Coagulology, biochemical profile and muscle pathology in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy.

The aim of this study was to explain the correlations between selenium deficiency, hemostatic and biochemical disorders, and the progression of pathological changes in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD). The study was performed on 20 calves with supplementation of 8 ml selenium and vitamin E preparation and 20 calves with symptoms of NMD. Blood was sampled from calves aged 5, 12 and 19 days. On day 19, samples of the biceps femoris muscle were collected from 6 animals in each group for histopathological analysis. The following blood parameters were determined: PLT, PT, TT, APTT, fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations, antithrombin III activity, glucose, selenium and vitamin E concentrations, activity of CK, LDH and GSH-Px. Muscle sections were stained with H&E and HBFP. Platelet counts were significantly lower in calves with symptoms of NMD. No significant differences in coagulation parameters were observed between the groups. Sick calves were diagnosed with hyperglycemia and elevation of CK and LDH activity. Selenium and vitamin E concentrations in the blood serum were significantly lower in the experimental group together with significant drop in GSH-Px activity. Changes characteristic of Zenker's necrosis were observed in a muscle of the sick animals. To our best knowledge this is the first study in which the attempt was made to explain the relationship between selenium deficiency and changes in the coagulation system in ruminants.

[Rupture of the ventral serrate muscles (Flying Scapulas) as a symptom of muscular dystrophy in Holstein-Friesian heifers on a Dutch dairy farm]. / Ruptuur van de musculus serratus ventralis (Flying Scapulas) als symptoom van spierdystrofie in een koppel Holstein-Friesian pinken op een Nederlands melkveebedrijf.

Within a week of being turned out to pasture, 3 of 30 heifers displayed a symptom described in the literature as "Flying Scapulas". The cause of this symptom is severe muscular dystrophy, with subsequent rupture of the ventral serrate muscles. Blood analysis revealed a deficiency of both vitamin E and selenium in all three heifers. No new clinical cases of muscular dystrophy were observed after the animals were housed and given vitamin E and selenium supplements. As far as is known, this is the first report in which a deficiency of both vitamin E and selenium was found in animals with the clinical symptoms of Flying Scapulas. This is the first description of Flying Scapulas in cattle in The Netherlands.

Serum T3 and T4 concentrations in lambs with nutritional myodegeneration.

BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) deficiency is an important etiological factor in Nutritional Myodegeneration Disease (NMD) of lambs, and Se is required for synthesis of thyroid hormones. HYPOTHESIS: That serum T4 and T3 concentrations in lambs with NMD will be abnormal. ANIMALS: Ten healthy lambs and 15 lambs with NMD were included in the study. METHODS: Serum thyroid hormone concentrations were measured by chemiluminescence assay in samples collected from control and NMD lambs before and after treatment with a preparation containing sodium selenite, vitamin E, and vitamin B1, which was administered subcutaneously to lambs with NMD twice, with a 2-week interval. RESULTS: Before treatment, serum concentrations of fT3 and TT3 in lambs with NMD were lower than those of control group (P < .001), while serum concentrations of fT4 and TT4 in lambs with NMD were significantly higher than those of control group (P < .001, P < .01, respectively). Similarly, serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values in lambs with NMD were significantly higher compared with those of control (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively) before treatment. However, serum concentrations of Se and alpha-tocopherol in lambs with NMD were significantly lower compared with those of control (P < .001). After treatment (at day 30), none of the variables were significantly different between control and NMD lambs (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Nutritional myodegeneration in lambs is associated with abnormalities in serum thyroid concentrations. Abnormalities in serum thyroid concentrations can result from selenium deficiency in NMD lambs. Serum thyroid concentrations together with serum CK, LDH, AST, ALT, and ALP values can be considered additional tools in diagnosis and prognosis of NMD in lambs.

Serum and organ indices of the mdx dystrophic mouse.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disease for which there is no effective treatment. The cause of death in patients with DMD is often cardiovascular and pulmonary dysfunction. This clinical observation, combined with experimental findings, suggests that other non-muscle organ systems may be affected in the dystrophic disease state. To test this hypothesis, the present study investigated liver and kidney function in the mdx mouse. Serum chemistries and the hepatic cytochrome P-450 system in normal and dystrophic mdx mice were investigated at two different ages. Increases in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and cholesterol levels, combined with an increase in liver weight and a decrease in cytochrome P-450, suggests the possibility of hepatic dysfunction. Increases in serum uric acid and phosphorus, and decreased kidney weight suggest hepatic dysfunction.

Studies on serum tocopherol and selenium levels and blood glutathione peroxidase activities in lambs with white muscle disease.

For the investigation of the cause of white muscle disease (WMD), tocopherol (Toc) and selenium (Se) levels and blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were examined using lambs with WMD and their ewes. Serum Se levels of 4 lambs with WMD were low under 30 ppb, lambs showing very low levels below 15 ppb. The serum Se level was correlated with blood GSH-Px activity showing remarkably low activities in the lambs with WMD. Se contents in the organs of lambs with WMD were lower than those of control lambs, and particularly liver Se contents were deficient levels below 50 ppb. Serum Toc levels were normal, but alpha-Toc contents in organs showed very low levels, especially in the liver. The serum Toc and Se levels and blood GSH-Px activities of their ewes and other sheep kept in the same farm revealed similar results to those of lambs with WMD. Feedstuffs supplied on the farm showed the deficient level of the Se content below 50 ppb and a very low level of alpha-Toc. It was concluded that WMD of lambs in Hokkaido was nutritional muscular dystrophy resulted from deficiencies of Toc and Se to their ewes.

Studies on serum tocopherol, selenium levels and blood glutathione peroxidase activities in calves with white muscle disease.

For the purpose of clarifying the cause of white muscle disease (WMD) in calves, tocopherol and selenium levels and blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were measured on 10 calves with WMD and nine of their dams. The main clinical symptoms of the 10 calves with WMD were motor disturbances including recumbency and stiffness. Serum enzyme activities (GOT, GPT, CPK, LDH) in calves with WMD increased markedly, and this increase was also observed in some of their dams. Serum tocopherol levels of calves with WMD were low, 70% of which showing deficient levels of less than 70 micrograms/100 ml. Serum selenium levels of all the calves were lower than 35 ppb, indicating a deficiency, and were accompanied by low blood GSH-Px activity. alpha-Tocopherol and selenium concentrations in organs were very low. Dams of calves with WMD showed low serum tocopherol levels, 22% of which indicating deficient levels below 150 micrograms/100 ml. Serum selenium levels in dams showed a marked decrease to under 20 ppb, and also low blood GSH-Px activity. Feedstuffs supplied in the farms to affected calves indicated very low alpha-tocopherol contents (below 3 mg/100g DM) and low selenium concentrations below 50 ppb in DM. It was concluded that WMD in calves was attributable to nutritional muscular dystrophy caused by deficiencies in tocopherol and selenium in feedstuffs supplied to their dams.

Studies on serum selenium and tocopherol in white muscle disease of foal.

In order to clarify the cause of white muscle disease (W.M.D.) in foals, tocopherol and selenium concentrations in serum and glutathione peroxidase activities in blood were measured. Examination was made on the samples from horses affected with W.M.D., the foal kept with them in the same stable, the foals kept in the stables without affected foals, and respective mares. The heavy-breed horses in Fukuoka prefecture and Tokachi district were also examined for comparison. Serum tocopherol levels of these foals were normal because after intake of colostrum. Mares of affected foals showed lower tocopherol levels than other examined mares (p less than 0.01). Serum selenium levels of all foals were below 65 ppb, showing deficient levels. The mares of affected foals had lower selenium levels than other mares (p less than 0.01). There was a good correlation between serum selenium concentration and blood glutathione peroxidase activity (r = 0.81). Selenium levels in the liver of affected foals were lower than the foals which succumbed with other diseases. Diet supplied in the stables with affected foals showed low alpha-tocopherol and selenium contents. These findings suggest that W.M.D. in foals is attributed to nutritional muscular dystrophy caused by tocopherol and selenium deficiency of their mares in late gestation period.

[Clinical and biochemical response in the prevention of nutritional myodystrophy in heifers]. / Klinická a biochemická odozva prevencie nutricnej myodystrofie u jalovíc.

Clinical and biochemical responses were studied after taking the measures to prevent nutrition muscular dystrophy in young cattle in the given ecological conditions. Analyzing the biological material (blood, hair, feed, soil), we found the sufficiently high saturation of heifer organisms with the microelement selenium and on the contrary, vitamin E deficiency. Sensitive indicators of the break-down of muscular tissue were the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and mainly creatinine kinase (CPK): the activities of these enzymes increased significantly after the heifers had been driven to pasture. The stay of animals in the run to get them used to the physical load before going to the pasture was not found to be a sufficient measure to prevent muscular nutrition myodystrophy if the animals had not been administered vitamin E and selenium supplements. Of the one hundred heifers we examined, seven animals began to show the signs of nutrition muscular dystrophy; none of these animals had been administered vitamin E and selenium supplements.

Intraruminal selenium pellet for control of nutritional muscular dystrophy in cattle.

Administration of an intraruminal selenium pellet to a herd of pregnant crossbred cows was evaluated for controlling nutritional muscular dystrophy in an area of northern Ontario with numerous losses of calves. Cows were winter-fed grass silage. Each spring cows and calves went to pasture. A single dose of intraruminal selenium pellet was given to 80 cows during last 3 mo of pregnancy the 1st yr only while the remaining 80 were controls. During 3 consecutive years, efficacy of intraruminal selenium pellet was evaluated by selenium status of recipient cows and their offspring as well by the incidence of nutritional muscular dystrophy. Selenium in plasma, as well as glutathione peroxidase in whole blood, in the cows administered intraruminal selenium pellet, were higher than in the deficient controls. Ten months after intraruminal selenium pellet treatment, selenium in tissues was higher in treated than in untreated cows but within normal ranges. Before cows were turned out to pasture the 1st yr, milk selenium of intraruminal selenium pellet cows were higher than controls. This technique of selenium dosing was effective in raising the selenium status of the progeny. There was no evidence of nutritional muscular dystrophy in calves from selenium-dosed cows, while 15 calves born of the untreated cows showed clinical symptoms of nutritional muscular dystrophy.

Drugs in muscular dystrophy of the chicken: corticosterone-21-acetate.

In a previous series of 22-day evaluations of 31 compounds, only corticosterone-21-acetate (C-21-A) increased righting ability of genetically dystrophic chickens to a greater extent than the standard of comparison, methysergide maleate. In the present study, C-21-A was subjected to longer-term trials of up to 48 days, and additional signs of the myopathy were examined. The highest doses of C-21-A increased righting ability for the duration of the trials, decreased the typically elevated plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK) activity by more than 80%, and improved morphology of the dystrophic pectoralis major muscle at the light microscopic level. The major adverse effect of C-21-A, reduction of body weight, was consistently observed at the relatively high doses needed to increase righting ability. That alone, however, could not account for increased righting ability, and plasma CK activity was decreased even at doses that did not reduce body weight. The results show that C-21-A is the most effective compound yet tested in this system and, perhaps more significantly, provides the first evidence that it is possible to identify compounds that improve muscle morphology in a hereditary myopathy using a short-term, step-wise system.

Glutathione peroxidase and selenium in the blood of healthy horses and foals affected by muscular dystrophy.

When blood selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity was measured in 30 standardbred horses a significant correlation was found (r = 0.97). A comparison between blood GSH-px activity in clinically healthy foals, foals affected by muscular dystrophy (MD) and their respective mares was also done. There was no difference in GSH-px activity between the healthy foals and the MD foals or between the corresponding mares.

Blood glutathione peroxidase activity in horses in relation to muscular dystrophy and selenium nutrition.

The activity of glutathione peroxidase, a selenium containing enzyme, was measured in the blood of horses to determine its usefulness as an indicator of selenium status. In 15 horses the enzyme activity was positively related to the blood selenium concentration (P less than .001, r-0.98) over the range of enzyme activities of 8.2 to 140 units (mumoles NADP-oxidised/min/gHb) and selenium concentrations of 0.24 to 2.74 mumol/l. In a group of 8 horses which 2 foals had died with lesions of muscular dystrophy the enzyme activity increased from a mean of 11.8 units before treatment with selenium to 34.5 units after 2 intravenous injections of sodium selenite given one month apart. Another group of 8 horses grazing paddocks adjacent to this affected group did not receive any selenium treatment and had a mean enzyme activity of 11.9 units. Blood glutathione peroxidase activity was measured in 50 pasture-fed horses and 180 stall-fed horses. The range of activities found (7 to 158 units) indicated that selenium intake in horses varied widely between localities. All pasture-fed horses grazing areas where muscular dystrophy had occurred in foals had low activities (less than 20 units). In stall-fed horses the enzyme activity was influenced by selenium treatment, and horses which had been treated usually had higher activities than horses in the same stable with no history of selenium treatment. It was concluded that blood glutathione peroxidase is a suitable indicator of selenium status in horses.

Haematological changes caused by Trichostrongylus colubriformis in lambs fed a dystrophogenic diet.

The effect of Trichostrongylus colubriformis on lambs maintained on a ration containing a low level of selenium and on animals receiving vitamin E and Se supplementation was investigated. The pathological changes seen in control animals slaughtered at the start of the experiment and in the animals which died during the course of the investigation revealed a high level of nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) in the lambs. There were no marked haematological changes in the control or infested sheep. Infestation was characterized by slight hypoalbuminaemia and gamma-globulinaemia. Serum levels of the enzymes AAT and CPK, which are important indicators of muscle necrosis and NMD, were greatly increased in sheep infested with T. colubriformis and not receiving supplementary Vit. E + Se. Data from this study therefore indicates that trichostrongylosis may aggravate the degree of muscle necrosis in lambs prone to the development of NMD.

Osmotic and oxidative haemolysis of erythrocytes in calves with white muscle disease.

The stability of erythrocytes to both osmotic and oxidative haemolysis was studied in naturally occuring cases of white muscle disease of calves two to 14 weeks old. During clinical and subclinical disease the incidence of haemolysis when erythrocytes were exposed to 0-588 per cent NaCl was 74-3 +/-18-8 per cent and 76-6+/-18-6 per cent respectively, whereas in clinically healthy animals receiving 30 mg vitamin E per kg feedstuff the incidence of haemolysis was only 55-9+/-12-7 per cent. Erythrocytes of the calves receiving vitamin E supplements were completely resistent to peroxidative haemolysis whereas in the clinical and preclinical cases approximately 12-5 per cent of cells were lysed.