3-Hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate administration diminishes fundectomy-induced osteopenia of the lumbar spine in pigs.

Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that oral administration with 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate (HMB) positively influences bone metabolism and diminishes fundectomy-induced osteopenia of the axial skeleton in pigs. The pig model was chosen because of its recognized physiologic and anatomic similarities of the gastrointestinal tract and skeletal system to those of humans.

Methods: Eighteen male pigs were divided into three weight-matched groups at 40 d of life.

Neonatal programming of skeletal development in sheep is mediated by somatotrophic axis function.

Nutritional and metabolic exposure during critical periods of prenatal and neonatal development in animals and humans may induce long-term effects on health status in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neonatal treatment with beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) during the first 3 weeks of life on programming of skeletal development in sheep. The study was performed on 12 male sheep divided into two groups.

Molecular characterization of Babesia canis canis isolates from naturally infected dogs in Poland.

Babesia canis has generally been considered the only large Babesia to infect dogs. In this study, we used PCR to detect and characterize B. canis canis isolated from naturally infected dogs in Poland by amplifying and sequencing a portion of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene.

Fundectomy-evoked osteopenia in pigs is mediated by the gastric-hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of gastric impairment in pigs on the axial and peripheral skeletal system properties and to test the hypothesis that fundectomy-evoked osteopenia is related to disturbed gastric-hypothalamic-pituitary axis function. Forty-day-old male piglets were subjected to experimental fundectomy (FX group, n = 6) to induce osteopenia, while sham operation was performed in the controls (SHO group, n = 6). At the age of 8 months, serum samples were collected, and the animals were sacrificed to obtain lumbar vertebrae (L1-L6) and right humerus for analysis.

Prenatal programming of skeletal development in the offspring: effects of maternal treatment with beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on femur properties in pigs at slaughter age.

Alteration in fetal growth and development in response to prenatal environmental conditions such as nutrition has long-term or permanent effects during postnatal life. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) treatment of sows during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy on programming of skeletal development in the offspring. The study was performed on 141 pigs born by 12 sows of Polish Landrace breed.

Resistance to Verticillium dahliae (Kleb.) in the strawberry breeding lines.

Verticillium species are soil-borne fungi with worldwide distribution, causing vascular disease that results in severe yield and quality losses in fruit and nut crops, legumes, vegetables, forest trees, and woody and herbaceous ornamentals. Most crop diseases are caused by the two species Verticillium dahliae Klebahn and V. albo-atrum Reinke and Berthier, which differ in morphology, host range, and growth characteristics.

The ghrelin pentapeptide inhibits the secretion of pancreatic juice in rats.

Ghrelin, a 28 amino acids polypeptide was recognized as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It turned out that the entire sequence of ghrelin is not necessary for performing the above-mentioned functions. It was suggested that 5 residues (Gly-Ser-Ser(n-octanoyl)-Phe, pentaghrelin) constituted functionally active part of the full-length polypeptide.

Comparison of plasma biochemical parameters in Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian horses during the same-intensity exercise.

The objective of the present study was to compare changes of blood parameters induced by the same work and performed in the same conditions in two racehorse breeds, Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian. The effect of moderate-intensity exercise was studied in 20 stallions--ten Thoroughbreds, aged 2-3 years and the same number of Purebred Arabians, 3-4 years old. All the horses were administrated the same effort test consisting in 1200 m gallop at a speed typical of the daily training sessions.

Effect of maternal dexamethasone and alpha-ketoglutarate administration on skeletal development during the last three weeks of prenatal life in pigs.

Background: The effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on postnatal bone formation processes is known to decrease the synthesis of collagen and bone matrix, but the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is to induce positive effects on growth and skeletal development during postnatal life. However, the effects of Dex and AKG treatment on the prenatal processes of skeletal development have not been investigated so far.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Dex and AKG administered separately or simultaneously to sows during the last three weeks of pregnancy on the skeletal development in fetuses.

Comparison of the blood plasma catecholamines level in thoroughbred and Arabian horses during the same-intensity exercise.

The aim of this study was to compare changes in epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels in blood plasma of two racehorses breeds: Arabian and Thoroughbred during moderate intensity exercise performed in the same conditions. The increase in plasma E level just after exercise was higher in Thoroughbreds than in Arabians. During the whole test, the Arabians showed the higher levels of NE and DA as compared to those found in Thoroughbreds.

Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate increases mineralization and mechanical properties of tibia in turkeys.

Skeletal disorders in rapidly growing poultry are commonplace. This study was performed to investigate the effect of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) administration during the last 7 weeks of life on structural properties, mineralization, and mechanical endurance of skeleton in turkeys at slaughter. Healthy HB Medium Bronze female turkeys were randomly assigned to two weight-matched groups at the age of 12 weeks.

Effects of alpha-ketoglutarate on bone homeostasis and plasma amino acids in turkeys.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of denervation and alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) administration on the development of osteopenia in the turkey radius. At 22 d of age, all turkeys were subjected to neurectomy of the right radius. Control turkeys were given a saline solution into the crop each day for 97 d.

Long-term denervation of the humerus in turkeys as an experimental model for osteopenia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of long-term denervation on volumetric bone mineral density, and geometrical and mechanical properties of the humerus in turkeys. The experiment was conducted from d 22 after hatching until wk 17 of life. All experimental birds (male turkeys) were randomly divided into 2 weight-matched groups.

Monitoring of Alternaria Ness and Cladosporium Link airborne spores in Lublin (Poland) in 2002.

The concentration of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores was monitored throughout the year 2002 in Lublin (Eastern Poland). Fungal spores were sampled with Lanzoni VPPS 2000 volumetric spore trap. The total annual spore concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium reached 30,880 and 865,254 spores/m3, respectively.

Changes in the level of endogenous leptin, FSH, 17beta-oestradiol and metabolites during lupin-induced increase in ovulation rate in ewes.

The aim of the study was to determine the changes in the plasma concentration of leptin during lupin feeding-induced increase in the ovulation rate (OR) in ewes. Additionally, alterations in the plasma level of glycogenic amino acids and glucose (as the factors influencing leptin secretion) and the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 17beta-oestradiol (E-2) (as the hormones regulated by leptin and engaged in recruitment, selection and development of ovulatory follicles) were analysed. Ninety-six female Polish Lowland Sheep were used.

Ultrastructural changes of retinal ganglion cells in rabbits of New Zealand breed after experimental administration of 2-CDA (Cladribine).

The experiment was carried out on rabbit females of New Zealand breed weighing about 3 kg. The animals from the experimental group received. Cladribine in the dose of 0.

Histological examination of the retinal ganglion layer in rabbits after experimental administration of the new immunosuppressive medicine--Cladribine.

The experiment was carried out on rabbit females of New Zealand breed weighing about 3 kg. Animals from the experimental group received Cladribine according to the schema of experimental treatment in the hairy cell leukemia and rabbits from the experimental group II--according to the schema of experimental treatment in multiple sclerosis. Specimens of retina were collected for histological examinations in the light microscope.

Activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in human semen in normozoospermia and spermatopathy.

The aim of the study was to assess the levels of antioxidative enzymes--superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the whole semen of men treated for infertility. The first group consisted of the patients with normozoospermia; the second--included the men with oligozoospermia. According to sperm motility, the patients were divided into the third group--motility higher than 50% and the fourth group--motility lower than 50%.

Protective role of superoxide dismutase in iron toxicity in yeast.

It has been found that yeast mutants deficient in cytosolic superoxide dismutase CuZnSOD are hypersensitive to ferrous iron. In contrast mutants that are deficient in catalases and cytochrome c peroxidase do not differ from the standard strain in this respect. These findings suggest that iron toxicity may depend on the redox status of the cell.

Iron toxicity in yeast.

It has been found that yeast cells are sensitive to iron overload only when grown on glucose as a carbon source. Effective concentration of ferrous iron is much higher than that found in natural environments. Effects of ferrous iron are strictly oxygen dependent, what suggest that the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the Fenton reaction is a cause of the toxicity.

Two ways of iron oxidation by yeast.

It has been found that yeast cells suspended in saline containing ferrous salts could oxidize them to the ferric form by excreting H2O2 and ammonia. Excretion of ammonia accelerates spontaneous oxidation of iron by molecular oxygen. Ammonia generation probably results from the degradation of amino acids within starving cells.

Physiological suppression of superoxide dismutase deficiency in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Deficiency in superoxide dismutases results in pleiotropic effects including hypersensitivity to oxygen and amino acid auxotrophy. Various types of physiological suppressors of deficiency in cytosolic superoxide dismutase were isolated, whereas attempts to isolate suppressors of mitochondrial enzyme deficiency proved a failure. General characteristics of isolated suppressors are presented.

Oxygen toxicity and microbial evolution.

It is postulated that the role of oxygen toxicity in the evolution of life strongly depends on the origin of molecular oxygen, due to the strong redox buffering capacity of Precambrian waters containing large amounts of ferrous and manganese cations. The critical selective pressure could be observed only after aerobic photosynthesis had been developed, due to the high local concentration of oxygen in close vicinity of photosynthesizing cells. It is also postulated that early oxygen-evolving organisms excreted a substantial part of this element in the form of hydrogen peroxide.