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J D Armstrong

Publications and source records attributed to J D Armstrong.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Dietary zinc affects serum concentrations of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I in growing lambs.

Glucose tolerance and concentrations of insulin, somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-I and cortisol were evaluated in lambs deficient, marginal or adequate in zinc. There were three treatments: 1) deficient (basal diet deficient in zinc; 3.7 mg zinc/kg diet); 2) marginal (basal diet + 5 mg zinc/kg diet); and 3) adequate (basal diet + 40 mg zinc/kg diet). Lambs fed the zinc-deficient diet had lower (P < 0.05) serum insulin concentrations 1 h after feeding compared with those fed the marginal diet, whereas the concentrations in lambs fed the adequate diet were intermediate. Dietary zinc did not affect plasma glucose or serum somatotropin before or after feeding or intravenous glucose administration. A growth hormone-releasing factor analog was given to evaluate concentrations of somatotropin. Serum somatotropin in response to growth hormone-releasing factor analog tended to be higher (P = 0.20) in deficient and marginal lambs when compared with adequate lambs. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I was lower (P < 0.05) in deficient lambs than in marginal or adequate lambs. Cortisol concentrations were not affected (P > 0.05) by zinc status. Severe zinc deficiency altered circulating concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I and somatotropin, whereas a marginal deficiency had no effect in growing lambs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Plagiarism: what is it, whom does it offend, and how does one deal with it?

Academic plagiarism is a thorny ethical and practical problem. Perhaps readers have never personally encountered or recognized a case of plagiarism so its immediate interest and relevance may be obscure. A short case history may provide evidence that the issue of plagiarism is germane to the contemporary academic endeavor. A young university radiologist recognized his own writing in a professional journal under another's authorship, without attribution to himself, and had no idea what to do about it. He finally wrote to the author of the article who answered something to the effect that it was indeed a "remarkable coincidence" and that "great minds think alike." Unsatisfied with the response, he considered reporting the matter to the journal editor, but he was a junior faculty member while the plagiarist was a revered figure in his subspecialty. He chose not to pursue the issue further because he was afraid that the plagiarist would harm him professionally [1].

Ethics↗
PubMed1993

Feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, hormones, and metabolites in steers actively immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor.

Large-framed Simmental and Charolais steers were actively immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) to evaluate the effect on growth, carcass characteristics (especially intramuscular fat deposition), and concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and IGF-I. Primary immunizations of 1.5 mg of GRF-(1-29)-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 conjugated to 1.5 mg of human serum albumin (GRFi, n = 12) or 1.5 mg of human serum albumin (HSAi, n = 12) were given at approximately 10 mo of age. Booster immunizations of .5 mg of the appropriate antigen were given at d 49 and 125. Weights of steers administered GRFi were less (P < .05) than those given HSAi at 126 d (34.6 kg) or at 262 d (48.2 kg) after treatment. Carcass weights were 28.2 kg less (P < .01) for GRFi than for HSAi steers. Dry matter intake was not affected by immunization treatment, whereas feed efficiency was reduced in GRFi steers. Marbling scores were higher (P < .05) for HSAi than for GRFi steers but similar percentages (83.3) of both treatments graded Low Choice or higher. Rib sections of GRFi steers contained more fat (31.2 vs 25.0%) and less lean (63.3 vs 68.4%) than those of HSAi steers (P < .05). A breed x treatment interaction was observed for percentage of fat within the trimmed longissimus muscle (P < .05); percentage of fat was similar for Charolais and Simmental steers when immunized against HSAi but was higher for Simmental than for Charolais when immunized against GRFi.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1993

Changes in serum somatotropin, somatotropin mRNA, and serum and follicular insulin-like growth factor-I in response to feed restriction in cows actively immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor.

Cyclic cows immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor (GRFi, n = 19), human serum albumin (HSAi, n = 10), or not immunized (CON, n = 18) were used to investigate the effects of feed restriction on serum and pituitary somatotropin (ST), pituitary ST mRNA, and serum and follicular IGF-I. Cows were either fed 2.7 kg/d cottonseed hulls (R) or given ad libitum access to feed (AL) for 15 d. Ovaries bearing the largest follicle and pituitaries were collected on d 14, at 44 to 45 h after injection of prostaglandin F2 alpha. Data from CON and HSAi cows were similar; thus, data were combined (represented as CON). Serum ST (nanograms/milliliter) on d 13 was greater (P < .09) in CON-R (5.3) than in CON-AL (3.9), whereas ST in GRFi-AL (1.1) and GRFi-R (1.1; pooled SE = .4) were similar. Hemipituitary weight (grams) and ST mRNA (arbitrary units) were greater (P < .05) in CON (1.5 +/- .1 and 135 +/- 25) than in GRFi (1.0 +/- .1 and 90 +/- 18) cows. Across immunization, ST mRNA and pituitary ST concentration (mg/100 mg of tissue), respectively, were greater (P < .06) in R (152 +/- 22 and 22.5 +/- 1.9) than in AL (73 +/- 16 and 17.3 +/- 1.8) cows. Immunization and diet decreased (P < .05) serum IGF-I (nanograms/milliliter) on d 13 (CON, 176 +/- 7 vs GRFi, 42 +/- 8; AL, 120 +/- 7 vs R, 98 +/- 8). Concentrations of IGF-I in follicular fluid (FFL) from the largest follicle were lower in GRFi (29 +/- 3) than in CON (102 +/- 6) cows; however, IGF-I in FFL was similar in AL (70 +/- 9) and R (71 +/- 10) cows. In conclusion, GRFi decreased serum ST and IGF-I, and decreased ST mRNA. Feed restriction increased serum ST and ST mRNA, and decreased serum IGF-I. Although feed restriction and GRFi decreased serum IGF-I, concentrations of IGF-I in FFL were decreased only by GRFi.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Photoreactivation implicates cyclobutane dimers as the major promutagenic UVB lesions in yeast.

Previously we compared the mutational specificities of polychromatic UVB (285-320 nm) and UVC (254 nm) light in the SUP4-o gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Striking similarities in the types and distributions of induced SUP4-o mutations were consistent with roles for cyclobutane dimers and pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproducts in mutation induction by UVB. To assess the relative importance of cyclobutane dimers, we have now examined the effect of photoreactivation (PR), which specifically reverses these lesions, on UVB and UVC induction of SUP4-o mutations. PR reduced the frequencies of both UVB and UVC mutagenesis by approximately 75%. Collections of 138 and 158 SUP4-o mutants induced by treatment with UVB plus PR or UVC plus PR, respectively, were characterized by DNA sequencing and the results were compared to those for 208 UVB and 211 UVC-induced mutants analyzed earlier. PR decreased the frequency of UVB-induced G.C----A.T transitions by 85%, diminished the substitution frequencies at individual sites by 64% on average, and reduced the mutation frequencies at the five UVB hotspots by 87%. A more detailed examination revealed that the transition frequencies at the 3' base of 5'-TC-3' and 5'-CC-3' sequences were decreased by 90% and 72%, respectively. Finally, PR appeared to occur to the same extent on both the transcribed and non-transcribed strands of SUP4-o. Similar results were obtained for PR following UVC irradiation. Our findings indicate that cyclobutane dimers are responsible for the majority of UVB mutagenesis in yeast.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Effect of active immunization against growth hormone releasing factor on concentrations of somatotropin and insulin-like growth factor I in lactating beef cows.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of immunoneutralization of growth hormone-releasing factor [GRF(1-29)-NH2] on concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in lactating beef cows. In Experiment 1, multiparous Hereford cows were immunized against 2 mg GRF(1-29)-(Gly)4-Cys-NH2 conjugated to human serum albumin (GRFi, n = 3) or 2 mg human serum albumin (HSAi, n = 3) at 52 +/- 1 d prior to parturition. Boosters (1 mg) were administered on days 12, 40 and 114 postpartum (pp). Serum samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 5 hr on days 18, 46 and 120 pp, followed by administration (IV) of an opioid agonist (FK33-824; 10 micrograms/kg) and an antagonist (naloxone; .5 mg/kg) at hours 5 and 7, respectively. A GRF-analog ([desamino-Tyr1, D-Ala2, Ala15] GRF (1-29)-NH2; 3.5 micrograms/kg) and arginine (.5 g/kg) were administered at hour 10 on days 47 and 121, respectively. Percentage binding of [125I]GRF (1:100 dilution of serum) 28 d after primary immunization was greater in GRFi (14.3 +/- 4.9) than in HSAi (.7 +/- .3) cows. Binding increased to 29.3 +/- 6.5% after first booster in GRFi cows. Episodic release of ST was abolished by immunization against GRF; concentration and frequency of release of ST were lower (P less than .05) in GRFi than in HSAi cows on all days pp. Concentrations of IGF-I were lower in GRFi than in HSAi cows throughout lactation. Serum ST failed to increase following FK33-824 or arginine in GRFi; however, ST increased after both compounds in HSAi cows. Concentrations of ST following GRF-analog were greater (P less than .05) in HSAi than in GRFi cows. Experiment 2 was conducted to determine if a lower dose of antigen and a single booster would be sufficient to lower ST and IGF-I in lactating cows. Multiparous Hereford and Angus cows were assigned to GRFi (n = 6) or HSAi (n = 6). Primary (1.2 mg) and booster (.5 mg) immunizations were administered -14 and 8 d from calving, respectively. Cows were restricted to 60% of recommended intake of energy during lactation in order to elevate concentrations of ST. Serum samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 6 hr on days 26, 50, 73, 90 and 109 pp. Two of six GRFi cows had binding less than 10% (1:1,000 dilution of serum) and were omitted from further analyses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Excision repair influences the site and strand specificity of sunlight mutagenesis in yeast.

A collection of 384 mutations recovered in a tRNA gene (SUP4-o) following exposure of isogenic excision-repair-proficient (RAD1) or deficient (rad1) strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to sunlight was characterized by DNA sequencing. In each case, greater than 90% of the mutations were single base-pair substitutions with events at G.C pairs constituting most of the changes. However, more than half of these substitutions were transversions in the RAD1 strain whereas transitions predominated in the rad1 strain. Tandem double substitutions were recovered in both strains and the individual changes were exclusively G.C----A.T transitions. The majority of single substitutions, and all tandem double changes, were at base-pairs where the pyrimidine(s) was part of a dipyrimidine sequence and the site specificities were consistent with cyclobutane dimers and/or pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts contributing to sunlight mutagenesis. Yet, the data also pointed to an important role for lesions that form at G.C pairs and give rise to transversions. Analysis of the strand specificity of sunlight mutagenesis indicated that transitions or transversions at G.C pairs occurred preferentially in SUP4-o at sites where a dipyrimidine or a guanine, respectively, was on the transcribed strand. These biases required a functional excision-repair system.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Radiology ethics.

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Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1992

Effect of prepartum administration of growth hormone-releasing factor on somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor I, milk production, and postpartum return to ovarian activity in primiparous beef heifers.

Forty-one primiparous beef heifers were used over 2 yr to evaluate the effect of prepartum administration of a growth hormone-releasing factor analog (GRF-A) or growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF(1-29)-NH2) on somatotropin (ST), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), milk production, heifer BW, and postpartum (PP) return to ovarian activity. Beginning on d -11 +/- 1 from parturition, heifers were administered (s.c.) GRF-A ([desNH2-Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]GRF(1-29)-NH2, 2.5 micrograms/kg; Yr 1) or GRF(1-29)-NH2 (12.5 micrograms/kg; Yr 2) (GRF; n = 17) or vehicle (CON; n = 24) for seven consecutive days. Blood samples were collected at 20-min intervals from -60 to 300 min from the first and fourth injections. Samples were also collected at 20-min intervals for 6 h on d 25 and 69 +/- 1 PP. Area under the curve of ST (nanograms.minute-1.milliliter-1) was greater (P less than .01) in GRF than in CON heifers (9,671 +/- 677 vs 2,611 +/- 237). Increases in ST after GRF-A or GRF(1-29)-NH2 were similar. On d 25 +/- 1 PP, frequency of ST release (pulses per 6 h) was greater (P less than .01) in CON (3.3 +/- .2) than in GRF (2.1 +/- .2) heifers. Milk production was similar (P greater than .1) for the two treatments. Heifer BW loss from d -16 to 81 after parturition was greater (P less than .01) in GRF (88 +/- 5) than in CON (68 +/- 5) heifers. Postpartum return to ovarian activity (progesterone greater than 1 ng/mL for two consecutive weeks) was delayed (P less than .05) in GRF (97 +/- 14) vs CON (71 +/- 8) heifers. After accounting for variation due to treatment and year, a negative (P less than .02) correlation (r = -.39) was detected between concentrations of IGF-I during the first 30 d PP and PP interval to ovarian activity. These results indicate that prepartum administration of GRF altered the release pattern of ST after parturition and was associated with greater PP BW loss and delayed PP return to ovarian activity in heifers.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Endocrine events prior to puberty in heifers: role of somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.

We have utilized active immunization against growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) to investigate relationships among somatotropin (ST), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding proteins (IGFBP) and ovarian function in heifers. Active immunization against GRF (GRFi) has been demonstrated to abolish episodic release of ST and decrease serum concentrations of IGF-I. In initial experiments investigating onset of puberty, breeds of heifers differing in growth rate and reproductive traits (Angus, Charolais and Simmental) were immunized against GRF or served as controls (immunized against carrier protein, human serum albumin, HSAi). GRFi decreased rate of muscle and skeletal growth, but increased deposition of adipose tissue. In Angus and Charolais, but not Simmental heifers, GRFi at 6 mo of age significantly delayed onset of puberty beyond 18 mo of age. Retrospective analyses of serum IGF-I revealed that GRFi heifers reaching puberty at a normal age had greater pre-treatment (6 mo of age) IGF-I than GRFi heifers in which puberty was delayed. Collectively, these results strongly indicate that the bovine hypothalamic-hypophyseal-ovarian axis is particularly sensitive to changes in metabolism at or near 6 mo of age. Another series of experiments tested the hypothesis that lowering serum IGF-I via GRFi initially at 3 mo of age would increase the percentage of Angus and Simmental heifers not reaching puberty. Three mo old Angus and Simmental heifers were assigned to GRFi (n = 18), HSAi (n = 14) or received no treatment (controls, n = 16). HSAi and GRFi heifers were unilaterally ovariectomized (ULO) at 6 mo of age. As anticipated, GRFi at a younger age increased percentage of heifers not reaching puberty; over 75% of control and HSAi heifers reached puberty by 14 mo of age compared to 22% of GRFi heifers. Serum and follicular fluid (FFL; follicles < or = 4 mm) concentrations of IGF-I were suppressed by GRFi. Serum, but not FFL concentrations of IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) were greater in GRFi than in HSAi heifers. GRFi delayed puberty apparently by suppressing follicular growth because number of follicles < or = 7 mm was significantly lower in GRFi than in HSAi heifers. In conclusion, active immunization against GRF at 3 or 6 months of age delays puberty in beef heifers. Delayed puberty was preceded by suppression of follicular growth, and decreased concentrations of IGF-I in serum and follicular fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Effect of active immunization against growth hormone-releasing factor on growth and onset of puberty in beef heifers.

Angus and Charolais heifers (195 +/- 7 kg) were actively immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) to evaluate the effect on concentrations of somatotropin (ST), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin (INS), growth, and onset of puberty. Primary immunizations were given at 184 +/- 7 d of age (d 0 of experiment) by injecting (s.c.) 1.5 mg of GRF-(1-29)-Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 conjugated to 1.5 mg of human serum albumin (GRFi, n = 22) or 1.5 mg of human serum albumin (HSAi, n = 21). Booster immunizations of .5 mg of antigen were given on d 62, 92, 153, and 251. Antibody binding (percentage at 1:2,000 dilution) to [125I]GRF on d 69 was greater (P less than .01) in GRFi (53.7 +/- 4.5) than in HSAi (10.1 +/- .6) heifers. Serum concentration (ng/ml) and frequency (peaks/5 h) of ST release, respectively, on d 78 were lower (P less than .01) in GRFi than in HSAi heifers (3.3 +/- .1 vs 5.6 +/- .2 and .9 +/- .3 vs 2.3 +/- .2). Serum IGF-I (ng/ml) was lower (P less than .01) in GRFi than in HSAi heifers on d 69 (41 +/- 5 vs 112 +/- 4). Serum INS (microU/ml) on d 78 was lower (P less than .05) in GRFi (2.2 +/- .1) than in HSAi (3.8 +/- .2) heifers. Feed intake, ADG, and feed efficiency were lower (P less than .05) in GRFi than in HSAi heifers. Hip height was lower (P less than .01) and fat thickness was greater (P less than .05) in GRFi than in HSAi heifers by d 132 and 167, respectively. Percentage of heifers attaining puberty (progesterone greater than 1 ng/ml for two consecutive weeks) by d 209 and 379 (12.9 and 18.5 mo of age), respectively, was lower (P less than .05) in GRFi (40.9 and 45.5) than in HSAi (81.0 and 100). In conclusion, growing heifers were successively immunized against GRF. Active immunization against GRF resulted in decreased serum concentration of ST, IGF-I, and INS. In addition, GRF immunization led to lowered feed intake, ADG, and feed efficiency, increased fat depth, and delayed onset of puberty in heifers. We propose that ST and IGF-I are important metabolic mediators involved in the initiation of puberty in heifers.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Changes in growth hormone and luteinizing hormone following acute or chronic administration of an opioid agonist, FK33-824, in wethers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of acute or chronic administration of an opioid agonist, (D-Ala2,MePhe4,Met(O)5-ol)-enkephalin (FK33-824), on concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and LH in castrate sheep (wethers). In Exp. 1, we evaluated the effect of acute administration (two injections or infusion for 2 h) of FK33-824 on GH and LH. Wethers (31 +/- 1 kg; n = 12) received FK33-824 or saline via one of the three following routes of deliver: 1) i.v. (8 micrograms/kg) at 0 and 60 min (i.v., n = 4), 2) s.c. (16 micrograms/kg) at 0 and 60 min (s.c., n = 4), or 3) i.v. infusion (8 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) for 120 min (inf., n = 4) preceded by a single injection (8 micrograms/kg). Wethers received FK33-824 and saline on d 1 and 2 or d 2 and 1, respectively. Concentrations of GH were consistently elevated (P less than .05) by FK33-824 regardless of route of delivery. Infusion of FK33-824 for 120 min maintained GH concentrations greater (P less than .05) than pretreatment or those during infusion of saline. Average LH was decreased consistently by FK33-824, independent of its route of administration; episodic release of LH was suppressed. In Exp. 2, crossbred wethers (36 +/- 2 kg; n = 12) were used to determine the effect of chronic administration (s.c.) of FK33-824 on the concentrations of GH and LH and retention of N and energy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Changes in metabolites, metabolic hormones, and luteinizing hormone before puberty in Angus, Braford, Charolais, and Simmental heifers.

We determined changes in insulin, glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and LH before puberty in Angus, Braford, Charolais, and Simmental heifers. Our primary objective was to identify metabolites and metabolic hormones that serve as metabolic cues for onset of puberty. Angus (n = 12). Braford (n = 7), Charolais (n = 9), and Simmental (n = 7) heifers were assigned at weaning (289 +/- 25 d of age; 264 +/- 23 kg) to open-sided pens with slotted floors, and they were fed a corn silage-concentrate diet formulated to provide gains of .91 kg/d. Puberty was defined as the 1st d (d 0) that serum progesterone (determined in blood samples collected at weekly intervals) exceeded 1 ng/ml. Blood samples were collected before and after feeding at 15-min intervals for 8 h at 21-d intervals before puberty in a subsample of heifers (at least five per breed). Angus and Simmental heifers weighed less and were younger (P less than .05) at puberty than Charolais and Braford heifers. Serum FFA before feeding and frequency of LH release increased (P less than .05) from d-40 +/- 3 to d-17 +/- 3 in all breeds. Conversely, concentrations of insulin were greater (P less than .05) at -40 than at -17 d from puberty in Angus, but not in Braford, Charolais, or Simmental heifers. Frequency of GH release was greater at d -40 than at d -17 in Angus heifers; however, in Braford and Charolais heifers frequency of GH release was greater at d -17 than at d -40. Concentrations of IGF-I (measured every 2 wk) increased linearly (P less than .07) from d -56 to 0 from puberty in Angus but not in other breeds. In conclusion, frequency of LH release and concentrations of FFA increased before puberty in all breeds; however, consistent changes in other metabolites and hormones were observed only in Angus heifers.

Age Factors↗