Adenosine Triphosphate in the Bovine Rumen During Maximum Nutrient Supply and Starvation

Abstract

The concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in rumen fluid from heifers fed high levels of nutrients continuously and after 12–24 h starvation has been determined in order to examine the influence of different physiological conditions. The conventional parameters for characterizing the rumen fermentation have been applied to control the effect of a different nutrient supply. The mean concentration of ATP, determined by the luciferin‐luciferase assay, was 55.3 mg ATP/l rumen fluid in a heifer fed continuously, twice as much as found in a starved heifer. The mean ratio of biomass/ATP changed from 683 at the high level of energy intake to 1208 in the period of starvation. Consequently, the concentration of ATP in the rumen micro‐organisms is markedly influenced by nutritional conditions. Finally, the applicability of ATP determinations in rumen microbiology is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate and Deoxyribonucleic Acid in the Alimentary Tract of Cattle Fed Different Nitrogen Sources

“…The samples for bacterial counts were treated in a Waring blender for 2 min and in a Stomacher (Colworth) for a further 2 min before the bacteria were counted. Total counts of micro-organisms and calculation of biomass were made by the method of Wolstrup & Jensen (1976). ATP was determined by the luciferin-luciferase method (McElroy 1947) as described by Wolstrup & Jensen (1976).…”

“…Total counts of micro-organisms and calculation of biomass were made by the method of Wolstrup & Jensen (1976). ATP was determined by the luciferin-luciferase method (McElroy 1947) as described by Wolstrup & Jensen (1976). DNA, extracted in perchloric acid, was determined as described by Herbert et al (1971); the colour reaction with diphenylamine was measured spectrophotometrically (600 nm).…”

“…Midway between two feedings on the day of sampling, rumen fluid was collected by suction through a perforated tube (Wolstrup & Jensen 1976). Two hours later the reticulo-rumen was emptied manually, and a representative sample of the total contents taken.…”

“…IT IS OBVIOUS that suitable and reproducible methods are required for routine analysis of the microbiology of the rumen. We have proposed that the determination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) could provide a measure of the microbial activity in the rumen (Wolstrup & Jensen 1976;Jensen & Wolstrup 1977), a concept discussed by Forsberg & Lam (1977). It has been shown that variations in the concentration of ATP in the biomass are associated with the growth conditions of the micro-organisms.…”

ATP measurement in sheep rumen digesta using dimethyl sulfoxide as an extraction reagent

“…This variation has been related to the digestibility of the diet (Wolstrup and Jensen, 1976 ;Forsberg and Lam, 1977 ;Wallace and West, 1982) (Forsberg and Lam, 1977) Accepte en juillet 1984.…”