Effect of presence of rumen protozoa on degradation of cell wall constituents in gastrointestinal tract of cattle

The cell wall constituents of feces from three faunated and three defaunated (without ruminal ciliate protozoa) cattle fed on a Sudangrass hay and concentrate mixture (8:5) were analyzed. There was little difference in digestibility of dry matter between the faunated and defaunated cattle. Analysis of the fecal sugar residues revealed that the digestibilities of arabinose and galactose, derived from pectic and hemicellulosic substances located within the compound middle lamella, were higher in the defaunated cattle than the faunated cattle (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibilities of glucose and xylose, derived mainly from cellulose and xylan, were unchanged by the removal of protozoa. The digestibility of lignin was not different between the faunated and defaunated cattle, but those of mannose and p‐coumaric acid were lower in the defaunated than in the faunated animals (P < 0.05). The ratio of primary cell wall to secondary cell wall in fecal plant materials was lower for the defaunated than for the faunated cattle. The results in this study suggested that the defaunation enhanced the microbial degradation of the thin cell walls, but depressed the degradation of developed cell walls.     

A case report of Thelazia infection in a 15-month old heifer in Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria

A case of eye infection in a heifer was reported with bilateral blindness, cornea opacity, excessive lachrymation and nasal discharge. Treatment with 6-10 drops of a 10% solution of levamisole resulted in a complete recovery, a total of 127 adult Thelazia rhodesii being recovered from the eyes.     

Na?ve-like conversion enhances the difference in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between rabbit ES cells and iPS cells

Quality evaluation of pluripotent stem cells using appropriate animal models needs to be improved for human regenerative medicine. Previously, we demonstrated that although the in vitro neural differentiating capacity of rabbit induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be mitigated by improving their baseline level of pluripotency, i.e., by converting them into the so-called “naïve-like” state, the effect after such conversion of rabbit embryonic stem cells (ESCs) remains to be elucidated. Here we found that naïve-like conversion enhanced the differences in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between ESCs and iPSCs. Naïve-like rabbit ESCs exhibited several features indicating pluripotency, including the capacity for teratoma formation. They differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes much more effectively (3.3–7.2 times) than naïve-like iPSCs. This suggests an inherent variation in differentiation potential in vitro among PSC lines. When naïve-like ESCs were injected into preimplantation rabbit embryos, although they contributed efficiently to forming the inner cell mass of blastocysts, no chimeric pups were obtained. Thus, in vitro neural differentiation following naïve-like conversion is a promising option for determining the quality of PSCs without the need to demonstrate chimeric contribution. These results provide an opportunity to evaluate which pluripotent stem cells or treatments are best suited for therapeutic use.     

In vitro antibacterial activity of the combination of sulphadiazine and trimethoprim on bacterial fish pathogens

Abstract. The in vitro bacteriostatic activity of a combination of sulphadiazine (SDZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) against representative bacterial fish pathogens was studied. In general, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of TMP were much smaller than comparable values for SDZ. When SDZ and TMP were combined, the bacteriostatic effect was enhanced in a synergistic manner for all bacteria tested except Pseudomonas fluorescens . The synergism was most remarkable in the case of bacterial strains that were sensitive to the action of SDZ alone. This degree of synergism was observed when the ratios of SDZ and TMP in combination were in the range of 1:1 io 5:1. The MIC of SDZ plus TMP combined was less than 3.13 μg/ml for SDZ resistant strains and as low as 0.2 to 0.78 μ/ml for SDZ sensitive strains. The possible usefulness of a combination of these two compounds for therapy or control of bacterial fish disease is discussed.     

ADSORPTION OF LEAD, COPPER, ZINC, COBALT, AND CADMIUM BY SOILS THAT DIFFER IN CATION-EXCHANGE MATERIALS

The adsorption of Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, and Cd²⁺ (M²⁺) by soils was measured at concentrations ranging from 10-⁷ to 10-² M in 10-³ to 10-² M CaCI₂. Exchange between Ca²⁺ and M²⁺, and solubility products [M²⁺][OH^?]² indicate that M²⁺ is not precipitated as hydroxide but is adsorbed on cation-exchange sites. The proportion of selective adsorption sites with specified values of the selectivity coefficient calculated using Ca as reference ion, increased in the order montmorillonite < humus, kaolinite, < allophane. imogolite < halloysite, iron oxides. Raising the soil pH by Ca-saturation increased both the amount and affinity of adsorption. Selectivity of adsorption increased in the order Mg, Ca < Cd, Co < Zn < Cu, Pb, and the selectivity coefficient varied from < 1 to > 10 000. The formation of the coordination complexes of heavy metal with deprotonoted OH and COOH groups as ligands is suggested as a possible mechanism of selective adsorption.     

Source minerals and formation of partially interlayered vermiculites in Dystrochrepts derived from Tertiary sediments

The formation of partially interlayered vermiculite (PIV) was studied in six Dystrochrepts derived from Tertiary sediments. Mineralogy of silt and clay fractions of gravel and fine earth separated from surface and subsurface samples were determined by X-ray diffraction. PIV, mica, vermiculite and regularly interstratified 1:1 PIV/chlorite (PIV/Ch(l:l)) were the dominant clay minerals. The contents of these minerals were compared between the specific particle-size fractions of gravel and fine earth for each sample and the difference was interpreted in terms of mineral transformation associated with soil formation. PIV was formed from mica and PIV/Ch(l:l) in soils with a pH(KCl) of 3.5 to 4.0 and little organic matter. Vermiculite was formed from mica in surface soils with a low pH (pH(KCl) 3.5) and abundant organic matter. PIV would form directly from mica without an intermediary phase of vermiculite and form from PIV/Ch(l:l) by partial dissolution of interlayers in chlorite layers.     

In vivo antioxidative activity of propolis evaluated by the interaction with vitamins C and E and the level of lipid hydroperoxides in rats

In vivo antioxidative activity of propolis was evaluated on the basis of ameliorative effects on the oxidative stress induced by vitamin E deficiency in rats. The control group was fed vitamin E-deficient diet, and the propolis group was fed vitamin E-deficient diet supplemented with 1% of propolis for 4 and 8 weeks. Comparisons were made in tissue concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, and lipid hydroperoxides between these groups. No significant difference was observed in tissue vitamin E concentration between these groups after both 4 and 8 weeks. After 4 weeks, the plasma vitamin C concentration of the propolis group was significantly higher than that of the control group. After 8 weeks, the tissue concentrations of vitamin C in the kidney, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine of the propolis group were significantly higher than those of the control group. These results suggest that some components of propolis are absorbed to circulate in the blood and behave as a hydrophilic antioxidant that saves vitamin C. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxides in the large intestine of the propolis group was significantly lower than that of the control group after 8 weeks. These results suggest that propolis exerts its antioxidative effect where it is assumed to accumulate, such as on the kidney, where it is excreted, and on the gastrointestinal tract, where propolis influences these tissues even from the outside of the cell.     

A new thiamine derivative,S-benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate

S-Benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate has been synthesized, and its physicochemical and biological properties have been investigated. It is a stable crystalline substance, it exerts thiamine activity approximately equivalent to that of thiamine hydrochloride in thiamine-requiring microorganisms, and it is easily absorbed in organisms, particularly by oral administration.     

Interlayer materials of partially interlayered vermiculites in Dystrochrepts derived from Tertiary sediments

Interlayer materials of partially interlayered vermiculites (PIV) in 15 Dystrochrepts derived from Tertiary sediments were analysed by dissolution with hot 1/3M sodium citrate or 0.15 M oxalate-oxalic acid in combination with XRD and IR spectroscopy. Both the citrate and oxalate treatments dissolved Al from all soil clays. The dissolution of Al by the citrate treatment paralleled the dissolution of Si and the interlayer collapse of PIV, whereas that by the oxalate treatment did not, indicating that the interlayer materials contain not only Al but Si. The materials dissolved by the citrate treatment had a molar Si/Al ratio ranging from 0.72 to 0.24 that decreased with the increasing interlayering of PIV. Differential IR spectroscopy indicated the dissolution of aluminosilicates possibly having Si-O, Al-OH and Si-O-Al bonds, but not Si-O-Si bonds. The extent of interlayering of PIV showed a good correlation with the amount of Al dissolved by the citrate treatment and increased with increasing soil pH (H₂O) from 4.5 to 5.2 and with decreasing exchangeable Al in soil.
Formation of a hydroxy-Al sheet partially bonded with Si-tetrahedra was suggested as a possible model of the interlayer structure of PIV. The differences between PIV in the studied Inceptisols and other soils are discussed.