Nutritional importance of pyrroloquinoline quinone

Mice fed a chemically defined diet devoid of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) grew poorly, failed to reproduce, and became osteolathyritic. Moreover, severely affected mice had friable skin, skin collagen that was readily extractable into neutral salt solutions, and decreased lysyl oxidase. The identification of functional defects in connective tissue and the growth retardation associated with PQQ deprivation suggest that PQQ plays a fundamental role as a growth factor or vitamin.     

Investigations on the blood composition of sows during the reproductive cycle

Contents: In the second experiment of the series, a total of 217 blood and plasma samples, collected throughout pregnancy and in the four different seasons of the year, were analysed for 23 different cellular, gaseous, and biochemical parameters. Significant changes were noted during the terminal stages of pregnancy in the differential leucocyte count (lymphocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes), during mid-pregnancy in the level of plasma proteins, and, in early gestation, in the glucose concentration of the blood. The erythrocyte volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin as well as parameters associated with the acid-base balance produced interactions between seasonal and gestational effects, generally indicating the additivity of the heat load and the stress of the terminal stages of pregnancy.     

Investigations on the Blood Composition of Sows During the Reproductive Cycle

Contents: In the final experiment of the series, 189 blood samples, collected from lactating sows in weekly intervals (1–6 weeks post partum) during the four seasons in a tropical environment, were analysed for 23 different cellular, gaseous, and biochemical parameters. Significant changes were noted in the following chemical blood components: plasma proteins, blood glucose and inorganic phosphorus content, all of which showed a steady decline which, in a way, wassimilar to the decreasing body weight curve during lactation. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was depressed two weeks after parturition only.