[Hyaluronidase release in bull sperm--influence of media and temperature]. / Hyaluronidasefreisetzung bei Bullenspermien--Medien- und Temperatureinflüsse.

Studies were conducted into behaviours of total and extracellular hyaluronidase activities of bull semen under selected incubation phenomena. Particular attention was given to effects generated by media of high and physiological ion strengths (385 mosm and 305 mosm), in vitro capacitation treatment, and effects of various washing techniques as well as incubation temperatures. Total hyaluronidase activity was clearly lowered in washed ejaculate sperms, as compared to original sperm, with extracellular enzyme activity, however, being unchanged. Hyaluronidase activity was also lower in deep-frozen sperm. Increase in extracellular and total hyaluronidase activity was at its highest under the impact of cattle serum albumin and with a defined temperature-time regime (four hours of comparative incubation in a medium of physiological ion strength at 35 degrees C, 37 degrees C, 39 degrees C, 41 degrees C, and 45 degrees C). Release of hyaluronidase was most clearly inducible after pretreatment in medium of physiological ion strength and by four hours of incubation at 39 degrees C. The preliminary conclusion is that the values so far recorded appeared to reflect some superimposition of physiological and degenerative processes which could not be distinguished from each other under the experimental conditions chosen for the studies.

Growth hormone, cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and creatinine in relation to growth in the pig.

28 male castrated pigs of the Land race, aged 90 to 110 days and of different growth were used as animal models. The parameters investigated were as follows: body weight at the time of investigation, density of carcass, creatinine excretion per 24 hours, glucose concentration in whole blood, the concentration of free fatty acids, growth hormone, fluorescence positive corticosteroids, cAMP and insulin in the blood plasma. The results show that there exists an obvious relation between the growth hormone concentration and growth progress in the pig, but it can be revealed only through an integrated growth hormone concentration. That is why the conclusion seems to be justified that the corticosteroid concentration in plasma, an integrated growth hormone concentration in plasma, the cAMP concentration in plasma and the amount of creatinine in urine within 24 hours are parameters which are related to the intensity and quality of growth in the pig.

[Microsomal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the rat testis--an testis--specific isoenzyme?]. / Mikrosomale Glukose-6-phosphat-Dehydrogenase im Rattenhoden--ein testisspezifisches Isoenzym?

Mammalian tissues contain cytosolic and microsomal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). In the present study it was examined whether the microsomal G6PD in liver and testis of the rat are homologous. Kinetic parameters and immunological reactivity were estimated using rabbit antiserum against mice erythrocyte G6PD. Kinetic parameters allow to distinguish cytosolic and microsomal G6PD in rat liver but not in testis, whereas the immunological properties of the testis enzymes are different. The cytosolic G6PDs from liver and testis of the rat are identical enzymes having extremely similar properties to mice erythrocyte G6PD. The microsomal G6PD of both organs are not homologous enzymes. Testicular microsomal G6PD is likely to be an organ specific G6PD-isoenzyme.

[Quantitative changes in glucocorticoid binding capacity of blood plasma, liver and small intestine mucosa following consumption of various dietary proteins]. / Quantitative Veränderungen der Glukokortikoidbindungskapazität in Blutplasma, Leber und Dünndarmmukosa nach Ernährung mit unterschiedlichen Nahrungsproteinen.

Studies on corticosteroid binding proteins in blood plasma, cytoplasm, and nuclei of cells from liver and mucosa of the small intestine of growing rats were carried out under the influence of different protein diets. Increasing protein quality induced higher growth rates and an increase of the glucocorticoid binding capacity as well as the concentration of total and free corticosterone in blood plasma and increasing contents of specific corticosteroid binding receptors in the cytoplasm and nuclei of cells from liver and mucosa of the small intestine. In the cytoplasm the bound fraction takes only 5 to 10% of the total hormone concentration, compared to 80 to 90% in blood plasma. These findings suggest that the changes in the concentration of specific hormone binding proteins may be a general principle of the effect of dietary protein in the regulation of metabolism.

[Pituitary growth hormone content in swine]. / Zum Gehalt von Wachstumshormon (STH) in Hypophysen von Schweinen.

The growth hormone content in the adenohypophysis in different lines of swine was determined by radioimmunoassay. The result indicates that animals of an obese type (Vietnamesisches Hángebauchschwein) show a significantly lower growth hormone content (154.9 +/- 34.3 microgram gh/mg protein) than animals of a lean type (Landrasse) (238.0 +/- 58.2 microgram GH/mg protein).

[Secretion of growth hormone in pigs]. / Zur Sekretion von Wachstumshorman (STH) beim Schwein.

Spontaneous rhythmic changes of growth hormone concentration were observed in plasma of pigs, ranging between 30 and more than 100% as compared to the initial values. These rhythmic changes should be considered when plasma GH is determined.

Radioimmunoassay of porcine growth hormone -- methodological studies.

A double antibody radioimmunoassay for immunoreactive growth hormone in porcine plasma has been evaluated on the basis of dilution and recovery experiments as well as by examination of accuracy and reproducibility. The sensitivity was better than 0.10 ng/ml. The cumulated within-assay coefficient of variation was between 2--4% and the cumulated between-assay coefficient of variation was 9.6%. The normal fasting values correspond well to those of other investigators.

[Isolation of growth hormone from swine hypophysis]. / Isolierung von Wachstumshormon aus Schweinehypophysen.

The present work describes a procedure for the isolation of a highly purified growth hormone from fresh-frozen porcine pituitary glands. With regard to the similarity of the primary structure and the physicochemical behaviour between the hormone molecules of canine and porcine it was possible to use a method for the isolation of the growth hormone from canine pituitaries according to a direction of Wilhelmi, carried out by a partially modified technique. The concentration and further purification was performed by a fractionation with ammonium sulfate and ion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethylcellulose. Porcine growth hormone was obtained in a yield of 1,43 mg per g fresh weight of glands. With the aid of a double antibody radioimmunoassay for porcine growth hormone 0,78 mg hormone per 1 mg of the purified product could be determined. The disc-gel electrophoretic patterns contained besides the typical double band of growth hormone no mark of any other protein component.

[Behavior of certain parameters of lipid and energy metabolism. IV. Regulation of lipid and energy metabolism in livers and race and mini pigs]. / Untersuchungen zum Verhalten einiger Kenngrössen des Lipid- und Energiestoffwechsels. 4. Mitt. Regulation des Lipid- und Energiestoffwechsels in der Leber von Schweinen des Typs Landschwein und eingekreuztes Hängebauchschwein

To characterize the lipid and the energy metabolism in the livers of genetically different types of pigs (land race pig and mini pig), the authors determined the activities of enzymes typical of and limiting these metabolic pathways. Furthermore, they measured the concentrations of typical metabolites and ascertained parameters that are of importance in energy metabolism. The concentrations of acetyl CoA and free fatty acids in the livers of mini pigs were significantly greater than those in the livers of land race pigs, whereas the cholesterol, glycerol, triglyceride and acetoacetate concentrations were reduced. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.49.), citrate synthase (E.C.4.1.3.7.) and ATP citrate lyase (E.C.4.1.3.8.) were lower in the livers of mini pigs than in the livers of land race pigs, whereas the activity of fatty acid synthase was higher. The concentrations of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were lower in the livers of mini pigs than in those of land race pigs. In land race pigs, the metabolic process seems, therefore, to be determined in favour of the degradation of free fatty acids and of the generation of energy. In mini pigs, lipogenesis in the liver appears to be the decisive metabolic pathway. The possibility of a higher coordinating control mechanism of the lipid and the energy metabolism is discussed.

[Variations in the pattern of ruminal volatile free fatty acids, acetoacetate and glucose in the blood plasma of lactating cows after a period of fasting and renewed feeding]. / Veränderungen der flüchtigen Fettsäuren im Pansensaft sowie der freien Fettsäuren, des Azetoazetats und der Glukose im Blutplasma laktierender Kühe nach Hunger und erneuter Nahrungszufuhr

3 lactating cows were fasted for 4 days and then again received food. The trial was performed to investigate the effect of fasting on the concentration and molar proportion of volatile fatty acids in the rumen, on the concentration of free fatty acids and glucose in blood plasma and on the acetoacetate concentration in the blood. Fasting produced a considerable decrease in the total concentration of volatile fatty acids. Processes of ruminal fermentation were characterized, during the fasting period, by a continuous increase in the molar proportions of acetic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid whereas a significant decline observed to occur in the molar proportions of propionic acid and butyric acid. The reciprocal behaviour of acetate and propionate under conditions of fasting lead to a linear increase in the C2 to C3 ratio from 4.4 : 1 to 9,6 : 1. With renewed food supply all fermentation data returned to normal levels. The concentrations of blood glucose declined after 24 hrs of fasting, remained at the same level for the following 2 days and rose again to normal values on the 4th day of fasting. The concentration of acetoacetate decreased significantly on the first day of fasting to values that were 4 times as high as the initial value. The concentration of free fatty acids in blood plasma increased tremendously to a value 40 times as high as that observed at the beginning of the fasting period. It proved to be a good indicator for the energy requirements of the organism.

[Relationship between food protein quality and adrenal cortex function. 6. Interrelationship between aminotransferase activity (GPT1, GOT2) and the status of adrenal cortex function]. / Beziehungen zwishen Nahrungsproteinqualität und Nebennierenrindenfunktion. 6. Zu Wechselbezichungen zwischen Aminotransferasenaktivität (GPT1, GOT2) und dem Status der Nebennierenrindenfunktion

Growing male Albino rats were adrenalectomized and then treated with corticosterone in an attempt to determine the activity of amino transferases (GPT and GOT) in the liver and in the mucosa of the small intestine over a period during which the animals received dietary proteins of varying quality. However, statistically significant differences in the enzyme activity were established for only those groups in which the animals exhibited differences in the functional state of the adrenal cortex. Differences due to changes in the quality of the dietary protein were not observed. From this was concluded that the activity of the amino transferases in the tissues is largely dependent on the action of corticosteroids.

[Relationship between food protein quality and adrenal cortex function. 7. Relationship between activity of selected liver and small intestine hydrolases and adrenal cortex function]. / Beziehungen zwischen Nahrungsproteinqualität und Nebennierenrindenfunktion. 7. Beziehungen der Aktivität ausgewählter Hydrolasen der Leber und des Dünndarms zur Nebennierenrindenfunktion

Male Wistar rats received 10% true digestible crude protein of varying quality (maize gluten (MK) = low protein quality; maize gluten + lysine, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine (MK + AS) = high protein quality) for a period of three weeks. The trial was carried out to investigate the activity of the two enzymes leucine-arylamidase (LNA) and aminotripeptidase (TP) in the liver and the mucosa of the small intestine and that of alpha and gamma amylases and of total amylases in the mucosa of the small intestine in animals exhibiting differences in the functional state of their adrenal cortices (adrenalectomized animals (AE), normal rats (N) and animals receiving additional treatment with cortisol (KS). It was found that mucosal LNA and gamma amylase did not respond to functional changes in the adrenal cortex. Mucosal LNA had a higher activity if the dietary protein was of low quality and a lower activity if the protein quality was high. The level of liver LNA activity was significantly lower in N and KS animals than in AE animals. The highest activity of mucosal and liver TP was found in KS animals; it was lowest in N animals. Statistically significant differences brought about by changes in the quality of dietary proteins were only found to occur in the KS group. The activity of alpha amylase and total amylases was found to be lowest in N animals; it was significantly higher in animals of the AE and KS groups. Animals of the N and KS groups receiving MK + AS exhibited a significantly higher level in their alpha and total amylase activities than animals in the same group receiving MK. Here, the "permissive action" of glucocorticosteroids on metabolically active hydrolases is clearly evident. The pattern of mucosal LNA activity in the small intestine and that of gamma amylase may be regarded as further characteristic evidence for the digestive action of these enzymes. Liver LNA and liver TP as well as mucosal TP and alpha amylase acted like metabolic enzymes.

[Behavior of certain parameters of lipid and energy metabolism. 3. Relationships between cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate and acetyl coenzyme A in liver of growing rats deduced from model experiments with diets differeing in fat content]. / Untersuchungen zum Verhalten einiger Kenngrössen des Lipid-und Energiestoffwechsels 3. Mitt. Beziehungen zwischen cyclischem 3', 5'-Adenosinmonophosphat und Acetyl-Coenzym A in der Leber wachsender Ratten, abgeleitet aus Modellversuchen mit Ftterung unterschiedlicher Fettdiäten

Schemes of the lipid and the pyruvate metabolism serve to show that a great part of the enzymes which intervence in the metabolic pathways and are associated with the formation and the consumption of acetyl coenzyme A may be regulated by cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the sense of activation or inhibition. The cAMP increase in the liver, which has been demonstrated in the present study for a diet containing 25% of fat, opens the metabolic pathway to the formation of acetyl coenzyme A by means of fatty acid degradation and simultaneous inhibition of lipogenesis. The deficiency of insulin (which has been evidenced in previous paper) characterizes, together with the facts mentioned, a state like diabetes or the fasting state. Acetyl coenzyme A is mainly used for energy supply. The close negative correlation between cAMP and acetyl coenzyme A (which is shown in the present paper) permits to conclude that the extent and trend of the increase and decrease in the liver is subjected to intensive hormonal control in which cAMP in involved.

[Endocrine and spermatogenic testicular function. 9. Correlations between plasma testosterone and morphometric parameters of the testis in boars of different ages]. / Untersuchungen zur endokrinen und spermiogenen Hodenfunktion 9. Zu Beziehungen zqischen dem Plasmatestosterongehalt und morphometrischen Merkmalen des Hodens bei Ebern verschiedenen Alters

Close, statistically fully secured correlations were found to exist in boars, aged between four and four-a-half as well as seven and nine months, between the testosterone content in the blood of the V. spermatica interna, on the one hand, and morphometric parameters essential to quantitative sperm production, on the other (testicular volume, volume of germinativum, overall length of tubules, diameter of tubules, and cell density of the germinal epithelium).

[Endocrine and sperminogenic testicular function. 7. Relationship between testicular and plasma androgen concentrations in boars of different ages]. / Untersuchungen zur endokrinen und spermiogenen Hodenfunktion. 7. Mitteilung: Zu Beziehungen zwischen Hoden- und Plasmaandrogengehalt bei Ebern verschiedenen Alters

Testicular tissue and blood samples (V. spermatica interna) were taken from 32 boars during castration. The animals were of different age groups. Against this background, comparative studies were conducted into the relationships between testicular and plasma testosterone. A very close correlation was found to exist between the androgen values in testicular tissue and those in the blood plasma of V. spermatica interna (r = 0.9795), wich appeared to support the conclusion that by determination of blood plasma the androgen content in the testes can be established with high probability.

[Endocrine and sperminogenic testicular function. 8. Relationships between testicular and plasma testosterone concentrations as well as between the number of Leydig cells in testicular tissue and their cell nucleus volume in boars of different ages]. / Untersuchungen zur endokrinen und spermiogenen Hodenfunktion. 8. Mitteilung: Zu Beziehungen zwischen Hoden- und Plasmatestosterongehalt sowie dem Anteil der Leydig-Zellen am Hodengewebe und deren Zellkernvolumen bei Ebern verschiedenen Alters

Testicular tissue and blood samples (V. spermatica interna) were taken from 32 boars during castration. The animals were different age groups. Against this background, studies were conducted into the correlations between testicular and plasma testosterone, on the one hand, and the amount of interstitial cells of Leydig in testicular tissue as well as the latters' cell nuclei volumes, on the other. The results seemed to support the conclusion that any age-dependent increase of testicular and plasma testosterone concentrations was caused unambigously by an absolute increase in volume of androgenic testicular tissue, in concomitance with testicular growth, in other words, by rise in the total number of interstitial cells of Leydig.