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Final Body Weight (final + body_weight)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Earth and Environmental Science	75%
Life Sciences	15%
2 Other Domains	10%

Selected Abstracts

Effect of inclusion of blue-green algae meal on growth and accumulation of microcystins in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
M. Zhao
Summary Six isonitrogenous (crude protein content: 38%) and isoenergetic (gross energy content: 17 kJ g,1) diets were formulated to investigate the effects of inclusion of blue-green algae meal on gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). In each diet, 15% of the protein was supplied by fishmeal; the remainder was supplied by soybean meal and blue-green algae meal. Diet 1 was used as control with no blue-green algae meal whereas the content in diets 2,6 was 15.15, 29.79, 44.69, 59.58 and 74.48%, respectively. Each diet was fed to five groups of gibel carp for 12 weeks in a flow-through system. Final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed diet 5 were significantly lower than the control diet (P < 0.05). Mortality of gibel carp increased with increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between fish fed diets 3,6 (P > 0.05). Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) decreased with the increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05). Fish-fed diet 6 showed the highest feeding rate (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences among the other groups (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, protein, and energy decreased with increasing algae meal inclusion in the diets (P < 0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) activity in the liver was not significantly different among groups (P > 0.05). Liver alanine aminotransferase (GPT) activity of fish-fed diets 4, 5 and 6 was significantly lower than the control diet (diet 1; P < 0.05). Microcystins in the muscle, liver, gallbladder, and spleen increased with increasing algae inclusion (P < 0.05). [source]

The potential of land animal protein ingredients to replace fish meal in diets for cuneate drum, Nibea miichthioides, is affected by dietary protein level

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 1 2010
Y. WANG
Abstract A net pen experiment was carried out to examine the effect of dietary protein level on the potential of land animal protein ingredients as fish meal substitutes in practical diets for cuneate drum Nibea miichthioides. Two isocaloric basal (control) diets were formulated to contain 400 g kg,1 herring meal but two different digestible protein (DP) levels (400 versus 350 g kg,1). At each DP level, dietary fish meal level was reduced from 400 to 280, 200, 80 and 0 g kg,1 by incorporating a blend that comprised of 600 g kg,1 poultry by-products meal (PBM), 200 g kg,1 meat and bone meal (MBM), 100 g kg,1 feather meal (FEM) and 100 g kg,1 blood meal (BLM). Cuneate drum fingerling (initial weight 42 g fish,1) were fed the test diets for 8 weeks. Fish fed the test diets exhibited similar feed intake. Final body weight, feed conversion ratio and nitrogen retention efficiency was not significantly different between fish fed the basal diets containing 350 and 400 g kg,1 DP. Weight gain decreased linearly with the reduction of dietary fish meal level at the 350 g kg,1 DP level, but did not decrease with the reduction of dietary fish meal level at the 400 g kg,1 DP level. Results of the present study suggest that fish meal in cuneate drum diets can be completely replaced with the blend of PBM, MBM, FEM and BLM at the 400 g kg,1 DP level, based on a mechanism that excessive dietary protein compensate lower contents of bio-available essential amino acid in the land animal protein ingredients relative to fish meal. [source]

Nutritional evaluation of waste date fruit as partial substitute for soybean meal in practical diets of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L.

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2009
M.S. AZAZA
Abstract The potential of waste date meal (WDM; low-quality date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L.) as a carbohydrate source in formulated diets for Nile tilapia was evaluated. Four isocaloric-practical diets (15.7 kJ g,1) were formulated incorporating WDM at 0, 100, 200 and 300 g kg,1 levels as partial substitutes for soybean meal (SBM). These were designated D0 [284 g crude protein (CP) and 383 g carbohydrate (CHO) kg,1 diet], D1 (279 g CP and 446 g CHO kg,1 diet), D2 (207 g CP and 495 g CHO kg,1 diet) and D3 (175 g CP and 578 g CHO kg,1 diet). Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of 30 fish [20.20 ± 0.09 g (±SE)] for 75 days. No feed-related mortality was observed during the entire experimental period. Final body weight (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR) in the different treatments were statistically not significantly different (P > 0.05). Protein efficiency rate (PER) was lowest in diet D0 and increased with decrease of SBM content (D1,D3). A significant increase in whole body lipid content was recorded in fish fed diets D2 and D3. Results showed that WDM could be a substitute for SBM up to 300 g kg,1 in practical Nile tilapia diets without compromising growth. [source]

Effects of feeding rates on the growth, survival and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon Babylonia areolata Link 1807 in a flowthrough seawater system

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2001
N Chaitanawisuti
The effects of feeding levels on the growth, survival and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile Babylonia areolata Link 1807 were assessed at four daily rations of 3%, 5%, 10% and 15% of body weight. Three duplicated groups of juveniles (mean initial body weight 0.26 ± 0.3 g) were stocked into indoor rearing tanks supplied with a flowthrough system of ambient natural seawater for 150 days. Growth in body weight differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the various feeding levels. Final body weight of individual snails increased with increased feeding ration at a particular ration level. Meanwhile, increasing the daily ration to 10% and 15% significantly improved growth and feed utilization efficiency. The food conversion ratios (FCRs) for the 3% and 5% feeding levels were significantly lower than those for the other feeding levels. Final survival was best at feeding levels of 10% and 15% of body weight, ranging between 96.9% and 97.3%, but was very poor at the 3% and 5% feeding levels, ranging from only 49.5% to 54.8%. [source]

Ascorbic acid oral treatment modifies lipolytic response and behavioural activity but not glucocorticoid metabolism in cafeteria diet-fed rats

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009
D. F. Garcia-Diaz
Abstract Aim:, To analyse the effects of vitamin C (VC), a potent dietary antioxidant, oral supplementation on body weight gain, behavioural activity, lipolytic response and glucocorticoid metabolism in the early stages of diet-induced overweight in rats. Methods:, Food intake, locomotive activity and faecal corticosterone were assessed during the 14 day trial period. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the body composition, biochemical markers and lipolytic response from isolated adipocytes from retroperitoneal white adipose tissue were examined. Results:, The intake of a high-fat diet by rats induced a significant increase in body weight, adiposity and insulin resistance markers as well as a decrease in faecal corticosterone levels compared with standard diet-fed rats. Interestingly, the animals fed on the cafeteria diet showed a significant increase in the isoproterenol-induced lipolytic response in isolated adipocytes. Furthermore, this cafeteria-fed group showed a reduced locomotive behaviour than the control rats. On the other hand, oral VC supplementation in animals receiving the high-fat diet restored the cafeteria diet effect in some of the analysed variables such as final body weight and plasma insulin to control group levels. Remarkably, increases in locomotive behaviour and a significant decrease in the lipolytic response induced by isoproterenol on isolated adipocytes from animals treated with VC were observed. Conclusion:, This work demonstrates that an oral ascorbic acid supplementation has direct effects on behavioural activity and on adipocyte lipolysis in early obesity stages in rats, which could indicate a protective short-term role of this vitamin against adiposity induced by chronic high-fat diet consumption. [source]

Changes in calcium absorption and subsequent tissue distribution induced by Maillard reaction products: in vitro and in vivo assays,

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 2 2006
Cristina Delgado-Andrade
Abstract The effects of Maillard reaction products (MRP) from glucose,lysine and glucose,methionine on calcium bioavailability were studied by in vivo (rats) and in vitro (Caco-2 cells) assays. Equimolar glucose/lysine and glucose/methionine mixtures (40% moisture) were heated (150 °C, 30 min) to prepare samples (GL30 and GM30, respectively). For 21 days, rats were fed a control diet (control group) or diets containing separately 3% of the heated mixtures (GL30 and GM30 groups, respectively). In the last week a calcium balance was performed, after which the animals were sacrificed and some organs and serum were removed to analyze calcium levels. A second balance was carried out throughout the experimental period to calculate global calcium retention (retained calcium during the entire 21 days). Unheated and heated samples were used for calcium transport experiments in Caco-2 cells. Food intake and final body weight were lower in the GM30 group. Calcium fecal excretion decreased and digestibility increased in this group. Accordingly, increased calcium transport in Caco-2 cells was found in the presence of the GM30 sample, when compared with the unheated sample. However, global calcium retention tended to decrease in the GM30 group, mainly owing to the lower food intake. Bone calcium concentrations decreased in the animals fed the MRP diets. The possible long-term effects of MRP intake on calcium digestibility and bone calcium should be taken into account to avoid related diseases. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

The effects of inclusion levels of urea-treated potato pulp silage in concentrate and roughage sources on finishing performance and carcass quality in cull beef cows

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
Masahito SUGIMOTO
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of inclusion levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate (0, 15, 30 or 45%; on a dry matter basis) and roughage sources (rice straw or wheat straw) on finishing performance and carcass quality of cull beef cows. Sixteen Japanese Black (Wagyu) mature cull cows (490 ± 31 kg of BW) were used in this experiment. Increasing the levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate and roughage sources did not significantly affect feed intake in cows. In addition, the final body weight, daily gain and feed : gain ratio were not influenced by the inclusion levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate and the type of roughage. Increasing the inclusion levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate would probably decrease the marbling score. The L* values of the longissimus muscle (LM) tended to respond quadratically (P = 0.078) as the inclusion levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate increased, and was lowest for cows fed the concentrate which included 30% potato pulp silage. The a* and b* values of the LM and fat color were not affected by the inclusion levels of potato pulp silage in concentrate. No effects of roughage sources on finishing performance were observed. [source]

Dietary protein/lipid level and protein source effects on growth, tissue composition and lipid metabolism of blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 2 2010
A.C. FIGUEIREDO-SILVA
Abstract A study was carried out to determine the effects of fish meal (FM) replacement by plant protein (PP) on growth, body composition and lipid metabolism of blackspot seabream fed different protein/lipid levels. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain two protein (P) and lipid (L) levels (60P/6L or 50P/10L), varying in their protein source (100% FM or 50% FM: 50% PP). Dietary inclusion of PP did not affect growth of fish fed 60P/6L, although fish fed 50P/10L exhibited lower final body weight and daily growth index. Fish fed 60P/6L presented the highest protein and the lowest lipid content. FM replacement by PP has decreased muscle n-3 whereas the n-6 fatty acids increased. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) were depressed in fish fed 50P/10L. FAS was significantly increased with 60P/6L PP which was positively correlated with lipid retention data. Those results suggest the conversion of other nutrient than lipid (protein and/or carbohydrates) into corporal fat. Hepatic lipoprotein lipase activity was lowest in fish fed PP diets. Plasma glucose peaked 1,2 h postfeeding, in all groups and was generally higher with 60P/6L FM. This work shown that besides dietary P/L level, protein source has a strong effect on species lipogenesis and lipid retention. Hence, the 50P/10L FM diet was the most cost-effective for blackspot seabream juveniles. [source]

The influence of dietary phospholipid level on the performances of juvenile amberjack, Seriola dumerili, fed non-fishmeal diets

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2009
O. UYAN
Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary phospholipid (PL) level on growth and feed intake of juvenile amberjack (Seriola dumerili) fed non-fishmeal (non-FM) diet containing alternative protein sources; soybean protein isolate, tuna muscle by-product powder and krill meal. Three non-FM diets were prepared to contain three levels (14, 37 and 54 g kg,1 dry diet) of PL (soybean lecithin acetone insoluble, 886 g kg,1) and growth performance was monitored in a 30-day growth trial by using 2.6 g of fish. The results indicated that final body weight, weight gain and feed intake significantly increased with increasing dietary PL level. At the highest dietary PL level (54 g kg,1 dry diet), the fish consumed 14.8% and 10.2% as much feed as those fish fed diets containing 14 g kg,1 dry diet and 37 g kg,1 dry diet PL, respectively. An increasing tendency with increasing dietary PL level on feed efficiency was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that dietary PL supplementation could increase feed intake, and improve the growth of juvenile S. dumerili fed non-FM diets. Therefore, purified PL might be a good candidate to stimulate the growth of fish through enhancing the feed intake when they are fed diets containing alternative protein sources. [source]

Substituting fish meal with poultry by-product meal in diets for black Sea turbot Psetta maeotica

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2006
M. YIGIT
Abstract A 60 days feeding experiment was carried out with Black Sea turbot Psetta maeotica to determine the amount of poultry by-product meal (PBM) that could replace fish meal (FM) in formulated diets without reducing growth performance. Juvenile Black Sea turbot (initial average weight, 30 g) were fed five isoenergetic (gross energy, 20.5 ± 0.21 kJ g,1 diet) and isonitrogenous diets (protein content, 550 ±,0.35 g kg,1). The control diet used white FM as the sole protein source, the other four diets were prepared to replace FM protein at levels of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% with PBM. The fish readily accepted all experimental diets and no mortality were recorded during the trial. There were no significant differences in growth performance of turbot (P < 0.05) fed the diets with 25% and 50% replacement levels compared with fish offered the control diet (100% FM), however, final body weight and specific growth rate values in the 50% replacement diet were about 8% lower than those of the control. Total nitrogen excretion in fish fed 50% replacement diet were about 10% higher than the control group, even though these parameters were not found to be statistically different. At the levels of 750 and 1000 g kg,1 of the protein, PBM inclusion caused a severe decrease in growth performance, feed utilization, protein efficiency ratio and per cent nitrogen retention. The results in the present study indicate that up to 25% of FM protein can be replaced by PBM protein without causing reduction in growth performance, nutrient utilization and nitrogen retention. [source]

Dietary protein level and natural food management in the culture of blue (Litopenaeus stylirostris) and white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in microcosms

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2003
L.R. Martinez-Cordova
Abstract The effect of dietary protein level and natural food management on the production parameters of blue and white shrimp, as well as on water quality, was evaluated in a microcosms system (plastic pools simulating aquaculture ponds). Two experimental trials were carried out in the facilities of DICTUS, University of Sonora, Northwest México. Treatment with low protein diet (LP) consisted of a low protein input (diet with 250 g kg,1 crude protein) through the culture period; treatment with high protein diet (HP) consisted of a high protein input (diet with 400 g kg,1 crude protein) through the trial, and finally treatment VP consisted of an adjustment of protein input (diets with 250, 350 or 400 g kg,1 crude protein), depending on the abundance of biota (zooplankton and benthos) in the system. Each species responded differently to the treatments. For blue shrimp, low protein input resulted in the lowest final body weight (12.9 ± 0.6 g) and biomass (696.0 g pool,1). Survival and feed conversion ratio were similar in the three treatments. For white shrimp, the best growth, biomass and food conversion ratio were obtained in the low protein input treatment. Water quality parameters such as nitrate, ammonia and organic matter during the two trials, were better for LP and VP treatments. White shrimp seems to have lower protein requirements than blue shrimp. For the blue shrimp culture, adjusting protein input according to natural food abundance (zooplankton and benthos) in the system, seems to be advantageous because of the possibility of getting a production similar to that obtained with a high protein input through the farming period, but at lower feed cost, and with a lower environmental impact. It is concluded that a high protein input through the whole farming period is not the best feeding strategy for any of the two species. [source]

Growth and performance of the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei (Boone) cultured in low-salinity water with different stocking densities and acclimation times

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010
Héctor M Esparza-Leal
Abstract We evaluated the performance of whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in response to different stocking densities and acclimation periods. Shrimp postlarvae were acclimated from seawater (30 g L,1) to low-salinity well water (<1.0 g L,1) at a constant hourly reduction rate of 40, 60, 80 and 100 h. After acclimation to low-salinity well water, postlarvae from each acclimation time treatment were stocked in three replicate tanks at densities of 50, 100, 150 or 200 shrimps m,2 for 12 weeks of growth. Salinity averaged <1.0 g L,1 for each growth study. The different treatments resulted in significant differences in both the final body weight and the survival rate (SR). Shrimp acclimated for 100 h showed substantially improved survival (83%) relative to shrimp acclimated for shorter periods. Shrimp yields for all cultured periods ranged from 0.32 kg m,2 in tanks stocked at 50 m,2 to 1.14 kg m,2 in tanks stocked at 200 m,2. We conclude that whiteleg shrimp can be successfully grown in low-salinity well water, and that the growth, production output and SRs are significantly higher when shrimp are acclimated for longer periods. [source]

Effect of intermittent starvation on growth and some antioxidant indexes of Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009
Zhi-Hua Li
Abstract The effect of different periods of starvation (0, 2, 4 and 8 days) followed by re-feeding on growth, feed utilization, oxygen consumption and some immune indexes [reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] was evaluated over an 18-day experimental period in shrimp Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan) that had an initial body weight of 0.52 g. As a result of compensatory growth, indicated by an increase in specific growth rate (SGR), feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) after re-feeding, final body weight of shrimp starved for 2 days (0.63 g) and 4 days (0.65 g) did not differ (P>0.05) from the control group (0.64 g), with feed withholding for 8 days presenting a significant lower value (0.63 g). Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) decreased during the starvation period in all groups, followed by a gradual increase to a similar (P>0.05) value than found in the control group (0.47 mg kg,1 h,1) at the end of the experiment. Although ROIs and the activity of SOD and CAT fluctuated during starvation in the feed-deprived groups, values at the termination of the experiment were comparable (P>0.05) to those found for the control group. [source]

Cyclical feed deprivation and refeeding fails to enhance compensatory growth in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L.

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009
Yan Wang
Abstract A 12-week experiment was carried out to evaluate compensatory growth of 6.6 g Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. under three cyclical regimes of feed deprivation and refeeding. The deprivation and refeeding regimes included four cycles of 1 week of deprivation and 2 weeks of refeeding (S1F2), two cycles of 2 weeks of deprivation and 4 weeks of refeeding (S2F4) and one cycle of 4 weeks of deprivation and 8 weeks of refeeding (S4F8). A group of fish fed to satiation twice daily throughout the experiment served as control. At the end of the refeeding periods, fish deprived and refed cyclically had higher feed intake and specific growth rates (SGR), but lower body weight, than that of the control fish. There was no significant difference in feed efficiency ratio (FER) between the control and fish subjected to feed deprivation during the refeeding periods, and nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) was not different between any two treatments throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, fish subjected to feed deprivation had lower body weight but similar body composition, relative to those of the control fish. No significant differences were found in final body weight, NRE and body composition between the fish subjected to different cycles of deprivation and refeeding, but the fish subjected to one cycle of deprivation and refeeding exhibited high mortality. Our results indicate that partial growth compensation induced by various cycles of feed deprivation and refeeding does not confer a huge advantage in terms of enhancing the production efficiency and reducing the nitrogen waste output in Nile tilapia farming 29,30 °C. [source]

Effect of diet and ration on the relationship between plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 8 2007
Colin Cameron
Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate whether dietary ration or diet composition influence the relationship between plasma growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.). The pattern of changes in plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations was examined in fish fed at different ration levels (0%, 0.35% and 0.70% BW day,1) for 5 weeks, and in fish fed diets containing different lipid:crude protein (LCP) ratios. Ration level significantly affected plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations; at 5 weeks the levels of both hormones in the food-deprived group were significantly lower than in fish fed the 0.70% BW day,1 ration. Also, plasma IGF-1 levels in fish of each ration treatment group were significantly correlated with individual final body weight; no such correlation was found for GH. To examine the effects of dietary LCP ratios, fish were fed for up to 18 weeks, with one of four formulated diets that had LCP ratios (dry matter basis) of 0.35 (Diet 1), 0.43 (Diet 2), 0.51 (Diet 3) or 0.59 (Diet 4), or a commercial diet (Diet 5) which had an LCP ratio of 0.38. Statistical differences in plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations were found only after 18 weeks. Growth hormone was significantly lower in fish fed Diets 1 and 2 compared with Diets 3 and 5, and IGF-1 was significantly lower in fish fed Diet 1 compared with Diets 2 and 5. Significant correlations between plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations were found only for fish fed Diets 1 and 5, suggesting that the influence of diet composition on the relationship between GH and IGF-1 varies with the dietary LCP ratio in this species. The decline in plasma IGF-1 concentrations during food deprivation is similar to that described in other species; however, the unexpected decrease in plasma GH during food deprivation in this study may represent a species-specific response. [source]

Weaning Chinese perch Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) onto artificial diets based upon its specific sensory modality in feeding

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2001
X F Liang
Abstract Chinese perch are one of the most valuable food fish in China, but the sole source of feed for intensive culture is live prey fish. Our previous studies on systematic sensory physiology revealed that this species have a mechanism for this peculiar feeding habit. In the present study, a specific training procedure was designed, and both experimental (initial body weight 171.0 g; 120 days) and commercial (initial body weight 52.4 g; 240 days) net-cage cultures were conducted to investigate the training success, growth performance and survival of the trained yearlings fed with nonlive or Oregon-type moist diet. The training successes of minced prey fish and the Oregon moist diet were 100 and 89.9%, respectively, in experimental culture, and 92.2 and 83.5% in commercial culture. In an experimental trial, the fish fed minced prey fish or the Oregon moist diet attained final body weights of 472.7 g or 344.7 g, although the specific growth rates of these groups were significantly lower than that of the fish fed live prey fish (final body weight 560.0 g). Mortality was not significantly related to dietary treatment. In commercial culture, the final body weights were as follows: 750 g on live prey fish, 705 g on minced prey fish and 651 g on the Oregon moist diet. Feed costs to produce 1 kg fish were estimated to be US$6.59 for live prey fish, US$1.76 for minced prey fish and US$2.07 for the Oregon moist diet. The results of the present study confirmed that sensory modality and associative learning appear to be critical factors in determining food discrimination of Chinese perch, indicating that both minced trash fish and Oregon-type moist diet can be substituted for live prey fish in intensive commercial production. [source]

1,25(OH)2 vitamin D concentration in the plasma of Solanum glaucophyllum intoxicated rabbits

AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2001
ME DALLORSO
Objective To test Solanum glaucophyllum calcinotic effects in adult New Zealand White rabbits in relation to cumulative dose and active principle concentration in plasma. Design An intoxication assay with controls. Procedure Rabbits were orally dosed with aqueous extracts of dry leaves of S glaucophyllum for 5, 7 or 9 days. During the experiment, body weight, calcaemia and phosphataemia were measured; retinal blood vessel calibre was observed by ophthalmoscopic examination of the ocular fundus. 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D plasma concentration was determined at the end of the experimental periods. Soft tissue calcium concentration and the presence of calcinotic lesions were studied after euthanasia. Results Toxic effects were evident in S glaucophyllum treated groups (loss of body weight, elevation of soft tissue calcium concentration, and presence of calcinotic lesions). Plasma 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D concentrations were negatively correlated with final body weight(r = -0.97; P = 0.001), and positively correlated with renal calcium concentration (r = 0.74; P = 0.02). There was also a significant regression of plasma 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D concentration on the cumulative dose of S glaucophyllum(R2= 0.87; P £ 0.001). Conclusions The procedure described here offers a sensitive and practical experimental model for the study of the pathogenesis of enteque seco. [source]

Concentration of copper, iron, manganese and zinc in muscle, fat and bone tissue of lambs of the breed German Merino Landsheep in the course of the growing period and different feeding intensities

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3-4 2007
G. Bellof
Summary A growth experiment with 108 lambs (breed German Merino Landsheep) was carried out in order to examine how gender, body weight and feeding intensity affect trace element concentrations in tissues and carcass. The lambs (50% male and 50% female) were fattened at three levels of feeding intensity (,low', ,medium' and ,high' by varying daily amounts of concentrate and hay) and slaughtered at different final body weights (30, 45 or 55 kg). Six male and six female animals were sacrificed at 18 kg live weight at the beginning of the comparative slaughter experiment. The left half carcass of each animal was divided into muscle tissue, fat tissue as well as bones and sinews and analysed for the trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) as well as zinc (Zn). The body weight level influenced the Zn concentrations significantly in all tissues. In addition, the Fe concentration in the fat tissue was influenced by the body weight as well as the Cu content in the bone tissue. An influence due to gender could be seen for the Zn concentration in the muscle and fat tissue and for the Fe content in the fat and bone tissue as well as for the Cu concentration in the bones. The feeding intensity affected the Cu content in the muscle and bone tissue and also the Zn content in the muscle tissue. In the present study with lambs at body weight range from 18 to 55 kg on an average, 127 mg Fe, 87 mg Zn, 1.5 mg Cu as well as 1.1 mg Mn per kilogram dry matter were found in the bone tissue. In lamb muscle tissue combined from all parts (body weight range from 18 to 45 kg, both genders) the highest concentrations were for Zn and Fe [3.42 and 1.31 mg/100 g meat (wet weight basis)], while Cu remained far below these levels (0.08 mg/100 g meat and Mn was even below the detection limit of 0.025 mg/kg). Lamb muscle is a valuable source for highly available haem-Fe as well as for Zn and Cu in human nutrition. [source]

Nutritional, physiological, and histological responses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. fed diets with genetically modified maize

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2007
G.-I. HEMRE
Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate whether standard fish meal diets prepared with increasing levels of genetically modified (GM; 150 and 300 g kg,1) maize (event MON810®) as a starch source, showed any nutritional or physiological adverse effects on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. postsmolt. The diets with low or high inclusions of GM maize and its near-isogenic parental line (nongenetically modified; nGM maize), were balanced with Suprex maize (Reference) to obtain compositional equivalency of diet starch, sugars and all other nutrients. Total starch level in all diets was 160 g kg,1. After 82 days of feeding, fish growth was high in all groups, however fish fed the GM maize showed slight but significant lower feed intake, which was followed by slight but significant lower specific growth rate and final body weights, compared with fish fed nGM maize, none of the groups varied significantly from fish fed the Reference diet. There was no variation in feed conversion ratios (FCR), protein and lipid efficiency ratios (PER and LER), or protein- and lipid-productive values (PPV and LPV) in this study. No significant effect of maize type was detected on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, protein or lipid. Hematological analysis and plasma nutrients varied within normal ranges for Atlantic salmon in all diet groups, except for somewhat elevated aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) values in all groups. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) with values ranging from 1.37 to 1.60, was significantly higher for the high GM maize group compared with the high nGM maize group but not when compared with the Reference diet group. Lowered spleen (SSI) and head-kidney somatic indices (H-KSI) were registered when fed GM compared with nGM maize, the Reference treatment was however, equal to both. Distal intestine somatic index (DISI) was significantly higher for GM maize-fed fish compared with nGM maize-fed fish, but not significantly different from the Reference diet group. Histological evaluation of the mid- and distal intestine, liver, spleen and head-kidney did not reveal any diet-related morphological changes. Maltase activities in the mid- and distal intestinal tissue homogenates were affected by diet, the fish fed high GM maize having higher activities compared with high nGM maize-fed fish. Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were not affected by diet. Sodium-dependent d -glucose uptake in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from pyloric caeca of fish fed high GM maize was significantly higher than that found in fish fed the analogous diet with high nGM maize. Based on the present findings, the conclusions made are: Atlantic salmon smolts fed GM maize (event MON810®), its near-isogenic parental line and suprex maize (Reference diet), all resulted in high growth rates, ADC and feed utilization. Health, when evaluated by means of mortality (low), normal ranges of blood and plasma parameters, except somewhat elevated ASAT values and minor variations in organ sizes, were considered good in all diet groups. The changes in the glucose transport mechanism and intestinal maltase enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract warrant further studies. [source]