How to evaluate body conditions of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an alpine environment?

Aim of this investigation was to compare different indices for evaluating nutritional conditions of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in alpine environment during the autumn, in order to detect the most convenient for management purposes in our specific situation. Body conditions of 274 red deer were evaluated using kidney fat index, back fat index and body condition scores. Body Condition Scores was the easiest but less reliable method. Both kidney fat index and back fat index were significantly affected by age- and sex-class (always lower in younger animals) and, in females, also by lactation status. In stags, a negative regression effect of culling date on both kidney fat index and back fat index was observed. A significant positive correlation between kidney fat index and back fat index was recorded. Both kidney fat index and back fat index were objective indicators of nutritional status and sensitive to changes in physical conditions, but back fat index was quicker and easier to be measured. As a direct implication, we suggest that back fat index can be a practical and reliable indicator for monitoring red deer conditions in alpine areas during the autumn, provided that the effects of sex, age and date of culling are taken into account

Influence of age on the lipoprotein profile of male Wistar rats.

This study shows that the age-dependent increase in plasma cholesterol levels of the rat is correlated with changes in the distribution of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions. In particular, it has been shown that when the that of older animals (up to 18 months of age) the level of HDL1 fraction displays a relevant increase which derives from a proportional decrease in the levels of both HDL2 and HDL3 fractions. No relevant change is observed in the distribution of very-low density and low-density lipoprotein fractions. The distribution of the major components present in each lipoprotein fraction isolated evidences that cholesteryl ester proportion has an age-related increase in all the fractions except the HDL2. Furthermore, also the total plasma concentration of lipoproteins shows an age-related increase. The results obtained in this study with male Wistar rats suggest that animals older than 10 months can be used as an experimental model for dietary and pharmacological studies on age-related cholesterol alterations

Age-related changes in blood and liver lipids of male Wistar rats.

The results of this study indicate that the age-dependent plasma cholesterol increase observed in male Wistar rats is correlated with changes in both the distribution of high-density lipoprotein fractions and the storage of hepatic cholesterol. Specifically, the lipoprotein distribution showed a significant increase in the proportion of HDL1 and a symmetrical decrease in both the HDL2 and HDL3 fractions during the 3 month to 18 month age period. There were no significant changes in the very-low density and low-density lipoprotein fractions. The chemical composition of lipoproteins showed many age-related variations, especially in the proportion of cholesteryl ester and in the distribution of HDL subfractions. A study of fatty acyl composition of the major lipid classes showed that, within cholesteryl ester found in liver, there was an increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in the cholesteryl esters found in high-density lipoproteins of older rats. These observations suggest that the age-dependent accumulation of body cholesterol occurs by a reduced catabolism of HDL, fraction, and modifications in plasma and liver lipids

Influence of age on hepatic uptake of HDL1-cholesterol in male Wistar rats with bile duct cannulation.

We have shown previously that the age-dependent increase in plasma cholesterol levels observed in male Wistar rats is associated with relevant changes in the lipoprotein pattern (in particular, with a much higher proportion of the HDL1 class) that are evident in animals from the age of 9 months. In this study, the possibility that a decreased catabolism of HDL1 cholesterol may cause this is evaluated by infusing this lipoprotein fraction labeled with [C-14]cholesterol into both young (3.5+/-0.5 months) and adult (13.0+/-1.0 months) male Wistar rats with a permanent biliary drainage. The clearance of radioactivity from the blood compartment was slower in the older animals than in the younger ones. Conversely, the incorporation of radioactivity into plasma cholesteryl esters and the secretion of radioactivity into bile was higher in the younger animals. These results support the hypothesis that the age-related increase in HDL1 proportion is due, at least in part, to a slower liver catabolism of HDL1-cholesterol