Vacuolar degeneration of skeletal muscle in transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150

ORP150 is a hypoxic stress-induced protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150 (ORP-Tg) exhibit vacuolar degeneration in the heart. To determine whether vacuolization is present in skeletal muscle, we pathologically examined ORP-Tg mice. After 60 days of age, severe vacuolization was found in the soleus muscles of the hind legs of the ORP-Tg mice. Immunohistochemical staining of ORP150 revealed co-localization of ORP150 and vacuolization in the affected cells. Electron microscopy revealed a marked increase in the number of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticula (rER) and distention of the cisterna. These findings suggest that overexpression of ORP150 causes accumulation of ORP150 in the rER, resulting in vacuolar degeneration in the skeletal muscle of ORP-Tg mice.     

Regulation of free glutamate content in meat by dietary lysine in broilers

Regulation of taste is important for improving meat quality and glutamate (Glu) is one of the important taste‐active components in meat. Here, the effects of dietary lysine (Lys) content on taste‐active components in meat, especially free Glu, were investigated. Fourteen‐day‐old broiler chicks (Gallus gallus) were fed on diets containing 100% or 150% of the recommended Lys content for 10 days. Concentrations of free amino acids in plasma, muscle and liver were measured. The levels of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for enzymes related to Glu metabolism were determined in muscle and liver. The concentration of muscle metabolites was also determined. The free Glu content in muscle of chicks fed the Lys150% diet was increased by 44.0% compared with that in chicks fed the Lys100% diet (P < 0.01). The mRNA level of lysine α‐ketoglutarate reductase, which is involved in Lys degradation and Glu production, was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the Lys150% group. Metabolome analysis showed that the Lys degradation products, muscular saccharopine, pipecolic acid and α‐aminoadipic acid, were increased in the Lys150% group. Our results suggest that free Glu content in muscle is regulated by Lys degradation. These results suggest that a short‐term feeding of high‐Lys diet could improve the taste of meat.     

Spontaneous Occurrence of Hepatic Lipidosis in a Group of Laboratory Cats

Clinical signs consistent with hepatic lipidosis occurred in six obese adult laboratory cats, housed in a group cage, 6 to 7 weeks after changing their diet from a commercial to a purified diet. The affected cats lost 30 to 40% of their body weight in this time period. This rate of weight loss is compatible with little or no food intake. For treatment, 5 cats were tube-fed three or four times daily with a high-fat liquid diet supplemented with L-citrulline and choline. All cats tolerated the diet, which contained 35% protein on an energy basis. Substantial voluntary food intake resumed 12 to 16 days after initiating treatment. The sixth cat was euthanatized. These observations suggest that 6 to 7 weeks of anorexia, associated with 30 to 40% weight loss, can induce hepatic lipidosis in obese but otherwise healthy cats, and confirm that with appropriate management the prognosis for cats with hepatic lipidosis is favorable.     

Thioacetamide-induced Hepatocellular Necrosis Is Attenuated in Diet-induced Obese Mice

To assess modification of thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in mice fed a high-fat diet, male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal rodent diet or a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and then treated once intraperitoneally with thioacetamide at 50 mg/kg body weight. At 24 and 48 hours after administration, massive centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis was observed in mice fed the normal rodent diet, while the necrosis was less severe in mice fed the high-fat diet. In contrast, severe swelling of hepatocytes was observed in mice fed the high-fat diet. In addition, mice fed the high-fat diet displayed more than a 4-fold higher number of BrdU-positive hepatocytes compared with mice fed the normal rodent diet at 48 hours after thioacetamide treatment. To clarify the mechanisms by which the hepatic necrosis was attenuated, we investigated exposure to thioacetamide and one of its metabolites, the expression of CYP2E1, which converts thioacetamide to reactive metabolites, and the content of glutathione S-transferases in the liver. However, the reduced hepatocellular necrosis noted in mice fed the high-fat diet could not be explained by the differences in exposure to thioacetamide or thioacetamide sulfoxide or by differences in the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes. On the other hand, at 8 hours after thioacetamide administration, hepatic total glutathione in mice fed the high-fat diet was significantly lower than that in mice fed the normal diet. Hence, decreased hepatic glutathione amount is a candidate for the mechanism of the attenuated necrosis. In conclusion, this study revealed that thioacetamide-induced hepatic necrosis was attenuated in mice fed the high-fat diet.     

Salmonid B lymphocytes demonstrate organ dependent functional heterogeneity

The passive hemolytic plaque assay was used to examine the functional heterogeneity of antibody producing cells in salmonid immune organs. In this study, the antibody response to Vibrio anguillarum antigens was induced by the injection of a somatic antigen extract. This antigen was also coated onto sheep red blood cells (SRBC) for plaque forming cell (PFC) determination. Previous studies have demonstrated that this response is antibody dependent and antigen specific (Kaattari and Irwin, 1985). The present study was focused upon the heterogeneity of antibody producing cells that arise in the spleen, anterior and posterior kidney of immunized coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). The functional heterogeneity of lymphocytes was assessed by histogram analysis of the antigen inhibition profiles of the plaque forming responses. These analyses have revealed that the anterior kidney lymphocytes possess a much more restricted profile of antibody specificities than do lymphocytes from the posterior kidney or spleen. These data suggest that B cell repetoires differ among the immune organs of salmonids.     

不同来源寡糖和小肽对饲喂高脂日粮小鼠小肠绒毛形态的影响

试验主要通过建立高脂动物模型诱导小鼠消化道氧化应激,研究不同来源的小肽和寡糖对小鼠体内小肠绒毛形态结构的影响。选取72只雄性ICR小鼠,体重为(24±2)g,随机分为6组(n=12),分别饲喂基础日粮组(对照组)、高脂日粮组、0.5%胶原蛋白肽(CP)高脂日粮组、0.5%米蛋白肽(RP)高脂日粮组、0.5%甘露寡糖(MOS)高脂日粮组和0.5%壳寡糖(COS)高脂日粮组。6周后处死小鼠,用HE染色制作石蜡切片,光镜观察各组小鼠小肠组织结构的变化。结果表明,饲喂高脂日粮使小鼠小肠绒毛脱落严重,绒腺比变小。添加0.5% CP、0.5% RP、0.5% MOS和0.5% COS的高脂日粮组均能减轻小肠绒毛短缩融合、脱落现象,使高脂小鼠小肠绒毛有所增长,隐窝深度变浅,绒腺比增大,其中0.5% CP和0.5% MOS对肠道黏膜保护效果最好。     

The influence of dietary fat and non-specific immunotherapy on carcinogen-induced rat mammary adenocarcinoma

The incidence of mammary adenocarcinoma in Sprague-Dawley female rats, caused by the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene, was influenced by the level of dietary fat fed after exposure to carcinogen. Carcinogen was given by stomach tube to 50-day-old rats, and tumors were evaluated when rats were 9 months old. Rats on diets containing 20% unsaturated fat had a tumor incidence of 97%, while rats changed to a low-fat diet (2% unsaturated fat) three or four weeks after exposure to the carcinogen had an incidence of 45%. Some rats on each diet were given two treatments with the methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, either three and five weeks after carcinogen or four and six weeks after carcinogen. Tumor incidence in the treated group and the untreated group was the same when rats were maintained on the high-fat diet, but tumors in the treated group were larger and the disease was more severe by histological criteria. These tumors were more anaplastic and many were extensively infiltrated with lymphocytes compared to the untreated group. Tumor incidence was significantly lower in rats changed to the low-fat diet (45%) than in those on the high-fat diet (97%), and tumor incidence was reduced to 20% when rats changed to the low-fat diet were treated with methanol extraction residue. The treated group had less severe disease than the untreated group on the low-fat diet. Only half the tumor-bearing rats in this group had malignant tumors, and none were invasive. Methanol extraction residue protected most rats on the low-fat diet against mammary adenocarcinoma, and reduced the severity of disease in those rats that did develop tumors. Methanol extraction residue treatment provided no protection, and even increased the severity of disease, in rats on the high-fat diet.     

饲料和运动训练下大白鼠血脂变化研究

本文主要研究饲料和运动训练对大白鼠血脂的影响。大白鼠喂养高脂饲料,没有进行运动训练时显示大白鼠的高密度脂蛋白(α1-脂蛋白)降低,低密度脂蛋白(α2-脂蛋白)增加,血清总胆固醇增加。从高脂饲料变为基础饲料,大白鼠血清总胆固醇逐渐恢复正常。当大白鼠喂养高脂饲料的同时进行运动训练时发现,大白鼠α2-脂蛋白没有上升,血清总胆固醇变化与运动量、喂养高脂饲料的时间相关。大白鼠喂养高脂饲料,同时运动量较小时,大白鼠血清总胆固醇含量上升,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。大白鼠喂养高脂饲料同时运动量比较大时,喂养高脂饲料的时间长,血清总胆固醇没有显著性差异(P>0.05),喂养高脂饲料的时间比较短,血清总胆固醇降低。从高脂饲料变为基础饲料,同时进行运动训练,大白鼠的血清总胆固醇下降,血清甘油三酯和运动量变化相关,运动量大,血清甘油三酯降低。     

Effects of diet on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of dietary modification on clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs. DESIGN: Blinded randomized crossover study. ANIMALS: 21 dogs with EPI. PROCEDURE: Dogs were fed the diet they received at home for 2 weeks. Thereafter, they received 3 special diets (a high-fat diet, a high-fiber diet, and a highly digestible low-residue diet) for 3 weeks each. Owners scored dogs daily for the last 2 weeks of each 3-week period for severity of 6 clinical signs including appetite, defecation frequency, consistency of feces, borborygmus, flatulence, and coprophagia. An EPI index was calculated for each dog by adding the daily scores for each clinical sign. RESULTS: Significant differences in daily EPI indices among diets were observed in 20 dogs. The original diet appeared to be the most suitable in 8 dogs, whereas the high-fat diet was most suitable in 5 dogs, the high-fiber diet was most suitable in 4 dogs, and the low-residue diet was most suitable in 2 dogs. In 1 dog, the lowest EPI index score was the same during the original diet and the high-fat diet feeding periods. One dog did not complete the feeding period for the high-fiber diet. Differences in mean EPI indices among diets were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that responses to different diets varied among individual dogs. Because responses to the feeding regimens were unpredictable, it is suggested that feeding regimens be individually formulated for dogs with EPI.     

Buriti pulp oil did not improve high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in c57bl/6 mice

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are growing in many parts of the world, becoming public health problems. It is proposed that foods with functional properties can assist in the treatment of these diseases. Crude buriti pulp oil (BPO) is a food traditionally consumed by residents in the Pantanal, Cerrado and Brazilian Amazon. It is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, emerging as a potential functional food. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of BPO on metabolic disorders caused by a high-fat diet. Four groups of C57BL6 mice were used, a lean group with AIN-93M diet and control oil supplementation, an obese group with a high-fat diet and control oil supplementation, and two obese groups with a high-fat diet and BPO supplementation in the amounts of 50 and 100 mg/kg. BPO worsened the metabolic state caused by the high-fat diet, worsening risk factors associated with MetS, as the abdominal circumference and retroperitoneal fat, serum levels of total cholesterol, uric acid, alanine transaminase, glucose and triglycerides, and renal fat, in addition to changes in glycaemic control and oxidative stress markers. C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and supplemented with BPO presented a worsening in metabolic risk factors associated with MetS.     

高脂高糖饮食对小型猪肠道微生物的影响

高能饮食是肥胖发生的重要诱因之一,肠道微生物在其中发挥重要作用.为探究高脂高糖饮食过程中肠道微生物组成的动态变化并筛选与肥胖发展密切相关的肠道微生物,本研究以广西巴马小型猪为动物模型,随机分为普通饮食组(CN组)和高脂高糖饮食组(HFD组),进行为期30 d的饮食干预,分别在干预0、7、15和30 d时收集粪便样品,利...     

The effects of dietary fat and bird age on the weights of eggs and egg components in the laying hen

1. A low-fat diet or an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous high-fat diet containing 55 g maize oil/kg were fed to laying hens at different stages during the laying year in two experiments. 2. Feeding the high-fat diet to young hens resulted in a rapid increase of 2.5 g in egg weight, made up of increases in both yolk and albumen weights. 3. Switching the diets at 50 weeks caused changes in egg weight that were accounted for entirely by changes in egg albumen weight. 4. Feeding the high-fat diet from 46 weeks in a second experiment increased egg and egg albumen weights by 1.26 and 1.34 g respectively. 5. The increase in egg weight with age was associated with a greater increase in the proportion of yolk, at the expense of albumen, compared to egg weight increases related to dietary fat. 6. It is concluded that dietary fatty acids increase egg weight by a mechanism different from that causing age-related increases in weight and that the mechanism involves a stimulation of oviduct protein synthesis.     

Persistent plaque formation in experimental murine brucellosis

Primary plaque forming cells (PFC) are present in spleens of mice 150 days or more following an infection with Brucella abortus. The development of primary plaques in mice long after antigenic challenge is an uncommon phenomenon, unlike the plaque formation (PF) induced by a non-living antigen. The mechanism of this persistent PF has been now investigated in light of a prolonged persistence of the corresponding antigen in tissues. Living E. coli, inoculated in massive dose into mice, survived in their organs for a brief time, while concomitantly PFC disappeared by day sixteen. Infection with B. abortus, in contrast, induced persistent presence of bacteria in the organs of inoculated mice and stimulated long lasting plaque formation. Only direct plaques were found during all stages of infection. Repeated inoculations of dead B. abortus also induced continuous production of primary plaques, whereas an interval in supply of the antigen resulted in disappearance of PFC. Rifampin (40 mg/kg) eliminated bacteria from the treated mice, which resulted in the disappearance of primary PFC. It seems likely that long lasting PF in B. abortus infected mice is connected with a constant antigenic stimulus operating in the carrier state.     

饲料中不同脂肪含量对浏阳黑山羊肝功能的影响

目的旨在探索饲料中不同脂肪含量对本地浏阳黑山羊肝功能相关生化指标的影响。方法选取健康的浏阳黑山羊15只,分为对照组、高脂组Ⅰ和高脂组Ⅱ。根据国际标准方法检测饲料中的脂肪含量,并配制不同脂肪含量的饲料饲喂浏阳黑山羊,其中,对照组饲料中脂肪含量为3.8%,高脂组Ⅰ饲料中脂肪含量为15.2%,高脂组Ⅱ饲料中脂肪含量为7.6%。分别于饲喂后的第0天、第15天、第30天采集血液样本,并检测血清中丙氨酸转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、血清总蛋白（TP）、甘油三酯（TG）和胆固醇（TC）含量。结果在饲喂不同脂肪含量饲料30 d后,高脂组Ⅰ与高脂组Ⅱ山羊体重均显著升高（P<0.05）,而试验前后对照组山羊体重无显著差异（P>0.05）。血清生化检测结果显示,与对照组比较,高脂组Ⅰ浏阳黑山羊血清中AST、ALP、TP含量显著升高（P<0.05）,而ALT、TC及TG含量无显著差异（P>0.05)。高脂组Ⅱ浏阳黑山羊血清中ALT、AST、ALP、TC含量显著升高（P<0.05）,TP含量无显著差异（P>0.05),而TG含量显著（P<0.05）下降。结论饲料中添加脂肪可促进山羊增重,但添加过多会引起山羊肝功能相关生化指标异常。该试验可为确定饲料中脂肪含量的合理配比提供参考。     

Formation of zinc protoporphyrin IX in Parma-like ham without nitrate or nitrite

Zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZPP) is a characteristic red pigment in meat products that are manufactured without the addition of a curing agent such as nitrate or nitrite. To examine the effects of impurities such as mineral components in sea salt on the formation of ZPP, we manufactured Parmatype dry-cured hams that were salted with refined salt or sea salt and examined the involvement of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in the formation of ZPP. The content of ZPP was increased drastically after 40 weeks. Microscopic observation showed strong fluorescence caused by ZPP muscle fiber after 40 weeks. Conversely, heme content varied considerably during processing. ORP increased during processing. However, there was no obvious difference between ham salted with refined salt and that salted with sea salt. Therefore, it was concluded that impurities in sea salt were not involved in the formation of ZPP.     

Promoting Effects of Sucrose-rich Diet on N-Nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine-induced Pancreatic Carcinogenesis in Hamsters

It has been reported that there is an association between pancreatic cancer and obesity, impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes based on excess dietary fat and sugar intakes. A number of studies have suggested that a high-fat diet increases development of carcinomas in various organs and possible risk factors for pancreatic cancer. However, how an excess sugar intake promotes pancreatic carcinogenesis is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the influence of an excess sugar intake on pancreatic carcinogenesis by administration of a sucrose-rich diet in which starch was replaced by sucrose in order to contain the same calories and other nutrients. Two similar experiments were performed. Six-week-old male Syrian golden hamsters were given N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) at a dose of 50 and 20 mg/kg body weight as a carcinogen in Week 0 and 1, respectively. In Week 2, the animals were divided into control and experimental groups. In experiment 1, 15 animals received a control diet or sucrose-rich diet in which 100% of the starch was replaced by sucrose, respectively. Since five animals fed on the sucrose-rich diet died by Week 12, the diet was changed to a sucrose-rich diet in which 50% of the starch was replaced by sucrose. In experiment 2, 15 animals received a control diet or sucrose-rich diet in which 50 or 20% of the starch was replaced by sucrose, respectively. All animals were sacrificed 25 weeks after the start of the experiment, and histological examination of the pancreas was performed. No significant difference was seen in the body weight at the end of the experiment. There were no significant differences in the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels between the control and sucrose-rich diet groups in experiments 1 and 2. The incidence and number of carcinomas increased in hamsters fed the sucrose-rich diet compared with the control diet in experiments 1 and 2. These results suggest that an excess sucrose intake may promote the development of pancreatic cancer in hamsters.     

Effect of capsaicin on cholecystokinin and neuropeptide Y expressions in the brain of high-fat diet fed rats

Capsaicin, one of the pungent principles of hot pepper, has been reported to cause a cessation of increases in body weight and fat gain induced by high-fat feeding. Especially, in body weight and feeding control, cholecystokinin (CCK) has been well known as a satiety signal and neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been described as one of the most potent orexigenic signals. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of capsaicin on CCK- and NPY- immunoreactivities (IR) in the brain of high-fat fed rats. The animals were divided into normal-fat diet (NF), high-fat diet (HF) and high-fat diet containing capsaicin (HF-CAP) groups. Mean body weight gain (MBWG) of HF group was higher than that of NF group. However, in HF-CAP group, MBWG was lower than that of HF group. CCK-IR in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), median eminence (ME), arcuate nucleus (ARC) and amygdala was not prominent in all the groups. In cerebral cortex, CCK-IR was more reduced in HF-CAP group than in the other groups. In the HF-CAP group, NPY-IR in the hypothalamic nuclei, amygdala and cerebral cortex was more poorly found than in the NF and HF groups. It is concluded that (1) NPY-IR may react more sensitively on capsaicin than CCK-IR, (2) no rapid increase of body weight in capsaicin treated rats may result from the diminished food intake through the low expression of NPY in hypothalamus in HF-CAP group.     

枯草芽孢杆菌B1对饲喂高脂饲粮小鼠抗氧化功能的影响

本试验旨在研究枯草芽孢杆菌B1对饲喂高脂饲粮小鼠抗氧化功能的影响。将45只体重相近[(35±1)g]的普通ICR小鼠随机分为对照组(基础饲粮)、高脂组(高脂饲粮)、试验组[添加质量分数为0.1%枯草芽孢杆菌B1的高脂饲粮],每组3个重复,每个重复5只,饲养30 d。观察枯草芽孢杆菌B1对高脂饲粮小鼠肠黏膜、肝脏和血清的抗氧化能力、氧化应激状态的影响。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,高脂组小鼠的肠黏膜总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)显著减少了28.34%(P<0.01),肝脏超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和硫氧还蛋白还原酶活性分别显著降低了22.91%(P<0.05)、37.35%(P<0.01)、47.47%(P<0.01)和36.42%(P<0.05);血清还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量、GSH-Px和抗超氧阴离子自由基(O2-.)活性分别显著下降了30.73%(P<0.01)、47.26%(P<0.01)和8.02%(P<0.01);肝脏8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OhdG)含量显著增加了67.87%(P<0.01)。2)与高脂组相比,试验组小鼠的肠黏膜T-AOC显著增加了32.44%(P<0.05),肝脏GSH含量和CAT活性分别显著上升了38.27%(P<0.05)和53.01%(P<0.05);血清T-AOC、GSH含量、GSH-Px和抗O2-.活性分别显著提高了10.72%(P<0.05)、38.01%(P<0.05)、51.98%(P<0.01)和13.45%(P<0.01);肝脏丙二醛、8-OHdG含量和黄嘌呤氧化酶活性分别显著下降了16.01%(P<0.05)、37.52%(P<0.01)和16.25%(P<0.05)。由此可见,高脂饲粮降低了小鼠肠黏膜、肝脏和血清的抗氧化功能;添加枯草芽孢杆菌B1对饲喂高脂饲粮小鼠的抗氧化功能具有一定的增强作用,并能减少机体的氧化应激状态,较好地保护组织细胞,免受氧化损伤。     

枯草芽孢杆菌B10对饲喂高脂日粮小鼠抗氧化功能的影响

将45只体质量（35±1）g的普通ICR小鼠随机分为对照组（基础日粮）、高脂组（高脂日粮）、处理组（添加0．1％芽孢杆菌B10的高脂日粮）。每组3个重复,每个重复5只。结果显示,高脂日粮组小鼠的试验末期体质量和平均日增重高于对照组和处理组。与对照组相比,高脂组小鼠肠黏膜总抗氧化能力显著降低了28．34％（P〈0．01）;肝脏中TrxR、SOD、GSH—Px和CAT活力分别降低了36．42％（P〈0．05）、22．91％（P〈0．05）、37．34％（P〈0．01）和47．47％（P〈0．01）,血清中抗超氧阴离子、GSH含量、GSH—Px活性分别下降8．206％（P〈0．05）、30．73％（P〈0．05）、47．26％（P〈0．01）。与高脂组相比,处理组肝脏的抗氧化能力显著改善,GSH—Px活力提高了141．35％（P〈0．01）,MDA含量降低了26．85％（P〈0．01）。血清中总抗氧化能力、GSH含量、GSH—Px活力分别提高9．46％（P〈0．05）、28．50％（P〈0．05）、39．95％（P〈0．01）。结果表明,枯草芽孢杆菌B10能够显著提高不同组织中部分抗氧化酶活力,缓解高脂日粮引起的小鼠氧化应激,在肝脏组织中尤为明显。     

Assessment of Hull-less Barley as a Locally Grown Swine Feed Ingredient in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States

Crossbred pigs (six replicate pens of four pigs per treatment, avg. initial BW = 38 kg) were used in a 6-wk growth and digestibility trial to assess a hull-less barley adapted for the mid Atlantic region of the U.S. as the primary ingredient in pelleted diets for growing pigs. There were five experimental diets: 1) a corn-soybean meal-based diet, 2) a diet containing 46% hull-less barley and 1.6% added fat, 3) a diet containing 41% hulled barley and 4.1% added fat, 4) a diet containing 46% hulled barley and 1.6% added fat, and 5) a diet containing 46% wheat and 0.68% added fat. For diets based on small grains, a fixed inclusion rate of 25% corn was used. With the exception of Diet 4, all diets were formulated to be iso-lysinic and iso-caloric. Diet type had no effect (P>0.10) on ADFI or ADG. Pigs fed the hulled barley, high-fat diet (Diet 3) had slightly improved feed efficiency (P<0.05) relative to pigs fed the corn, hull-less barley or hulled barley, low-fat diets. Only minor differences in digestibility of DM, energy, and protein were observed among the corn, hull-less barley, hulled barley, high-fat, and wheat diets. The digestibility of these components in the hulled barley, low-fat diet (Diet 4) was 3.9 to 6.9 percentage units less (P<0.05) than in the other diets. These results demonstrate that good quality hulled and hull-less barley adapted for the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. can be used at a relatively high inclusion rate in pelleted grower pig diets and produce growth performance comparable with similar diets based mainly on corn or wheat.