Tyrosine Ameliorates Some of the Clinical,Biochemical and Haematological Effects of Acute Stress Associated with Transportation of Desert Sheep

We studied some clinical, biochemical and haematological variables in Desert (Najdi) sheep acutely stressed in the course of individual road transportation, and the influence thereon of pretreatment with tyrosine. Transportation for 30 min resulted in variable but statistically insignificant increases in heart, pulse and respiratory rates. It also caused significant increases in the plasma concentration of cortisol (from 43.5 to 101.7 mmol/L) and glucose (from 3.1 to 4.5 mmol/L), and a decrease in that of magnesium (from 0.85 to 0.72 mmol/L). The endogenous thiocyanate level was unaffected. The transportation stress also decreased the haematocrit (PCV) and the number of lymphocytes, and increased the concentration of haemoglobin. Pretreatment of sheep with tyrosine at a dose of 100 mg/kg by the intravenous route significantly ameliorated the stress-induced clinical, biochemical and haematological changes. The treatment caused no overt adverse effects.     

Evolution of Fructosaminaemia and Glucaemia during the Growth of Unweaned and Early Weaned Half-bred Zebu Calves

The purposes of the study were to obtain the confidence intervalsfor serum fructosamine concentrations in unweaned and early weaned calves, to verify the changes in this glycated protein during growth, when glucaemia declines, and to assess the changes in both parameters attributable to stress or alarm. Sixty out of 120 suckling half-bred zebu calves (60–75 days old) were weaned at day 0 and then received a commercial balanced diet, while the remainder continued to suck. Blood samples were taken at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90 and 120 days and the serum fructosamine and glucose concentrations were measured by conventional methods. Both biochemical parameters declined with time, but there were no statistical differences between the unweaned and weaned calves. The fall in fructosamine concentration correlated significantly with the decline in glucose concentrations in both groups. The confidence interval for fructosamine concentration decreased with age, from 294–303 mol/L at 2 months old to 215–232 mol/L at 6 months old. At the same time, glucaemia declined from 7.5–8.6 mmol/L to 4.8–5.3 mmol/L. Acute elevations in glucaemia, especially in the younger calves, were attributed to alarms, such as those caused by handling and blood extraction. The absence of resultant increases in fructosamine concentration discounts the existence of prolonged hyperglucaemias (stress) in early weaned calves.     

山丹马6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶及葡萄糖磷酸异构酶的多态性研究

用淀粉凝胶电泳及琼脂覆盖技术对山丹马的血液红细胞6磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶和葡萄糖磷酸异构酶的电泳变异进行了测定。在6磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶座位发现了3种表现型,即FF,FD和FS,其频率分别为0.958,0.021和0.021。在葡萄糖磷酸异构酶座位发现了两种表现型,即II和FI,其频率分别为0.771和0.229。等位基因频率直接通过表型计算出:PGDF为0.979,PGDD为0.0104,PGDS为0.0104;GPIF为0.1146,GPII为0.8854。亲子关系排除概率在6PGD和GPI座位点分别为0.1009和0.0912。两座位的个体识别概率分别为0.081和0.353。     

Assessment of changes in blood volume in response to resuscitative fluid administration in dogs

Objective: To determine the continuous changes in blood volume in response to fluid administration using an in‐line hematocrit monitor. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Research laboratory. Animals: Four healthy dogs. Interventions: Each dog received intravenous boluses of 80 mL/kg of 0.9% saline (S), 4 mL/kg of 7.5% saline (HS), 20 mL/kg of dextran 70 (D), 20 mL/kg of hetastarch (HES), or no fluids (control, C) on separate occasions. Fluids were administered at 150 mL/min in the S, D, and HES groups, and at 1 mL/kg/min in the HS group. Measurements and main results: Blood volume changes were measured every 20 seconds for 240 minutes using an in‐line hematocrit monitor. There was a rapid rise in blood volume during all infusions. Immediately after the administration of crystalloid fluids, the rapid rise in blood volume ceased. Subsequently, there was a steep decline in blood volume for 10 minutes, and a slower decline thereafter. In contrast, the rise in blood volume continued for at least 10 minutes after the infusion of the colloids was complete, and a plateau was observed for the remainder of the experiment. The blood volume effect, as measured by area under the curve, was significantly greater in the saline group than the other groups during the infusion time and for the 0–240 minutes time period. The areas under the curve for the two colloid solutions were not significantly different from each other during any time periods. The percent increase in blood volume immediately following the infusions was 76.4±10.0 in the S group, 17.1±3.2 in the HS group, 23.0±10.5 in the D group, and 27.2±6.4 in the HES group. At 30 minutes from the start of the infusion, the mean percent increases in blood volumes were 35.2±9.3 in the S group, 12.3±0.9 in the HS group, 35.9±7.3 in the D group, and 36.8±6.5 in the HES group. At 240 h post‐infusion, the mean percent increases in blood volume were 18.0±9.7 in the S group, 2.9±6.1 in the HS group, 25.6±16.1 in the D group, and 26.6±8.6 in the HES group. The C group had a mean percent change in blood volume of ?3.7±3.4 at the end of the experiment. Conclusions: This study indicates that the rapid administration of saline at clinically relevant doses leads to the largest immediate increase in blood volume, although this change is transient because of rapid redistribution of the fluid. Despite a brief increase in blood volume that was almost 3 times the volume administered, hypertonic saline led to the smallest increase in blood volume post‐infusion. The synthetic colloid solutions increased the blood volume by an amount greater than that infused and the effect was sustained for a longer period of time than seen following crystalloid administration, but the maximum increase in blood volume was significantly less than saline. The measurement of continuous changes in blood volume, using an in‐line hematocrit monitor, was a useful means of assessing the dynamic effects of fluid administration in dogs in a research setting.     

EFFECTS OF ACEPROMAZINE ON THREE-PHASE 99mTc-MDP BONE IMAGING IN 11 HORSES

Horses undergoing skeletal scintigraphy can have decreased radiopharmaceutical bone uptake in the limbs. This reduces the diagnostic value of the scan. The aim of the present study was to measure the changes in count density caused by vasodilatation and increased blood flow associated with intravenous injection of acepromazine during bone scintigraphy in normal horses. A three-phase bone scan was performed twice in 11 adult horses to study the effects of acepromazine on the count density of the resultant scintigrams. With acepromazine, there was a statistically significant mean difference of 12 s for initial blood flow and 21 s for peak flow. The time to initial blood flow and time to peak flow occurred earlier for the scans in which acepromazine was used. There were no significant differences in the bone to soft tissue ratios during the soft tissue and bone phases of the scan between procedures. Intravenous administration of acepromazine increases peripheral blood flow causing an earlier onset of the vascular phase during the three-phase bone scan. Acepromazine did not increase the count density of the bone phase scintigrams. As expected, the vasodilatation and increased blood flow associated with intravenous injection of acepromazine affected the count density of the vascular phase of the bone scan.     

The role ofPseudomonas spp. and competition for carbon,nitrogen and iron in the enhancement of appressorium formation byColletotrichum coccodes on velvetleaf

Colletotrichum coccodes is currently being investigated as a mycoherbicide against the weed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Two isolates ofPseudomonas spp. (Ps2 and Ps5) reduced the percentage of germ tubes and increased appressorial formation ofC. coccodes on detached leaves of velvetleaf. A study was conducted to see whether this effect could be attributed to competition for nutrients or iron betweenC. coccodes andPseudomonas spp. Ps2 and Ps5 had no effect on early spore germination, but reduced the percentage of germ tubes at 24 and 30 h, compared to the nontreated control. This reduction was diminished by the addition of nutrients but not Fe³⁺. Ps2 and Ps5 stimulated the formation of dark-coloured appressoria without germ tubes (AWGT), but this stimulation was diminished by the addition of nutrients or Fe³⁺. Germ tube branching at 30 h was also inhibited by the bacteria, but was not diminished by the addition of nutrients or iron. EDTA stimulated conidial germination at 10 h, which was reduced by the addition of Fe³⁺. However, EDTA did not stimulate the formation of appressoria (AWGT). These results suggest that the reduction in the percentage of germ tubes and the increase in the percentage of appressoria induced by the bacteria may be due to the competition for carbon or nitrogen. Iron competition may also be involved in the stimulation of appressorial formation, but not in the reduction in germ tube percentage and branching. Phylloplane bacteria may compete for carbon, nitrogen and iron, limiting the saprophytic phase of the pathogen on the phylloplane and accelerating the development of the parasitic phase. This may enhance the field efficacy ofC. coccodes as a biocontrol agent against velvetleaf.     

Erythroid progenitor cells from pig bone marrow and peripheral blood

With the intention of using the pig as a large animal model in haematopoietic research, a clonal assay in methylcellulose was developed and the optimal conditions for raising erythroid progenitors from adult pig bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) have been established. Progenitor cells were stimulated to proliferate and differentiate in vitro by growth factors containing leucocyte condition medium (LCM), and with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo). The number of PB BFU-E (burst forming units - erythroid) directly depended on the concentration of LCM, but BM BFU-E were not dependent on LCM. Both CFU-E (colony forming units - erythroid) and BFU-E were rhEpo dependent. Despite relatively high but expected individual variations, the mean number of colonies, as well as the functional characteristics of progenitor cells investigated, were similar to those of miniature pigs and some other mammals.     

Concentrations of macro- and micro-elements in the milk of pasture-fed thoroughbred mares

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, S, Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations of milk during the lactation in pasture-fed Thoroughbred mares and then calculate the dietary mineral requirements of the sucking foal and the lactating mare. PROCEDURE: Milk was sampled on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and at various times between 55 to 65, 85 to 95 and 135 to 150 days after parturition from 21 pasture-fed mares. The concentrations of macro- and micro-elements in the milk were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. RESULTS: Concentrations (mg/L) of these elements were highest in colostrum (Mg 302, Na 561, K 955, S 1035, Cu 0.76, Fe 0.79 and Zn 5.5) except for Ca (1245) and P (895), which where highest on day 7. The mean milk mineral element concentrations (mg/L) over days 55 to 150 were Ca 843, P 543, Mg 47, Na 120, K 590, S 219, Cu 0.19, Fe 0.34 and Zn 2.1. The mean plasma element concentrations (mg/L) over the same period were Ca 120, P 77.1, Mg 17.0, Na 3110, K 168, S 983, Cu 1.1, Fe 1.5 and Zn 0.49. Concentration gradients between plasma and milk were observed and, in the case of Ca, P, Mg, K and Zn, their concentrations in milk were greater than those in plasma, while a reverse situation was observed for Na, S, Cu and Fe. CONCLUSION: With the exception of Ca and P, the highest concentrations of mineral elements were observed in the colostrum. The nursing foal should have access to good pasture or creep feed, because the intakes of Ca, P and Cu from milk may be less than optimum to meet the daily mineral element requirements.     

日粮不同锌水平对法国鹌鹑生长发育及组织中微量元素含量的影响

用2周龄健康法国鹌鹑324只,按体重随机分为9组,每组设3个重复,试验采用玉米-豆饼型基础日粮(含锌26.7ppm),在此基础上,添加9个梯度水平(ppm)的锌(0,25,50,75,100,500,1000,1500,2000),进行为期3周的饲养试验.试验期末,进行血液生化指标测定和组织器官微量元素含量分析.试验结果表明,法国鹌鹑日粮中以添加50ppm和75ppm锌为宜,对增重、采食量和饲料效率均有一定作用.1000ppm锌为最大耐受量,1500ppm锌为其中毒量;在一定锌水平范围内,血清总蛋白和球蛋白含量、碱性磷酸酶(SAP)活性均随日粮锌水平的提高而显著提高(P<0.05),当锌添加量为500ppm时,其达最大值,随后呈降低趋势.血清白蛋白含量不受日粮锌水平的影响.锌与其它微量元素之间的关系依不同组织器官而异,缺乏规律性.日粮补饲锌能显著降低肝脏中铁、铜、锰和肾脏中铁的含量,提高骨骼.血清中锰及肾脏中铜的含量.     

丹参注射液实验性药效作用

实验结果表明,丹参注射液分别在3×10~(-3)g/ml和6×10~(-3)g/ml浓度时,小白鼠子宫活动呈轻度弛缓,记录图形波谷略下延,收缩间隔延长,子宫活动较用药前有明显差别(P<0.05);妊娠小白鼠每只一次皮下注射0.2 mI丹参注射液,每日1次,连续3次,试期无一例发生流产,妊娠鼠均产下健康乳鼠;用妊娠山羊作同样实验(山羊体重30kg左右,每次每只皮下注射10ml丹参液,约含生药10g,每日1次,连续3次),同样无一例发生流产,妊娠期满顺利产下健康羊羔;丹参注射液离体兔耳灌流后,兔耳皮肤血管短暂徼弱扩张,但用药前后流量变化差异不明显(P>0.05)。