Changes in Tissue-Specific Fatty Acid Composition of the Freshwater Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) in Response to Temperature

Ectotherms are known to alter the composition of the cell membrane in response to changes in environmental temperature. Tissue-specific fatty acid composition in the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) was examined in response to both warm and cold temperature challenges administered over an approximate one month period. Gill, muscle, and liver tissues were analyzed prior to the start of the temperature challenge (initial), following the temperature challenges (survivors), and on those fish that did not survive the temperature challenges (mortalities). Significant differences were found between fatty acid composition of initial fish and survivors for membrane-incorporated fatty acids (polar) and for stored fatty acids (neutral). In the cold challenge, gill tissues exhibited significant remodeling in membrane fatty acids (polar), including decreases in palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids and increases in highly unsaturated fatty acids. In the warm challenge, significant increases in saturated fatty acids were observed in polar lipids of muscle and liver tissue. Notably, a large increase in palmitic acid (C16:0) was observed in response to increased temperatures. Fatty acid profiles of fish that died during the cold challenge exhibited significantly higher levels of C16:0 in muscle tissues when compared to survivors. The observed changes in membrane (polar) fatty acids would be expected to promote appropriate membrane fluidity in response to temperature. Results of this study suggest that freshwater alewives respond to temperature challenges in accordance with what would be predicted by homeoviscous adaptation, although the pattern and extent of changes in response to temperature differed greatly among the tested tissues

Case report: Urolithiasis, nephrolithiasis and a urinary bladder malformation in a seven-month-old alpaca cria

Urolithiasis is a common condition in male small ruminants where predisposing factors have been identified. Occasionally, urolithiasis is diagnosed in South American camelids (SACs). However, nephrolithiasis is rarely diagnosed in ruminants. To our knowledge, this is the first report focusing on a combined appearance of nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis in an alpaca cria. A 7-month-old alpaca cria suffering from impaired urinary flow was presented for examination. On admission, the alpaca had a wet prepuce and showed a standing posture with a wide-based stance. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen showed a distended bladder. Clinical chemistry revealed azotemia and hypophosphatemia. After the first examination, repeated urination was observed. Conservative therapy using antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic drugs was started with the suspected diagnosis of urinary calculus. During the first 24 h, plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea decreased, but increased again during the following days. During the second day after admission, urination was not observed for 16 h while the concentration of urea and creatinine further increased. Therefore, the animal was euthanized due to financial concerns of the owner. Necropsy revealed that calculi were located in the left kidney as well as in the urethra. In addition, the animal exhibited uroperitoneum. The urinary bladder was intact, moderately distended with urine and showed a malformation, which was covered with a translucent mucosal membrane. Histologic examination revealed that this malformation was a bladder diverticulum. The extent to which the unilateral nephroliths affected the general condition and renal function of the animal is unclear, since the uroliths also cause azotemia, and abdominal pain. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of obstructive urinary disease in SACs

T1 Mapping Quantifies Spinal Cord Compression in Patients With Various Degrees of Cervical Spinal Canal Stenosis

Age-related degeneration of the cervical spinal column is the most common cause of spinal cord lesions. T1 mapping has been shown to indicate the grade and site of spinal cord compression in low grade spinal canal stenosis (SCS). Aim of our study was to further investigate the diagnostic potential of a novel T1 mapping method at 0.75 mm resolution and 4 s acquisition time in 31 patients with various grades of degenerative cervical SCS. T1 mapping was performed in axial sections of the stenosis as well as above and below. Included subjects received standard T2-weighted MRI of the cervical spine (including SCS-grading 0-III), electrophysiological, and clinical examination. We found that patients with cervical SCS showed a significant difference in T1 relaxation times within the stenosis (727 ± 66 ms, mean ± standard deviation) in comparison to non-stenotic segments above (854 ± 104 ms, p < 0.001) and below (893 ± 137 ms, p < 0.001). There was no difference in mean T1 in non-stenotic segments in patients (p = 0.232) or between segments in controls (p = 0.272). Mean difference of the T1 relaxation times was significantly higher in grade III stenosis (234 ± 45) vs. in grade II stenosis (176 ± 45, p = 0.037) vs. in grade I stenosis (90 ± 87 ms, p = 0.010). A higher difference in T1 relaxation time was associated with a central efferent conduction deficit. In conclusion, T1 mapping may be useful as a tool for SCS quantification in all grades of SCS, including high-grade stenosis with myelopathy signal in conventional T2-weighted imaging

Påvisning av bjørn og andre rovdyr i reinbeitedistrikt Beahceveai/Pasvik 5A/5C

-Ved bruk av 10 hårfeller ble det påvist 5 ulike bjørn i kalvingslandet til reinbeitedistrikt 5A/5C fra 15 april til slutten av juni 2015. Det ble også observert individer og sportegn av jerv, gaupe og kongeørn i kalvingslandet. Dataene fra radio-bjeller (Telespor) og e-bjeller (Findmysheep) som ble båret av henholdsvis 20 og 100 simler, indikerte hvordan reinen brukte området og det er også at det er mulig å tolke bevegelsesmønstre og bevegelseshastigheter hos simlene i relasjon til rovdyrene. Ingen av de fem bjørnene var kjent fra området tidligere år og på den andre siden ble det ikke påvist noen av bjørnene som var kjent fra området i 2013 og 2014

Påvisning av bjørn og andre rovdyr i reinbeitedistrikt Beahceveai/Pasvik 5A/5C

-Ved bruk av 10 hårfeller ble det påvist 5 ulike bjørn i kalvingslandet til reinbeitedistrikt 5A/5C fra 15 april til slutten av juni 2015. Det ble også observert individer og sportegn av jerv, gaupe og kongeørn i kalvingslandet. Dataene fra radio-bjeller (Telespor) og e-bjeller (Findmysheep) som ble båret av henholdsvis 20 og 100 simler, indikerte hvordan reinen brukte området og det er også at det er mulig å tolke bevegelsesmønstre og bevegelseshastigheter hos simlene i relasjon til rovdyrene. Ingen av de fem bjørnene var kjent fra området tidligere år og på den andre siden ble det ikke påvist noen av bjørnene som var kjent fra området i 2013 og 2014

Effects of Oral Glutamine Supplementation, Birthweight and Age on Colonic Morphology and Microbiome Development in Male Suckling Piglets

Mortality, impaired development and metabolic dysfunctions of suckling low-birthweight piglets may be influenced by modulating the intestinal microbiome through glutamine supplementation. Therefore, this study examined whether glutamine supplementation may affect the colonic development and microbiome composition of male low- and normal-birthweight piglets at 5 and 12 days of age. Suckling piglets were supplemented orally with glutamine or alanine. Colonic digesta samples were obtained for 16S rDNA sequencing, determination of bacterial metabolites and histomorphological tissue analyses. Glutamine-supplemented piglets had lower concentrations of cadaverine and spermidine in the colonic digesta (p < 0.05) and a higher number of CD3+ colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes compared to alanine-supplemented piglets (p < 0.05). Low-birthweight piglets were characterised by a lower relative abundance of Firmicutes, the genera Negativibacillus and Faecalibacterium and a higher abundance of Alistipes (p < 0.05). Concentrations of cadaverine and total biogenic amines (p < 0.05) and CD3+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (p < 0.05) were lower in low- compared with normal-birthweight piglets. In comparison to the factor age, glutamine supplementation and birthweight were associated with minor changes in microbial and histological characteristics of the colon, indicating that ontogenetic factors play a more important role in intestinal development

Glutamine supplementation moderately affects growth, plasma metabolite and free amino acid patterns in neonatal low birth weight piglets

Low birth weight (LBW) neonates show impaired growth compared with normal birth weight (NBW) neonates. Glutamine (Gln) supplementation benefits growth of weaning piglets, while the effect on neonates is not sufficiently clear. We examined the effect of neonatal Gln supplementation on piglet growth, milk intake and metabolic parameters. Sow-reared pairs of newborn LBW (0·8–1·2 kg) and NBW (1·4–1·8 kg) male piglets received Gln (1 g/kg body mass (BM)/d; Gln-LBW, Gln-NBW; n 24/group) or isonitrogenous alanine (1·22 g/kg BM/d; Ala-LBW; Ala-NBW; n 24/group) supplementation at 1–5 or 1–12 d of age (daily in three equal portions at 07:00, 12:00 and 17:00 by syringe feeding). We measured piglet BM, milk intake (1, 11–12 d), plasma metabolite, insulin, amino acid (AA) and liver TAG concentrations (5, 12 d). The Gln-LBW group had higher BM (+7·5%, 10 d, P = 0·066; 11–12 d, P < 0·05) and milk intake (+14·7%, P = 0·015) than Ala-LBW. At 5 d, Ala-LBW group had higher plasma TAG (+34·7%, P < 0·1) and lower carnosine (–22·5%, P < 0·05) than Ala-NBW and Gln-LBW, and higher liver TAG (+66·9%, P = 0·029) than Ala-NBW. At 12 d, plasma urea was higher (+37·5%, P < 0·05) with Gln than Ala supplementation. Several proteinogenic AA in plasma were lower (P < 0·05) in Ala-NBW v. Gln-NBW. Plasma arginine was higher (P < 0·05) in Gln-NBW v Ala-NBW piglets (5, 12 d). Supplemental Gln moderately improved growth and milk intake and affected lipid metabolism in LBW piglets and AA metabolism in NBW piglets, suggesting effects on intestinal and liver function

Monitoring of the Pasvik-Inari-Pechenga brown bear population in 2007 and 2011 using hair-trapping

The trans-border brown bear population of Pasvik-Inari-Pechenga (Norway-Finland-Russia) has been monitored using genetic analyses of feces collection since 2005. In addition in 2007, hair traps were systematically placed out in the area to collect hairs for genetic analysis, to more precisely determine the minimum numbers of bears. In 2011, we repeated this hair trap study, using the exact same methodology as in 2007, to make a direct comparison of the results from the two years. Brown bear DNA was detected in 68 of 88 hair samples (77%) obtained from hair traps in 2011 and for 56 of these samples, a complete DNA profile could be determined. We identified 20 different bears in 2011, 12 females and 8 males. Only one bear was found in more than one country (Norway and Russia). We detected 11 bears in Norway, 7 bears in Finland and 3 bears in Russia in 2011. Four of these 20 bears were previously unknown, all four from Finland. A comparison of the results from 2007 and 2011 showed that we detected fewer bears in hair traps in 2011 (20 bears) than in 2007 (24 bears), but this modest difference may be coincidental. However, we observed a large drop in the yield of hair samples in the traps in 2011 compared to 2007 (88 versus 196 samples). This observation may be suggestive of some reduced activity of bears within the study area in 2011. In addition, only five (21%) of the bears caught in hair traps in 2007 were recaptured in 2011, which indicates a substantial turnover of individuals and may indicate that more frequent hair trapping monitoring would be beneficial to reliably track changes in the population. Additional samples (mainly scats) collected opportunistically in the field within the Russian and Finnish parts of the study area in 2011 detected four male bears in the Finnish part that had not been detected by hair traps. No additional samples from Norway were included to this study and any comparisons between the hair-trapping and opportunistic sampling at this point remains difficult. However, the results indicate that both methods combined are currently the most feasible methods to monitor brown bear numbers in an area.publishedVersio

Distinct Roles of Perilipins in the Intramuscular Deposition of Lipids in Glutamine-Supplemented, Low-, and Normal-Birth-Weight Piglets

Piglets with low birth weight (LBW) usually have reduced muscle mass and increased lipid deposition compared with their normal-birth-weight (NBW) littermates. Supplementation of piglets with amino acids during the first days of life may improve muscle growth and simultaneously alter the intramuscular lipid deposition. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of glutamine (Gln) supplementation during the early suckling period on lipid deposition in the longissimus muscle (MLD) and the role of different perilipin (PLIN) family members in this process. Four groups were generated consisting of 72 male LBW piglets and 72 NBW littermates. Piglets were supplemented with either 1 g Gln/kg body weight or an isonitrogenous amount of alanine (Ala) between days post natum (dpn) 1 and 12. Twelve piglets per group were slaughtered at 5, 12, and 26 dpn, and muscle tissue was collected. Perilipins were localized by immunohistochemistry in muscle sections. The mRNA and protein abundances of PLIN family members and related lipases were quantified by quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) and western blots, respectively. While PLIN1 was localized around lipid droplets in mature and developing adipocytes, PLIN2 was localized at intramyocellular lipid droplets, PLIN3 and 4 at cell membranes of muscle fibers and adipocytes, and PLIN5 in the cytoplasm of undefined cells. The western blot results indicated higher protein abundances of PLIN2, 3, 4, and 5 in LBW piglets (p &lt; 0.05) at 5 dpn compared with their NBW littermates independent of supplementation, while not directly reflecting the mRNA expression levels. The mRNA abundance of PLIN2 was lower while PLIN4 was higher in piglets at 26 dpn in comparison with piglets at 5 dpn (p &lt; 0.01). Relative mRNA expression of LPL and CGI-58 was lowest in piglets at 5 dpn (p &lt; 0.001). However, ATGL mRNA was not influenced by birth weight or supplementation, but the Spearman correlation coefficient analysis revealed close correlations with PLIN2, 4, and 5 mRNA at 5 and 26 dpn (r &gt; 0.5, p &lt; 0.001). The results indicated the importance of birth weight and age for intramuscular lipid deposition and different roles of PLIN family members in this process, but no clear modulating effect of Gln supplementation