Growing Guinea Pigs Research Articles

Digestible energy and nutrient digestibility of full-fat soybean meal in adult and growing guinea pigs

Digestible energy and nutrient digestibility of full-fat soybean meal in adult and growing guinea pigs

Evaluación comparativa de un suplemento alimenticio artesanal y cuatro balanceados comerciales sobre la eficiencia productiva de cuyes parrilleros

The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive performance of growing guinea pigs, fed with green alfalfa forage and an artisanal supplement widely spread in the Mantaro Valley, Peru, made from wheat byproduct, whole yellow corn and soy cake in the base ratio of 3:2:1, compared to four commercial feeds, in terms of weight gain (BWG), feed conversion (FC), carcass yield (CY), and economic merit. In total, 60 male and female red-line guinea pigs, 18 ± 3 days old and weighing 318 ± 35 g, were used. They were distributed in five metal cages with four levels each. A randomized Complete Block Design was used considering sex as a block. The effect achieved by the artisanal supplement on BWG, FC and CY were similar to that achieved by two commercial products, but superior to the other two; however, it showed a better economic return in terms of unit profit margin and relative profitability due to the lower food cost recorded. It is concluded that the artisanal formulation is appropriate to be used in the fattening of guinea pigs due to its easy preparation and effectiveness in achieving an adequate productive response and greater economic remuneration.

Evaluación nutricional y uso del polvillo de arroz en la alimentación de cuyes (Cavia porcellus)

Two studies were carried out with the aim of determining the digestible energy and the digestibility coefficient of the dry matter and protein of the rice polish; and assess the effect of five levels of rice polish (Oryza sativa) to replace wheat bran in diets for growing guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) on productive parameters. In Study I, they were used 12 types I male guinea pigs with an average live weight of 875 g, the digestibility coefficients and digestible energy of rice polish were determined by the indirect method, with the total collection technique. The digestibility coefficient of dry matter was 80.33%, protein 75.51%, energy 78.06% and the digestible energy of rice polish was 3.77 Mcal/kg DM. In Study II, 80 type I improved male guinea pigs were used, of 14+2 days of age and average weight of 441 g, to evaluate the effect of five levels of rice polish: 0%, 4.5%, 7.5%, 15% and 30% in replacement of wheat bran, in 49-day growth diets. As a result, it was observed that there is no significant difference for weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass yield by replacing wheat bran with rice polish. The inclusion of rice polish at levels greater than 7.5 % affects the productive response in guinea pigs.

Efecto de la suplementación de probióticos naturales y comerciales sobre el rendimiento productivo de cuyes en crecimiento

The effect of supplementation of natural and commercial probiotics on the productive performance of growing guinea pigs was evaluated. 48-weaned male guinea pigs from the Peru breed were used. Weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion,and carcass yield were determined. A completely randomized design with four treatments, six repetitions per treatment and two animals per repetition was used. The treatments were T1: Control Diet (CD); T2: CD + Natural Probiotic (NP) (2 ml); T3: CD + Commercial Probiotic(CP) (2 ml) and T4: CD + NP (1 ml) + CP (1 ml). The NP contained: Bacillus pumilus,Lactobacillusfrumenti, Streptococcus thoraltensis, Lactobacillus johnsoni, and the CP: Lactobacilus rihamnosusand Enterococci faecium. Nosignificant differences (p > 0,05) were found in the determined parameters; however, there were trendstowardhigher feed intakeand higherweight gain in guinea pigs of T3, better feed conversion in T4,and the highest carcass performance (p < 0,05) was presented in T2. The supplementation with CP tends to improve the productive performance of growing guinea pigs, with the exception of the carcass performance that improves with the supplementation of the NP.These results will serve as the basis for the use of probiotics in commercial guinea pig farms.

Reemplazo parcial o total de maíz por cebada en dietas integrales para cuyes (Cavia porcellus) en crecimiento

Reemplazo parcial o total de maíz por cebada en dietas integrales para cuyes (Cavia porcellus) en crecimiento

THE IMPACT OF ANIMAL MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES ON THE PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF REPLACEMENT GILTS

The paper find out the regularities of physical and physiological development of the replacement young pigs, bred at different housing technologies. The experiment was conducted in OOO “SVK” Krasnogvardeyskiy district (industrial technology) and “SHP Svobodny trud” (traditional technology) of Novoselytsya districts of Stavropol Territory. In order to conduct the experiment on the basis of analogues, the Company selected bipedal pigs (50% large white (CB) + 50% Landrace (L)) aged one month. Each group had 25 pigs. In order to study the development of reproductive organs at the age of 6 and 8 months, a control slaughter of experimental animals was carried out (3 pigs from each group). The live body weight of 6-month-old pigs in OOO “SVK” averaged 110 kg, while in OOO “SHP “Svobodnyy trud” the animals weight was 67-70 kg. At the age of 8 months, the weight of animals in “SHP “Svobodnyy trud” was 103-110 kg, and in OOO “SVK” - 145-150 kg. At the age of 180 days the animal reproductive organs were at the initial stage of development. Only primary follicles of 0.1-0.3 cm in diameter were observed in ovaries weighing 3.1-3.5 g. The bipedal hybrids grown on the intensive technology were inferior to the pigs with the traditional technology of breeding for the development of reproductive organs. They had a lower uterine weight by 9.1%, ovarian weight by 12.9%, and the length of uterine and ovarian horns by 10.9 and 8.6%, respectively. Repair pigs grown according to the traditional technology had ovaries weighing 9.2 g and had fresh yellow bodies. When growing guinea pigs under industrial technology, the rejection of first-pigs amounted to 63.6%, while in the case of animals grown under traditional technology, this indicator was within 26.6%.

Sustitución gradual de la alfalfa ("Medicago sativa L.") por el germinado de cebada ("Hordeum vulgare") en raciones de cuyes ("Cavia porcellus L.") en la etapa de crecimiento

The experiment was conducted at the Center for Guinea Pig Production, National University of Huancavelica in order to evaluate the use of four levels (0, 25, 50 and 75%) of hydroponic barley (CH) in substitution of alfalfa in the feeding male and female guinea pigs of Peru line, in the growth phase, in number of 72, with 18 days of age and 175 g of initial PV means confined for 42 days. Isoproteic the experimental diets were offered ad libitum to the animals and divided in to two portions (8 and 17 h). It was used the completely randomized design and treatments distributed in factorial scheme 2x4 (sex x levels hydroponic barley) with three replicates per treatment, each experimental unit consists of three guinea pigs. Linear reduction existed for males MS consumption in g / g / day kg 0.75 with increasing substitution levels, this behavior was also verified for PC consumption (g / day). There was a cubic effect for consumption by the female guinea pigs PC in g / day, in g / kg0.75 and in % PV. The substitution of CH alfalfa affected by feed conversion, whose behavior was quadratic and cubic for males and females, respectively. The CH influenced cubical on final weight and daily weight gain in male and female guinea pigs. We conclude that it is possible to replace the CH alfalfa to the level of 75% in female guinea pigs. The level of 25% substitution provides the best weight gain and final weights in males and females growing guinea pigs, which shows the positive effect of the inclusion of CH in the ration of growing guinea pigs.

Niveles de harina de algas "Nostoc commune" en el incremento de peso vivo en cuyes (Cavia porcellus) destetados

The objective was to evaluate the effect of levels of algae Nostoc commune flour in live weight gain of weanling guinea pigs. 64 guinea pigs (males and females) inti line with 20 days of age were used. The treatment consisted of various levels using flour protein Nostoc commune as input: T1 10% flour and 90% Nostoc commune fodder barley, T2 15% flour and 85% Nostoc commune fodder barley, 20 % T3 Nostoc commune flour and 80% forage barley and T4 100 % forage barley (control). Finding significant difference (P < 0.01) body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion in T2 in both sexes: males (2494.00 ± 2,26b), (16.93 ± 1.20 ab), (3.9b) and females (2410.00 ± 2,07b) (17.29 ± 1.22 ab), (3.8a) (P <0.05), with lower T1, T3 and T4. The level of15 % flour Nostoc commune was optimal for increasing live weight of growing guinea pigs.

Temporal alteration of chewing jaw movements after a reversible bite-raising in guinea pigs

Previous studies analysed the temporal changes of occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) with natural molar tooth contacts in bite-raised guinea pigs and found that the OVD is strictly maintained in the growing guinea pigs. Since the OVD is considered to be the influencing factor for performing mastication, we hypothesised that a control of the OVD is integrated with maintenance of an appropriate chewing behavior. In young adult guinea pigs with or without bite-raised treatment, the OVD was measured by micro-CT and stable chewing movements were recorded during 11 days after the removal of the bite-raising appliance. In control animals, the OVD increased developmentally up to 10.5 ± 6.0% for 11 days. In the bite-raised animals, the increased OVD was increased by 19.1 ± 6.7% with the bite-raising appliance, and the OVD rapidly decreased to the same level as that of controls within 4 days after the removal of the appliance. During chewing on the first day after the removal of the appliance, the most closed position of the jaw was lower in bite-raised animals than in controls while the most opened position did not differ between the two groups, i.e., the jaw gape was decreased. These changes disappeared when OVD returned to the same level as that of controls. Any other variables for movements (e.g., rhythm) did not differ between the both groups throughout the experimental period. These results suggest that there is a robust association between an innate OVD and a centrally-programmed pattern of chewing movements for functional integrity.

Effect of a single dose of a bradykinin potentiating factor isolated from scorpion venom (Buthus occitanus) on total protein and albumin in serum of irradiated growing male Guinea pigs.

Whole body gamma irradiation of growing male Guinea pigs at the dose of 150 rads/animal reduced the levels of total protein and albumin. Growing Guinea pigs males (250 ± 30 gm. b. w.) were divided into two main groups; non-irradiated and irradiated groups and every main group were divided into four sub-groups. Irradiated growing Guinea pigs males groups were exposed to 150 Rads/animal by cesium-137 irradiation unit with a dose route of 1.06483 rad per second in a uniform manner and divided into four sub-groups. In irradiated groups; the first sub-groups were interaperitoneally (i.p) injected with100 µL saline solution. The second sub-groups were i.p. injection of bone marrow cells from their twins (2.5x10 6 cells/animall). The third sub-groups injected i. p with BPF (1µgm/gm. b. w.) which was dissolved in saline solution. The fourth sub-group injected with i.p solution of BPF (1µg/gm. b. w.) together with bone marrow cells from their twins (2.5x10 6 cells/animal). The nonirradiated sub-groups were injected with the same manner of irradiated sub-groups. The level of total protein and albumin in serum were measured at periods of 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. Irradiated animals i.p. injection of BPF (single dose); appears slight to improve the changes which occurred in both total protein and albumin compared to irradiated sub-group. However, irradiated Guinea pigs injected with single dose of BPF together with bone marrow cells were more improvement of these parameters than sub-groups injected with only single dose of BPF. The improvement of these parameters may be attributed to stimulate growth factors and/or growth hormones to increase protein synthesis as an effect on the liver that necessitates future investigations.

Estimation of the selenium requirement of growing guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

The aim of the study was to determine the selenium (Se) requirement of guinea pigs as a species unable to synthesize ascorbic acid. Forty-nine male guinea pigs (average weight 208 +/- 3.5 g) were divided into an initial status group and six experimental groups. The animals received a Se deficient Torula yeast based basal diet (<0.02 mg Se and 26 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg) or a Se addition of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 mg/kg diet as sodium selenate for 10 weeks. There was no significant difference in weight gain (final weight 643 +/- 21 g) between the groups and no clinical symptoms of Se deficiency occurred. With the exception of the testes, there was an increasing Se concentration in liver, plasma and haemolysate dependent on supplementation level. Glutathione peroxidase was determined in the plasma and Se dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) in haemolysate, liver, kidney, heart and lung. Thioredoxin reductase (TR) activity was measured in liver, kidney and heart and deiodinase activity in the liver. A phospholipid hydroperoxide reducing activity with Se influence was determined in liver, kidney, heart, testes and brain. With the exception of GPx1 activity in heart and haemolysate and TR activity in the kidney, all enzymes already reached their maximal activity at 0.05 mg Se/kg diet. The activities of GPx1 and TR were used as parameters for broken line analysis and a Se requirement of 0.080 mg Se/kg diet was derived as sufficient for growing guinea pigs adequately supplied with vitamin E.

Sensitization to cow's milk proteins during refeeding of guinea pigs recovering from polydeficient malnutrition.

We have previously shown that milk sensitization aggravates intestinal dysfunction in the malnourished guinea pigs, suggesting that it may also impair the recovery from malnutrition. To test this hypothesis, the growing guinea pigs were malnourished by feeding only maize for 7 d and then were refed for 21 d with a balanced diet containing either intact or hydrolyzed cow's milk proteins. The control animals received the hydrolyzed milk protein diet for 28 d. After an initial period of total inhibition of growth owing to maize, guinea pigs gained weight regularly, with both balanced diets, and there was no evidence of mucosal damage at the end of the refeeding period. However, refeeding with intact milk proteins induced milk sensitization, which was demonstrated on the systemic level by the presence of anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgG1 antibodies, and on the local level by the intestinal anaphylaxis measured by the increase in short circuit current induced by beta-lactoglobulin (16.4 +/- 2.6 microA/cm2) in jejunal segments mounted in Ussing chambers. Such an immune sensitization was associated with impaired intestinal permeability, as both the ionic conductance (21.0 +/- 1.6 versus 14.6 +/- 0.7 mS/cm2) and the transepithelial fluxes of horseradish peroxidase (537 +/- 203 versus 152 +/- 28 ng/h x cm2) were significantly increased in guinea pigs refed with the intact milk proteins compared with controls. In contrast, there was no difference in intestinal permeability between controls and guinea pigs refed with the hydrolyzed milk protein diet. These data show that sensitization to cow's milk proteins can develop in guinea pigs recovering from severe malnutrition and may impair full intestinal repair.

Cold acclimation and endurance training in guinea pigs: changes in lung, muscle and brown fat tissue

The effects of an intermittent high intensity stimulus (running) or a chronic low intensity stimulus (cold acclimation) of oxidative metabolism on maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ O 2max ), lung O 2 diffusing capacity (D l O 2 ) and skeletal muscle as well as fat tissue mitochondrial content in growing guinea pigs are described. Young male guinea pigs were assigned to three experimental groups ( n = 5): control (C), endurance trained (T; at 70% V̇ O 2max ) or cold acclimated (CA; 5–7°C) for six weeks. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experimental period and tissue for morphometric analysis of the lung, muscle and interscapular fat was sampled. T and CA animals significantly increased weight specific V̇ O 2max by 23% and 29%, respectively. Despite a significant increase in absolute lung volume in T (+ 10%) and in weight specific lung volume in CA (+ 20%) neither absolute nor weight specific DL O 2 was significantly affected by the experimental treatments. In trained animals the total volume of mitochondria remained unchanged in samples representative for the entire musculature but was significantly increased in M. vastus intermedius (+ 72%). Intramyocellular lipids increased significantly both in M. vastus intermedius (+ 244%) as well as in the whole body musculature (+ 164%). Cold acclimation increased the mitochondrial content of the interscapular fat pad by approximately 20-fold but had no effect on total mitochondrial volume in muscle. We conclude that the increase in oxygen demand resulting from exercise training or from cold acclimation could be accommodated by the existing lung diffusing capacity and did not induce a global change of oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle tissue in growing guinea pigs. Exercise training caused oxidative capacity to increase only in a locomotor muscle activated during running whereas cold acclimation greatly increased interscapular fat tissue oxidative capacity.

Low zinc status in guinea pigs and chicks has no effect on reassembly rate of brain microtubules

Zinc deficiency in guinea pigs and chicks results in peripheral neuropathy. Slowed reassembly of brain microtubules in zinc deficient rats has been reported, and such a defect might explain the neuropathy. To investigate this possibility, growing guinea pigs, chicks, and rats were fed a low zinc diet ad libitum (− Zn:AL), a control diet restricted (+ Zn:RF) to the intake of the − Zn:AL group, and the control diet ad libitum (+ Zn:AL). When the − Zn:AL guinea pigs and chicks exhibited neuropathy, at approximately 7 wk and 3 wk, respectively, a supernatant fraction of the brain was prepared and microtubule reassembly rates determined. Tubulin concentration and its sulfhydryl content were determined, as was the zinc content of the supernatant fraction. Similar measurements were made on rat brains taken after 3 wk, although the rats did not exhibit neurological signs. The reassembly rates of tubulin from the deficient guinea pigs and chicks were not decreased. That of the − Zn:AL rats was significantly less than that of the + Zn:AL group, but was not different from the + Zn:RF group. The tubulin sulfhydryl concentration was higher in deficient guinea pigs than in controls. There was no correlation between supernatant zinc concentration and the rate of reassembly. Because low zinc status had no effect in the guinea pig and chick, species susceptible to zinc deficiency neuropathy, it was concluded that the observed neuropathy is not the result of deranged properties of tubulin.

Influence of asymmetric occlusal relationships and decreased maxillary width on the growth of the facial skeleton in the guinea pig

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of muscle function and occlusal form on mandibular growth in guinea pigs. We hypothesized that restriction of maxillary width and asymmetric function of the mandible would lead to mandibular asymmetry. The hard palate of 12 animals was exposed at the age of ten days, and cyanocrylate was used to close the midpalatal suture in order to restrict transverse maxillary growth. The right incisors and right molars were ground obliquely at the time of surgery and every two weeks thereafter until the animals were sacrificed 4, 8 and 12 weeks later (four animals in each time group). Six age-matched animals served as controls. Dorsoversal x-rays were taken at sacrifice, followed by the removal of small biopsies from six different sites of the maxillomandibular skeleton for biochemical studies, which will be reported separately. Relative to controls, the treated animals exhibited a narrow maxilla and asymmetry in the height of the ramus and in the length of the mandible from the mental foramen to the angular process. The maximum width between the angular processes of the mandible was extremely narrow, as was the condylar neck especially on the right side. It was concluded that abnormal masticatory muscle function caused by occlusal deviation led to a narrowing and a slight asymmetry of the mandible in the growing guinea pig.

On the pattern of ameloblast migration

The kinetics of ameloblast cells in continuously growing guinea pig molars were studied using autoradiography. The results showed that there was no direct relationship between ameloblast migration rate and ameloblast production rate, which indicated that ameloblasts actively migrated coronally. It was found that ameloblast migration rate was maximal at the root apex, and then reduced to a minimum value as the ameloblasts left their proliferative compartment and migrated coronally. A multiple regression model was found to be the most suitable one to represent the ameloblast migration pattern.

Changes in upper intestinal epithelial morphology and kinetics in the growing guinea pig.

Weaning, the process of intestinal adaptation from milk to solid diet, demands changes in gastrointestinal function. We aimed to measure upper intestinal mucosal morphology and cytokinetics during early life, to determine whether the marked changes seen at weaning in altricial species, such as rat and mouse also occur in the precocial guinea pig. A total of 79 animals was studied. Jejunal morphology was measured by microdissection and crypt cell production rate by a metaphase arrest technique in animals at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after birth. There was a 40% decline in villus height from 986 to 576 microns during the first 2 wk (p less than 0.001). Crypt depth increased by 25% from 148 to 199 microns (p less than 0.01). After an initial decline there was a significant increase in crypt:villus ratio from 6.7 to 8.2 (p less than 0.001), in crypt cell production rate from 3.9 to 5.6 cells/crypt/h (p less than 0.001), and net villus influx from 26.1 to 45.9 cells/villus/h (p less than 0.001) from 14 days onward. These proliferative changes were accounted for by an increase in the depth and number of crypts, and in crypt cell production rate, leading to an increase in net villus influx. In contrast with the rat and mouse they were gradual, occurred largely during the 3rd wk, and appeared to follow the cessation of breast feeding and commencement of solid food. It is suggested that the functional changes in the small intestine that occur during weaning in the guinea pig are neither due to rapid proliferation of a new epithelial cell population, nor precipitated by change in diet.

A physiologically based model of skeletal growth in the rat

A model of the growing small animal skeleton has been developed. The model accurately reproduces a variety of different kinds of measurements made at different ages in different species, as well as reproducing a precise and detailed series of measurements in the growing guinea pig. Of the multiple mechanisms responsible for transfer of bone-seeking elements from blood to bone and back again, several are quantitatively insignificant on a skeletal scale. Surface (rapid) exchange, diffuse (slow) exchange, and accretion of new bone during growth are the principal determinants of skeletal metabolism. Bone blood flow can probably by satisfactorily modeled as a combination of a basal flow rate plus an increment that is directly proportional to formation rate of new bone.

ECG of postnatally growing guinea pigs with carbon monoxide induced cardiomegaly

ECG of postnatally growing guinea pigs with carbon monoxide induced cardiomegaly

Fiber composition and capillarity in growing guinea pigs acclimated to cold and cold plus hypoxia.

The central portion of the medial head of the gastrocnemius of control (normoxic and normothermic), hypoxia-, cold-, and cold plus hypoxia-acclimated guinea pigs was analyzed for capillary supply and fiber composition to elucidate changes in capillarity induced by environmental stresses. The muscle was cut at midbelly, frozen, sectioned, and stained for myosin ATPase. Fiber cross-sectional areas; percentages of slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic (FOG), and fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) fibers; and numbers of capillaries around each fiber type were measured. Growth rates of all four guinea pig groups were similar. Capillarity was not affected by acclimation to hypoxia. Cold and cold plus hypoxia acclimation led to increased numbers of capillaries around the fiber in all three fiber types. In addition, significant increases in the percentage of FOG fibers and concomitant decreases in the percentage of FG fibers compared to controls were found in cold and in cold plus hypoxia indicating that a transformation of fiber type from FG to FOG had occurred. The increase in FOGs at the expense of the FGs did not occur in the guinea pigs grown in a hypoxic environment. The increased total capillarity in those muscles studied was the result of more capillaries around all fiber types and was not due to simple transformation of fibers.