Protocol for the study of hepatic bilirubin uptake in the isolated perfused rat liver

We present a protocol for the study of bilirubin uptake in the isolated and perfused rat liver. The liver is perfused with an albumin-free saline buffered solution supplemented with glucose, pyruvate and lactate, in the absence of oxygen, at a physiologically low flow rate. Fractions of the venous effluent are collected and analyzed for bilirubin, bilirubin glucuronide and biomarkers of liver integrity. The liver preparation is viable and intact for 1 h after isolation from the general circulation, with constant levels of both bilirubin and bilirubin glucuronide (< 2 nM) in the effluent. Up to 12 boli of 10 nmol bilirubin can be sequentially injected into the portal vein without and with molecules that target sinusoidal membrane transporters of organic anions. Selective inhibition of bilirubin or bilirubin glucuronide uptake is detected as transient peaks in the effluent (Cmax up 6 to 60 nM). This protocol allows collecting repeated observations in the same liver, thus reducing the animal number by a factor of 10.

Vegetable Proteins: Nutritional Value, Sustainability, and Future Perspectives

The growing world population demands more production of proteins for healthy growth and prevention of protein-energy malnutrition. The animal proteins are not sufficient to meet the requirement of daily proteins intake. Furthermore, due to limited resources of animal number, land, water, environmental impact, the demand for vegetable proteins and sustainability have been increasing tremendously. This chapter will outline the demand scenarios of vegetable proteins, nutritional aspects, and technological challenges in product development and consumer acceptance. It will summarize the potential of vegetable proteins related to health and existing diseases. The consumption of vegetable proteins, development of product, economic, sustainability, and food safety aspects will be summarized.

Role of Lateral Inhibition on Visual Number Sense

Lateral inhibition is a basic principle of information processing and widely exists in the human and animal nervous systems. Lateral inhibition is also involved in processing visual information because it travels through the retina, primary visual cortex, and visual nervous system. This finding suggests that lateral inhibition is associated with visual number sense in humans and animals. Here, we show a number-sensing neural network model based on lateral inhibition. The model can reproduce the size and distance effects of the output response of human and animal number-sensing neurons when the network connection weights are set randomly without adjustment. The number sense of the model disappears when lateral inhibition is removed. Our study shows that the first effect of lateral inhibition is to strengthen the linear correlation between the total response intensity of the input layer and the number of objects. The second one is to allow the output cells to prefer different numbers. Results indicate that lateral inhibition plays an indispensable role in untrained spontaneous number sense.

A Retrospective Analysis of Typologies of Animal Abuse Recorded by the SPCA, Hong Kong

We conducted a retrospective study of 254 suspected cruelty offences recorded by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) between January 2013 and December 2019. Cases were categorised into four types of abuse: active maltreatment, passive neglect, commercial exploitation and hoarding. Attributes of defendants, relationship with the owner of the animal (where the owner was not the defendant) and the circumstances of the abuse (species of animal, number of animals involved, type of harm, need for medical care, number of animals seized) were recorded for each case. The majority of prosecuted cases involved traumatic physical injury to dogs, with 30% causing the death of animals. The second most common type of harm prosecuted was neglect, with 27% of cases causing death. The majority of neglect cases involved dogs abandoned inside private premises without food/water. The median number of animals hoarded was 47, with dogs the most common species. The majority of hoarders had collected their animals from strays. The largest hoarding cases (>100 animals) were operating as animal rescue shelters. Strategies to address cruelty to animals in Hong Kong can be informed by an understanding of which species are at greater risk of harm and in what circumstances this harm might occur.

Evaluation of Pain and Distress and Therapeutic Interventions for Rectal Prolapse in Mice to Reduce Early Study Removal

Rectal prolapse (RP) is a common clinical condition in mice, that does not have a recognized or documented standard ofcare. At our institution, an average of 240 mice develop RP each year. Our practice has been to recommend euthanasia uponidentifying a RP based on its appearance as a painful or distressful condition. This study aimed to assess treatment options that would maintain the RP mucosa and allow mice to reach their study endpoint, and to evaluate the perception of this condition as a painful or distressful event. This study used 120 mice with spontaneous RP, concurrently assigned to ongoing research protocols. Mice were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: petroleum jelly, lidocaine jelly, or no treatment. Fecal samples were collected for pathogen testing, and all mice received an initial base score, followed by weekly blind scores. Upon euthanasia, RP tissue was collected for histopathology. Of the 120 mice identified with RP, 47 mice were breeders; 28% successfully produced 22 additional litters after developing RP. Seventy-three were nonbreeders, with 92% reaching their research study endpoint. No statistically significant differences were detected between the 3 treatment groups based on gross mucosal health, pain and distress, or histopathology. In this study, none of the mice in any group were euthanized based on the RP endpoint scoring criteria. These findings demonstrate that treatment is unnecessary for RP, and mice with RP did not show signs of pain or distress. In adherence to the 3Rs, this study supports animal number reduction and clinical refinement, allowing mice with RPs to reach their intended research study endpoints or produce additional litters.

A preliminary study on the Monthly dynamics of cattle tick infestation in Sokoto, north western Nigeria

The distribution and monthly dynamics of bovine ixodids in Sokoto Township and environs were recorded between Jan 2009 and Dec 2010. Monthly tick collections were performed on 400 animals from which a total of 12, 296 ticks were collected. Ticks from each cattle were collected separately using a pair of blunt forceps, into labelled universal bottles containing 70% ethanol into which 5% glycerine was added to keep specimens better preserved. On each label, the location, breed of the animal, number of ticks and date of collection were recorded. In the laboratory, Ticks were placed into petri dishes, counted, examined and identified with the aid of a dissecting stereoscope based on morphological Characteristics and aided by the use of standard keys according to Hoogstraal (1956) and Walker et al. (2003). These include Hyalomma truncatum (15.5%), Hyalomma dromedarii (13.3%), Boophilus decolaratus (11.3%) Amblyomma variegatum (10.6%), Hy. impeltatum, (10.1%), Hy. rufipes (9.4%), Hy. impressum (7.4%), Boophilus annulatus (4.4%), B. geigyi (4.3%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (4.1%) Amblyomma hebraeum (3.4%), Rh. evertsi (2.6%), A. pomposum (2.0%), Rh. lunulatus (1%) and Rh. senegalensis (0.5%). Hyalomma. truncatum, Hy. impeltatum, Hy. Impress B. annulatus, A. hebraeum, A. pomposum, Rh. lunulatus and Rh. senegalensis were recorded for the first time in the Study area. The distribution and dynamics of cattle ixodid ticks has not been hitherto chronicled in the study area.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTENSITY OF BREEDING OF HEIFERS OF UKRAINIAN BLACK-AND-WHITE DAIRY BREED IN DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS ON THE FUTURE DAIRY PRODUCTIVITY

The scientific experiment was carried out in two stages at State enterprise pilot farm “Hontarivka”, Vovchansk district, Kharkiv region. First stage. In a retrospective analysis of the rearing calf intensity from 3 to 6 months revealed that the highest live weight at 6-month age had animals of group III, .which is probably 47.0 kg or 34.6% and 23.0 kg or 14.4% (P < 0.001 in both comparison cases) outperformed peers I and II groups. A similar trend was observed in the analysis of live weight of heifers at 9 and 12-month age. Live weight at insemination in the higher growth group also had better rates of 4.0 and 3.7%, respectively, in animals of groups I and II (P < 0.001–0.05). It should be noted that the required live weight for insemination at heifers at growth rates of up to 500 g was reached in only 20.3 months, however, in the other two groups, the insemination age decreased by 1.5 and 1.7 months. Firstcalf heifers from group III also had the highest milk expectancy of 170.0 and 123.0 kg, or 3.1 and 2.3%, respectively, then animals in groups I and II. In the age period from 6 to 9 months it was found that at 9-month age heifers of group III had a higher live weight against animals of I and II groups respectively by 39.0 and 16.0 kg or 18.8 and 7.0% (P < 0.001 in both comparison cases). Intergroup differences by this indicator at 12-month age hiefers decreased to 35.0 and 8.0 kg, respectively, or 13.0 and 2.7% (P < 0.001 in both cases of comparison), which provided an advantage for the live weight of group III over I and II groups during the first fruitful insemination. Whereas the age of first fruitfull insemination, on the contrary, was lower at heifers of group III at 49 and 34 days than at groups I and II heifers. The highest milk productivity was also found at firstcalf heifers of group III at 634 kg or 12.3% (P < 0.001) and at 137 kg or 2.5% against animal I and II groups. The heifer live weight at the period from 9 to 12 months corresponded to the established differences at other age periods generally. And 12-month age calves of group III also significantly exceeded the analogues of group I by 38.0 kg or 14.0% (P < 0.001) and peers of group II – by 23.0 kg or 8.0% (P < 0.001). The live weight at fruitfull insemination of group III heifers was the largest and the difference compared with animals of group I was 21.0 kg or 5.3% (P < 0.01) and group II – 19.0 kg or 4.8% (P < 0.001). Group III animals also had the highest milk productivity, which is likely to be higher than group I peers by 751 kg or 14.5% (P < 0.001) and group II animals by 552 kg or 10.3% (P < 0.001). Second stage. It was found that during the experiment, live weight of free-stall keeping heifers were outnumbered by peers. In particular, the live weight of group I animals at the first month of the experiment was less by 8.0 kg or 2.9%, the second by 15.0 kg or 4.7% (P < 0.05) and the third by 19.0 kg or 5.4% against peers of group II. A similar pattern was observed in the estimation of intensive growth of these animals. However, at the end of the experiment, the heifers of the experimental group were 7.0 cm or 5.9% (P < 0.001) higher in the withers, 7.0 cm or 5.6% (P < 0.001) in the back, and the sacrum – 6.0 cm or 4.7% (P < 0.001). They showed deeper breasts by 3.0 cm or 4.9% (P < 0.01), larger breast widths – by 2.0 cm or 5.4% (P < 0.01), width in macaques – by 2.0 cm or 4.9% (P < 0.01), oblique torso length – 8.0 cm or 5.8% (P < 0.001), chest circumference 9.0 cm or 5.6% (P < 0.001) and girth – 1.0 cm or 6.1% (P < 0.01). It should be noted that from the second month of the research the animal number the free-stall keeping animal number, which ready for insemination, was more at 2.3 times or 5 goals than stall keeping heifers, and their live weight was more at 8 kg or 3.0%. With age, the differences between the groups gradually increased and by the third month reached 8 goals or 2.6 times and 19.0 kg or 5.7%.

Group size experiences with enhanced pre- and postnatal development studies in the long-tailed macaque (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>)

Enhanced pre- and postnatal development (ePPND) studies have become the default developmental toxicity test for biopharmaceuticals if nonhuman primates represent the relevant species. Spontaneous pregnancy losses and infant deaths can be significant in macaques such as long-tailed macaques. The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guideline S6(R1) states that pregnancy outcome can be judged also by the normogram-based variability of reference data according to a publication by Jarvis et al. (2010) defining a study as valid with six to eight live infants in the control group on postnatal day 7 (PND7). Since the release of ICH S6(R1) (2011), ePPND studies for biologics have replaced the former separate embryo-fetal and PPND study types. This work provides a retrospective analysis of pregnancy outcomes from 21 ePPND studies and group sizes of 14–24 animals per group. All studies reached the goal of at least six to eight infants on PND7, with overall losses ranging between 5 % and 45 %. Consistently, a group size of 14–24 maternal animals yielded more than six to eight infants on PND7. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce ePPND study group sizes from 20 to 14, yielding an animal number reduction of approx. 30 %.

PSIII-10 Body temperature changes in piglets anesthetized for castration during the recovery phase

In several countries, an application of general anesthesia for pain prevention during castration is discussed. A disadvantage is the prolonged recovery phase, accompanied by severe body temperature drops in piglets. Aim of this study was to investigate effects on body temperature during recovery after anesthesia. Piglets were anesthetized, castrated and placed in boxes (0.24m2) for 4h. Before, 2 and 4h after the application (0.3ml ketamine+azaperone/kg BW), rectal temperatures (RT) and skin temperatures behind the ear (ST) were measured. In a first trial, impacts of infrared lamp (250W, 50-55cm height) and number of animals per box (3 vs 6) were analyzed (n = 30). In a complementary trial, infrared lamps’ height (60 vs 70cm) and piglet age were varied (n = 27) and temperatures measured half-hourly. Differences were estimated in linear models (SAS® 9.4). Mean RT before anesthesia was 39.1±0.4°C with ranges of less than 1.9°C. After 2h, mean RT in lamp-warmed piglets increased to 40.8°C (P &lt; 0.01), whereas in absence of lamps RT dropped to 37.3 (P &lt; 0.001), with significant differences between groups (P &lt; 0.001). To prevent life-threatening cooling, piglets with RT as minimal as 33.5°C were warmed immediately, so that their mean RT after 4h was not different from initial temperatures. Animal number per box caused no differences. Variation between individual RT was up to 8.2°C at 2h (first trial). Means in the second trial did not differ, but variation pattern of individual temperatures was highest after 1h (6.1°C), indicating that individual differences regarding anesthetics or external factors might occur. When lamps hung lower ST were higher after 3h (P &lt; 0.05) and 4h (P &lt; 0.01). RT and ST were dependent on age after 0.5h (P &lt; 0,05, respectively) and tendentious at 1h and 2h, indicating that older piglets can rely on more distinct temperature regulation abilities and use endogenous energy resources to regain homeostasis.

Strategy to Fulfill the Requirements for Concession and Release of New Animal Breed or Strain

Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 1994 on Ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia Number: 117/Permentan/SR.120/10/2014 regarding the concession and release of animal breed or strain in Indonesia should be followed up. This paper aims to improve the understanding of concession and release of animal breed or strain. Requirements of breed or strain concession has to declare (a) Its origin; (b) Original geographic distribution where the breed or strain formed; (c) Characteristics; (d) Genetic information; (e) The animal number and structure of their population; and (f) Animal picture. Requirements for the release of breed or strain should have (1) The method to obtain animal breed or strain; (2) Characteristics; (3) Genetic information; (4) New invention, unique, uniform and stable (NUUS); (5) The current number of animal; (6) Animal picture; (7) A guarantee certificate of quality standard; and (8) At the time of receipt of the request release, breed or strain has never been traded/distributed in Indonesia or already traded less than five years. Therefore, the government operational policy is necessary to regulate the preservation and improvement of animal genetic resources either breed or strain beneficial for future generations.