Do Naïve Ruminants Degrade Alkaloids in the Rumen?

Aguiar, R.

doi:10.1007/s10886-005-3543-y

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…It could be hypothesised that horse dung may contain more undigested chemical or mechanical defences of plants. The foregut fermentation of ruminants may allow them to destroy numerous secondary metabolites during digestion (Aguiar and Wink, 2005). These olfactory tests confirmed the trophic preferences of A. constans observed during field trapping experiments, in which adults of this species were collected in much greater abundance in pitfall traps baited with cattle or sheep dung than in traps baited with horse or deer dung (Dormont et al, 2004;Dormont et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Innate olfactory preferences in dung beetles

Dormont

Jay‐Robert

Bessière

et al. 2010

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe effects of insect larval diet on adult olfactory responses to host-plant or food volatiles are still debated. The induction of adult host preferences has been studied in insects with diverse ecologies, including parasitoids, flower-visitors and phytophagous species. We investigated this question for the first time in a coprophagous insect species. Larvae of the French scarab dung beetle Agrilinus constans were reared on four different artificial substrates containing dung from cattle, horse, sheep or wild boar, and responses of imagos to dung volatiles were then behaviourally tested in an olfactometer. We also reported the first analysis of the composition of different mammal dung volatiles. We showed that adult beetles were more attracted to cattle and sheep dung odours, and that larval feeding experience had no effect on the adult olfactory responses to dung volatiles. A second experiment showed that the presence of other insects inside the dung resource affects the process of dung selection by adults. We identified 64 chemical compounds from dung emissions, and showed that dung volatiles clearly differed among different mammal species, allowing olfactory discrimination by dung beetles. Our results suggest that resource selection in coprophagous insects may be based on innate olfactory preferences. Further experiments should examine whether Agrilinus adults can learn new dung odours, and whether larval diet may influence the behaviour of adults in other coprophagous species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Innate olfactory preferences in dung beetles

Dormont

Jay‐Robert

Bessière

et al. 2010

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The potential role of the bacteria and other micro-organisms in the rumen or intestines 529 should not be ignored (Mattocks 1971;Aguiar and Wink 2005). Lanigan (1970) showed that 530 and subsequently l-goreensine and 7-hydroxy-1-methylpyrrolizidin.…”

Section: Relevance Of the Data For Other Plant Species 509mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carry-over of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from feed to milk in dairy cows

Hoogenboom¹,

Mulder²,

Zeilmaker³

et al. 2011

Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are toxins present in many plants belonging to the families of Asteraceae, Boraginaceae and Fabaceae. Particularly notorious are pyrrolizidine alkaloids present in ragwort species (Senecio), which are held responsible for hepatic disease in horses and cows and may lead to the death of the affected animals. In addition, these compounds may be transferred to edible products of animal origin and as such be a threat for the health of consumers. To investigate the possible transfer of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from contaminated feed to milk, cows were put on a ration for 3 weeks with increasing amounts (50-200 g day(-1)) of dried ragwort. Milk was collected and sampled twice a day; faeces and urine twice a week. For milk, a dose-related appearance of pyrrolizidine alkaloids was found. Jacoline was the major component in milk despite being a minor component in the ragwort material. Practically no N-oxides were observed in milk, notwithstanding the fact that they constituted over 80% of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ragwort. The overall carry-over of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids was estimated to be only around 0.1%, but for jacoline 4%. Notwithstanding the low overall carry-over, this may be relevant for consumer health considering the genotoxic and carcinogenic properties demonstrated for some of these compounds. Analysis of the faeces and urine samples indicated that substantial metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is taking place. The toxicity and potential transfer of metabolites to milk is unknown and remains to be investigated.

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“…A detoxification of defence chemicals by rumen or gut microbes has also been discussed. Experiments with QAs suggest that they are not degraded by rumen microorganisms (Aguiar and Wink, 2005b). A short intestinal transition time or the ingestion of clay, which can adsorb dietary toxins (geophagy), can be additional mechanisms that have been observed in some herbivores.…”

Section: Animal Responses: Detoxification Mechanisms and Adaptationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Modes of Action of Defensive Secondary Metabolites

Wink

Schimmer

2010

Functions and Biotechnology of Plant Secondary Metabolites

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Secondary metabolites (SM) have been shaped by evolution for more than 500 million years. As a result, many of them have distinctive biochemical and pharmacological properties. The molecular modes of action of the main groups of SM are reviewed in this chapter. Details are given on interactions of SM with proteins that can induce conformational changes and thus a modification of their bioactivity. The fluidity and permeability of biomembranes constitute another important target, which is influenced by many lipophilic and amphiphilic SM. A number of SM can either alkylate or intercalate DNA, which can cause mutations and in consequence cancer or malformations. Many SM are cytotoxic because they interfere with biomembranes, proteins of the cytoskeleton or DNA; they often induce programmed cell death (apoptosis). A large number of SM, especially alkaloids modulate neuronal signal transduction by interfering with ion channels, ion pumps, neuroreceptors, choline esterase, monoamine oxidase and other enzymes related to signal transduction pathways. A typical feature of SM is their ability to modulate more than one molecular target; thus, additive and even synergistic activities can be expected.

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Do Naïve Ruminants Degrade Alkaloids in the Rumen?

Cited by 20 publications

References 57 publications

Innate olfactory preferences in dung beetles

Innate olfactory preferences in dung beetles

Carry-over of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from feed to milk in dairy cows

Molecular Modes of Action of Defensive Secondary Metabolites

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