Biochemical polymorphisms in goats with special reference to the Hungarian Native breed

Biochemical polymorphisms (haemoglobin, serum transferrin, serum albumin, serum amylase, red cell phosphohexose isomerase, red cell carbonic anhydrase, ceruloplasmin and aryl esterase) of 224 Hungarian Native female goats and 21 imported male goats (German Improved, Saanen, Nubian, Slovakian White) have been studied. On the basis of the observed gene frequency values these polymorphic traits cannot be used efficiently in parentage control work or in correlation studies. There was no apparent association between the haemoglobin and transferrin type of the females and their reproductive performance.     

Genetic polymorphism in Spanish Merino sheep

A Spanish Merino sheep population is characterized, for the first time, according to its frequencies for a total of nine polymorphic loci: three blood group factor systems, A, B and C, and the following red cell or serum polymorphisms: haemoglobin (Hb), carbonic anhydrase (CA), 'X protein', transferrin (Tf), arylesterase (EsA) and albumin (Al). Another locus, amylase (Am), did not show polymorphism.     

Transferrin binding capacity as a marker of differentiation and maturation of rat erythroid cells fractionated by counter current distribution in aqueous polymer two-phase systems

Rat bone marrow cell populations, containing different proportions of erythroid cells, have been fractionated by counter-current distribution in the non-charge-sensitive dextran/polyethyleneglycol two-phase systems on the basis of hydrophobic cell surface properties. Cell fractions with a low distribution coefficient, which contain non-erythroid cells and early erythoblasts, showed a low transferrin binding capacity and a low haemoglobin/cell ratio whereas cell fractions with a high distribution coefficient, which contain intermediate-late erythroblasts and mature red cells, showed an elevated transferrin binding capacity and the highest haemoglobin/cell ratio. These results support transferrin binding capacity as a good marker parameter for the erythroid bone marrow cell differentiation and maturation processes.     

Red cell distribution width and erythrocyte osmotic stability in type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between red cell distribution width (RDW) and erythrocyte osmotic stability in non-diabetic and diabetic individuals in both sexes. The study sample (N = 122) was constituted by 53 type 2 diabetics (DM) and 69 non-diabetics (ND), being 21 and 22 men in each group, respectively. The osmotic stability of erythrocytes was obtained by the variation in saline concentration (dX) capable of determining hypoosmotic lysis. Higher RDW values and lower serum iron concentrations were found in the diabetic group when compared to the non-diabetic volunteers. In the group of diabetic women, RDW was positively correlated with the reticulocyte index, and both RDW and dX were negatively correlated with iron, haemoglobin, transferrin saturation index, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. In all the groups studied, RDW was positively correlated with dX, especially in the diabetic group, where the correlation was the strongest. RDW elevation in both women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with decreased serum iron indicators. Furthermore, RDW has a similar meaning to dX, as small erythrocytes have less haemoglobin, resulting in both an increase of RDW and dX.     

Genetic relationship among Mongolian native goat populations estimated by blood protein polymorphism

Several local strains and populations of goats distinguished by morphogenetic and performance characteristics are kept by goat breeders in different natural climatic regions of Mongolia, namely Bayandelger, Ulgii Red, Erchim Black, Dorgon and Zavkhan Buural. The genetic relationships among eight native goat populations in Mongolia at 33 biochemical genetic loci was assessed. A total of 440 animals in eight regional zones were studied. Twelve loci, i.e. the serum transferrin, serum amylase, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum prealbumin-3, cell esterase-D, hemoglobin (Hb) β, hemoglobin (Hb) α-II, cell peptidase-B, cell tetrazolium oxidase, cell esterase-1, cell esterase-2 and cell catalase loci, were found to be polymorphic. The data indicated that Mongolian native goats are not highly differentiated (D=0.0002–0.0038) genetically. To set Mongolian native goats in a larger context, the present data were compared with those on other goat breeds and populations in east and southeast Asia that were previously reported. The average heterozygosity in the Mongolian native goats did not significantly differ from those in other Asian goat populations and breeds. A phylogenetic tree of the gene constitution of the Mongolian native goats and other Asian goat breeds and populations was constructed and revealed that genetically the Mongolian native goats had diverged slightly from the group consisting of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indonesian native goats, but markedly from the Indian goat group.     

Genetic heterogeneity among the Negroid and Arab tribes of the Sudan

Genetic distance analysis was carried out among seven tribes of the Sudan comprising three Negroid (Nuba, Fur, and Nilotes) and four Arab tribes (Beja, Gaalin, Hawazma, and Messeria) on the basis of six polymorphic loci (ABO and Rhesus blood groups; haemoglobin and red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; serum haptoglobin and transferrin polymorphisms) controlling 21 alleles and compared with the Arab and Negroid populations in neighbouring countries. The Nuba and Nilotes have been found to have Negroid genetic characteristics, while the Fur are intermediate between the Arabs and Negroids. The Beja and Gaalin tribes have more pronounced Arab genetic characteristics than the Hawazma and Messeria, who have a great deal of Negroid admixture.     

Search for genetic variation in the blood of Norwegian dairy goats reveals a new polymorphism at the HbβA locus

A total of 150 blood samples tested for serum albumin and transferrin and for red cell carbonic anhydrase, phosphoglucomutase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphohexose isomerase, nucleoside phosphorylase, acid phosphatase, 'X'-protein and potassium concentration only showed variation at the 'X' protein and nucleoside phosphorylase loci. Isoelectric focusing over pH range 6-8 showed 145 samples to be of haemoglobin type A and 5 type AD. The haemoglobin A type was resolved into further types by separation over pH 6.9-7.5 in Immobiline polyacrylamide gels. A 2- or 4-band pattern was present in 136 of the samples; a genetic hypothesis based on four or more different haemoglobin A variants is proposed. 14 samples had a 3-, 5- or 6-band pattern. It is assumed that these are heterozygous for a variant of the II alpha gene.     

Blood groups and biochemical polymorphism in the Namaqua sheep breed

Summary. The Namaqua is an indigenous fat-tailed African breed of sheep which has remained relatively isolated and which at one time dwindled to near extinction. Frequency data are given for blood group antigens, red cell glutathione and potassium types, for electrophoretic variants of red cell haemoglobin, 'X' protein, nucleoside phosphorylase, NADH-diaphorase, lysine and carbonic anhydrase and of plasma esterase, transferrin and albumin. Of particular interest was the occurrence of the i blood group, a bimodal distribution in red cell glutathione concentrations and red cell potassium concentrations of around 57 mmo1/1 cells, i.e. neither typically LK nor HK type.     

Relationships between the bovine major histocompatibility system and commonly recognized erythrocyte and serum polymorphisms

Linkage at a recombination frequency of 0.10 or less between the bovine major histocompatibility system and the B, C and L red blood cell groups and the albumin, haemoglobin and transferrin loci was excluded by Morton's lod score method. The white blood cell antigen CA19, which is independent of the bovine majar histocompatibility system, is the J blood group.     

FV blood group and haemoglobin type versus haematological and blood chemical parameters in young Swiss bulls

A relationship between the FV blood group phenotype and 4 out of 45 haematological and blood chemical parameters — red cell number, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and serum iron — has been demonstrated in young bulls of three Swiss cattle breeds. There was also a relationship between haemoglobin type and 7 out of 45 haematological and blood chemical parameters (haemoglobin concentration, red cell number, MCV, MCHC and red cell concentrations of K⁺ and Na⁺ and their sum). In addition to expanding the species in which there is an effect of haemoglobin phenotype on MCV to include cattle, these data also demonstrate a significant correlation between their FV phenotype and MCV.     

Consequences of 6 weeks of strength training on red cell O2 transport and iron status

Effects of endurance training on O2 transport and on iron status are well documented in the literature. Only a few data are available concerning the consequences of strenuous anaerobic muscular exercise on red cell function. This study was performed to test the influence of strength training alone on parameters of red cell O2 transport and iron status. Twelve healthy untrained males participated in a strength-training programme of 2-h sessions four times a week lasting 6 weeks. After 6 weeks a small but significant reduction of haemoglobin (Hb; -5.4 g.l-1) was found (p less than 0.05). Mean red cell volume did not change, but a pronounced decrease of mean cell Hb concentration (from 329.2 g.l-1, SE 2.5 to 309.8 g.l-1, SE 1.2; p less than 0.001) and mean corpuscular Hb (from 29.6 pg, SE 0.4 to 27.7 pg, SE 0.3; p less than 0.01) was observed. Serum ferritin decreased significantly by 35% (p less than 0.01); transferrin, serum iron and iron saturation of transferrin were unaltered. Serum haptoglobin concentration was diminished significantly by 30.5% (p less than 0.01). The reticulocyte count had already increased after 3 weeks of training (p less than 0.05) and remained elevated during the following weeks. Strength training had no significant influence on the O2 partial pressure at which Hb under standard conditions was 50% saturated, red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP concentration as well as on erythrocytic glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase activity. The data demonstrate that mechanical stress of red cells due to the activation of large muscle masses led to increased intravascular haemolysis, accompanied by a slightly elevated erythropoiesis, which had no detectable influence on Hb-O2 affinity. Training caused an initial depletion of body iron stores (prelatent iron deficiency). Although Hb had decreased by the end of the training phase a true "sports anaemia" could not be detected.     

Blood protein polymorphism in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Sudan

The blood protein polymorphism of serum albumin, haptoglobin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin and haemoglobin have been studied in 135 samples from one-humped Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) of the Sudan by starch gel electrophoresis. Only the serum albumin and haptoglobin systems exhibited polymorphism with the estimated frequencies of 0.0222, 0.2227 and 0.7773 for Alb^v, Hp¹Hp⁰respectively. The frequency of Hp was 0.0325. No electrophoretic variant was observed at transferrin, ceruloplasmin and haemoglobin loci in the camel. The activity of the ceruloplasmin of the camel sera was weak.     

Intestinal iron absorption and mucosal transferrin in rats subjected to hypoxia

Three days hypoxia (0.5 atm) increased the haemoglobin and haematocrit values in rats paralleled by enhanced intestinal iron absorption. The destination of recently-absorbed iron was primarily the erythropoietic system, viz. bone marrow, spleen and red cells. Total plasma transferrin, was increased by 30%, but no significant changes in mucosal transferrin were found. No increase in labelling of mucosal transferrin by absorbed iron was observed. These results suggest that mucosal transferrin does not play a major role in the regulation of intestinal iron absorption in hypoxia.     

FV blood group and haemoglobin type versus haematological and blood chemical parameters in young Swiss bulls

A relationship between the FV blood group phenotype and 4 out of 45 haematological and blood chemical parameters--red cell number, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and serum iron--has been demonstrated in young bulls of three Swiss cattle breeds. There was also a relationship between haemoglobin type and 7 out of 45 haematological and blood chemical parameters (haemoglobin concentration, red cell number, MCV, MCHC and red cell concentrations of K+ and Na+ and their sum). In addition to expanding the species in which there is an effect of haemoglobin phenotype on MCV to include cattle, these data also demonstrate a significant correlation between their FV phenotype and MCV.     

Lactoferrin binding properties of Vibrio cholerae.

The lactoferrin binding properties of Vibrio cholerae, a non-invasive pathogen were investigated. Screening of fifty V. cholerae strains of different serogroups and serotypes, showed that 10% of the V. cholerae strains bound to 125I-labelled lactoferrin, and 40% of the 125I-labelled lactoferrin bound to V. cholerae strain 623 could be displaced by unlabelled lactoferrin. Other iron-binding glycoproteins and ferroproteins like ferritin, transferrin, haemoglobin, and myoglobin inhibited the binding of 125I-lactoferrin to a lesser degree. Monosaccharides (GalNac, Man, Gal, and Fuc), and other glycoproteins such as fetuin and orosomucoid also inhibited the binding to a lesser extent. V. cholerae 623 showed a cell surface associated-proteolytic activity which cleaved off the cell-bound 125I-labelled lactoferrin. The generation of cryptotopes on the V. cholerae cell surface by proteolytic digestion favoured the binding of ferritin, transferrin, haemoglobin, and haemin, as well as Congo red, to cells of V. cholerae 623.     

Studies on the transferrins of goats. 3. Evidence for a third transferrin allele

A new allele Tf ^c in serum transferrin of goats is postulated. It was considered that serum transferrins in goats classified into six phenotypes are genetically controlled by three codominant alleles, Tf ^A, Tf ^B and Tf ^c. Frequencies of Tf ^c were low in native goats in Korea, Philipines and Thailand, and this allele is yet to be observed in other breeds of goats.     

Transferrin and haemoglobin polymorphism in domesticated goats in the USA

The distribution of transferrin (Tf) and haemoglobin (Hb) polymorphisms in five goat breeds in the USA is reported. Two Tf types, A and B, were identified. A significant difference in frequency (P less than 0.05) was observed only between the Spanish and Alpine goats. Haemoglobin beta-globin variants, Hb beta A, Hb beta D and Hb beta E were observed with isoelectric focusing at pH ranges 5-8 and 6.7-7.7. Hb beta D was not found in the Alpine and Angora breeds. Haemoglobin allelic frequencies varied widely and differed significantly (P less than 0.05) among breeds.     

Haematological values in pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria II: Serum iron and transferrin, total and unsaturated iron binding capacity and some red cell and platelet indices

Previous studies on the normal values of serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity, serum transferrin, percent transferrin saturation, red cell distribution width, and various platelet indices: Platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit and platelet larger cell ratio in pregnant subjects in Nigeria are relatively scanty. Present study aims to determine the values of these parameters in apparently healthy pregnant subjects residing in Port Harcourt south eastern Nigeria; and help establish normal reference ranges of these parameters for the population under reference. Cross sectional prospective study involving 220 female subjects attending for the first time, the ante-natal clinics of a tertiary health care facility in Port Harcourt. Subjects were divided into 73, 75 and 72 subjects in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy respectively. Serum iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity, red cell distribution width, platelet count and platelet distribution width were determined by automated methods; total iron binding capacity, serum transferrin concentrations, percent transferrin saturation, mean platelet volume and plateletcrit were calculated using appropriate formulas. The values of serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and serum transferrin concentrations were found to show significant variations between the various trimesters of pregnancy. However, while serum iron showed significant decreases during pregnancy; unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and serum transferrin concentrations were found to show significant increases during pregnancy amongst our subjects. By contrast the values of red cell distribution width, platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit and platelet larger cell ratio did not show any significant differences at the different trimesters of pregnancy in our subjects. The present study reports, for the first time, normative values for these parameters in apparently healthy pregnant subjects in Port Harcourt south eastern Nigeria. Apparently, increases in unsaturated and total iron binding capacity and serum transferrin values seen amongst our subjects with increasing gestation may perhaps be a mechanism to ensure a fetal adequate iron delivery on account of the decreasing serum iron concentration with gestation in our subjects. The study suggests that values of serum transferrin are perhaps a more useful screening tool for iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy amongst our subjects.     

Effect of zinc depletion/repletion on intestinal iron absorption and iron status in rats

Iron and zinc deficiencies likely coexist in general population. We have previously demonstrated that zinc treatment induces while zinc deficiency inhibits iron absorption in intestinal cell culture models, but this needs to be tested in vivo. In the present study we assessed intestinal iron absorption, iron status (haemoglobin), red blood cell number, plasma ferritin, transferrin receptor, hepcidin) and tissue iron levels in zinc depleted, replete and pair fed control rats. Zinc depletion led to reduction in body weight, tissue zinc levels, intestinal iron absorption, protein and mRNA expression of iron transporters, the divalent metal ion transporter-1, hephaestin and ferroportin, but elevated the intestinal and liver tissue iron levels compared with the pair fed control rats. Zinc repletion led to a significant weight gain compared to zinc deficient rats and normalized the iron absorption, iron transporter expression, tissue iron levels to that of pair fed control rats. Surprisingly, haemoglobin levels and red blood cell number reduced significantly in zinc repleted rats, which could be due to rapid weight gain. Together, these results indicate that whole body zinc status has profound influence on growth, intestinal absorption and systemic utilization of iron, mediated via modulation of iron transporter expression.     

Transient Iron-Overload with Bleomycin-Detectable Iron Present During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

Extracorporeal circulation of blood during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery exposes cells to non-physiological surfaces and shear stress which can activate several regulatory cascades, and neutrophils to release superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Shear stresses generated by pumps and suction systems cause lysis of red blood cells and the release of haemoglobin. Together the release of reactive forms of oxygen and haemoglobin can lead to the appearance of low molecular mass chelatable iron (bleomycin-detectable iron). All patients undergoing open heart surgery appear to release iron to plasma transferrin, increasing its iron saturation. In 13% of patients, however, the transferrin became fully iron-saturated, and by the end of open-heart surgery we could detect bleomycin-chelatable iron in the plasma. Saturation of transferrin with iron eliminates its iron-binding antioxidant properties, which can result in a stimulation of iron-dependent radical damage to selected detector molecules.