The effect of Rumensin on the metabolic profile of rumen fluid in feedlot cattle

The effects were studied of sodium monensinate dosed 125 mg on the metabolic profile of rumen fluid. The experiment was conducted under current farming conditions in a pavilion cattle fattening house. The experiment, which lasted 367 days, comprised 985 bulls of the Bohemian Spotted breed. The feed ration was based on silage with an additive of dried poultry litter and concentrates. The additive was administered in concentrate mixture, 125 mg per head/day. After the start of the experiment want of appetite to sodium monensinate was observed. The animals took approximately four weeks to adapt completely to the additive. The following characteristics were investigated to study the metabolic profile of rumen fluid: actual acidity, total titration acidity, ammonia, total nitrogen, lactic acid, total volatile fatty acids, per cent acetic acid, per cent propionic acid, molar ratio acetic acid: propionic acid, per cent iso- and n-butyric acid, absolute number of infusoria and energy net yield of volatile fatty acids. Increased levels of the clinico-biochemical parameters of the metabolic profile of rumen fluid were found in lactic acid, propionic acid and energy net yield of volatile fatty acids. The per cent of propionic acid increased at some samplings by up to 116%. A drop was recorded in total nitrogen, per cent acetic acid, per cent butyric acid, molar ratio C2 : C3 and total number of infusoria. The decrease in the per cent of acetic acid ranged around 16% and the drop in butyric acid level amounted at some samplings up to 78%. No response to the additive was observed in the other characteristics of the metabolic profile of rumen fluid.     

Zwillingsträchtigkeit und spätere Fruchtbarkeit bei Stuten des Englischen Vollblutes

Inhalt Von 3220 tragenden Stuten des Englischen Vollblutes im Gestüt Napajedla wurde in den Jahren 1900—1960 83mal eine Zwillingsträchtigkeit verzeichnet, d. h. bei 2,57 %. Am häufigsten trat die Zwillingsträchtigkeit bei Stuten im Alter von 6—10 Jahren (36,1 %) und 10—15 Jahren (40,9 %) auf und dabei weit mehr bei pluriparen als bei primiparen Tieren (92,78 %: 7,22 %). Zwillingsträchtigkeiten wurden am häufigsten bei den Stuten beobachtet, die im März (24,09 %) und im April (30,12 94) gedeckt worden waren. Nur bei 22 Stuten (26,50 %) betrug die Darter der Zwillingsträchtigkeit mehr als 330 Tage; 27 Stuten (32,53 5%) fohlten Zwillinge in der Zeit zwischen dem 290. bis 330. Tag. Bei 34 Stuten war die Trächtigkeit noch vor dem 290. Tag beendet. Die weitere Fruchtbarkeit der Stuten bei vorangegangener Zwillingsträchtigkeit wurde nicht negativ beeinfluβt, wenn die Stuten nach der normalen Zeit abgefohlt hatten. Stark vermindert (im Durchschnitt um 20 %) war sie allerdings bei Stuten, die vor dem Ablauf der normalen Trächtigkeitsdauer abortiert batten. Das erneute Trachtigwerden der Stuten hing eng mit der Länge der vorangegangenen Zwillingsträchtigkeiten zusammen. Je früher die Zwillingsträchtigkeit beendet wurde, um so länger war die Zeit bis zur nächsten Konzeption. Die geringe Lebensfähigkeit der Zwillinge, die hohen peri- und postnatalen Verluste und die geringen Renn-Leistungen führen zu der Überzeugung, daβ Zwillingsträchtigkeiten bei Englischen Vollblutstuten aus züchterischen und gesundheitlichen Gründen unerwünscht sind. Contents 3220 brood mares (English full-blood) in the Napajedla Stud produced twins 83 times during the period from 1900—1960 (2.57 %). Twins occurred most frequently in mares aged from 6—10 years (36.1 %) and 10—15 years (40.9 %), and then much more in pluriparous than in primiparous animals (92.78 %: 7.22 %). Twin pregnancies were noted mostly in mares that had been mated in March (24.09 %) and in April (30.12 %). Only in the case of 22 mares (26.50 %) did the period of twin pregancy last more than 330 days; 27 mares (32.53 %) foaled twins between the 290th and the 330th day. In 34 mares the pregancy was completed before the 290th day. The subsequent fertility of the mares who had twin births was not negatively affected if the mares had foaled in a normal time. On the other hand, it was considerably diminished (an average of 20 %) in mares which had aborted before the normal period of pregnancy. The new pregnancy in the mares was closely connected with the length of the previous twin pregnancy. The earlier the twin pregnancy was finished, the Longer the time until the next conception. The low viability of twins, the high peri- and postnatal losses and the weak achievements in racing, suggest that twin pregnancies in English full blood mares are undesirable both for breeding and health reasons.     

The effect of Rumensin on the health status and energy metabolism of feedlot cattle

The effect was studied of sodium monensinate dosed 125 mg pro die and given to feeder cattle on the health condition and some clinico-biochemical parameters in view of the energy metabolism. The experiment was performed under current farming conditions in a pavilion fattening house. The experiment, which lasted 367 days, was conducted with 985 bulls of the Bohemian Spotted breed. Ten animals from the experimental and ten animals from the control pavilion were subjected to detailed clinical and clinico-biochemical examination. The feed ration was based on corn silage with an additive of dried poultry litter and concentrates. The additive was administered in the concentrate mixture, 125 mg per head/day. The health condition of the bulls was good during the whole period of study, and except several cases where neck chain wounds were observed, or small traumatic alterations on the extremities, no health disorders occurred. Some clinico-biochemical parameters of the blood were followed to study the metabolic processes and health condition. pH, pCO2, BE, SB were studied to find out the acid-base relations of the blood. As to the energy metabolism, the levels of glucose, total protein, urea, nonesterified fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol and total lipids were followed. Among other hematologic parameters studied there were hemoglobin, hematocrit, beta-carotene and the levels of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and glutamyl-transpeptidase in relation to liver metabolism. During the period of study, increased urea levels were found in the experimental animals, and on the other hand lower levels of free fatty acids and triglycerides in the blood serum. No significant changes in the other studied parameters were observed in the course of the experiment. It can be stated according to the obtained results that sodium monensinate did not influence negatively the studied clinico-biochemical parameters nor the health condition.     

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 by Macleaya cordata extract and its constituent sanguinarine in RAW264.7 cells

Macleaya cordata (plume poppy) is used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. In this study, we examined whether M. cordata extract and/or its major alkaloid constituents, protopine, allocryptopine, sanguinarine and chelerythrine activate the Nrf2 signalling pathway which regulates the expression of cytoprotective enzymes including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and thioredoxin 1. In murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, M. cordata extract increased both mRNA and protein levels of HO-1. Of the alkaloids examined, only sanguinarine appeared to be responsible for these effects. At the concentration of 2 μM, sanguinarine induced nuclear accumulation of Nrf2, increased the expression of Hmox1 gene encoding HO-1 and elevated HO-1 protein levels. Sanguinarine-induced Hmox1 mRNA expression was suppressed by SB203580, a pharmacologic inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPKs). The upregulation of HO-1 in RAW264.7 cells by sanguinarine was, however, accompanied by decrease in cell viability. Nonetheless, sanguinarine at micromolar, non-cytotoxic concentrations elevated protein levels of HO-1 and thioredoxin 1 in primary cultures of human hepatocytes. We conclude that sanguinarine may, under appropriate conditions, increase the capacity of the enzymatic antioxidant defence system via activation of the p38 MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.     

Macroevolutionary trends: new perspectives on the roles of adaptation and incidental effect

Trends, long-term directional tendencies in evolution, are traditionally interpreted as selected for and adaptive. Alternatively, trends may be unselected effects of characters and processes within species: the effect hypothesis. Thus adaptations of organisms, varying among species, were selected for immediate fitness, but they may also incidentally determine different speciation and extinction rates and trends.     

COMPARISON OF COMPUTED RADIOGRAPHY AND CONVENTIONAL FILM-SCREEN RADIOGRAPHY OF THE EQUINE STIFLE

Major advantages of computed radiography are the potential reduction of dose and the possibility of postprocessing. In our study, we compared conventional radiographs to digital radiographs of the equine stifle by subjective evaluation of diagnostic quality when using a decreasing photon flux (mAs). Twelve equine stifle joints from horses of different weight and size were examined. Conventional and digital radiographs were performed identically in a caudocranial projection with the tube angled 15 degrees. A series of four radiographs was performed in each technique with an increasing photon flux starting with 2.5 mAs and going up to 5, 10, and 20 mAs. All radiographs were evaluated subjectively in a blinded fashion by seven readers in terms of contrast, bone structure, and diagnostic value and were graded using a 1-5 scale. Results from conventional and digitized radiographs were compared, and differences between the individual observers were analyzed statistically. Contrast, bone structure, and diagnostic value from digital images were rated significantly better than from conventional images (p < .001). For both techniques, a decrease in ranking was found with a decrease of photon flux. There was only slight interobserver variability. A dose reduction up to a factor of 4 compared to a 100 speed film-screen system seems to be possible without loss of information. Weight and size of the horse are not major influences.     

Environment and behavior of 2.5-million-year-old Bouri hominids

The Hata Member of the Bouri Formation is defined for Pliocene sedimentary outcrops in the Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia. The Hata Member is dated to 2.5 million years ago and has produced a new species of Australopithecus and hominid postcranial remains not currently assigned to species. Spatially associated zooarchaeological remains show that hominids acquired meat and marrow by 2.5 million years ago and that they are the near contemporary of Oldowan artifacts at nearby Gona. The combined evidence suggests that behavioral changes associated with lithic technology and enhanced carnivory may have been coincident with the emergence of the Homo clade from Australopithecus afarensis in eastern Africa.