Fructokinase, Fructans, Intestinal Permeability, and Metabolic Syndrome: An Equine Connection?

Fructose is a simple sugar present in honey and fruit, but can also exist as a polymer (fructans) in pasture grasses. Mammals are unable to metabolize fructans, but certain gram positive bacteria contain fructanases and can convert fructans to fructose in the gut. Recent studies suggest that fructose generated from bacteria, or directly obtained from the diet, can induce both increased intestinal permeability and features of metabolic syndrome, especially the development of insulin resistance.

Feeding saponin-containing Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria to decrease enteric methane production in dairy cows.

An experiment was conducted in vitro to determine whether the addition of saponin-containing Yucca schidigera or Quillaja saponaria reduces methane production without impairing ruminal fermentation or fiber digestion. A slightly lower dose of saponin was then fed to lactating dairy cows to evaluate effects on ruminal fermentation, methane production, total-tract nutrient digestibility, and milk production and composition. A 24-h batch culture in vitro incubation was conducted in a completely randomized design with a control (no additive, CON) and 3 doses of either saponin source [15, 30, and 45 g/kg of substrate dry matter (DM)] using buffered ruminal fluid from 3 dairy cows.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of Yucca schidigera: a review.

Yucca schidigera is a medicinal plant native to Mexico. According to folk medicine, yucca extracts have anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects. The plant contains several physiologically active phytochemicals.

Diet composition and blood values of captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented meat or commercial food preparations.

Nutrition most certainly affects health and may play a role in the etiology of growth and reproductive problems in captive cheetah (Acinonyxjubatus) populations. The objective of our research was to examine nutritional differences between two dietary regimens and quantify their physiologic effects on cheetahs held in captivity. Twelve cheetahs were randomly assigned to either a commercial diet (COM) or a supplemented meat diet (SMD) group.

Steroidal saponins of Yucca schidigera Roezl.

Eight steroidal saponins have been isolated from Yucca schidigera Roezl. trunk, and their structures were established by spectral (MS and NMR) techniques. These included three novel furostanol glycosides including 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5 beta(25R)-furostan-3 beta,22 alpha,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3-O-beta-D-glcopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5 beta(25R)-furost-20(22)-en-3 beta,26-diol-12-one 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 3-O-beta-D-glcopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5 beta(25R)-furostan-3 beta,22 alpha,26-triol 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and five known spirostanol glycosides.

Studies on the use of Yucca schidigera to control giardiosis.

The potential anti-giardial activity of a powdered preparation of Yucca schidigera (yucca powder) was investigated in vitro, in a modified adherence inhibition assay, and in vivo, by enumeration of trophozoites (intestinal) or cysts (fecal) in experimentally infected gerbils and lambs receiving oral doses of whole or butanol-extracted yucca powder. Yucca powder, butanol-, acetone- and chloroform-extracted powder, and the butanol-insoluble fraction of the powder were required in concentrations of 22, 15, 62, 135 and 250 microg/ml, respectively, to reduce in vitro trophozoite adherence by 50%. Ethyl ether extract exhibited no anti-giardial activity.

Resveratrol and other phenolics from the bark of Yucca schidigera roezl.

Five phenolic constituents have been identified in Yucca schidigera bark, and their structures were established by spectral (FABMS and NMR) experiments. These included two known stilbenes, trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene (resveratrol) and trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene, as well as three novel compounds, yuccaols A, B, and C, with spiro-structures rarely occurring in the plant kingdom. It is suggested that yuccaols A-C are biosynthethized via attachment of a stilbenic derivative to the carbocationic intermediate of the oxidative flavanone-flavonol conversion.

Effect of steroidal saponin from Yucca schidigera extract on ruminal microbes.

The effects of steroidal saponins (SAP) isolated from Yucca schidigera extract on ruminal bacteria and fungi were investigated in pure culture studies. Prevotella bryantii, Ruminobacter amylophilus, Selenomonas ruminantium and Streptococcus bovis were cultured through ten 24-h transfers in ruminal fluid medium containing 0 or 25 microg SAP ml-1 (measured as smilagenin equivalents). The four strains, each non-exposed or pre-exposed to SAP, were then inoculated into medium containing 0 or 250 microgram smilagenin equivalents ml-1 and 24-h growth curves were determined.

Effect of Yucca schidigera on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestion in heifers.

In a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square experiment, six heifers (443 +/- 6.1 kg) fed a 61% barley grain:39% alfalfa silage diet (DM basis) were given intraruminal doses of powdered Yucca schidigera (YS). Doses of 0 (control), 20, or 60 g/d were given at 0800 daily.

Shrinking membership in the American Society of Animal Science: does the discipline of poultry science give us some clues?

Concerns have been expressed by the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) leadership about the declining membership in ASAS. I present the viewpoint that the history of the Poultry Science Association (PSA) membership and the elimination of poultry science departments from many land grant universities could be an indication of what the future holds for animal science. I suggest that the industrialization of poultry production has led to a decline in the demand for traditionally trained poultry scientists.

Interactions in sheep between tall fescue ergot alkaloids and hepatotoxic carbon tetrachloride and Senecio pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

The interaction between ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) seed and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) in tansy ragwort (TR; Senecio jacobaea) when simultaneously fed to sheep was investigated. Because of the hepatogenic effects of prolactin (PRL), it was hypothesized that low serum PRL induced by ergot alkaloids would increase the susceptibility of sheep to hepatotoxicity induced by PA. Sheep are normally resistant to PA-induced hepatotoxicity.

Species differences in the hepatic microsomal enzyme metabolism of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Species differences in pyrrolic metabolites and senecionine (SN) N-oxide formation among eight animal species (sheep, cattle, gerbils, rabbits, hamsters, Japanese quail, chickens, rats) varying in susceptibility to pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) intoxication were measured in vitro by hepatic microsomal incubations. The results suggested that there is not a strong correlation between the production of pyrrolic metabolites and susceptibility of animals to PA toxicity. The rate of PA activation in hamsters, a resistant species, measured by formation of (+/-)6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (DHP) far exceeded the rate of SN N-oxide formation (detoxification) (DHP/N-oxide = 2.

Do domestic animals have minds and the ability to think? A provisional sample of opinions on the question.

Faculty, staff, and graduate students in a number of departments, students in an undergraduate course, and some groups outside the university were polled to obtain their perceptions about whether domestic animals have minds, the ability to think, and differing degrees of intelligence (the surveys focused only on horses, cows, sheep, dogs, chickens, pigs, cats, and turkeys). A clear majority of all groups surveyed (except the Department of Zoology) said yes, they believe animals have minds, but a substantial number of those in animal sciences and zoology (17 to 25%) said no. A number of others in animal sciences, zoology, and philosophy (11 to 37%) refused to answer the question because the concept of mind was not defined.

The roles of CYP3A and CYP2B isoforms in hepatic bioactivation and detoxification of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine in sheep and hamsters.

The roles of cytochrome CYP3A and CYP2B isozymes in the bioactivation and detoxification of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) senecionine (SN) have been investigated in vitro with sheep and hamster hepatic microsomes. Our results show that the rate of SN activation measured by (+/-)-6, 7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (DHP) formation greatly exceeded the rate of SN N-oxide formation (detoxification) in hamsters. In contrast, SN N-oxide, a detoxification product, was the major metabolite in sheep with much lower DHP production.

Protein kinase C isoforms in muscle cells and their regulation by phorbol ester and calpain.

Objectives were to identify the PKC isoforms in cultured muscle cells, to examine roles of Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases (calpains) in processing of various muscle PKC isozymes and to obtain a mechanistic description of the processing of PKCs by examining the temporal relationships between phorbol ester-dependent translocation of muscle PKCs and calpains between cytosolic and membrane compartments. Using six isoform (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta)-specific polyclonal antibodies, PKC alpha, delta and zeta were detected in rat skeletal muscle and in L8 myoblasts and myotubes. PKC alpha and zeta were primarily localized in the cytosolic fraction of L8 myotubes whereas PKC delta was more abundant in the membrane fraction.

Endogenous toxins and mycotoxins in forage grasses and their effects on livestock.

Plant toxins are the chemical defenses of plants against herbivory. Grasses have relatively few intrinsic toxins, relying more on growth habit to survive defoliation and endophytic fungal toxins as chemical defenses. Forage grasses that contain intrinsic toxins include Phalaris spp.

A review of the functional and evolutionary roles of the liver in the detoxification of poisonous plants, with special reference to pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Coevolutionary relationships between herbivores and poisonous plants are described. Hepatic detoxification reactions (Phase I and Phase II) are discussed in the context of susceptibility and resistance to poisonous plants. Animal species differences in susceptibility to poisonous plants are discussed, with a comparison of liver vs rumen microbe detoxification pathways.

Dietary pyrrolizidine (Senecio) alkaloids and tissue distribution of copper and vitamin A in broiler chickens.

The effect of feeding a diet containing 5% tansy ragwort (TR) (Senecio jacobaea), a poisonous plant containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), on the blood and liver levels of copper, zinc, iron and vitamin A in broiler chicks was examined. Serum and liver copper and liver iron concentrations were increased in chicks fed a diet with 5% TR, while serum and liver zinc and vitamin A decreased. When PA were removed from the diet, partial restoration of normal serum vitamin A level occurred, indicating that the ability to mobilize liver vitamin A is not irreversibly inhibited by PA.

Prediction and causation of litter market traits from preweaning and weaning characteristics in commercial meat rabbits.

Market data on 1,315 rabbits from 201 litters from Californian (CAL), New Zealand White (NZW), CAL X NZW and NZW X CAL dams bred to CAL, NZW and Flemish Giant sires were subjected to multiple regression and path analyses. Market traits observed in litters at 56 d included average kit weight (A56W), litter size (LS56), total litter weight (L56W) and within-litter uniformity in individual weights (LCV). Preweaning variables as covariates included in the model were dam metabolic body weight (DMW), litter born (LSB), litter birth weight (LBW), milk yield from 1 to 21 d (MY) and feed intake from 1 to 28 d of the dam and litter (FI).

Effects of cimaterol on rabbit growth and myofibrillar protein degradation and on calcium-dependent proteinase and calpastatin activities in skeletal muscle.

The objectives of this study were to examine effects of a beta-adrenergic agonist (cimaterol) on growth and muscle development in rabbits and to examine cimaterol's effects on myofibrillar protein degradation (MPD) and on activities of several proteolytic enzymes including the calcium-dependent proteinases (CDP). Twelve New Zealand White rabbits were assigned to either control diets or to diets containing cimaterol for 35 d, after which they were killed and effects on performance and tissue weight gains were determined. Urine was collected from d 21 through 28 from each rabbit for assessment of N tau-methylhistidine (NMH) excretion.

Effects of dietary pyrrolizidine (Senecio) alkaloids on vitamin A metabolism in rats.

In two experiments, the effect of feeding the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-containing plant tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) on the metabolism of vitamin A in rats was examined. In Experiment 1, dietary levels of 0, 5 and 10% tansy ragwort and 0, 25,000 and 100,000 IU supplementary vitamin A/kg diet were used. In rats fed tansy ragwort, both plasma and liver concentrations of vitamin A were depressed (P less than 0.

Toxicity and metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are found mainly in plants of three families: boraginaceae, Compositae and Leguminosae. In North America, PA poisoning of livestock is caused primarily by consumption of Senecio and Crotalaria spp. The PA of Senecio spp.

Effects of dietary butylated hydroxyanisole and cysteine on toxicity of Lathyrus odoratus to broiler and Japanese quail chicks.

The effect of .75% dietary butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 1% cysteine on the toxicity of Lathyrus odoratus seed to Japanese quail and broiler chicks was examined. In both species, the feeding of Lathyrus seed as a component of a complete diet depressed (P less than .