Effect of pre- and postpartum supplementation with lipid-encapsulated conjugated linoleic acid on reproductive performance and the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-I axis in multiparous high-producing dairy cows.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum and postpartum (PP) supplementation with 2 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on reproductive parameters and some related metabolic factors in dairy cows. High-producing, multiparous Holstein Friesian cows (n = 60) were allotted to 3 treatment groups: the CLA1 group (n = 20) was supplemented with 70 g of lipid-encapsulated CLA providing 7 g each of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA from d 21 (d 21) before expected calving until d 7 after artificial insemination (AI), that is, until 77 to 91 d PP; the CLA2 group (n = 20) was supplemented with the same amount of CLA beginning at calving until d 7 after AI; and the control group (n = 20) received an isocaloric, isonitrogenous, and isolipidic diet. Blood samples were taken weekly to measure glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and leptin. Liver biopsy was performed in 10 cows per group for growth hormone receptor 1A and IGF-I mRNA analyses. At d 49 to 63 PP, ovulation was synchronized with the Pre-Synch protocol followed by fixed-time AI. Milk progesterone was monitored from calving until d 35 post-AI. Cows returning to estrus following AI were inseminated. Supplementation with CLA before calving improved the recovery of plasma leptin levels in the early PP period (from the day of calving until wk 3 PP; treatment effect). Later PP (wk 5), plasma IGF-I, and leptin remained significantly higher in both CLA1 and CLA2 groups compared with control, although hepatocellular IGF-I mRNA was not different among groups. Plasma IGF-I levels remained higher in both CLA-treated groups on the day of AI. Growth hormone receptor 1A mRNA levels in hepatic tissue decreased in all groups, reaching a nadir in the first week PP. Days to first PP ovulation did not differ between groups; however, both supplemented groups conceived earlier compared with control (d 97 ± 19, d 97 ± 23, and d 113 ± 30 for CLA1, CLA2, and control, respectively). Plasma progesterone concentration was higher in both supplemented groups on d 2 to 5 following the synchronized ovulation than in controls. We concluded that CLA supplementation around calving alters PP metabolic signals as reflected by higher plasma leptin and IGF-I levels. Conjugated linoleic acid stimulated early luteal function and reduced the PP interval to conception.

Effect of pre- and post-partum supplementation with lipid-encapsulated conjugated linoleic acid on milk yield and metabolic status in multiparous high-producing dairy cows.

We evaluated the lactation performance, liver lipid content and plasma metabolites indicating the energy balance of dairy cows supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) pre- and post-partum (PP) vs. only PP. A total of 60 cows were divided into three groups (n = 20). Daily diet of cows was supplemented with 14 g of CLA (7 g cis-9, trans-11 and 7 g trans-10, cis-12 isomers) from week 3 before the expected date of calving (group CLA1), or from the day of calving (group CLA2) until 77-91 days PP. Control cows were fed an isocaloric, isonitrogenous and isolipidic diet without CLA. Between week 3 and week 6 PP, the milk yield of cows in both CLA-treated groups was approximately 4.5 kg higher (p < 0.05) than in control. Milk fat concentrations decreased from week 3 and were lower in both CLA groups than in control (p < 0.01). Body condition score loss was lower (p < 0.05) in the CLA1 than in the control group on week 5 PP. By week 11 PP, the body condition of both CLA1 and CLA2 groups exceeded that of control. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid was lower in CLA1 compared to CLA2 and control during the early PP period (p < 0.05), while this difference faded away by the late PP period. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) increased rapidly in all groups following calving. In CLA1 group, it began to decrease sooner than in CLA2 and control. The prevalence of subclinical ketosis (BHBA > 1.2 mm) was lower in CLA1 group than in CLA2 and control (p < 0.05). Liver biopsy analyses showed that CLA1 treatment decreased (p < 0.05) the total lipid content of liver compared to control at week 5 after calving. Our results show that CLA supplementation is more efficient in alleviating body mass mobilization and decreasing the incidence of subclinical ketosis when applied as early as 3 weeks before calving than started feeding after calving.

Effect of prepartum energetic supplementation on productive and reproductive characteristics, and metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows under grazing conditions.

The effect of cracked corn grain supplementation (3.5 kg/day) during 3 weeks before the expected calving date on milk production and composition, body condition score (BCS), metabolic and hormonal profiles and length of postpartum anoestrus was evaluated in multiparous Holstein dairy cows under grazing conditions (Energy supplemented group, n = 10; Control group, n = 10). Body condition score was weekly recorded during the peripartum period, from days -21 to +35 (parturition = day 0). Non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, urea, insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), leptin, thyroxine (T(4)) and 3,3''5-triiodothyroinine (T(3)) were weekly determined in plasma from days -21 to +35. The reinitiation of ovarian cyclicity was twice weekly determined by ovarian ultrasonography and confirmed by plasma progesterone concentrations. Cows fed energy concentrate prepartum had higher BCS during the prepartum and postpartum and produced more milk. Non-esterified fatty acids plasma concentrations were significantly higher in the energy group, while cholesterol was higher in the control group. Treated cows had higher levels of plasma insulin, IGF-I and leptin pre-calving. IGF-I, leptin and T(4) were diminished during the early postpartum period in both groups. Insulin levels were also diminished in the control group, but levels remained high in the energy-supplemented group. Treated cows ovulated sooner after parturition than controls. We conclude that Energetic supplementation prepartum in cows under grazing conditions increased milk production and reduced the reinitiation of ovarian activity, consistent with a better EB (BCS), higher prepartum levels of IGF-I, leptin and insulin, and higher insulin levels during early postpartum.

Moesin becomes linked to the plasma membrane in attached neutrophil granulocytes.

Following 35 min of adhesion to a plastic surface, an 80-kDa F-actin-binding protein was shown to be enriched in the plasma membrane fractions of porcine neutrophils by protein blotting with labeled F-actin. This protein was almost undetectable in membrane fractions of free floating neutrophils, while it was present in total cell samples. The 80-kDa protein appeared to be a major high molecular mass component of the isolated actin-cytoskeleton of both control and attached cells. The studied F-actin-binding protein was recognized by anti-moesin antibodies. Our results suggest that moesin is translocated to the plasma membrane upon adhesion of neutrophils to the extracellular surface.

Major laminin-binding and F-actin-linked glycoproteins of neutrophils.

Two major EHS-laminin-binding membrane glycoproteins--with apparent molecular masses of 50 kD and 18 kD--were shown by protein blotting in membrane fractions of porcine neutrophils. These galectin-like glycoproteins (binding probably via the N-acetyllactosamine sequences to laminin) could also be detected by labelled F-actin in protein blots. Following 35 min adhesion to the plastic surface, the relative amount of the 18 kD protein increased considerably in the light (plasma membrane) and in the dense (intracellular) membrane fractions of the attached cells; the 50 kD polypeptide (identified as a CD14-like protein) seemed to accumulate characteristically in the dense membrane fraction. These observations imply that direct connections could be formed between membrane glycoproteins and microfilaments during cell-substrate adhesion which may be preceded by enhanced cell surface targeting of certain adhesion receptors.

Basal and ATP-stimulated phosphoinositol metabolism in fusing rat skeletal muscle cells in culture.

A considerable rise in inositol phosphates was observed at the beginning of myoblast fusion. Extracellular ATP, through P2-purinergic receptors, induced inositol phosphate accumulation before and after fusion; however, no effect of ATP on phosphoinositol levels could be detected during the period of fusion. The possibility of ATP being a fusion signal is discussed.

[Developmental bone abnormalities, their variants and the delay of osteogenesis in children with leukemia]. / Csontfejlödési rendellenességek, variánsok és csontosodási kor lemaradása leukémiás gyermekekben.

When analyzing the Roentgen documentation of 102 leukaemic children, the prevalence of bone anomalies of the extremities, pelvis and vertebral column was studied. The frequency of the abnormal or unusual findings was compared with that of 660 control subjects. The frequency of osseous anomalies proved to be 2 to 3 times higher in leukaemic children tha in the controls. Considering the number of ossification centers and the presence nutritional canal of vertebrae, in leukaemic children the ossification seemed to be retarded.

Three actin-binding proteins are developmentally regulated in rat liver plasma membranes.

Actin-binding membrane proteins (linking microfilaments to the cell membrane) are involved in cytoskeleton-membrane interactions which are supposed to undergo profound changes during cell proliferation and development. In this study 8 polypeptides were shown to bind F-actin directly in the liver cell membranes of mature rats. From these, the abundance of three polypeptides, of 130, 50 and 36 kDa, was observed to increase considerably during postnatal development, which indicates a developmental change in the cytoskeleton-membrane interactions.

The load of genetic and partially genetic diseases in man. II. Some selected common multifactorial diseases: estimates of population prevalence and of detriment in terms of years of lost and impaired life.

This paper presents epidemiological data on the prevalence of 26 common (i.e., having a lifetime prevalence of more than 1 per 10(4) individuals in the population) multifactorial diseases in Hungary and estimates of detriment associated with them. The detriment is expressed using 3 indicators, namely years of lost life (LL), potentially impaired life (PIL) and actually impaired life (AIL). The total prevalence of these diseases in Hungary has been estimated to be about 6500 per 10(4) individuals in the population. This estimate is in agreement with published data for other parts of the world. On the basis of clinical severity, these diseases have been split into 3 groups, namely (1) very severe (schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, acute myocardial infarction and related conditions, and systemic lupus erythematosus); (2) moderately severe and/or episodal or seasonal (15 entities including Graves' disease, diabetes mellitus, gout, affective psychoses, essential hypertension, peptic ulcers, asthma, etc.); and (3) less severe than those in the first 2 groups (varicose veins, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, Scheuermann disease and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis). The essential clinical and genetic aspects of these diseases are briefly discussed. With the exception of epilepsy, none of the diseases included in our list causes mortality between ages 0 and 19. However, they are among the leading causes of death between ages 20 and 69 and thereafter. A sizeable proportion of those with essential hypertension, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. survive to 70 years and beyond, as do those with gout, glaucoma, allergic rhinitis, psoriasis, etc. Overall, about 16% of all deaths that occur in Hungary every year (all age groups) can be attributed to these diseases. The mean number of years of PIL covers a wide range (about 20-40, 12-70 and 40-60 for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively), the overall mean being about 24 years. However, the nature and degree of impairment and the impact on the life quality of those afflicted differ for the different diseases. Likewise, the mean number of years of AIL (for which the interval between the mean age at premature retirement and mean age at death was used as a rough index) also spans a wide range from 16 to 45, and the overall mean is about 20 years. At the population level, the diseases considered in this paper cause about 2700 years of LL, 96,000 years of PIL and about 5800 years of AIL per 10(4) individuals in the population. Relative to Mendelian diseases as a whole, these multifactorial diseases are associated with much greater detriment (LL: 1.4 X; PIL: 30 X and AIL: 3.9 X).

The effect of 4-aminopyridine-induced increased neuromuscular activity on the metabolism of developing muscles in chick embryos.

Chick embryos were treated with 4-aminopyridine (4 X 100 micrograms) during a critical stage of muscle development, and the effect of enhanced neuromuscular activity upon energy metabolism was studied in two fast-twitch muscles and a slow-tonic muscle. In the slow-tonic muscles of treated embryos, the specific activities of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were reduced by 11 and 21%, respectively, compared with control values, whereas the ratios of the CK-MB isoforms and the LDH-H subunits increased to 125 and 135% of the control values, respectively. No significant changes could be shown in the enzymatic pattern of fast muscles. These results indicate that a moderate increase in neuromuscular activity of the chick embryo primarily influences the metabolism of developing slow muscles, promoting the development of an enzyme profile characteristic of slow oxidative fibres.

Changes of water and electrolyte metabolism in ruminants after water deprivation and NaCl load.

The regulation of Na+ and water metabolism was studied in sheep with rumen fistula after water deprivation for 48 hours. Na+ and K+ concentrations were determined in blood plasma, blood, urine and saliva, with or without NaCl load. The results showed that the water content of the ruminal fluid plays an important role in the control of electrolyte and water metabolism. The absorption of water and Na+ from the rumen favours the maintenance of isosmolality and isovolaemia until the concentration of Na+ in the ruminal fluid has exceeded that in blood plasma. Thereafter the balance of water movement between rumen and extravascular space is shifted towards the rumen inhibiting thereby a further increase of Na+ concentration and ensuring the life conditions for the ruminal microbial population. During water deprivation not only water is lost but as a result of Na+ excretion relative hyponatraemia also ensues as can readily be assessed from the ratio of salivary Na+ and K+ concentrations. Upon NaCl load the salivary Na+/K+ ratio was increased indicating the extent of Na+ supply.

[Studies on methionine metabolism. 1. Studies on general metabolism and body composition]. / Untersuchung des Methionin Stoffwechsels. 1. Mitteilung. Untersuchungen zum allgemeinen Stoffwechsel und zur Körperzusammensetzung

19-day trials were carried out with diets containing varying amounts of methionine (0.3%), 0.8%, 1.3%, 2.0%, 2.8%, 5.3%). Diets containing 0.8% methionine were found to have the most favourable effect. Increasing methionine supplementation gradually decreased the food consumption, the daily weight gains and the efficiency of food utilization of the animals. Data on weight gains and food utilization in the "pair-fed" groups were more favourable. A stepwise decline was observed with regard to the absolute quantity of nitrogen retained (mg) as well as with regard to the quotient (%) of the amount of N retained to the amount of N utilized. Studies on the body composition of the animals showed that all those animals consuming large quantities of methionine did not synthesize protein while the process of protein synthesis in "pair fed" animals was found to be reduced, but still positive. These results suggest the occurrence of disorders in the protein metabolism arising in the organism of the animals in response to the uptake of large amounts of methionine. The relatively low fat content of the bodies of animals receiving excessive amounts of methionine, the increasing losses of fat during the trial as well as decreases in the RQ values indicated an increased rate of fat utilization in these animals. The relative water content of the body of animals receiving excessive quantities of methionine was higher, but, nevertheless, the massive weight decreases were, in the first instance, due to losses of water. Loss of water and fat as well as relative hydratation are characteristic symptoms of malnutrition. These were, to some extent, also observed in "pair fed" animals.

[Methionine metabolism. 2. Biochemical and histological studies in rats]. / Untersuchung des Methionin-Stoffwechsels. 2. Biochemische und histologische Untersuchungen an Ratten

Male rats weighing 100 g were used in a 19-day trial. The rats received diets containing varying proportions of methionine. Their absolute liver weight was lower, due to the high methionine levels, than that of the animals fed optimum rations, whereas the relative liver weight was found to be lower only in the pair-fed group. No essential differences were observed between the levels of dry matter, protein, and fat. Glycogen levels were found to be lowered only in cases when high methionine doses were administered. Pathologically low levels of glycogen were found in animals of the pair-fed group. High methionine consumption reduced the percentages of 12 glucogenetic amino acids in the liver. This, in turn, suggests an increased rate of glucose formation from amino acids, a process which was not observed in animals of the pair-fed group. High methionine doses produced a condition of hyperglycaemia, while in the pair-fed group hypoglycaemia was observed. The highest rate of secretion of thyroid hormones was found in animals receiving the optimum ration; a lower rate of secretion was observed in the animals consuming less or more methionine. In animals receiving high methionine levels the rate of hormone secretion decreased in a stepwise manner with increasing methionine supplementation. Only the highest methionine doses (5,3%) were found to have a negative effect on the maximum rate of iodine incorporation into the thyroid gland. These findings were also substantiated by histological investigations because a true pathological picture was only found in histological sections of thyroid tissue from animals fed the highest methionine doses (5,3%) The thyroid tissue of these animals consisted predominantly of small glandular alveoli whose colloid was slightly coloured. The epithelial cells of these alveoli were degenerated; some cases of liver cell disintegration and, more rarely, cellular necrosis were noted.