Fasting Animals Research Articles

Respiratory quotient: Effects of fatty acid composition

Respiratory quotient (RQ) is commonly used to infer which substrates are oxidized, with glucose yielding RQ = 1 and fat normally thought to yield an average of RQ = 0.71. Because fat depot compositions differ among species, we examined how the various common fatty acids affect RQ. RQs ranged from less than 0.7 (e.g., stearic acid) to greater than 0.76 (e.g., docosahexaenoic acid). Furthermore, we conducted a survey of the fatty acid composition of fuel lipids of several vertebrate taxa to determine how the RQ for lipid oxidation during fasting should vary among species. Our survey indicates that most fasting vertebrates from terrestrial ecosystems oxidizing fat should have RQs equaling approximately 0.71, as normally expected. However, some fasting animals in aquatic or marine systems-particularly fish-should have RQs as high as 0.73 when oxidizing only fat. Selective mobilization of fatty acids increased the lipid RQ, but probably by a negligible amount. We conclude that researchers should take habitat and taxon into account when choosing a value for lipid RQ, and preferably should use fatty acid composition for their study species to determine an appropriate RQ for lipids. In the absence of species-specific fatty acid composition data, we suggest assuming a lipid RQ of 0.725 for cold-water fish.

INTRATRACHEAL SALINE BOLUS INCREASES SURVIVABILITY IN RABBITS EXPOSED TO LETHAL DOSE OF INHALED HYDROGEN SULFIDE

SESSION TITLE: Pharmacotherapeutics Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 PURPOSE: Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic, flammable, and colorless gas. In addition to industrial accident risks, H2S has been identified as a potential terrorist chemical and military threat agent for use in mass-casualty events, with no effective antidotes. In this study, we investigate the effects of a small volume of intratracheal (IT) slow-drip saline versus IT fast bolus saline treatment to prolong survival in H2S exposure in an animal model for potential treatments during mass-casualty crises. METHODS: The effects of IT saline in H2S exposure were tested on 49 New Zealand white male rabbits. Animals were anesthetized and intubated, but not ventilated. H2S gas (2000 ppm) was delivered along with a 1.5% isoflurane in air mixture (2.25 liters/min)for 30 minutes.Three groups were compared: no saline into endotracheal tube control(n=16), IT slow saline drip (n=17) and fast IT saline bolus group (n=16). Animals in IT slow drip saline group received 3cc of saline in 3 minutes, while fast saline bolus group animals received it in less than 20 seconds. Both treatment groups were compared to the control group. Systemic blood pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored.The changes in tissue oxy and deoxy hemoglobin concentrations were measured non-invasively over the brain region using continuous wave near infrared spectroscopy. Animals were deemed survivors at 60 minutes from the start of toxic exposure. Animals were sacrificed when systolic blood pressure dropped below 20 mmHg. RESULTS: The average weight for all animals(n=49) in this study was 3.88 ± 0.35 kg, mean ± SD. The survival rate of the fast saline, slow saline, and the control groups were 56.25%, and,23.53%, and 25%.Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test showed that the survivability in the treatment groups and control groups are significantly different (p=0.0417). Slow saline group versus fast saline group difference was also significant (p=0.0140). The slow saline group compared to control group results were not different (p=0.7031). CONCLUSIONS: The rapid administration of a small volume of saline bolus given via IT route was effective in prolonging survival in lethal H2S exposure when given rapidly. These findings appear likely due to the rapid bolus stimulating cough and breathing responses in apneic animals, in contrast to the slow dripping of a similar amount of saline.While the stimulation of breathing leads to inhalation of more H2S in this model, improvement in hypoxemia in these animals appears to be of greater importance than the risk of additional H2S exposure.Thus, we propose that the hypoxemia from H2S-induced respiratory depression is a major contributor to mortality compared to the metabolic inhibition of cytochromes from H2S in this scenario. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This has potential implications for the treatment victims of H2S exposure who cannot be removed from the exposure site as this commonly occurs in mass-casualty events. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by vikhyat bebarta, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Gerry Boss, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Matthew Brenner, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Tanya Burney, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Adriano Chan, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Melina Doosty, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Philippe Haouzi, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Tara Hendry-Hofer, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Jangwoen Lee, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Sari Mahon, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by David Mukai, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by George Philipopoulos, source=Web Response

Correlation between thoracic perimeter and body weight in Saanen and Saanen-Boer crossbred caprine

Among the animal data, we have biometric measures related to the development and production of goats. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between live weight and thoracic perimeter in the caprine species, in order to obtain a barometric tape to estimate the live weight of the animal, without the use of the scale. Caprines from 10 to 42 kg live weight were used; males and females; pure Saanen race and Saanen-Boer crossbred. The thoracic perimeter of each animal was measured after weighing, in which it was measured at the external circumference of the thoracic cavity, just below the axillae, with steel cable to minimize possible errors from the elasticity of the tape measure, with the animal in the correct position of legs angulations. All parameters were recorded with the fasting animal for 12 h. Subsequently the live weight was estimated by regression equations with high correlation coefficients. The study showed a strong positive correlation between live weight (kg) of the animal and the thoracic perimeter (cm). The barometric tape for Saanen and Saanen x Boer crossbreed presented 97% efficacy for the estimation of the weight of Saanen and crossbreed. The thoracic perimeter provides a high efficiency in the estimation of the live weight of caprines and can be used as an alternative when scales are not available, being more appropriate the separation by race and sex before adjusting the equation to be calculated.

Mechanisms and prevention of acid reflux induced laryngospasm in seizing rats

ObjectiveRecent animal work and limited clinical data have suggested that laryngospasm may be involved in the cardiorespiratory collapse seen in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). In previous work, we demonstrated in an animal model of seizures that laryngospasm and sudden death were always preceded by acid reflux into the esophagus. Here, we expand on that work by testing several techniques to prevent the acid reflux or the subsequent laryngospasm. MethodsIn urethane anesthetized Long Evans rats, we used systemic kainic acid to acutely induce seizure activity. We recorded pH in the esophagus, respiration, electrocorticography activity, and measured the liquid volume in the stomach postmortem. We performed the following three interventions to attempt to prevent acid reflux or laryngospasm and gain insights into mechanisms: fasting animals for 12 h, severing the gastric nerve, and electrical stimulation of either the gastric nerve or the recurrent laryngeal nerve. ResultsSeizing animals had significantly more liquid in their stomach. Severing the gastric nerve and fasting animals significantly reduced stomach liquid volume, subsequent acid reflux, and sudden death. Laryngeal nerve stimulation can reverse laryngospasm on demand. Seizing animals are more susceptible to death from stomach acid-induced laryngospasm than nonseizing animals are to artificial acid-induced laryngospasm. SignificanceThese results provide insight into the mechanism of acid production and sudden obstructive apnea in this model. These techniques may have clinical relevance if this model is shown to be similar to human SUDEP.

Effects of stanniocalcin 1 hormone on lactate metabolism in rat kidney under fed and fasted conditions

To test the hypothesis of STC-1 participation in maintenance of glucose homeostasis in fed and fasting (48 h) rats, we investigated that this hormone may be implicated in the regulation of renal gluconeogenesis pathway from lactate and lactate oxidation in renal cortex and medulla. Our results demonstrate the hSTC-1 role on lactate metabolism in the renal cortex and medulla from fed and fasting rats. hSTC-1 increased the gluconeogenesis activity in fed state in renal cortex, and this increase was induced by raise in Pck1 gene expression. In fasting animals hSTC-1 increase the renal medulla gluconeogenesis activity, but Pck1 gene expression was not alter. The stimulatory effect of hSTC-1 on 14C-lactate oxidation occurred only in the renal cortex from fed rats. These findings show the hSTC-1 contribution to lactate homeostasis and supplies glucose to other tissues. This response may represent a strategy of action of STC-1 in response to fasting stress as postulated by different authors. On the other hand, hSTC-1 acts downstream of adenylcyclase pathway, decreasing the gluconeogenesis activity induced by cAMP intracellular increase or stimulating the phosphodiesterase activity in the renal cortex. However, no hSTC-1 effect on 14C-lactate oxidation was found after increase in the intracellular cAMP. The findings also revealed that the renal cortex and medulla respond differently to hSTC-1, possibly due to the higher level of STC-1 gene expression in inner renal medulla than in renal cortex.

Head stabilization in small vertebrates that run at high frequencies with a sprawled posture

AbstractSmall animals face a large challenge when running. A stable head is key to maintenance of a stable gaze and a good sense of self-motion and spatial awareness. However, trunk undulations caused by the cyclic limb movements result in involuntary head movements. Hence, the head needs to be stabilized. Humans are capable of stabilizing their head up to 2–3 Hz, but small animals run at cycle frequencies that are up to six times higher. We wondered how natural selection has adapted their head stabilization control. We observed that the relative contributions of vision, on the one hand, and vestibular perception and proprioception, on the other hand, remain the same when lizards undergo fast or slow body undulations in an experimental set-up. Lizards also maintain a short phase lag at both low and high undulation frequencies. Hence, we found no indication that they use a different control mechanism at high frequencies. Instead, head stabilization probably remains possible owing to faster reflex pathways and a lower head inertia. Hence, the intrinsic physical and neurological characteristics of lizards seem to be sufficient to enable head stabilization at high frequencies, obviating the need for evolutionary adaptation of the control pathways. These properties are not unique to lizards and might, therefore, also facilitate head stabilization at high frequencies in other small, fast animals.

Component processes of detection probability in camera-trap studies: understanding the occurrence of false-negatives

Camera-trap studies in the wild record true-positive data, but data loss from false-negatives (i.e. an animal is present but not recorded) is likely to vary and widely impact data quality. Detection probability is defined as the probability of recording an animal if present in the study area. We propose a framework of sequential processes within detection – a pass, trigger, image registration, and images being of sufficient quality. Using closed-circuit television (CCTV) combined with camera-trap arrays we quantified variation in, and drivers of, these processes for three medium-sized mammal species. We also compared trigger success of wet and dry otter Lutra lutra, as an example of a semiaquatic species. Data loss from failed trigger, failed registration and poor capture quality varied between species, camera-trap model and settings, and were affected by different environmental and animal variables. Distance had a negative effect on trigger probability and a positive effect on registration probability. Faster animals had both reduced trigger and registration probabilities. Close passes (1 m) frequently did not generate triggers, resulting in over 20% data loss for all species. Our results, linked to the framework describing processes, can inform study design to minimize or account for data loss during analysis and interpretation.

An Inventory Model for Ameliorating and Deteriorating Items with Stock and Price Dependent Demand and Time Dependent Holding Cost with Preservation Technology Investment

An inventory model is developed for ameliorating and deteriorating items considering stock and price dependent demand with completely backlogged shortages. Fast growing animals such as chicken, duc...

DeepPoseKit, a software toolkit for fast and robust animal pose estimation using deep learning.

Quantitative behavioral measurements are important for answering questions across scientific disciplines-from neuroscience to ecology. State-of-the-art deep-learning methods offer major advances in data quality and detail by allowing researchers to automatically estimate locations of an animal's body parts directly from images or videos. However, currently available animal pose estimation methods have limitations in speed and robustness. Here, we introduce a new easy-to-use software toolkit, DeepPoseKit, that addresses these problems using an efficient multi-scale deep-learning model, called Stacked DenseNet, and a fast GPU-based peak-detection algorithm for estimating keypoint locations with subpixel precision. These advances improve processing speed >2x with no loss in accuracy compared to currently available methods. We demonstrate the versatility of our methods with multiple challenging animal pose estimation tasks in laboratory and field settings-including groups of interacting individuals. Our work reduces barriers to using advanced tools for measuring behavior and has broad applicability across the behavioral sciences.

The Effects of Age and Fasting Models on Blood Pressure, Insulin/Glucose Profile, and Expression of Longevity Proteins in Male Rats.

Intermittent fasting can be effective in reducing metabolic disorders and age-related diseases. However, there remain questions about the effects of fasting with respect to the age in which fasting begins, the fasting models, and the mechanisms involved. We investigated the effects of age of beginning fasting and chronic mild and severe fasting models on blood pressure (BP), insulin/glucose profile, and expression of klotho, sirtuin1 (SIRT1), and sirtuin3 (SIRT3) in male Wistar rats. Young (3 months), middle-aged (12 months), and old (22 months) animals were randomly divided into three subgroups and fed as ad libitum (AL), AL with fasting 1 day per week (FW), and AL with fasting every other day (EOD), respectively, for 3 months. The FW reduced the weight gain in young animals (p < 0.001 vs. AL), whereas EOD induced weight loss in all three age categories (p < 0.001). Aging was associated with high BP, high glucose, and insulin levels. Both FW and EOD feedings decreased BP and blood glucose level (p < 0.001) and EOD decreased insulin level (p < 0.05 vs. AL) in old animals. Parallel to aging, the expression of SIRT1 and klotho significantly decreased in plasma and EOD feeding recovered this defect. Both FW and EOD feedings increased the expression of SIRT3 in middle-aged and old rats. Age is a determining factor for the effectiveness of fasting and old animals respond more desirably to fasting. The effect of EOD fasting is more effective than FW fasting in improving the metabolic factors, partly through the recovery of SIRT1 and klotho.

UJI TOKSISITAS ORAL AKUT SINGLE DOSE FILTRAT BUAH LUWINGAN (Ficus hispida L.f.) PADA TIKUS (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769) GALUR WISTAR

Genus Ficus is important plant for health benefits. Hairy fig (F. hispida) trees grow abundantly in tropical regions and fruiting throughout the year. In West Asian countries, the fruit is commonly used as food and medicinal materials. However, in Indonesia, the fruit has not been utilized. First step in exploring the potential of natural resources for consumption is toxicity test to provide information about safety and adverse effects. This research was aimed to study acute oral toxicity of young and ripe hairy fig fruits using Wistar rats as model. Procedure followed OECD Guideline Test No.420 with modification. Pure filtrate (100 %) of young or ripe fruits were administered orally at volume 1 mL/individual on day-0 in fasting animals. Control received distilled water in the same way. Parameters observed including mortality, sublethal effects, behavior/activities, body weight, complete blood count, as well as evaluation of liver, heart, and renal functions. Results showed that values for all variables fluctuated during the experiment but eventually back into normal range. However, the number of lymphocytes elevated until the end of experiment (day-14) thus increased the total leukocytes count. Accordingly, we are preparing to conduct further toxicity tests to investigate this finding.&#x0D; Key words : acute oral toxicity, Ficus hispida, fruit filtrate, hairy fig, single dose toxicity

Aquatic animal colors and skin temperature: Biology's selection for reducing oceanic dolphin's skin friction drag.

There is currently a growing interest in the area of drag reduction. In this work, the thermal effects of body color of some species of aquatics like Orcas and Dusky dolphins are investigated with respect to their swimming routes and geometric and behavioral characteristics. Considering the marine and atmospheric characteristics of these aquatics' routes, a thermal analysis is performed. The surrounding fluxes including the water flux, sun irradiation, and core temperature are considered in an energy balance to determine the skin temperature of the top side of the animal/organism's body. To study the effects of color on the surface temperature of the aquatic species, an experiment is carried out in the water on a flat plate with black and white color. Applying a turbulent analytical solution for heated boundary layers, it will be shown that the black color on the top of the bodies of these marine organisms is very efficient in terms of skin drag reduction. Moreover, to investigate the effects of the temperature on underwater skin friction drag reduction, the turbulent flow is simulated around a flat plate and a 2- dimensional modeled Killer whale at different temperatures. The results show that the top black body color of Orca and Dusky dolphin decreases their skin friction drag by 7%. This study will also provide the reason for this evolution of color scheme of other extremely fast marine animals, such as billfish, whales, and sharks. This method of drag reduction can be considered as one of the effective factors in skin drag reduction of underwater robots.

Individual variation in cognitive style reflects foraging and anti-predator strategies in a small mammal

Balancing foraging gain and predation risk is a fundamental trade-off in the life of animals. Individual strategies to acquire, process, store and use information to solve cognitive tasks are likely to affect speed and flexibility of learning, and ecologically relevant decisions regarding foraging and predation risk. Theory suggests a functional link between individual variation in cognitive style and behaviour (animal personality) via speed-accuracy and risk-reward trade-offs. We tested whether cognitive style and personality affect risk-reward trade-off decisions posed by foraging and predation risk. We exposed 21 bank voles (Myodes glareolus) that were bold, fast learning and inflexible and 18 voles that were shy, slow learning and flexible to outdoor enclosures with different risk levels at two food patches. We quantified individual food patch exploitation, foraging and vigilance behaviour. Although both types responded to risk, fast animals increasingly exploited both food patches, gaining access to more food and spending less time searching and exercising vigilance. Slow animals progressively avoided high-risk areas, concentrating foraging effort in the low-risk one, and devoting >50% of visit to vigilance. These patterns indicate that individual differences in cognitive style/personality are reflected in foraging and anti-predator decisions that underlie the individual risk-reward bias.

Nutritional stress by means of high C:N ratios in the diet and starvation affects nitrogen isotope ratios and trophic fractionation of omnivorous copepods.

Nutritional stress, from feeding on low-quality diets or starvation, may cause changes in consumers' nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N = 15N/14N) and trophic fractionation (∆15N = δ15Nconsumer - δ15Nfood source), however, research has shown mixed results in the magnitude and the direction of the change. This is potentially more complex for omnivores whose diets span a wide range of food resources. We conducted seasonal field samplings in Patagonian lakes and analyzed the relationship between seston (SES) quality parameters and the δ15N and ∆15N of an omnivorous copepod, Boeckella gracilipes (Bg). We also performed a 7-day laboratory starvation experiment, an extreme form of nutritional stress, to investigate if lack of food led to changes in δ15NBg values. Our field results showed that increasing values of the seston carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:NSES), chlorophyll a (Chl a), and δ15NSES were related to higher δ15NBg values. C:NSES and Chl a were also positively related to ∆15N; yet, C:NSES alone explained 70% of the variation. C:NSES values correlated with the presence of mixotrophic algae and ciliates that are key food resources for B. gracilipes. In our laboratory starvation experiment, the δ15NBg values increased significantly, pointing to use of internal N sources; yet, the change associated with starvation was less pronounced than that related to C:NSES changes in the field, suggesting depletion of the substrate pool in the former. We found that ∆15N values of omnivorous species consuming a low-quality diet would be higher than that from a conspecific with a high-quality diet; though fasting animals would show intermediate values.

Effect of curcuma on zinc, lipid profile and antioxidants levels in blood and tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed zinc deficiency diet

Due to the importance of zinc as an antioxidant and its crucial role in insulin synthesis, its deficiency may affect adversely diabetic state. So, this study aimed to modulate these effects using Curcuma longa as natural antioxidant. Rats were divided into four groups: two groups fed a zinc sufficient diet one non-diabetic and the other diabetic, while the others two groups diabetic rats fed a zinc-deficient diet, one non-treated group and the other treated with curcuma 1% diet. After four weeks of dietary manipulation, fasting animals were scarified. Zinc deficiency decreased body weight, insulin, zinc tissues, alkaline phosphatase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Conversely glucose, lipids profile, transaminases and malondialdehyde were increased. However, the above-mentioned parameters were significantly improved following curcuma supplementation. So it seems that curcuma is a potent factor for reducing the oxidative severity of zinc deficiency in experimental diabetes through its antioxidants actions.

Sex Differences in the Progression of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of chronic renal disease. To explore the age‐related progression and sexual dimorphisms in the development of DN, we used a rat model of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN). The T2DN rat was previously created by introgression of the mitochondria and some passenger loci from the Fawn Hooded Hypertensive rat into the background of the Goto‐Kakizaki (GK; type 2 diabetic) rat. Type 2 diabetes in T2DN rats is accompanied by renal histologic abnormalities that are characteristic of DN, similar to clinical observations in human patients. The experimental groups were Wistar (non‐diabetic controls), GK, or T2DN rats at the early stages of DN (12 weeks old) or the late stages of the disease (&gt;40 weeks of age). At the early stage of DN, male T2DN and GK rats showed significant increases in blood glucose (374 ± 96 and 329 ± 45 vs. 280 ± 24 mg/dL in Wistar, respectively) and kidneys to body weight ratio (10.05 ± 1.19 and 9.39 ± 0.78 vs. 7.31 ± 1.13 mg/g, respectively). In the late stage of the disease progression, T2DN rats had a significant increase in renal damage compared with GK and Wistar rats, indicated by progressive albuminuria, diuresis, a high prevalence of medullary protein cats, and glomerular lesions. Besides a striking DN phenotype in the T2DN model, we found significant sex differences in the development and progression of the disease. The male weight was double that of females (414 ± 27 vs. 264 ± 19 g, respectively), which correlates with a significant difference in postprandial blood glucose levels (435 ± 50 vs. 353 ± 46 mg/dL, respectively). To further evaluate changes in type 2 diabetes between the sexes, we performed the glucose tolerance test (GTT) in fasting animals. The male GTT indicates significant impairment in the body's response to sugar load compared to the female (155 ± 18 vs. 118 ± 5 at control and 378 ± 19 vs. 183 ± 48 mg/dL after oral glucose gavage; male vs female respectively). Blood tests also show elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (158 ± 32 U/L) and cholesterol in males, similar to the clinical observations in patients with diabetes mellitus. Analysis of the renal damage between the sexes reveals significant increases in protein cast formation and glomerular abnormalities indicated by a high percentage of damaged glomeruli in males (28% vs. 4% in females). Aged male T2DN rats also had increases in nephrin shedding in their urine, which correlates with the dramatic differences in albuminuria. In T2DN males, there was an inverse correlation in serum levels (2.5 ± 0.2 vs. 3.3 ± 0.1 g/dL) and urinary excretion of albumin (11.8 ± 5.7 vs. 0.98 ± 0.64 Alb/Cre ratio) in comparison to females of similar age. Here we report that T2DN rat develops renal and physiological lesions to those seen in patients with type 2 diabetes, and there is a dramatic sex difference in the progression of renal damage.Support or Funding InformationNHLBI R35 HL135749 and P01 HL116264AHA 17SDG33660149 and 18PRE34030127ADA 1‐15‐BS‐172This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Begging calls provide social cues for prospecting conspecifics in the wild Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Abstract Social information can spread fast and help animals adapt in fluctuating environments. Prospecting on the breeding sites of others, a widespread behavior, can help to maximize reproduction by, for instance, settling in the same area as other successful breeders. Previous studies have shown that successful broods have the highest number of prospectors and that they are visited most when offspring in nesting sites are already old, making the information more reliable. In this field study, we experimentally tested how prospectors are attracted to successful nest sites. We presented wild Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) with different visual or acoustic cues in nest boxes, simulating the presence of small or large clutches or broods. More Zebra Finches visited experimental nests that were associated with playback recordings of begging calls of large broods (7 chicks) as opposed to begging calls of small broods (3 chicks) and controls (white noise and silence). On the other hand, visual cues (nests with different numbers of eggs or rocks), representing nests at early stages, did not influence either the probability of visits, nor number or duration of visits. We present the first evidence that begging calls of chicks in the nest, a signal intended for kin communication, can also provide social information to unrelated prospecting conspecifics. This information could potentially be used for a fast initial assessment of the quality of a breeding site.

Open-source Python software for analysis of 3D kinematics from quadrupedal animals

Locomotion is key to survival, yet it can be disturbed by injuries, diseases, and aging. Therefore, it is important for researchers in biology, neuroscience, biomechanics, and further afield. Locomotion is frequently quantified using kinematic data, and quadrupeds including rodents are medical model animals used worldwide. Kinematics typically result from the tracking of some landmarks, often joint centers. Although commercially available systems and software exist for the analysis of these kinematic data, they are expensive, often restricted to use with a given apparatus, and may be inextensible. Therefore, there is a need for an open source tool to analyze kinematic data. We present a Python software to address this need. It uses 2D coordinates from four cameras and DLT coefficients from the calibrated volume to generates 3D coordinates [1]. A method is presented to modify the knee and elbow joint positions in 3D. Then, kinematic features are extracted, and they are sorted in a time series format to plot a summary of a study. In addition, we generate videos from the tracked points, 3D reconstruction of the points, showing joint angles for eight joints, the location of animal on the belt, and the animal's speed on the belt. The software has been evaluated by eight trials to show the importance of the work. The 3D reconstruction error, having an average of 7.36 pixels, was calculated for the markers. The presented program can be used in different fields. It will encourage the researchers to design the studies based on their needs because they can change the setup in any required conditions while they can extract the kinematic data.

Importance of Arginine as Immune Regulator in Animal Nutrition

Arginine grouped in a gluconeogenic amino acid extensively found in the animal's cells. Fast growing animals require more arginine in their diet as broilers and pigs. It plays a critical role in ammonia detoxification and protein biosynthesis. Arginine is not only involved in the synthesis and catabolism of a variety of nutrients in the animal body but mainly act as an immunomodulatory mediator. Along with nutritional function has immune-related functions. In urea cycle act as an important intermediate and also catalyzes the production of ornithine by enzyme arginase and converted into polyamines that involved later in cell proliferation and wound healing. Nitric oxide synthases catalyze the production of nitric oxide from arginine and NO is a cellular signaling molecule for immune regulation. Many hormones secretion increased by arginine particularly the growth hormones which could enhance the immune function. Arginine metabolism pathway and its downstream metabolites like nitric oxide and polyamines might be vital for the activation of T-cell and ultimately take part in adaptive immunity. For immune regulation, arginine could stimulate the production of different immune cytokines. In this paper, in the perspective to provide significance reference about arginine in the immune study, the arginine immune mechanism and use of arginine in animals will review.

Gastric pH in Rats: Key Determinant for Preclinical Evaluation of pH-dependent Oral Drug Absorption.

Data on gastric pH in rats to be used in preclinical models for pH-dependent drug absorption are still limited or contradictory. The aim of this study was to describe gastric pH in rats at fasted state and to evaluate its changes induced by pentagastrin or omeprazole in order to mimic gastric pH at fasted and fed human subjects. Twenty Wistar rats, fasting for 12 h, were randomly assigned into four treatment groups (n=5): control, pre-treated with omeprazole 2 h before pH measurement, pre-treated with omeprazole 12 h before pH measurement, and pre-treated with pentagastrin 20 min before pH measurement. An incision on the stomach wall was made in anesthetized animals, and pH of gastric juice was measured. The observed pH values were significantly different among groups (p=0.0341), with the median (IQR) values of gastric pH of 3.5 (2.7-4.2), 6.7 (4.7-7.0), 5.6 (3.5-6.4) and 2.2 (1.6-3.1) in control, omeprazole 2 h, omeprazole 12 h and pentagastin group, respectively. We recommend using short interval pentagastrin and 2 h omeprazole pre-treatment in fasting animals to model similar gastric pH as is expected in human fasted and fed state pharmacokinetic studies, respectively.