The effects of potassium diformate and its molecular constituents on the apparent ileal and fecal digestibility and retention of nutrients in growing-finishing pigs.

Five 43-kg barrows [(Dutch Landrace x Yorkshire) x Yorkshire] were fitted with steered ileocecal valve cannulas to compare the effects of K-diformate (KDF), a specifically conjugated salt vs its molecular constituents, namely, formic acid and K-formate, as acidifiers in lysine-deficient diets on the apparent ileal (ID) and fecal digestibility, retention of nutrients, and manure production. The animals were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments according to a 5 x 5 Latin square design as follows: 1) control-no acidifier; 2) 1% KDF (= 0.65% K-formate + 0.35% formic acid, or 0.7% [HCOO-] + 0.3% [K+]); 3) 0.65% K-formate (= 0.35% [HCOO-] + 0.3% [K+]); 4) 0.35% formic acid (= 0.35% [HCOO-]); and 5) 1.3% K-formate (= 0.7% [HCOO-] + 0.6% [K+]). Diets were formulated with barley, wheat, soybean meal, and canola meal as major ingredients, and provided all nutrients at adequate levels, except for lysine (24% less than estimated requirement). Feeding level was equal to 2.5 x maintenance requirement (MR) for ME (MR = 418 kJ ME x BW(-0.75)), and daily rations were given in two portions after mixing with water in a ratio of 1:2.5. Chromic oxide was used as an indigestible marker. No clinical health problems due to the dietary treatments were observed. Irrespective of the additive, there were no differences (P < or = 0.10) in the ID of DM, OM, CP, or essential amino acids compared to the control, except for phenylalanine (P < or = 0.05). Among nonessential AA, only the ID of tyrosine tended (P = 0.092) to increase (up to 3.9 percentage units). The fecal digestibility of ash and K were greater (P < or = 0.001) in pigs fed supplemental K, irrespective of its source. The greater intake and fecal digestibility of K corresponded with greater (P < or = 0.05) losses of K in urine. Body retention of N, Ca, total P, and K was similar (P > or = 0.10) among treatments. As estimated from a separate nonorthogonal analysis, supplemental K improved (P < or = 0.05) body N by 3.7 percentage units compared to the control. The results of this study do not provide a clear explanation for the improved growth performance reported previously with KDF and its molecular constituents, and further research on their in vivo mode of action will require methodological refinement, especially with regard to the efficiency of AA utilization.

Bves: prototype of a new class of cell adhesion molecules expressed during coronary artery development.

Bves is a protein expressed in cells of the developing coronary vascular system, specifically in the proepicardium, migrating epithelial epicardium, delaminated vasculogenic mesenchyme and vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we show that Bves protein undergoes a dynamic subcellular redistribution during coronary vessel development. Bves is a membrane protein with three predicted transmembrane helices, an extracellular C terminus and an intracellular N terminus, and is confined to the lateral membrane compartment of epithelial cells. When epicardial cells are dissociated into single cells in vitro, Bves accumulates in a perinuclear region until cells make contact, at which time Bves is trafficked to the cell membrane. Bves accumulates at points of cell/cell contact, such as filopodia and cell borders, before the appearance of E-cadherin, suggesting an early role in cell adhesion. While Bves shares no homology with any known adhesion molecule, transfection of Bves into L-cells readily confers adhesive behavior to these cells. Finally, Bves antibodies inhibit epithelial migration of vasculogenic cells from the proepicardium. This study provides direct evidence that Bves is a novel cell adhesion molecule and suggests a role for Bves in coronary vasculogenesis.

Addition of fat to the diets of lactating sows: I. Effects on milk production and composition and carcass composition of the litter at weaning.

In Exp. 1 two groups of 18 sows were used to evaluate the effects of supplemental dietary fat on sow and litter performance and milk production and composition. Sows were provided ad libitum access to either a corn-soybean meal (control) diet or a similar diet containing 10% tallow. Feed intake, ME intake, and milk yield did not differ (P > .10) between treatments. The percentage of solids in milk was greater (P < .05) for sows fed the tallow diet, due to an increase (P < .05) in the fat and ash content. Compared with percentages of fatty acids in milk of sows fed the control diet, the percentages of C10:0, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, and C18:3 fatty acids were lower (P < .05) and the percentages of C18:0 and C18:1 fatty acids were higher in milk of sows fed tallow diets (P < .05). In Exp. 2, 30 sows were fed diets similar to those fed in Exp. 1, and the effects of a tallow diet on pig carcass composition at weaning were determined. Litter size was standardized to 10 pigs. There were no differences (P > .10) in ADFI of sows. Daily ME intake was greater for sows fed tallow than for control sows during wk 2 (P < .05), wk 3 (P < .10), and the entire lactation (P < .05) period. Litter weaning weight was greater (P < .05) for pigs from sows fed tallow diets than for pigs from control sows. Pigs from tallow-fed sows had greater carcass fat weight and fat percentages (P < .05) and lower water and protein percentages (P < .05). These data indicate that the increased fat content of milk from sows fed tallow diets resulted in an increased weight gain for litters nursing these sows. The composition of the increased weight gain is almost exclusively fat.

Addition of fat to the diets of lactating sows: II. Effects on hormone-sensitive lipase activity, energy mobilization in response to epinephrine, and plasma insulin and glucose concentrations.

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fat on lipolysis in lactating sows. In Exp. 1, a 6 x 6 Latin square was used to determine the optimal dosage of epinephrine for use in a subsequent epinephrine challenge. Peak concentrations of plasma glucose and response area increased linearly (P < .10) with epinephrine dosage. However, plasma NEFA peak and response area were quadratically affected (P < .05 and .06, respectively) by epinephrine dosage, with a minimum NEFA peak concentration observed at .4 microg/kg and a maximum at 1.6 microg/kg. In Exp. 2, the effect of dietary tallow on the response to epinephrine infusion (1.6 microg/kg BW) was examined. No differences (P > .10) between treatments were observed in NEFA, glycerol, or peak concentrations of plasma glucose following epinephrine administration. In Exp. 3, the effect of dietary fat on hormone-sensitive lipase activity was examined. Sows (n = 36) were fed diets containing either 0 or 10% added tallow. Hormone-sensitive lipase activity on d 28 of lactation was increased by the addition of tallow to the diet (P = .06). No effect of dietary tallow was observed on hormone-sensitive lipase activity of adipose tissue on d 21 of lactation (P > .10) in Exp. 3 (n = 16 sows) and Exp. 4 (n = 30 sows). In summary, diets containing 10% added tallow did not alter the rate of lipolysis, as measured by exogenous epinephrine challenge, in adipose tissue of lactating sows.

Cloning and expression of hbves, a novel and highly conserved mRNA expressed in the developing and adult heart and skeletal muscle in the human.

bves is a novel mRNA expressed in the developing heart in chick and mouse. Here we describe hbves, the human homolog of chick and mouse bves. Northern and dot blot analyses reveal restricted expression in the heart and skeletal muscle in the embryo and adult. BLAST searches of the NCBI databases confirm that hbves is novel. Portions of the sequence are an exact match with genomic PAC 52202, which localizes to Chromosome (Chr) 6q21. Presumably, these matches and intervening sequences match the intron-exon borders of the gene. Computer conformation analysis of the derived amino acid predicts three transmembrane helices with an extracellular C-terminus that is conserved in chick, mouse, and human. bves is highly conserved among all three species at the amino acid level with 75% identity and 92% similarity.

bves: A novel gene expressed during coronary blood vessel development.

We have used a subtractive method to clone novel messages enriched in the heart. Here we show that one such message, bves (blood vessel/epicardial substance) is a novel protein that is highly conserved between chicken and mouse. The bves message is detected at high levels in early chick hearts. Using anti-Bves antibodies, we show expression in cells of the proepicardial organ, migrating epicardium, epicardial-derived mesenchyme, and smooth muscle of the developing intracardiac arterial system, including the coronary arteries. Our data suggest that Bves is an early marker of developing vascular smooth muscle cells. In addition, the expression pattern of Bves protein reveals the patterning of intracardiac vascular smooth muscle and possible insights into the cellular regulation of smooth muscle differentiation during vasculogenesis.

Observation on the arrangement of axons according to diameter in the optic tract of the opossum Didelphus Marsupialis

The spectra of fiber sizes at different depths of the optic tract of the opossum didelphis marsupialis were examined by electron microscopy in order to test for correlations between the eventual location of axons and relevant developmental events. Frequency histograms showed 1) a predominant representation of medium-sized axons and the virtual exclusion of coarse fibers from the deepest portion of that pathway, and 2) a progressive increase in the poportion of thin axons from deep to superficial sites of the tract. These findings are discussed in terms of the view of the optic tract as a chronological map of axon arrival

Relationship of lactation energy intake and occurrence of postweaning estrus to body and backfat composition in sows.

Forty-five crossbred primiparous sows were used to determine the relationship of lactation energy intake and the occurrence of postweaning estrus to (1) body fat (percentage), (2) lean body mass (LBM) and (3) qualitative and quantitative characteristics of adipose tissue. Sows received 8 (Lo) or 16 (Hi) Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/d during lactation and 5.4 Mcal of ME/d postweaning. Serum samples were obtained 1 d before weaning (d 0) and analyzed for creatinine and urea-N (indices of muscle and amino acid catabolism, respectively). Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained and analyzed for total lipid and myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. Last rib backfat thickness determined at weaning was used to estimate body fat (percentage). Lean body mass was estimated from 48-h creatinine excretion rates determined on d 15 and 16 postweaning. Sows fed the Lo diet that returned (Lo-R) and did not return (Lo-NR) to estrus by d 14 postweaning lost more (P less than .01) weight during lactation, gained more (P less than .01) weight postweaning, had higher (P less than .07) body fat (percentage) and a slight trend toward lower creatinine excretion rate than sows fed the Hi diet that returned to estrus (Hi-R). Adipose tissue from sows in the Lo-R and Lo-NR groups had less (P less than .05) lipid than that from sows in the Hi-R group. Concentrations of oleic and stearic acids were lower and higher (P less than .01), respectively, in adipose tissue from sows in the Lo-R and Lo-NR vs Hi-R groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum chemical values of gestating and lactating swine: reference values.

Reference values of 18 serum constituents were determined in gestating (n = 33) and lactating (n = 13) swine. Serum concentrations of calcium, glucose, urea nitrogen, cholesterol, total protein, and globulin were lower (P less than 0.10) during gestation than during lactation. Concentrations of creatinine, triglycerides, and creatine phosphokinase were higher (P less than 0.10) during gestation than during lactation. Creatinine concentration increased (P less than 0.05) from lactation days 14 to 26.

Influence of energy intake during lactation on the interval from weaning to first estrus in sows.

A total of 191 crossbred sows were used to determine the effect of energy intake during one lactation on (1) sow and pig performance and (2) the percentage of sows in estrus by 7, 14, 21 and 70 d postweaning. Sows received 8 (Lo) or 16 (Hi) Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/d (Exp. 1 and 2) and 8 (Lo), 12 (Md) or 16 (Hi) Mcal of Me/d (Exp. 3) during a 28-d lactation period. All sows were fed an equal amount of crude protein, vitamins and minerals that met or exceeded the recommendations of the National Research Council. Each day after weaning, sows were fed 1.8 kg of a 14% crude protein diet and checked for estrus using boars. Serum samples were obtained weekly from sows not detected in estrus by 15 d postweaning for progesterone analysis. In Exp. 1 sows fed Lo lost more (P less than .01) weight and backfat, and weaned lighter weight (P less than .01) pigs than sows fed Hi. Fewer sows fed Lo exhibited estrus (P less than .01) by 7, 14, 12 and 70 d postweaning than sows fed Hi. In Exp. 2, sows fed Lo lost more (P less than .01) weight and backfat than sows fed Hi, but pig weaning weights did not differ. Fewer sows fed Lo expressed estrus by 7 d (P less than .01) postweaning than those fed Hi. In Exp. 3 sow weight and backfat loss decreased (P less than .01) linearly as energy intake increased. Pig weaning weights were not affected by energy intake. Fewer sows fed Lo expressed estrus (P less than or equal to .05) by 7, 14, 21 and 70 d postweaning than those fed Md and Hi. There was no difference in the percentage of sows fed Md or Hi that exhibited estrus by these time periods. Blood samples collected on d 110 of gestation and d 14 and 26 of lactation, indicated that energy intake did not influence hematocrit values, total serum protein or albumin concentrations. A significant energy intake by time interaction was observed for serum blood urea N. Three of the 25 sows bled for progesterone analysis had luteal tissue activity suggesting ovulation had occurred even in the absence of a detected behavioral estrus.

Venera 4 probes atmosphere of venus.

The atmospheric data and information on trajectory received from Venera 4 together provide consistent and firm evidence of its success in reaching the surface of Venus.