A new, modern, cost-saving micro/macro method for the determination of serum fructosamine.

Serum/plasma fructosamine (SeFa) concentration is a reliable indicator used in human diabetic control. Tests for monitoring the carbohydrate/energy metabolism of (farm) animals are less commonly performed in veterinary laboratories, since most of the reliable determinations, both automated and manual, are relatively expensive. The aim of this study was to develop a precise, money- (and time-) saving automated micro method for measuring SeFa. ELISA microplates (20 microL samples and 200 microL reagents) and an automatic microplate autoreader were used. The classical nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) stain reagent solution of Johnson et al. (1982) was modified using a SIGMA reagent to render it stable for up to one year. SeFa concentrations measured by the new method in 30 human blood plasma samples were compared with values obtained by the standard (generally used) LaRoche kit procedure. Fifteen cow, 13 dog and 18 chicken plasma samples were assayed by the new automated 'micro' method as well as by the manual test tube 'macro' method commonly used earlier. The modified reagent was applied for both methods. The coefficient of correlation (r) between the results obtained by the two methods was consistently between 0.94 and 0.98 (p < 0.001).

Effect of retinyl acetate, ascorbic acid and tocopherol supplementation of the feed on egg vitamin A content in Japanese quail.

The ration fed to laying Japanese quails was supplemented either with retinyl acetate (RA) (50 x 10(3) IU/kg, group A), ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg, group C), or with both substances in combination with each other (group AC) and with tocopheryl acetate (37.8 IU/kg; groups AE and ACE). On days 1, 8, 14, 20 and 28, some quantitative parameters of eggs (mass of egg-shell, albumen and egg yolk, retinoid content of egg yolk) were measured. The egg production parameters were not significantly affected by the supplementations. By the end of the second week, the total vitamin A (retinyl esters + retinol) concentrations of the egg yolk were significantly higher in the groups receiving supplemented feed (AC, AE and AEC) than in the control group. Two weeks later (on day 28), the vitamin A levels were elevated significantly in all groups except the group treated with ascorbic acid. From the point of view of vitamin A fortification of the egg yolk, the combined supplementations (groups AC, AE, AEC) seem to be more effective. The results indicate that vitamin A content of the egg yolk can be increased by a short-term RA supplementation of the laying ration. The retinoids present in the natural substances of eggs could possibly be a good source of vitamin A for humans.