Ute Schnurrbusch

Effects of graded levels of Fusarium toxin contaminated maize in diets for female weaned piglets

A dose response study was carried out with piglets to examine the effects of increasing amounts of Fusarium toxins in the diet on performance, clinical serum characteristics, organ weights and residues of zearalenone (ZON) and deoxynivalenol (DON) and their metabolites in body fluids and tissues. For this purpose, Fusarium toxin contaminated maize (1.2 mg ZON and 8.6 mg DON per kg maize) was incorporated into a maize based diet for piglets at 0, 6, 12.5, 25 and 50% at the expense of control maize. The experimental diets were tested on 100 female piglets allotted to 20 boxes (five animals per box) covering a body weight range of 12.4 ± 2.2 kg to 32.5 ± 5.6 kg. Voluntary feed intake and, consequently, body weight gain of the animals receiving the highest proportion of Fusarium toxin contaminated maize were significantly decreased while the feed conversion ratio was not affected by the treatment. The mean weight of the uterus related to the body weight of the animals of the same group was increased by almost 100% as compared to the control. For this group, significantly decreased values of total serum protein were determined, while the serum activity of the liver enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase and the serum concentration of the follicle stimulating hormone were decreased for all treatment groups receiving 6% contaminated maize or more in the diet. Serum concentrations of immune-globulins were not consistently altered by the treatment. Corresponding to the dietary exposure, increasing concentrations of ZON and α-zearalenol were detected in the bile fluid, liver and in pooled urine samples. The metabolite β-zearalenol was detected only in bile fluid. The total concentration of ZON plus its metabolites in bile fluid correlated well with the diet contamination (r = 0.844). DON was found in serum, bile fluid and pooled urine samples while de-epoxy-DON was detected only in urine. The serum concentration of DON correlated well with the respective toxin intake 3 - 4 h prior to slaughtering (r = 0.957). For all mentioned analyses of residues it has to be noted that toxin residues were detectable even if negligible concentrations were present in the diet.

Changes in fundus autofluorescence in patients with age-related maculopathy. Correlation to visual function: a prospective study

BackgroundAs members of the Fundus Autofluorescence in Age-related Macular Degeneration Study Group (FAM Study Group), we report changes of fundus autofluorescence (AF) in patients with multiple soft drusen in correlation to visual function.MethodsInclusion criteria were age >50 years, the presence of soft drusen, visual acuity of 20/100 or better, and no previous laser treatment in the study eye. All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination including ETDRS visual acuity, binocular funduscopy, and color fundus photography. AF imaging was performed with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope following a standard protocol. We used the classification of the International Fundus Autofluorescence Classification Group (IFAG) for the description of the AF patterns.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-five patients (81 women, 44 men) aged from 55 to 86 years (mean 70±7 years) were included in this prospective study. During follow-up (mean 18±6 months), 6 of 35 eyes with patchy AF pattern developed exudative changes, as well as 2 eyes with focal–plaque-like AF pattern and 1 eye with reticular pattern at baseline. Geographic atrophy was seen in two eyes with focal AF pattern and one eye with focal–plaque-like pattern at baseline. A total of 11 eyes presented with severe visual loss (≧6 ETDRS lines). Ten (91%) of these had patchy AF pattern.ConclusionImaging of fundus AF in patients with age-related maculopathy allows identification of different patterns of fundus AF. Our preliminary data suggest that a patchy pattern of AF indicates a relatively high risk of progression to age-related macular degeneration with visual loss.

Glial cell expression of hepatocyte growth factor in vitreoretinal proliferative disease

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been crucially implicated in the development of proliferative retinal diseases; however, it is unclear whether retinal glial cells express or respond to HGF. Therefore, we examined the expression of HGF and of the receptor for HGF, c-Met, by immunohistochemical costaining with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in epiretinal membranes of patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), respectively. Furthermore, it was determined whether cells of the human retinal glial cell line, MIO-M1, secrete HGF protein, and whether HGF stimulates proliferation and chemotaxis, and secretion of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Neuroretinas of patients with PVR express elevated mRNA level for HGF in comparison to control retinas. In epiretinal membranes of patients with PVR or PDR, immunoreactivity for HGF and for c-Met, respectively, partially colocalized with immunoreactivity for GFAP. Fetal bovine serum and basic fibroblast growth factor, but not heparin-binding epidermal or platelet-derived growth factors, evoked HGF secretion by cultured retinal glial cells. HGF displayed only a marginal effect on cell proliferation while it stimulated chemotaxis. HGF promoted the secretion of VEGF, via activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. It is concluded that glial cells in epiretinal membranes express both HGF protein and c-Met receptors. The results suggest an autocrine/paracrine role of HGF in glial cell responses during proliferative vitreoretinal disorders as well as in retinal neovascularization, by stimulating of VEGF release.

The effect of increasing concentrations of Fusarium toxins in piglet diets on histological parameters of the uterus and vagina

The effects of feeding diets containing 0.01, 0.06, 0.15, 0.22 and 0.42 mg zearalenone and 0.2, 0.8, 1.0, 1.9 and 3.9 mg deoxynivalenol per kg, originating from Fusarium toxin contaminated maize, on the uterus of 50 prepubertal piglets (10 pigs per treatment; BW 32.6 ± 5.4 kg; approximately 70 days of age) were investigated. The mean weight of the uteri of animals receiving the most highly contaminated diet was significantly increased at the time of slaughtering. The histological investigation showed no marked differences between the feeding groups. Histometrical parameters of the surface epithelium of the uterus, of the uterine glands and the vaginal epithelium were not altered by the treatment.

The effect of increasing concentrations ofFusarium toxins in the diets for piglets on histological parameters of the uterus.

The effects of feeding diets containing 0.01, 0.06, 0.15, 0.22 and 0.42 mg zearalenone and 0.2, 0.8, 1.0, 1.9 and 3.9 mg deoxynivalenol per kg, coming fromFusarium toxin contaminated maize, on the uterus of 50 prepubertal piglets were investigated. The mean weight of the uteri of the animals which received the most contaminated diet was significantly increased at the time of slaughtering. The histological investigation showed no marked differences between the feeding groups. Histometrical parameters of the surface epithelium of the uterus and of the uterine glands were not altered by the treatment.

Effects of two homeopathic complexes on bovine sperm mitochondrial activity

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two homeopathic complexes Ubichinon compositum® (Ubi comp) and Coenzyme compositum ad us. vet.® (CoQ10 comp) on bovine sperm mitochondrial activity. METHODS Sperm viability, acrosomal integrity and sperm chromatin structure were estimated to detect the possible side effect of complexes on other sperm parameters. RESULTS Mitochondrial activity was significantly enhanced by both Ubi comp (P<0.01) and CoQ10 comp (P<0.05). No effects were detected in other tested sperm parameters. CONCLUSION The tested homeopathic complex medicines stimulate the mitochondrial activity of bovine sperm without effects on their viability, acrosomal integrity or chromatin structure. The possibility that this translates into improved fertilization capacity in artificial insemination should investigated.

Functional pathology of the ovaries and uteri of premature female piglets exposed to distinct amounts of zearalenone

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of four different concentrations (groups II–V) of orally administered zearalenone (ZON) over a feeding period of 35 days on parts of the genital tract of 75 day-old female piglets in comparison to a control group (I). In order to determine possible dose related characteristics for a ZON intoxication in ovaries and uteri, histomorphological (HE and Azan stained slides) and immunohistochemical methods [expression patterns of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)] were carried out. Using these methods, there were no obvious (immuno-) histomorphological differences within the treatment groups or in comparison to the control group. Nevertheless, compared to the group I, statistical analyses of all parameters investigated revealed significance only in the increased mitotic activity of muscle cells in the uterinelamina muscularis in treatment group V.

The effect of fusarium toxin contaminated maize on performance and health of female weaning piglets.

The influence of increasing amounts of zearalenone and de-oxynivalenol in diets for prepubertal pigs was investigated on 100 female piglets fed diets with increasing concentrations of ZON and DON (0.01mg ZON and 0.2mg DON/kg to 0.42mg ZON and 3.9mg DON/kg). Concentrations of 0.06mg ZON and 0.8mg DON per kg diet caused a significant decrease of serum concentrations of GLDH and FSH as well as vulva swelling. The uterus weight of the piglets receiving 0.42mg ZON and 3.9mg DON/kg was increased by almost 100% compared to the control. Furthermore, this group showed significantly decreased performance, serum protein concentration and zervix swelling. Further studies are needed to scrutinize the adverse effects of ZON and DON in diets for prepubertal female piglets, especially on future reproduction performance.