Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats

Xylitol is commonly used as sugar substitute in households. While it has numerous beneficial effects on human health, it is highly toxic to dogs. The goal of this study was to examine whether xylitol has similar deleterious effects, such as hypoglycaemia and acute hepatic failure, on cats. Our research included six healthy middle‐aged cats. Xylitol was dissolved in deionized water and administered p.o. at three doses (100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight). These dosages have been considered toxic and can cause liver failure or even death in dogs. After every xylitol administration, the basic health status and the blood glucose of cats were observed regularly. Additionally, prior to and 6, 24 and 72 hr after xylitol administration, blood samples were taken to check complete blood count, clinical biochemical parameters and enzymes such as ALT, ALKP, GGT, GLDH, bile acids, BUN, creatinine, phosphate, total protein, albumin, sodium and potassium. There were no significant changes (p > .05) in any of the haematological or biochemical parameters. Blood glucose concentrations did not show any significant alterations, except at 1,000 mg/kg dose, where a mild but significant increase was observed, but it was in physiological range. Based on our results, xylitol did not induce toxic effects on cats.     

Effects of the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor velagliflozin,a new drug with therapeutic potential to treat diabetes in cats

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in the treatment of human diabetics. They increase glucose excretion and correct hyperglycemia. We examined the investigational SGLT2 inhibitor velagliflozin in two groups of six neutered adult obese cats (equal gender distribution). Placebo (Pl) or drug (D; 1 mg/kg) was administered for 35 days. Routine blood examinations, fructosamine, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucagon, adiponectin, and leptin were measured before and after treatment, also water intake, and urinary electrolytes, glucose, and volume. Indirect calorimetry, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 0.8 g/kg) and insulin tolerance test (IVITT) were conducted. All cats tolerated treatment well. Significant changes with D included a decrease in the respiratory exchange ratio, an increase in cholesterol, a small increase in albumin, and a rise in BHB and NEFA. Glucose clearance was unaltered, although less insulin was secreted during the IVGTT (p = .056) suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. IVITT was unchanged. Treatment did not affect glucagon, leptin, or adiponectin. Water intake, urine output, urinary glucose excretion, and the glucose/creatinine ratio but not urinary electrolytes were significantly higher post‐D. We conclude that velagliflozin is a promising drug, which increases urinary glucose excretion in cats and could thereby be beneficial for the treatment of hyperglycemia.     

Hyperglycaemia in transition dairy cows: Effects of lactational stage and conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on glucose metabolism and turnover

Supplementing conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA ) is supposed to spare glucose due to the milk fat‐depressing effect of the trans ‐10, cis ‐12 CLA isomer, and allows repartitioning nutrients despite an energy deficiency in early lactation. However, there is still a lack of knowledge in terms of the dynamic pattern of the glucose turnover in transition dairy cows. We hypothesized that dairy cows supplemented with CLA have an altered rate of glucose turnover and insulin sensitivity during early lactation. We conducted three consecutive hyperglycaemic clamps (HGC ) in weeks ?2, +2 and +4 relative to parturition in Holstein cows supplemented daily either with 70 g of lipid‐encapsulated CLA (6.8 g trans ‐10, cis ‐12 and 6.6 g of the cis ‐9, trans ‐11 CLA isomer; CLA ; n  = 11) or with 56 g of control fat ( CON ; n  = 11). From week ?3 up to week +4 relative to parturition, milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI ) were recorded daily, while body weight (BW ) and milk composition were obtained once weekly. Blood samples were taken once weekly and every 30 min during the HGC . Plasma was analysed for concentrations of glucose, fatty acids (FFA ), beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB ), insulin, triglycerides and cholesterol. The CLA supplementation did not affect performance and metabolic parameters except for BHB and cholesterol. Furthermore, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity were affected by treatment. During the HGC in early lactation, insulin response was lower and decrease in FFA and BHB greater compared with the HGC in week ?2 although glucose target concentration achieved during the steady‐state period was similar for all three HGC . Our findings in terms of insulin and cholesterol suggest that body reserves are preserved through CLA feeding without restraining animal's performance. Furthermore, CLA effects on cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations indicated beneficial effects on hepatic lipid export contributing to an improved efficiency of prevailing metabolites in circulation.     

Effects of fat supplementation on plasma glucose,insulin and fatty acid analysis in ponies maintained on a forage‐based diet

The objective of this study was to observe how fat incorporated into an equine forage‐based diet through supplementation altered levels of plasma glucose, insulin and fatty acids. Five Shetland/Hackney cross pony mares were fed alfalfa pellet diets top dressed with commercially available vegetable oil (blend of soya bean, canola and corn oils) at 0%, 5%, 10% or 15% of diet. Ponies were randomly assigned one of four diets to start, with a 14‐day adjustment period between transitioning to another one of the four diets. Ponies were gradually adapted to the new diet within the 14‐day period before a five‐day trial period. Each pony received all four diets by the end of the study. Each trial was a five‐day period with a three‐day sample collection. Blood samples for each collection week were taken 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 and 270 min and at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 hr post‐feeding. Excess fat did not impact plasma glucose (p > .1), nor did it affect blood plasma insulin concentration. While there was no time alteration found for plasma fatty acid concentration (p > .1), C14:0 increased when ponies were fed 0% fat and C18:2 decreased when ponies were fed 0% fat. Plasma fatty acids (% of total FA) were higher in C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C20:1 in the added fat diets (p < .1). These findings suggest the amounts reported in this study of fat supplementation on a forage‐based diet did influence the fatty acid analysis within the pony, but did not negatively impact blood glucose and insulin concentrations.     

基于紫花苜蓿混播草地的全草型肉羊放牧育肥模式案例研究

本研究旨在探讨紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）混播草地放牧利用的生产潜力和集成全草型集约化肉羊放牧育肥技术模式。2017-2018年，在位于河北省廊坊市的中国农业科学院国际农业高新技术产业园内开展了2年羔羊育肥的划区轮牧试验，研究了紫花苜蓿混播草地的地上生物量、育肥羊增重以及羊肉品质的变化规律。结果表明：混播草地地上生物量超过11.2 tDM·hm^-2，5月份紫花苜蓿混播草地的粗蛋白为20.92%，每公顷紫花苜蓿混播草地可满足51只育肥羊、放牧育肥150天，每只增重30 kg所需的干物质、代谢能和粗蛋白三个方面的全部需求。与此同时，紫花苜蓿混播草地还可以显著增加羊肉中欧米伽3型多不饱和脂肪酸的含量，n-6/n-3比例为2.72，羊肉健康品质显著提高。以紫花苜蓿混播草地为基础的全草型肉羊放牧育肥技术具有广阔的应用前景，对我国苜蓿产业以及草地畜牧业发展具有重要意义。     

持续冷热环境对肉鸡生产性能、糖代谢和解偶联蛋白mRNA表达的影响

本试验研究了不同环境温度(10~30℃)持续14 d对肉鸡生产性能、糖代谢和禽类解偶联蛋白(av UCP)mRNA表达的影响。试验选取21日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉鸡288只,随机分到6个人工环境控制舱中,每个舱饲养6笼,每笼8只鸡作为1个重复。预试期7 d,温度22℃,相对湿度60%。28日龄时将各环境控制舱温度分别逐渐(1 h内)调到10、14、18、22、26和30℃,相对湿度60%,温湿度均保持恒定直至试验结束。正试期14 d。结果表明:1)试验期内,30℃组的体重(BW)显著低于14~26℃组(P<0.05);22~30℃组平均日采食量(ADFI)随温度升高而显著下降(P<0.05);10~30℃组平均日增重(ADG)随温度升高出现先升高后下降的趋势,在22℃时最高;料重比(F/G)随温度升高呈现先下降后升高的趋势,22℃时最低;平均日饮水量(ADWC)在10℃组最低。2)试验第14天,26℃组血糖水平显著低于18℃组(P<0.05);肝糖原水平在各组之间差异不显著(P>0.05);22℃组肌糖原水平显著低于10、26和30℃组(P<0.05)。3)试验第14天,18、22℃组av UCP mRNA相对表达量显著高于其他组(P<0.05)。结果提示:在本试验条件下,从生产性能和能量利用效率考虑,28~42日龄AA肉鸡的适宜养殖温度为22~26℃。