No abstract

To gain further information on diabetes-related disorders in the somatotrophic and lactotrophic axes, we undertook a functional, morphometrical and densitometrical study of the arcuate nucleus (AN), median eminence (ME) and anterior pituitary gland of adult male rats one month after streptozocin-induced diabetes (STZ-D). The basal secretory activity of somatotrophs and lactotrophs was tested by the reverse haemolytic plaque assay (RHPA) and plasma GH and prolactin (PRL) levels were determined by RIA. The number of GH-releasing factor (GRF)-labelled axons and the amount of axonal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactivity increased in STZ-D. There were no significant differences in any of the other densitometrical measurements performed on GRF-, somatostatin-, thyrotropin-releasing hormone- and TH-labelled ME axon cross-sections as well as those on tuberoinfundibular-dopaminergic neurones of the AN in STZ-D compared with control rats. Plasma GH and PRL levels and measurements on anterior pituitary GH- and PRL-labelled structures were decreased in STZ-D. However, the GH and PRL plaque areas were increased after RHPA implying that the secretory capacity of somatotrophs and lactotrophs was not impaired. Taken together, these results suggest that the accumulated GRF in the ME is due to reduced GRF release. This could account for the reduced amplitude and/or frequency of GH secretory pulses. The increased axonal TH-immunoreactivity may indicate an increased dopamine synthesis. If coupled to increased release this could, in turn, be partly responsible for the reduced plasma and anterior pituitary PRL concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Material and methods 13Animals: Castrated boars ofthe Large White breed were held at the Swiss Federal Res. Stn. for Animal Production Grangeneuve, Posieux, Switzerland. Stable temperature ranged from 18-25°C. Bodyweights (BW) were measured once weekly before the morning feeding. In exp. 1, one animal died during blood collection prior to the aminopyrine breath test. In exp. 3, one animal of the group fed ensiled 0-RSM had to be excluded because of a disease unrelated to RSM feeding. Feeds and feeding:In exp. I, which lasted for 5 wk, 42 pigs were divided into 7 groups of 6 animals each and fed diets containing 5, 10, and 20% 0or 00-RSM, or a diet containing soybean meal. In exp. 2, which lasted for 12 wk, 24 pigs were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each and fed diets containing 5 and 10% 0-RSM, 10Vo 00-RSM or soybean meal. In exp. 3, which lasted for 10 wk, 6 pigs were fed a diet containing 20% ensiled, another 6 pigs 20% non-ensiled 0-RSM.The 0-RSM was a mixture of several rapeplant varieties grown in Switzerland (Jet Neuf, Korina, Lingot, Bienvenu). The 00-RSM was of Danish origin, obtained from Olag AG, Hamburg, FRG. The composition of 0-, 00-RSM, and ensiled 0-RSM is shown in Table 1. 0-RSM contained much higher concentrations of total glucosinolates, gluconapin, glucobrassicanapin, progoitrin, napoleiferin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin and goitrin than 00-RSM. In 00-RSM, concentrations of epiprogoitrin, glucoerucin, glucoberteroin, glucoraphanin, glucoalussin, gluconasturtin, neoglucobrassicin and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin were plpmol/g dry matter (DM) or not detectable. Glucosinolates were not detectable in ensiled 0-RSM, but goitrin was present in high amounts. Concentrations of aromatic choline esters and sinapine were somewhat higher in 0than in 00-RSM and ensiled 0-RSM. S-methyl-1-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCO) was not detectable in 0-RSM, 00-RSM, and ensiled 0-RSM. The concentration of sulfur was almost double, that of tannine slightly higher in 0-RSM than in 00-RSM.Besides 0or 00-RSM, diets contained barley, corn, wheat, ground oats, fat, soybean meal, lysine, methionine, minerals, and vitamins. In exp. 1, the 7 diets on the average contained (per kg DM) 889 g DM, 52 g crude ash, 178 g crude protein, 3 1 g crude fat, 54 g crude fiber, 147 MJ digestible energy (DE), 6.6 g calcium, 5.8 g phosphorus, 4.2 g cystine, 9.4 g lysine and 2.9 g methionine. In exp. 2, the diet (per kg DM) contained 883 g DM, 47 g crude ash, 161 g crude protein, 32 g crude fat, 51 g crude fiber, 148 MJ DE, 6.5 g/kg calcium, 5.3 g/kg phosphorus, 3.1 g/kg cystine and 7.8 g/kg methionine. In exp. 3, 20% ensiled or non-ensiled 0-RSM (per kg DM) contained 877 and 882 g DM, 37 and 45 g crude ash, 108 and 158 g crude protein, 25 and 25 g crude fat, 33 and 48 g calcium, 3.9 and 5.5 g phosphorus, 2.9 and 4.8 g cystine, 5.0 and 8.1 g lysine, and 1.5 and 2.6 gmethionine, resp. Diets of exp. 1 and 2 were prepared and fed as pellets, feed in exp. 3 was given as meal.The 0-RSM was ensiled at a DM content of 35% in plastic barrels after addition in co...

In the brain of a 4-year-old ewe extensive Rosenthal fiber (RF) formation was found in a subpial and subependymal location and in particular in the cerebellar white matter. Here, the RFs were concentrated around blood vessels, and there was diffuse myelin rarefaction. The animal had given birth to two lambs, which were still healthy at the age of 3 weeks when their mother died after a short illness with astasia and alternating states of somnolence and hyperexcitability.

Summary Effects of feeding soybean meal (SBM) or a mixture of SBM and 5%, 10% and 15% of either 0‐ and 00‐rapeseed presscake meal (RPM) on thyroid, liver and growth performance were studied in castrated boars. Goitrin (G) intake was closely correlated with total glucosinolate intake and blood thiocyanate concentration. In pigs fed 10% and 15% 0‐RPM refused feed was enhanced and daily gain decreased. Liver weight and DNA/total liver increased with increasing G intake. Thyroid weights increased up to a G intake of 4.6 mmol/d and then decreased with higher G intake. DNA content/g dry matter (DM) increased continuously and total thyroidal DNA content up to a G intake of 4.6mmol/l, indicating hyperplasia. Epithelial thickness increased up to a G intake of 13.3 mmol/d, whereas follicular area only up to an intake of 4.6 mmol G/d and then decreased, mirrored by a decrease of DM content. Thyroidal thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) content decreased with increasing G intake. Blood serum levels of T4 decreased with increasing G intake, whereas T3 levels only tended to decrease. Therefore, measured parameters differently reacted to different G intake. In groups fed high amounts of G, hyperplasia was not sufficient to maintain physiological circulating T4 levels, but enhanced thyroidal secretion T3 and/or extrathyreoidal T4 to T3 conversion obviously allowed maintenance of near normal circulating T3 concentrations and barely reduced growth rate despite marked hypothyroidism.