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D McCartney

Publications and source records attributed to D McCartney.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Evaluation of wheat-based thin stillage as a water source for growing and finishing beef cattle.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of wheat-based thin stillage as a water source for cattle. In Trial 1, 20 large-framed steers were fed a basal diet based primarily on barley grain and barley silage, with ad libitum access to water or thin stillage at one of three DM concentrations (2, 4, and 6.7%) in a completely randomized design. The trial consisted of a 70-d growing period and a finishing phase. In Trial 2, total-tract nutrient digestibility coefficients of the basal diet and water treatments fed in the growing period were determined in a randomized complete block design using 12 medium-framed steers. The results showed that when only DMI from the basal diet was considered, there was a linear reduction (P<.01) in DMI and a linear improvement (P<.01) in the gain:feed ratio with no effect on daily gain as thin stillage DM concentration increased. No differences were detected in DMI or efficiency of gain when total DMI (basal diet and thin stillage) was considered. Carcass traits indicated a trend toward increased (P<.06) carcass fat with increasing thin stillage DM concentration. Results of Trial 2 indicated a linear improvement (P<.05) in apparent digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and energy of the total diet (basal diet and thin stillage) as thin stillage DM concentration increased. We concluded that supplementing growing and finishing cattle with thin stillage reduced the amount of the basal diet required for gain and improved nutrient utilization.

Animals↗

Feeding value of wheat-based thin stillage: in vitro protein degradability and effects on ruminal fermentation.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of wheat-based thin stillage as a fluid source for ruminants. In vitro CP degradability of thin stillage was estimated relative to canola meal and heated canola meal in a completely randomized design. Four ruminally cannulated steers were used in a double cross-over design to determine the effects of consuming thin stillage or water as drinking sources on ruminal fermentation traits. The in vitro CP degradability of thin stillage (55.4%) was lower (P<.05) than that of canola meal (59.4%) and higher than that of heated canola meal (31.6%). Ruminal pH for steers consuming thin stillage was higher (P<.05) at 1000 and 1100 and lower (P<.05) at 1900 and 2000 than that for steers consuming water. Total VFA followed a pattern that was the reverse of that reported for pH. Ruminal NH3 N levels were higher (P<.05) for steers fed thin stillage than for water-fed steers through most of the collection period. Ruminal fluid and particulate matter passage rates were not affected by treatment and averaged .165 and .06 /h, respectively. The amount of thin stillage and water that did not equilibrate with the ruminal fluid and, thus, was considered to bypass the rumen was estimated to be 51.9 and 59.2% of total fluid consumed, respectively. Feeding wheat-based thin stillage had no adverse effects on ruminal metabolism.

Animals↗

Intradermal immunization with a bovine herpesvirus-1 DNA vaccine induces protective immunity in cattle.

Although intramuscular (i.m.) injection of DNA encoding glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) induces immune responses in cattle, this route of delivery is inefficient. Here we assessed three parameters that may enhance the efficacy of a gD DNA vaccine in cattle. First, the immune response generated by i.m. injected plasmid expressing a secreted form of gD (tgD) was determined and found to be very similar in magnitude to the response induced by gD-expressing plasmid. Secondly, gD- and tgD-expressing plasmids were administered by intradermal (i.d.) immunization, which resulted in a superior immune response to the secreted form, but no improvement in the response to the membrane-associated form. However, the form of gD used for immunization did not influence the immunoglobulin subtype, the ratio of antigen-specific IgG1 to IgG2 being approximately 4:1. Finally, the effect of promoter strength was assessed by replacing the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter, which was used in the original experiments, with the human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter and first intron A (HCMV/IA). Although upon transfection in vitro the HCMV/IA promoter appeared to be stronger than the RSV promoter, there was only a 2-fold higher antibody response in vivo upon i.d. injection of cattle. Protection against virus challenge was obtained in the calves immunized i.d. with tgD-encoding plasmid, as shown by a significant reduction in weight loss, virus excretion, temperature response and clinical disease. No significant protection was observed in the animals vaccinated i.d. with the gD-expressing plasmid, which correlates with the lower level of immunity pre-challenge.

Animals↗

Acceleration of the maturation of oligodendroblasts into oligodendrocytes and enhancement of their myelinogenic properties by a chemically defined medium.

Because of the importance of oligodendrocytes (OL) in forming and maintaining myelin in the CNS and the fact that the remyelination in the CNS is very limited in contrast to the peripheral nervous system, we investigated the effect of a chemically defined medium OLDEM, previously characterized by the maintenance of mature myelinating OL, on oligodendroblasts (or OL progenitors) in culture. The effect of each component of this medium as well as different combinations of them were also examined. Cultures were examined at different developmental stages immunocytochemically for developmental markers, such as transferrin, sulfatides, myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein. OLDEM accelerated the appearance of developmental markers and concomitant morphological changes. Furthermore, myelin-specific enzymes such as glycerophosphorylcholine phosphodiesterase; p-nitro-phenolphosphocholine phosphodiesterase; 2'3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and UDP galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase had enzymatic activities similar to values found in pure myelin, indicating that OLDEM allows the optimal expression of myelin-related genes. The effect of each OLDEM constituent was evaluated by immunocytochemistry and by measurement of enzymatic activities. With each single additive or multiple combinations, oligodendrocytes displayed different degrees of maturation. Deletion of selenium, glucose, and galactose severely affected cell survival as well as enzymes expression in young cultures. However, older cultures were more resistant to these deletions. Putrescine and insulin did not cause such effects on survival, but their absence affected cell maturation. None of the OLDEM additives individually supported survival and/or maturation. Enzyme assays performed on isolated myelin-like membranes or the cells soma revealed a redistribution of the activity between these fractions as the cell matured. The biological role of each of these constituents on the maturation of the oligodendroglial cells is discussed. These observations indicate that OLDEM constituents have a powerful effect on OL progenitor maturation, and membrane formation. This medium will be used for investigating the remyelination potential of adult OL progenitors.

Animals↗

Phospholipase D activity of rat brain neuronal nuclei.

Phospholipase D activity of rat brain neuronal nuclei, measured with exogenous phosphatidylcholine as substrate, was characterized. The measured activity of neuronal nuclei was at least 36-fold greater than the activity in glia nuclei. The pH optimum was 6.5, and unsaturated but not saturated fatty acids stimulated the enzyme. The optimal concentration of sodium oleate for stimulation of the enzyme activity was 1.2 mM in the presence of 0.75 mM phosphatidylcholine. This phospholipase D activity was cation independent. In the absence of NaF, used as a phosphatidic acid phosphatase inhibitor, the principal product was diglyceride; whereas in the presence of NaF, the principal product was phosphatidic acid. The phospholipase D, in addition to having hydrolytic activity, was able to catalyze a transphosphatidylation reaction. Maximum phosphatidylethanol formation was seen with 0.2-0.3 M ethanol. GTPgammaS, ATPgammaS, BeF2, AIF3, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylethanol inhibited the neuronal nuclei phospholipase D activity. The addition of the cytosolic fraction of brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and heart to the incubation mixtures resulted in inhibition of the phospholipase D activity. Phospholipase D activity was detectable in nuclei prepared from rat kidney, spleen, heart, and liver.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Efficacy of an experimental BHV-1 subunit gIV vaccine in beef calves challenged with BHV-1 in aerosol.

Thirty-six beef calves were used to test the efficacy of an experimental truncated BHV-1 glycoprotein (tgIV) vaccine. Calves from 1 source and +/- 1 mo of age were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) control (adjuvant VSA3), 2) vaccinated with tgIV at 3 and 4 mo of age, 3) vaccinated with tgIV at 3 and 7 mo of age, or 4) vaccinated with tgIV at 6 and 7 mo of age. Calves were challenged with BHV-1 in aerosol (strain 108) at 7 1/2 mo of age. Prior to challenge, serum neutralizing (SN) antibody titers to BHV-1 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in all vaccinated calves than in controls. Calves vaccinated at 3 and 7, or 6 and 7, mo of age had significantly (P < 0.05) higher SN antibody and nasal antibody titers to BHV-1 and ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) titers to gIV at prechallenge than those vaccinated at 3 and 4 mo of age or controls. Postchallenge nasal shedding of BHV-1 occurred only in controls and those vaccinated at 3 and 4 mo of age. Control calves lost significantly (P < 0.05) more weight and had higher sick scores after challenge than those vaccinated at 3 and 7, or at 6 and 7, mo of age. There were strong correlations (P < 0.001) between antibody titers, virus shedding, and sickness.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Phospholipase D activity of isolated rat brain plasma membranes.

With [14C]oleate-labeled phosphatidylcholine as a substrate for phospholipase D the hydrolytic activity was measured by phosphatidic acid formation and the transphosphatidylation activity was measured by the phosphatidylethanol formed in the presence of ethanol. The pH optimum was 6.5 with dimethylglutarate as the buffer. EGTA inhibited the transphosphatidylation activity to a greater extent than the hydrolytic activity. In contrast CaCl2, BaCl2, MgCl2 and SrCl2 stimulated the hydrolytic activity without effecting the transphosphatidylation activity. BeCl2 another member of the group IIa transition metals was a very potent inhibitor of both the hydrolytic and transphophatidylation activity. GTP gamma S, an activator of G protein-mediated events, was an inhibitor of both activities.

Animals↗

Operative stabilization of pediatric femur fractures.

Femur fractures represent approximately 1.7% of all pediatric bony injuries. Most femur fractures were treated nonoperatively prior to the early 1980s. Recent refinements in the operative techniques used to treat pediatric femur fracture have led to a reduction in the use of traction and casting treatment methods.

Adolescent↗

The predictive value of pelvimetry in beef cattle.

To elucidate reasons for failure of pelvimetry to predict dystocia, we collected data from 1146 heifers and 210 cows in five beef cow herds in Saskatchewan. We assessed the reliability of pelvic area measurements, the generalizability of findings, various modifications of the technique, and the statistical association between pelvic area measurements and dystocia. The repeatability (kappa) of pelvic area measurements between and within veterinarians for the Rice and Krautmann pelvimeters were low to moderate, indicating pelvic area measurements were imprecise. The positive predictive values and sensitivities of pelvic area measurements were consistently poor across herds, years of study, breeds of heifers, times of measurement, various pelvic area cut-off points, and sires. Various modifications of the technique, including pelvic area/calf birth weight ratios, pelvic area/heifer weight ratios, and Ko's calving prediction equation were also poor on-farm tests for predicting dystocia. Although the mean pelvic area in heifers with dystocia was smaller than those without dystocia, there was a large overlap in the distribution of their measurements. Far too many heifers with a small pelvic area had no dystocia (false positives) and far too many heifers with a large pelvic area had dystocia (false negatives) for pelvimetry to be useful. We conclude there is little evidence to justify the continued use of pelvimetry as an on-farm test to reduce dystocia in beef cattle.

Animals↗

Sphingosine and unsaturated fatty acids modulate the base exchange enzyme activities of rat brain membranes.

The base exchange enzymes catalyze the incorporation of L-serine, ethanolamine and choline into their corresponding phospholipids. The L-serine base enzyme activity was increased 120% by 0.1 mM sphingosine. There was a modest increase of the ethanolamine base exchange enzyme activity but the choline base exchange enzyme activity was unaffected. Na-arachadonate, Na-oleate and Na-linolenate at 0.2 mM concentration increased the activity of the L-serine and ethanolamine base exchange enzymes but inhibited the choline base exchange enzyme activity. A model is proposed suggesting that modulations of the L-serine base exchange enzyme may participate in the regulation of the calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C.

Animals↗

An unusual phosphodiesterase activity towards p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine present in rat brain membranes.

A phosphodiesterase activity present in rat brain membranes has been examined utilizing p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine as the substrate. This enzyme activity has a pH optimum of 8.5, is stimulated by a variety of free fatty acids, requires either Zn+2 or Ca+2 and is relatively stable to heating at 75 degrees C for 7.5 minutes. These properties appear to distinguish this particular activity from those previously reported for alkaline phosphatase, nonspecific phosphodiesterase, phosphodiesterases I and II, lecithinase, and sphingomyelinase.

Animals↗

Regulation of the choline, ethanolamine and serine base exchange enzyme activities of rat brain microsomes by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.

The base exchange enzyme activities of rat brain microsomes were estimated subsequent to preincubations under conditions for either protein phosphorylation or dephosphorylation. Quantitatively the choline base exchange activity was most affected by these treatments. Exposure of the microsomes to alkaline phosphatase resulted in a decrease of all three base exchange activities. Pretreatment with a cAMP-dependent protein kinase resulted in increases of all 3 enzyme activities. Conditions favoring protein kinase C phosphorylation resulted in stimulation of the choline base exchange activity.

Animals↗