PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

C J Van Nevel

Publications and source records attributed to C J Van Nevel.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of virginiamycin on carbohydrate and protein metabolism in the rumen in vitro.

The effect of virginiamycin in incubations of rumen fluid with carbohydrate or protein substrate was investigated. In carbohydrate incubations, methane production was partially inhibited while propionate proportions increased. Total microbial growth was slightly decreased, but net microbial growth was considerably lower. Protein degradation was slightly lowered after addition of virginiamycin. These effects were compared with results obtained with other rumen manipulating additives.

Animals

Effect of defaunation on the metabolism of rumen micro-organisms.

1. Rumen contents of a fasted fistulated wether, obtained in a faunated, defaunated and refaunated period were incubated in vitro with a mixture of cellobiose and maltose, in the presence of ammonium bicarbonate and 32PO43-. Total synthesis of microbial N (Nt) was calculated from 32P incorporation and N:P determined in microbial matter. The N:P value was not affected by defaunation. Net synthesis of microbial N (Nn) was calculated from ammonia-N incorporation. An estimate of degradation of microbial N was calculated as Nt-Nn. Energetic efficiency of synthesis was calculated from the volatile fatty acids produced during incubation, as g N incorporated per kg organic matter fermented (g N/kg OMf). 2. Defaunation decreased the proportions of acetate, butyrate and methane and increased those of propionate in fermentation end-products. Fermentation rate when expressed per mg microbial N was not affected by defaunation. 3. Expressed per unit volume of rumen contents, Nn was increased by defaunation whereas Nt remained unchanged. Thus, a decrease in degradation can be calculated. Energetic efficiences of total and net synthesis were increased from 35 and 13 to 47 and 30 g N/kg OMf respectively. 4. Specific rates of both total and net synthesis of microbial N were significantly increased by defaunation whereas the specific rate of degradation was not affected.

Animals

Effect of monensin on rumen metabolism in vitro.

The effect of Monensin (Rumensin, Eli Lilly & Co.) in incubations with mixed rumen microorganisms metabolizing carbohydrate or protein substrates was investigated. Monensin partly inhibited methanogenesis and increased propionate production, although the effect was not always statistically significant. Incubations with substrates specific for methane bacteria suggest that inhibition of methanogenesis by Monensin was not due to a specific toxic action on the methanogenic flora, but rather to an inhibition of hydrogen production from formate. Total and net microbial growth were considerably decreased by addition of Monensin, although the amount of substrate fermented was not altered, resulting in lowered values of microbial growth efficiency. In incubations with casein, Monensin lowered protein degradation in line with a lowered ammonia production, whereas a slight accumulation of alpha-amino nitrogen was observed. The results suggest that besides an influence of Monensin on the rumen carbohydrate fermentation pattern, another reason for the beneficial effects observed in vivo might be decreased food protein degradation in the rumen, altering the final site of protein digestion in the animal. Also, the possibility of a decrease in rumen microbial growth efficiency has to be considered when using Monensin as a food additive.

Animals

Rumen microbial growth rates and yields: effect of amino acids and protein.

Effects of amino acids upon microbial growth, optimum ratio of nonprotein to amino acid nitrogen for microbial growth, and incorporation of amino acids into microbial cells were determined with washed cell suspension in vitro as were rumen microbial cells. Rumen microbial dry matter, nitrogen, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and substrate disappearance was greatest when a mixture of 18 amino acids was substituted for urea. Substitutions of mixtures of 10 essential amino acids, 8 nonessential amino acids, and sulfur containing amino acids and glutamate also stimulated microbial growth. Acid hydrolyzed casein markedly improved microbial growth. Branched amino acid addition did not affect growth. The optimum ratio of nonprotein to amino acid nitrogen for microbial growth was 75% urea nitrogen and 25% amino acid nitrogen. With this amount of amino acids, an average of 53% of added amino acid was incorporated into microbial cells, 14% was fermented to carbon dioxide and volatile fatty acids, and 33% remained in the supernatant. Both 100% urea and 100% amino acid in growth media were unfavorable for maximal microbial growth. With all carbohydrate substrates, 100% urea nitrogen supported the growth of 9 mg bacterial dry matter per 100 mg of substrate. Substitutions of amino acids for urea increased yields to over 20 mg/100 mg. Microbial growth yields in incubations under carbon dioxide were less than when flasks were flushed with nitrogen. However, yield of bacterial dry matter per unit of substrate was less under nitrogen than under carbon dioxide.

Amino Acids

Some characteristics of Anaerovibrio lipolytica a rumen lipolytic organism.

Strains of Anaerovibrio lipolytica isolated from sheep- and cow-rumen contents on a linseed oil -- rumen fluid -- agar medium fermented ribose, glycerol and DL-lactate. Fermentation products from glycerol were propionate and succinate, while ribose, fructose and DL-lactate were fermented mainly to acetate, propionate and carbon dioxide. Propionate is formed in this organism by the dicarboxylic acid pathway similarly as in propionibacteria. Measurements of the rate of lipolysis by pure cultures suggest that the organism may play an important role in the lipolytic activity of rumen contents of sheep. The demonstrated fact that the cell-free lipase excreted in the culture medium can easily be adsorbed on particulate matter in autoclaved rumen fluid may explain the absence of free lipase in clarified rumen liquor.

Anaerobiosis

Effect of chloral hydrate on methane and propionic acid in the rumen.

Methane production from pyruvate by mixed rumen bacteria in vitro was nearly totally inhibited by chloral hydrate (0.1 mumole/ml of incubation fluid). This effect was accompanied by an accumulation of gaseous hydrogen and an increase in propionic acid production. Infusion of chloral hydrate (4 g/day) into the rumen of a sheep produced the same effects. Evidence is presented for a direct toxic effect of chloral hydrate upon methane bacteria. Results are discussed in terms of fermentation balances.

Animals