Trials for restoring the toxicity of aflatoxin

The effect of selenium as nutritional agent as well as ultracorn and levamisole as two non specific immunomodulatory agents was studied in relation to the induced aflatoxicosis in growing chicks. 7 groups of growing chicks, each of 15 were used in this study. All groups were fed aflatoxin B1 at a rate of 0.25 mug/gm feed for 45 days, except the first group which kept as a control. The second group was fed aflatoxin B1 alone; while the third, fourth and fifth groups were fed selenium at a rate of 0.1, 5 and 10 mug/gm feed, respectively. The sixth group administered ultracorn [40 mu l/kg b.wt.] as a single dose. The 7th group was treated with levamisole [25 mu g/kg S/C] for 3 consecutive days per week for 6 weeks. The results revealed a reduction of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities of the serum and a decrease of urea and creatinine as well as elevation of vitamin A, total protein and body weight gain in birds fed on ration containing aflatoxin plus selenium in low concentration. Ultracorn and levamisole succeeded in decreasing the severity of some biochemical changes

Basic Ultrastructure and seasonal variation on the epididymis of the one humped camel [camelus dromedarius]

The basic ultrastructure and seasonal variations in the camel epididymis were studied in 6 adult male camels [3 in the summer and 3 in the winter]. Samples from the head, body and tail of the epididymis were prepared for transmission electron microscope. The head region was lined by 3 cell types, principal, ciliated and basal cells. The principal cells were the predominant cell type and characterized by large membranous vacuoles. Ciliated cells had the kinocilia, in addition to the sterocilla and basal cells characterized by ovoid nuclei having undulated nuclear envelope. On the other h and, the secretory activity of the epididymal principal cells was high in the body and to a lesser extent in the tail region of the epididymis. Regarding season variations, the activities reached its peak during the summer and its minimum during the winter, where extensive phagocytosis and degenerative changes were observed

Serum alkaline phosphatase: its isoenzymes, 5-nucleotidase and sialic acid in normal and abnormal pregnancies

Alkaline phosphatase [ALP] enzyme activity and its isoenzymes were determined in serum by heat inactivation and chemical inhibition by urea, L-phenylalanine and EDTA. Sialic acid concentration and 5- nucleotidase [5-NT] activity were also measured in serum of 381 consecutive pregnant cases seen in the obstetric outpatient clinic and Ward of Jordan University Hospital. These included normal pregnancies and pregnancies associated with other conditions such as toxemias, diabetes mellitus, and also abortion cases. This study was undertaken, to assess the activity of ALP and its isoenzymes in normal and abnormal pregnancies with a view to evaluate their usefulness as parameters of placental function. The changes in the concentration of serum sialic acid and 5-NT activity in all subjects were also studied. The cases in study were divided into three groups [trimesters]. The results from this study showed a gradual increase in placental ALP isoenzymes which reaches a maximum at term. A definite enzyme pattern of ALP was seen in normal and abnormal pregnancies and inhibition by EDTA is a valuable index for the placental function. Serum 5-NT activity did not change between the first and the third trimesters of pregnancy. However there is a gradual and significant increase in the mean [ +/- SD] serum sialic acid concentration with progressing pregnancy

Therapeutic efficacy and tissue distribution of kitasamycin in normal and e coli-infected chickens

The therapeutic efficacy of kitasamycin following oral administration of 300 or 600 mg/kg. b. wt. for five successive days against experimental E.coli infection in broiler Hubbard chicken was studied. Effect on body weight gain and feed conversion from 3 weeks were of age till the end of 6 weeks also investigated. Moreover, tissue distribution of kitasamycin in normal and E.coli-infected chicks were recorded. Results achieved showed that administration of kitasamycin at the same time of infection, reduced morbidity, mortality and development of lesions more effectively than its administration after the appearance of symptoms in therapeutic or double the therapeutic doses. Kitasamycn improved significantly body weight gain and feed conversion, especially when given at the same time of E.coli infection. Kitasamycin [300 mg/kg. b. wt.] Was detected in serum of E.coli-infected chickens as early as 5 minutes and after 10 minutes in serum of normal birds following administration. It reached peak concentration one hour after administration and its level was slightly higher [7.4 +/- 0.78 micro g/ml] in serum of infected chickens versus normal birds [6.2 +/- 0.37 micro g/ml]. The concentration of the drug was high he in bile, ceacum, intestine, gizzard and lung than in muscles, fat and spleen. Kitasamycin could not be detected in brain at any interval following administration