Some hematological data from marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus) in central spain

• 1.1. Hematocrit, total protein and glucose values were determined in blood samples from 19 marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus), 10 males and nine females.
• 2.2. The different parameters were studied on the basis of the ranges described in other birds.
• 3.3. There was a significant correlation between weight and blood glucose level.

     

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.

     

Effect of diet and essential amino acids gavage on young rat amino acid metabolism enzymes

• 1.1. The effects of a high-fat, high-energy diet and essential plus semi-essential amino acid gavage on pup rats have been studied (60–65 animals).
• 2.2. The activities of alanine transaminase, adenylate deaminase, glutamine synthetase and serine dehydratase have been tested in liver and muscle.
• 3.3. Plasma was used for the estimation of proteins, urea, amino acids, glucose, lactate, 3-hydroxy-butyrate and acetoacetate.
• 4.4. Liver and muscle glutamine synthetase activities are increased by diet and gavage administered. Hepatic serine dehydratase is inhibited by a cafeteria diet but activated by amino acid gavage. Adenylate deaminase is inhibited by diet and gavage in the liver, but gavage does not affect this enzyme activity in muscle. Liver alanine transaminase is increased by the diet; in the muscle, cafeteria diet and amino acid gavage showed the highest values for this enzyme.
• 5.5. In the plasma, the increase in lactate produced by the diet is inhibited by the amino acids provided. Cafeteria-fed pups showed lower urea levels and higher 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in the plasma.
• 6.6. Intracellular glucose is diminished by cafeteria diet. In contrast, the blood cell amino acid concentration increases with diet and gavage supplied.

     

The effect of short-term fasting on certain blood parameters and on glycogen storage in pectoral muscles of willow grouse (Lagopus l. Lagopus L.)

• 1.1. The blood plasma glucose, cholesterol, total protein, urea, and uric acid contents of willow grouse raised in a bird yard in northern Finland were measured after fasts of 12, 24, and 48 hr in mild and severe cold weather.
• 2.2. There were significant differences between the sexes in the urea and total protein contents of normal blood (12 hr fast).
• 3.3. In all the blood parameters studied, changes occurred after 24 and 48 hr fasts, which were greater or took place more rapidly in severe cold than in milder weather.

     

Cholesterol metabolism in new world primates: Comparative studies in two tamarin species (Saguinus oedipus and Saguinus fuscicollis) and the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

• 1.1. Cholesterol metabolism has been characterized in three species of New World primates, the cotton-top tamarin, the saddle-back tamarin, and the squirrel monkey.
• 2.2. When fed a diet containing cholesterol, the three species exhibited differing responses of plasma cholesterol levels.
• 3.3. Dietary cholesterol absorption was determined and plasma cholesterol die-away kinetics were analyzed in terms of a two-pool model.
• 4.4. The results of the analyses of cholesterol turnover are consistent with the observed species-specific differences in plasma cholesterol values and cholesterol absorption.
• 5.5. Cholesterol metabolism differs between the two tamarin species, as well as between the tamarins and the squirrel monkey.
• 6.6. Implications of species-specific differences between tamarin species are discussed in terms of the use of tamarin species as animal models for comparative studies of cholesterol metabolism and the etiology of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

     

Circadian rhythms of determined blood chemistry values in buzzards and eagle owls

• 1.1. Fifteen values were determined in blood samples from six buzzards (Buteo buteo) and six eagle owls (Bubo bubo) over the 24 hr of the day.
• 2.2. Glucose, urea, uric acid, triglyceride and calcium values showed diurnal rhythms in both species. Their respective patterns of diurnal variation were compared.
• 3.3. Phosphorus, cholesterol and cholinesterase levels underwent circadian rhythms only in the buzzards. Albumin/globulin and amylase exhibited diurnal variations exclusively in the eagle owls.
• 4.4. Glutamatic oxaloacetic transaminase, albumin, globulin, total protein and creatinine concentrations did not show diurnal rhythms in either of the species.
• 5.5. Blood values of the different parameters were studied on the basis of the ranges described in birds.

     

Biology of cave crickets,Hadenoecus subterraneus,and camel crickets,Ceuthophilus stygius (Insecta: Orthoptera): Metabolism and water economies related to size and temperature

• 1.1. Metabolic rate (MR) and water budget (WB) components of cave and camel crickets are directly related to size and temperature.
• 2.2. MR increases most rapidly with size for insects in general followed by cave crickets (females > males), and lastly, camel crickets (no sex differences).
• 3.3. Metabolic thermal sensitivity of cave crickets (males > females) is much greater than camel crickets.
• 4.4. WB components parallel MR relations.

     

The chemical composition of the follicular fluid of the teleost Clinus dorsalis (Perciformes: Clinidae)

• 1.1. The osmolarity and pH of the follicular fluid was determined and analyses of total glucose, total lipids, total proteins, amino acids, urea, sodium and potassium carried out.
• 2.2. The mean osmolarity of the follicular fluid was found to be 325 mOsm/kg and the mean pH was 7.9.
• 3.3. The embryotrophe was rich in lipids (1092.39 mg/100 ml) and amino acids with the amino acid concentration exceeding normal values for human plasma.

     

Variations in the levels of progesterone in Mytilus edulis during the annual reproductive cycle

• 1.1. Progesterone levels in Mytilus edulis males and females during the annual reproductive cycle were analysed in the whole animal and in the gonads using gas-liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassays.
• 2.2. The high hormone levels in the whole animal were observed in July and October, coincident with the main spawning seasons.
• 3.3. The levels of progesterone in gonad extracts also show a maximum in summer (July).
• 4.4. The patterns of the progesterone levels in males and females throughout the annual reproductive cycle are similar.
• 5.5. These data are discussed in relation to the role of progesterone in the regulation of sex-specific processes, particularly gametogenesis.

     

The haemocytes and the activities of leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase during development of Ceratitis capitata: Specific secretion of a leucine aminopeptidase isozyme

• 1.1. The types of haemocytes during larval development were studied.
• 2.2. The developmental profile of leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase was studied. The maximum LAP activity was found to be in early larval development, while the maximum alkaline phosphatase during the white pupal stage.
• 3.3. These activities were compared with those determined in cell-free haemolymph.
• 4.4. Both hydrolytic enzymes have been found histochemically in the prohaemocytes and in the plasmatocytes.
• 5.5. In cultured haemocytes experiments it was found that 64% of the total LAP activity was secreted into the incubation medium, while electrophoretic analysis of released LAP activity demonstrated that only LAP A isozyme was secreted.
• 6.6. Based on the above results we suggest that both hydrolytic enzymes are functionally important throughout larval development.

     

The regulation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Dicentrarchus labrax (bass) liver

• 1.1. Kinetic constant values of the reaction catalyzed by bass liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase show to be modified between 10 and 40°C.
• 2.2. The Arrhenius plot between 10 and 50°C shows two slopes with different activation energies.
• 3.3. These results suggest a regulation of this enzyme by environmental temperature.
• 4.4. Kinetics of ATP inhibition were examined between pH 6.2 and 7.8: patterns and K_i values obtained are affected by the pH variation.
• 5.5. NADH is an effective inhibitor of bass glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase but this enzyme does not show NAD-linked activity.
• 6.6. Kinetics of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate inhibition have indicated the presence of a lysine in the catalytic site for NADP⁺.

     

Body temperature relationships in the lined snake,Tropidoclonion lineatum

• 1.1. Body temperatures of 69 adult lined snakes collected in the field were recorded along with associated air and substrate temperatures.
• 2.2. There was no difference between the mean body temperature of males and females or between gravid and non-gravid individuals.
• 3.3. Body temperatures differed significantly from either air or substrate temperatures.
• 4.4. Lined snakes appear to maintain an activity temperature range by use of selected microhabitats.

     

Haematological changes in male and female pharaoh quails (coturnix coturnix pharaoh) after ekatin intoxication

• 1.1. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the blood of pharaoh quails after Ekatin intoxication, to define the duration of disturbances caused by intoxication and to examine possible sex differences in the birds' reaction to intoxication.
• 2.2. It was found that Ekatin reduced the number of erythrocytes, haemoglobin level and haematocrit value, increased erythroblast and reticulocyte numbers and increased the osmotic resistance of blood cells.
• 3.3. It was shown that this pesticide caused neutrophilic leucocytosis with lymphopaenia and eosinopaenia.
• 4.4. In males changes in the blood appeared far earlier than in females and they underwent compensation earlier, that is, 3 weeks after intoxication the majority of the haemotological parameters reached values similar to the control.

     

Comparative study of the sterol composition of the digestive gland and the gonad of Sepia officinalis L. (mollusca,cephalopoda)

• 1.1. The sterol composition of the digestive gland and the gonad of Sepia officinalis L. was investigated by GC and GC-MS.
• 2.2. The same sterols were recognized in both organs, cholesterol being the major component of the sterol mixtures. However, quantitative differences appeared between the sterol composition of the digestive gland and the gonad.
• 3.3. The sterol mixtures of the digestive gland and the gonad of immature and mature females and males of various origins were compared. Quantitative changes in the sterol composition of the gonad were related to sexual maturity whereas the sterol composition of the digestive gland appeared linked to the diet.

     

Sex-specific androgen binding in spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) plasma

• 1.1. A charcoal adsorption assay demonstrated a large variance in androgen binding ability in female spotted hyaenas.
• 2.2. A positive correlation between plasma androgen binding ability and ovarian steroid concentrations was demonstrated in adult females.
• 3.3. The strong plasma binding affinity for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (nM) together with the lack of cortisol and weaker oestradiol-17β binding suggests that a specific androgen binding substance, possibly a protein, is present in adult females of this species.
• 4.4. The lack of high affinity binding in male spotted hyaenas is unusual and deserves further investigation.
• 5.5. Some androgen binding in all, including males and immature animals suggests that albumin may bind some plasma androgens in this species.

     

Transport of cholesterol in the hemolymph of the mollusc Diplodon delodontus

• 1.1. The dietary and inter-organ cholesterol transport in the hemolymph of the bivalve mollusc Diplodon delodontus, was studied. Plasma and hemocytes were obtained after feeding labeled cholesterol to animals or injecting it into the posterior adductor muscle.
• 2.2. In both cases, cholesterol was incorporated either into plasma or hematic cells.
• 3.3. Two plasmatic fractions differing in their hydrated densities were recognized as cholesterol carriers and were isolated. They have characteristics of high density (HDL) and very high density (VHDL) lipoproteins, respectively.
• 4.4. The major lipids in the different classes of lipoproteins were free sterols in HDL and phospholipids in VHDL.
• 5.5. Neither low nor very low density lipoprotein transporting cholesterol was detected.

     

Seasonal changes of circulating blood parameters in the grass snake Natrix natrix natrix L.

• 1.1. Seasonal changes of circulating blood parameters of Natrix n. natrix were evident and involved both sexes to the same extent.
• 2.2. A significant decrease in red cell count, haematocrit and haemaglobin concentration in the mating period, and an increase in those parameters and mean cell volume in autumn were observed, and haemodilution during winter torpor.
• 3.3. The changes during the breeding season had probably a hormonal background; in winter, they resulted first of all from a decreased erythropoietic activity and, to a lesser extent, from an increased red blood cell breakdown rate. However, the possibility that some erythrocytes were withdrawn from the circulation cannot be excluded.
• 4.4. Winter lymphocytopenia, eosinocytopenia and neutrophilic granulocytosis in females during egg laying were expressions of changes of leucocyte formula.
• 5.5. Seasonal cyclicity was found only with respect to the white cell count in males and the eosinophile fraction in males and females.
• 6.6. Probable reasons for, and mechanisms of the changes in blood composition are discussed.

     

Variation in plasma constituents during the natural vitellogenic cycle of tuatara,Sphenodon Punctatus

• 1.1. The vitellogenic cycle of female tuatara was investigated by monitoring plasma levels of vitellogenin, calcium, total protein, inorganic phosphate (P₁) and cholesterol.
• 2.2. Vitellogenin was not detected in females in the non-reproductive condition, but was found perenially in plasma of reproducing females during vitellogenesis, which normally lasts about 3 years out of the 4 year ovarian cycle.
• 3.3. No large year-to-year variations were found in the plasma constituents measured and there was no correlation between the oestradiol peak at mating and plasma levels of vitellogenin.
• 4.4. The results provide further evidence that tuatara have an extraordinary prolonged and gradual vitellogenic cycle spanning several years for a single clutch of eggs. This type of reproductive cycle is unique among reptiles.

     

Correlation of acid phosphatase but not alkaline phosphatase activity with myelination in the developing mouse brain

• 1.1. Neonatal mice received subcutaneous injections of buffer, thiourea (TU) or propylthiouracil (PTU).
• 2.2. The PTU-treated mice were sacrificed on postnatal day 14 (P14) and the TU-treated mice on P28.
• 3.3. Brain weights of the TU- and PTU-treated mice were not significantly different from the controls.
• 4.4. Acid but not alkaline phosphatase activity in the braistem decreased after TU and PTU treatment.
• 5.5. Myelination as indicated by intensity of luxol fast blue staining was weaker in drug-treated animals.
• 6.6. The level of myelin marker enzyme, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase, was lower in the brainstem of PTU-treated animals.
• 7.7. The results suggest a correlation between acid phosphatase but not alkaline phosphatase activity with myelination in the developing mouse brain.

     

Age-dependent proteins in eyes of annual killifishes Pterolebias longipinnis detected by 2-dimensional electrophoresis

• 1.1. Eye proteins of Pterolebias longipinnis have been analyzed by 2-dimensional isoelectric focusing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis during aging from adolescence until normal death.
• 2.2. The protein pattern on the gels changed gradually with progressing age.
• 3.3. In senescent eyes, three protein spots appeared for a time and 36 disappeared from the pattern.
• 4.4. The isoelectric points of the proteins in the presence of urea and the molecular weights in an unreducing buffer are presented.