S-methylcysteine sulphoxide,the brassica anaemia factor (a valuable dietary factor for man?)

Ruminant animals fed mainly or exclusively on brassica crops may develop a severe Heinz body anaemia. Clinical signs of the disease include haemoglobinuria, jaundice, increase in pulse rate and fall in milk production; there may also be growth retardation. Nitrate and thiocyanates were excluded as primary haemolytic factors in kale which contains up to 2% in DM of S-methylcysteine sulphoxide (SMCO). In test goats, daily intakes of SMCO in the range 15 to 19 g/100 kg liveweight, whether given as kale or the pure synthetic compound, elicited comparable haemolytic responses. SMCO was thus implicated as the major primary toxin in brassica poisoning. Rumen organisms converted SMCO into dimethyl disulphide which mimicked the haemolytic action of kale and SMCO in goats and is thus considered to be the secondary haemolysin. The practical consequence of this disulphide mechanism is that, because there is no simple way of counteracting the systemic action of dimethyl disulphide, prophylactic measures are restricted to limiting the intake of SMCO or to inhibiting disulphide production. Manipulation of rumen flora by dietary means to exclude organisms with SMCO-lyase is seen as a possible way of minimising the problem which in the long term however calls for developing brassica varieties with low SMCO content. The SMCO content of leafy brassicas increases as the plants mature; within a single plant highest SMCO levels are found in young leaves and growing shoots. SMCO is a heritable character and its selection will probably not lead to marked changes in protein or carbohydrate contents. In steers acute haemolytic response with growth inhibition was obtained with daily SMCO intakes, given as cabbage, of 18 to 35 g/100 kg liveweight. At the lower daily intake of 10–15 g the response was sub-acute, but the low grade anaemia produced would probably be incompatible with maximum productivity. Daily intakes below 10 g/100 kg generally lead to mild disturbances only in blood picture; and it is speculated that, on balance, at this level the effects of SMCO may even be beneficial to the animal. The possible prophylactic action of the S-alkylcysteine sulphoxides in coronary heart disease in man is briefly discussed.Resume Les ruminants nourris principalement ou exclusivement de crucifères peuvent contracter une grave anémie à corpuscules endoglobulaires. Les signes cliniques de la maladie comprennent l'hémoglobinurie, la jaunisse, l'élévation du pouls et la baisse de la production de lait et éventuellement aussi un retard de la croissance. Le nitrate et les thiocyanates ont été exclus comme facteurs hémolytiques primaires du chou à feuilles, qui contient jus qu'à 2% en matières sèches du sulfoxyde de s-méthylcystéine (SMCO). Chez les chèvres utilisées comme sujets d'expériences, des doses quotidiennes de SMCO de l'ordre de 15 à 19 g par 100 kg de poids corporel, absorbée sous la forme de chou ou sous celle de composé synthétique pur ont donné des réactions hémolytiques comparables. On a donc conclu que le SMCO était la principale toxine primaire responsable de l'empoisonnement brassicaire. Les organismes du rumen ont transformé le SMCO en disulphide de diméthyle qui a reproduit l'action hémolytique du chou et du SMCO chez les chèvres, et qui est donc considéré comme l'hémolysine secondaire. Étant donné qu'il n'y a pas de moyens simples de contrecarrer l'action systémique du disulphide de diméthyle, les seules mesures prophylactiques sont la limitation de l'absorption de SMCO ou l'inhibition de la production de disulphide. L'action sur la flore du rumen par des moyens diététiques, à fin d'exclure les organismes à SMCO-lyase, semble un moyen possible d'atténuer le problème. Mais à long terme, il faudra développer des variétés de crucifères à faible teneur en SMCO. La teneur en SMCO des crucifères feuillus augmente au fur et à mesure de la maturation. Sur une même plante, les teneurs les plus élevées se rencontrent dans les jeunes feuilles et dans les pousses en croissance. Le SMCO est un caractère héréditaire et une sélection operée en fonction de lui n'entraînera probablement pas de modifications importantes des teneurs en protéines ou en hydrates de carbone. Une réaction hémolytique aiguë avec inhibition de la croissance a été provoquée chez les bouvillons au moyen de doses quotidiennes de SMCO de 18 à 35 g par 100 kg de poids corporel, administrées sous forme de chou. A la dose quotidienne plus faible de 10 à 15 g la réaction a été sub-aiguë mais l'anémie faible qui en résulte serait probablement incompatible avec une productivité optimale. Les doses quotidiennes inférieures à 10 g par 100 kg ne provoquent généralement que de légères perturbations de la formule hématologique. On estime qu'à ce taux les effets du SMCO peuvent même, dans l'ensemble, être bénéfiques à l'animal. L'action prophylactique possible des sulfoxydes de s-alkylcysteine dans les cas de maladies coronaires chez l'homme est examinée brièvement.

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Kurzfassung Bei Wiederkäuern, die hauptsächlich oder ausschliesslich Brassica-Futter erhalten, kann es zu einer schweren Innenkörperanämie kommen. Klinische Anzeichen hierfür sind u.a. Bluthernen, Gelbsucht, erhöhte Pulsfrequenz und Rückgang der Milcherzeugung, ausserdem unter Umständen ein verlangsamtes Wachstum. Nitrat und Thiocyanat wurden als primäre hämolytische Faktoren im Brassica oleracea, das bis zu 2% S-Methylcystein sulfoxid (SMCO) in der Trockenmasse enthält, ausgeschlossen. Bei Test-Ziegen führten Tagesdosen von SMCO im Bereich von 15 bis 19 g/100 kg Lebendgewicht in Form von Brassica oleracea oder dem reinen, synthetisierten Bestandteil zu vergleichbaren hämolytischen Reaktionen. SMCO war also als wichtigstes Primärtoxin bei Brassica-Vergiftungen beteiligt. Die Pansenorganismen setzten SMCO in Dimethyldisulfid um, das die selbe hämolytische Wirkung wie Brassica oleracea und SMCO bei Ziegen hatte und so als sekundäres Hämolysin gilt. Die praktische Folge dieses Disulfidmechanismus ist, dass vorbeugende Massnahmen auf die Begrenzung der SMCO-Aufnahme oder die Verhinderung der Disulfidproduktion beschränkt sind, da es keine einfache Möglichkeit gibt, der systematischen Aktion von Dimethyldisulfid entgegenzuwirken. Eine Manipulation der Pansenflora durch entsprechende Ernährung zur Ausschaltung von Organismen mit SMCO-Lyase gilt als Möglichkeit zur Minimalisierung des Problems, das langfristig gesehen jedoch die Entwicklung von Brassica-Arten mit geringem SMCO-Gehalt erforderlich macht. Der SMCO-Gehalt von Blattkohl nimmt mit zunehmender Reife der Pflanze zu; innerhalb einer Pflanze findet sich der grösste SMCO-Gehalt in jungen Blättern und wachsenden Trieben. SMCO ist ein erbliches Merkmal, und seine Selektion wird vermutlich nicht zu grösseren Aenderungen im Protein-oder Kohlehydratgehalt führen. Bei Ochsen wurde eine akute hämolytische Reaktion mit Wachstumsverzögerung bei täglichem SMCO-Dosen von 18 bis 35 g/100 kg Lebendgewicht in Form von Kohl erzielt. Bei der geringeren Tagesdosis von 10–15 g war die Reaktion subakut, die entwickelte geringfügige Anämie wäre jedoch vermutlich mit maximaler Produktivität unvereinbar. Tagesdosen unter 10 g/100 kg führen im allgemeinen nur im Blutbild zu geringen Störungen; man vermutet, dass alles in allem SMCO bei dieser Dosierung sogar eine positive Auswirkung auf das Tier haben kann. Die mögliche prophylaktische Wirkung der S-Alkylcystein sulfoxide bei Erkrankungen der Herzkranzgefässe beim Menschen wird kurz erörtert.

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Riassunto I ruminanti la cui dieta è in gran parte o esclusivamente rappresentata da cavoli (Brassica spp.) possono essere colpiti da una grave forma di anemia (Heinz body anaemia). I sintomi clinici della malattia comprendono emoglobinuria, ittero, aumento della frequenza cardiaca e caduta della produzione lattea. A volte si può anche avere ritardo della crescita. I nitrati e i tiocianati sono stati esclusi come fattori emolitici primari nei cavoli che contengono fino al 2% in DM di S-metilcisteina sulfossido (SMCO). In experimenti condotti sulle capre, la somministrazione giornaliera di SMCO in dosi di 15–19 g/100 kg di peso vivo, sia sotto forma di vegetale che di prodotto sintetico puro, ha provocato fenomeni emolitici relativamente simili. L'SMCO è stato pertanto indicato come la principale tossina che ha un ruolo primario nell'intossicazione da cavoli. La flora ruminale converte infatti l'SMCO in dimetil bisolfuro, il quale svolge un'azione emolitica simile a quella osservata nelle capre dopo l'assunzione di cavoli e di SMCO; il dimetil bisolfuro, pertanto, e ritenuto costituire l'emolisina secondaria. Le conseguenze pratiche di tale produzione di dimetil bisolfuro è che, non esistendo un metodo semplice per contrastare l'azione sistemica del dimetil bisolfuro, le misure profilattiche non possono essere volte ad altro se non a limitare l'assunzione di SMCO o ad inibire la produzione di bisolfuro. Gli interventi sulla flora del rumine mediante una dieta capace di eliminare i microrganismi provvisti di SMCO-liasi vengono considerati come un possibile mezzo per minimizzare il problema, il quale, tuttavia, se visto a lungo termine, richiede la creazione di varietà di cavoli a basso contenuto di SMCO. Il contenuto di SMCO delle foglie dei cavoli aumenta col maturare della pianta: nella pianta singola i livelli piu alti di SMCO si riscontrano nelle foglie giovani e nei germogli. La presenza di questa sostanza costituisce un carattere ereditario ed un intervento selettivo in tal senso non dovrebbe condurre a significative alterazioni del contenuto in proteine e carboidrati della pianta. Nei vitelloni e stato possibile indurre una risposta emolitica di tipo acuto somministrando giornalmente, sotto forma di cavoli, 18–35 g di SMCO per 100 kg di peso vivo. Un' assunzione giornaliera minore, pari a 10–15 g, ha dato luogo ad una forma emolitica subacuta, ma e tuttavia da ritenere che la lieve anemia cosi indotta non sia compatibile con una produttività ottimale. Livelli giornalieri al di sotto dei 10 g/100 kg hanno causato soltanto lievi alterazioni a carico del quadro ematico, ed è stata avanzata l'ipotesi che, tutto sommato, gli effetti dell'SMCO possano, a questi livelli, essere addirittura di beneficio all'animale. Viene discussa brevemente la possibile azione preventiva degli S-alchilcisteina sulfossidi sulle malattie cardio-coronariche dell'uomo.

     

Arbovirus isolations from mosquitoes in South Slovakia.

In the years 1973 and 1975 mosquitoes and some other Diptera (Tabanidae, Simuliidae, Hippoboscidae) were tested for virus. 13,924 mosquitoes, 75 horseflies and 60 blackflies were processed in 1973. Five strains of Tahyna virus were isolated from mosquito species Aedes vexans. 3,378 mosquitoes and 12 sheep keds were tested for virus in 1975. Twelve strains of Calovo virus were isolated from Anopheles maculipennis and one strain of Tahyna virus was obtained from Aedes vexans mosquitoes.     

Some further characteristics of the growth of Naegleria fowleri and N. gruberi in axenic culture.

The effects of pH, various viscosity of the medium, changed ratio between the concentrations of dissolved and corpuscular components in the medium, and dissolved inorganic salts on the growth of axenic cultures of Naegleria fowleri and N. gruberi have been studied. The cultures were grown in liquid CALYG and BCS media. The pH optimum was 6.5 for N. fowleri and 6.0--6.5 for N. gruberi. No negative influence on the growth of N. fowleri was observed even at 0.5% concentration of highly viscous methylcellulose, whereas the growth of N. gruberi was distinctly inhibited by more than 0.2% of methycellulose. N. fowleri preferred the osmotorphic and N. gruberi phagotrophic nutrition in the given system of cultivation. The growth of both Naegleria species was inhibited by 0.1 N concentration of sodium chloride and potassium chloride without any significant difference in the tolerance. The inhibitory effect of these salts correlated primarily with the concentration of chloride anion. The ability to grow in a medium with increased viscosity and the preference for osmotrophic nutrtion are, besides the higher temperature optimum determined earlier, further characteristics of the pathogenic species N. fowleri.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls on sediments from a subarctic salt marsh, James Bay, Canada--1976.

Sediment samples were collected from a subarctic salt marsh on James Bay, Ontario in May 1976. Of 15 organochlorine compounds analyzed, trace amounts mainly of p,p-DDE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected, but could not be quantitated.     

In vitro effects of DDT analogs on trout brain Mg2+-ATPases: Inhibition kinetics

A continuous in vitro steady-state assay procedure was used to investigate the dependence of trout brain mitochondrial Mg²⁺-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase specific activity on temperature and substrate concentration. The inhibition of enzyme activity by DDT was independent of substrate concentration. DDT and several analogs caused increases in the experimental activation energy and frequency factor of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction, which gave rise to a negative temperature coefficient of inhibition. It is suggested that DDT and other highly lipophilic compounds have the potential to allosterically affect membrane-bound enzymes by simply becoming a major lipoid component of the membranes.     

L‐aspartic acid and urea supplementation of low‐protein layer diets1

1. Urea supplementation of low‐protein (125 g/kg) conventional‐type diets for layers, whether containing fish meal or not, did not appear advantageous.

2. Supplementation of the low‐protein diet with aspartic acid did not affect egg production rate or efficiency.

3. Soyabean meal supplementation of the low‐protein diet increased egg weight significantly whereas aspartic acid did not.     

An equine cryptorchid with testicular and ovarian tissues.

Cytogenetic and histological studies were carried out on an intersex horse which was diagnosed clinically as a cryptorchid. Surgery confirmed the horse to be a bilateral abdominal cryptorchid and histological examination revealed ovarian tissue associated with the left epididymis. Chromosome analysis of cultured cells from testicular tissue, ovarian tissue and skin revealed 64-XX and 64-XY make-up, the left gonad containing a greater preponderance of XX cells over XY cells. The external characteristics and behaviour of the horse were indistinguishable from that of a "routine" cryptorchid. Other cases of equine intersexes are reviewed and theories for the discrepancies between genetic, gonadal and phenotypic sex are discussed.     

Ultrastructural changes in leaf and needle segments treated with herbicides containing picloram

The herbicide Tordon 50D (picloram+2,4-D) affected the integrity of the nucleus and cell membranes in Pinus radiata needle segments and caused the swelling of internal chloro plast membranes and the eventual disintegration of the chloroplasts. Tordon 22K (picloram) only affected chloro plast structure. Both herbicides had similar adverse effects on cell membranes and chloroplasts of Eucalyptus viminalis.