Studies on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The phytoalexins produced after the inoculation of green bean pods (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with the spore suspension of three fungi viz.Fusarium solani, Penicillium patulum andPhytophthora megasperma were studied. Five phytoalexins were isolated and identified as phaseollin, coumestrol, kievitone, phaseollidin and 6--hydroxyphaseollin. Their identity was proved according to m.p., TLC, UV and MS by comparison with authentics. Moreover, the preliminary screening of their antifungal activity was carried out.     

Pharmacokinetics, urinary and mammary excretion of ceftriaxone in lactating goats

The pharmacokinetic properties of ceftriaxone were investigated in 10 goats following a single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration of 20 mg kg(-1) body weight. After i.v. injection, ceftriaxone serum concentration-time curves were characteristic of a two-compartment open model. The distribution and elimination half-lives (t(1/2alpha), t(1/2beta)) were 0.12 and 1.44 h respectively. Following i.m. injection, peak serum concentration (C(max)) of 23.6 microg ml(-1) was attained at 0.70 h. The absorption and elimination half-lives (t(1/2ab), t(1/2el)) were 0.138 and 1.65 h respectively. The systemic bioavailability of the i.m. administration (F %) was 85%. Following i.v. and i.m. administration, the drug was excreted in high concentrations in urine for 24 h post-administration. The drug was detected at low concentrations in milk of lactating goats. A recommended dosage of 20 mg kg(-1) injected i.m. every 12 h could be expected to provide a therapeutic serum concentration exceeding the minimal inhibitory concentrations for different susceptible pathogens.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of tildipirosin following intravenous and subcutaneous administration in sheep

Tildipirosin is a semi‐synthetic macrolide antibiotic commonly used in cattle and swine to treat bacterial pneumonia. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of tildipirosin after a single intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration in healthy lambs. Eighteen lambs were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 each). Lambs received a single s.c. dose of tildipirosin at 4 and 6 mg/kg b.w. in group 1 and 2, respectively. Lambs in group 3 received a single i.v. dose of tildipirosin at 4 mg/kg b.w. Blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 36, 48 hr, and every 24 hr to day 21, and thereafter at day 28 posttildipirosin administration. The plasma concentrations of tildipirosin were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC?MS?MS). All lambs appeared to tolerate both the intravenous and subcutaneous injection of tildipirosin. Following i.v. administration, the elimination half‐life (T_1/2), mean residence time (MRT), volume of distribution (Vd/F), and total body clearance (Cl/F) were 119.6 ± 9.0 hr, 281.9 ± 25.7 hr, 521.1 ± 107.2 L, and 2.9 ± 0.5 L/hr, respectively. No significant differences in C_max (657.0 ± 142.8 and 754.6 ± 227.1 ng/ml), T_max (1.21 ± 0.38 and 1.35 ± 0.44 hr), T_1/2 (144 ± 17.5, 156.5 ± 33.4 hr), and MRT (262.0 ± 30.2 and 250.6 ± 54.5 hr) were found in tildipirosin after s.c. dosing at 4 and 6 mg/kg b.w., respectively. The absolute bioavailability (F) of tildipirosin was 71.5% and 75.3% after s.c. administration of 4 and 6 mg/kg b.w., respectively. In conclusion, tildipirosin was rapidly absorbed and slowly eliminated after a single s.c. administration in healthy lambs. Tildipirosin could be used for the treatment and prevention of respiratory bacterial infections in sheep. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies to determine the efficacy and safety are warranted. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the tildipirosin pharmacokinetic parameters in sheep plasma.     

Does dietary incorporation level of pea protein isolate influence the digestive system morphology in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)?

In the present study, fish meal (FM) was replaced by pea (Pisum sativum) protein (PP) in diet for Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at levels of 0% (PP0), 25% (PP25), 50% (PP50), 75% (PP75) and 100% (PP100), and the effect of dietary PP level on the digestive system tracts and liver was investigated by micromorphological and histopathological evaluations. Morphometric measurements (mm 100g fish⁻¹) of the liver width and stomach length in rainbow trout were found to be significantly larger (p <0.05) in fish with high-level pea protein as the main protein source (PP75, PP100) compared to the low-level PP replacement group (PP25). No significant differences were found in morphometric measurements for pyloric caecum and intestines among treatment groups, whereas the number of the caecum of fish fed the PP25 diets significantly increased over the control (PP0) (p<0.05). In the histological examination of the liver, mild hydropic and vacuolar degeneration was observed in all experimental groups except PP0 and PP25. The measurements of pyloric caecum fold height, enterocyte length and width of tunica muscularis of the high-level pea protein groups of PP75 and PP100 were significantly higher (p <0.05) compared to the control group. In conclusion, 25% substitution of PP can be suggested for FM in trout diets, because the findings of the present study provided evidence that the digestive system improved by increasing the number of pyloric caecum at this replacement level.     

Reproductive performance of bulls divergently selected on the basis of blood serum insulin-like growth factor I concentration.

The objectives of this study were to examine differences in scrotal circumference, sperm motility, and percentage of normal sperm cells between two lines of Angus beef cattle divergently selected for blood serum IGF-I concentration. Data were obtained from an ongoing experiment involving 100 spring-calving (50 high and 50 low line) and 100 fall-calving (50 high and 50 low line) purebred Angus cows. Scrotal circumference, percentage of motile sperm cells, and percentage of normal sperm cells did not differ between high and low IGF-I line yearling bulls (P = .79, .50, and .56, respectively). The IGF-I concentrations measured at d 28, 42, and 56 of the postweaning test are abbreviated as IGF28, IGF42, and IGF56, respectively. Coefficients for the quadratic regression of scrotal circumference on IGF28 and IGF42 tended to be negative (P = .07 and .08, respectively), as did the coefficient for the quadratic regression of the percentage of motile sperm cells on IGF42 (P = .08). The coefficient for the linear regression of percentage of normal sperm cells on IGF28 was positive (P = .02). The coefficient for the quadratic regression of percentage of normal sperm cells on IGF56 was negative (P = .04). Coefficients for the quadratic regression of scrotal circumference and percentage of normal sperm cells on mean IGF-I concentrations were negative and important (P = .04 and .08, respectively). Thus, scrotal circumference and percentage of normal sperm cells are related to blood serum IGF-I concentration in yearling Angus bulls.     

Serum leptin and ghrelin levels in response to methylprednisolone injection in healthy dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone treatment on serum leptin and ghrelin levels in healthy dogs (n=40). After 14 h of fasting, the dogs were injected intramuscularly with saline (control group) or methylprednisolone (1, 5 or 10mg/kg). Blood samples were collected prior to (baseline) and 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 24h subsequent to the treatments. Serum leptin and ghrelin were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean baseline serum leptin and ghrelin were 2.5+/-0.1 ng/mL (n=40) and 35.0+/-2.1 pg/mL (n=40), respectively. In the control dogs, serum leptin, but not ghrelin levels showed a significant fluctuation during the 24h observation period. Serum leptin increased significantly (p<0.05-0.01) between 2 and 12h after 1mg/kg of methylprednisolone. Serum leptin levels showed biphasic response to 5mg/kg of methylprednisolone: its level decreased to 1.9+/-0.1 ng/mL (p<0.01) at 2h and increased at 12h (2.6+/-0.1 ng/mL) (p<0.01). In response to 10mg/kg of methylprednisolone, serum leptin levels decreased significantly (p<0.01) for 24h. Serum ghrelin levels decreased to 19+/-5 pg/mL at 2-3h (p<0.01) or increased to 87+/-18 pg/mL at 3-8h (p<0.05-0.01) after 1mg/kg of methylprednisolone or 10mg/kg of methylprednisolone, respectively. Serum ghrelin levels did not change at any time point during 24h observation period after 5mg/kg of methylprednisolone. There was a significant (p<0.001) inverse correlation (r=-0.635) between serum leptin and ghrelin levels. In conclusion, we found that methylprednisolone increases or decreases serum leptin and ghrelin levels depending upon its dose and there is a negative correlation between serum leptin and ghrelin levels after methylprednisolone administration.     

顶羽菊染色体的核型分析

用根尖压片法对顶羽菊染色体核型进行研究的结果表明,顶羽菊是二倍体植物,体细胞染色体数为2n=26,染色体基数为13,染色体组成为2n=2x=26=22m+4sm,属不对称核型(IB型).     

Three-dimensional computed tomographic examination of pelvic cavity in Van Cats and its morphometric investigation

This study was carried out to determine the morphometric values of the pelvic cavity, the cranial and caudal pelvic aperture by three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the images obtained by computed tomography in adult Van Cats and to show the differences between these indicators in both genders. A total of 16 adult Van Cats, eight male and eight female, were used in the study. Animals were anesthetized with ketamine–xylazine combination and were scanned by computerized tomography. Images of the pelvic cavity were obtained. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the pelvis was performed with three-dimensional modelling program. Measurements of the diameters of the pelvic cavity, the cranial and caudal pelvic aperture were calculated from these images, and statistical analyzes were performed. Three-dimensional modelling of the pelvic cavity of Van Cats were examined between males and females. The results showed that there were significant (p < .05) differences between measurement of the pelvic inclination, the medial transverse diameter, the caudal transverse diameter and the angle between ischiatic arch. In addition, the correlations between age and weight were found statistically significant (p < .05) with the dorsal transverse diameter, the intermediate transverse diameter and the caudal transverse diameter in males. On the other hand, the correlations of age were statistically significant (p < .01) with the cranial pelvic aperture and the caudal pelvic aperture in females. In conclusion, some biometric values of pelvic cavity were observed to be statistically different in Van Cats.