Effect of copper sources and levels on serum lipid profiles in Black Bengal (Capra hircus) kids

Twenty eight 2–3 month old castrated male Black Bengal kids (Capra hircus) were used to determine the effects of dietary Cu concentration on lipid metabolism. These kids were randomly assigned to one of seven treatments in a ((2 × 3) + 1) factorial arrangement. Factors were two sources of Cu (CuSO₄ versus Cu proteinate) fed at three dietary levels (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg) and the control group, where neither CuSO₄ nor Cu proteinate were supplemented. Kids were fed a basal diet containing maize (19.5%), soybean (17.0%), deoiled rice bran (56.5%), molasses (4.0%), di-calcium phosphate and salt (1.0% each), and mineral and vitamin mixture (0.5% each) supplements, at 3.5% of BW to meet NRC requirements for protein, energy, macro minerals and micro minerals, excluding Cu. The basal diet (DM basis) contained 5.7 mg Cu/kg, 122.5 mg Fe/kg, 110 mg Zn/kg, 0.26 mg Mo/kg and 0.32% S. CuSO₄ or Cu proteinate (Cu-P) was added to the basal diet at the rate of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg. Kids were housed in a well-ventilated shed with facilities for individual feeding in aluminum plated metabolic cages in an open-sided barn. Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 30, 60 and 90 to determine serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), total lipid and phospholipids. Kids were slaughtered after metabolism trial and liver tissues were collected to determine the copper and zinc concentrations. Kids receiving Cu-P showed higher (P < 0.05) HDL, total lipid and phospholipid concentrations. Increase in dietary level of Cu significantly decreased (P < 0.05) serum cholesterol and increased serum HDL, total lipid and phospholipid concentrations. There was an increasing (P < 0.05) trend in liver Cu with the increased dietary level of Cu supplementation irrespective of source, but the increasing rate was greater with CuSO₄ than Cu-P supplementation. Kids’ diet containing 30 mg/kg CuSO₄ had 26% more liver Cu than those fed iso-amounts of Cu-P. Fecal Cu excretion was increased with the increasing dietary level of Cu, and excretion was reduced by the use of Cu-P in the diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of organic Cu in the form of copper proteinate had significant effects on lipid metabolism in goat kids. There was an increase in accumulation of Cu in the liver and excretion of Cu in feces with the increase of dietary level of Cu in the diet of Black Bengal kids.     

Effect of isoproterenol (ISO) on rat heart,liver, kidney,and muscle tissue levels of zinc,copper, and magnesium

X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to measure the concentrations of zinc, copper, and magnesium in the heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney following isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis in male albino rats. Serum activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) were also measured. There was depletion of myocardial zinc, copper, and magnesium on d 1, followed by an uptake of all these elements on d 2. The liver showed a significant uptake of magnesium, along with depletion of copper. There was no change in the kidney and skeletal muscle concentrations of these elements. Possible explanations for the observed changes and their therapeutic significance are presented.     

Effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium deficiency on the uptake and mobilization of ions in Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum)

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium deficiency reduced the uptake of³²P-phosphate,³⁵S-sulphate,²⁴Na-,⁴²K-,⁴⁵Ca-,⁵⁴Mn-,⁵⁹Fe- and⁶⁵Zn- byCicer arietinum (Bengal gram) cv B-75. Root length, leaf area and dry weight of the tissues were also reduced. Since in several cases, the total contents of the radio nucleides both on per plant and per unit dry weight basis were curtailed, the decrease in uptake of several ions cannot be entirely due to reduced growth rate. The reduction in³²P-phosphate uptake was more severe with nitrogen deficient plants than that in phosphate deficient ones; potassium deficient plants, however, took up⁴²K- as avidly as the control plants. Simultaneously the uptake of³⁵SO^{4 2}- and other cations was affected particularly by nitrogen deficiency. The distribution of radionucleides between the root and shoot portions was also disturbed in several cases by deficiency conditions. The radionucleides taken up accumulated in the young regions as in the case of pea and other dicotyledonous plants. Mobilization of³²P and³⁵S in the reproductive plants was most markedly affected by nitrogen and potassium-deficiency.     

Effect of amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic drug, on serum and liver lipids and serum marker enzymes in rats.

Administration of amiodarone (AD) to rats leads to marked damage to liver, as evidenced by pathological changes and significant increases in activities of serum marker enzymes and levels of lipids like cholesterol and phospholipids with no alteration in the triglyceride levels. The risk factor, that is the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio, exhibited increase in the experimental animals, indicating that amiodarone treatment may lead to the development of coronary heart disease.     

Human serum deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) polymorphism: pattern similarities among isozymes from serum, urine, kidney, liver, and pancreas.

We have devised a zymogram method with high sensitivity and resolution for investigating molecular heterogeneity and genetic polymorphism of deoxyribonuclease I. A combination technique of polyacrylamide-gel isoelectric-focusing electrophoresis and the newly developed zymogram method have led to the discovery of genetic polymorphism of human serum DNase I. Family studies showed that the three common phenotypes--DNASE1 1, DNASE1 1-2, and DNASE1 2--and the other five relatively rare phenotypes--DNASE1 1-3, DNASE1 2-3, DNASE1 2-4, and DNASE1 3-4--represent homozygosity or heterozygosity for four autosomal codominant alleles, DNASE1 *1, DNASE1 *2, DNASE1 *3, and DNASE1 *4. The frequencies of DNASE1 *1, DNASE1 *2, DNASE1 *3, and DNASE1 *4 calculated in a Japanese population were .5517, .4358, .0104, and .0021, respectively. Moreover, it was found that urine and extracts of kidney, liver, and pancreas, as well as serum, can be used for DNase I phenotyping.     

Isolation of (copper, zinc-) thioneins from pig liver.

The copper-binding proteins with mol. wt. of approx. 12000 in the cytosol of pig liver have been identified as copper-thioneins. They contain variable amounts of zinc, with approx. 10% total metal in the protein. The molar cysteine/metal ratio is approx. 2:1.     

Influence of jute (Corchorus olitorius) seed protein enriched diet on some enzymes and liver lipids of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The effect of protein, isolated from Jute (Corchorus olitorius) seed was studied upon albino rats with respect to some of their serum, liver and intestinal enzymes and liver lipids. An increase in the body weight (including the weight of the liver) was noted in test animals after feeding with a Jute seed protein enriched diet. It was also observed that AST, ALT and total lipid of liver increased significantly whereas AST and ALT of serum were decreased. An increase in the concentration of lipids in the liver was found and this may be due to excess of the seed protein in the diet. An overall observation reveals that there is slight fatty infiltration in the liver of test animals.     

Variability of hematocrit value, blood serum beta- and gamma-globulin level and body weight in different transferrin genotypes of common vole (Microtus arvalis, Pallas 1779) from natural population

1. Heterozygotes TfF/TfE of voles did not differ in body weight, they had higher hematocrit value (males and females), higher beta-globulin fraction (males) or higher gamma-globulin fraction (females). 2. A smaller variability of parameters studied was observed in heterozygotes than in homozygotes. Small and similar variability occurred in hematocrit value and beta-globulins while higher variability occurred in body weight and gamma-globulins. 3. In common voles the faster migrating E system of transferrin may have a higher capacity for iron transport than the F system. 4. Seasonal changes of hematocrit value in vole populations seems to result from genetical and physiological variability. 5. Sexual and seasonal changes in beta-globulin level appear to be related to changes in sexual activity of the animals during the seasons. 6. In autumn, low weight of animals and high serum gamma-globulin level, with the same physiological variability of these two parameters, suggest the synthesis of gamma-globulins with tissue (muscle) proteins. 7. Autumnal increase of gamma-globulin level seems to be very important, taking into consideration the role of the protein in water retention and its filtration from the tissues. Very high level of the protein fraction may play a role in winter high mortality of voles.     

Purification, some properties, and tissue distribution of a major lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-2) of rat liver.

We previously purified and characterized a major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-1) from rat liver [Akasaki et al. (1990) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 38, 2766-2770]. The present study describes the purification of another major lysosomal membrane glycoprotein (r-lamp-2) from rat liver and compares the tissue distribution of r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2 in rats. R-lamp-2 was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity from rat liver by a simple method with a protein yield of approximately 4.0 micrograms/g wet weight of liver. The purification procedure includes: preparation of tritosomal membranes, extraction of tritosomal membranes with Lubrol PX, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and monoclonal antibody-Sepharose affinity chromatography. R-lamp-2 exhibited an Mr of 96,000 on SDS-PAGE and had an acidic pI of less than 3.5. R-lamp-2 contained 52.3% carbohydrates. Its carbohydrate moieties were composed of numerous sialyl complex type N-linked oligosaccharides and small amounts of O-linked oligosaccharides. Both r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2 were detected in all rat tissues examined by immunoblot analyses, while their apparent molecular weights differed among the tissues. Immunological quantitative analysis showed that the protein concentrations of r-lamp-2 were consistently lower than those of r-lamp-1 in all the tissues tested. There was a significant correlation with a regression coefficient of 0.86 in the tissue distribution between r-lamp-1 and r-lamp-2. A good correlation was also observed in the tissue distribution between acid phosphatase and r-lamp-2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)