A comparison of some metabolitesin skeletal muscle of different halothane sensitivity withmeat quality traits of pigs using a capillary isotachophoresis technique.

Isotachophoretic (ITP) measurements were made on biopsy samples from live muscle M. longissimus lumborum and carcasses of pigs. Two experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, the methodological aspects of ITP measurements from skeletal muscle, were studied. In Experiment 2, ITP measurements on muscle and carcass samples were made. The muscle and carcass samples were obtained by shot or spring-loaded biopsy from the Longissimus lumborum muscle of 30 Belgium Landrace × Duroc pigs, of which 10 were halothane-positive. The pigs were slaughtered by electro-stunning and manguination at approximately 105 kg body l. w. The potential meat quality in live pigs and after slaughter using small biopsy samples of M. longissimus lumborum was also determined. The experimental results show that ITP (mainly inosinemonophosphate and lactate) and meat quality data (water-holding capacity test, pH and R value) can differentiate halo thane-positive from halothane-negative pigs. Out results confirmed previous results which showed that the water-holding capacity test defined as fluid volume', pH and R value measurements on biopsy samples can also predict the potential meat quality in live pigs.

[The effect of recombinant somatotropin hormone on the secretion of ovarian hormones in sexually mature swine in vivo and in vitro]. / Vplyv rekombinantného somatotropného hormónu na sekréciu ovariálnych hormónov pohlavne dospelých prasniciek in vivo a in vitro.

The development of recombinant somatotropic hormone (STH) creates a prerequisite for a wide application of exogenous stimulation of meat and milk performance of cows and pigs. Reproduction effect and its mechanism is till now restricted by a lack of complex information though there are several studies of principal character and basic effects of STH on reproduction process are also known. The result of some experimental studies, quoted in scientific literature, was a hypothesis that STH effect is accompanied by increased production of so-called insulin-like growth factors. Moreover, it is known that these factors have a steroidogenic effect. A hypothesis of STH action, just by means of insulin-like growth factors, was expressed on the basis of the above mentioned fact. Our study was aimed at the analysis of the effect of recombinant porcine somatotropic hormone (rpSTH, Research and Development, Pittman-Moore, Inc.; Terre Haute, Indiana, the U.S.A., LG-COMP-1776/93) on the dynamics of progesterone, cAMP, cGMP concentrations in the blood plasma of sexually mature gilts with surgically introduced permanent canula in v. jugularis. Gilts of early and medium follicular stages of the oestrous cycle (found laparoscopically) without any developmental or any other anomalies in reproductive organs. Blood samples were collected each 15 minutes in the period of 30 minutes before and 150 minutes after rpSTH application (5 mg per gilt). The control of gilts was administered 0.9% NaCl solution under the same conditions. Blood plasma samples collected and processed were stored not earlier than after radioimmunoassay of substances. A part of the study was to analyze different rpSTH doses (1-100,000 ng/ml) on granulosis cells on gilts' ovaries obtained after slaughtering of sexually mature gilts without any visible changes in the reproductive system. Granulosis cells were separated after aspiration of follicles of the size 2 to 5 mm without marked paleness, after thrice resuspending in essential cultivation medium TCM 199 and centrifugigng (g = 200). Followed the last straining of supernatant the cells were resuspended in the cultivation enriched medium TCM 199. 2 ml of cell suspension in the cultivation medium with known counts and viability of cells (10(6) in 1 ml and 75-95% vitality) were cultivated in defined conditions as a basic unit of the experiment. Resulting concentrations of analyzed hormones were determined on the basis of production activity of cells and statistically assessed by ANOVA test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Evaluation of halothane sensitivity and prediction of post-mortem muscle metabolism in pigs from a muscle biopsy using (31)P NMR spectroscopy.

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance ((31)P NMR) measurements were made on biopsy samples from pig muscles. Two experiments were performed, one in France and one in Czechoslovakia. In experiment 1, the muscle samples were obtained by surgery from the Biceps femoris muscle of 10 pigs with various genetic types (5 Large White, 1 Large White × Landrace, 4 Pietrains). In experiment 2, the muscle samples were obtained by shot biopsy from the Longissimus dorsi muscle of 11 Belgian Landrace × Duroc pigs, of which 6 were halothane-negative and 5 halothane-positive. The pigs were slaughtered by electrostunning and exsanguination respectively 3 weeks and 1 week after the biopsy, and meat quality traits (pH(1), reflectance and water holding capacity) were determined. The changes in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate (CP), inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and pH, as deduced from NMR, were faster in Pietrains than in Large Whites, and in halothane-positive than in halothane-negative pigs. The value of the CP/P(i) ratio at 40 min after taking biopsy allowed discrimination between halothane-positive and halothane-negative pigs. The values of pH, creatine phosphate and adenosine triphosphate, as measured at definite times on the biopsies, were correlated with the rate of post-mortem metabolism (r approx 0·8) and with meat quality traits. (31)P NMR measurements combined with a rapid and efficient biopsy technique appear as an alternative tool for assessment of both halothane sensitivity and prediction of meat quality in pigs.

[Production of progesterone and testosterone in ovarian granulosa cells in sows after administration of nonapeptide hormones in vitro]. / Produkcia progesterónu a testosterónu bunkami granulózy vajecníkov osípaných po aplikácii nonapeptidových hormónov in vitro.

In the present paper the effects of nonapeptide hormones and of some of their chemical analogues were investigated on progesterone and testosterone production in granulosa cells of sow ovaries; the experiments were made in vitro. This objective was given by data on potential regulatory roles of nonapeptides at the level of hypothalamus, pituitary and reproductive organs. The goal of this experiment was to analyze the effects of various doses of oxytocin (OT), arginine-8-vasopressin (AVP), arginine-8-vasotocin and of some of their analogues on progesterone and testosterone production in vitro in granulosa cells of sow ovaries. The production activity of granulosa cells was investigated which were obtained from slaughtered sows without any changes in their reproductive process and abnormalities in their reproductive organs. Follicles of the size 2-5 mm without marked paleness in the early follicular phase were selected for aspiration. Granulosa cells with determined viability (more than 75%) and concentration (2 million/ml) were cultivated in defined culture conditions (37.5 degrees C, 5% CO2) after threefold resuspension and centrifugation of follicle fluid. These hormonal preparations were used in the experiments: pFSH, synthetic OT, synthetic AVP, synthetic AVP with antidiuretic effects and synthetic AVT. Progesterone and testosterone concentrations were analyzed radioimmunoanalytically using commercial kits of the Institute of Radio ecology and Nuclear Technology at Kosice. Statistically significant differences between the groups were evaluated by Student's t-test. The administered preparations were found to influence progesterone and testosterone production in dependence on the doses applied (Figs. 1-6). OT stimulation of progesterone production in granulosa cells indicated its regulatory role in relation to secretion of this hormone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Muscle fibers of pigs sensitive to halothane and resistant to it]. / Svalové vlákna osípaných citlivých na halotan a rezistentných voci nemu.

The histological and histochemical structure of m. longissimus thoracis, m. semimembranosus, m. triceps brachii-caput longum and m. rectus femoris was compared in pigs with a positive and negative reaction to halothane treatment. As found, the pigs affected by the malignant hyperthermia syndrome have thicker muscle fibres in the studied muscles. In the course of growth, the muscles of these animals have a larger proportion of red fibres (SO), but it is already at the age of 170 days (weight 100 kg) that light fibres prevail. The relative volume of the FG fibres is larger by 1-5%, as compared with the healthy animals. A higher number of pathologically changed fibres occurs in the pigs sensitive to halothane. The histological picture is individually variable; therefore the histological and histochemical methods cannot be considered as objective in view of MHS diagnosis. The general weakening of the constitution of the pigs is discussed as a possible predisposition factor underlying the development of various health disorders.