P. E. Waibel

The relative importance of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase on the physiologic response to administered norepinephrine in the turkey

Abstract 1. The pattern of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity is comparable in rat, turkey and chicken tissues, with the liver having the highest activity, followed by the kidney and then the heart. 2. Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) has no definite pattern of activity in the organs of the two avian species studied, and is markedly lower as compared to that of the rat. 3. Cardiac and hepatic MAO levels increase, whereas COMT activities remain low with advancing age in the turkey. 4. MAO but not COMT inhibition potentiates the cardio-vascular responses to administered norepinephrine in the turkey.

Influence of Beta-Aminopropionitrile on Dissecting Aneurysm and on Plasma Amino Acids in the Turkey

Abstract Increasing levels of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) from 0 to 1.17 per cent in the diet of turkeys 6 weeks of age decreased blood plasma free proline and alanine and increased valine, isoleucine and leucine, suggesting that altered circulating amino acid levels should be considered as a possible causative factor in the weakening of connective tissue due to BAPN administration. Aortic rupture occurred within 2 days after BAPN feeding was begun, indicating a rapid weakening of aortal connective tissue. Determination of BAPN in plasma using an amino acid chromatography-ninhydrin reaction procedure suggests that dietary fish meal results in higher circulating BAPN levels.