The Effects of Peptide-Precipitating Lignosulphonic Acids on the Proteolytic Activity of Pepsin in Vitro and on the Response of Pigs to an Ulcer Inducing Diet

The inhibitory effect of peptide-precipitating lignosulphonic acids on the proteolytic activity of pepsin in vitro has been studied. When an unfractionated lignosulphonic acid preparation was used, total inhibition of the activity of 5 µg crystalline pepsin was obtained by addition of about 15 mg of lignosulphonic acids.The greatest inhibitory effect was seen with the high-molecular weight lignosulphonic acids, but an effect was also seen with middle-and low-molecular weight lignosulphonic acids.A reduction in the inhibitory effect was seen when the experiments were performed in the presence of arginine. The inhibition mechanism is discussed in relation to the peptide-precipitating ability of the lignosulphonic acids.No obvious protection against the appearance of stomach ulcers in four pigs receiving an ulcerogenic diet was seen.     

Proteolytic and Lipolytic Enzymes from Larvae of Oedemagena Tarandi (L.)

Some biological properties of proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes of the larval stages of Oedemagena tarandi (L.) were examined. While the proteinase titres seemed to vary only slightly from one larval stage to another, the lipase titres of the first larval stage seemed to be much greater than those of the second and third larval stages. The zymogram technique used showed only one proteinase, which was inhibited by all the biological inhibitors tested. Bacteriological examinations of the external surfaces and internal organs of the different larval stages showed only a very sparse flora.     

Studies on the Transmission of 125I Igg and 125I Albumin from Serum to Seminal Plasma in Boars

Labelled swine albumin resp. IgG were injected intravenously in two boars. The radioactivity of seminal plasma was determined at frequent intervals. It was observed that minimal amounts of radioactivity of albumin and IgG could be detected in seminal plasma. The importance of a transmission of IgG from serum to seminal plasma is discussed.     

Production of Chitooligosaccharides and Their Potential Applications in Medicine

Chitooligosaccharides (CHOS) are homo- or heterooligomers of N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine. CHOS can be produced using chitin or chitosan as a starting material, using enzymatic conversions, chemical methods or combinations thereof. Production of well-defined CHOS-mixtures, or even pure CHOS, is of great interest since these oligosaccharides are thought to have several interesting bioactivities. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these bioactivities is of major importance. However, so far in-depth knowledge on the mode-of-action of CHOS is scarce, one major reason being that most published studies are done with badly characterized heterogeneous mixtures of CHOS. Production of CHOS that are well-defined in terms of length, degree of N-acetylation, and sequence is not straightforward. Here we provide an overview of techniques that may be used to produce and characterize reasonably well-defined CHOS fractions. We also present possible medical applications of CHOS, including tumor growth inhibition and inhibition of T_H2-induced inflammation in asthma, as well as use as a bone-strengthener in osteoporosis, a vector for gene delivery, an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, an anti-malaria agent, or a hemostatic agent in wound-dressings. By using well-defined CHOS-mixtures it will become possible to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these bioactivities.     

Modelling the advection and diffusion of eggs and larvae of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the north-east Arctic

Since the late 1980s there has been considerable uncertainty in recruitment levels of the north‐east Arctic stock of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). The abundance of several year classes, originally considered very low at 0–3 yr age, appeared higher than expected at the age of 6+. This may be due to poor targeting of recruitment surveys of the younger year classes. The present work considers the transport and dispersion of eggs and larvae of Greenland halibut by numerical modelling in order to predict the locations of the initial recruitment grounds. Current fields from a 3D baroclinic hydrodynamic model are fed into a Lagrangian particle‐tracking model developed for the Barents Sea area. The particles are released into the current at the spawning field along the shelf slope from Lofoten to Bear Island (69–75°N). Vertically, the particles can follow a predefined depth‐by‐age curve or be kept at a fixed depth. This model system is used for different years to examine changes in the drift pattern. The results indicate that spawning location, transport depth and inflowing activity to the Barents Sea are important factors influencing the distribution of juveniles.     

Physiologic responses and plasma endothelin-1 concentrations associated with abrupt cessation of nitric oxide inhalation in isoflurane-anesthetized horses

OBJECTIVE: To assess physiologic responses and plasma endothelin (ET)-1 concentrations associated with abrupt cessation of nitric oxide (NO) inhalation in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. ANIMALS: 6 healthy adult Standardbreds. PROCEDURES: Horses were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and placed in dorsal recumbency. Nitric oxide was pulsed into the respiratory tract for 2.5 hours, and then administration was abruptly discontinued. Just prior to commencement and at cessation of NO administration, and at intervals during a 30-minute period following cessation of NO inhalation, several variables including PaO(2), mean pulmonary artery pressure, venous admixture or pulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt), and plasma ET-1 concentration were recorded or calculated. RESULTS: After cessation of NO inhalation, PaO(2) decreased slowly but significantly (172.7 +/- 29.8 mm Hg to 84.6 +/- 10.9 mm Hg) and Qs/Qt increased slowly but significantly (25 +/- 2% to 40 +/- 3%) over a 30-minute period. Mean pulmonary artery pressure increased slightly (14.0 +/- 1.3 mm Hg to 16.8 +/- 1 mm Hg) over the same time period. No change in serum ET-1 concentration was detected, and other variables did not change or underwent minor changes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The improvement in arterial oxygenation during pulsed inhalation of NO to healthy isoflurane-anesthetized horses decreased only gradually during a 30-minute period following cessation of NO inhalation, and serum ET-1 concentration was not affected. Because a rapid rebound response did not develop, inhalation of NO might be clinically useful in the treatment of hypoxemia in healthy isoflurane-anesthetized horses.     

Fluoride retention of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed krill meal

The present experiment was performed to study how fluoride from krill meal enriched muscle, whole fish and bone of adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in sea water. Atlantic salmon (mean weight 0.5 kg) were divided into four triplicate groups and fed a commercial fish meal based diets with 0, 100, 200 and 300 g krill kg^?1 feed, respectively, for 12 weeks. The fluoride concentrations in the experimental feeds were analysed to be 18, 132, 235 and 358 mg kg^?1, respectively. Growth, mortality and feed efficiency were recorded through the experiment. Fluoride concentration was measured in muscle, whole‐body, and bone initially and after 12 weeks of feeding. The fluoride concentrations in the samples were determined by alkali fusion and fluoride ion‐selective electrode. Growth, mortality and feed efficiency ratio were not affected by the dietary treatments. The results showed that fluoride concentration in muscle, whole body and bone were not affected by the dietary fluoride level. The fluoride concentration in the tissues showed great variation among replicates of the group given the same diet. Fillets of the fish varied between 0.3 and 1.4 mg fluoride kg^?1 wet weight, whereas the whole‐body concentration of fluoride varied between 3.3 and 6.1 mg kg^?1 wet weight and the fluoride bone concentration varied between 5.8 and 7.2 mg kg^?1 fresh weight. These results suggest that Atlantic salmon are highly tolerant of dietary fluoride given as krill meal with concentration of fluoride up to 350 mg kg^?1 diet, and that accumulation of fluoride from feeding diets containing krill meal does not lead to tissue accumulation in the fish, at least over a short period of time.     

Peptones from Atlantic Cod Stomach as Nitrogen Sources in Growth Media to Marine Bacteria

Peptones were obtained from cod stomachs as a by-product during enzyme production. Minced cod stomachs were autolyzed after acidification with either formic or phosphoric acid, and low molecular weight (< 10 kDa) peptones were recovered. When formic acid was used, an acid peptone was obtained, whereas phosphoric acid was removed from the peptone after calcium precipitation. The peptones were compared with Proteose Peptone (Difco, Detroit, MI, USA) as nitrogen sources in growth media for three marine bacteria. Two fish pathogens—Vibrio anguillarum and Aeromonas salmonicida—grew equally well or better on the cod stomach peptones, whereas a probiotic lactic acid bacteria (Carnobacterium divergens), isolated from salmon intestines, grew much better on the cod stomach peptones than on Proteose Peptone.     

Reduction of early sexual maturation in male S0 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) by dietary supplementation of tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA)

Effects of dietary tetradecylthioacetic fatty acid (TTA) on muscle fat, development of gonads and early sexual maturation in S0 Atlantic salmon during the first year in sea were investigated. TTA (0.5% w/w) was added to the feeds for 8 weeks in the spring. In May, at the end of the TTA‐feeding period, the fish in the TTA group had significantly (P < 0.05) less fat (10.1%) stored in muscle compared with the control group (10.8%). In September, mean male gonadosomatic index (GSI) in maturing fish in the TTA group was found to be lower compared with the maturing fish in the control group (P = 0.05). On the basis of GSI values, male sexual maturation in September was 10.0% vs. 14.4% for the TTA and the control group respectively. Thus, relative to the control group, the incidence of male sexual maturation in the TTA group was reduced by about 1/3 (P = 0.002). Production data was not affected by dietary supplementation of TTA. This study reveals that TTA significantly reduces the incidence of male sexual maturation in S0 Atlantic salmon. A significant elimination model of TTA in fish muscle that takes into account, the growth rate of the fish was further developed in this study.