bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of different dietary fats on fat cell size and number in rat epididymal fat pad
Authors: Kirtland Janet , Gurr M. I.
Published: September 2005

1. Rats were given diets containing different fats (200 g/kg) from weaning to 8 months of age. The fats were sunflower-seed oil (SFO), lard (L) and an equal mixture of sunflower-seed oil and lard (mixed-fat diet; MF). A control group was given the basal diet unsupplemented with fat. Energy intake and body-weight of individual animals were recorded weekly.

2. Three animals from each dietary group were killed after 5, 13, 17 and 29 weeks on the experimental diets. At slaughter epididymal fat pads were excised, weighed and the number and size of fat cells in the pad was determined.

3. There were no significant differences between the energy intake in the whole experimental feeding period for rats given the different fat diets. However, when energy intakes were examined on a monthly basis animals given MF had a significantly higher energy intake in the first 2 months of feeding than those animals given SFO. In the third month of feeding (when animals were over 12 weeks old) the group given L had a significantly higher intake than the group given SFO.

4. Body-weight, epididymal-fat-pad weight, cell size and cell number did not differ significantly between the ‘fat-fed’ animals at any individual slaughter period. Analysis of pooled values from the four slaughter periods revealed that animals given MF had significantly more fat cells than those given SFO.

5. We conclude that the nature of the dietary fat has no effect on the cellularity of developing adipose tissue but that the number of fat cells formed is sensitive to energy intake before 12 weeks of age in the rat.
Influence of overfeeding on growth, obesity and intestinal tract in young chicks of light and heavy breeds
Authors: Nir I. , Nitsan Zafrira , Dror Y. , Shapira Niva
Published: September 2005

1. Heavy-breed (HB) chicks differed from light-breed (LB) ones in their propensity to be overfed. Whereas in the LB chicks the amount by which they could be overfed reached 70 % more than the food consumed daily by thead lib.-fed chicks, in the HB chicks the maximal excess was only 13 %.

2. Overfeeding caused a slight but statistically significant increase in the linear growth rate (shank length) of the LB chicks, with an opposite effect in the HB chicks.

3. Overfeeding increased the weight of the crop, proventriculus, small intestine, pancreas, liver and adipose tissue but had no such effect on the heart, cerebrum or cerebellum.

4. Overfeeding had no effect on the specific activities of the pancreatic digestive enzymes, liver xanthine dehydrogenase, or tryptophan oxygenase (EC1.13.1.12). The increase in the total activities was due entirely to organ hypertrophy.

5. Obesity induced in young chicks had no residual effects on the adult LB chicks, but reduced the linear growth of the adult HB chicks.

6. An explanation for the difference between breeds in response to overfeeding at an early age is discussed.
Fatty acid composition of tissue phospholipids of the foetal calf and neonatal lamb, deer calf and piglet as compared with the cow, sheep, deer and pig
Authors: Payne E.
Published: September 2005

1. The fatty acid compositions of muscle and brain phospholipids of foetal calves, neonatal lambs, deer calves and piglets, and mature cattle, sheep, deer and pigs were determined. The cattle, sheep and deer had previously grazed ryegrass–clover pastures, and the pigs had been given rations based on barley. Two steers and four sheep had been given protected polyunsaturated lipid-protein supplements.

2. In muscle phospholipids the values for triene:tetraene were 1.5 for neonatal lambs and 0.3 for foetal calves. Levels of linoleic acid were low compared with those in older animals but levels of the fatty acids 22:5ω3 and 22:6ω3 were comparatively high. For arachidonic acid there was little difference between young and mature animals.

3. In muscle phospholipids of neonatal piglets and deer calves values for triene:tetraene were low. The piglet also had a low value for 22:5ω3:22:6ω3 compared with those in deer, calves or lambs. This ratio showed a proportionately greater increase with maturity in the pig than in cattle and sheep. Whilst the neonatal deer had higher linoleic acid levels than the other young ruminants, the fatty acid composition of muscle phospholipids of mature deer was rather similar to that in other ruminants.

4. Phospholipids of brain showed little difference in fatty acid composition between foetuses or neonates and the mature animals. There was higher 22:4ω6 content in the adult ruminant with even higher levels in sheep given protected polyunsaturated fat. Linoleic acid was barely evident in any animal. The 22:6ω3 content was as high in the foetal or neonatal ruminant brain as in the adult, and higher than in the piglet. The fatty acid composition of brain phospholipids of young deer was similar to that in other ruminants.

5. In other tissue phospholipids in foetal or neonatal ruminants and piglets there were high levels of 22:6ω3 in liver and low levels in lung. The neonatal animals, in particular, had high palmitic acid levels in lung. Hearts of young ruminants contained high levels of 20:5ω3 and C16-aldehyde derived from plasmalogens. Piglet heart contained higher linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, possibly due to increased entry of linoleic acid across the placenta from the sow.
Effect of leucine at different levels of pyridoxine on hepatic quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase (EC2.4.2.19) and leucine aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.6) in rats
Authors: Krishnaswamy Kamala , Bapurao S.
Published: September 2005

1. Effects of incorporating 30 g leucine/kg into diets on quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRT;EC2.4.2.19) activity and leucine aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.6) activity were studied in groups of rats receiving 5, 30 and 60 μg of pyridoxine/10 g diet.

2. The results indicated that 30 g leucine/kg diet significantly reduced the QPRT activity when the diets provided 5 μg pyridoxine/10 g and that the effect was only marginal when the diet included 30 μg pyridoxine/ 10 g. The inhibitory effect was completely absent when the diet provided higher amounts of pyridoxine (60 μg/10g).

3. These results suggest that additional amounts of pyridoxine are necessary to counteract the effects of excess of leucine in the diet.

4. Leucine aminotransferase activity was increased in rats given diets containing higher amounts of pyridoxine; supplementary leucine also increased the enzyme activity.
Nitrogen excretion in germ-free and conventional chickens: effects of an alkali load
Authors: Okumura J. , Hewitt D. , Coates Marie E.
Published: September 2005

1. Groups of three colostomized germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) chickens aged 4 months were maintained for successive periods of 8 d on a diet containing 200 g casein/kg without and with sodium bicarbonate at the rate of 20 mmol/d and a nitrogen-free diet without and with NaHCO3at 9 mmol/d. Urine and faeces were collected during the last 3 d of each period.

2. Total N, uric acid- and ammonia-N were determined in urine and total N in faeces. Amino acids were measured in hydrolysates of faeces collected during the periods when no NaHCO3was included in the diets.

3. The CV birds excreted more N on the casein diets but less on the N-free diets than did their GF counterparts, the differences being mainly shown in the urine.

4. On both diets hydrolysates of the faeces of CV birds contained smaller amounts of amino acids. On the N-free diet the proportions (g/160 g N) of serine, proline and threonine were reduced, suggesting some conservation of endogenous N by micro-organisms, and the proportions of histidine, alanine, lysine and methionine increased, possibly through microbial synthesis; on the casein diet, proportions of most amino acids were less, probably because bacterial deamination had occurred.

5. Urinary excretion of total N, uric acid and ammonia was much greater on the casein than on the N-free diets. Inclusion of NaHCO3caused a sharp fall in urinary ammonia on both diets and in both environments.

6. It was concluded that the level of dietary protein and the regulation of acid-base balance have more effect than microbial activity on the urinary ammonia excretion.
Leucocyte ascorbic acid and pregnancy
Authors: Schorah C. J. , Zemroch P. J. , Sheppard Sheila , Smithells R. W.
Published: September 2005

1. Leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations have been measured in 1147 females during early pregnancy and in smaller numbers of women before conception, throughout pregnancy and at 6 months post partum.

2. The leucocyte concentration in the 1st trimester was found to be affected by season, social class and smoking. Selecting individuals by extremes of social class, season and smoking produced two small populations with almost separate ascorbic acid distributions and mean concentrations of 21.7 and 45.1 μg/108leucocytes.

3. Early pregnancy had little effect on leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations but values decreased in the second trimester. However, this was associated with a leucocytosis so that the total leucocyte ascorbic acid content of blood was unchanged.

4. Low ascorbic acid concentrations during the 1st trimester were not associated with subsequent spontaneous abortions, still-births or neonatal deaths, but there was an increased frequency of low values in women who gave birth to infants smaller than 3250 g.

5. The adequacy of ascorbic acid reserves in early pregnancy is discussed.
The simultaneous use of ribonucleic acid,35S, 2,6-diaminopimelic acid and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid as markers of microbial nitrogen entering the duodenum of sheep
Authors: Ling J. R. , Buttery P. J.
Published: September 2005

1. Three sheep, each fitted with a ruminal cannula and duodenal re-entrant cannulas were given three isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets in a Latin-Square design. Each diet contained (/kg) approximately 400 g N as white fish meal, soya-bean meal or urea and approximately 600 g dry matter (dm) was barley grain. The diets were fed continuously and supplied about 28 g N/d.

2. Total duodenal digesta was collected manually for 72 h and the proportions of microbial N in that digesta were simultaneously estimated for all sheep using RNA, radioactive sulphur (35S), diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) and aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEPA) as markers.

3. Three of the estimation methods showed that the variable source of dietary N had the greatest (RNAP< 0.05,35SP< 0.005, DAPAP< 0.1) effect on the proportions of microbial N in duodenal digesta, though differences between sheep accounted for some variation.

4. These methods also ranked the diets in the order: urea > soya-bean meal > fish meal with respect to the proportions of digesta N that were microbial in origin; the respective mean values for these diets with the different markers were: RNA 0.98, 0.70, 0.56;35S 0.92, 0.64, 0.54; DAPA 0.80, 0.47, 0.42.

5. AEPA was found to be present in substantial quantities not only in isolated rumen protozoa, but also in dietary and bacterial material; an observation that invalidated its further use as a protozoal marker.

6. Calculations using values obtained from the35S procedure showed that the proportions of dietary N degraded within the rumen were 0.38, 0.43 and 0.89 for the white fish meal, soya-bean meal and barley respectively.

7. The marker methods are compared and their advantages and disadvantages (real and apparent) are discussed. It is concluded that where microbial N estimates of a more general and comparative nature are required, the use of RNA as a marker is probably adequate. Where information for more exacting purposes is required, the use of35S appears to be more appropriate.
The effects of dietary nitrogen level on the collagen of rat skin
Authors: Dawson R. , Milne G.
Published: September 2005

1. Male rats of approximately 120 g body-weight were maintained on a commercial stock diet containing 204 g crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25)/kg, a hydroxyproline-free high-protein (HP) diet containing 200 g casein/kg as the only protein source, or a low-protein (LP) diet containing 40 g casein/kg. After 6 weeks on these diets half of each group was transferred to a non-protein (NP) diet and the experiment was continued for a further 6 weeks. Animals from each group were killed at 4 d, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after the transfer to the NP diet.

2. Throughout the experiment the urinary excretion of N, hydroxyproline and creatinine, and the content and solubility of the skin collagen were determined.

3. When compared with a control group killed at the beginning of the experiment the rats maintained on the LP diet showed an increase of 25% in total N content of the skin but collagen content increased by 100%. Rats transferred from the HP to the NP diet lost both N and collagen from the skin, but those transferred from the LP to the NP diet lost N but increased the collagen content by 42%.

4. Protein deprivation brought about marked changes in the solubility of the skin collagen, suggesting an increase in the rate of maturation of skin collagen.
Efficiency of use of nitrogen from dried microbial cells after a period of N deprivation in growing pigs
Authors: Whittemore C. T. , Tullis J. Bronwyn , Hastie Sandra W.
Published: September 2005

1. Semi-synthetic diets, with dried microbial cells (Pruteen) as the nitrogen source, were used to measure N retention in 50 kg pigs which had been given only sufficient N (5.3 g/d) to maintain N equilibrium for the previous 12 d. Control pigs were given 33.2 g N/d.

2. Metabolic faecal N losses were 1.62 g/d (1.2 g/kg dry matter eaten) and endogenous urinary losses were 3.90 g/d.

3. Realimentation of N-deprived pigs was achieved with diets providing 20.0, 33.2 and 67.4 g N/d and daily rates for N retention were 11.2, 17.8 and 25.9 g respectively; the corresponding value for control pigs was 15.0 g. ‘Catch-up’ protein growth was demonstrated in pigs given both 33.2 and 67.4 g N/d. In the former instance, this was associated with an increase in the efficiency of utilization of dietary N.

4. The biological value of the protein in Pruteen was 0.85, and it appeared that under conditions of increased demand for N the pig could utilize some of the nucleic acid-N fraction of this protein source.
Deposition of fat in the body of the rat during rehabilitation after early undernutrition
Authors: Harris Patricia M. , Widdowson Elsie M.
Published: September 2005

1. Male and female rats aged 3 weeks were divided into two groups. One group of each sex was allowed unlimited access to the stock diet, the other group was given the stock diet in restricted amounts for 10 weeks so that the males gained only 19 g and the females 21 g in comparison with 176 g and 116 g for the well-nourished males and females respectively. The undernourished animals were then rehabilitated by being allowed the stock dietad lib.

2. Five animals of each sex were killed at various stages of the experiment, their bodies analysed for fat and nitrogen, and the size and number of fat cells determined in specific fat depots.

3. The undernourished rats failed to make a complete recovery and were significantly smaller than the controls of the same sex at 172 d of age when the experiment terminated.

4. The previously undernourished rats deposited significantly more fat in their bodies during rehabilitation than the control animals in the same number of days and over the same gain in body-weight.

5. There were no significant differences in the number of cells containing fat at the abdominal fat site between the undernourished and rehabilitated animals and the controls at any stage, nor were there any significant differences in apparent fat cell numbers between the control and rehabilitated animals at any of the other sites studied when the experiment ended at 172 d.
The effect of dietary calcium intake of ewes in pregnancy on their Ca and phosphorus metabolism in lactation
Authors: Braithwaite G. D.
Published: September 2005

1. A combination of a mineral balance and a radioactive technique has been used to study the effect of the dietary calcium intake of ewes in pregnancy on their Ca and phosphorus metabolism in lactation.

2. Ewes which had received a Ca-deficient diet in pregnancy absorbed Ca at a greater rate and with a greater efficiency in early lactation than did the control animals, which had received an adequate Ca intake in pregnancy. The apparent absorption of P was also higher in the Ca-deficient sheep.

3. Since both groups of sheep received the same high Ca intake in lactation, the increased rate of absorption of Ca must have resulted from an increased rate of active transport rather than an increased rate of diffusion.

4. Retention of both Ca and P was positive in the Ca-deficient ewes but negative in the control ewes. This difference in retention reflected a difference in bone metabolism.

5. The maximum rate of absorption possible, which is equal to the rate of irreversible loss of Ca from the rapidly exchangeable pool, was much greater in the Ca-deficient lactating ewes than was previously found in Ca-deficient wethers. This difference is due to the additional pathway of loss of Ca in the milk of the lactating animals.

6. The relationship between these findings and the prevention of milk fever in dairy cows by manipulation of the dietary Ca intake is discussed.
The effects of feeding and acute cold exposure on the visceral release of volatile fatty acids, estimated hepatic uptake of propionate and release of glucose, and plasma insulin concentration in sheep
Authors: Thompson G. E. , Bassett J. M. , Bell A. W.
Published: September 2005

1. Five sheep were given a meal while they were in a neutral environmental temperature (15–20°) and while acutely exposed to a moderately cold (1°, wind speed 2 m/s) environment.

2. Before and at various times after feeding measurements were made of hepatic portal blood flow and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and glucose in arterial, hepatic portal and hepatic venous blood plasma. From these measurements the net rate of release of VFA from the viscera was calculated, and the uptake of propionate and output of glucose by the liver was estimated, assuming hepatic arterial blood flow to be 20% of portal flow. The concentration of insulin in arterial and portal venous plasma was also measured.

3. The change in environmental temperature did not affect the time taken by the animals to eat the meal completely.

4. After feeding, in the neutral environment, there were significant increases in portal blood flow and release of VFA into the portal bloodstream. The uptake of propionate by the liver increased, significantly, and output of glucose also increased, but not significantly. Plasma insulin concentration also increased after feeding.

5. During cold exposure portal blood flow was consistently higher, before and after feeding, than it was in the neutral environment. The release of VFA into the portal blood was also consistently greater during cold exposure, especially the release of propionate after feeding. Associated with this was an extra uptake of propionate and output of glucose by the liver. Plasma insulin concentration was slightly higher in the cold environment than the neutral environment before the animals were fed, but this difference was not apparent at any other time.
Metabolism of heat-damaged proteins in the rat
Authors: Shorrock C. , Ford J. E.
Published: September 2005

1. An extract containing ‘unavailable’ small peptides was isolated from an enzymic digest of heat-damaged cod fillet and examined for its influence on uptake of leucine in the rat small intestine, using the everted-sac technique.

2. The extract strongly inhibited the uptake of leucine. It had no effect on uptake of glucose or its metabolism to lactate.

3. The findings are discussed in relation to the concept (Buraczewski, Buraczewska & Ford, 1967) that the accumulation of ‘unavailable peptide’ material in the intestine, found in rats given heat-damaged protein, might hinder the absorption of amino acids by blocking a mechanism involved in their transport across the mucosal barrier.
Haematological and blood chemistry changes in ewes and lambs following supplementation with vitamin E and selenium
Authors: Horton G. M. J. , Jenkins W. L. , Rettenmaier Rosemarie
Published: September 2005

1. Four methods of vitamin E and selenium supplementation were evaluated using thirty-nine pregnant ewe-lambs fed on a ration containing 0.043 mg Se/kg and 25 mg vitamin E/kg. Treatments were control, fortified mineral mix (ESe salt) (300 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se), ruminal Se pellets (505 mg Se), drench (300 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se) and intramuscular injection (600 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se). Only ewes were supplemented, commencing approximately 50 d before parturition.

2. Birth weights were similar for all treatments and live-weight gains of lambs to 56 d of age were improved in all supplemented groups (P< 0.05). There were no clinical cases of nutritional muscular dystrophy.

3. Se concentrations in whole blood were more than doubled in both lambs and ewes drenched or injected; responses to ESe salt and pellets were much smaller.

4. Plasma tocopherol levels were increased in injected dams and their lambs (P< 0.001).

5. Haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte counts were significantly higher (P< 0.01) in control ewes and lambs than in treated lambs.

6. Lactate dehydrogenase (EC1.1.1.27), creatine kinase (EC2.7.3.2) and aspartate aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.1) activities were increased in lambs from control, ESe salt and pellet groups (P< 0.001). Glutathione peroxidase (EC1.1.1.1.9) activity responded to Se supplementation in both ewes and their lambs (P< 0.001) and the response was highest in the injected group, followed, in order, by the drench, pellet, ESe salt and control groups.

7. These studies indicated that in terms of the haematological and blood chemistry changes investigated, the intramuscular injection was most effective, followed by the oral drench. Ruminal pellets and fortified salt were less satisfactory.
The nutritive value of silages
Authors: Kelly N. C. , Thomas P. C.
Published: September 2005

1. Two calorimetric experiments were conducted to study the utilization of energy in sheep given diets of grass silage or grass silage and barley. Three silages were investigated. One was made from first-harvest grass in the spring (S) and the others from regrowth cut either early or late in the autumn (E and L respectively). All were of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and preserved with formic acid. Each silage was given at two levels of feeding, the lower providing approximately a maintenance energy intake. The S and L silages were also given supplemented with barley.

2. The digestibilities of organic matter, cellulose and energy in the silages were high. Measured at maintenance, digestible energy (de) contents (MJ/kg dry matter (dm)) were 11.83, 14.67 and 12.90 for S, E and L respectively. Thedecontents of the S and E silages were depressed at the higher level of feeding but the effect was offset by changes in the energy losses as methane and urine. Metabolizable energy (me) contents (MJ/kgdm) for the three silages, S, E and L were respectively 9.88, 12.54 and 10.73 at the low level of feeding and 9.91, 11.99 and 11.08 at the high level of feeding. The meanmecontent of barley calculated by difference was 13.76 MJ/kgdm.

3. The mean efficiencies of utilization ofmefor maintenance (km) for the S, E and L silages were 0.69, 0.71 and 0.68 respectively. Corresponding values for fattening (kf) were 0.21, 0.57 and 0.59. Excepting thekffor the S silage which was low, observed efficiencies were in broad agreement with those predicted by the equations of the Agricultural Research Council (1965). Similar agreement was obtained with all diets consisting of silage and barley.
Metabolic changes associated with the occurrence of fatty liver and kidney syndrome in chicks
Authors: Whitehead C. C. , Bannister D. W , Cleland Maureen E.
Published: September 2005

1. The changes in a number of metabolic measurements brought about by low-biotin diets associated with high and low incidences of fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS) were studied in healthy 4-week-old broiler chicks.

2. Liver pyruvate carboxylase (pyruvate: CO2ligase (ADP);EC6.4.1.1) activity was low in birds fed on a diet causing a high incidence of FLKS but the addition of fat or protein to this diet, to decrease the incidence of FLKS, increased enzyme activity.

3. Liver weights, blood lactate concentrations, plasma lactate dehydrogenase (l-lactate:NAD oxidoreductase;EC1.1.1.27) activities and values for C16:1:C18:0fatty acid in liver, adipose tissue and plasma triglyceride were highest in birds fed on the high-FLKS diet and all measurements were negatively correlated with pyruvate carboxylase activity.

4. Birds with high plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity or triglyceride C16:1:C18:0values were the most likely to develop FLKS when fasted.

5. There was no evidence that increased liver weight was associated with increased activities of certain other liver enzymes.

6. It is concluded that FLKS occurs in birds with little or no hepatic gluconeogenic capacity via pyruvate carboxylase as a result of a dietary insufficiency of biotin but that the initiation of the syndrome is probably associated with the inhibition of other pathways of gluconeogenesis.
The level and origin of amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) in the digestive tract of chicks receiving trypsin inhibitors in their diet
Authors: Nitsan Zafrira , Madar Z.
Published: September 2005

1. Amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity found in the intestinal tract of chicks posterior to the stomach is of endogenous origin, as amylase in the food is inactivated by the low pH in the stomachs.

2. Ingestion of raw soya-bean diet (RSD) or of heated soya-bean diet (HSD) supplemented with trypsin inhibitors induced higher amylase activities in the lower part of the small intestine and caecum as compared with HSD.

3. Ingestion of RSD after ligation at the end of the duodenum, end of the ileum or one of the caeca, or injection of soya-bean trypsin inhibitor into a ligated caecum, indicated that there is no amylase synthesis by the intestinal tract cells or microflora as a response to the presence of RSD or trypsin inhibitors.

4. It seems that amylase found in the digestive tract of the chick is of pancreatic origin and that RSD or trypsin inhibitors induce higher pancreatic amylase secretion than HSD which (the additional amylase) accumulates mainly in the caeca.
Estimation of rate of protein synthesis by constant infusion of labelled amino acids in pigs
Authors: Simon O. , Münchmeyer R. , Bergner H. , Zebrowska Teresa , Buraczewska Lucyna
Published: September 2005

1. The fractional synthetic rates of tissue proteins were studied in growing pigs using the constant-infusion technique of tracer-labelled amino acids ([14C]leucine and [14C]lysine) and the mathetmatical model for calculation, employed in rats by Garlick, Millward & James (1973).

2. During a 6 h infusion, samples were taken from blood and muscle and at the end of the infusion from liver, muscle, pancreas, heart, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, and skin. The specific radioactivity of free and protein-bound leucine and lysine was estimated.

3. A quasi-steady-state in the specific radioactivity of free plasma leucine and lysine was reached within approximately 2 h, the rate-constants being 35 and 48/d respectively.

4. The specific radioactivity of free leucine and lysine in plasma was used to calculate the flux of these amino acids. It was found to be higher than the daily intake.

5. The average fractional rate of protein synthesis in muscle and heart was 8.1 %/d, in small and large intestine the values were 50 and 33 %/d respectively and in liver and pancreas more than 100 %/d.

6. The calculation of protein synthetic rate in pig tissue using the constant-infusion method of labelled amino acids seems to be a suitable tool for study of this species.
Studies on the nutrition of marine flatfish. The pyridoxine requirement of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Adron J. W. , Knox D. , Cowey C. B. , Ball G. T.
Published: September 2005

1. Diets containing graded levels of pyridoxine hydrochloride (to supply 0.26–30 mg pyridoxine/kg) were given to seven duplicate groups of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) for 12 weeks and their growth rate was measured during this period.

2. Good growth was obtained on all treatments except those groups given less than 1.0 mg pyridoxine/kg diet. These fish grew normally until weeks 8–10 but thereafter their weight gain was significantly less than that for other treatments.

3. Measurements of aspartate aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.1) in muscle and liver and of alanine aminotransferase (EC2.6.1.2) in liver of the turbot showed that the activities of these enzymes increased with increasing dietary pyridoxine intake up to a level of 2.5 mg pyridoxine/kg. The activities of these enzymes were not further enhanced by additional dietary pyridoxine.

4. Percentage stimulation of these enzymes by pre-incubation of extracts with pyridoxal phosphate was minimal with those groups of turbot given 2.5 mg pyridoxine/kg diet or more.

5. It is concluded that the dietary requirement of turbot for vitamin B6can be safely met with a diet containing between 1.0 and 2.5 mg pyridoxine/kg.

6. An eighth group of turbot given the pyridoxine antagonist 4-deoxypyridoxine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) showed retarded growth after 2 weeks, together with a high mortality rate.
The effect of alcohol on resting metabolic rate
Authors: Rosenberg Kathryn , Durnin J. V. G. A.
Published: September 2005

1. There was a significant increase in oxygen consumption in ten women after small intakes of alcohol.

2. No significant difference was found between the average increase in metabolic rate over 3 h after an isoenergetic meal of food or of food plus alcohol. However, during the last half of the 3 h postprandial period, the increased O2 consumption was significantly greater after the meal including alcohol.

3. Possible explanations for the contradictory results in the literature are discussed.
Environmental temperature and choice feeding of the broiler
Authors: Cowan P. J. , Michie W.
Published: September 2005

1. Broilers were kept under environmental temperature regimens of 16, 21, 26 or 31° and given, 22–57 d of age, either a complete diet or free-choice of whole wheat and a higher-protein food containing either 252 or 516 g crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25)/kg.

2. Broilers maintained at 16 and 21° consumed food at a significantly higher rate than those kept at 26° and the latter had a significantly higher food intake rate than broilers kept at 31°, for each feeding treatment. Compared with 21° the 57 d body-weight of broilers kept at 26° and 31° was significantly reduced.

3. When kept under the 16, 21, 26 and 31° regimens, the amount of whole wheat in the food consumed by the broilers choice-fed with wheat and the 252 g crude protein/kg food was 56, 55, 48 and 46% respectively. The corresponding values for the broilers on the second choice-feeding treatment were 80, 76, 79 and 72%.

4. Except for a single instance the choice-fed broilers grew at a significantly slower rate than broilers given the complete diet.
Factors affecting the voluntary intake of food by sheep
Authors: Grovum W. L. , Phillips G. D.
Published: September 2005

1. Twelve sheep fitted with abomasal cannulas were givenad lib.access to a diet of chopped lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay to ascertain if the amount of digesta being transported by the intestines was limiting intake. If this was the situation, pumping a solution of the bulk-laxative methylcellulose (100 g/kg; MC) into the abomasum should have reduced intake in proportion to the mass of digesta attributable to the MC and associated water. In preliminary experiments faecal water and wet matter ouptuts increased by 6.2 and 7.4 g/g MC powder respectively.

2. The infusion of 2.95 kg MC/d did not affect food intake even though wet faecal output increased from a control value of 2.436 to 4.616 kg/d. The transit time of51Cr-EDTA through the intestines decreased only slightly during the infusion indicating that MC produced a marked increase in the mass of intestinal contents. Increasing the rate of infusion to 5.336 kg/d increased wet faecal output to 5.437 kg/d, did not change transit time but significantly decreased food intake presumably to protect the intestines from overdistension. After stopping the infusion, food intakes and faecal outputs returned to control values but transit time remained unchanged. The intake of chopped lucerne hay by sheep was not limited by the capacity of the small and large intestines to transport bulk as intake was maintained even though wet faecal output was doubled and the intestines apparently became markedly distended.
Protein degradation and optimum urea concentration in cereal-based diets for sheep
Authors: Mehrez A. Z. , Ørskov E. R.
Published: September 2005

1. Early-weaned lambs were used to estimate the concentration of urea required to give the maximum intake and utilization of maize or barley with either a high (HPB) or low (LPB) protein content.

2. Approximately the same concentration of urea (7–11 g urea/kg feed) was required for maximum intake and feed utilization of both HPB and LPB. With maize there was no increase in intake, live weight gain, digestion and feed conversion as a result of adding more than 7 g urea/kg.

3. The proportion of protein degraded in the rumen was estimated by the synthetic fibre bag technique to be 0.69, 0.82 and 0.54 for HPB, LPB and maize respectively. The similarity in concentration of urea required for the optimum utilization of LPB and HPB might be explained by differences in the extent of degradation of protein in the rumen, but the lower concentration of urea required for maize cannot be similarly explained.

4. From estimates of yield of microbial protein in the rumen, the extent of rumen fermentation and the measured extent of protein degradation, theoretical requirements for urea were calculated and compared with other predictions and with the experimentally determined values. For barley, predicted values agreed reasonably well with experimental ones, but for maize all values, including those derived by a new system adopted by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Working Party, were too high.
A comparison of the voluntary intake and digestion of a range of forages at different times of the year by the sheep and the red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Authors: Milne J. A. , Macrae J. C. , Spence ANGELA M. , Wilson S.
Published: September 2005

1. Comparisons were made between castrated male Scottish Blackface sheep and red deer (Cervus elaphus) of voluntary forage intake (VFI), digestibility and the mean retention time (MRT) of a particulate-phase marker (103Ru-phenanthroline) in the alimentary tract, when a range of forages: dried-grass pellets, chopped dried grass, fresh-frozen Agrostis-Festuca spp. and heather (Calluna vulgaris, L. Hull) were given at different times of the year.

2. On both the dried-grass-pellet and chopped dried-grass diets the red deer and sheep ate similar quantities. Both species had a higher VFI of dried-grass pellets in July than in November. The sheep digested the dried-grass-pellet diet better than the red deer and this was associated with a longer MRT of the particulate-phase marker in the alimentary tract.

3. The VFI of Agrostis-Festuca spp. and heather by the red deer was twice that of the sheep. The VFI of heather by the sheep increased by 32 % between January and April, and the VFI of both the Agrostis-–Festuca spp. and heather diets by the red deer increased by 65–70 %. The sheep digested the Agrostis–Festuca spp. better than the red deer but the red deer digested the heather slightly better than the sheep. MRT of the particulate-phase marker was greater for the sheep than for the red deer on both diets. The digestibility and MRT of both diets in the red deer did not decrease with the seasonal increase in VFI, suggesting a possible hypertrophy of the alimentary tract.
Hepatic ketone-body metabolism in developing sheep and pregnant ewes
Authors: Varnam G. Carole E. , Jeacock Marjorie K. , Shepherd D. A. L.
Published: September 2005

1. In order to establish whether or not there is a relationship between the blood ketone-body concentrations and the potential ability of the liver to synthesize ketone bodies in sheep on varying nutritional regimens, a study has been made of the concentrations of acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate in blood and the activities of enzymes concerned with ketogenesis in liver of developing sheep from mid-way through gestation to maturity, in pregnant ewes from mid-way through pregnancy and in starved pregnant and non-pregnant ewes.

2. During development the most marked change in blood 3-hydroxybutyrate concentration occurred when the lambs were weaned. Blood acetoacetate concentrations did not change during development. When mature ewes were starved both 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate concentrations in blood were increased.

3. Changes found in the activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (EC1.1.1.30) in the liver were correlated with the changes in blood 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations during development but no such relationship existed in pregnant or fasted ewes. No correlation was found between the ability of the liver to synthesize acetoacetate and blood ketone body concentrations in either developing or pregnant adult sheep. The rate of acetoacetate production expressed per g liver increased during foetal life but values observed in lambs 1 d after birth were similar to those found in suckling and mature sheep. During the last month of pregnancy and when non-pregnant sheep were starved the hepatic potential for ketogenesis was increased. During development the activity of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (EC2.3.1.9) was correlated with the rate of hepatic acetoacetate production.

4. These changes have been contrasted with those that occur in developing and starved adult rats.

5. It is concluded that hepatic production of ketone bodies cannot be the only factor in the regulation of blood ketone body concentrations in developing and pregnant sheep.
Nτ-Methylhistidine in human skeletal and smooth muscle proteins
Authors: Holbrook I. B. , Gross E. , Irving M. H.
Published: September 2005

1. Fifteen pieces of rectus abdominus muscle and fifteen pieces of taenia muscle were removed from patients undergoing various surgical procedures.

2. The muscles were extracted, hydrolysed and the content of Nτ-methylhistidine was measured.

3. The rectus muscles contained 3.13±0.7 μmols Nτ-methylhistidine/g fat-free dry solid andthe taenia muscles 2.4±0.6 μmols/g fat-free dry solid. There was a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) between these values using the Student's unpairedttest, although this could have been due to contamination of the taenia muscles with connective tissue.

4. The muscle content of Nτ-methylhistidine was at least 40% higher than the only other reported value and therefore the method of calculating muscle protein breakdown based on Nτ-methylhistidine excretion requires revision.
Effect of varying energy and protein intake on nitrogen balance in adults engaged in heavy manual labour
Authors: Iyengar A. , Narasinga Rao B. S.
Published: September 2005

1. The effect of varying energy and protein intake on nitrogen balance in adult men engaged in heavy manual labour was investigated.

2. Low protein and energy levels resulted in negative N balance and urea index (Waterlow, 1963) was decreased.

3. Urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was found to be sensitive to dietary protein level, but not to energy.
Vitamin B-complex deficiency and visual acuity
Authors: Damodaran Malathi , Rameshwar Sarma K. V. , Tiar Achmad , Nadamuni Naidu A.
Published: September 2005

1. A study was carried out on 973 school children to find out any relationship between vitamin B-complex deficiency signs and defective vision, and the effect of supplementation of B-complex vitamins on visual acuity.

2. The results of the study showed a significant association between presence of clinical signs of vitamin B-complex deficiency and defective vision.

3. Supplementation with vitamin B-complex was found to have beneficial effect in improving the visual-acuity status of defective children and in preventing visual defects from developing.

4. It is concluded, therefore, that from the present study it appears that the relationship between vitamin B-complex deficiency and visual defects could be one of ‘cause and effect’.
Effects of dietary proteinase inhibitors from field bean (Vicia faba L.) and field-bean meal on pancreatic function in the rat
Authors: Abbey Bene W. , Norton G. , Neale R. J.
Published: September 2005

1. Male weanling rats were fed casein diets containing 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 g/kg active or autoclaved proteinase inhibitors (PI) from field bean (Vicia faba L.), and raw- and autoclaved-field-bean meal (FBM) diets. After 7, 14 and 21 d on the diets pancreas weights were measured and pancreas and intestinal trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4) and chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.4.5) assayed.

2. Pancreas weights increased on the raw FBM and active-PI-supplemented diets. Maximum pancreatic hypertrophy measured as the percentage increase above controls was observed after 14 d in rats fed on raw FBM. The same percentage increase in pancreas size compared with appropriate controls was obtained with rats fed casein diets supplemented with 5 g active PI/kg.

3. Pancreas trypsin and chymotrypsin levels decreased with increasing dietary PI level. Similarly, lower pancreas trypsin and chymotrypsin levels were observed in rats given raw FBM.

4. Intestinal trypsin and chymotrypsin increased with increasing dietary PI inclusion level. Although the magnitude of this response decreased with the period of feeding the differences in enzyme levels were still significant even after 21 d.

5. It was concluded that the PI alone in raw-FBM diets could not entirely be responsible for the enlargement of the pancreas and the excess secretion of pancreatic enzymes since in synthetic diets PI levels of five times those in FBM were required to produce responses of similar magnitude.
Toxicity of shoti (Indian arrowroot: Curcuma zedoaria) for rats and chicks
Authors: Latif M. A. , Morris T. R. , Miah A. H. , Hewitt D. , Ford J. E.
Published: September 2005

1. A flour was prepared from rhizomes of shoti (Curcuma zedoaria) in such a way that most of the protein was retained. The crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25) content in this product was 155 g/kg, compared with approximately 10 g/kg in commercial shoti flour.

2. The high-protein flour proved highly toxic to 5-week-old rats and caused 100% mortality within 6 d when given at 320 g/kg diet.

3. Fresh rhizomes were minced and dried, and the resulting meal was given to weanling rats at 400 g/kg diet. All the animals lost weight rapidly, and two of the five rats died within 4 d.

4. This same shoti meal was given to 1-d-old chicks at 100 and 200 g/kg diet. All the chick survived the test period (20 d), but body-weight, food intake and efficiency of food conversion decreased with increase in the level of shoti meal in the diet.

5. The traditional method of preparing shoti involves prolonged washing in changes of water, which removes most of the protein and other water-soluble nutrients and, presumably, a toxic constituent. Further investigation is needed to identify the toxic principle, and to discover a less wasteful procedure for removing it.
The influence of dietary carbohydrate and fat on kidney calcification and the urinary excretion ofN-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (EC3.2.1.30)
Authors: Kang S. S. , Price R. G. , Yudkin J. , Worcester N. A. , Bruckdorfer K. R.
Published: September 2005

1. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on diets containing either sucrose or starch as the carbohydrate component. In one experiment, the diets also contained 200 g either butter or polyunsaturated margarine/kg; in a second experiment, the diets contained less fat in the form of 20 g maize oil/kg.

2. Over a period of 11 months assays were made in the urine of several ions and of the activity of the enzymeN-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (β-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D glucoside acetamidodeoxygluco-hydrolase;EC3.2.1.30); at 13 months, examination was made of some of the abdominal viscera, especially of the kidneys.

3. In rats fed on the higher amount of fat, dietary sucrose produced a higher activity of the enzyme than did dietary starch, and a greater excretion of inorganic phosphate.

4. With both the higher and lower amounts of dietary fat, sucrose led to an increase in the weight of the liver and of the kidneys, and an increase in the concentration of calcium and of phosphate in kidney tissue. With the higher amount of fat, sucrose also produced an increase in the concentration of magnesium in the kidney. There was no difference in the concentration of any of the ions assayed in the plasma or, apart from inorganic phosphate, in the urine.

5. The kidneys of the sucrose-fed rats showed nephrocalcinosis, mostly in the cortico-medullary region, and basophilic deposits in the tubules. Attention is drawn to this unusual occurrence of nephrocalcinosis in male rats.
The relationship between hormonal balance and growth in malnourished children and rats
Authors: Lunn P. G. , Whitehead R. G. , Cole T. J. , Austin S.
Published: September 2005

1. Plasma concentrations of insulin, cortisol and growth hormone, and growth velocities have been measured in a group of Gambian village children up to 3 years of age. All three hormones showed changes in concentration with age, as did rates of growth.

2. Plasma insulin concentrations in the children were directly correlated with velocity of growth in height and weight, whereas cortisol concentrations showed inverse relationships. The values for insulin:cortisol concentration correlated more closely with growth velocity than did either hormone individually. Growth hormone values in plasma exhibited only marginal correlations with growth in height or weight, and these were negative.

3. Similar relationships between these hormones and growth were obtained from an animal experiment in which the rates of growth of rats were altered by restricting dietary intake of protein or energy or both.

4. Possible mechanisms for these observations are discussed in the light of recent knowledge concerning the hormonal control of growth rates.
Artificial rearing of pigs
Authors: Newport M. J. , Storry J. E. , Tuckley B.
Published: September 2005

1. Pigs were weaned at 2 d of age and fed on a milk substitute at hourly intervals. They were slaughtered at 28 d of age.

2. The diets contained 730 g dried skim-milk and 270 g fat/kg dry matter (DM). Three diets were compared in which the fat was supplied as soya-bean oil (SO) (diet A), equal amounts of SO and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) (diet H), or 246 g MCT and 24 g SO (diet I)/kg DM. In the latter diet, SO ensured that the diet had an adequate content of essential fatty acids.

3. Growth rate (2–28 d of age) was reduced (P< 0.05) by the high-MCT diet (diet I) compared with the medium-MCT diet (diet H), but in comparison with diet A, the differences were not significant (P> 0.05). The feed: gain ratio (g DM consumed/g live-weight gain) was not affected by the type of dietary lipid.

4. Diet I increased the proportion of crude protein (nitrogen × 6.25) (g/kg wet weight) in the carcass but did not increase N retention (g/d per kg live weight). The proportion of fat in the carcass was reduced, particularly by diet I (P< 0.001), and was inversely related to an increase mainly in the water content, and to a lesser extent, in the crude protein content of the carcass. The liver weight (g/kg live wt) was greatly increased by MCT (P< 0.01 orP< 0.001).

5. Approximately 20, 44 and 80% of the fatty acids in the carcass of pigs on the SO, diet H and diet I respectively could not have been derived from direct deposition of the dietary fatty acids, but rather byde novosynthesis from carbohydrate or elongation of shorter-chain fatty acids.

MCT increased the concentrations in the blood, taken 1 h after feeding, of total lipid, phospholipid, cholesterol and cholesterol ester, indicating incomplete oxidation of the caprylic and caprylic and capric acids in MCT by the liver, and their incorporation, after chain elongation, into plasma lipids.