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PubMed2005

Studies on vertical transmission of Trichinella spp. in experimentally infected ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), pigs, guinea pigs and mice.

Vertical transmission of Trichinella spiralis was evaluated in ferrets (n=21), foxes (n=11), pigs (n=12), guinea pigs (n=16), and mice (n=41). The placental barrier to be crossed by migratory Trichinella larvae varies structurally in different animal species. Ferrets and foxes have an endotheliochorial placenta structure, guinea pigs and mice a haemochorial, and pigs an epitheliochorial placenta. The non-encapsulating Trichinella pseudospiralis larvae have an extended muscle migration prior to entering a muscle cell. To evaluate if T. pseudospiralis was more likely to be transmitted to offspring, an additional group of foxes (n=11) infected with T. pseudospiralis was included. Two different dose levels were used for ferrets, pigs, guinea pigs, and mice. In pigs and guinea pigs, infection was given at different times of the gestation period. Vertical transmission, measured as recovery of muscle larvae in the offspring, was demonstrated in both ferrets groups, in all four guinea pig groups, and in the high dose mouse group, but not in any fox or pig groups.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Differential regulation by a peroxisome proliferator of the different multifunctional proteins in guinea pig: cDNA cloning of the guinea pig D-specific multifunctional protein 2.

After our previous report on the cloning of two cDNA species in guinea pig, both encoding the same hepatic 79 kDa multifunctional protein 1 (MFP-1) [Caira, Cherkaoui-Malki, Hoefler and Latruffe (1996) FEBS Lett. 378, 57-60], here we report the cloning of a cDNA encoding a second multifunctional peroxisomal protein (MFP-2) in guinea-pig liver. This 2356 nt cDNA encodes a protein of 735 residues (79.7 kDa) whose sequence shows 83% identity with rat MFP-2 [Dieuaide-Noubhani, Novikov, Baumgart, Vanhooren, Fransen, Goethals, Vandekerckhove, Van Veldhoven and Mannaerts (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 240, 660-666]. In parallel, we studied the effect of ciprofibrate, a hypolipaemic agent also known as peroxisome proliferator in rodent, on the expression of MFP-1 and MFP-2 (2.6 kb) in rats and guinea pigs. By Northern blotting analysis we demonstrated that three MFP-1-related mRNA species are expressed in the guinea-pig liver. The expression of two of them (3.5 and 2.6 kb) is slightly increased by ciprofibrate, whereas the 3.0 kb MFP-1 mRNA is, unlike the rat one, strongly down-regulated in guinea pigs treated with ciprofibrate. In a similar way, the hepatic expression of the guinea-pig 2.6 kb MFP-2 mRNA is also down-regulated in guinea pigs treated with ciprofibrate. These results demonstrate (1) that in contrast with the unique 3.0 kb MFP-1 rat mRNA, at least three hepatic MFP-1-related mRNA species are co-expressed in guinea pig; and (2) that, opposed to the accepted idea of non-responsiveness of the guinea pig to ciprofibrate, this drug affects MFP-1 and MFP-2 gene expression in this species. Also, the mRNA species for acyl-CoA oxidase and thiolase, two other enzymes of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway that are induced severalfold in responsive species are down-regulated in guinea pig. This paper is the first, to our knowledge, reporting the down-regulation of the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids (MFP-1) and bile acid synthesis (MFP-2) in mammals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Comparative views of electrophysiological parameters of large intestinal segments in pig, sheep, pony, guinea pig and rat.

Short circuit current (ISC) and transepithelial conductance (gt) across sheets of epithelia were measured in the caecum, the proximal and the distal colon of pig, sheep, pony, rat and guinea pig. The electrical parameters underline the basic segmental and species differences. The diversity of ISC demonstrates the different nature of electrogenic transport mechanisms, and data clearly show the heterogeneity with respect to transport mechanisms along the large intestine in the various species. The great differences in amiloride sensitive ISC indicate the variabilities in the electrogenic Na transport. Whereas in the pig, sheep and pony caecum, in the guinea pig proximal colon and in all segments of the rat hindgut no indications for a major electrogenic Na transport was seen, in all other segments amiloride caused a marked decrease in ISC. Electrogenic Na transport seems to be highest in sheep distal colon and in pig proximal and distal colon, somewhat less in guinea pig and in pony distal colon. The epithelium with the lowest Powest transepithelial conductance clearly is that of the pony caecum. Except in sheep, gt-values are not much different from those in pony and also pig and guinea pig. By far the epithelium with the highest conductance is that of the rat proximal colon. gt was similar in the proximal and the distal colon of pig, sheep and pony; in guinea pig values were slightly, in rat much lower.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Intranasal vaccination of pigs against Aujeszky's disease: protective immunity at 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination in pigs with maternal antibodies.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the short- and long-term immunity after intranasal vaccination in pigs with maternally derived antibodies (MDA). In two experiments, 10-week-old pigs with moderate MDA titres against Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) were vaccinated intranasally with the Bartha strain of ADV to evaluate the protective immunity conferred at 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination. Protection was evaluated on the basis of severity of clinical signs, periods of fever and growth arrest, and duration and amount of virus excreted after challenge with a virulent ADV. During the first 2-3 weeks after vaccination, antibodies to ADV continued to decline as in unvaccinated control pigs. After that, antibody titres stabilized or gradually increased. At 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination, vaccinated pigs were significantly better protected than unvaccinated controls. The vaccinated pigs challenged 2 weeks after vaccination hardly developed any sign of disease. Mild signs of Aujeszky's disease and a growth arrest period of 5 days were observed in vaccinated pigs challenged 2 months after vaccination, whereas vaccinated pigs challenged 4 months after vaccination developed severe signs of disease and a growth arrest period of 13 days. Vaccinated pigs challenged 2 weeks after vaccination did not excrete challenge virus, and pigs challenged 2 or 4 months after vaccination excreted far less virus than unvaccinated controls. The results demonstrate that intranasal ADV vaccination of pigs with moderate MDA titres protected them from 2 weeks to at least 4 months after vaccination. Immunity steadily declined, however, after vaccination.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed1993

Infusion of ultrafiltrate from endotoxemic pigs depresses myocardial performance in normal pigs.

We previously showed a beneficial effect of hemofiltration on hemodynamics of endotoxic shock pigs. To test the hypothesis that this effect of hemofiltration is caused by convective removal of factors that adversely affect hemodynamics during endotoxemia, we infused ultrafiltrate from endotoxic shock pigs into healthy pigs. Their hemodynamics were compared with those of pigs who were infused with ultrafiltrate from healthy pigs. Twelve anesthetized and ventilated pigs were hemodynamically monitored for 150 minutes following the infusion of 2 L of ultrafiltrate from 12 donor pigs. The acceptor pigs were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 received ultrafiltrate from pigs who were hemofiltered after the infusion of 0.5 mg/kg endotoxin over 30 minutes; group 2 served as a control group, receiving ultrafiltrate from healthy donor pigs. Group 1 showed a decrease in mean arterial pressure of 28 +/- 7 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) versus an increase of 17 +/- 3 mm Hg in group 2 (P < 0.4). Mean pulmonary artery pressure increased more in group 1 than in group 2 (9 +/- 2 mm Hg versus 1 +/- 1 mm Hg, P < .04). The decrease in cardiac output in group 1 was greater than in group 2 (3.3 +/- 0.2 L/min v 0.3 +/- 0.3 L/min, P < .02) and was due to a decrease in stroke volume. The decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction was also greater (0.15 +/- 0.02 v 0.01 +/- 0.00, P < .01). Systemic vascular resistance, right atrial pressure, right ventricular end-diastolic volume, pulmonary wedge pressure and heart rate did not differ between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Infection of pigs by Aujeszky's disease virus via the breath of intranasally inoculated pigs.

Aujeszky's disease is a worldwide problem in the pig industry. In this experiment, four pigs chosen to act as shedder pigs were intranasally infected with Aujeszky's disease virus. Next, on three consecutive days, eight recipient pigs were exposed to the breath of a pair of shedder pigs via a mask-to-mask module. Except for the virtual absence of CNS signs, shedder pigs expressed clinical signs that were similar to pigs infected naturally or experimentally. Only mild respiratory signs occurred in recipient pigs, but all were infected by aerosols of Aujeszky's disease virus as evidenced by seroconversion. The pig is a much more sensitive indicator of airborne virions than our aerosol collection methods. We conclude that the mild respiratory disease acquired by the aerogenous route in recipient pigs is an easily managed model for studying the transmission of airborne respiratory infections and the immune responses to this type of infection.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed2000

Requirement of PIG-F and PIG-O for transferring phosphoethanolamine to the third mannose in glycosylphosphatidylinositol.

Many eukaryotic proteins are anchored by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) to the cell surface membrane. The GPI anchor is linked to proteins by an amide bond formed between the carboxyl terminus and phosphoethanolamine attached to the third mannose. Here, we report the roles of two mammalian genes involved in transfer of phosphoethanolamine to the third mannose in GPI. We cloned a mouse gene termed Pig-o that encodes a 1101-amino acid PIG-O protein bearing regions conserved in various phosphodiesterases. Pig-o knockout F9 embryonal carcinoma cells expressed very little GPI-anchored proteins and accumulated the same major GPI intermediate as the mouse class F mutant cell, which is defective in transferring phosphoethanolamine to the third mannose due to mutant Pig-f gene. PIG-O and PIG-F proteins associate with each other, and the stability of PIG-O was dependent upon PIG-F. However, the class F cell is completely deficient in the surface expression of GPI-anchored proteins. A minor GPI intermediate seen in Pig-o knockout but not class F cells had more than three mannoses with phosphoethanolamines on the first and third mannoses, suggesting that this GPI may account for the low expression of GPI-anchored proteins. Therefore, mammalian cells have redundant activities in transferring phosphoethanolamine to the third mannose, both of which require PIG-F.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1981

Digestion in the pig between 7 and 35 d of age. 1. The performance of pigs given milk and soya-bean proteins.

1. One hundred and fourteen pigs between 7 and 35 d of age were given diets containing milk or soya-bean proteins in four separate experiments. 2. The substitution of milk protein by soya-bean meal (SBM) to 75% of the total dietary protein reduced the weight gains and food conversion efficiencies of the pigs by 85% between 7 and 14 d of age and 31% between 21 and 28 d of age. 3. The treatment of soya-bean protein with alkali did not improve the performance of the pigs. 4. The substitution of milk protein by two different isolated soya-bean proteins (ISP) resulted in weight gains of 34 and 60% of te gains of pigs given milk protein diets. 5. Supplementation of the soya-bean-protein diets with methionine to 13 . 7 g/kg (5 g/16 g nitrogen) resulted in reduced food intakes and weight gains of the pigs and a 20-fold increase in the concentration of methionine in the blood plasma. 6. Supplementation of soya-bean-protein diets with lysine to 22 g/kg (8 g/16 g N) in addition to methionine doubled the concentration of lysine in the blood plasma. 7. The apparent digestibility (AD) of dry matter (DM) and N of the diets containing soya-bean protein increased with increasing age of the pigs, but the AD of the milk-protein diet was not affected by the age of the pigs. The retention of N as a percentage of the N intake increased from 57--67% for soya-bean protein over the duration of the experiments while the average value for the milk-fed pigs was 85% at all ages. 8. At 35 d of age, the fat content of the carcasses of the pigs given the ISP diet was 249 g/kg DM compared to 164 g/kg DM for the pigs given the milk diets.

Aging↗

PubMed1999

Polymerase chain reaction assays for the diagnosis of infection with the porcine endogenous retrovirus and the detection of pig cells in human and nonhuman recipients of pig xenografts.

BACKGROUND: Pigs offer an unlimited source of xenografts for humans. However, recipients of pig xenografts are inevitably exposed to the porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), which is carried in the pig germline. The ability of PERV to infect human cells in vitro has heightened safety concerns regarding the transmission of PERV to pig xenograft recipients. METHODS: In response to the need to establish laboratory tests for the surveillance of PERV infection, we have developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect PERV pol and gag sequences by using conserved primers and probes. In addition, we have developed a PCR assay to detect pig-specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences as a marker of pig cells. RESULTS: Analysis of assay sensitivities using cloned target copies in a background of human DNA demonstrated a detection threshold of 1, 5, and 1 copy for the PERV gag, pol, and pig mtDNA PCR assays, respectively. All three PCR assays gave negative results on peripheral blood lymphocyte samples from 69 humans, as well as 6 baboons and 6 macaques, demonstrating 100% specificity. The PERV and pig mtDNA assays were integrated into a simple testing algorithm that allows the differentiation between pig cell microchimerism and true xenogeneic infection. To allow for monitoring of PERV expression, a reverse transcriptase-PCR assay was also developed to detect cell-free PERV RNA. CONCLUSION: The use of the diagnostic tests described here will help define the risks of PERV transmission associated with the use of pig xenografts in humans and nonhuman primates.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Lowering of blood glucose to nondiabetic levels in a hyperglycemic pig by allografting of fetal pig isletlike cell clusters.

BACKGROUND: Fetal pig isletlike cell clusters (ICCs) will differentiate when grafted into the thymus gland of outbred immunosuppressed nondiabetic pigs for up to 3 months. Whether these cells will survive for a similar period in a diabetic recipient and will mature with secretion of insulin to ameliorate the hyperglycemia is unknown. METHODS: Between 40,000 and 125,000 ICCs (7,000 to 11,400 ICCs/kg) were injected into the thymus gland of five juvenile pigs immunosuppressed with cyclosporine and deoxyspergualin, and the animals were subsequently made diabetic by the injection of streptozotocin. Insulin was administered subcutaneously, with one pig dying from hypoglycemia. The animal with the least number of ICCs transplanted was killed 81 days later, and the graft was analyzed histologically. Blood glucose levels and porcine C-peptide in the remaining animals were monitored for a median of 101 days. RESULTS: Histological analysis of the graft showed numerous epithelial cell clusters; the percentage of cells that contained insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide were 61%, 64%, 25%, and 18%, respectively. Some cells contained more than one hormone. Porcine C-peptide was detected from 21 days after induction of diabetes but not before. In the pig receiving the most ICCs, blood glucose levels were lowered to nondiabetic levels 109 days after transplantation. Plasma C-peptide levels in response to glucagon in this pig steadily increased after grafting; peak levels were 0, 0.21, 0.45, and 0.52 ng/ml at 4, 21, 49, and 80 days after induction of diabetes compared to 0.09 ng/ml in control diabetic pigs. The secretion of C-peptide in response to oral and intravenous glucose and arginine also was greater than in untransplanted diabetic pigs, the pattern of secretion being consistent with developing fetal beta cells as the source of the C-peptide. Pancreatic insulin content was 0.1 mU/mg, 4% of that in nondiabetic pigs, and the number of beta cells per islet was 3 to 6 compared to 90 in nondiabetic controls. CONCLUSIONS: ICCs will differentiate and function for up to 111 days when transplanted into outbred immunosuppressed pigs rendered diabetic. Blood glucose levels can be lowered to nondiabetic levels when sufficient numbers of ICCs are grafted.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Towards endothelial cell-specific transgene expression in pigs: characterization of the pig ICAM-2 promoter.

BACKGROUND: Targeting protective gene expression to porcine endothelium has obvious advantages in xenotransplantation, but no endothelial cell-specific promoters have yet been used successfully in transgenic pigs. We have previously reported that a human intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2) gene promoter fragment functioned efficiently in transgenic mice but not pigs, suggesting that it lacked important transcriptional signals. In this study, we cloned and characterized regulatory elements of the pig ICAM-2 gene. METHODS: Various segments of the pig ICAM-2 gene upstream region and first intron were cloned into a luciferase reporter vector and assayed for promoter activity in vitro. Putative regulatory elements were analysed by site-directed mutagenesis. RESULTS: A 0.90-kb pig ICAM-2 promoter fragment had strong activity in pig endothelial cells but not in non-endothelial cells. Deletion analysis revealed that the majority of promoter activity was specified by a 0.48-kb sub-fragment with significant homology to the human ICAM-2 promoter. Conserved positive-acting elements included binding sites for GATA and Ets transcription factors, and a palindromic octamer (P(8)) that has been implicated in the endothelial specificity of several genes. Significant enhancer activity was identified within the first intron of the pig ICAM-2 gene. Mutational analysis was used to show that a second P(8) site in the first intron was essential for enhancer activity. CONCLUSIONS: The pig and human ICAM-2 promoters exhibit many similarities, but the pig ICAM-2 gene, unlike its human and mouse homologs, contains P(8) sites in both the promoter and first intron. The enhancer activity associated with the intronic P(8) site suggests that it may be the key to achieving strong endothelial cell-specific transgene expression in pigs.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Genetic analysis of Ankamali pigs of India using microsatellite markers and their comparison with other domesticated Indian pig types.

Ankamali pigs, the domesticated native pigs of Kerala province of India were genetically characterized using 23 FAO recommended microsatellite markers and were compared with other native Indian pig types and Large White pigs. Twenty-six blood samples were collected from genetically unrelated animals from their breeding tract and DNA was isolated by standard procedure of phenol/chloroform. The genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at these 23 microsatellite loci, which were also used earlier to characterize Desi (North Indian) and Gahuri (North-East Indian) pigs, the other two native domesticated pig types of India. The PCR products were resolved by denaturing urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and alleles were visualized after silver nitrate staining. The data were analysed for allele size range, number of alleles, allelic frequencies, heterozygosity and polymorphism information content for each locus. The allele size range varied between 92-108 bp at locus S0026 and 280-296 bp at locus IGF-1. The total number of alleles varied between five (S0178 and S0386) and 11 (S0355). The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were found to be 0.74 +/- 0.09 and 0.83 +/- 0.03 respectively. In the neighbour-joining dendrogram based on D(A) genetic distances developed after 1000 bootstraps, the Ankamali pigs did not show genetic closeness either with other native Indian pig types or exotic Large White pigs with high bootstrap values indicating genetic distinctness of Ankamali pigs.

Alleles↗

PubMed1999

Risk indicators for the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, porcine influenza viruses and Aujeszky's disease virus in slaughter pigs from fattening pig herds.

Epidemiological aspects of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh), influenza H1N1 and H3N2 viruses, and Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) were investigated in slaughter pigs from 50 fattening pig herds. Herd factors as potential risk indicators for respiratory disease were obtained by means of a questionnaire. At slaughter, blood samples were collected from each herd, and the proportion of seropositive pigs per herd was assessed for each of these pathogens. The median herd-level seroprevalence of the agents were: Mh 88%, H1N1 100%, H3N2 60% and ADV 90%. The percentage of herds in which all investigated fattening pigs were seronegative for these agents was: Mh 0%, H1N1 0%, H3N2 12% and ADV 18%. The percentage of herds in which all investigated fattening pigs were seropositive for these agents was: Mh 8%, H1N1 71%, H3N2 22% and ADV 40%. A positive association was found between influenza H1N1 and H3N2 viruses, and a negative association between influenza H3N2 virus and ADV. There were no risk indicators for the seroprevalence of Mh. Three risk indicators were associated with the seroprevalence of influenza H1N1 virus: a fully slatted floor, an increasing number of pigs in the municipality and dry feeding. Three risk indicators were found for the seroprevalence of influenza H3N2 virus: purchase of pigs from > or = two herds, an increasing number of pigs in the municipality and natural ventilation. The seroprevalence of ADV was influenced by two risk indicators: an increasing number of pig herds in the municipality and an increasing number of pigs per pen.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1967

The intestinal absorption of pig and bovine immune lactoglobulin and human serum albumin by the new-born pig.

1. Homologous and heterologous colostral immune globulins and human serum albumin were fed to new-born pigs and an attempt was made to estimate the amounts appearing subsequently in serum.2. All three proteins, fed separately in large amounts to different pigs, appeared in the serum in low concentration about 45 min after feeding, and then rose quickly to a high level. No difference could be detected between the amounts absorbed when equal amounts had been fed but there was a wide variation between pigs. Previous dialysis of pig colostrum against bicarbonate saline did not affect the rate or amount of pig immune globulin absorbed after feeding.3. When pig and bovine colostral IgG were fed together at equal concentrations in bovine colostrum, the absorption of pig IgG was greater than that of bovine IgG. Human serum albumin, added to bovine colostral IgG in bovine colostrum, was absorbed readily and this did not interfere significantly with the absorption of bovine colostral IgG.4. The efficiency with which the pig intestine absorbed bovine colostral IgG depended on the dose and/or concentration fed, increasing as the dose fed was increased to 2 g and remaining constant for higher doses.5. Some of the absorbed immune globulin was shown to exist in a partly degraded form.6. The process of protein transfer across the intestine of the new-born pig may select, to a limited degree, between different proteins, but the digestion of protein shown to take place and the large variation between individual pigs makes interpretation of these results uncertain.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Relationship between mean body surface temperature measured by use of infrared thermography and ambient temperature in clinically normal pigs and pigs inoculated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between ambient temperature and mean body surface temperature (MBST) measured by use of infrared thermography (IRT) and to evaluate the ability of IRT to detect febrile responses in pigs following inoculation with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. ANIMALS: 28 crossbred barrows. PROCEDURES: Pigs (n = 4) were subjected to ambient temperatures ranging from 10 to 32 C in an environmental chamber. Infrared thermographs were obtained, and regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between ambient temperature and MBST. The remaining pigs were assigned to groups in an unbalanced randomized complete block design (6 A pleuropneumoniae-inoculated febrile pigs [increase in rectal temperature > or = 1.67 C], 6 A pleuropneumoniae-inoculated nonfebrile pigs [increase in rectal temperature < 1.67 C], and 12 noninoculated pigs). Infrared thermographs and rectal temperatures were obtained for the period from 2 hours before to 18 hours after inoculation, and results were analyzed by use of repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: A significant linear relationship was observed between ambient temperature and MBST (slope, 0.40 C). For inoculated febrile pigs, a treatment X method interaction was evident for rectal temperature and MBST, whereas inoculated nonfebrile pigs only had increased rectal temperatures, compared with noninoculated pigs. A method X time interaction resulted from the longer interval after inoculation until detection of an increase in MBST by use of IRT. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infrared thermography can be adjusted to account for ambient temperature and used to detect changes in MBST and radiant heat production attributable to a febrile response in pigs.

Actinobacillus Infections↗

PubMed1993

Antioxidant defences in rat, pig, guinea pig, and human hearts: comparison with xanthine oxidoreductase activity.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac injury, related to ischaemia and reperfusion, may be caused by the action of oxygen free radicals. Xanthine oxidoreductase activity may be an important free radical source. During cardiac ischaemia, the native dehydrogenase form may be converted to the oxidase form, which uses molecular oxygen to form superoxide radicals. Superoxide dismutase converts the radicals to H2O2, which is detoxified by catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In view of the large differences in xanthine oxidoreductase in various species, the activity of these antioxidant enzymes was investigated. METHODS: Normal rodent and porcine as well as explanted human hearts were perfused according to Langendorff. After a 30 minute stabilisation period, hypoxanthine was added to the perfusion buffer to estimate xanthine oxidoreductase. Hearts or biopsies were freeze clamped after 90 minutes. Effluent xanthine and urate were assayed with high performance liquid chromatography; tissue reduced glutathione content and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were determined spectrophotometrically. Apparent xanthine oxidoreductase was calculated as xanthine +2 x urate production. RESULTS: Xanthine oxidoreductase was (mU.g-1 protein, mean(SEM), n = 5-7): rat, 470(40); guinea pig, 270(41); pig < 1.5; and human, 5.4(1.0). Superoxide dismutase activities were (U.g-1 protein): rat, 13,370(1030); guinea pig, 10,100(1110); pig, 12,800(450); and human, 7400(450). Catalase activity (k < or = 10.g-1 protein) was low in all species studied. Glutathione peroxidase activity was 93(7) U.g-1 protein in rat heart, and 10 x lower in the other species. Glutathione reductase activity was (U.g-1 protein): rat, 15.0(1.6); guinea pig, 10.4(1.3); pig, 16.0(1.5); and human, 26.6(2.0). Tissue reduced glutathione concentrations were (mumol.g-1 protein): rat, 13.5(0.8); guinea pig, 18.5(0.9); pig, 11.1(2.9); and human 17.2(1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Considerable species differences in xanthine oxidoreductase activity exist, contrasting with the smaller variations in antioxidant enzyme activities. In the species examined catalase activities were very low. Rat hearts are far better protected against H2O2 than the other three species. Xanthine oxidoreductase induced free-radical damage probably plays a minor role in pig and human hearts. Human myocardium seems less protected against superoxide radicals.

Allopurinol↗

PubMed1985

Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the respiratory tract of pig, guinea pig, rat, and dog.

Galanin, a newly discovered peptide isolated from porcine intestine, is known to cause contraction in rat smooth muscle preparations and to induce hyperglycaemia in dogs. By the use of radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemical techniques the concentration and distribution of galanin immunoreactivity were determined in several areas of the respiratory tract of five dogs, five guinea pigs, five rats, and two pigs. Antibodies were raised in rabbits to whole unconjugated natural porcine galanin. The highest galanin concentrations were found in the bronchus and the trachea of the dog, guinea pig, rat (2 pmol/g in each case), and pig (less than 1 pmol/g). The lowest galanin concentrations were found in the lung parenchyma. Gel chromatographic analysis in the pig showed one molecular form of galanin coeluting with the porcine galanin standard. By means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique on sections of tissues fixed in benzoquinone solution, galanin was found to be confined to nerve fibres in different regions of the respiratory tract. In the nasal mucosa of the pig nerve fibres containing galanin were distributed around seromucous glands and blood vessels and beneath the epithelium. In the trachea, bronchus, and major intrapulmonary airways of the pig, dog, and guinea pig galanin immunoreactive fibres were detected predominantly in smooth muscle, as well as around seromucous glands and in the adventitia of blood vessels. Rarely, galanin immunoreactive nerve fibres were found in the lung parenchyma. A few galanin immunoreactive ganglion cells also containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were found in the adventitia of the tracheobronchial wall of the pig and dog. The distribution of galanin suggests that it may have some influence on airway, vascular, and secretory functions in the mammalian respiratory tract.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Associations between gut microbiota on carcass traits and meat quality in Neijiang pigs, Yorkshire pigs, and their hybrids.

This study was designed as an exploratory analysis to compare carcass performance, meat quality traits, and gut microbiota of Neijiang pigs (NN), Yorkshire pigs (YY), and Yorkshire × Neijiang hybrid pigs (YN), with the goal of generating testable hypotheses regarding potential links between gut microbial composition and production phenotypes. Compared with NN pigs, YN hybrids exhibited improved carcass performance while inheriting the favorable meat quality characteristics of Neijiang pigs. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that the relative abundance of the microbiota was similar to that of NN pigs. LDA effect size (LEfSe) results showed that Streptococcus, Treponema, probable_genus_10 and Fibrobacter were the differentially enriched taxa in YN pigs (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis was performed on carcass, meat quality and intestinal microbiota screened out by LEfSe. The results showed that Akkermansia tended to positively associate with body length and oblique length in YN pigs; Dialister correlated positively with dressing rate and pH45min; Treponema showed positive trends with a*45min and a*24h (p < 0.05). Finally, the correlation network model preliminarily mapped associations among production traits, gut microbiota, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways for exploratory screening. Nine core microbial taxa exhibited close correlations with phenotypic indicators, which implied that these microbes might modulate metabolic pathways to shape pig performance. Overall, hybrids inherited superior parental carcass and meat quality but harbored unique gut microbial communities relative to purebreds-these preliminary correlative observations generate new hypotheses that gut microbiota may contribute to heterosis-associated phenotypic advantages, which require further targeted validation.

Animals↗