Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase activity and immunodetectable protein in adipose tissues of ruminants: effect of temperature and feeding level.
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To gain insights into the regulation of fat synthesis, we have investigated the effect of cold environmental exposure and feed restriction of sheep on activity and immunodetectable protein content of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase in adipose tissue. Subcutaneous and mesenteric adipose tissues were collected at slaughter from sheep exposed to either cold (0+/-2 degrees C) or warm (23+/-2 degrees C) environment, and given either ad libitum or restricted access to feed for three 5-wk periods. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase was isolated from frozen adipose tissue samples and activity determined as the rate of incorporation of H14CO3- into acid stable malonyl-CoA. Cold exposure and feed restriction reduced (P < .05) ACC activity in the two adipose tissue depots. Western blot analysis with peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin showed that both adipose tissue depots express a single isoform of ACC. In s.c. adipose tissue, cold exposure increased (P < .05) ACC protein abundance, which is opposite to the change in activity. However, feed restriction reduced immunodetectable ACC protein. There was no significant effect of environment or feeding level on ACC protein abundance in mesenteric tissue. Fatty acid synthase activity determined in ammonium sulfate extract by measuring the malonyl-CoA- and acetyl-CoA-dependent oxidation of NADPH was decreased (P < .05) by feed restriction in both s.c. and mesenteric tissues. Cold exposure reduced fatty acid synthase activity in s.c. but not in mesenteric tissue. There was no effect of environment on fatty acid synthase protein abundance in either adipose tissue depot. However, feed restriction significantly reduced fatty acid synthase protein abundance in the two depots. The data suggest that feed restriction and exposure of ruminants to cold environmental conditions may significantly down-regulate the activity of key lipogenic enzymes. (+info)
Antibacterial activity of chaff vinegar and its practical application.
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Since enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, etc., sometimes contaminate animal feces and may cause infectious diseases to humans, it is important to remove pathogenic bacteria from domestic animal waste. For the purpose, we examined the antibacterial activity of chaff vinegar. We found that the chaff vinegar inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria immediately in vitro but not efficiently spores and lactic acid bacteria. Further, it removes bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae, from animal feces and the surface of the concrete-floor in the cattle barn. Chaff vinegar is advertised as a natural chemical substance for a soil conditioner, to promote the composting and to deodorize their smell. Chaff vinegar may be useful for organic agriculture without enteric pathogenic bacteria. (+info)
Low-cost, small-animal shelf for simultaneously assessing several small animals with a whole-body PET scanner.
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to establish a low-cost device for simple positioning of several small animals within a whole-body PET scanner. METHODS: The device was designed as a stackable shelf for 3 x 3 animals, similar to a stackable shelf for wine bottles. It was constructed from ordinary PVC drain pipe and acrylic panes. RESULTS: The shelf simplified accurate and reproducible positioning of the animals and, therefore, supported automatic data processing. Deterioration of image quality by attenuation of photons within the shelf itself was rather small. CONCLUSION: The small-animal shelf is a useful, low-cost device for simultaneously assessing up to 9 small animals with a whole-body PET scanner. (+info)
Helicobacter aurati sp. nov., a urease-positive Helicobacter species cultured from gastrointestinal tissues of Syrian hamsters.
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A novel helicobacter with the proposed name Helicobacter aurati (type strain MIT 97-5075c) has been isolated from the inflamed stomachs and ceca of adult Syrian hamsters. The new species is fusiform with multiple bipolar sheathed flagella and periplasmic fibers; it contains urease and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. By 16S rRNA sequencing and repetitive element PCR-based DNA fingerprinting, it was found that H. aurati represents a distinct taxon and clusters with Helicobacter muridarum, Helicobacter hepaticus, and Helicobacter sp. MIT 94-022. H. aurati was recovered from hamsters housed in various research and vendor facilities. Further studies are necessary to define its association with disease and other microbiota in hamsters, as well as its impact on research projects involving hamsters. H. aurati (GenBank accession number AF297868) can be used in animal experiments to define the factors that are important for gastric helicobacter pathogenesis. (+info)
Immune status of PIC Camborough-15 sows, 25% Meishan sows, and their offspring kept indoors and outdoors.
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Newer genetic lines of pigs are being used in indoor and outdoor production systems. The objectives of Exp. 1 were to describe the effects of the maternal sow line genotype, environment (indoor vs outdoor), and the genotype x environment interactions on blood hemoglobin (Hb), immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) numbers, lymphocyte transformation/blastogenesis (LTA), natural killer (NK) cell activity, neutrophil chemotaxis, cortisol concentrations, and leukocyte differentials. Studies were performed using two genotypes: PIC Experimental-94 (Exp-94, an experimental line containing 25% Meishan) and PIC Camborough-15 (C-15). The Exp-94 sows had lower LTA at 0.2 microg/mL mitogen than the C-15 sows, whereas Exp-94 sows had higher NK cytotoxicity than the C-15 sows. When indoors, the two genotypes showed similar neutrophil chemotaxis. When outdoors, the C-15 genotype had higher (P < .01) neutrophil chemotaxis than the Exp-94 sows. The other immune measures were statistically similar for the two genotypes for each environment and for the genotype x environment interaction of sows. Experiment 2 sought to determine the effects of genotype on the immune system of nursery-age offspring of the experimental lines. Each sow line was bred to a common PIC 405 boar line. The Exp-94 x 405 pigs had elevated WBC numbers than C-15 x 405 pigs. The social status of the Exp-94 x 405 or the C-15 x 405 pigs showed no effect on any of the immune measures studied. The other immune measures were statistically similar for the two lines of pigs. The Exp-94 line had marginally increased NK activity but reduced lymphocyte blastogenesis and neutrophil chemotaxis compared with the C-15 line. (+info)
Feeder location did not affect performance of weanling pigs in large groups.
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Crossbred pigs weaned at 17 d of age (n = 1,760; mean initial BW = 5.6 +/- 0.7 kg) were used in two 4-wk trials (four replicates per trial) to evaluate the effects of three pen designs on pig performance. The designs were 1) large group size (100 pigs/pen) with five two-sided feeders in a single, central location in the pen; 2) large group size (100 pigs/pen) with five two-sided feeders in multiple (five) locations in the pen; and 3) small group size (20 pigs/pen) with a single two-sided feeder in a central location in the pen. Each feeder provided two 20.3-cm-wide feeding places on each side. Pigs had free access to feed and water. Feeder-trough space (4 cm/pig) and floor-area allowance (0.17 m2/pig) were the same for all treatments. Pigs in the large-group treatments were lighter (15.6 and 15.6 vs 16.0 kg; P < 0.01) at the end of wk 4 and had lower ADG (358 and 357 vs 373 g; P < 0.01) and ADFI (510 and 521 vs 544 g; P < 0.01) during wk 2 through 4 than pigs in small groups. Gain:feed ratio was similar (P > 0.05) for all treatment groups throughout the study. For large groups, feed disappearance from each of the five feeders was similar (P > 0.05) for both multiple- and single-location treatments. In summary, large group size reduced pig growth performance, but the approach to providing multiple feeding locations that was employed in this experiment did not increase feed intake or growth performance of pigs in the large groups. (+info)
Farrowing hut design and sow genotype (Camborough-15 vs 25% Meishan) effects on outdoor sow and litter productivity.
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Performance measures were evaluated for 125 outdoor sows and litters of two crossbred genotypes (Camborough-15 and 25% Meishan) and in two farrowing hut designs (American-style and English-style hut). Contemporary breeding groups of second-parity sows were evaluated in an intensive, outdoor research unit. Sow genotype and hut designs were arranged factorially. Seven complete blocks were evaluated over a 21-wk period. No interactions between environment and genotype were identified for sow and litter productivity. Litters farrowing in the English-style huts weaned 1.5 more (P < .05) piglets per sow (because of a lower preweaning mortality, P = .05) than did litters in the American-style huts. The 25% Meishan weaned 1.7 more (P < .01) pigs per sow than Camborough-15, because of a greater number of piglets born alive. The effects of hut style and genotype were additive and 25% Meishan sows in English-style huts weaned an average (+/- SEM) of 11.1 +/- .83 piglets per sow. The English-style arc hut design may improve outdoor pig production and increase competitiveness of the intensive, outdoor system. The 25% Meishan genotype has potential for increased pigs weaned per litter that must be considered in light of other features of this genotype such as body composition. (+info)
Digging behavior of ddY mouse.
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In the present studies, the behavior of ddY mice digging wood chips was carefully observed. When mice were individually placed on new 5 cm-thick wood chips, their behavior was found to be the same irrespective of their age or sex. The behavior was not prevented by non-noxious 5 black steel rods which were used to measure digging ability, and was not related to habituation or learning. But moist or dirty chips remarkably weakened digging ability. These findings strongly suggest that the digging behavior is a natural and instinctive one, but not an expression of anxiety as previously reported. (+info)