Gastrointestinal Tract Contents Research Articles

Live weight loss and its components in Romney ewes subjected to L-thyroxine therapy and a low plane of nutrition. Part II. Effects on some non-carcass components of live weight

1. The effects of l-thyroxine therapy and a low plane of nutrition on some of the non-carcass components of live weight in New Zealand Romney ewes were investigated.2. Thyroxine treatment significantly lowered the weight of the gastrointestinal tract contents. A low plane of nutrition and a longer total starvation immediately pre-slaughter had little effect in lowering the weight of the gastrointestinal contents. Alimentary tract ‘fill’ accounted for a group mean loss of live weight of up to 5 lb.3. Thyroxine treatment lowered the weight of the empty gastric tract, while a low plane of nutrition reduced the weight of both the empty gastric and intestinal tracts. The combined treatment effects accounted for a loss of up to 3 lb. in the weight of the empty gastrointestinal tract.4. Neither treatment significantly reduced the weight of the omental and mesenteric fat depots.5. The weight of the thyroid gland was unaffected by either treatment.6. A low plane of nutrition significantly reduced the weight of the liver, kidneys and the heart but had no effect on the weight of the spleen. Thyroxine therapy significantly reduced the weight of the liver and tended to increase the weight of the kidneys and the heart.

Enhancement of vitamin B12 absorption of D-sorbitol as measured by maternal and fetal tissue levels in pregnant rats.

Tissue vitamin B12 levels were determined in the blood, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and uteri and contents in pregnant and nonpregnant female rats following oral administration of three doses of radioactive vitamin B12 (Co60). Differences in radioactivity of tissues of animals administered Co60 vitamin B12 in water and in d-sorbitol at different stages of pregnancy were noted. d-Sorbitol administration significantly enhanced vitamin B12 absorption in both pregnant and nonpregnant rats. Gestation, but not d-sorbitol, causes an alteration of the tissue distribution pattern of the vitamin. As fetal growth progressed the fetuses obtained a large proportion of the absorbed B12 which would normally have gone to the maternal tissues. During growth of the total fetal mass from 3 to 30 gm the amount of B12 retained per gram of tissue remained fairly constant. The amount of B12 taken up by the fetuses was to a great degree controlled by the amount of the vitamin absorbed by or stored in the mother during gestation.