在低蛋白质饲料中补充必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响简

为了研究在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响,根据鱼体的必需氨基酸组成模式设计了7种等能的试验饲料。其中4种饲料(45CP、40CP、35CP和30CP)的粗蛋白质水平分别为45%、40%、35%和30%,另3种饲料(40AA、35AA和30AA)是在低蛋白质饲料(40CP、35CP和30CP)的基础上添加必需氨基酸,使它们的必需氨基酸含量与45CP(对照组)相一致。用上述饲料对初始体重为(10.13±0.01)g的大口黑鲈进行了89d的饲养试验。饲养试验在室内循环水养殖系统中进行,每种饲料设3个重复,每重复放养30尾鱼。方差分析显示:试验鱼的生长性能、饲料效率、全鱼和肌肉的粗蛋白质含量、成活率以及免疫指标均随着饲料蛋白质含量的降低而显著降低(P0.05)。添加必需氨基酸的35AA和30AA的饲料效率和蛋白质保留率分别显著高于对应的未添加必需氨基酸的35CP和30CP组(P0.05),但仍显著低于45CP组(P0.05)。40AA的试验鱼血清溶菌酶活性和血清补体活性与45CP组差异不显著(P0.05)。35AA和30AA组的头肾白细胞呼吸爆发活性显著高于35CP和30CP组(P0.05)。30AA组的全鱼粗蛋白质含量以及肥满度显著高于30CP(P0.05)。各组试验鱼的水分和灰分均无显著差异(P0.05)。回归分析显示:在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈幼鱼的生长、饲料效率和蛋白质保留率所产生的影响与其引起增加了的饲料蛋白质水平而不是饲料的必需氨基酸水平正相关。研究表明,在低蛋白质饲料中补充的晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈的生长、体组成和免疫指标产生的有益作用不及等量的以蛋白质为来源的必需氨基酸。     

圈养大熊猫乳汁营养成分分析

本文收集了一只14岁大熊猫产后17d内的乳汁样品10个,包括产后第2,3,5,6,7,8,9,11,12和17天,并测定了这些样品的营养成分的含量。即粗蛋白(CP)、粗脂肪(EE)、乳糖(Lac)、17种氨基酸(AA)含量的总和、5种常量元素(Ca,P,K,Na,Mg)和6种微量元素(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn,Co,Se)。结果如下：(1)每个样品的粗蛋白和17种氨基酸含量的总和十分接近,分别在5．20％～7．50％和5．17％～7．62％的范围内波动;乳糖含量的变化范围为0．87％～1．51％;粗脂肪为0．6％～3．2％;(2)粗蛋白和总氨基酸含量第3天明显低于第2天,从第3天到第6天逐步升高,第7天有些下降,从第7到17天逐渐上升;乳糖含量变化不大,在1％左右,第2,3和5天接近,第6天明显升高。之后逐渐降低直至第17天;粗脂肪含量波动较大,没有明显变化趋势;绝大多数矿物元素含量随产后时间的延长都有不同程度的升高趋势;(3)产后6～7天的乳汁样品营养物质含量与一周后有明显差别。作者建议在幼大熊猫人工乳的配制方面,应依据大熊猫乳汁的营养物质含量,充分保证蛋白质水平。降低乳糖含量,同时供给充足的矿物质元素;必须根据幼大熊猫的日龄及其生长发育情况,调整人工乳的营养水平。     

不同生境福寿螺(Pomacea canaliculata)的营养成分及其利用价值

为比较不同生境和不同肉色福寿螺的营养成分组成差异以探讨其在综合防治中的潜在利用价值,分析了鱼塘、沟渠和水田3种生境福寿螺以及黑白肉色福寿螺的一般营养成分和氨基酸组成。结果表明:鱼塘福寿螺的水分和粗脂肪含量最高,沟渠福寿螺的灰分含量最高,水田福寿螺的水分、粗脂肪和粗蛋白含量最低,沟渠和鱼塘福寿螺的粗蛋白含量都高于13%,鱼塘福寿螺的总氨基酸、必需氨基酸、呈味氨基酸含量和必须氨基酸指数均最高,但必需氨基酸的比例最低;水田福寿螺的必需氨基酸和呈味氨基酸含量高于沟渠福寿螺,必需氨基酸指数依次是鱼塘>水田>沟渠,白肉福寿螺的总体营养价值较黑肉福寿螺高,福寿螺的总体必需氨基酸组成与鱼粉(CP53.5%)较为接近;在利用中应充分考虑不同生境和不同肉色福寿螺营养组成存在的差异。     

富含谷氨酰胺和支链氨基酸的肠外制剂对创伤大鼠的效用

研究普通氨基酸注射液 (17AA)与富含谷氨酰胺及支链氨基酸注射液 (2 0AA)对创伤大鼠的营养效用。以Wistar大鼠为创伤模型 ,分别输注两种配方的氨基酸注射液 ,以日立L - 85 0 0氨基酸自动分析仪测定动物血浆游离氨基酸 ,并测定创伤处海绵内羟脯氨酸含量。结果显示创伤后大鼠血浆牛磺酸、谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺和支链氨基酸含量较术前下降 ,但 2 0AA组血浆氨基酸恢复优于 17AA组 ,创伤处海绵内羟脯氨酸含量 2 0AA组显著高于 17AA组 (1.2 9± 0 .2 1vs 0 .83± 0 .16mg/块海绵 ,P <0 .0 5 )。提示 ,创伤后给予富含谷氨酰胺和支链氨基酸的营养制剂能提高血浆氨基酸浓度并有利于创伤的恢复     

细叶小羽藓营养成分的测定分析

该研究以细叶小羽藓为材料,测定了基本营养成分总糖、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、灰分的含量,采用气相色谱、氨基酸自动分析仪分别检测了脂肪酸和氨基酸的组分含量,并通过化学分析法和扫描电镜明确了细叶小羽藓矿质元素含量及分布情况。结果表明:细叶小羽藓中主要成分是糖类,占16.11%,粗蛋白质、灰分含量分别为11.20%、23.34%。氨基酸组成均衡,必需氨基酸(EAA)占氨基酸总量(TAA)的27.70%,必需氨基酸与非必需氨基酸的比值(EAA/NEAA)为0.38;限制性氨基酸为组氨酸,比值系数分(SRC)为12.96;药用氨基酸占总氨基酸的62.12%;天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、精氨酸、亮氨酸等含量相对较高。不饱和脂肪酸与饱和脂肪酸的比值为0.74,不饱和脂肪酸花生四烯酸(AA)和二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)相对含量较高。富含矿物质,茎叶元素均匀分布,其中Al、Ca、Fe、K、Mg等元素含量很高。综上认为,细叶小羽藓是一种含糖量较多、矿质丰富、低脂、低蛋白的苔藓,作为生物资源具有开发潜力。     

在低蛋白质饲料中补充必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响

为了研究在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响,根据鱼体的必需氨基酸组成模式设计了7种等能的试验饲料。其中4种饲料（45CP、40CP、35CP和30CP）的粗蛋白质水平分别为45%、40%、35%和30%,另3种饲料（40AA、35AA和30AA）是在低蛋白质饲料（40CP、35CP和30CP）的基础上添加必需氨基酸,使它们的必需氨基酸含量与45CP（对照组）相一致。用上述饲料对初始体重为（10.13 0.01） g的大口黑鲈进行了89d的饲养试验。饲养试验在室内循环水养殖系统中进行,每种饲料设3个重复,每重复放养30尾鱼。方差分析显示:试验鱼的生长性能、饲料效率、全鱼和肌肉的粗蛋白质含量、成活率以及免疫指标均随着饲料蛋白质含量的降低而显著降低（P0.05）。添加必需氨基酸的35AA和30AA的饲料效率和蛋白质保留率分别显著高于对应的未添加必需氨基酸的35CP和30CP组（P0.05）,但仍显著低于45CP组（P0.05）。40AA的试验鱼血清溶菌酶活性和血清补体活性与45CP组差异不显著（P0.05）。35AA和30AA组的头肾白细胞呼吸爆发活性显著高于35CP和30CP组（P0.05）。30AA组的全鱼粗蛋白质含量以及肥满度显著高于30CP（P0.05）。各组试验鱼的水分和灰分均无显著差异（P0.05）。回归分析显示:在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈幼鱼的生长、饲料效率和蛋白质保留率所产生的影响与其引起增加了的饲料蛋白质水平而不是饲料的必需氨基酸水平正相关。研究表明,在低蛋白质饲料中补充的晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈的生长、体组成和免疫指标产生的有益作用不及等量的以蛋白质为来源的必需氨基酸。       

猪苓营养菌丝与栽培菌核蛋白质成分的分析

对猪苓(Polyporus umbellate)营养菌丝与栽培菌核中蛋白质的氨基酸种类及含量进行了测定。结果表明,猪苓营养菌丝中各物质质量分数是:粗蛋白325.9g·kg-1,必需氨基酸总量34.924 g·kg-1,氨基酸总量91.956 g·kg-1;栽培菌核中各物质质量分数是:粗蛋白49.1 g·kg-1,必需氨基酸总量8.465 g·kg-1,氨基酸总量35.847 g·kg-1。营养菌丝中所含粗蛋白、氨基酸的量显著高于栽培菌核中粗蛋白、氨基酸的量。     

蛋白核小球藻粉中氨基酸含量及饲用价值分析

测定了蛋白核小球藻粉的蛋白质含量及18种氨基酸组分,用氨基酸分(AAS)、必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)等指标对蛋白核小球藻粉氨基酸营养进行评价。结果表明：蛋白核小球藻粉粗蛋白和必需氨基酸含量高,是一种优良的饲料蛋白源。     

茶叶氨基酸的研究进展

<正> 氨基酸(Amino acid,AA)是茶叶中主要化学成分之一,茶叶中AA的含量与组成对茶叶品质有重要作用,并且也有一定的营养价值及药理功效。一、茶叶中蛋白质和氨基酸的特点茶叶中蛋白质(protein,Pr)高达15～     

圈养大熊猫粘液水解氨基酸含量的初步研究

收集了成都大熊猫繁育研究基地的 8只圈养大熊猫的 12个粘液样品并测定了其中 17种水解氨基酸(AA)的含量。结果如下 :粘液干物质中Glu含量最高 ,为 9 2 4 %± 0 4 7% ,其次为Leu、Asn、Thr、Ser、Pro、Val、Lys、Ala、Tyr、Arg、Gly、Ile、Phe、Cys、His,Met含量 (1 2 5 %± 0 18% )最低 ,不同样品中同一种AA的含量不同。样品中 9种非必需氨基酸 (NEAA)的总平均含量为 4 1 1%± 2 2 % ,8种必需氨基酸(EAA)的总平均含量为 2 9 8%± 1 8% ,NEAA/EAA的平均值为 1 38± 0 0 4 ,不同粘液样品的这些数值相近。不同样品中同一种EAA与该样品中Lys含量的比值存在不同程度的差异 ,样品中 (Tyr Phe) /Lys值最高 ,为1 79± 0 31;其次为Leu/Lys和Thr/Lys;而Met/Lys值最低 ,为 0 31± 0 0 5。各种氨基酸相对于总氨基酸含量的高低顺序与各AA绝对含量高低顺序完全相同 ,Glu含量最高为 13 0 %± 0 30 % ,Met含量为 1 76 %±0 2 5 %。结果表明 ,大熊猫粘液样品各种AA特别是EAA含量丰富 ,不同样品含量存在不同程度的差异 ;认为对排粘频繁和每次排粘量大的大熊猫 ,必须补充适量的优质蛋白以弥补由粘液排泄而造成的损失 ,以促进其体况的尽快恢复。     

Evaluating standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in growing pigs

The ileal digestibility coefficient (CSID) of amino acids (AA) and crude protein (CP) in 40 feedstuffs for growing pigs were determined with the protein-free (PF) and enzyme-hydrolyzed casein (EHC) methods. The 40 feedstuffs that were used earlier were 10 samples of cereals and cereal by-products, 12 samples of legumes, 6 samples of animal protein feedstuff and 12 samples of oil seed meals. Six growing pigs (initial body weight of 35 ± 1.5 kg), fitted with T-cannula at the terminal ileum, were randomly allocated to either a PF or a EHC diet according to a crossover design during two ileal digesta collection periods. In each period, pigs were adjusted to the experimental diets for 5 days. On days 6 and 8, ileal digesta were collected continuously for 24 h to determine ileal endogenous AA and CP losses. Pigs fed the EHC diet had a higher ileal flow of endogenous CP and of most of AA (P<0.05) than pigs fed the PF diet. Among the ileal endogenous AA flows (g/kg dry matter intake for pigs), methionine excretion was the lowest in pigs (0.09 and 0.25 g/kg dry matter intake) fed the PF and EHC diet, respectively, whereas glutamate (1.83 g/kg dry matter intake) and proline (1.22 g/kg dry material intake) excretion were the highest in pigs fed the EHC and the PF diet, respectively. Endogenous losses of CP and AA determined in the current study and previously published data on apparent ileal digestibility [Yin, Y.L., Huang, R.L., Zhong, H.Y., Chen, C.M., Li, T.J., Pan, Y.F., 1993. Nutritive value of feedstuffs and diets for pigs: 1. Chemical composition, apparent ileal and fecal digestibilities. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 44, 1–27] were used to calculate CSID coefficients. For most cereals and cereal by-products, the CSID coefficients of CP determined by the EHC method were higher than those determined by the PF method. Arginine, lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine, proline and serine in some cereals and cereal by-products; methionine, valine, alanine and proline in some legumes; and methionine, alaline and proline in some oilseed meals had higher CSID determined by the EHC method than the PF method indicating that there are methodological differences when evaluating the CSID of feed ingredients.     

Reducing the CP content in broiler feeds: impact on animal performance,meat quality and nitrogen utilization

Reducing the dietary CP content is an efficient way to limit nitrogen excretion in broilers but, as reported in the literature, it often reduces performance, probably because of an inadequate provision in amino acids (AA). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of decreasing the CP content in the diet on animal performance, meat quality and nitrogen utilization in growing-finishing broilers using an optimized dietary AA profile based on the ideal protein concept. Two experiments (1 and 2) were performed using 1-day-old PM3 Ross male broilers (1520 and 912 for experiments 1 and 2, respectively) using the minimum AA:Lys ratios proposed by Mack et al. with modifications for Thr and Arg. The digestible Thr (dThr): dLys ratio was increased from 63% to 68% and the dArg:dLys ratio was decreased from 112% to 108%. In experiment 1, the reduction of dietary CP from 19% to 15% (five treatments) did not alter feed intake or BW, but the feed conversion ratio was increased for the 16% and 15% CP diets (+2.4% and +3.6%, respectively), while in experiment 2 (three treatments: 19%, 17.5% and 16% CP) there was no effect of dietary CP on performance. In both experiments, dietary CP content did not affect breast meat yield. However, abdominal fat content (expressed as a percentage of BW) was increased by the decrease in CP content (up to +0.5 and +0.2 percentage point, in experiments 1 and 2, respectively). In experiment 2, meat quality traits responded to dietary CP content with a higher ultimate pH and lower lightness and drip loss values for the low CP diets. Nitrogen retention efficiency increased when reducing CP content in both experiments (+3.5 points/CP percentage point). The main consequence of this higher efficiency was a decrease in nitrogen excretion (−2.5 g N/kg BW gain) and volatilization (expressed as a percentage of excretion: −5 points/CP percentage point). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that with an adapted AA profile, it is possible to reduce dietary CP content to at least 17% in growing-finishing male broilers, without altering animal performance and meat quality. Such a feeding strategy could therefore help improving the sustainability of broiler production as it is an efficient way to reduce environmental burden associated with nitrogen excretion.     

Determination of Apparent Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Rapeseed Meal and Cake Processed at Different Temperatures Using the Direct and Difference Method with Growing Pigs

Studies were conducted with ten barrows, average initial body weight 34.5 ± 2.1kg, fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum, to study the accuracy of determination of the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) values of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in rapeseed meal and cake and the effects of processing, using the difference method. Five corn starch-based diets in the studies were formulated to contain 17.7% CP and based on soybean meal, prepress-extraction rapeseed meal, prepress-extraction rapeseed meal plus soybean meal, high-temperature press rapeseed cake plus soybean meal, or low-temperature press rapeseed cake plus soybean meal as the sole source of dietary protein. The design was an incomplete Latin Square involving two three-week periods and five-treatments. It was found that the AID values of CP and most AA determined with the difference or direct method were significantly lower in rapeseed meal or cakes than soybean meal. The AID values of CP and most AA in prepress-extraction rapeseed meal, high-temperature press or low-temperature cakes determined with the difference method were no difference from those in prepress-extraction rapeseed meal determined with the direct method. The AID values of CP and AA in rapeseed meal and cake determined with the difference method were accurate, when the contribution of CP and AA from rapeseed was more than 50%. The AID values of CP and AA (especially lysine) were lower in the high-temperature press rapeseed cake than in the low-temperature press cake or the prepress-extraction meal.     

Prediction of the digestible crude protein and protein digestibility of feed ingredients for rabbits from chemical analysis

Ninety-five data of individual feedstuffs, for which information on chemical analyses and crude protein digestibility (CPD) was available, were subject to sequential multiple linear regression analysis employing CPD and digestible crude protein (DCP) as dependent variables and chemical analysis as independent variables. The feedstuffs were classed separately into dry forages (n=26), cereals and cereal by-products (n=29), protein concentrates (n=18) and by-products (n=22) groups. The procedure followed in each of the groups was to utilize: (1) the feedstuffs in which the Van Soest fiber and the Weende analysis were simultaneously available, and (2) all feedstuffs with data of the variables selected in the first step. The CP content was the best single predictor of the DCP content of feeds, the best equation in terms of R² was obtained in the total group: DCP (g kg⁻¹)=−34.67+0.876×CP (g kg⁻¹), R²=0.948, RSD=7.36, n=93. The addition of the ash content to sequential analysis improved the accuracy of DCP prediction, increasing the R² up to 0.960. Acid detergent fiber was the second independent variable selected in the cereals and by-products groups, the R² obtained was, respectively, higher (0.969) and lower (0.895) than that of general equation. The correlations among the independent variables employed and CPD were low. Only when in the total group the nitrogen linked to acid detergent fiber (N–ADF) measurement was included as independent variable (n=11) a high R² (0.905) was obtained. The N–ADF content that included the heat-damaged protein and the nitrogen associated with lignin could be adequate to estimate the indigestible protein content of feeds. However, more data points would be necessary to confirm its accuracy, taking into account the non-uniformity in the distribution of current data.     

Dietary Intakes and Health Risk of Toxic and Essential Heavy Metals through the Food Chain in Agricultural,Industrial, and Coal Mining Areas of Northern India

Minerals can enter the food chain through industrial and mining activities. Soil-to-vegetable transfer is higher than soil-to-cereal, but human consumption of metals is attributable to balanced diets containing both vegetables and cereals and drinking water. However, the impact of location on intakes of metals from predominantly cereal-based Indian diets is not clear. Hence, the present study was undertaken in selected Agricultural, Industrial, and Coal Mining Areas (AA, IA, CMA) around the Allahabad District in Northern India to compare transfer of toxic metals, Pb, Cd, Cr and essential metals, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co in soil and water to common crops: cereals (rice, wheat, maize) and vegetables (spinach, potato), and to assess Daily Intake of Metal (DIM) and consequent Health Risk Index (HRI). The overall content of all metals, except Cu, in water, soils, and crops followed the pattern CMA > IA > AA. Transfer factors (TFs) followed the sequence spinach > potato > cereals. Quantitatively, however, cereals contribute maximally to a balanced diet, so DIM and HRI were higher from cereals than vegetables. Even though spinach had the highest TFs, cereals contributed maximally to HRI. CMA had the highest metal content so locally grown cereals contributed significantly to intake of both toxic and essential metals.     

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in eight genotypes of barley fed to growing pigs

To determine chemical composition, physical characteristics and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and amino acids (AA) in eight current hulled barley genotypes, an experiment with growing pigs has been conducted. These genotypes included Yool, Campanile, Lomerit, Travira, Anisette, Canberra, Metaxa and Fridericus. Growing barrows with an average initial BW of 30±2 kg were surgically fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum, and allotted to an 8×9 Youden square design with eight periods of 6 days each and nine pigs. Barley was the sole dietary source of CP and AA. On average, the eight genotypes contained on as-fed basis 10.7% CP, 15.2% total non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), 17.1% NDF and 4.1% β-glucan, and had a mean test weight (TW) of 72.2 kg/hl. The SID of CP in the barley genotypes varied from 69% to 74%, and was greater (P<0.01) for genotypes Travira, Anisette and Metaxa compared to Yool and Campanile. Standardized ileal digestibility of Lys, Met and Trp (P<0.05) but not of Thr differed between genotypes. Moreover, barley genotypes differed in their standardized ileal digestible content (cSID) of CP and AA. Furthermore, SID and cSID of CP and most AA linearly decreased (P<0.05) with increasing NDF and total sugar content. Standardized ileal digestibility of CP and some AA and cSID of CP and most AA decreased linearly with increasing TW (P<0.05). Additionally, SID and cSID of CP and AA of most barley genotypes were lower when compared to tabulated values. In conclusion, a comprehensive database on chemical composition and SID of CP and AA in eight current barley genotypes has been made available. However, as present SID values are lower compared to feed tables, adjustments are required to minimize the risk of overestimating the actual protein value of barley for pigs.     

In situ intestinal digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of cereal grains and rapeseed in sheep

The ruminal degradation and intestinal digestibility (ID) of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of different feed samples were measured in two trials by using nylon bag and rumen outflow rate techniques in three wethers cannulated in the rumen and in the duodenum. In trial 1, three samples of grains of wheat, barley, and corn treated by cooking (TW, TB, and TC, respectively) were studied together with a sample of untreated corn grains (CG) of different origin. In trial 2, these studies were carried out on a sample of rapeseed (RS) and on a mix of this same sample and rapeseed meal (in proportions 70:30) treated by cooking (TR). In both trials, the animals were fed at the same intake level (40 g DM x kg(-1) LW0.75) with 2:1 (DM basis) forage to concentrate diets. Rumen degradation rates of DM were high in the treated cereals (between 11.0 and 14.2% x h(-1)) and low in the CG (6.35% x h(-1)), whereas for CP these rates were low in all cereals. For DM, in all cereals, ID decreased linearly as the ruminal incubation time increased. The values of intestinal effective digestibility (IED), calculated from these functions and from the rumen outflow, were respectively: 86.4, 62.1, 51.5, and 67.9%. For CP, ID was unaffected by the ruminal incubation time in corn samples, whereas in TW and TB a reduction of these values was only observed for the time of 48 h. The values of IED of CP for CG, TW, TB and TC were: 82.6, 88.9,82.5, and 91.6%, respectively. Rumen degradation rates of the RS and TR samples were 8.35 and 8.23% x h(-1) for DM and 12.0 and 9.59% x h(-1) for CP. In RS, the ID of DM and CP showed a downward trend with an increase of the ruminal incubation time, as modelled according to an exponential function. This same trend was observed for TR after a lag period estimated at 7.53 and 6.51 h for DM and CP, respectively. The values of IED of RS and TR were respectively 56.5 and 50.8% for DM and 71.9 and 80.1% for CP. These same results were also determined by a simplified method using a sample pooled to be representative of the rumen outflow of undegraded feed. The respective values for RS and TR were 54.8 and 51.6 for DM and 65.8 and 78.9% for CP. This method seems to be a promising technique to estimate IED, although more studies are needed to improve its accuracy.     

Arachidonic acid mediates non-capacitative calcium entry evoked by CB1-cannabinoid receptor activation in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells

Cannabinoid CB1-receptor stimulation in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells induces a rise in [Ca2+]i, which is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and modulated by thapsigargin-sensitive stores, suggesting capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), and by MAP kinase. Non-capacitative Ca2+ entry (NCCE) stimulated by arachidonic acid (AA) partly mediates histamine H1-receptor-evoked increases in [Ca2+]i in DDT1 MF-2 cells. In the current study, both Ca2+ entry mechanisms and a possible link between MAP kinase activation and increasing [Ca2+]i were investigated. In the whole-cell patch clamp configuration, the CB-receptor agonist CP 55, 940 evoked a transient, Ca2+-dependent K+ current, which was not blocked by the inhibitors of CCE, 2-APB, and SKF 96365. AA, but not its metabolites, evoked a transient outward current and inhibited the response to CP 55,940 in a concentration-dependent manner. CP 55,940 induced a concentration-dependent release of AA, which was inhibited by the CB1 antagonist SR 141716. The non-selective Ca2+ channel blockers La3+ and Gd3+ inhibited the CP 55,940-induced current at concentrations that had no effect on thapsigargin-evoked CCE. La3+ also inhibited the AA-induced current. CP 55,940-induced AA release was abolished by Gd3+ and by phospholipase A2 inhibition using quinacrine; this compound also inhibited the outward current. The CP 55,940-induced AA release was strongly reduced by the MAP kinase inhibitor PD 98059. The data suggest that in DDT1 MF-2 cells, AA is an integral component of the CB1 receptor signaling pathway, upstream of NCCE and, via PLA2, downstream of MAP kinase.     

In vitro prediction of standardised ileal crude protein and amino acid digestibilities in grain legumes for growing pigs

The study was conducted to validate in vitro prediction of standardised ileal digestibilities (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in grain legumes for growing pigs using six different cultivars of faba beans (Vicia faba), six different cultivars of field peas (Pisum sativum), and five different cultivars of lupins (Lupinus spp.). The SID for CP and AA were predicted from in vitro analysis by means of a two-step enzymatic method using pepsin and pancreatin incubations. In vitro predicted SID values of CP and AA were generally higher than the corresponding SID values measured in vivo. There were strong linear relationships (r2 = 0.73 for Lys to r2 = 0.91 for Cys and Trp) between in vivo and in vitro predicted SID values in the assay feed ingredients if grain legume species (i.e. faba beans, field peas and lupins) was included as a covariate in multiple linear regression analysis. However, to rapidly and accurately predict SID of CP and AA in individual batches of various feed ingredients, further studies are warranted.     

Estimates of dietary threshold levels for crude protein and amino acids to obtain plateau values of apparent ileal crude protein and amino acid digestibilities in newly weaned pigs

This study was conducted to estimate dietary threshold levels for crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) at which apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of CP and AA in assay diets for newly weaned pigs reach plateaus. A total of 14 (12 + 2 for replacement) three-week old barrows were fitted with simple T cannulas at the distal ileum. Corn starch-based diets containing six graded levels of CP from casein, 90, 155, 220, 285, 350, or 415 g CP/kg assay diet (as-fed), were formulated. At 28 days of age, the pigs were randomly allocated to the six dietary treatments with two pigs per CP level in four weekly repeated measurement periods. They were fed twice daily a total of 30 g (as-fed) per kg of individual body weight at 8:00 and 20:00 h. The dietary CP and AA levels affected AID of CP and most AA (p = 0.005 to p = 0.040) in the assay diets. The AID of CP and AA were higher at 155 and 220 compared to 90 g CP/kg assay diet (p < 0.001 to p = 0.047). Initially, the AID of CP and AA increased sharply then gradually reached, at individual break points (p < 0.001 to p = 0.047), their plateaus (p < 0.001), which did not change up to dietary CP levels of 415 g/kg assay diet and the AID values became independent of the dietary AA levels. The piglets' capacity to digest CP and absorb AA was not limiting under these experimental conditions. There was no effect of age on AID of CP and AA (p = 0.056 to p = 0.899) except for a linear increase (p = 0.045) in AID of glycine from Period 1 to 4. Segmented quadratic with plateau relationships between the AID of CP and AA and their dietary contents were fitted for CP and each AA. The lower end points of 95% confidence intervals of the plateau AID values were defined to represent the initial plateau AID. The dietary CP and AA contents, corresponding to the initial plateau AID values, represent the dietary threshold levels. For CP and the indispensable amino acids, the plateau AID [%] and the dietary threshold levels [g/kg DM], respectively, in casein were: CP, 94.2 and 176; arginine, 95.1 and 7; histidine, 96.0 and 5; isoleucine, 96.4 and 8; leucine, 96.8 and 16; lysine, 96.8 and 12; methionine, 97.9 and 5; phenylalanine, 96.2 and 10; threonine, 93.4 and 9; tryptophan, 94.3 and 2; valine, 95.9 and 11. For the determination of plateau AID in piglets, the crude protein and amino acid contents in the assay diets should meet or exceed the corresponding dietary threshold levels.