggest that the protein:energy ratio may be an important factor in the ability of cows to tolerate terpenes, and that cows were not able to sustain an increased quantity of needle consumption on a low-protein diet. During the 25-d grazing study, there was a day x treatment interaction (P = 0.001) as LBC animals selected more pine needles (up to 25% of daily bites) on some days compared with HBC cows. Weather influenced pine needle consumption because pine needle bites by LBC cows were related (r(2) = 0.60; P = 0.001) to days of greater snow depth and lower minimum daily temperatures. Both LBC and HBC cows increased selection of pine needles from trees during cold, snowy weather, but the magnitude of the increase was greater for LBC cows. The LBC cows consumed more pine needles than did HBC cows in all experiments, except when cows were fed a low-protein diet. This study indicates that both body condition and protein intake are important factors in pine needle consumption.     

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)     

Embryotoxic effects of pine needles and pine needle extracts.

A heat stable toxin present in needles of ponderosa pine was found to be soluble in methanol, ethanol, chloroform hexanes and 1-butanol. The embryotoxic effects of fresh green pine needles and a chloroform/methanol extract were determined by measuring embryo resorption in pregnant mice. Autoclaving the needles and extract for 1 hour prior to feeding enhanced the embryoresorptive effect by 28% and 32%, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the embryo resorptive dose (ERD50) of heat stable toxin for 1 mouse was 8.95 gms. for fresh green pine needles and 6.46 gms. for autoclaved green pine needles. In addition to embryocidal effects, feeding of the toxin resulted in significant weight loss in adult mice.     

Pine needle abortion in cattle: a review and report of 1973-1984 research

Research has verified field observations that cows grazing ponderosa pine needles may abort. The incidence and nature of the abortions produced experimentally simulate very closely those reported by livestock producers and veterinarians. The incidence of experimentally-produced abortions varied markedly from year to year even though the needles were collected in the same general area each year. This suggests that the abortifacient compound(s) in the needles vary from year to year, probably due to environmental and site conditions. The impact of stress (cold and nutrition) as a factor in the abortions was examined. It was concluded that the only effects would be on the willingness of cows to eat the needles. The pine needle abortion problem, what is known of the etiology, and mechanisms of the abortion are reviewed. The usefulness of bioassay systems to study pine needle abortions is discussed.     

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)     

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.     

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.     

松针提取物药理作用研究进展

松针提取物富含维生素C、维生素E、类胡萝卜素、松针类黄酮、酚类化合物等生物活性物质,许多研究表明,松针提取物具有降血脂、抗氧化、抗炎、护肝、抗癌等作用。论文综述了近年来松针提取物的主要活性物质,以及主要药理作用研究进展,为进一步开发利用松针资源提供参考。     

Copper heptonate for the treatment of hypocupraemia in sheep

Trials were carried out to compare the efficacy of copper heptonate with other available therapeutic products. On nine farms with a copper deficiency problem, over 2000 ewes were treated in mid-pregnancy. All the treatments increased whole blood copper levels and plasma caeruloplasmin (ferroxidase) activity in ewes, and protected their lambs from swayback. The lambs from ewes treated with copper heptonate and copper oxide needles had significantly higher blood copper levels than lambs from untreated control ewes. Treatment with copper heptonate was shown to have a therapeutic index of at least 5 in Swaledale ewes of normal copper status. In two groups of Welsh mountain sheep from different backgrounds, both with normal blood copper levels before treatment, the therapeutic indices were 3 to 5.     

草地植物添加剂对肉牛生长性能的影响

通过对草地植物添加剂的最佳配方、最适量以及肉牛的最佳育肥方式对肉牛日增重、屠宰率、净肉率以及肉品质和风味的影响进行研究,旨在分析草地植物添加剂对肉牛生长性能的影响。结果表明,草地植物添加剂能促进肉牛的快速生长,提高肉牛的日增重,其中对于犊牛(C)、架子牛(S)和基础母牛(B)日增重效果最明显的分别是草地植物添加剂C3(44%松针+24%艾叶+12%黄芪+8%微量元素)(P0.01)、S3(48%松针+16%艾叶+8%大蒜+10%黄芪+18%微量元素)(P0.01)和B3(36%松针+14%艾叶+10%大蒜+12%黄芪+28%微量元素)(P0.01);草地植物添加剂的最适量的筛选试验表明,各年龄段的肉牛的草地植物添加剂的添加量占日粮的3.5%育肥效果最明显(P0.01);在北方冷季最佳的育肥方式为舍饲育肥。综上,在北方的寒冷季节养殖肉牛以占日粮3.5%的第3类(C3、S3、B3)草地植物添加剂配合舍饲增肥效果最明显。     

Two cases of abnormal genital tracts in cattle and adiscussion of their origins

Equivalent doses of sodium selenate and sodium selenite were equally effective in preventing selenium deficiency in ewes on a diet containing a very low level of selenium.

There was a wide variation between animals in blood-level response to a single dose of selenium, and in the time for which it would satisfy ewe requirement. When ewes were fed a hay ration containing a very low level of selenium, a single dose equivalent to 5 mg selenium would give protection for at least 6 months when injected subcutaneously compared with 4 months when administered orally.

There was no significant difference in the response to subcutaneous injection of sodium selenate solution with needles of different sizes. There was no difference in effect between administration of 1 ml into the sheep's mouth or of 10 ml of a 1 in 10 dilution directly down the animal's throat.     

Isocupressic acid, an abortifacient component of Cupressus macrocarpa

Anecdotal reports suggest that abortion occurs in New Zealand cattle after ingestion of macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa). The clinical signs observed are similar to those seen in abortions caused by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws). Isocupressic acid has been identified as an abortifacient component of the needles of ponderosa pine. Macrocarpa collected from the Palmerston North area contained 0.89% and 1.24% isocupressic acid, compared to 1.70% isocupressic acid in Ponderosa pine needles from Oregon in the United States as analysed by the USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory. These findings support observations that macrocarpa causes abortion in late gestation cattle in New Zealand and suggest the causal agent is probably isocupressic acid.     

Isocupressic acid,an abortifacient component of Cupressus macrocarpa

Anecdotal reports suggest that abortion occurs in New Zealand cattle after ingestion of macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa). The clinical signs observed are similar to those seen in abortions caused by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws). Isocupressic acid has been identified as an abortifacient component of the needles of ponderosa pine. Macrocarpa collected from the Palmerston North area contained 0.89% and 1.24% isocupressic acid, compared to 1.70% isocupressic acid in Ponderosa pine needles from Oregon in the United States as analysed by the USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory. These findings support observations that macrocarpa causes abortion in late gestation cattle in New Zealand and suggest the causal agent is probably isocupressic acid.     

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。     

Evaluation of sodium carboxymethylcellulose for prevention of adhesions after uterine trauma in ewes.

Efficacy of a 1% solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) infused into the peritoneal cavity of ewes was evaluated for prevention of intraperitoneal adhesions resulting from surgery of the reproductive tract. Six ewes were assigned to each of 4 groups. Group-1 ewes were controls that underwent ventral midline celiotomy and exploration of the abdominal viscera. Group-2 ewes were treated similarly to group-1 ewes, except that a 1% solution of CMC (14 ml/kg of body weight) was infused into the peritoneal cavity. This group was studied to determine whether CMC would cause changes in the peritoneal cavity. Group-3 comprised ewes representing a uterine trauma model. Ewes underwent abdominal exploration, but in addition had a standard embryo collection technique performed on 1 uterine horn and hysterotomy performed on the opposite uterine horn. Group-4 ewes were treated like group-3 ewes, except that, similar to treatment of group-2 ewes, CMC was infused into the peritoneal cavity. All ewes were euthanatized and necropsied 12 to 14 days after surgery. Abdominal adhesions were evaluated, and an adhesion severity score was assigned to each ewe on the basis of number and severity of the adhesions. Ewes of all groups had abdominal adhesions. Significantly (P less than 0.05) lower adhesion score was observed in ewes given CMC (groups 2 and 4) than in the adhesion model (group 3). Significant difference was not observed in adhesion score when groups 1, 2, or 4 were compared. Though not statistically significant, fewer adhesions were observed in ewes of groups 2 and 4 than in group-1 ewes.