Identification and characterization of novel abdominal and pelvic brown adipose depots in mice.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) generates heat through non-shivering thermogenesis, and increasing BAT amounts or activity could facilitate obesity treatment and provide metabolic benefits. In mice, BAT has been reported in perirenal, thoracic and cranial sites. Here, we describe new pelvic and lower abdominal BAT depots located around the urethra, internal reproductive and urinary tract organs and major lower pelvic blood vessels, as well as between adjacent muscles where the upper hind leg meets the abdominal cavity. Immunohistochemical, western blot and PCR analyses revealed that these tissues expressed BAT markers such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and CIDEA, but not white adipose markers, and ß3-adrenergic stimulation increased UCP1 amounts, a classic characteristic of BAT tissue. The newly identified BAT stores contained extensive sympathetic innervation with high mitochondrial density and multilocular lipid droplets similar to interscapular BAT. BAT repositories were present and functional neonatally, and showed developmental changes between the neonatal and adult periods. In summary, several new depots showing classical BAT characteristics are reported and characterized in the lower abdominal/pelvic region of mice. These BAT stores are likely significant metabolic regulators in the mouse and some data suggests that similar BAT depots may also exist in humans.

Validating the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite analysis to assess the adrenocortical activity of the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana).

With limited information known about the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), there is a need to gain more knowledge about their basic physiology to be able to better assess their well-being. Our goal was to develop noninvasive methods to evaluate stress physiology in the Sichuan takins housed under human care. The objectives were: (1) validate the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analysis to monitor adrenocortical activity and (2) determine the relationship between FGM concentrations and changes in various factors including environmental conditions, reproductive hormones, and social factors. Three (one male and two females) adult Sichuan takins were included in the study from Lincoln Park Zoo. A cortisol enzyme immunoassay was used to analyze FGM from samples that were collected 2-4 times per week. FGM was biochemically validated in the laboratory and biologically validated using pregnancy and parturition. Results showed that 1 day after birth one female had a more than a six-fold increase in FGM. A positive relationship (p < .05) was observed between FGM and temperature for two of the three takins. Finally, FGM values tended to increase during times when aggression (p = .09) and reproductive (p = .08) behaviors were observed. In conclusion, environmental, reproductive, and behavioral factors could affect adrenocortical activity in zoo-housed Sichuan takins; therefore, these methods can be used to assist in the management and conservation of this threatened species both in zoos and potentially in the wild.

Digestibility and Retention Time of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Hay by Horses.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and other warm-season grasses are known for their increased fiber concentrations and reduced digestibility relative to cool-season grasses and legumes. This study investigated the digestive characteristics and passage kinetics of three maturities of Coastal bermudagrass hay. A 5 × 5 Latin square design experiment was used to compare the digestion of five hays: alfalfa (Medicago sativa, ALF), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata, ORCH), and Coastal bermudagrass harvested at 4 (CB 4), 6 (CB 6), and 8 weeks of regrowth (CB 8). Horses were fed cobalt-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Co-EDTA) and ytterbium (Yb) labeled neutral detergent fiber (NDF) before an 84-h total fecal collection to determine digesta retention time. Dry matter digestibility was greatest for ALF (62.1%) and least for CB 6 (36.0%) and CB 8 diets (36.8%, SEM = 2.1; p < 0.05). Mean retention time was longer (p < 0.05) for Coastal bermudagrass (particulate 31.3 h, liquid 25.3 h) compared with ORCH and ALF (28.0 h, SEM = 0.88 h; 20.7 h, SEM = 0.70 h). Further evaluation of digesta passage kinetics through mathematical modeling indicated ALF had distinct parameters compared to the other diets. Differences in digestive variables between forage types are likely a consequence of fiber physiochemical properties, warranting further investigation on forage fiber and digestive health.