Binding and clearance of radioactive adrenaline and noradrenaline in sheep blood.

An understanding of the conditions influencing protein binding of catecholamines (CAs) is important in studying their metabolic effects. Unfortunately, reports on plasma protein binding of CAs are scarce, conflicting and mainly performed in vitro. The aim of our in vivo and in vitro studies was to investigate binding and clearance of radioactive adrenaline (epinephrine) ((3)H-A), noradrenaline (norepinephrine) ((3)H-NA) and their metabolites in sheep blood. The time course of the radioactivity in the blood after intravenous injection of (3)H-A and (3)H-NA (3.7 MBq each) in 4 sheep (2 of each sex; total of 8 administrations) was determined. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein. The highest radioactivity was observed in the first sample (5 min) following injection. Radioactivity showed a biphasic disappearance. An initial stage, in which radioactivity decreased rapidly (within 1 h) after the injection, was followed by a slow stage, lasting for up to 1 month, until background levels were reached. In vitro results indicated that NA and A were present not only in plasma (70%) but also in the erythrocytes (30%; mainly bound to haemoglobin). Sephadex G-25 gel filtration revealed that from the plasma fraction about 15% was strongly bound to proteins (mainly albumin). These results demonstrate that previous experiments in this field have overestimated the percentage of CAs bound to plasma proteins, because binding to haemoglobin was previously not known. In the future, efforts should be made to characterize the adduct products of CAs and establish an assay to determine them in vivo. If this could be achieved, it would yield a valuable tool for measuring the stress experienced for a longer period.

On the substantial variation in serological responses in pigs to Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis using different commercially available indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Two trials were carried out to compare the use of different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of antibodies against Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis. In the first trial, we employed four tests and 70 selected sera from a closed pig farm with sarcoptic mange. The sera were taken from the breeding area as well as from the finishing unit and compared with skin scrapings. The SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001 yielded the most positive results (88.58%), followed by the ELISA of the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala (70%), the Acar-Test P-ELISA (52.86%), skin scrapings (48.57%), and the CHEKIT Sarcoptest (30%). In the second trial, eight litters from infected sows were examined from weeks 1-12 of life using the CHEKIT Sarcoptest and the SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001. The presence of maternal antibodies was highest on day 7 in both ELISAs and could be detected until weeks 5-9 of life. Antibodies increased as a result of an active immune response between days 56 and 63 in the SARCOPTES-ELISA 2001 and between days 70 and 77 of life in the CHEKIT Sarcoptest. Significant differences between the first and second litters were observed.

Clinical and pathological features of the Porcine Ulcerative Dermatitis Syndrome (PUDS).

The nomenclature of ulcerative dermatitis as used in literature is somehow confusing because on the one hand this skin disorder is associated with bacterial growth and on the other hand it is a synonym for a chronic sporadic disease of adult sows with unknown aetiology. Thus, we propose the terminus 'Porcine Ulcerative Dermatitis Syndrome (PUDS)' for the latter to distinguish between these two disease complexes. This syndrome could be identified by clinical and pathological examinations in six sows, that were submitted to the clinic. Epidermal ulcers could be found nearly all over the body, but teats were always spared. Haematological examination showed a slight anaemia but physiological leucocyte counts. However, lymphopenia (x = 44.8%), granulocytosis (x = 42.0%) and an increased number of monocytes (x = 13.1%) could be found. Histologically, a lymphoplasmacytic and granulohistiocytic infiltration in the corium was most prominent. In some cases, a moderate leucocytoclastic vasculitis and perivasculitis could be seen at the dermo-epidermal border. Additionally, a multifocal interstitial nephritis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was a prominent feature in all animals. Participation of an immune complex associated disorder can be assumed when regarding histological findings as skin lesions in combination with glomerulonephritis are a common feature of such diseases. Also, IgG levels were elevated two- to fourfold in all affected sows when compared with healthy control pigs. This supports the hypothesis that not only T cells, as shown previously, but also the humoral branch of the immune system is involved in the aetiology of PUDS.

The immediate haemodynamic response to the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a piglet model of infant hypoxic respiratory failure.

There is evidence that haemodynamic fluctuations on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) increase the risk of cerebral damage. We hypothesized that initiation of venovenous (VV) or venoarterial (VA) ECMO itself causes haemodynamic fluctuations and, thus, established an infant animal ECMO model in order to discuss this hypothesis. Five piglets were cannulated using the jugular and femoral veins (VV group) and five using the jugular vein and carotid artery (VA group). All animals were subjected to hypoxic ventilation (FiO2 8%) for 10 min, leading to a PaO2 of < 40 mmHg, and subsequently rescued by ECMO. The heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were recorded at 5-min intervals; the arterial blood lactate was measured prior to and after 5 and 10 min of hypoxia, as well as 30, 60 and 120 min after initiation of ECMO. The response to initiation of ECMO was similar in the VV and VA groups with regard to HR and lactate, but differed significantly in MAP. HR decreased significantly from 135 +/- 7 to 103 +/- 6 beats/min (p < 0.05) and from 132 +/- 8 to 84 +/- 9 beats/min (p < 0.01) at 5 min (p = NS) after installation; lactate increased from 1.4 +/- 0.1 to 1.8 +/- 0.2 mmol/l (p = NS) and from 1.4 +/- 0.2 to 1.6 +/- 0.5 mmol/l (p = NS) after 30 min (p = NS); MAP decreased from 80 +/- 5 to 63 +/- 3 mmHg (p = NS) and increased from 75 +/- 4 to 84 +/- 3 mmHg (p = NS) at 5 min (p = 0.001), respectively. The initiation of ECMO is associated with haemodynamic fluctuations in both modalities, which differ with regard to blood pressure reaction.

[Not Available]. / Metabolisierung von Deoxynivalenol beim Schwein: Bestimmung von DON und DOM-1 im Urin vom Schwein.

This paper describes a feeding study with 7 pigs, which were fed with deoxynivalenol contaminated oats at a level of 0.23 mg/kg body mass/day over 16 experiment days. The contamination level of consumed feed was 14.4 mg DON/kg in the ration. The parallel control group of 7 pigs were fed with DON free oats. Urine samples were taken each two days. The content of DON and DOM-1 (de-epoxy deoxynivalenol) in urine was determined. The mean concentration of DON in urine of animals in trial group was 580 µg/l, whereas DOM-1 32 µg/l.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: In einer Fütterungsstudie wurden Schweine in zwei Gruppen zu je 7 Tieren mit kontaminiertem (Versuchsgruppe) und unbelastetem Getreide (Kontrollgruppe) gefüttert. Die Gesamtkonzentration von DON in der Ration der Versuchsgruppe war 14.4 mg/kg. Die Tagesdosis betrug in der Versuchsgruppe 0.23 mg/kg Körpermasse und Tag. Der Versuch dauerte 16 Tage, jeden zweiten Tag wurde der Spontanharn gesammelt. Die Urinproben wurden auf DON und DOM-1 analysiert. Für die Analyse der Urinproben bzw. des Futtermittels wurde eine HPLC-MS Methode verwendet.