New use of broomcorn millets for production of granular cultures of aphid-pathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis for high sporulation potential and infectivity to Myzus persicae

Glutinous broomcorn millets from the crop Panicum miliaceum were first used as substrate to produce granular cultures of Pandora neoaphidis, an obligate fungal pathogen specific to aphids. Carrying a water content of 36.5% after being steamed in a regular autoclaving procedure, millet grains of each 15 g (dry weight) in a 100-ml flask were mixed with 3 ml modified Sabouraud dextrose broth containing half a mashed colony of P. neoaphidis grown on egg yolk milk agar and then incubated at 20 degrees C and a light/dark cycle of 12 h/12 h for 21 days. Based on individually monitoring conidial production potential of 20 millet grains sampled from an arbitrarily taken flask at 3-day intervals, the millet cultures incubated for 6-15 days were capable of producing 16.8-23.4 x 10(4) conidia per millet grain with conidial ejection lasting for up to 6 days. The cultured millet grains individually produced significantly more conidia than apterous adults of Myzus persicae killed by P. neoaphidis (8.4 x 10(4) conidia per cadaver) and sporulated twice longer. The modeling of time-dose-mortality data from bioassays on M. persicae apterae exposed to conidial showers from the cultured millet grains and the mycelial mats produced in liquid culture resulted in similar estimates of LC(50) (millets: 21.4, 7.3, and 4.9 conidia mm(-2) on days 5-7 after exposure; mycelial mats: 22.1, 10.6, and 7.7 conidia mm(-2)) although the LT(50) estimated at a given conidial concentration was slightly smaller for the millet cultures than for the mycelial mats. This indicates that the millet grains cultured with P. neoaphidis produced conidia as infective as or slightly more infective to M. persicae than those from the mycelial mats. Based on the sporulation potential, infectivity, and ease and cost of the millet cultures, the method developed in this study highly improved in vitro cultures of P. neoaphidis and may adapt to culturing other entomophthoralean fungi for microbial control of insect pests.     

Influence of heat processing on the bioaccessibility of zinc and iron from cereals and pulses consumed in India.

Influence of heat processing on the bioaccessibility of zinc and iron from food grains consumed in India was evaluated. Cereals - rice (Oryza sativa), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays), and pulses - chickpea (Cicer arietinum) - whole and decorticated, green gram (Phaseolus aureus) - whole and decorticated, decorticated black gram (Phaseolus mungo), decorticated red gram (Cajanus cajan), cowpea (Vigna catjang), and French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were examined for zinc and iron bioaccessibility by employing an in vitro dialysability procedure. Both pressure-cooking and microwave heating were tested for their influence on mineral bioaccessibility. Zinc bioaccessibility from food grains was considerably reduced upon pressure-cooking, especially in pulses. Among cereals, pressure-cooking decreased zinc bioaccessibility by 63% and 57% in finger millet and rice, respectively. All the pressure-cooked cereals showed similar percent zinc bioaccessibility with the exception of finger millet. Bioaccessibility of zinc from pulses was generally lower as a result of pressure-cooking or microwave heating. The decrease in bioaccessibility of zinc caused by microwave heating ranged from 11.4% in chickpea (whole) to 63% in cowpea. Decrease in zinc bioaccessibility was 48% in pressure-cooked whole chickpea, 45% and 55% in pressure-cooked or microwave-heated whole green gram, 32% and 22% in pressure-cooked or microwave-heated decorticated green gram, and 45% in microwave-heated black gram. Iron bioaccessibility, on the other hand, was significantly enhanced generally from all the food grains studied upon heat treatment. Thus, heat treatment of grains produced contrasting effect on zinc and iron bioaccessibility.     

Inhibition of protein synthesis during associative memory reactivation produces reversible or irreversible amnesia in the snail Helix lucorum

Effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on reactivation processes of food aversion conditioning were inverstigated in snail Helix lucorum. Protein synthesis inhibitor (PSI, anisomycin, 0.4 mg, or cycloheximede, 0.6 mg) was injected into snail body cavity 24 hours after 3-day training; then conditioned stimulus (banana) was presented and memory was tested. It was found that 2.5-3 hours after first reminding, associative food conditioning was suppressed, recovering of the conditioning was observed 4.5-5.5 hours after first reminding. In other group of snails, PSI injections were single (1.8 mg) or triple (0.6 mg with 2-hour interval). Reminding stimulus was presented after each injection. In this case, suppression of food aversion conditioning was also observed 2.5-3 hours after first reminding, while amnesia in this case lasted over 30 days. Repeated training of the group of snails recovered the food aversion conditioning only partially. In control snails (saline instead of PSI or 3 injections of PSI without reminding), foot aversion conditioning was detected 30 days after first training. Thus we found that PSI effects during reminding of food aversion conditioning produced two phases amnesia: (1) the easily suppressed by PSI transient phase lasted 2-3 hours, and (2) irreversible phase, its suppression by high doses of PSI-initiated amnesia lasting over 1 month. Second phase of amnesia was not recovered after repeated training. It was suggested that reminding induced reconsolidation of initial memory. Its suppression by protein synthesis inhibitors results in erasing of memory trace and disturbs repeated consolidation.     

Scytalidium thermophilum-colonized grain, corncobs and chopped wheat straw substrates for the production of Agaricus bisporus

We examined the possibility of cultivating Agaricus bisporus (Ab) on various grains and agricultural by-products, with the objective of improving yield capacity of substrate pre-colonized by Scytalidium thermophilum (St). Radial growth rate (RGR) of St at 45 degrees C ranged from no growth on sterile wheat grain to 14.9 mm/d on whole oats. The linear extension rate (LER) of Ab, grown on St-colonized substrate (4 days at 45 degrees C), ranged from a low of 2.7 mm/d on 100% corncobs to 4.7 mm/d on a 50/50 mixture of ground corncobs/millet grain. Several other substrates containing wheat straw+ground corncobs+boiled millet and pre-colonized by St (4 days at 42+/-3 degrees C), were evaluated for production of Ab. The biological efficiency (BE) of production increased linearly with the addition of millet to the formula. However, substrates with millet levels 84% often were contaminated before mushroom harvest. Maximum BE (99%) and yield (21.6 kg/m(2)) were obtained on St-colonized wheat straw+2% hydrated lime supplemented with 9% commercial supplement added both at spawning and at casing.     

Ontogenetic development of conditioned food aversion in chickens

Development of conditioned food aversion (CFA) was studied in 25-, 35-, and 45-day Leghorn chicks. Food-deprived birds had 10-min access to normal food on days 1 and 2, and to green coloured food CS on day 3. Injection of LiCl (0.15 M, 3–4% body weight) administered 10 min after CS on day 3 served as the US. Control groups were injected with the same volume of saline. Retention was tested on day 4 in three 3-min presentations of normal food alternating with two presentations of green food. Number of pecks and amount of food consumed were measured. Significant neophobic rejection of green food was observed in 25- but not in 35- and 45-day-old control birds. Neophobia in the youngest chicks was further accentuated by CFA which could be observed in pure form in the 45-day-old experimental group. Comparison of pecking rate and food intake showed that CFA in younger birds was accomplished predominantly by inhibition of pecking, and in older birds also by reduction of peck volume. It is concluded that protection against poisoning in chickens shifts between 25 and 45 days of posthatching age from neophobia to CFA.     

In vivo effect of whole grain flour of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on rat dermal wound healing

Influence of finger millet and kodo millet on rat dermal wound healing was assessed by making a 4 cm2 (2 x 2 cm) excision wound on the shaven back of rats under ether anesthesia. Finger millet or kodo millet flour (300 mg) as aqueous paste was applied topically once daily for 16 days. The granulation tissue formed on day 4, 8 and 12 was used to estimate some biochemical parameters like protein, DNA, collagen and lipid peroxides. There was significant increase in protein and collagen contents and decrease in lipid peroxides. Biophysical parameters like rate of contraction and number of days for epithelialization were also studied. Rate of contraction was 88-90% in kodo millet and finger millet treated rats in comparison to 75% in untreated rats. The number of days for complete closure of wounds was lower for finger millet (13 days) and kodo millet (14 days) treated rats in comparison to untreated (16 days) rats. The results implicate a possible therapeutical role for finger millet and kodo millet in accelerating the process of wound healing.     

Selective disturbance of associative memory reactivation by serotonin or NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists in snail

Effects of serotonin or glutamate receptors antagonists on reactivation of food aversion conditioning were studied in snail Helix lucorum. Metiotepin (nonselective serotonin receptor antagonist, 0.1 mg/snail) or MK-801 (NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, 0.005 mg/snail) were injected 24 hours after 3 days of food aversion conditioning, then reminding stimulus (banana, "conditioned" food) was presented and food aversion conditioning was tested. Long-term impairing (more then 2 weeks) of food aversion conditioning was found 3 hours after concurrent reminding and inhibitors injection. Injection of receptor antagonists without reminding stimulus did not influence on food aversion conditioning retrieval. Besides, in snails with amnesia after metiotepin/reminder, facilitation of repeated elaboration aversion conditioning on banana is revealed. The repeated training of snails with amnesia caused by MK-801/reminder did not result in food aversion conditioning. It is was suggested that 5-HT5,6,7 serotonin receptors are involved in mechanisms of memory "trace" extraction of food aversion conditioning, whereas NMDA glutamate receptor - in processes of its storage in snail.     

Induction of amnesia induced by disturbance of memory consolidation by antagonists of glutamate or serotonin receptors will be suppressed by the protein synthesis inhibitor

We have previously found two stages of amnesia evoked by disruption of memory reconsolidation with MK-801 (NMDA glutamate receptors antagonists) application in food aversion conditioned snails. Repeated conditioning restored the food aversion at early stage of amnesia development (<10 days), whereas repeated conditioning 10 days after MK-801 application did not restore the food aversion. In present work, amnesia was induced with MK-801/reminding 24 hours after food aversion conditioning, and antiamnestic effects of NMDA receptor glycine site agonist d-cycloserine were studied at early (3rd day) or late (12th day) stages of amnesia development. D-cycloserine injection and reminding restored memory only 3 days after amnesia induction whereas d-cycloserine injection without reminding was ineffective. D-cycloserine injection and reminding as well as repeated learning 12 days after amnesia induction were also ineffective in memory restoration. Thus, for the first time, it is revealed that NMDA receptor agonist d-cycloserine influences the memory restoration processes only at early but not the later stages of amnesia development.     

Does the newly weaned piglet select a zinc oxide supplemented feed,when given the choice?

An experiment was conducted to examine whether weaned piglets would display preference for a food containing a pharmacological level of zinc oxide (ZnO). A total of 60 piglets were weaned at 7.8 kg ± 0.14 (s.e.m.) and 27.8 ± 0.11 days of age into eight mixed sex groups of seven or eight piglets per pen. Groups were balanced for litter origin, weaning weight and sex. Piglet feeding behaviour was constantly recorded by a multi-spaced feeding behaviour recording system (Leeds University Feeding Behaviour System) in each pen. Each pen of pigs was offered ad libitum access to two different foods (16.2 MJ digestible energy, 16 g lysine/kg), which differed only in the level of ZnO supplementation: unsupplemented (U) or supplemented (Z; ZnO 3100 mg/kg). Both foods contained a basal level of zinc (100 mg/kg). Feeding time was recorded for each individual at each trough. Piglets were weighed at weaning and at 7 and 13 days thereafter. The experiment ran for 13 days. Any piglet observed with post-weaning scour (Y) was recorded and treated appropriately whereas healthy piglets were categorised as N (no scour). Preference for a food was defined as being significantly different from 50% of total feed intake or time spent feeding. There was no difference between piglet numbers selecting each food as their first meal. However, within the first 24 h, piglets preferred (P < 0.001) food U, spending only 36.3% (32.2 to 40.5; 95% confidence interval) of feeding time at food Z. Throughout the experiment, piglets showed aversion (P < 0.001) to food Z, consumption being 8.9% (5.1 to 13.6) and 15.7% (8.9 to 23.9) of total intake in weeks 1 and 2, respectively. Individual piglets showed their preference for food U with only 16.6% (14.6 to 18.5) and 21.8% (19.6 to 24.0) of feeding time spent on food Z in weeks 1 and 2, respectively. Scouring piglets did not show any difference in feeding behaviour from healthy piglets in either week. Average piglet gain (of all piglets) was low, at 0.039 ± 0.03 and 0.272 ± 0.04 kg/day in weeks 1 and 2, respectively. Given a choice, weaned piglets showed a clear preference for the food U even when exhibiting post-weaning scour. It can be concluded that the newly weaned, naïve, piglet is not able to recognise a food with clear health and performance benefits but selected the food U due to the reduced palatability of the food Z.     

Dose-dependent effects of peptide YY(3-36) on conditioned taste aversion in rats

We used a conditioned taste aversion test to assess whether PYY(3-36) reduces food intake by producing malaise. Two-hour IV infusion of PYY(3-36) (8, 15, and 30 pmol/kg/min) at dark onset in non-food-deprived rats produced a dose-dependent inhibition of feeding and a conditioned aversion to the flavored chow paired with PYY(3-36) infusion. In food-deprived rats, PYY(3-36) at 2 and 4 pmol/kg/min inhibited intake of a flavored saccharin solution without producing conditioned taste aversion, whereas higher doses (8 and 15 pmol/kg/min) inhibited saccharin intake and produced taste aversion. These results suggest that anorexic doses of PYY(3-36) may produce a dose-dependent malaise in rats, which is similar to that reported for PYY(3-36) infusion in humans. Previous studies have shown that PYY(3-36) potently inhibits gastric emptying, and that gut distention can produce a conditioned taste aversion. Thus, PYY(3-36) may produce conditioned taste aversion in part by slowing gastric emptying.     

Response to Temperature in a Stand of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum typhoides S. & H.): VII. FINAL NUMBER OF SPIKELETS AND GRAINS

An index which incorporates rates of plant growth and of development—athermal interception rate (TIR)/is used to analyse final spikeletand grain number in pearl millet. Growth rate was assumed proportionalto solar radiation intercepted (MJ per plant per day) and developmentalrate to the accumulation of degree days above a previously determinedbase of 10 °C. Measurements were assembled from experimentsin glasshouses with precise temperature control and from a fieldstudy in the tropics. The final number of spikelets was less sensitive to TIR thanthe final number of grains per plant. The critical period forthe determination of grain number is from floral initiationto anthesis (GS2 period). Key words: Temperature, Spikelets, Grains, Pearl millet     

Post-ingestive food-aversion learning to amino acid deficient diets by the terrestrial slugLimax maximus

Summary An agar-based artificial diet containing carbohydrates, fats and twenty amino acids was constructed (Fig. 1). This diet is highly palatable and nutritionally complete forLimax maximus as demonstrated by significant ingestion on first encounter, consistent ingestion on subsequent days and good growth of young slugs fed this diet. Removing methionine, an essential amino acid, from the complete diet produces a food which is initially as palatable as the complete diet, but after one day's intake the amount of this deficient diet eaten is greatly reduced (Fig. 2). Removing alanine, a nonessential amino acid, does not produce any decrement in feeding relative to the complete diet (Fig. 5).A single meal can be sufficient for establishing the aversion to the deficient diet (Fig. 5). Following seven days of feeding on the deficient diet the aversion is retained with little or no attenuation for at least 30 days (Fig. 3) and does not generalize to either a known safe food (Fig. 3) or a novel food (Fig. 4). Evidence of a mild neophobia towards the artificial diet which attenuated after one or two meals was seen (Fig. 5).The learned aversion to the deficient diet is reversible if slugs are repeatedly fed the complete diet following feeding on the deficient diet. Also, slugs initially fed the complete diet will develop an aversion to the methionine-deficient diet after sampling it (Fig. 7).Slugs readily ate the artificial diets when these were offered 7 days post-hatch. The methionine-deficient diet however was not eaten in large amounts after the first meals and did not support growth (Fig. 9). Baby slugs fed the methionine-deficient diet for 10 days and then maintained on rat chow ate only small amounts when the deficient diet was presented again 126 days later, while baby slugs fed the complete diet or an alanine deficient diet for 10 days ate large amounts when these diets were presented 126 days later (Fig. 11 b).Supplementing the methionine-deficient diet with an injection of methionine into the haemocoel one hour after the completion of a meal completely blocks the development of a learned aversion while injection ofLimax saline does not (Fig. 8).These results are best explained by the hypothesis that the slugs acquire, post-ingestively, an aversion to the taste and probably the odor of the diet as the result of associative learning. The results of the experiments reported here indicate that there are substantial parallels at the behavioral level between mollusc and mammal with respect to post-ingestive feedback learning.     

Wheat or barley?: Feeding preferences affect distribution of three rodent species in agricultural landscape

Spatial distribution of voles and mice and their abundances in agricultural landscape are largely influenced by their food preferences and the distribution of preferred crops. Here we examined the correspondence between food preferences of dominant rodent species (two mice and one vole) for two cereals (wheat and barley) estimated in the lab and the long-term field abundances observed at the harvest time in southern Moravia, Czech Republic. In the first laboratory trial, harvested culms of wheat and barley were offered. The pygmy field mouse preferred (100%) the seed head of wheat, also the wood mouse (87%) and common vole (60%) showed low preference for wheat. In the second trial, we observed similar preferences in consuming the offered grains of both cereals, the wheat being preferred by the pygmy field mouse, and the wood mouse, while with the common vole showing no preference. Laboratory analysis of the harvested grains indicated a lower fibre content in wheat compared with barley. In the field, rodent abundances in wheat were higher than those in barley, especially in mice. This suggests that food preferences in the laboratory correspond closely to field distribution of these rodents and their abundances. Therefore, studying diet preferences may be of essential in predicting small rodent abundances in changing agricultural landscape.     

Salt Appetite Is Reduced by a Single Experience of Drinking Hypertonic Saline in the Adult Rat

Salt appetite, the primordial instinct to favorably ingest salty substances, represents a vital evolutionary important drive to successfully maintain body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. This innate instinct was shown here in Sprague-Dawley rats by increased ingestion of isotonic saline (IS) over water in fluid intake tests. However, this appetitive stimulus was fundamentally transformed into a powerfully aversive one by increasing the salt content of drinking fluid from IS to hypertonic saline (2% w/v NaCl, HS) in intake tests. Rats ingested HS similar to IS when given no choice in one-bottle tests and previous studies have indicated that this may modify salt appetite. We thus investigated if a single 24 h experience of ingesting IS or HS, dehydration (DH) or 4% high salt food (HSD) altered salt preference. Here we show that 24 h of ingesting IS and HS solutions, but not DH or HSD, robustly transformed salt appetite in rats when tested 7 days and 35 days later. Using two-bottle tests rats previously exposed to IS preferred neither IS or water, whereas rats exposed to HS showed aversion to IS. Responses to sweet solutions (1% sucrose) were not different in two-bottle tests with water, suggesting that salt was the primary aversive taste pathway recruited in this model. Inducing thirst by subcutaneous administration of angiotensin II did not overcome this salt aversion. We hypothesised that this behavior results from altered gene expression in brain structures important in thirst and salt appetite. Thus we also report here lasting changes in mRNAs for markers of neuronal activity, peptide hormones and neuronal plasticity in supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus following rehydration after both DH and HS. These results indicate that a single experience of drinking HS is a memorable one, with long-term changes in gene expression accompanying this aversion to salty solutions.     

Thyroid function and body weight programming by neonatal hyperthyroidism in rats - the role of leptin and deiodinase activities.

Several authors have shown that secondary hypothyroidism was programed by neonatal thyroxine (T4) treatment. However, the associated changes of body weight (BW) were less studied, especially those related to the body fat proportion. Here, we have evaluated the effect of neonatal thyroxine treatment on BW, fat proportion, serum leptin, and thyroid function of 60-day-old rats. Wistar rats were treated with thyroxine (50 microg/100 g BW, ip) (T) or saline (S), during the first 10 days of life. BW, nose-rump length (NRL), and food consumption were monitored for 60 days, when the animals were sacrificed. Thyroid function was evaluated by thyroid radioiodine uptake (RAIU), serum T3, T4, TSH, and liver mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPD) and type 1 and 2 deiodinases (D1 and D2) activities, which are thyroid hormone-dependent enzymes. T animals showed lower food intake, BW and NRL, but higher total fat mass (+33%) and serum leptin (+46%). They also showed lower serum T3 (-23%), T4 (-32%), TSH (-36%), RAIU (-29%) and mGPD activity (-22%). Hypothalamic and pituitary D2 activities were higher (+24% and 1.4 fold, respectively), while brown adipose tissue (BAT) D2 and skeletal muscle D1 activities were lower (-30% and -62%, respectively). Thus, neonatal hyperthyroidism programs for a higher fat proportion and hyperleptinemia, which can explain the lower food intake. The TH-dependent enzymes activities changed accordingly, except for the decrease in BAT D2, which may be due the role played by the hyperleptinemia. Finally, the decrease in peripheral deiodination may contribute to a lower me-tabolic rate that may increase the adiposity.     

几种白蚁诱饵防霉剂的防霉效果比较

比较了8种供试防霉剂对黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus(Shiraki)喜食饵料小米粉的防霉效果,结果表明2‰山梨酸钾和0.75‰对小米粉的防霉效果较好,两者都能使野外试验坑中的小米粉样品8d后不发霉。室内试验结果表明,2‰山梨酸钾不影响黑翅土白蚁对小米粉的取食量;而0.75‰百菌清显著降低了黑翅土白蚁对小米粉的取食量,对黑翅土白蚁有明显的驱避作用。野外试验进一步表明,投饵8d后,小米粉诱饵、小米粉+2‰山梨酸钾诱饵、小米粉+0.75‰百菌清诱饵的发霉率分别为100,20和30%,而三者的被食率分别为27.67,53.70和19.15%。由此可见,2‰山梨酸钾最适合作为白蚁诱饵的防霉剂。     

黄土高原旱作区糜子-绿豆带状种植农田小气候特征与产量效应

基于黄土高原干旱地区生态环境特性,研究了4种糜子(P)-绿豆(M)间作模式下[2∶2(2P2M)、4∶2(4P2M)、4∶4(4P4M)、2∶4(2P4M)]农田小气候特征及产量效应.结果表明: 糜子-绿豆间作模式显著增加了生育后期糜子的株高、叶面积指数(LAI)和叶绿素含量(SPAD),使其达到最佳的生长状态;由于高位糜子的遮阴,导致矮位绿豆阶段性徒长,株高显著增加,而LAI和SPAD均有所下降.糜子-绿豆间作模式降低了糜子籽粒灌浆过程中的群体上层光照度和空气温度,而相对湿度显著上升.地上部气候环境的变化调控了间作体系地下部的土壤温度,减少了群体的漏光损失,使其表现出冷湿的生态环境.而矮位绿豆较差的通风透光条件形成相对封闭的间作系统,抑制了绿豆植株的生长发育,使其处于间作劣势.与单作相比,2P2M、4P2M、4P4M和2P4M处理的糜子单株穗数、穗长、单株粒重和千粒重分别增加了7.5%～45.0%、2.2%～12.2%、35.4%～94.0%和2.3%～4.7%,产量比单作提高了5.6%～20.7%;间作处理下矮位绿豆的分枝数、单株荚数、单株粒重和百粒重均有不同程度的下降,2P4M间作模式下的绿豆受糜子影响最小,产量比单作降低了34.8%.糜子-绿豆间作存在明显的间作优势,各间作处理下的土地当量比(LER)均大于1,2P4M间作模式下的LER达到最大值(1.86).因此,黄土高原地区糜子-绿豆最佳的间作配比为2P4M.     

PYY(3-36) reduces food intake and body weight and improves insulin sensitivity in rodent models of diet-induced obesity

The gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) was recently proposed to comprise an endogenous satiety factor. We have studied acute anorectic functions of PYY(3-36) in mice and rats, as well as metabolic effects of chronic PYY(3-36) administration to diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and rats. A single intraperitoneal injection of PYY(3-36) inhibited food intake in mice, but not in rats. We next investigated the effects of increasing doses (100, 300, and 1,000 microg.kg-1.day-1) of PYY(3-36) administered subcutaneously via osmotic minipumps on food intake and body weight in DIO C57BL/6J mice. Whereas only the highest dose (1,000 microg.kg-1.day-1) of PYY(3-36) significantly reduced food intake over the first 3 days, body weight gain was dose dependently reduced, and on day 28 the group treated with 1,000 microg.kg-1.day-1 PYY(3-36) weighed approximately 10% less than the vehicle-treated group. Mesenteric, epididymal, retroperitoneal, and inguinal fat pad weight was dose dependently reduced. Subcutaneous administration of PYY(3-36) (250 and 1,000 microg.kg-1.day-1) for 28 days reduced body weight and improved glycemic control in glucose-intolerant DIO rats. Neither 250 nor 1,000 microg/kg PYY(3-36) elicited a conditioned taste aversion in male rats.     

Effect of the melanocortin receptor stimulation or inhibition on ethanol intake in alcohol-preferring rats

It has been recently reported that acute intracerebroventricular injection of 1 nmol/rat of the non-selective melanocortin 3 and 4 receptor (MC3/4) agonist MTII reduces ethanol intake in female AA alcohol-preferring rats and alters opioid peptide levels in the ventral tegmental area of rats. To better understand the role of the MC system in the control of ethanol intake, we tested the acute and chronic effects of lateral ventricular (LV) injections of 0.01-1 nmol MTII, of 0.1-1 nmol of the MC3/4R receptor antagonist agouti related peptide (AgRP), and 0.1-0.5 nmol of the MC3/4R receptor antagonist SHU9119 on food, water, and 10% ethanol intake in Marchigian-Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, which spontaneously ingest pharmacologically relevant quantities of ethanol both under short and long term access conditions. The data showed that with 2h/day ethanol access, LV MTII injections reduced intake of food and ethanol intakes. When food, water, and ethanol were available ad libitum and 0.01 nmol MTII was given by daily LV injection, however, ethanol intake was reduced for only the first 2 days, whereas food intake was reduced for all 5 days of treatment. Finally, acute LV injection of neither AgRP nor SHU9119 affected ethanol intake under ad libitum conditions, although both antagonists significantly increased food and water intake. In conclusion, these data fail to support a role for endogenous MC3/4R in the control of spontaneous ethanol intake in the msP rat. MC3/4R agonism, however, reduced ethanol intake in association with reduced food intake, suggesting that MTII might reduce nutrient-related controls of ethanol intake rather than, or in addition to, reward-related controls of ethanol intake.     

Aversion learning techniques to evaluate dairy cattle handling practices

Fear of humans is a source of stress for Holstein dairy cattle and can result when animals are handled aversively. We used aversion learning techniques to determine which handling practices cattle find most aversive. In an aversion race, the cows are repeatedly walked down a race and treatments applied when they reached the end; the time and force required for cows to walk down the race are measured. The animal learns to associate walking down the race with the treatment received; if the treatment is aversive, the animal will take more time and require more force to reach the end of the race than if the treatment is positive. In experiment 1, 54 cows were assigned to four treatments (hit/shout, brushing, control, and food). Treatments of 2-min duration were applied three times a day for 4 days. Cows on the hit/shout treatment took more time and required more force to walk through the race than cows on other treatments, while brushed cows took longer to move through the race than cows given food. In experiment 2, 60 cows were assigned to five treatments (electric prod, shouting, hitting, tail twist, and control). Treatments of 1-min duration were applied three times a day for 3 days. Cows on the shout and electric prod treatments took more time and required more force to walk down the race than cows on the control treatment. In experiment 3, thirty-six 1-1.5-year-old heifers were assigned to three treatments (hand feeding, gentling, or control) applied as in experiment 2. Treatments did not affect the time or force required to walk down the race. The aversion race successfully discriminated between handling treatments that differ greatly in aversiveness but lacked sensitivity to distinguish between treatments that were similar. Although many procedural factors must be considered, aversion learning techniques are an effective method to determine which handling practices cattle find aversive or rewarding.