Cutaneous water loss and lipids of the stratum corneum in two syntopic species of bats

The lipid matrix of the stratum corneum (SC), the outer layer of the epidermis of mammals and birds, constitutes the barrier to diffusion of water vapor through the skin. The lipids of the SC are structured in the intercellular spaces of the mammalian epidermis in ordered layers, called lamellae, which have been postulated to prevent water loss. Lipids in the mammalian SC are mainly cholesterol, free fatty acids and ceramides, the latter forming the structural support for the lamellae. However, knowledge on how the lipid composition of the SC alters cutaneous water loss (CWL) in mammals is rudimentary, and is largely derived from studies on laboratory animals and humans. We measured CWL of individuals of two species of syntopic bats, Tadarida brasiliensis and Myotis velifer. In the first study of its kind on wild mammals, we correlated CWL with the lipid composition of the SC, measured using thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry. Surface-specific CWL was 20.6% higher in M. velifer than in T. brasiliensis, although differences were not significant. Compared with individuals of M. velifer, individuals of T. brasiliensis had more classes, and a higher proportion, of polar ceramides in the SC, a feature associated with lower CWL. Individuals of T. brasiliensis also had a class of non-polar ceramides that presumably spans the lamellae and gives more cohesiveness to the lipid matrix of the SC. We conclude that qualitative and quantitative modifications of the lipid composition of the SC contribute to regulate CWL of these two species of bats.     

Dietary energetics of the insectivorous Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) during pregnancy and lactation

Stomach content analysis of 20 pregnant (x body mass=13.4 g) and 18 lactating (x body mass=11.5 g) female Tadarida brasiliensis revealed that the diet, expressed as percent volume, consists largely of lepidopterans, coleopterans, hymenopterans, and dipterans, in decreasing order of importance. We found no significant difference in the diet of pregnant and lactating females when expressed as percent volume. However, when expressed as percent frequency, proportionately more pregnant females fed on lepidopterans, coleopterans, and dipterans than did lactating bats, and proportionately more lactating females fed on hymenopterans. We found no significant differences in the percentages of water, lean dry mass, fat, and energy density in the stomach contents of pregnant and lactating females. Water in stomach contents averaged 62.7% and fat and lean dry mass averaged 22.2% and 15.2%, respectively (expressed as percentage of wet mass); energy density averaged 31.2 kJ g^–1 dry mass. This relatively high energy density of stomach contents, as compared to whole insects, can be attributed to the consumption of insects high in fat (especially flying ants) and the abdomens only of moths and beetles (other body parts being discarded). Estimates of nightly food intake increased markedly from mid- to late pregnancy, stabilized or decreased during late pregnancy, and increased again during early to mid-lactation. Average nightly feeding rate doubled from pregnancy to lactation and increased threefold during the first half of lactation. By adjusting our gravimetric estimates of nightly feeding rate upwards by 40% (based on estimates of field metabolic rate), we estimate that the average nightly energy intake of female T. brasiliensis ranges from 57 kJ day^–1 in early lactation to 104 kJ day^–1 in mid-lactation. These estimates represent nightly feeding rates averaging 39% and 73% of a female's body mass in the period from early to mid-lactation, respectively.     

Roosting ecology and variation in adaptive and innate immune system function in the Brazilian free-tailed bat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tadarida brasiliensis</Emphasis>)

Bats have recently been implicated as reservoirs of important emerging diseases. However, few studies have examined immune responses in bats, and even fewer have evaluated these responses in an ecological context. We examined aspects of both innate and adaptive immune response in adult female Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) at four maternity roosts (two natural caves and two human-made bridges) in south-central Texas. Immune measurements included in vitro bactericidal ability of whole blood and in vivo T cell mediated response to mitogenic challenge. Bactericidal activity in T. brasiliensis varied with roosting ecology, but appears to be sensitive to colony-level effects. Blood from females living at one cave had significantly lower bactericidal ability than blood from females at three other sites. T cell mediated response in this species was associated with variation in roost ecology, with females from two caves having greater responses than females from two bridges. T cell mediated response and bactericidal activity were negatively correlated with one another within individuals that were tested for both. Variation in immunological response of T. brasiliensis is important for understanding the influence of the environment on the frequency and distribution of immunologically competent individuals and for understanding disease-host dynamics in this and other colonial species.     

DNA fingerprinting provides evidence of discriminate suckling and non-random mating in little brown bats Myotis lucifugus

Recent advances in DNA extraction and fingerprinting techniques allowed examination of genetic similarity of groups of Myotis lucifugus at maternity roosts. Mean percentage band-sharing between young was significantly higher than between mothers, suggesting fertilization success skewed for individual males or male lineages. Mean percentage band-sharing between presumed mothers and young was significantly higher than band-sharing between all other groups, suggesting that Myotis lucifugus preferentially suckle their own young.     

Body temperature and body mass of hibernating little brown bats <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myotis lucifugus</Emphasis> in hibernacula affected by white-nose syndrome

Populations of hibernating bats in the northeastern USA are being decimated by white-nose syndrome (WNS). Although the ultimate cause of death is unknown, one possibility is the premature depletion of fat reserves. The immune system is suppressed during hibernation. Although an elevated body temperature (T _b) may facilitate an immune response, it also accelerates the depletion of fat stores. We sought to determine if little brown bats Myotis lucifugus Le Conte 1831 hibernating in WNS-affected hibernacula have an elevated T _b and reduced fat stores, relative to WNS-unaffected Indiana bats Myotis sodalis Miller and Allen 1928 from Indiana. We found that WNS-affected M. lucifugus maintain a slightly, but significantly, higher skin temperature (T _skin), relative to surrounding rock temperature, than do M. sodalis from Indiana. We also report that WNS-affected M. lucifugus weigh significantly less than M. lucifugus from a hibernaculum outside of the WNS region. However, the difference in T _skin is minimal and we argue that the elevated T _b is unlikely to explain the emaciation documented in WNS-affected bats.     

Plasma leptin decreases during lactation in insectivorous bats

We previously demonstrated high leptin levels during late pregnancy in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). We now extend these observations to a second species, the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), and also report that leptin increases after the first trimester of pregnancy. Leptin decreased to baseline 1 week following parturition, with a half-time decay of 2 days. During lactation, leptin was significantly correlated with body mass in E. fuscus, but not in M. lucifugus. No circadian pattern of leptin was observed in M. lucifugus. The decrease in post-partum leptin in bats may be partly explained by loss of putative placental leptin. The continued decrease may reflect depletion of body fat during this energy demanding period, at least in Eptesicus. Changes in leptin during lactation appeared to be independent of circadian effects and time of sampling. Our study provides additional evidence that leptin increases during pregnancy and declines during lactation in a free-ranging mammal, supporting the hypothesis that leptin plays important but yet undetermined roles in reproduction. Accepted: 4 October 1998     

Distribution of lead in human milk fractions

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration and distribution of lead, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper in major fractions (fat, casein, whey) of mature milk from 38 nursing adult women with low environmental lead exposure. The potential associations between milk lead and maternal blood lead and between milk and blood lead and essential mineral data (nutritional status, dietary intake, and milk concentration) were investigated. Maternal blood lead (geometric mean, 60 μg/L) was negatively associated, although modestly, with dietary calcium intake (r=−0.32, p=0.02). Lead in whole milk (geometric mean, 1.2 μg/L) was positively associated with calcium in whole milk (r=0.56, p=0.005). Distribution of lead in milk fractions was 63%, 28%, and 9%, in whey, fat, and casein, respectively. Milk distribution of essential minerals was 67–76%, 17–18%, and 7–17% in whey, fat, and casein, respectively. Lead in milk whey was positively associated with lead in maternal blood (r=0.49, p=0.02). However, milk lead was not affected by nutritional status, dietary intake, and milk composition of the essential minerals. The high percentage of lead in the milk whey fraction, as seen for the essential minerals, suggests that most lead in human milk is bioavailable to the infant.     

Trophic ecology and gill raker morphology of seven catostomid species in Iowa rivers

Understanding the trophic ecology of closely‐related species is important for providing insight on inter‐specific competition and resource partitioning. Although catostomids often dominate fish assemblages in lotic systems, little research has been conducted on their ecology. This study was developed to provide information on the trophic ecology of catostomids in several Iowa rivers. Food habits, diet overlap, and gill raker morphology were examined for highfin carpsucker Carpiodes velifer, quillback C. cyprinus, river carpsucker C. carpio, golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum, shorthead redhorse M. macrolepidotum, silver redhorse M. anisurum, and northern hogsucker Hypentelium nigricans sampled from four Iowa rivers (2009). Diet overlap among all species was calculated with Morista’s index (C). Food habit niche width was quantified with Levin’s index (B) and similarity in gill raker morphology was compared with analysis of covariance. Values from Morista’s index suggested significant overlap in the diets of highfin carpsucker and river carpsucker (C = 0.81), quillback and river carpsucker (C = 0.66), and shorthead redhorse and silver redhorse (C = 0.67). Levin’s index indicated that golden redhorse (B = 0.32), quillback (B = 0.53), and river carpsucker (B = 0.41) had the most generalized feeding strategies as their food niche widths were substantially wider than the other species. Gill raker length and spacing were positively correlated with the standard length of the fish for all species (gill raker length: r² = 0.67–0.88, P ≤ 0.01; gill raker spacing: r² = 0.63–0.73, P ≤ 0.01). Slopes of regression of gill raker length and spacing to standard lengths were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different among species, indicating that rates of change in gill raker morphology with body length varied among species. Differences in gill raker morphology likely allow catostomids to partition resources and reduce competitive interactions.     

Milk composition reflects pattern of material care in prosimian primates

Hypothesized relationships between milk composition and life history traits were examined by analyzing mid-lactation milks of seven lemurs (Eulemur fulvus, E. macaco, E. rubriventer, E. mongoz, Varecia variegata, Hapalemur griseus, Lemur catta), three bushbabies (Otolemur crassicaudatus, O. garnettii, Galago moholi), and two lorises (Nycticebus coucang, Loris tardigradus); partial data were also obtained for the lemuroid Cheirogaleus medius. There were significant differences in milk composition among species within either Eulemur or Otolemur, but the four genera for which multiple samples were available (Eulemur, Varecia, Otolemur, and Nycticebus) exhibited large composition differences. Eulemur milk was, on average, very dilute (9.9% dry matter) and low in energy (0.49 kcal/g). These milks contained 0.9% fat, 1.2% protein, and 8.4% carbohydrate on a fresh weight basis. Protein energy comprised only about 15% of total milk energy. Varecia had significantly higher dry matter (13.5%), fat (3.2%), protein (4.2%), gross energy (0.80 kcal/g), and protein energy: total energy ratio (28%) than Eulemur. Milks of the lorisoid genera Otolemur and Nycticebus were very similar, and both had significantly higher dry matter (18.3, 16.3%), fat (7.6, 7.0%), and gross energy concentration (1.27, 1.13 kcal/g) than either lemuroid genus. Otolemur milk was higher in protein than Nycticebus milk. We conclude that lorises, bushbabies, and perhaps cheirogaleids produce relatively rich, energy-dense milks in comparison with anthropoid primates. However, dilute milks appear to be uniformly found among species of Eulemur and perhaps in Lemur catta. The milk of Varecia (and perhaps Hapalemur) is intermediate in composition. Differences in milk composition among prosimians may be related to differences in maternal care: prosimians that carry their young during lactation produce more dilute milks than do species which leave their young unattended for prolonged periods. When looking at primates as a whole, however, the picture is somewhat less clear, since the milks of some “parkers” like Varecia do closely resemble those of large anthropoid primates who carry their young. Am. J. Primatol. 41:195–211, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Macronutrient composition of longitudinal milk samples from captive aardvarks (Orycteropus afer)

Hand‐rearing and assisted‐rearing aardvarks in captivity has become commonplace and has led to success in breeding the species. However, the macronutrient content of aardvark milk past 1 month of age is unknown. A better understanding of aardvark milk composition would enhance captive management efforts. Here, we assayed milk samples from two captive individuals from 2 to 114 days postpartum (N = 21) for dry matter, fat, crude protein, total sugar, ash (total minerals), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and gross energy. The body weight of one calf was measured from birth to weaning. Milk macronutrient composition was compared to that of other Afrotherian species and Xenarthra species with similar diets. Average protein, fat, and sugar concentrations of aardvark milk across lactation were 12.3%, 13.6%, and 2.5%, respectively. Ash averaged 1.9%, with Ca (0.50%) and P (0.35%) accounting for about 45% of total minerals. All measured nutrients increased over lactation except sugar, which decreased. Aardvark milk is high in energy (2.12 kcal/g) mostly derived from fat and protein and little energy from sugar. Calf growth was linear (r² = 0.995) with a mean gain of 159 g/day, achieving almost 30% of adult weight at weaning. Within Afrotheria, aardvark milk is higher in fat and protein and lower in sugar than elephant milk and more closely resembles the milk of its fellow insectivore, the elephant shrew. Aardvark milk is also similar in composition to milk of insectivorous Xenarthra species (nine‐banded armadillo and giant anteater). Aardvark milk composition is consistent with the species’ high‐protein diet, fast growth, and nursing pattern.     

Calibration of FST-hemispheres against bottom shear stress in a laboratory flume*

SUMMARY.

• 1 Fliesswasserstammtisch (FST)-hemispheres of identical size but different densities were exposed on a horizontal plane on the pebble-covered bottom of a laboratory flume at streaming to shooting, turbulent and fully developed flow. The heaviest hemisphere moved was used as an indicator of shear stress, a flow force acting on the flume bottom.
• 2 The relationship between shear stress and hemisphere density was practically the same for three different sets of hemispheres, namely one prototype set newly prepared for the calibrations, one prototype set intensively used in the field prior to calibrations, and one randomly selected new set bought commercially.
• 3 Shear stress (y, dyn cm^?2) was related to hemisphere density (x, g cm^?3) by y= x^2.85 (n= 69; r²= 0.993). For lighter hemispheres this relationship was better explained by the linear model y= 7.32x– 6.60 (n= 35; r²=0.983).

     

Variation in body composition of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) during lactation

Most small mammals support the nutritional requirements of milk production by increasing food intake. However, when nutrient intake is low, maternal body reserves may be mobilized to maintain adequate milk output. We examined patterns of body composition, including dry matter, fat, protein, and mineral content in big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, during lactation. Concentrations of fat and phosphorus were markedly lower in lactating mothers during week three of lactation than during the first two weeks, but these constituents rebounded to previous levels in the fourth and fifth week. Rapid recovery from fat depletion suggests that females are able to adjust to changes in demands for energy. The decrease in phosphorus during mid-lactation suggests bone demineralization, but an interspecific comparison of adult concentrations of minerals prevalent in bone suggests that mineral concentrations may never reach critically low levels in reproductively active females.     

Mollugo viscosa sp. nov. (Molluginaceae), a segregate of M. brasiliensis from Minas Gerais in eastern Brazil

The new species Mollugo viscosa Thulin & Harley is described from Minas Gerais in eastern Brazil. It was previously part of the recently published M. brasiliensis Thulin & Harley, a species that was found to be non‐monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic analyses. Mollugo brasiliensis is here divided into a northern species (M. brasiliensis s.str.) in Bahia and a southern species (M. viscosa sp. nov.) in Minas Gerais. The new species differs from M. brasiliensis in its denser and more viscous indumentum, and in its distinctly smaller seeds with smaller tubercles and a smaller hilar peg, and from its sister species M. ulei by being a perennial herb with bisexual flowers.     

The effect of water depth on bacterial numbers,thymidine incorporation rates and C:N ratios in northeast Atlantic surficial sediments

The effect of water depth on bacterial biomass and their ability to synthesise DNA, by measuring their rate of [³H]-thymidine incorporation, was investigated in the northeast Atlantic at three sites of varying water depth (1100–3580 m) and sediment characteristics. Thymidine incorporation rates (y) in surficial sediments varied between 0.028 and 1.44 pmol h^–1 g^–1 and showed an exponential relationship with depth (x) according to the equation y= 2.05e^–0.0011x (r=0.9830 for n=7, P<0.001). However, this relationship failed when a layer of phytodetritus was found overlying the surface sediment and [³H]-thymidine incorporation rates increased by 80–339%. In contrast, bacterial numbers varied between 1.09 and 11.96 × 10⁸ cells g^–1 (dry weight) and showed no significant relationships with water depth or sediment POC/TN content. Significant exponential relationships were also found between water depth (x) and the POC (y ₁) and total nitrogen (TN, y ₂) content of surficial sediments according to the following equations: where y ₁ = 719e^–0.0003x (r=0.8700 for n=9, P<0.01) and y ₂ = 76e^–0.0002x(r=0.7582 for n=9 P<0.02). These relationships were irrespective of the presence or absence of an overlying layer of phytodetritus. This suggests that the POC and TN content of these surficial deep sea sediments is directly related to the flux of material through the water column, which significantly impacts bacterial production.     

Novel SNPs in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ATP1B2</Emphasis> gene and their associations with milk yield,milk composition and heat-resistance traits in Chinese Holstein cows

Genetic association analysis was applied to examine the effect of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase beta 2 subunit (ATP1B2) gene on rectal temperature, milk traits, K⁺ levels and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) activity in the red blood cells of 1001 Chinese Holstein cows under normal and heat-stress conditions. We detected two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms, G2258A and C2833T, in the second and fourth introns, respectively, of ATP1B2. G2258A significantly affected milk fat content (P < 0.05) and 305-day milk yield (P < 0.01), but not milk protein content. C2833T significantly affected milk protein content (P < 0.01) and 305-day milk yield (P < 0.05), but not milk fat content. Calculated gene substitution effects suggested that A to G substitution in G2258A, and T to C substitution in C2833T, positively affected milk fat content, 305-day milk yield and somatic cell score, but negatively affected milk protein content. We also detected significant variation in milk fat content, milk protein content, 305-day milk yield and somatic cell scores (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) among the nine ATP1B2 haplotypes. Under heat-stress, the C2833T polymorphism was significantly related to rectal temperature (P < 0.01), red blood cell K⁺ levels, NKA activity and milk yield (P < 0.05). Cows with the TT genotype showed the desirable characteristics of low rectal temperature and red blood cell K⁺, low decline rate in milk yield and red blood cell NKA activity. This study suggests that the ATP1B2 single nucleotide polymorphism C2833T is a genetic marker of heat-resistance traits in Chinese Holstein cows.     

Morphometric relationships for some species of elasmobranch from tropical eastern Pacific

This study proposes length relationship equations to determine total length of four species of sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis, Mustelus lunulatus, Sphyrna lewini and Carcharhinus limbatus) based on trunk lengths (TrL) and interdorsal lengths (IL) caught in Colombia and Central America Pacific Ocean. In Central American Pacific, data were recorded for C. falciformis, C. limbatus and S. lewini between 2006 and 2012. In the Colombian Pacific, data was recorded in 1994–1995 and from 2006 to 2012 for C. falciformis, S. lewini and M. lunulatus. In the Central American Pacific the IL – TL relationship was acceptable for C. falciformis (r² = .69) and C. limbatus which presented a good relationship (r² = .81) where most specimens were juveniles; the same trend was found for S. lewini (r² = .96). The TL‐TrL relationship estimated for species caught in the Colombian Pacific was significant for C. falciformis (r² = .98) and for M. lunulatus (r² = .84); however, for S. lewini this relationship was low (r² = .55). Results indicate this is a useful tool for fishery statistics and fishery management for elasmobranch species of the Eastern Tropical Pacific.     

Effect of irrigation treatments upon the chemical constituents ofHibiscus sabdariffa L.

Summary The effects of Se and P on the dry matter yield and chemical composition of Raya (Brassica juncea Cos. var. R.L. 18) were studied in the green-house. The dry matter yield in P treated and untreated pots increased with Se application upto 2.5 ppm. With further increase in Se dose upto 10 ppm, dry matter yield decreased. The increase in P dose from 0 to 50 ppm increased dry matter yield in all Se treated and untreated pots but 100 ppm P rather showed decrease in dry matter yield as compared to 50 ppm P.The Se concentration increased by about 100 fold with the application of 10 ppm Se over 0 ppm Se where P was not added whereas increase was 258 and 336 times when 50 ppm and 100 ppm P was added, respectively. Inorganic, organic and total P increased with increasing Se and P. The increase in inorganic P was more than organic and total P. S and N concentration decreased with increasing Se application and increased with P application.Crude protein showed the same behaviour as N. The total sulphur-containing amino acids (which ranged from 39 to 49% of crude protein) and individual sulphur-containing amino acids like methionine (16.9 tot 20%) cysteine (9.8 to 13%) and cystine (12.3 to 15.9%) decreased with the increasing selenium but increased with increasing phosphorus. N/S ratio in the plant showed significant negative correlation with total sulphur-containing amino acids (r=–0.940^**), methionine (r=–0.951^**), cysteine (r=–0.929^**) and cystine (r=–0.920^*) whereas total sulphur in the plant showed positive significant correlation with methionine (r=0.805^**), cysteine (r=0.924^**) and cystine (r=0.821^**).     

Use of temperature telemetry to monitor ingestion by a harbour seal mother and her pup throughout lactation

The applicability of using stomach temperature telemetry to detect and estimate milk intake throughout lactation was investigated in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Observations of a mother-pup pair were conducted daily while stomach temperature was concurrently logged. Milk intake caused a decrease in the pup's stomach temperature. The duration of stomach temperature change was related to the length of the nursing bout (r ²=0.82, P<0.001). Laboratory stomach simulations suggested a strong relationship between milk volume and duration of temperature change (r ²=0.98, P<0.001). This relationship was used to estimate the volume of milk consumed by the pup. Suckling bout length and the estimated milk intake per bout increased, as a weekly average, with pup age (one-way ANOVA; F _3.67=11.66, P<0.001) over the 5-week lactation period. A diel change in nursing time was noted, with a transition from largely nocturnal to daytime feedings. Although not visually confirmed, stomach temperature data collected from the mother provided evidence of seawater ingestion. Methods that could improve estimates of milk intake are discussed. Stomach temperature telemetry proved to be a useful technique for detecting ingestion events in harbour seals, and may provide a valuable tool for investigating lactation energetics and aspects of maternal investment in a variety of nursing species.     

Use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of the chemical composition and nutritional attributes of green crop cereals

The NIR spectra of 135 samples of the following green crop oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), triticale (x Triticosecale), wheat (Triticum durum), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and sorghum (x Sorghum sudanense) grown in Portugal, were obtained by reflectance from oven-dried, milled whole plant material. Samples were cut at various stages of development (viz. stem elongation, boot, early heading, milk and dough stage) and were analysed by standard laboratory methods. The nutritive value was evaluated in vivo using rams in metabolic cages. The green crops showed values of ASH varying from 5.5 to 14.9%, crude protein (CP) from 5.0 to 22.3%, crude fibre (CF) from 25.3 to 40.4%, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) from 45.9 to 77.2%, acid detergent fibre (ADF) from 23.6 to 49.9%, acid detergent lignin (ADL) from 1.7 to 8.0%, dry matter digestibility (DMD) from 53.2 to 82.9%, organic matter digestibility (OMD) from 56.2 to 85.0% and dry matter intake (IVDMI) from 35.8 to 88.6 g DM kg⁻¹ W^0.75. Spectra were used to develop NIR calibration models for ASH (SEC=0.72; r²=0.90), CP (SEC=0.63; r²=0.98), CF (SEC=1.02; r²=0.94), NDF (SEC=1.41; r²=0.97), ADF (SEC=1.43; r²=0.96), ADL (SEC=0.49; r²=0.87) and in vivo attributes DMD (SEC=2.61; r²=0.86), OMD (SEC=2.36; r²=0.88) and IVDMI (SEC=6.05; r²=0.41). Calibration models were successful for all parameters except for IVDMI. However, animal attributes were less successfully predicted than chemical composition. Calibration models were generated omitting one of the six plant species to assess their ability to accommodate unknown green crop species not represented in the calibration model. In general, NIRS was shown to provide acceptable prediction of composition across different species of green crop cereals whether or not these were included in the calibration process.     

Macrophage-colony stimulating factor in obese adipose tissue: studies with heterozygous op/+ mice

Objective: We examined the gene expression of macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF) in mice with diet‐induced obesity and in genetically obese mice. We also examined the effect of decreased M‐CSF signaling on the susceptibility to obesity and macrophage recruitment into the adipose tissue of mice. Research Methods and Procedures: The adipose tissue from mice with diet‐induced obesity, obese KKA^y mice, and ob/ob obese mice was used for RNA preparation. Production of M‐CSF and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) was examined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The op/+ heterozygous mice, with decreased functional M‐CSF expression, were placed on a high‐fat diet or crossed with KKA^y mice to study the susceptibility to obesity. The gene expression of macrophage markers in adipose tissue was examined. Results: The expression of M‐CSF was not significantly changed in mice on a high‐fat diet or in either type of genetic obesity (KKA^y or ob/ob mice). No change in the degree of obesity or macrophage‐related gene expression (F4/80, CD68, and MCP‐1) in the adipose tissue was observed in op/+ mice compared with +/+ control mice, which were either treated with a high‐fat diet or crossed with KKA^y mice. Discussion: This study demonstrated that there was no significant change in the expression of M‐CSF in the adipose tissue from obese mice and only a minor phenotypic change, such as macrophage infiltration, in the adipose tissue from op/+ mice, suggesting that M‐CSF does not play a major role in macrophage recruitment in the adipose tissue of obese mice.