The effect of magnesium supplementation on lactate levels of sportsmen and sedanter.

This study was performed to assess how magnesium supplementation affects plasma lactate levels at rest and exhaustion in sportsmen and sedentary. Research was performed on 30 healthy subjects varying between 18-22 years of age for a four-week period. Subjects were separated into 3 groups: Group 1; sedentary taking magnesium supplementation only (10 mg/kg/day) (Mg + S), Group 2; subjects magnesium supplemented + training 90-120 min 5 days a week (Mg + Training), Group 3; training 90-120 min 5 days a week. Lactate levels of the groups were measured 4 times; at rest and exhaustion in the beginning of the research and after the end of the research. At the end of the research, exhaustion measurements both before and after supplement were found significantly higher than rest measurements in terms of lactate levels (p < 0.05). An important decrease was determined in the lactate levels of the 1st and 2nd groups when compared to their first measurements (p < 0.05). The results of this research indicate that lactate increases with exhaustion. However, magnesium supplement may positively affect performance of sportsmen by decreasing their lactate levels.

Effects of dietary boron supplementation on some biochemical parameters, peripheral blood lymphocytes, splenic plasma cells and bone characteristics of broiler chicks given diets with adequate or inadequate cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) content.

(1) The effects of 5 and 25 mg/kg boron supplementation of diets with inadequate (6.25 microg/kg) or adequate (50 microg/kg) cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) content on some biochemical parameters, tibia characteristics, peripheral blood lymphocyte and splenic plasma cell counts of broilers were investigated. (2) Supplementation of the diet with boron affected plasma concentrations of boron, iron, copper and zinc and also tibia boron, zinc and calcium concentrations but did not have any effect on tibia iron or copper concentrations or tibia ash and tibia weight values. (3) Boron supplementation caused significant increases in splenic plasma cell count but decreased the proximal and distal tibia growth plate widths. There was no effect of boron supplementation on peripheral blood alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) content. Whole blood haematocrit and haemoglobin counts were significantly increased by boron supplementation but there were no effects on leucocyte ratios such as eosinophil, basophil, monocyte, lymphocyte and thrombocyte. (4) In general, the findings of the present study support the hypothesis that boron has an important biological role that affects the mineral metabolism of animals by influencing both biochemical and haematological mechanisms.

Blood and colostrum/milk serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity as a predictor of passive transfer status in lambs.

The importance of blood and colostrum/milk serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) enzyme activity was evaluated to assess passive transfer status in healthy lambs. Thirty Akkaraman sheep (3-6 years old) were used which had normal pregnancy period and the same conditions, and the age of the lambs ranged between 0 and 15 days. Blood and colostrum/milk samples were collected from sheep and lambs after birth, before suckling (0) and after on 1st, 3rd, 7th and 15th days. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration was determined by the use of Single Radial Immunodiffusion method. Serum gamma-GT activity was measured, using a commercially available kit in blood and colostrum/milk samples. Correlations were carried out between immunoglobulin and gamma-GT levels. Regression models (simple and multiple) were calculated with significant data. Linear correlation was determined between colostrum/milk gamma-GT activity and IgG concentrations and between serum gamma-GT activity and IgG concentrations in lambs on the 0 day. (r: 0.607, P: 0.001), 1st (r: 0.768, P: 0.001) and the 3rd (r: 0.603, P: 0.001) days and on the 1st (r: 0.637, P: 0.001) and 3rd (r: 0.478, P: 0.012) days in the experiment, respectively. Multivariate regression models were developed to estimate sample IgG concentration. Serum and colostrum/milk IgG concentration could be predicted using the formula: lamb serum IgG = 825 + 0.688 (lamb gamma-GT) + 52 (days); colostrum/milk IgG = 832 + 0.505 (colostrum/milk gamma-GT) - 167 (days). The regression models were moderately accurate in predicting serum IgG concentration (R2 = 0.51) and colostrum/milk IgG concentration (R2 = 0.55). Test sensitivity and positive predictive values for serum gamma-GT enzyme activity were found to be 96 and 100% and for colostrum/milk gamma-GT enzyme activity were found to be 100 and 68% to prediction IgG concentration. Serum and colostrum/milk gamma-GT activity can be used to assess passive transfer status of lambs. Along with this, regression models used to calculate serum and colostrum/milk gamma-GT activities found to be useful to estimate sample IgG concentration. The use of serum and colostrum/milk gamma-GT enzyme activity was found useful especially after birth on the 0, 1st and 3rd days.

Specific enzyme activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as an aid to diagnosis of tracheobronchitis and bronchopneumonia in dogs.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme activities, and total protein (TP), calcium, inorganic phosphate, urea nitrogen (UN) and creatinine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were investigated for their relative importance in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in dogs. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was obtained from 26 dogs (20 with respiratory diseases and six controls) following anaesthesia with sodium pentothal. Enzyme activities and biochemical parameters were measured in BAL fluid. LDH and ALP levels were significantly increased in 12 dogs with bronchopneumonia, but not in eight dogs with tracheobronchitis. Insignificant and variable levels of TP and UN concentrations were found in both groups. It was concluded that LDH and ALP enzyme activities could be considered as pointers to pulmonary inflammation and/or damage while TP and UN measurements in BAL fluid may have a place in the identification of changes in respiratory and vascular permeability.

Failure to detect a putative oestrus-indicating pheromone in the urine or vaginal secretions of female sheep.

Extensive use of gas chromatographic analysis of the volatile and non-volatile components of sheep urine and sheep vulvovaginal secretions at different stages of the oestrous cycle has not succeeded in identifying the putative oestrus-indicating pheromone produced by the ewe. However the putative pheromone is probably not a low molecular weight alcohol, diol, phenol, amine, amide, aldehyde, ketone, fatty acid or steroid.

Suitability of lactate dehydrogenase activity and somatic cell counts of milk for detection of subclinical mastitis in Merino ewes (short communication).

The relationship between somatic cell counts (SCC) and LDH activity in milk was examined in Turkey to find out the suitability of these variables for early detection of subclinical mastitis in Merino ewes. A significant positive correlation was found between LDH activity and SCC in ewes' milk. LDH activity in milk samples appeared to be a sensitive and specific indicator of subclinical mastitis in ewes: it was significantly higher in milk from inflamed (mastitic) udders than in normal milk.

Effect of antibiotic treatment of young calves on glucose absorption and some plasma components.

Oral treatment of 10-15 day-old calves with either chloramphenicol (55 mg/kg body wt) or tetracycline (11 mg/kg body wt) did not induce diarrhoea. Treatment caused significant elevation of plasma Na+, K+ and total protein. Calves treated with chloramphenicol showed retarded glucose absorption from the gut.