Tilapia protein hydrolyzate improves growth performance,protein absorption and antioxidant status in Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

This study evaluated the substitution of fish meal with tilapia protein hydrolyzate (TPH) in diets for Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) by verifying the effects on growth, body composition, blood and biochemical parameters, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Five isoproteic and isoenergetic diets (37% crude protein, 3,800 kcal/kg) were produced with different substitution levels of TPH (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) for fishmeal. The hydrolyzate was obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis from carcasses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which were exposed to swine pepsin enzyme at 36°C for four hours. The experimental design was completely randomised with five treatments and four replications. The inclusion of 20% TPH in diets for silver catfish increased the growth of Silver catfish juveniles. At levels above 5%, there was an increase in body protein deposition and the efficiency of oxidative metabolism.     

Purebred-crossbred genetic parameters for reproductive traits in swine

For swine breeding programs, testing and selection programs are usually within purebred (PB) populations located in nucleus units that are generally managed differently and tend to have a higher health level than the commercial herds in which the crossbred (CB) descendants of these nucleus animals are expected to perform. This approach assumes that PB animals selected in the nucleus herd will have CB progeny that have superior performance at the commercial level. There is clear evidence that this may not be the case for all traits of economic importance and, thus, including data collected at the commercial herd level may increase the accuracy of selection for commercial CB performance at the nucleus level. The goal for this study was to estimate genetic parameters for five maternal reproductive traits between two PB maternal nucleus populations (Landrace and Yorkshire) and their CB offspring: Total Number Born (TNB), Number Born Alive (NBA), Number Born Alive > 1 kg (NBA > 1 kg), Total Number Weaned (TNW), and Litter Weight at Weaning (LWW). Estimates were based on single-step GBLUP by analyzing any two combinations of a PB and the CB population, and by analyzing all three populations jointly. The genomic relationship matrix between the three populations was generated by using within-population allele frequencies for relationships within a population, and across-population allele frequencies for relationships of the CB with the PB animals. Utilization of metafounders for the two PB populations had no effect on parameter estimates, so the two PB populations were assumed to be genetically unrelated. Joint analysis of two (one PB plus CB) vs. three (both PB and CB) populations did not impact estimates of heritability, additive genetic variance, and genetic correlations. Heritabilities were generally similar between the PB and CB populations, except for LWW and TNW, for which PB populations had about four times larger estimates than CB. Purebred-crossbred genetic correlations (rpc) were larger for Landrace than for Yorkshire, except for NBA > 1 kg. These estimates of rpc indicate that there is potential to improve selection of PB animals for CB performance by including CB information for all traits in the Yorkshire population, but that noticeable additional gains may only occur for NBA > 1 kg and TNW in the Landrace population.     

Ovaprim treatment promotes oocyte development and milt fertilization rate in diploid and triploid African catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus)</Emphasis>

Triploid fish are increasingly used in aquaculture because they are generally unable to reproduce successfully. Energy is channeled into somatic growth rather than gonadal development, and in the event of escape, the animals are unlikely to breed successfully among themselves or with wild conspecifics. This study tested the ability of recently matured triploid African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to produce and fertilize eggs with and without ovaprim treatment. Triploid females did not show the increase in ovary size observed in diploid members of the same cohort between 8 and 9 months of age, or the coincident decrease in visceral fat deposits, and this was unaffected by up to 5 weekly i.m. injections of 0.5 ml kg⁻¹ Ovaprim. However, we observed advanced vitellogenin (Vtg) sequestration in oocytes of triploid females, albeit to a lesser degree and with lesser cortical alveoli, compared to oocytes from diploid cohort members. Histological sections revealed a positive trend of oocyte development up to the third weekly ovaprim injection followed by a negative gonadal development in weeks four and five. Milt from triploid males injected 9–12 h earlier with 0.25 ml kg⁻¹ ovaprim i.m. fertilized more diploid eggs than milt from untreated triploid males (30 vs. 20%), but none of the developing embryos of triploid paternity survived to hatch. In contrast, milt of diploid males fertilized 49% of eggs, and 20% of the developing embryos hatched successfully. These rates were improved in ovaprim-injected diploid males to 70% fertilization and 33% hatch. This study demonstrates potential of overcoming non-viability of eggs from triploid female African catfish, and enhancing the ability of triploid milt to fertilize eggs.     

Relationship Between Degree of Starch Gelatinization and Quality Attributes of Parboiled Rice During Steaming

Paddy rice samples were parboiled by soaking at 65 °C for 180 min and steaming at 96 °C for 2–10 min, and then dried to achieve the final moisture content of 11% ± 1%. The degree of starch gelatinization(DSG) and several quality attributes(head rice yield(HRY), color value and hardness) of parboiled rice were measured. Results showed that DSG(46.8%–77.9%), color value(18.08–19.04) and hardness(118.6–219.2 N) all increased following steaming. In contrast, the HRY increased(64.8%–67.1%) for steaming times between 2–4 min but decreased(67.1%–65.0%) for steaming times between 4–10 min. Linear relations between DSG and color value(R~2 = 0.87), and DSG and hardness(R~2 = 0.88) were observed. The suitable DSG of parboiled rice leading to the highest HRY was found to be 62.5%, obtained following 4 min of steaming.     

Callus induction and in vitro plant regeneration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under various conditions

The objective of the present study was to develop an effective protocol for optimum callus induction and complete plant regeneration for four varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) i.e., Super Basmati, Basmati-370, Basmati-371 and Fakhre Malakand. Calli were induced from mature seed scutelum. The Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Chu's N6 media containing hormone 2, 4-D (2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) in different concentrations were used for callus induction. Fakhre Malakand produced maximum calli on N6 media containing 3 mg L(-1) 2,4-D. while other three varieties showed maximum callus induction on N6 media containing 2.5 mg L(-1) 2,4-D. N6 media was found better than MS media for callus induction. For complete plant regeneration the calli of two varieties i.e., Basmati-370 and Basmati-371 were plated on N6 media containing different concentrations of NAA (1-Naphthalene acetic acid) and BAP (6-benzyl aminopurine). The maximum regeneration frequency (%) was observed on N6 media containing NAA 1 mg L(-1) and BAP 2.5 mg L(-1). It took 27-30 days for the callus to regenerate into a complete plant. Basmati-370 produced 4-7 plantlets per callus whereas Basmati-371 produced 4-8 plantlets per callus with regeneration frequencies of 61 and 69%, respectively.     

Pharmacokinetic, metabolism and withdrawal time of orphenadrine in camels (Camelus dromedarius) after intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics of orphenadrine (ORPH) following a single intravenous (i.v.) dose was investigated in six camels (Camelus dormedarius). Orphenadrine was extracted from the plasma using a simple sensitive liquid–liquid extraction method and determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Following i.v. administration plasma concentrations of ORPH decline bi-exponentially with distribution half-life (t_1/2α) of 0.50 ± 0.07 h, elimination half-life (t_1/2β) of 3.57 ± 0.55 h, area under the time concentration curve (AUC) of 1.03 ± 0.10 g/h l⁻¹. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vd_ss) 1.92 ± 0.22 l kg⁻¹, volume of the central compartment of the two compartment pharmacokinetic model (V_c) 0.87 ± 0.09 l kg⁻¹, and total body clearance (Cl_T) of 0.60 ± 0.09 l/h kg⁻¹. Three orphenadrine metabolites were identified in urine samples of camels. The first metabolite N-desmethyl-orphenadrine resulted from N-dealkylation of ORPH with molecular ion m/z 255. The second N,N-didesmethyl-orphenadrine, resulted from N-didesmethylation with molecular ion m/z 241. The third metabolite, hydroxyl-orphenadrine, resulted from the hydroxylation of ORPH with molecular ion m/z 285. ORPH and its metabolites in camel were extensively eliminated in conjugated form. ORPH remains detectable in camel urine for three days after i.v. administration of a single dose of 350 mg orphenadrine aspartate.     

Caudal epidural anti‐nociception using lidocaine,bupivacaine or their combination in cows undergoing reproductive procedures

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects of lidocaine, lidocaine-bupivacaine combination or bupivacaine following caudal epidural administration in cows undergoing reproductive procedures.Study designBlinded, randomized experimental study.AnimalsThirty seven healthy Holstein cows (mean weight ± SD, 633 ± 41 kg).MethodsAnimals were allocated randomly to receive one of four treatments: group LID, 0.2 mg kg^?1 lidocaine 2%; group LID-BUP, lidocaine-bupivacaine mixture in a 1:1 volume ratio (0.1 mg kg^?1 and 0.025 mg kg^?1, respectively); group BUP-LD, 0.05 mg kg^?1 bupivacaine 0.5%; and group BUP-HD, 0.06 mg kg^?1 bupivacaine 0.5%. The onset and duration of perineal anti-nociception were determined using superficial and deep pin pricks and the number of cows with complete perineal anti-nociception was recorded. Parameters were compared using anova followed by Duncan's test where relevant.ResultsMean ± SD time to onset of anti-nociception following epidural administration of BUP-LD was significantly longer than for LID-BUP (p < 0.05). The duration (in minutes) of perineal anti-nociception was significantly longer following epidural administration of BUP-HD (247 ± 31) versus LID-BUP (181 ± 33) and LID (127 ± 25) minutes respectively. The % of cows with complete anti-nociception was increased in the group treated with BUP-HD compared to BUP-LD. Severe ataxia or recumbency did not occur in any groups.Conclusions and clinical relevanceEpidurally administered bupivacaine, at a dose of 0.06 mg kg^?1, may provide satisfactory caudal epidural anti-nociception for longer-duration obstetric and surgical procedures.     

The disposition of theophylline in camels after intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were determined after an intravenous (i.v.) dose of 2.36 mg/kg in six camels and 4.72 mg/kg body weight in three camels. The data obtained (median and range) for the low and high dose, respectively, were as follows: the distribution half-lives (t1/2 alpha) were 1.37 (0.64-3.25) and 2.66 (0.83-3.5) h, the elimination half-lives (t1/2 beta) were 11.8 (8.25-14.9) and 10.4 (10.0-13.5) h, the steady state volumes of distribution (Vss) were 0.88 (0.62-1.54) and 0.76 (0.63-0.76) L/kg, volumes of the central compartment (Vc) were 0.41 (0.35-0.63) and 0.51 (0.36-0.52) L/kg, total body clearances (Clt) were 62.3 (39.4-97.0) and 50.2 (47.7-67.4) mL/h.kg body weight and renal clearance (Vr) for the low dose was 0.6 (0.42-0.96) mL/h.kg body weight. There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters between the two doses. Theophylline protein binding at a concentration of 5 micrograms/mL was 32.2 +/- 3.3%. Caffeine was identified as a theophylline metabolite but its concentration in serum and urine was small. Based on the pharmacokinetic values obtained in this study, a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg body weight administered by i.v. injection at 12 h intervals can be recommended. This dosing regimen should achieve an average steady state serum concentration of 10 micrograms/mL with peak serum concentration not exceeding 15 micrograms/mL.