Kangaroo adipose tissue has higher concentrations of cis 9, trans 11-conjugated linoleic acid than lamb adipose tissue

Ruminant tissues and products contain conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) due to biohydrogenation in the rumen. We hypothesize that kangaroos would have higher concentrations of CLA compared to lambs due to incomplete biohydrogenation of fatty acids in the kangaroo foregut. Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue (including cis 9, trans 11 CLA) from lambs and kangaroos were significantly different. The concentrations of CLA and its precursor trans vaccenic acid (TVA) in the adipose tissue of kangaroos were approximately four and five times that of lambs. Kangaroo fat was significantly less saturated and had a lower melting point

A study of two sequential culture media - Impact on embryo quality and pregnancy rates

Objective: A comparative study of embryo quality and pregnancy outcome between Sydney IVF medium and Quinn's Advantage sequential culture media. Design: A prospective randomised controlled trial and a retrospective study. Setting: In vitro fertilisation clinic in an academic research environment. Patients: All women < 38 years undergoing fresh embryo transfers. Interventions: Use of clinic specific age, randomisation of patients and embryo score. Main outcome measures: Fertilisation and cleavage rate, embryo quality (day 2 and day 3), blastulation rate and pregnancy rate. Results: Prospective randomised trial: In this study the only significant difference was in day 3 embryo quality (33/79 (42%) v. 40/67 (60%) for Sydney IVF and Quinn's Advantage respectively, p < 0.05). Retrospective study: Significant difference (p < 0.05) for embryo development (early-dividing embryos 156/786 (20%) v. 263/919 (29%)), day 3 good quality (234/639 (37%) v. 378/795 (48%)) and pregnancy rate (ongoing pregnancy rate 31/179 (17%) v. 59/195 (30%)) between Sydney IVF v. Quinn's Advantage sequential culture media. Conclusion: We conclude from these two studies that the range of Quinn's Advantage sequential culture media is more beneficial for in vitro embryo culture as each of the media in the range contribute collectively to more embryos with a better quality. The reason for the significant increase in embryo developmental parameters and pregnancy rate can possibly be attributed to the differences in composition between the two media.Articl

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenylethane (DDE) methyl sulfones in tissues of seal and dolphin morbillivirus epizootic victims

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dichlorodiphenylethane (DDE) methyl sulfone (MSF) metabolites possess high affinities for binding two homologous 16,000 Da homodimeric receptor proteins in the lung (Clara cell secretory protein, CCSP) and the uterus (uteroglobin, UG), leading to selective bioaccumulation of MSFs in these tissues. As marine mammals are highly exposed to organochlorines, concentrations of PCBs, PCB MSFs, DDT, and DDE MSF were analyzed in blubber, lung, and uterus samples from harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) morbillivirus epizootic victims to investigate uterine and lung MSF accumulation. Mean uterus concentrations of PCB MSFs and DDE MSF in harbor seals were 0.61 and 0.04 microg/g lipid weight and in striped dolphins 0.05 and 0.01 microg/g lipid weight. Mean lung concentrations of PCB MSFs and DDE MSF in harbor seals were 0.96 and 0.02 microg/g lipid weight and in striped dolphins 0.16 and 0.01 microg/g lipid weight. To ascertain whether uterine and lung bioaccumulation of MSFs is possible due to the presence of CCSP and UG in seals, CCSP and UG proteins in uterine flushings and in uterine and lung and epithelial tissue from Baltic gray and ringed seals were characterized using gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques. UG- and CCSP-like proteins with molecular weights of 16,000 Da were resolved in all samples. This is the first demonstration of this protein in any marine mammalian species. The toxicological implications of MSF binding with UG and CCSP in marine mammals are discussed