The effect of egg-shell calcification on the response of plasma calcium activity to parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)

• 1.1. The effects of Parathyroid Hormone and Calcitonin on the concentrations of ionised calcium, total calcium and phosphorus in the plasma of laying hens with and without a calcifying egg in the oviduct, were studied.
• 2.2. Parathyroid Hormone led to an increase in the plasma calcium activity in both groups of hens, but in non-egg calcifying birds this was preceded by a transient reduction in activity.
• 3.3. Calcitonin reduced the plasma calcium activity in non-egg calcifying birds but not in egg calcifying birds.
• 4.4. The significance of these effects in relation to the availability of bone calcium for shell production is discussed.

     

Serum and urine biochemical indicators of nutritional status in adult female collared peccaries,Tayassu tajacu (tayassuidae)

• 1.1. Physiological responses of 13 adult female collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) to high quality and low quality diets, fed for 15 weeks, were examined. The low quality diet simulated energy and protein intake of peccaries during poor range conditions resulting from drought. Blood samples were collected after 10 and 15 weeks of dietary treatment; urine samples were collected after 15 weeks of treatment.
• 2.2. Females receiving the low quality diet for 15 weeks lost 27.4% of their original body weight, compared to no weight change among high quality-fed females.
• 3.3. Red blood cell counts, hematocrits, and hemoglobin concentrations were significantly greater among females fed a high quality diet compared to those receiving a low quality diet. High quality-fed females also had a higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was nearly twice as great among females receiving the low quality diet compared to the high quality group.
• 4.4. Consumption of the low quality diet resulted in significantly elevated serum levels of nonesterified fatty acids, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, alpha-2 globulin and alpha globulin: beta globulin ratio.
• 5.5. Consumption of the low quality diet resulted in significantly lowered serum levels of urea nitrogen, calcium, zinc, calcium: phosphorus, urea index, beta-1 flobulin, beta globulin: albumin ratio, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
• 6.6. Serum levels ofcreatinine, total bilirubin, glucose, cholesterol, gamma glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, potassium, copper, magnesium, sodium chloride, total protein and gamma globulin were unaffected by diet quality.
• 7.7. Urine chemistry results suggested pH, osmolarity, albumin, creatinine phosphokinase, calcium and phosphorus concentrations might be useful indices for assessing nutritional status in female peccaries.

     

Uptake of inorganic ions from the maternal circulation during development of the embryo of a viviparous lizard,Sphenomorphus quoyii

• 1.1. Inorganic ion content of developing follicles and of whole eggs and separated embryos and yolk sacs of the viviparous lizard, Sphenomorphus quoyii has been measured.
• 2.2. There is a net increase in calcium, sodium and potassium in whole eggs during gestation. Magnesium and phosphorus content remains constant.
• 3.3. The additional ions are incorporated into the developing embryo.
• 4.4. Calcium content of the yolk is compared with that of the fowl and other species of reptile.

     

The mechanism of calcium-dependent activation of respiration of liver mitochondria from hibernating ground squirrels,Citellus undulatus

• 1.1. It is shown that Ca²⁺-dependent activation of respiration of liver mitochondria from hibernating ground squirrels is accompanied by mitochondrial swelling.
• 2.2. The swelling of mitochondria from hibernating ground squirrels, as well as the activation of mitochondrial respiration, is precluded by cyclosporin A, p-bromphenacylbromide and oligomycin. Carboxyatractiloside, on the contrary, under these conditions favors the swelling and the acceleration of respiration.
• 3.3. It was concluded that Ca²⁺-dependent activation of hibernating ground squirrel liver mitochondrial respiration resulted from the appearance of a non-specific permeability pathway and from swelling of mitochondria.

     

High energy organophosphate levels in the myocardia of cold acclimated and cold-hypoxic freshwater turtles,Chrysemys picta

• 1.1. Hearts of active, cold-acclimated, and cold-acclimated hypoxic turtles were assayed for their content of ATP, ADP, AMP and phosphocreatine.
• 2.2. Energy levels showed a significant discharge during the first 2 weeks of cold and cold-hypoxia, but remained relatively stable during an additional 2 weeks of cold exposure.
• 3.3. The functional importance of these changes is discussed.

     

Sugar accumulation in hibernating adult bees: An example of the unique energy reservoir for hibernation

• 1.1. Sugars, sugar-alcohols, glycogen, triacylglycerol contents in hibernating adult bees are compared in relation to the hibernating habits of the bees. Monosaccharide content is low in Andrena and Osmia which hibernate in natal blood cells, which very high in Lasioglossum spp. which feed before hibernation.
• 2.2. Distribution of sugars within the body of hibernating Lasioglossum reveals that trehalose is the major sugar accumulated in hemolymph, and that the crop contains a large amount of monosaccharides.
• 3.3. Seasonal changes of sugars and glycogen contents in L. duplex strongly suggest that trehalose accumulated is derived, not from the glycogen in the fat body, but from monosaccharides in the crop.

     

Gonadal maturation and serum calcium levels in two teleosts,the hake and the killifish

• 1.1. The relationship between gonadal maturation and serum calcium levels was studied in hake, Merluccius gayi gayi, and killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus.
• 2.2. Sexually mature male and female hake were sampled in the field throughout the year. Serum calcium was higher in all sexually mature fish regardless of the season, indicating a gonadal effect on serum calcium levels.
• 3.3. Male killifish adapted to constant laboratory conditions showed no change in serum calcium at different stages of gonadal maturation. Castration also had no effect. However, clear relationships exist between testicular maturation and serum inorganic phosphate, percentage hematocrit and liver sizes.
• 4.4. Such species differences are discussed.

     

Studies on the nutrition of the supralittoral isopod Ligia pallasii using chemically defined artificial diets: Assessment of vitamin,carbohydrate, fatty acid,cholesterol and mineral requirements

• 1.1. An artificial diet, consisting of a dry aggregate of 59 chemical substances, was used to assess the requirements of the sea slater Ligia pallasii for vitamins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, cholesterol and minerals.
• 2.2. Good growth and survival of L. pallasii was obtained on the diet, comparable to that on seaweeds and to that shown by a field population.
• 3.3. No dietary requirements for vitamins, fatty acids or cholesterol were shown for periods of 40 weeks or more for L. pallasii.
• 4.4. Carbohydrates were shown to be required by L. pallasii in its diet, in the order: starch, lactose > maltose, glucose > sucrose, cellulose.
• 5.5. Dietary requirements for minerals were, in order: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus > copper, nickel, zinc > iron, manganese, sulphur > iodine, silicon.
• 6.6. The results are discussed in relation to the role of gut bacteria in supplying required nutrients to their isopod hosts and the enhancement of this process through coprophagic behaviour.

     

Responses of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) swim-up fry to dietary calcium in soft and hard water

• 1.1. Responses of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) swim-up fry to dietary calcium in soft (< 1 mg/1 as CaCO₃) and hard (> 100 mg/1 as CaCO₃) water were determined by feeding purified egg-white diets containing 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0% calcium from CaCO₃ for 8 weeks.
• 2.2. Catfish fry fed the basal diet (0.03% Ca) in hard and soft water had lower whole-body ash and whole-body calcium concentrations but higher weight gain and survival than those fed calcium-supplemented diets.
• 3.3. Fry in soft water generally had lower whole-body ash, whole-body calcium, and survival, as well as a higher incidence of spinal deformities than fry in hard water.
• 4.4. Feeding higher levels of calcium to fry reared in soft water did not increase whole-body calcium levels or decrease spinal deformities to the levels observed for fry reared in hard water and fed supplemental calcium.
• 5.5. These data indicate that calcium derived solely from dietary or environmental sources was not sufficient for optimum health of channel catfish fry.

     

Postmolt mineralization of the exoskeleton of juvenile california brown shrimp,Penaeus californiensis (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

• 1.1. Rostrum, carapace and abdominal regions of the exoskeletons of juvenile Penaeus californiensis (3–4 g) were analyzed for calcium, magnesium and phosphorus levels at 0. 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr postmolt.
• 2.2. Calcium and magnesium reached relatively constant levels within 24 hr postmolt. Rostrum and carapace calcium values (maxium) were higher, 12–14% than those of the abdomen, 8%. Likewise, rostrum and carapace magnesium values (maxium) were higher, 0.9–1.2%. than those of the abdomen, 0.6%. There was no consistent pattern in changes in phosphorus with regard to body parts and time. Phosphorus values (maxium) varied from 0.5 to 1.2%.
• 3.3. Dry weight of all body parts increased rapidly between 0 and 24 hr postmolt. Gradual increases from 24 to 96 hr suggested that there was continuous, but reduced, synthesis of matrix during that period.

     

Varying effects of calcium on the oxidation of palmitate and α-ketoglutarate in isolated rat liver mitochondria incubated in KCl-based and sucrose-based media

• 1.1. Isolated mitochondria from rat liver were incubated in the presence of [U-¹⁴C]palmitate, ATP, CoA, carnitine, EGTA (ethylene glycol bis (β-aminoethyl ether) N,N′-tetraacetic acid) and varying amounts of calcium.
• 2.2. When a KCl-based incubation medium was used, the oxidation of palmitate was inhibited when the concentration of free calcium was increased from about 0.1–10μM.
• 3.3. When a sucrose-based incubation medium was used, the basal rate of palmitate oxidation was about half of that observed with the KCl-medium and calcium had a stimulatory effect.
• 4.4. With the KCl-medium the rate of oxygen consumption was inhibited by calcium with α-ketoglutarate as well as palmitate as the respiratory substrate.
• 5.5. No inhibitory effect of calcium was observed with succinate or β-hydroxybutyrate.
• 6.6. With the KCl-medium and with α-ketoglutarate as the respiratory substrate, state 3 respiration but not state 4 respiration was inhibited by calcium.
• 7.7. When the sucrose-medium was used, state 3 respiration was first inhibited by calcium, but this inhibition was gradually relieved and the respiratory rate finally became higher than it was before calcium addition.

     

Scale regeneration of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under various ambient and dietary calcium concentrations

• 1.1. Scale regeneration was examined in Oreochromis niloticus under normal, dietary calcium-deficient, and both dietary and ambient water calcium-deficient conditions.
• 2.2. Calcium contents of regenerating scales were dependent on the calcium status of the fish, but areal growth of the scales was independent.
• 3.3. Transient hypocalcemia accompanied with a loss of calcium from original scales was observed in descaled fish in dietary calcium deficiency, and intact and descaled fish in both dietary and ambient water calcium deficiency.
• 4.4. The results suggested that calcium mobilized from internal sources was insufficient and both water and dietary calcium were necessary for normal calcification of the regenerating scales.

     

AMP-deaminase from human skeletal muscle. Subunit structure,amino-acid composition and metal content of the homogenous enzyme

• 1.1. Homogenous human skeletal muscle AMP-deaminase was obtained by chromatography on phosphocellulose.
• 2.2. Native enzyme molecular weight was 290,000, while a value of 71,000 was found for the subunit molecular weight.
• 3.3. No distinct differences were found in amino-acid composition of human skeletal muscle AMP-deaminase as compared with other vertebrate enzymes.
• 4.4. Human muscle AMP-deaminase contains about 2g-atom of zinc per 280,000; considerable amounts of calcium and magnesium were also found.

     

Ciliary/decarboxylase activities as indicators of PTZ,photoperiod and Ca-ionophore effect on Crassostrea virginica (gmelin)

• 1.1. Lateral ciliary activity and DOPA decarboxylase were measured in the ctenidium of Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin).
• 2.2. Activity of the lateral cilia is dependent upon branchial nerve (Paparo, 1985a,b) and on intracellular calcium homostasis (Baker, 1963; Rassmussen, 1970, 1971; Romero and Wittman, 1971; Blanstein et al., 1978).
• 3.3. PTZ induced lamella morphogenesis in eytosomes with subsequent release of calcium into the cytosol. This cilio-inhibition was enhanced in the presence of additional calcium in the perfusate.
• 4.4. Prolonged exposure to light also induces fully converted membranous eytosomes with subsequent production of a gradual lateral cilio-inhibition. Darkness produces the opposite effect, in that secondary membranous conversions of cytosomes are inhibited.
• 5.5. In the presence of A-23187 (a calcium releasing agent), inhibition of lateral activity is produced, independent of cytosomal conversion.
• 6.6. It is postulated that photic electrical and chemical stimulation of neuronal chromoproteins can lead to release of calcium from sequestered cytosomal stores which triggers a neuro-exocytosis of a neuroinhibitory transmitter, dopamine.

     

Thermal adaptation of heart rate and its parasympathetic control in the European eel Anguilla Anguilla (L.)

• 1.1. Heart rate-temperature relationships were determined on unanaesthetized, unrestrained eels acclimated to 15°C and 25°C.
• 2.2. Heart rate in eels with intact vagal tonus exhibited a nearly complete temperature compensation. The degree of compensation was considerably reduced by blocking the vagus function with benzetimide.
• 3.3. The difference in the sensitivity of heart rate to temperature change induced by temperature acclimation was significantly decreased after benzetimide-treatment.
• 4.4. The inhibitory vagal tonus was significantly higher in warm-acclimated than in cold-acclimated eels.
• 5.5. It is concluded that adaptation of heart rate to temperature is mediated by the parasympathetic system to a great extent.

     

Effect of hibernation on liver and kidney metabolism in 13-lined ground squirrels

• 1.1. Metabolic rates and adenine nucleotide content of liver and kidney from hibernating ground squirrels were measured and compared to rats to study the biochemical adaptation to hibernation.
• 2.2. High rates of renal and hepatic gluconeogenesis were observed in squirrels, particularly from propionate and glycerol compared to rat.
• 3.3. During hibernation and starvation soluble phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity was increased in both liver and kidney.
• 4.4. Although metabolic rates are decreased during hibernation the results suggest that the enzymic complement is maintained at high activity even during torpor.

     

Changes in free amino acid composition in haemolymph of larvae of the wax moth,Galleria mellon ella L., during cold acclimation

• 1.1. Free amino acids were analysed in the haemolymph of Galleria mellonella larvae by HPLC chromatography with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA)-l-thio-β-d-glucose as derivatization agent.
• 2.2. Fourteen primary amino acids were detected among which glutamine, alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine predominated and constituted 67.7% of the amino acids found.
• 3.3. The concentration of GABA increased significantly with the age of larvae entering the wandering phase and reached a maximum during metamorphosis.
• 4.4. Analysis of cold-acclimated larvae revealed a net increase of free primary amino acids from 96 to 151.8 μmol/ml during consecutive acclimation to 0°C within 20 days and to 205.4μmol/ml during cold shock injury at 0°C (3 hr).
• 5.5. The bulk of this increase was accounted for by alanine, glycine, phenylalanine and lysine.

     

Insulin administration induces capillary growth in brown adipose tissue of heat-exposed rats

• 1.1. An apparent effect of insulin administration on enlargement of interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) was found in heat-exposed rats, but not in warm-adapted or cold-acclimated rats.
• 2.2. BAT extracts from the heat-acclimated/insulin-treated (HI) rats notably increased the capillary growth in an in vitro angiogenesis model in which microvascular fragments and myofibroblastic (Mf) cells isolated from lipid tissues were grown in co-culture, although a direct effect of insulin was not high.
• 3.3. BAT extracts from the HI rats stimulated the production of endothelial cell growth factor and collagen by Mf cells.
• 4.4. It is probable that an increased angiogenic activity contributes to the capillary growth and tissue growth in BAT of HI rats.

     

Dose-dependent vitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in male cyprinoid Cyprinus carpio

• 1.1. Vitamin D₃ (10IU and 100IU/100 g body weight) and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (0.5, 5 and 50 U) were administered daily to unfed male carp Cyprinus carpio for 10 days. The serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels were measured colorimetrically.
• 2.2. The serum calcium level increased significantly in all treated groups; this increase is dose-dependent.
• 3.3. The serum inorganic phosphate was elevated in the treated groups on days 3 and 5.

     

Protein,fatty acids,calcium and phosphate absorption along the gastrointestinal tract of the young turkey

• 1.1. The net absorption of protein, fatty acids, calcium and phosphate along the small intestine of the turkey (Meleagris gallopovo) was evaluated with the aid of ⁹¹Y as a reference substance.
• 2.2. About 85% of the ingested protein was absorbed, with most of the absorption occurring in the duodenum and upper jejunum.
• 3.3. The overall lipid absorption coefficient was around 90%, and was inversely related to the fatty acid chain length and saturation.
• 4.4. Most of the lipid absorption occurred in the duodenum and jejunum.
• 5.5. Calcium absorption also occurred in the duodenum and jejunum: its fractional rate decreased with calcium intake.
• 6.6. Phosphate absorption occurred mostly in the duodenum and jejunum and its efficacy was only slightly affected by dietary phosphate intake.
• 7.7. The high nutrient absorption in the turkey duodenum, relative to that of the chick (Gallus domesticus), was discussed.