Plasma Of Piglets Research Articles

Oleic Acid (18:1) in Plasma, Liver and Brain Myelin Lipid of Piglets Fed from Birth with Formulas Differing in 18:1 Content

Recent studies have shown reduced 18:1 fatty acids in brain total lipid of piglets fed formula with 17% 18:1 fatty acids rather than sow milk providing 37% 18:1. Because 18:1 is a major fatty acid in brain myelin lipid and is rapidly deposited during myelination, it is important to know if this reflects deposition of myelin lipid containing reduced 18:1 and/or delayed myelination, or is related to changes in other brain membranes. Therefore, these studies determined the myelin total lipid, phosphatidylethanolamine and plasma and liver phospholipid fatty acids in piglets fed from birth to 15 d with formula containing (g/100 g fatty acids): 18:1, 17 and 18:3(n-3), 0.8; 18:1, 38 and 18:3(n-3), 0.6 fatty acids; or 18:1, 40 and 18:3(n-3), 4; or sow milk. Different levels of formula 18:3(n-3) fatty acids were studied because of the known effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on myelination. The brain 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNPase) activity and cerebroside concentration were also determined and used as indicators of myelination. Piglets fed the low 18:1 formula had lower 18:1 fatty acids in their plasma and liver phospholipid than sow milk-fed piglets. Formula providing a similar level of 18:1 to sow milk resulted in higher 18:1 fatty acids in the piglet plasma and liver phospholipid than in the sow milk-fed piglets. The brain myelin monoenoic fatty acids, CNPase activity and cerebroside concentration were similar in sow milk- and formula-fed piglets, irrespective of the formula 18:1 or 18:3(n-3) content. These studies suggest that the formula 18:1 supply in similar quantity to natural milk is not essential to normal accretion of 18:1 fatty acids in brain myelin.

Effect of dietary a-tocopherol on plasma and milk a-tocopherol levels in the sow

Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant in animal tissues. Deficiency has been associated with sudden deaths in suckling and growing pigs as well as impaired immune function and reduced fertility. Of the tocopherols and tocotrienols present in nature, only a-tocopherol (a-T) appears in appreciable amounts in pig blood and tissues. A previous trial (Monahan et al., 1990) had shown that feeding a diet containing a high level of a-tocopherol to sows from day 3 of lactation resulted in a significant increase in sow plasma, sow milk and piglet plasma a-T levels. The present trial was designed to study the effect of feeding high a-T from late pregnancy or from farrowing on milk a-T levels.

Binding properties of plasma vitamin D-binding protein and intestinal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 receptor in piglets with pseudo-vitamin D-deficiency rickets, type I: Treatment effects with pharmacological doses of vitamin D 3

The effective treatment of the rachitic symptoms of pseudo-vitamin D-deficiency rickets, type I (PVDRI) by massive doses of vitamin D 3 was examined. For this purpose, the affinities and the maximum binding capacities ( B max) of the plasma vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and of the intestinal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25- (OH) 2D 3) receptor for vitamin D 3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25-OHD 3) and 1,25-(OH) 2D 3, were investigated in normal piglets and in rachitic piglets that suffered from PVDRI. The piglets were 5 to 10 weeks old and of both sexes. The B max of plasma DBP for 25-OHD 3 was 6.77 ± 0.45 μ m for PVDRI piglets and 7.30 ± 0.41 μ m for control piglets and showed no differences between the two groups. Equilibrium association constants ( K a ) of DBP for 25-OHD 3 were 4.3 × 10 8 m −1 for PVDRI piglets and 4.0 × 10 8 m −1 for controls and showed also no differences between the two groups. Similarly the K a of DBP for 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 was also the same for rachitic and control piglets (1.45 × 10 7 and 1.54 × 10 7 m −1, respectively). Due to the lower circulating concentration of 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 in the plasma of rachitic piglets compared to that of controls its free metabolite index was significantly lower in rachitic (0.42 ± 0.05 × 10 −5) than in control piglets (3.63 ± 0.30 × 10 −5). The K d and B max of the intestinal nuclear receptor for 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 of rachitic and control piglets were 0.31 ± 0.05 and 0.33 ± 0.05 n m and 674 ± 103 and 719 ± 123 fmol/mg protein, respectively, and were also not different between the two groups of piglets. It was concluded from these observations that the rachitic symptoms of PVDRI piglets resulted solely from the lower free 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 concentration in plasma compared to that of normal piglets. The relative affinities of the intestinal 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 receptor for vitamin D 3 and 25-OHD 3 were also measured. It was found that 50% displacement of 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 from the intestinal receptor of PVDRI and control piglets required a 220,000- and 245,000-fold excess of the free concentration of vitamin D 3, respectively, and a 20- to 42- and 23- to 71-fold excess of the free concentration of 25-OHD 3, respectively. Treatment of PVDRI piglets with an effective dose of 7.5 × 10 4 IU of vitamin D 3 led to a transient 1073-fold excess of the free concentration of vitamin D 3 and a 59-fold excess of the free concentration of 25-OHD 3 over free 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 in plasma. Since a 59-fold excess of free 25-OHD 3 in plasma of treated piglets could cause at least 50% displacement of 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 from the intestinal 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 receptor it is suggested that after administration of pharmacological amounts of vitamin D 3 to PVDRI piglets both 25-OHD 3 and 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 acted upon the intestinal 1,25-(OH) 2D 3 receptor. The two metabolites probably exerted a coordinate effect in healing the rachitic symptoms.

Effect of a vegetable oil formula rich in linoleic acid on tissue fatty acid accretion in the brain, liver, plasma, and erythrocytes of infant piglets

The effect of feeding sow-milk formula (SMF) or a vegetable-oil infant formula (FF) with minimal n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyenoic fatty acids (LCPs) but high linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and a high ratio of 18:2n-6 to linolenic acid (18:3n-3) on the fatty acids of brain lipid and liver, plasma, and red cell phospholipids was studied in piglets fed from birth for 5, 10, 15, or 25 d. Compared with SMF, FF reduced the concentrations of 18:1 and n-3 LCPs, especially 22:6n-3, in all tissues and increased 22:4n-6 in brain, liver, plasma, and red cell phosphatidylethanolamine. FF also increased 22:5n-6 in brain lipid, liver, and plasma but not in red cell phospholipids. Thus, changes in tissues capable of in situ desaturation were not completely reflected in the red cell phospholipids. The increased liver and brain n-6 LCP accretion in the FF piglets may suggest competent desaturation and possible inhibition of n-3 desaturation and/or acylation by dietary n-6 fatty acids.

Age-dependent Changes of Amino Acid Concentration in the Blood Plasma of Early-weaned Piglets

home Acta Veterinaria Brno Journal of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Search:

Ontogeny of Plasma, CSF and Brainstem ACTH in Piglets: Effects of Hypoxia and Anesthesia

This study was designed to assess the postnatal maturation of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels in piglets under basal conditions and in response to single, acute stressors. ACTH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in a dorsal medullary slice containing the nucleus tractus solitarii (dmscNTS) of young and older piglets (1.5-6 and 35-43 days old, respectively) under the following experimental conditions: (1) normoxia (both groups); (2) hypoxia, 10% O2/N2 for greater than or equal to 30 min (both groups); (3) sham anesthesia, i.p. saline in normoxia (young group); (4) anesthesia, 25 mg/kg i.p. pentobarbital in normoxia (young group), and (5) anesthesia combined with hypoxia (young group). During normoxia, ACTH levels in young, as compared to older piglets, were higher in CSF (p less than 0.01) and plasma (0.05 less than p less than 0.10) and not different in dmscNTS. Hypoxia produced no ACTH changes in CSF, increased ACTH in plasma of young (p = 0.03) and older piglets (p = 0.09), and decreased ACTH in dmscNTS of older (p = 0.01) and young piglets (p = 0.07). As compared to sham anesthesia, anesthesia did not alter any ACTH levels. Combined hypoxia and anesthesia increased ACTH levels in plasma when compared to normoxia (p less than 0.05), sham anesthesia (p less than 0.05) or anesthesia alone (p less than 0.05), but not when compared to hypoxia alone. We conclude that neonatal swine have high basal ACTH levels and mount significant plasma ACTH responses to a single, acute hypoxic stressor. The presence of ACTH in the region of the NTS supports its possible role as a neuromodulator in the brain.

Proopiomelanocortin opioids in brain, CSF, and plasma of piglets during hypoxia.

beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity (BELI), containing the biologically active beta-endorphin, its precursor beta-lipotropin (BLP), and deactivated product N-acetyl-beta-endorphin (ABE), were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and in a dorsal medullary slice containing the respiratory-related nucleus tractus solitarius (dmscNTS) of young and older piglets in normoxia and hypoxia. Significant increase with hypoxia occurred in the levels of BLP in the plasma and CSF and of BELI and ABE in the plasma of the young group. In the older group, such increases occurred in ABE levels of the dmscNTS, in BLP and ABE levels of the CSF, and in plasma BELI. Estimated levels of pure beta-endorphin were higher in the CSF of young piglets during both control and hypoxia. With hypoxia, these estimated levels increased significantly in the plasma of the young age group but showed only a borderline increase in the old group. It is possible that higher opioid levels in the CSF of young as compared with older neonates, enhanced by a greater opioid increase in their plasma during hypoxia, may help explain the suppressed respiratory response to hypoxia of the newborn.

The Neonatal Piglet as a Model for Human Neonatal Carnitine Metabolism

Investigations concerning carnitine metabolism and possible requirements for exogenous carnitine in human preterm neonates are limited by ethical considerations. The neonatal piglet is a potential animal model for these investigations. Tissue carnitine concentrations were determined in fetuses from cross-bred domestic gilts at stages of gestation corresponding to those of neonates found in neonatal intensive care units. Fetal piglet plasma and red blood cell carnitine levels decreased from approximately 90 d to term. Skeletal muscle carnitine increased from 60 d to term. Temporal changes in fetal carnitine concentrations in plasma, red blood cells and skeletal muscle throughout gestation are similar to the pattern reported by our laboratory for the human neonate. Cardiac muscle carnitine increased earlier than skeletal muscle but also continued to increase to term. Carnitine concentrations in fetal liver, kidney and intestine were maximal at 90 d and decreased until term. Similarities in physiology, metabolism and profiles of tissue carnitine concentration between the newborn piglet and the human neonate indicate that the neonatal piglet is an appropriate animal model for investigations concerning neonatal carnitine metabolism.

Vitamin A and Total Protein Levels in the Blood Plasma of Piglets During Their Postnatal Development

home Acta Veterinaria Brno Journal of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Search:

NUTRITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN A SEMI-PURIFIED DIET FED DURING GESTATION AND LACTATION TO FIRST-LITTER GILTS AND THEIR PIGLETS

Twelve purebred Landrace pregnant gilts were introduced to the experimental diets in pairs (littermates) in order to study the nutritional significance of 0.1 ppm Se supplementation (+Se) during gestation and lactation in a semi-purified diet containing adequate amounts of vitamin E but low in Se (0.018 ppm; −Se). Gilts were fed 2 kg/day during gestation and ad libitum during a 3-wk lactation. Animal response was evaluated in terms of reproductive performance, blood, colostrum and milk parameters. Litter size and total litter weight at birth and at weaning were not affected by the Se levels fed to the dams. Mortality rates at birth were 1.61 and 13.64% and from birth to weaning were 18.09 and 5.26% for +Se and −Se litters, respectively. A continuous decrease of blood Se content was observed in gilts throughout gestation, being significantly lower for the −Se group compared to the +Se group. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity followed the same pattern observed in blood Se content. Content of Se in colostrum, although always higher than in milk, was significantly lower in the −Se gilts than the +Se group. Blood Se from piglets of the +Se gilts was significantly higher than the blood of piglets from litters of the −Se gilts at birth, and during the 3-wk lactation. Levels of GSH-Px activity in the plasma of piglets from litters of the two experimental groups of gilts were similar at birth, but by 3 wk lactation piglets from +Se gilts showed significantly greater GSH-Px activity than piglets from −Se gilts. Growth rate of the piglets at 4 wk postweaning was significantly affected by the dietary Se intake of their mothers during gestation and lactation. However, no differences in growth rate were observed among littermates that received a starter diet with or without Se supplementation. Key words: Selenium, gilts, pregnancy, lactation, piglets, postweaning

The concentration of choline and the activities of cholinesterases, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the blood plasma of piglets with the syndrome of splayleg (congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia).

The concentration of choline and the activities of cholinesterases, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the blood plasma of piglets with the syndrome of splayleg (congenital myofibrillar hypoplasia).

Vitamin A requirement of growing swine. 2. Effect of the vitamin A supply on the vitamin A concentrations in the liver and plasma of piglets and fattening swine

In 9 experiments the vitamin A content of the livers of 64 newborn (still births and deaths up to 48 h p.p.) and 69 weaned piglets, 122 growers and 110 fattening pigs was investigated after slaughtering or autopsy. Liver samples were taken from 78 growers by means of biopsy after latarotomy. A fluorometric analysis of the plasma vitamin A level was made. At the time of birth the vitamin A content of the piglet livers was less than 100 IU/g and did not show any differences between the experiments. At the time of weaning, however, the livers of piglets from large-scale production showed a three times higher content (175 IU/g liver) in comparison to those from traditional production. Highly significant linear relations were established between the vitamin A content of the feed and the liver. According to these, a liver content of vitamin A of approximately equal to 30 IU/g is ensured by approximately equal to 2,000 IU in weaning piglets and by approximately equal to 800 IU vitamin A/kg feed in fattening pigs. The vitamin A activity of the beta-carotene in weaners was ascertained as less than 100 IU/mg. The plasma vitamin A level indicated the vitamin A status only in the range of deficient supply. A different plasma content could not be detected between 1,000 and 4,000 IU vitamin A/kg feed. According to this, a semilogarithmic relation was calculated according to the model of a saturation curve between the vitamin A content of the plasma and the liver. The threshold value for the decrease of the plasma level under 45 IU vitamin A/dl is 35 IU/g liver. Due to the low definiteness measure (B = 0.52) the relation cannot be applied to the individual animal. A contamination of 1,000 mg nitrite/kg feed had a low, and in the course of the experiment decreasing, influence on the vitamin A content of plasma and liver.

EFFECT OF LOW DIETARY ZINC DURING LATE GESTATION AND EARLY LACTATION ON THE SOW AND NEONATAL PIGLETS

Twelve pregnant sows were fed semi-purified diets containing either 13 or 63 mg/kg zinc (Zn). The animals were fed the diets during the last 4 wk of pregnancy (2 kg/day) and the two first weeks of lactation (ad libitum). Reduced level of dietary Zn did not affect (P > 0.05) weight changes of sows and no difference (P > 0.05) in food intake occurred during the ad libitum phase of the experiment. Low Zn sows showed lower plasma Zn at 100 (125 vs. 157 g/dL) and 113 (93 vs. 127 g/dL) days of gestation and at 7 (65 vs. 133 g/dL)) and 14 (59 vs. 99 g/dL) days of lactation. The differences were significant (P < 0.01) only during lactation. Copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and ammonia (NH3) concentrations in plasma and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) of plasma were not affected by treatment. Parturition lasted 2.08 h in control and 4.54 h in low Zn sows (P < 0.1). Zinc, Cu and protein content of colostrum and milk were similar between groups. Low dietary Zn had no effect on litter size, birth weight, number of stillbirths and mortality up to 2 wk of age. Liveweight at 7 days was significantly higher in piglets nursed by low Zn dams but at 14 days of age no significant treatment difference was found. Zinc, Cu Fe, NH3 concentrations in plasma and APA in plasma of piglets were not significantly different at birth or at 7 days of age. At 14 days of age only plasma Zn was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Low supply of Zn to dams had no effect on the performance of piglets during neonatal life. Key words: Zinc, sows, pregnancy, lactation, piglets

Effect of Sow Vitamin D Status at Parturition on the Vitamin D Status of Neonatal Piglets

The plasma concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and vitamin D metabolites were determined in cholecalciferol-treated sows and untreated sows at parturition and their piglets (at birth and at 10 days of age) to determine the relationship between sow vitamin D status and neonatal piglet vitamin D status. At birth, there was a high degree of correlation between sow and piglet plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (r = 0.944), 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (r = 0.895), and 25,26-dihydroxycholecalciferol (r = 0.737). Neonatal piglet plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was low (42.0 ± 10.2 pg/ml) and was not correlated with maternal plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (r = 0.022). Neonatal plasma calcium and phosphorus were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with maternal plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (r = 0.515 and 0.581, respectively). Parenteral cholecalciferol treatment of sows before parturition proved an effective means of supplementing young piglets with cholecalciferol (via the sow's milk) and its more polar metabolites via placental transport. However, it had no significant effect on either the plasma mineral or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D status of the sow or young piglet.

Effects of Starvation and Zinc Intake on Vitamin A and E Levels in the Blood Plasma of Piglets

home Acta Veterinaria Brno Journal of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Search:

Determination of chloramphenicol and its monosuccinate ester in piglet plasma using HPLC

A method for the determination of chloramphenicol and its monosuccinate ester in piglet plasma is described. It involves precipitation of plasma proteins by addition of methanol to the plasma sample, followed by injection of the supernate onto the column. Chloramphenicol and its ester are separated using a LiChrosorb RP-18 column and phosphate buffer pH 4.9 containing 30% methanol as eluent. Determination of chloramphenicol and its monosuccinate ester in pig plasma was made with a precision of 2.6% and 2.4% (relative standard deviation) at drug levels of 2 and 4 μg·cm−3, respectively. Stability data for the chloramphenicol monosuccinate ester are also presented.

EFFECT OF DIETARY SELENIUM DEPLETION AND REPLETION ON PLASMA GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY AND SELENIUM CONCENTRATION IN BLOOD AND BODY TISSUE OF GROWING PIGS

The biodynamic relationship between blood Se concentration and the activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the plasma of piglets weaned at 2 wk of age was studied during a period of dietary Se depletion and repletion in the presence of adequate amounts of vitamin E. Blood SE concentration behaved as a sensitive index of the dietary SE intake. GSH-Px enzyme activity in the plasma, as a direct measurement of functional Se in one body compartment, was also very sensitive to dietary Se intake of the animals. Although dramatic changes in these two blood constituents were observed in the experimental animals during Se depletion and repletion, at the end of the experiment when they were killed for tissue sampling, no gross abnormalities were observed in any of the body organs of these animals. Body tissues showed a differential response to dietary Se manipulation; however, all of them were significantly affected in the 5-wk period. Overall, the liver appears to be the organ with the fastest rate of repletion or depletion of Se. The brain, at the other end of the spectrum of the tissues studied, appeared as the organ least affected by either Se depletion or repletion. Since the major interest is in the differential diagnosis of dietary Se deficiency in the live animal, plasma GSH-Px activity proved to be a fast, simple, and reliable method to evaluate the short-term intake of dietary Se.

EFFECT OF DIETARY SELENIUM ON GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN PIGLETS

Two experiments were conducted to measure the effect of dietary selenium on glutathione (GSH) peroxidase activity in plasma and body organs of growing pigs. In experiment 1, 12 piglets weaned at 2 wk and 18 weaned at 4 wk were fed for a period of 5 wk either a selenium-deficient basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 0.1 ppm selenium as sodium selenite. Three levels of dietary vitamin E supplemented as dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate were also included in this experiment in a factorial arrangement with selenium. Vitamin E was shown to have no effect on GSH-peroxidase activity. In contrast, dietary selenium exerted a significant effect on the activity of the seleno-enzyme in the plasma, pancreas, heart, lungs and kidneys of piglets. The kidneys showed the highest GSH-peroxidase activity of the organs studied. Supplemental selenium resulted in a marked increase in plasma GSH-peroxidase activity of the piglets weaned at 2 wk, and maintained a high level of activity for those weaned at 4 wk. Pancreatic activity of this enzyme in selenium-deficient animals showed a drop to about one-third the activity observed in selenium-supplemented piglets after a 5-wk period. GSH-peroxidase in heart muscle showed the same response that was observed in the pancreas. The reduction in activity of this enzyme in lungs and kidneys was much greater than in pancreas and heart. No measurable amounts of GSH-peroxidase were observed in the liver of piglets either with or without selenium supplementation. In experiment 2, six pairs of male-female piglets weaned at 2 wk of age were fed either a selenium-deficient or a selenium supplemented diet. During the 20-wk period, selenium-supplemented piglets showed an average GSH-peroxidase activity in plasma 8.2-fold higher than selenium-deficient animals. After 2 wk, selenium-deficient piglets showed an extremely low activity of the seleno-enzyme in the plasma. Thus, the measurement of GSH-peroxidase in plasma of the live animal appears to be a reliable index of nutritional selenium status in piglets.

Transplacental disposition of phencyclidine in the pig.

1. Phencyclidine concn in plasma of pregnant and non-pregnant sows and in umbilical cord and neonatal plasma was determined by g.l.c. after a single intramuscular dose of phencyclidine hydrochloride. 2. The rate of elimination of the drug, as determined from plasma phencyclidine concn, was unchanged by pregnancy. 3. Phencyclidine concn in piglet plasma was approx. 10-fold higher than in maternal sow plasma and declined more slowly (t 1/2 about 6 h) than the concn. in adult sows (t 1/2 about 2 h). 4. Studies of phencyclidine uptake by piglet and sow plasma in vitro indicate that the higher concns in piglet plasma are due to a marked affinity of piglet plasma proteins for the drug, although both total protein and albumin concn is lower than in sow plasma.

Controlling Factors in the Development of Ceruloplasmin in Pigs during the Neonatal Growth Period

The sequence of ceruloplasmin development and limiting factors controlling this process in neonatal piglets was studied in a randomized block design. Guided by the change in serum ceruloplasmin levels, the liver copper concentrations of piglets fed copper-deficient and copper-supplemented diets were compared in three different periods. The plasma of piglets was devoid of both apo- and holo-ceruloplasmin at birth. The system responsible for the synthesis of apoceruloplasmin developed shortly after birth as indicated by a steady increase in serum ceruloplasmin activity during the first week without being affected by the diet. Copper apparently was not the limiting factor at this stage since very high concentrations of copper were found in the livers of newborn piglets. However, the liver copper was depleted quickly within 1 to 2 weeks and became the limiting factor if the diet was deficient in copper. The livers of these piglets were fractionated by differential centrifugation to compare the liver copper distribution in the two dietary groups with and without copper supplementation. The treatments did not affect the copper distribution on a percentage of total liver copper basis. However, fractionation study revealed that, unlike adult pig livers, about 70% to 80% of copper was present in the heavier particle fractions of piglet livers.