Investigation of the Role of Androstenedione-19-oic Acid in the Presence of 19-Norandrostenedione in Intact Male Horse Plasma Using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to confirm the presence of androstenedione-19-oic acid in intact male equine plasma and to show the source of 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma. Androstenedione-19-oic acid was recovered from acidified plasma by liquid–liquid extraction using methyl tert-butyl ether and separated on an Ace 5 C₈ column. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect the analytes in negative electrospray ionization mode. Limits of detection, quantification, and confirmation of the method were 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The linear dynamic range of quantification was 0.5–50 ng/mL. The presence of androstenedione-19-oic acid was confirmed in all plasma samples obtained from intact male horses but not those from gelded and female horses; the average concentration was 3.1 ± 1.6 ng/mL, suggesting androstenedione-19-oic acid is an endogenous compound only in intact male horse plasma samples. The conversion of androstenedione-19-oic acid to 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma was demonstrated by spiking androstenedione-19-oic acid into blank plasma and monitoring the generation of 19-norandrostenedione and its increase in concentration during storage. Results indicated that androstenedione-19-oic acid was readily converted into 19-norandrostenedione; the higher the storage temperature, the faster the conversion. The conversion was not affected by the types of plasma samples collected from gelded and female horses or by anticoagulants used in blood collection to harvest plasma. Compared with other matrices such as water, methanol, and phosphate-buffered saline, the conversion of androstenedione-19-oic to 19-norandrostenedione in equine plasma was faster, suggesting that there is an unknown factor(s) in equine plasma that enhances the conversion.     

The effect of genotype,choice feeding,and season on organically reared broilers fed diets devoid of synthetic methionine

In response to the impending ban on synthetic methionine in organic poultry diets, researchers have focused on finding alternative strategies to supply this amino acid. The objectives of this study were to assess performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed diets devoid of synthetic methionine by using 1) a slow-growing and a fast-growing genotype, 2) choice-feeding management (supplying grain and a complementary premix in 2 separate feeders), and 3) pasture access and seasonal variation. Inclusion of fish meal and high percentages of soybean meal enabled the specific genotype methionine requirement to be met. All diets were certified organic. The experiment was conducted during the grower and finisher phases in 4 different seasons: late fall, spring, summer, and early fall. Pasture access was assessed either by housing broilers on the West Virginia University Organic farm and giving them outdoor access, or by housing broilers on the West Virginia University Animal Sciences farm and giving them no outdoor access. Fast-growing genotypes were superior in performance and carcass characteristics compared with slow-growing genotypes, and choice-feeding management did not improve performance or carcass characteristics. Pasture access tended to have no effect on slow-growing broilers and decreased the performance of fast-growing broilers. Performance was decreased in late fall, likely because of cold ambient temperatures.     

Breeding distribution and maternal genetic lineages in Lulu,a dwarf cattle population in Nepal

Lulu is a dwarf cattle population bred in the Mustang district of western and central Nepal. This area is located around the habitat boundary between Bos taurus and Bos indicus. The peculiarities of Lulu are their small size (weight range in the adult female: 68–153 kg) and rearing in high mountain areas at 2800 m to 4000 m in altitude. There were 5770 head of Lulu cattle in the Mustang district in 1998, 4333 females and 1437 males. The morphological appearance of Lulu is Bos taurus. However, one of the five Lulu studied in Kagbeni, Mustang had a Bos indicus mitochondrial DNA type based on the D‐loop sequence, while the other four were Bos taurus. It is suggested that there are hybrids of Lulu with Bos indicus maternal lineage in a mostly taurine‐breed genetic background. Steps must be taken to preserve the unique Lulu.     

不同氧化方法对羽毛粉中胱氨酸生成磺基丙氨酸效果的影响

采用均匀设计方法研究了过甲酸法、过乙酸法氧化羽毛粉中胱氨酸为磺基丙氨酸的效果，结果表明，两种方法的效果无显著差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。从实用经济角度来考虑，以使用过乙酸氧化法为宜。使用此法的最适条件为：过乙酸用量（Ｘ１）０．１ｍＬ／ｇ羽毛粉，过乙酸组成（Ｘ２）（过氧化氢∶乙酸）１∶８；过乙酸的浓度（Ｘ３）９０％；氧化温度１１０℃（Ｘ４）；氧化时间（Ｘ５）８ｈ。在此条件下，磺基丙氨酸最佳得率为８．０２％。氧化条件（Ｘ）与生成磺基丙氨酸（Ｙ）之间的回归方程：ｙ＝０．９４２２＋０．０６８６Ｘ１＋０．５７８７Ｘ２＋０．００４９Ｘ３＋０．００５２Ｘ４＋０．２９５９Ｘ５。     

Ascorbic acid ameliorates dysregulated folliculogenesis induced by mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in neonatal mouse ovaries via reducing ovarian oxidative stress

Phthalates, including di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), are common industrial chemicals in the environment. Recent evidence indicates that DEHP and its active metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) negatively modulate reproductive functions and induce reactive oxygen species. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a dietary requirement for primates, and it acts as a potent free radical scavenger to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In this study, to investigate the toxic effects of MEHP on the follicle development and the beneficial role of AA, neonatal mouse ovaries were treated with different concentrations of MEHP with or without AA for 6 days. Then, the follicle constitution and oxidative status were compared in different groups. Results showed MEHP accelerated primordial follicle recruitment by increasing the percentage of primary and secondary follicles and decreasing the percentage of primordial follicles in the ovaries. Moreover, MEHP-induced ovarian oxidative stress by significantly increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the expression of GSS and SOD1. When ovaries were co-administrated with MEHP and AA, follicle constitution was normalized, and the oxidative status was significantly decreased. These results suggested that AA ameliorated MEHP-induced ovarian oxidative stress and follicular dysregulation, which attested the clinical significance of AA for ovary protection in the case of MEHP exposure.     

近红外光谱分析技术在测定饲料中植酸磷含量上的应用

植酸是一种抗营养因子。传统的用三氯化铁沉淀植酸的化学分析法费时费工,不能满足饲料工业发展的需要。为了寻求快速检测饲料中植酸磷(简称P.P.)含量的手段,本试验运用近红外光谱分析技术(简称 NIRS),分别以植酸磷含量较高的米糠饼和植酸磷含量较低的高粱为样品,对这两种饲料的化学分析法测值与近红外光谱法测值进行了比较。试验结果表明:用48个米糠饼样品和50个高粱样品进行定标,相关系数(R,下同)分别为0.901和0.890,残余标准差(RSD,下同)分别为0.06和0.03;另用不参与定标的25个米糠饼样品和21个高粱样品对定标结果进行检验,R 分别为0.803和0.917,RSD 分别为0.07和0.02。NIRS 法的分析精度基本上可以达到化学分析法的要求。作者认为,达项技术作为饲料中 PP 含量快速分析的手段是可行的。     

低温弱光对苗期紫花苜蓿根颈生理特性的影响

以秋眠级不同的2个紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa品种(巨人201和WL414)为试验材料,研究了其在低温(0~5℃和5~10℃)与弱光[50和100μmol/(m2.s)]互作处理条件下的生理响应。结果表明:紫花苜蓿根颈在低温弱光胁迫下启动了自身应激机制,对逆境胁迫做出了适应性反应,相同弱光条件下,低温0~5℃比5~10℃对根颈的影响显著,过氧化物酶活性上升幅度较小,而超氧化物歧化酶活性的下降和丙二醛含量的增加幅度均较大;相同低温处理,弱光50μmol/(m2.s)处理对根颈生理指标影响更为显著,过氧化物酶活性上升、超氧化物歧化酶活性下降和丙二醛含量增加幅度大于弱光100μmol/(m2.s)处理;巨人201各项指标的变化都优于WL414,表明巨人201抗寒耐弱光能力都可能优于WL414。     

牛乳脂共轭亚油酸的合成及其营养调控

共轭亚油酸(CLA)是存在于动物脂肪和乳脂中的天然活性成分。本文综述了牛乳脂CLA的来源、合成机制及其营养调控。     

青霉酸毒性研究进展

青霉酸是圆弧青霉代谢产物的主要成分。现已证明,青霉酸对各种动物具有毒性,主要引起心脏、肝脏和肾脏等器官的损伤,并具有潜在致癌性。青霉酸在饲料中的含量很高,而且污染极其广泛。因此,研究青霉酸的毒性、中毒机理及与其他毒素的联合作用,对保证饲料卫生和动物健康具有很重要的意义,该文就青霉酸的器官毒性、细胞毒性、分子毒性及联合毒性的研究进行综述。