Prevalence and identity of coccidia in pen-raised wild turkeys

One hundred nineteen pen-raised wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from 12 locations in nine states in the United States were examined for coccidia by sugar flotation of intestinal contents and mucosa or by subinoculating the contents into uninfected domestic turkeys. Seventy-eight (66%) of the turkeys were positive for coccidia. There were no differences in the frequency of coccidia among adult, sub-adult or juvenile turkeys. More females (75%) were infected than males (48%). The species of coccidia from 30 of the turkeys were identified based on microscopic examination of oocysts, fresh scrapings, stained sections and inoculations of bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). The frequency of each species was Eimeria meleagrimitis (97%), E. gallopavonis (47%), E. meleagridis (27%), E. dispersa (17%), E. innocua-E. subrotunda (13%), E. adenoeides (7%) and an undescribed species (3%). Of the 30 turkeys in which the species of coccidia was determined, 30% had a single species infection, 40% had two species, 20% had three species and 10% had four species.     

Structural adaptations of the femur and humerus to arboreal and terrestrial environments in three species of macaque

One reason to measure cross-sectional structural properties of primate long bones is to define mechanically relevant complexes of traits that describe the adaptation of bone to different biomechanical environments. This can be effectively accomplished when congeneric species having different postural and locomotor behaviors are compared. This paper compares the cross-sectional geometry of the femur and humerus in three behaviorally different macaque species as a basis for defining such patterns. Cross-sectional moments of inertia in the standard anatomical planes were calculated at five locations along the diaphyses of the femur and humerus in Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina, and M. mulatta. The data suggest that the "barrel-shaped" femur is associated with behaviors for which long limbs and small body size are an asset. This may be associated with, but is not restricted to, leaping behaviors. The data also suggest that structural rigidity of the femur and humerus is greater per unit body weight in primates that spend significant amounts of time in terrestrial environments than in those that are more restricted to climbing in arboreal environments.     

Indirekte Regelmechanismen der Stoffwechselgröße von Fischen

Metabolic rate does not strictly follow changes of influencing parameters. O₂-consumption by fish is ordinarily said to be independent from O₂-pressure throughout a wide range. This constancy is probably the result of a regulation. The metabolic rate itself or an auxiliary mechanism “before” or “after” metabolism may be regulated. On the basis of vanDam's paper (1938) and our own experiments, the problem whether or not O₂-pressure in blood serves as a regulated auxiliary mechanism in order to maintain a certain metabolic constancy is discussed. The disadvantage of such a regulation would be the energy demand of increased ventilation and circulation as compensating mechanisms. In accordance with this assumption we have found a rise in O₂-consumption at a somewhat reduced O₂-pressure. Locomotory behaviour supports the constancy of metabolic rate; thus a contrary shift of the temperature preferendum after application of substances which influence metabolism has been found.     

Structures of poly(dA-dT, ip5dU) containing various small amounts of the antiherpetic 5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine.

Three different concentrations of the antiherpetic agent 5-isopropyl-2'-deoxyuridine (ip5dU) were introduced into the synthetic DNA poly(dA-dT) to analyze resulting copolymers by electron microscopy, UV absorption and CD spectroscopy. The poly(dA-dT, ip5dU) containing 1.3 and 4.3% ip5dU did not much differ from the parent poly(dA-dT) but poly (dA-dT, ip5dU) with 7.1% ip5dU behaved in an unusual way. Results are explained by the notion that if bulky isopropyls occur sufficiently close to each other then stable hairpins protruding from the double helix are formed, presumably to accommodate the ip5dU-s into the loops.     

Effect of hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] on propionate and carnitine metabolism in the rat.

The administration in vivo of the cobalamin analogue hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] inhibits hepatic L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity. The current studies characterize in vivo and in vitro the hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam]-treated rat as a model of disordered propionate and methylmalonic acid metabolism. Treatment of rats with hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] (2 micrograms/h by osmotic minipump) increased urinary methylmalonic acid excretion from 0.55 mumol/day to 390 mumol/day after 2 weeks. Hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] treatment was associated with increased urinary propionylcarnitine excretion and increased short-chain acylcarnitine concentrations in plasma and liver. Hepatocytes isolated from cobalamin-analogue-treated rats metabolized propionate (1.0 mM) to CO2 and glucose at rates which were only 18% and 1% respectively of those observed in hepatocytes from control (saline-treated) rats. In contrast, rates of pyruvate and palmitate oxidation were higher than control in hepatocytes from the hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam]-treated rats. In hepatocytes from hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam]-treated rats, propionylcarnitine was the dominant product generated from propionate when carnitine (10 mM) was present. The addition of carnitine thus resulted in a 4-fold increase in total propionate utilization under these conditions. Hepatocytes from hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam]-treated rats were more sensitive than control hepatocytes to inhibition of palmitate oxidation by propionate. This inhibition of palmitate oxidation was partially reversed by addition of carnitine. Thus hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] treatment in vivo rapidly causes a severe defect in propionate metabolism. The consequences of this metabolic defect in vivo and in vitro are those predicted on the basis of propionyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA accumulation. The cobalamin-analogue-treated rat provides a useful model for studying metabolism under conditions of a metabolic defect causing acyl-CoA accretion.     

SSCP analysis of the tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor gene: Polymorphisms detected in South African black and white subjects

The frequency of DNA polymorphisms in the tyrosine kinase domain (exons 17–21) of the insulin receptor gene was assessed in 30 black and 30 white South Africans, using single-stranded conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing analysis. A comparison of the frequencies of the normal versus the combined polymorphic alleles, found only in exon 17, showed a significant difference between black and white groups (P = 0.037). Received: 25 May 1995 / Revised: 1 September 1995     

Hand dominance and bilateral asymmetry in the structure of the second metacarpal

Bilateral asymmetry in the structure of the second metacarpal was examined in relation to functional hand dominance in a large, clinically nonselected, healthy population sample from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Bilateral bone measurements were made from anteroposterior hand radiographs of a total of 992 individuals, 609 males and 383 females, with an age range of 19–94 years. Hand dominance was determined on the basis of personal impression. Total width and medullary width at the midshaft of the second metacarpal were measured to 0.05 mm using a Helios caliper. These two measurements were used to derive cortical thickness, cortical bone area, periosteal (total) area, medullary area, percent cortical area, and the second moment of area in the mediolateral plane. In both right and left-handed individuals, statistically significant side differences were found in the calculated bone areas and the second moment of area, with the dominant hand being larger. Cortical thickness did not show significant side-related differences for either handedness. These results show that functional handedness leads to periosteal and endosteal expansion of the second metacarpal cortex on the dominant side, increasing bone strength without increasing cortical thickness. This is the first time this pattern of asymmetry has been reported in left-handers as well as right-handers. Our results argue for the primacy of environmental (mechanical) effects in determining bilateral asymmetry of limb bone structural properties. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Alpha-thrombin stimulates nuclear diglyceride levels and differential nuclear localization of protein kinase C isozymes in IIC9 cells.

The mechanism by which an agonist, binding to a cell surface receptor, exerts an effect on events in the nucleus is not known. We have previously shown (Leach, K. L., Ruff, V. A., Wright, T. M., Pessin, M. S., and Raben, D. M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 3215-3221) that alpha-thrombin treatment of IIC9 cells results in increased levels of cellular 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we have examined whether changes in nuclear PKC and nuclear DAG also are induced following alpha-thrombin treatment. IIC9 cells were treated with 500 ng/ml alpha-thrombin, and nuclei were then isolated. Western blot analysis using isozyme-specific antibodies demonstrated the presence of PKC alpha, but not PKC epsilon or zeta in the nuclei of cells treated with either phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or alpha-thrombin. The increase in nuclear PKC alpha levels was accompanied by a 10-fold increase in nuclear PKC specific activity and stimulated phosphorylation of at least six nuclear proteins. The rise in nuclear PKC levels occurred rapidly and reached a maximum at 30-60 s, which was followed by a decline back to the control level over the next 15 min. In addition, alpha-thrombin treatment resulted in an immediate rise in DAG mass levels in the nuclear fractions. Kinetic analysis indicated that a maximum increase in DAG levels occurred 2.5-5 min after the addition of alpha-thrombin and remained elevated for at least 30 min. In cells labeled with [3H]myristic acid, alpha-thrombin treatment induced an increase in radiolabeled nuclear diglycerides, suggesting that the stimulated nuclear DAGs are derived, at least in part, from phosphatidylcholine. Our results suggest that increases in both nuclear DAG levels and PKC activity following alpha-thrombin treatment may play a role in mediating thrombin-induced nuclear responses such as changes in gene expression and cellular proliferation.     

Articular and diaphyseal remodeling of the proximal femur with changes in body mass in adults.

Proximal femoral dimensions were measured from radiographs of 80 living subjects whose current body weight and body weight at initial skeletal maturity (18 years) could be ascertained. Results generally support the hypothesis that articular size does not change in response to changes in mechanical loading (body weight) in adults, while diaphyseal cross-sectional size does. This can be explained by considering the different bone remodeling constraints characteristic of largely trabecular bone regions (articulations) and largely compact cortical bone regions (diaphyses). The femoral neck shows a pattern apparently intermediate between the two, consistent with its structure. When the additional statistical "noise" created by an essentially static femoral head size is accounted for, the present study supports other studies that have demonstrated rather marked positive allometry in femoral articular and shaft cross-sectional dimensions to body mass among adult humans. Body weight prediction equations developed from these data give reasonable results for modern U.S. samples, with average percent prediction errors of about 10%-16% for individual weights and about 2% for sample mean weights using the shaft dimension equations. When predicting body weight from femoral head size in earlier human samples, a downward correction factor of about 10% is suggested to account for the increased adiposity of very recent U.S. adults.     

Effect of coccidiosis on blood coagulation in broilers

Severe infection with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria necatrix, and Eimeria tenella increased the prothrombin times in broilers compared with the times in uninfected birds. Recalcification time was not affected. The increase in prothrombin time was related to the severity of infection (as measured by lesion score), and was significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) only in the most severely infected birds. The increase was of short duration, lasting only 1 or 2 days, and first appeared on day 5 or 6 postinoculation. Restricting the feed intake of uninoculated birds to the amount of feed consumed by infected birds showed that the reduction in feed intake with coccidiosis was not responsible for the increase in prothrombin time.