Possible factors influencing the immunoglobulin G concentration in swine colostrum

The immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration in swine colostrum was determined by the single radial immunodiffusion method, using 157 samples collected from farm-raised sows in the Yamaguchi Prefecture of Japan during 1976 and 1977. The mean IgG value was 53.03 mg/ml, and the maximum and minimum values were 101.39 mg/ml and 11.74 mg/ml, respectively. The amount of IgG varied greatly among sows. To clarify the possible factors influencing the amount of IgG in colostrum, the following items were surveyed: season, district, breed, age of sows, number of parturitions, udder section from which samples were collected, kind of feed, vaccinations of swine erysipelas live-organism vaccine, hog cholera live-virus vaccine, Japanese encephalitis live-virus vaccine, tramsmissible gastroenteritis liver-virus vaccine, type of farming, and number of sows raised on a farm. Relationships between the amount of IgG in colostrum and each of these 13 items were analyzed. Seemingly, strong correlations with the amounts if IgG in colostrum were found with five items (district, number of parturitions, kind of feed, type of farming, and number of sows). To the contrary, five items (age, udder section, and vaccinations of swine erysipelas live-organism vaccine, hog cholera live-virus vaccine, and Japanese encephalitis live-virus vaccine) had poor correlations. Other items had moderate correlations. The multiple correlation coefficient obtained was 0.5499.     

Whole-Cell Fatty Acid Composition to Characterize and Differentiate Isolates of Rhizoctonia Species Associated with Turfgrass Diseases in Japan

Cellular fatty acids were analyzed to characterize and differentiate 34 isolates of Rhizoctonia species representing binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-D (I), AG-D (II), R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB, AG 2-2 LP, R. circinata var. circinata and var. oryzae associated with turfgrass diseases in Japan. Myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids were consistently present in varying quantities in all isolates. Heptadecanoic and 9-heptadecenoic acids were present in isolates of Rhizoctonia AG-D (I), AG-D (II), R. solani AG 2-2 IIIB and AG 2-2 LP but not in isolates of R. circinata var. circinata and var. oryzae. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were the major fatty acids found, constituting 88.30-98.37% of the whole-cell fatty acid content. The remaining fatty acids were present in smaller amounts. Isolates within a single group were closely clustered, whereas isolates from different groups were clearly distinguishable based on average linkage cluster analysis of cellular fatty acids. Principal component analysis, based on all fatty acids detected, confirmed the distinct separation of isolates representing the six groups of Rhizoctonia species obtained from turfgrasses. These results suggested that fatty acid analysis is useful for the characterization and differentiation of isolates of Rhizoctonia species associated with turfgrass diseases. Received 21 May 2001/ Accepted in revised form 28 September 2001     

MCPB-ethyl疏花对富士苹果授粉受精及胚珠发育的影响

通过在花期用MCPB-ethyl处理,对富士苹果花粉的发芽、花粉管的伸长以及胚珠的发育等进行了形态方面的观察和探讨,以阐明MCPB-ethyl的疏花机制。结果表明,MCPB-ethyl对花粉的发芽及花粉管的伸长没有影响,整个受精过程与对照相同,没有发现异常。但受精后胚乳核只进行了数次分裂便停止生长,此后珠皮、珠心细胞迅速解体。根据以上结果,认为MCPB-ethyl的疏花效果不是通过影响花粉的发芽或花粉管的伸长阻碍受精所致,而是使胚和胚珠的发育停止,形成离层导致了落花。     

Effects of cyclodextrin-iodopropane complex on methane production, ruminal fermentation and microbes, digestibility and blood metabolites in steers

The effects when adding cyclodextrin‐iodopropane complex (CD‐IP) to a diet, on ruminal fermentation and microbes, digestibility, blood metabolites and methane production, were evaluated using four Holstein steers in a cross‐over design. The steers were fed Sudangrass hay plus concentrate mixture at a ratio 1.5:1, and CD‐IP (1% of dry matter) was given twice daily by mixing with concentrate mixture. Rumen and blood samples were collected at 0, 2, and 5 h after morning dosing. Ruminal pH and numbers of protozoa were unaffected by CD‐IP treatment. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate was decreased (P < 0.05), and propionate was increased (P < 0.01) at 2 h after CD‐IP dosing. Proportion of butyrate was increased (P < 0.05) and ammonia‐N was decreased (P < 0.05) at 2 and 5 h after CD‐IP dosing. Adding CD‐IP had no effect on the feed intake and digestion of nutrients. Plasma glucose was increased and urea‐N was decreased (P < 0.05) at 2 and 5 h after CD‐IP dosing. Methane production was decreased (P < 0.05) by approximately 18% in the treatment steers. Numbers of methanogenic bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05), while total viable counts, cellulolytic, sulfate reducing and acetogenic bacteria were unaffected. The present results are the first to show that CD‐IP can partially inhibit in vivo ruminal methanogenesis without adverse effects on digestion of nutrients.     

The profile of urinary lipid metabolites in healthy dogs

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, including arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are converted to hundreds of lipid mediators by cyclooxygenases (COX), lipoxygenases (LOX), and cytochrome P450 (CYP), or through non-enzymatic processes, and they reflect inflammatory states of the body. We comprehensively analyzed lipid metabolites in dog urine using a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to describe their metabolic characteristics. We detected 31 AA-derived metabolites, four EPA-derived metabolites, and a DHA-derived metabolite in all urine samples. Among AA-derived metabolites, 15, 5, 3, and 8 were generated by COX, LOX, CYP, and non-enzymatic oxidation respectively. This study will be the first step to use profiles of urinary lipid metabolites for better understanding and diagnosis of canine diseases.     

Lipid-rich bovine serum albumin improves the viability and hatching ability of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro

The effects of lipid-rich bovine serum albumin (LR-BSA) on the development of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro were examined. Addition of 0.5 to 5 mg/ml LR-BSA to porcine blastocyst medium (PBM) from Day 5 (Day 0 = in vitro fertilization) significantly increased the hatching rates of blastocysts on Day 7 and the total cell numbers in Day-7 blastocysts. When Day-5 blastocysts were cultured with PBM alone, PBM containing LR-BSA, recombinant human serum albumin or fatty acid-free BSA, addition of LR-BSA significantly enhanced hatching rates and the cell number in blastocysts that survived compared with other treatments. The diameter, ATP content and numbers of both inner cell mass and total cells in Day-6 and Day-7 blastocysts cultured with PBM containing LR-BSA were significantly higher than in blastocysts cultured with PBM alone, whereas LR-BSA had no effect on mitochondrial membrane potential. The mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism and β-oxidation (ACSL1, ACSL3, CPT1, CPT2 and KAT) in Day-7 blastocysts were significantly upregulated by the addition of LR-BSA. The results indicated that LR-BSA enhanced hatching ability and quality of porcine blastocysts produced in vitro, as determined by ATP content, blastocyst diameter and expression levels of the specific genes, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of LR-BSA arise from lipids bound to albumin.