Purification and partial characterization of growth hormone from the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)

Camel growth hormone (camGH) was isolated from the insoluble residue left after extraction of the gonadotropins FSH and LH from a single batch of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) pituitaries. Only one form of camGH was isolated and characterized; no glycosylated form of camGH could be evidenced. The isoelectric points (pI) of camGH was determined by chromatofocusing.

The N-terminal amino-acid sequences of camGH was determined and compared to those of GHs from other species. The availability of this hormone and our better knowledge of its structure will permit to undertake the study of its structure-function relationships and of its physiological functions in this economically important species.     

Nitrogen-fixing ability of traditional and new pulse crops in western Siberia

An increase in the nitrogen-fixing ability of annual pulses by 1.5–2 times under the effect of inoculating seeds with Rhizotrophin is established in 3-year field experiments. The quantitative parameters of biologically fixed nitrogen and additional grain yield of pulse crops and spring wheat planted after them are determined. Original Russian Text ? G.P. Gamzikov, P.R. Shott, A.P. Kozhemyakov, 2008, published in Doklady Rossiiskoi Akademii Sel’skokhozyaistvennykh Nauk, 2008, No. 2, pp. 23–25.     

New method of forming bee colonies by division in half

A new method of forming bee colonies has been developed and a patent is obtained for it. The method consists in a considerable (theoretically, 100%) increase from strong highly productive colonies without their entry into a swarming state, without a reduction of productivity, and with complete readiness for overwintering (with respect to food) of both the parent colony itself and the newly formed one.     

Restriction endonuclease analysis of canine herpesviruses isolated in Japan

Eighteen canine herpesvirus (CHV) isolates from Japan and two reference strains were compared by restriction endonuclease analysis technique using total DNA extracts from cells infected with the viruses. In order to select the suitable restriction endonucleases for differentiation of CHV isolates, ten enzymes were used and three of them, HindIII, XbaI, and PvuII, were found to be useful for strain differentiation. With these enzymes, CHV isolates from unrelated individuals were readily differentiated from each other. In contrast, all the isolates derived from the same litter were not distinguishable on the basis of restriction cleavage patterns. However, slight mobility shifts were observed among the isolates from the same litter or the same individual. The results showed that this method provides a powerful tool for epidemiological surveys of CHV infection.     

Control of Rhizoctonia solani fruit rot of tomatoes by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

Application of Trichoderma harzianum, to soil or by coating tomato fruits, reduced Rhizoctonia solani fruit rot by up to 43% and 85%, respectively, under laboratory conditions. When mixed with naturally infested soil, Trichoderma reduced R. solani inoculum potential by 86% in field trials. It also significantly reduced fruit rot by 27–51%.     

Alleviation of excessive gas accumulation in the ruminant stomach by ritanserin

The relationships between forestomach motility and eructation rate were studied in sheep and cattle. Three ewes and 2 heifers were implanted with strain gauges on the reticulo-rumen and fitted with a cannula in the dorsal sac of the rumen. Studies were performed in sheep after induction of hypocalcemia by Na2EDTA infusion and cattle were studied after ruminal distension. Experiments were performed by measuring the rate and volume of eructated ruminal gases, using a technique by which the trachea is transected. The frequency of reticulo-ruminal contractions decreased 40% within 30 minutes of Na2EDTA infusion to the sheep. The volume of eructated gas (for 30-minute periods) decreased from 10.7 L to 5.5 L at the end of the 60-minute infusion period. Pretreatment with ritanserin (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) not only prevented bloating during the ruminal stasis induced by hypocalcemia, but also significantly increased the eructated volume of gas. In cattle, ritanserin given at the same dose level (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneously) significantly increased the volume of eructated gas after ruminal distension. This study supports the hypothesis that the caudal esophageal sphincter has a role in the rate of ruminal gas eructation and indicates that its relaxation may be due to a 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist.     

Crystal violet staining of Bordetella bronchiseptica colonies for differentiation of phase-I strains from variant strains in degraded phases.

After 2 days of growth on Brain heart infusion agar (BHIA) at 38 degrees C, phase-I colonies and degraded-phase colonies of Bordetella bronchiseptica could be differentiated by their ability to take up crystal violet (CV). Phase-I colonies in X mode, but not colonies in degraded phases (phases II, III, and rough) bound CV. Phenotypically-altered C-mode colonies (grown at 32 degrees C or lower temperatures) also lacked this ability. CV staining offers an easy method for the recognition of different colony types that appear identical when observed on BHIA.