Acute lead intoxication in a pregnant mare

Lead (Pb) intoxication in horses is usually a chronic phenomenon with clinical signs associated with central nervous dysfunction. This report gives details of a case of acute Pb intoxication in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred mare with severe, progressive and ultimately fatal neurological deterioration. During the 4 days of hospitalisation, clinical signs progressed from intermittent headshaking and depression to severe, continuous, uncontrollable manic behaviour. At autopsy, three grey-coloured, hard metal particles were present in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently found to contain 2614 ppm Pb. Lead concentrations in the brain, liver, stomach and kidney were 29, 4, 6 and 2 ppm wet weight, respectively.     

Structural heterogeneity of yolk spheres in hierarchical follicles from hen ovary: a histochemical study

1. Four types of yolk spheres with variable structure, chemical composition and frequency of occurrence in yolk plasma of hierarchical follicles (F(4), F(3), F(2) and F(1) with diameters of 10.0, 15.5, 20.0 and 35.0 mm, respectively) of the hen ovary were identified using histochemical methods for localising lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. 2. Yolk spheres of the first type (YS(1)) had a phospholipoprotein membrane surrounding fluid matrix which stained lightly for phospholipids, proteins and acidic mucopolysaccharides. Two types of droplets were observed in the matrix of YS(1). Spheres of the second type (YS(2)) had a lipoprotein- and acidic mucopolysaccharide-rich peripheral region and a single large droplet in its fluid matrix. Droplets of YS(2), unlike YS(1), showed three regions and metachromatic staining with ninhydrin-Schiff reagent. The third type of sphere (YS(3)) had a homogeneous matrix staining for proteins, neutral lipids and florescent yellow with alcian blue and differentially with ninhydrin-Schiff reagent; it was bounded by a phospholipids- and acidic mucopolysaccharide-containing thick peripheral region. Its fluid matrix also showed toluidine-blue-positive, densely packed granules and small droplets. The fourth type (YS(4)) was seen only in bromophenol blue and Nile blue preparations, revealing the presence of proteins and neural lipids in their matrix and peripheral regions. 3. Quantitative data on the relative abundance of yolk spheres in F(4) to F(1) follicles revealed more YS(3) (51.1 to 64.7%) than YS(1) (16.2 to 28.3%) and YS(2) (19.1 to 23.2%). The percentage of YS(1) increased and that of YS(3) decreased as follicle size increased.     

Intestinal metabolism of weaned piglets fed a typical United States or European diet with or without supplementation of tributyrin and lactitol

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of a microencapsulated blend of tributyrin and lactitol (TL) to a standard European (EU) diet without antibiotic growth promoters on intestinal metabolism and mucosa development of weaned piglets and to compare it with a standard US diet containing animal proteins, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, and carbadox. Ninety piglets weaned at 21 d were divided into 3 dietary groups consisting of 5 replicates each: 1) US diet supplemented with 55 mg/kg of carbadox, and 2.5% each of plasma proteins and spray-dried blood cells in the first phase, 3,055 mg/kg of Zn in the first and second phases, and 180 mg/kg of Cu in the third phase; 2) EU diet based on vegetable proteins and no antibiotics; and 3) the same EU diet supplemented with 3,000 mg/kg of microencapsulated TL. The study was divided into 3 phases: 0 to 7, 8 to 21, and 22 to 35 d. On d 7, 21, and 35, animals were weighed, and feed consumption and efficiency were determined. On d 14 and 35, one pig per pen was killed, and the intestinal contents and mucosa from the proximal, middle, distal jejunum and the ileum were sampled. Intestinal wall sections were fixed for histological analysis, and intestinal content was used for VFA, ammonia, and polyamine analysis. Throughout the study (d 0 to 35), the US diet had greater ADG and ADFI than the EU diet (P < 0.05). The EU diet supplemented with TL tended to have 11% greater ADG (P = 0.17). Feeding the EU diet caused a reduction in proximal and middle jejunum villi length by 10% (P < 0.05) and an increase in crypt size in proximal jejunum (P < 0.05) compared with the US diet, probably due to an increased rate of cell loss and crypt cell production. The TL supplementation resulted in longer villi along the jejunum and less deep crypts in the proximal jejunum (+15.9 and -8.9%, respectively; P < 0.05) than the unsupplemented EU diet. The TL diet increased the concentrations of cadaverine and putrescine in the small intestine (P < 0.05) and seemed to increase cadaverine, histamine, putrescine, and spermine in the large intestine by 1.5- to 10-fold compared with the US or EU diet. In conclusion, although the US diet had a greater effect on growth performance and mucosal trophic status than the EU diets, the supplementation with slowly released TL seemed to be an effective tool to partially overcome the adverse effects of vegetable protein diets.     

Response to dietary phosphorus deficiency is affected by genetic background in growing pigs

Concern over the environmental effect of P excretion from pig production has led to reduced dietary P supplementation. To examine how genetics influence P utilization, 94 gilts sired by 2 genetic lines (PIC337 and PIC280) were housed individually and fed either a P-adequate diet (PA) or a 20% P-deficient diet (PD) for 14 wk. Initially and monthly, blood samples were collected and BW recorded after an overnight fast. Growth performance and plasma indicators of P status were determined monthly. At the end of the trial, carcass traits, meat quality, bone strength, and ash percentage were determined. Pigs fed the PD diet had decreased (P < 0.05) plasma P concentrations and poorer G:F (P < 0.05) over the length of the trial. After 4 wk on trial, pigs fed the PD diet had increased (P < 0.05) plasma 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and decreased (P < 0.05) plasma parathyroid hormone compared with those fed the PA diet. At the end of the trial, pigs fed the PD diet had decreased (P < 0.05) BW, HCW, and percentage fat-free lean and tended to have decreased LM area (P = 0.06) and marbling (P = 0.09) and greater (P = 0.12) 10th-rib backfat than pigs fed the PA diet. Additionally, animals fed the PD diet had weaker bones and also decreased (P < 0.05) ash percentage and increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of 1alpha-hydroxylase and parathyroid hormone receptor mRNA in kidney tissue. Regardless of dietary treatment, PIC337-sired pigs consumed more feed and gained more BW than their PIC280-sired counterparts (P < 0.05) during the study. The PIC337-sired pigs also had greater (P < 0.05) HCW, larger (P < 0.01) LM area, and tended to have (P = 0.07) greater dressing percentage. Meat from the PIC337-sired pigs also tended to have greater (P = 0.12) concentrations of lactate but decreased (P = 0.07) concentrations of total glucose units 24 h postslaughter. Although plasma 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) concentrations were elevated (P < 0.05) in all the animals fed the PD diet, this elevation due to P deficiency tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in the PIC337-sired pigs after 12 wk on the treatment. The PIC337-sired pigs had stronger (P < 0.01) bones with greater ash percentage than the PIC280-sired pigs. The difference in the strength of the radii between the PIC337-sired pigs fed the PA and PD diets was greater than their PIC280-sired counterparts, which resulted in sire line x treatment interactions (P < 0.05). These data indicate differing mechanisms of P utilization between these genetic lines. Elucidating these mechanisms may lead to strategies to increase efficiency of growth in a more environmentally friendly manner.     

Serum triglyceride concentration in dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum triglyceride concentrations obtained after food had been withheld (i.e., fasting concentrations) in dogs with epilepsy that had been treated long term (> or = 3 months) with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and potassium bromide with concentrations in healthy control dogs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 57 epileptic dogs that had been treated with phenobarbital (n=28) or with phenobarbital and bromide (29) and 57 healthy, untreated control dogs matched on the basis of age, breed, sex, neuter status, and body condition score. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected after food had been withheld for at least 12 hours, and serum biochemical and lipid concentrations were determined. Oral fat tolerance tests were performed in 15 control dogs and 9 dogs with epilepsy treated with phenobarbital alone. RESULTS: 19 of the 57 (33%) epileptic dogs had fasting serum triglyceride concentrations greater than the upper reference limit. Nine (16%) dogs had a history of pancreatitis, and 5 of the 9 had high fasting serum triglyceride concentrations at the time of the study. A significant relationship was found between body condition score and fasting serum triglyceride concentration in all dogs, but serum triglyceride concentration was not significantly associated with phenobarbital dosage or serum phenobarbital concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that dogs treated long term with phenobarbital or with phenobarbital and bromide may develop hypertriglyceridemia. Fasting serum triglyceride concentration should be periodically monitored in dogs treated with phenobarbital because hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for pancreatitis.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of two intravenous administration regimens of tiludronate in healthy adult horses and effects on the bone resorption marker CTX-1

Bioavailability and pharmacological effects of tiludronate were compared when administered as an intravenous (i.v.) bolus at a dosage of 0.1 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) once daily for 10 consecutive days (group 1, n  = 6) and as a single constant rate infusion (CRI) at a total dose of 1 mg/kg b.w. (group 2, n  = 6) in healthy adult horses.
Tiludronate and carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1) were measured in plasma and urine.
There was no statistically significant difference in area under the curve ( AUC ) and clearance ( Cl ) between the two groups. Bioavailability of the CRI was 103% (not significantly different) that of the 10 daily i.v. bolus doses. Cumulative urine tiludronate excretion could not be compared between groups because of poor sensitivity of the assay in urine. Plasma and urine CTX-1 levels were not different between groups throughout the study. However, interindividual variations were greater in group 1 than in group 2. A significant decrease in CTX-1 levels was observed in plasma after the first administration in group 1, but not in urine; while in group 2, a significant decrease in CTX-1 concentrations was observed after treatment in both plasma and urine.
In conclusion, both dosage regimens of tiludronate produced similar plasma exposure and pharmacological effects in adult healthy horses.     

Pharmacokinetics of morphine and its metabolites in freshwater rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In this study, we injected morphine sulfate IP into rainbow trout and measured the concentration of morphine and all potential metabolites in plasma using LC-MS/MS at a series of times after the injection. The pharmacokinetics of morphine were similar to those previously reported for seawater-acclimated rainbow trout, i.e. they were about one order of magnitude slower than in similarly sized mammals. The only metabolite of morphine present in the plasma was morphine-3-β- d -glucuronide (M3G); morphine-6-β- d -glucuronide (M6G) was not detected. M3G gradually increased after the morphine injection, peaked about 2 days later, then gradually decreased. In mammals, M3G plasma levels exceed morphine levels extremely rapidly, i.e. in less than an hour, regardless of dose, route of administration, or species. In trout, it took 2 days for M3G levels to exceed morphine levels. This is the first study of the metabolites of morphine in any ectotherm. We conclude that trout can metabolize morphine, but at a rate much slower than in mammals.     

Influence of recombinant duck follistatin protein on embryonic muscle development and gene expressions

Follistatin (FST) acts as a positive regulator of muscle development by inhibiting the activities and expression of myostatin. The recombinant duck FST protein was injected into hatching eggs and was also added to the medium of duck myoblast to study its role on duck embryonic muscle development and gene expressions. Duck embryo weight increased 3.49% (p > 0.05) in FST treatment group as compared with control group, but minor effects were found on leg or breast muscle weights of ducklings at 2 days post‐hatching (p > 0.05). Relative expression of Pax7 was upregulated in both leg and breast muscle tissues (p < 0.05), while MyoD was only upregulated in leg muscle (p < 0.05), and Myf5 was only upregulated in breast muscle (p < 0.05). Relative expression of myostatin was downregulated in both muscle tissues researched (p < 0.05). In vitro studies also showed some maker genes relevant to protein synthesis and degradation, cells’ proliferation and differentiation had significant changes in myoblasts after treated with FST. These results suggested that in ovo feeding of recombinant FST protein to duck hatching eggs had an effect on duck embryo development but have less roles on the duck embryonic muscle development.