Calcium Content Of Blood Serum Research Articles

Calcium, Phosphorus and Nopgro as Variables in Diets of Breeder Turkeys

Two 20-week experiments were conducted to determine the effects of 0.99, 1.77, 2.55 and 3.33 percent calcium, 0.64 and 0.82 percent total phosphorus and 0 and 0.25 percent Nopgro in diets of breeder turkeys on egg production, fertility, hatchability, egg weight, shell thickness and calcium content of blood serum. Each experiment contained 272 female and 32 male Beltsville White turkeys. Turkeys fed diets containing the lowest level of calcium produced significantly fewer eggs, lower hatchability of fertile eggs and of all eggs set, lower shell weight as percentage of egg weight, thinner egg shells and less egg shell color. Varying the phosphorus level in the diets as indicated above and adding a commercial fermentation product, Nopgro, which is a blend of dried residues produced from Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis grown on a wheat bran base, to the diets failed to influence these measurements, except for an increased shell thickness in one experiment from the added phosphorus. Based upon a review of the literature and data collected in this study, the calcium requirement of breeder turkey hens is in excess of 2.0 percent and perhaps as much as 2.5 percent to obtain optimum egg production, and levels of calcium in excess of 2.5 percent are believed not detrimental to hatchability.

The determination of metals in blood serum by atomic absorption spectroscopy—I: Calcium

The calcium content of blood serum can be accurately determined on 0.1–0.25 ml samples by atomic absorption measurements in an air-acetylene flame after removal of the proteins by coagulation and centrifuging. A fairly accurate value can be obtained more quickly from direct measurements on serum diluted with water, which may with advantage contain about 1 per cent of the disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetracetic acid. Serum calcium values obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy are significantly higher than those obtained by the standard oxalate-permanganate procedure and support the conclusions of M acI ntyre [3] on the shortcomings of the chemical method.

The Effect of Interruption of Milking on the Carotene and Vitamin A and Proximate Composition of Milk and on the Calcium Content of Blood Serum

Summary The effect of interruption of milking for a 10-day period during lactation on the carotene, vitamin A, and proximate composition of milk and on the calcium level of blood serum has been studied for 18 cows. The data indicate that interruption of milking results in significant increases in the concentration of carotene and vitamin A. With the exception of lactose, the proximate constituents also increased in concentration; lactose content decreased. The total amount of these nutrients secreted for the first 3 days after interruption was significantly lower for the proximate constituents, but no appreciable differences were noted for carotene and vitamin A. Interruption of milking, resulted in a significant elevation of blood serum calcium during the period of interruption.

The calcium content of the blood serum in certain pathological conditions

The calcium content of human blood serum was determined in several normal cases and in a number of pathological conditions. In the normal cases values lying between 9 and 11 mg. of calcium per 100 c.c. were obtained. In nearly all of the pathological conditions studied, including cases where the blood clotted with extreme slowness, a similar range was observed, indicating a great constancy of this element in the blood serum. Distinct decreases were noted in cases of hematogenous jaundice, eclampsia, pneumonia, and particularly uremia. In several cases of uremia increases in serum calcium were noted on improvement in the clinical condition and following administration of calcium lactate. The urinary calcium excretion in severe nephritis was found to be low and calcium lactate administration brought about but slight absolute increases. Where marked general edema occurred, with or without nephritis, the excretion of calcium was unaffected by increased ingestion. In a case of pernicious vomiting of pregnancy with severe acidosis, alkali administration decreased calcium excretion to eight per cent. of its original value. It is pointed out that as the red corpuscles are nearly free from calcium, determinations of this element in whole blood are of little value, unless the relative volumes of plasma and corpuscles are known. It appears probable that the wide variations in the calcium content of whole blood in apparently normal individuals and variations for sex as reported by Lyman may represent variations in corpuscular volume rather than in the calcium content of the plasma in these conditions.