The effect of praziquantel applied per os on selected haematological and biochemical indices in common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.)

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the anthelminthic, praziquantel, on the haematological and biochemical indices of the blood of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Fish were divided into six groups: two groups received 30 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (bw) of praziquantel, and two groups were given 50 mg kg⁻¹ bw of praziquantel mixed into the heat-treated amyloid vehicle. Fish in the remaining two groups were given only the amyloid vehicle and were used as controls. Fish were examined either 24 or 96 h after administration. Praziquantel treatment was characterised by a significantly lower erythrocyte count, haemoglobin level, packed cell volume and total protein at both dose levels after 24 h compared with the controls, but these parameters were similar to the control values at 96 h. The activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly higher after 96 h in the treated groups, which could be attributed to slight hepatocyte damage caused by praziquantel. However, the differences between the treated and the control groups were not great, and we presumed that they were reversible.     

Conceptual paper for modelling protein and lipid accretion in different body parts of growing and fattening pigs.

The objective of this review is to outline those parts of modelling approaches in pig production which are not highly developed: these are the partitioning of protein and lipid accretion in different anatomical body parts. The authors introduce present models with a critical evaluation and draw some conclusions for further developments. Based on present knowledge this paper demonstrates the process of protein and fat accretion in different body compartments in pigs and influencing factors. A further aim is to assist in the conceptual development of a new pig model, which is more detailed, precise and accurate than currently available models. Exsisting models are generally deficient with regard to the translation of lipid and protein gain into lean and fatty tissue. Only assumed values for this translation have been used so far and the concepts underlying these values are not well understood. Therefore, it may be appropriate to develop a compartimental model to predict protein and fat deposition in growing and fattening pigs. With this new approach the model can supply sufficiently the changing consumer demands regarding to the possibility of meat quality prediction.     

The influence of nutritional and management factors on piglet weight gain to weaning in a commercial herd in Denmark

The effects of weaning age, type of creep diet and the classification of piglets as ‘eaters’ or ‘non eaters’ of creep feed on weight gain to weaning were examined. Four antimicrobial-free diets were offered from day 14 of lactation: (i) wheat-soy based diet with animal and vegetable (‘mixed’) protein sources (COMM), (ii) heat-processed rice (HPR) with barley hulls and potato starch and mixed protein sources (RBPS), (iii) HPR with sugar-beet pulp and mixed protein sources (RSBP), and (iv) HPR with mixed protein sources (R). Pigs were weaned at an average of either 27 (early) or 33 (late) days of age. A dye (indigo carmine) was added to each diet at day 24 of lactation in both groups to classify piglets as ‘eaters’ or ‘non eaters’ of creep feed, based on appearance or non-appearance, respectively, of dye in faeces. Pigs weaned late weighed 1.4 kg more (P < 0.001). Weaning age interacted with diet type and eating classification for weaning weight (P < 0.001). Of the 1067 piglets where classification of the faecal dye was possible, 829 (77.7%) were ‘eaters’ and 238 (22.3%) were ‘non eaters’. This qualitative estimate of creep feed consumption did not influence weight gain to weaning (P > 0.05).     

Anchorage of mature conifers: resistive turning moment, root-soil plate geometry and root growth orientation

Eighty-four mature Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst), silver fir (Abies alba Mill) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees were winched over to determine the maximum resistive turning moment (M(a)) of the root-soil system, the root-soil plate geometry, the azimuthal orientation of root growth, and the occurrence of root rot. The calculation of M(a), based on digital image tracking of stem deflection, accounted not only for the force application and its changing geometry, but also for the weight of the overhanging tree, representing up to 42% of M(a). Root rot reduced M(a) significantly and was detected in 25% of the Norway spruce and 5% of the silver fir trees. Excluding trees with root rot, differences in M(a) between species were small and insignificant. About 75% of the variance in M(a) could be explained by one of the four variables--tree mass, stem mass, stem diameter at breast height squared times tree height, and stem diameter at breast height squared. Among the seven allometric variables assessed above ground, stem diameter at breast height best described the root-soil plate dimensions, but the correlations were weak and the differences between species were insignificant. The shape of the root-soil plate was well described by a depth-dependent taper model with an elliptical cross section. Roots displayed a preferred azimuthal orientation of growth in the axis of prevailing winds, and the direction of frequent weak winds matched the orientation of growth better than that of rare strong winds. The lack of difference in anchorage parameters among species probably reflects the similar belowground growth conditions of the mature trees.     

Cerebrovascular β‐dystroglycan immunoreactivity in vertebrates: not detected in anurans and in the teleosts Ostariophysi and Euteleostei

The aim of the present paper was to check for the presence of cerebrovascular dystroglycan in vertebrates, because dystroglycan, which is localized in the vascular astroglial end‐feet, has a pivotal function in glio‐vascular connections. In mammalian brains, the immunoreactivity of β‐dystroglycan subunit delineates the vessels. The results of the present study demonstrate similar patterns in other vertebrates, except for anurans and the teleost groups Ostariophysi and Euteleostei. In this study, we investigated 1 or 2 representative species of the main groups of Chondrichthyes, teleost and non‐teleost ray‐finned fishes, urodeles, anurans, and reptiles. We also investigated 5 mammalian and 3 bird species. Animals were obtained from breeders or fishermen. The presence of β‐dystroglycan was investigated immunohistochemically in free‐floating sections. Pre‐embedding electron microscopical immunohistochemistry on Heterodontus japonicus shark brains demonstrated that in Elasmobranchii, β‐dystroglycan is also localized in the perivascular glial end‐feet despite the different construction of their blood–brain barrier. The results indicated that the cerebrovascular β‐dystroglycan immunoreactivity disappeared separately in anurans, and in teleosts, in the latter group before its division to Ostariophysi and Euteleostei. Immunohistochemistry in muscles and western blots from brain homogenates, however, detected the presence of β‐dystroglycan, even in anurans and all teleosts. A possible explanation is that in the glial end‐feet, β‐dystroglycan is masked in these animals, or disappeared during adaptation to the freshwater habitat.     

Photodetection with active optical antennas

Nanoantennas are key optical components for light harvesting; photodiodes convert light into a current of electrons for photodetection. We show that these two distinct, independent functions can be combined into the same structure. Photons coupled into a metallic nanoantenna excite resonant plasmons, which decay into energetic, "hot" electrons injected over a potential barrier at the nanoantenna-semiconductor interface, resulting in a photocurrent. This dual-function structure is a highly compact, wavelength-resonant, and polarization-specific light detector, with a spectral response extending to energies well below the semiconductor band edge.     

Structural and functional characterization of pronyl-lysine,a novel protein modification in bread crust melanoidins showing in vitro antioxidative and phase I/II enzyme modulating activity

Application of an in vitro antioxidant assay to solvent fractions isolated from bread crust, bread crumb, and flour, respectively, revealed the highest antioxidative potential for the dark brown, ethanol solubles of the crust, whereas corresponding crumb and flour fractions showed only minor activities. To investigate whether these browning products may also act as antioxidants in biological systems, their modulating activity on detoxification enzymes was investigated as a functional parameter in intestinal Caco-2 cells. The bread crust and, in particular, the intensely brown, ethanolic crust fraction induced a significantly elevated glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and a decreased phase I NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (CCR) activity compared to crumb-exposed cells. Antioxidant screening of Maillard-type model mixtures, followed by structure determination, revealed the pyrrolinone reductones 1 and 2 as the key antioxidants formed from the hexose-derived acetylformoin and N(alpha)-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester or glycine methyl ester, chosen as model substances to mimic nonenzymatic browning reactions with the lysine side chain or the N terminus of proteins, respectively. Quantitation of protein-bound pyrrolinone reductonyl-lysine, abbreviated pronyl-lysine, revealed high amounts in the bread crust (62.2 mg/kg), low amounts in the crumb (8.0 mg/kg), and the absence of this compound in untreated flour. Exposing Caco-2 cells for 48 h to either synthetically pronylated albumin or purified pronyl-glycine (3) significantly increased phase II GST activity by 12 or 34%, respectively, thus demonstrating for the first time that "pronylated" proteins as part of bread crust melanoidins act as monofunctional inducers of GST, serving as a functional parameter of an antioxidant, chemopreventive activity in vitro.     

Long-term examination of health conditions in monoculture of communally tested amphimictic diploid, diploid gynogenic and triploid tench, Tinca tinca (L.)

Amphimictic diploid (2n), induced triploid (3n) and meiotic gynogenic (MeiG) tench populations were established in 1998 by mass propagation. After separate nursing, fish were group-marked by freeze branding and 200 specimens per population were stocked into an experimental earthen pond for communal test until present. Parasitological and haematological (haemoglobin content Hb, haematocrit PCV and differential leukocyte count) examinations were performed every spring and autumn in the 2+ category, once sex could be registered macroscopically. Altogether 9 genera and/or species of parasites were detected on skin, 7 genera and/or species on gills, 1 genus in eye and 1 species in gut. The highest invasion extensity was recorded in the MeiG tench in the majority of examinations till the age of 4+. The courses of PCV and Hb values for 2n and MeiG populations showed high similarity while those for 3n population were slightly decreased and sex-related differences proved to be insignificant within populations in the majority of examinations. Differential leukocyte counts showed significant differences (p<0.05) of 3n vs. 2n and/or MeiG considering lower proportions of lymphocytes and higher proportions of segmented neutrophils in the majority of cases.