Gas exchange, heat production and oxidation of fat in chicken embryos from a fast or slow growing line.

The experiment comprised 48 chicken (Gallus gallus) embryos from a modern, fast growing line, Ross 308 (RO) and 48 from a slow growing line, Labresse (LA). The O(2) consumption and CO(2) production were measured in an open-air-circuit respiration unit, and heat production (HE) from embryos was calculated at an age of 10, 13, 16 and 19 days. Gas exchange was below 10 ml/h for RO and LA by an age of 10-13 days, increasing steeply to a "peak" on day 16 and then slowing down between 16 and 19 days. The pattern of curves for gas exchange was identical for RO and LA, but on a lower level for LA. HE followed the pattern of gas exchange, with a mean around 50 J/h on day 10, increasing to 528 (RO) and 402 (LA) J/h on day 19. The main source of HE was oxidized fat. In addition to respiration experiments chemical analyses were carried out on 60 eggs from RO and 60 from LA. Prior to chemical analyses the eggs were incubated for 7, 13 and 19 days. Since fat oxidation was the main energy fuel the content of fat in the eggs decreased by 2.0 (RO) and 1.6 g (LA), while protein content was fairly constant in each line. It is remarkable that the differences in heat production between chickens from fast and slow growing lines were already manifested during their embryonic development.

Diurnal rhythm in heat production and oxidation of carbohydrate and fat in pigs during feeding, starvation and re-feeding.

Diurnal rhythm in heat production (HE), oxidation of carbohydrate (OXCHO) and fat (OXF) was calculated from daily measurements of gas exchange in 12 pigs [20-40 kg live weight, (LW)] during 6 days of near ad libitum feeding, followed by 4 days of starvation and 4 days of re-feeding. All measurements, divided in five times intervals from 12.00 to 8.00, showed the highest values of HE, reflecting the animals' energy requirements, between 12.00 and 16.00 gradually declining to the lowest values between 4.00 and 8.00. The values measured in the interval 4.00-8.00 were considered as a basal metabolic rate (BMR), being in all measurements 25% lower than during 12.00-4.00. The lowest BMR was measured on the fourth day of starvation (21.7 kJ/h.kg(0.75)). By transition from feeding to starvation, OXCHO declined gradually, but was for 16 h able to cover the energy requirement with no contribution from OXF. The decline in OXCHO proceeded for 40 h and reached zero between 4.00 and 8.00 on the first day of starvation with the energy requirement being covered by OXF. The HE during starvation was 25-30% lower than during feeding caused by absence of feed-induced thermogenesis and by the transition from OXCHO to OXF. Immediately after re-feeding dietary carbohydrates were oxidized, however, there was still a substantial OXF, proceeding until the next feeding. From the second day of re-feeding the contribution of substrates to the total HE was re-established with no OXF and the same level of HE as during feeding.

Energy metabolism and substrate oxidation in pigs during feeding, starvation and re-feeding.

Energy metabolism and substrate oxidation was measured in 12 growing pigs by means of indirect calorimetry and nutrient balances. The measurements were carried out during 5 days of feeding followed by 4 days of starvation and 5 days of re-feeding. During the feeding period, dietary carbohydrates were the main energy source, sufficient to cover energy requirements without oxidation of fat. Starvation reduced the total heat production and affected the oxidation pattern by reducing protein oxidation and shifting from carbohydrate to fat oxidation. On the second day of starvation, the main energy source was body fat and there was no oxidation of carbohydrate. On the second day of re-feeding, the heat production reached the same level as during the feeding period. Also, during the second day of re-feeding, the pattern of nutrient oxidation was similar to the feeding period with oxidation of carbohydrate providing 90% and oxidation of protein providing 10% of the total heat production. There was no fat oxidation. The results demonstrated that the growing pigs were able to re-establish oxidative patterns already 2 days after re-alimentation.

Estimation of net nutrient oxidation and lipogenesis in growing pigs.

Data from previous series of trials were reevaluated in order to quantify the net nutrient oxidation and lipogenesis by combining data from balance experiments and indirect calorimetry measurements. The experiments were carried out with eight castrated males of Danish Landrace measured individually from 30 to 100 kg BW. All pigs were fed alternately on high feeding level, near ad libitum and on low feeding level, near maintenance. Oxidation of carbohydrate (OXCHO) and fat (OXF) was calculated from gas exchange measurements. On high feeding level the contribution from OXCHO and OXF to the total heat production was 55 and 30%, respectively, at 30 kg BW and fairly constant from 60 kg BW with OXCHO around 80% and no net OXF. At low feeding level the contribution from OXCHO and OXF was 28 and 63%, respectively, at 30 kg BW, increasing to 52% for OXCHO and decreasing to 37% for OXF at 95 kg BW. The lipogenesis on high feeding level increased from 2.4 to 11.9 MJ/d, while on low feeding level it increased from 2.5 to 3.6 MJ/d at 30 to 95 kg BW. The intake of carbohydrate was too low to cover energy requirement by OXCHO on low feeding level and in the first periods on high feeding level and OXF occurred. In spite of a deficit of carbohydrate for oxidation a part of carbohydrate (2.6 MJ/d, approximately 150 g/d) was used for fat synthesis, indicating an importance of lipogenesis in growing pigs.

Pattern of protein retention in growing boars of different breeds, and estimation of maximum protein retention.

Protein and energy metabolism in boars of different breeds, 10 each of Hampshire, Duroc and Danish Landrace was measured in balance and respiration experiments by means of indirect calorimetry in an open-air circulation system. Measurements were performed in four periods (Period I-IV) covering the body weight range from 25 to 100 kg. In order to achieve maximum protein retention (RP) a daily intake of digestible protein > 12 g/kg0.75 and metabolisable energy > 1100 kJ/kg0.75 was assumed to be necessary. Protein retention of Danish Landrace boars was inferior to that of Hampshire and Duroc boars in Periods III and IV, and therefore, 55 measurements on Hampshire and Duroc boars fulfilling the chosen criteria for digested protein and ME intake were used for calculation of maximum protein retention, giving the following significant quadratic relationship: RP [g/d] = 11.43.W0.75-0.144.W1.50 (n = 55, RSD = 15.2, CV = 9.2%, R2 = 0.851) with a summit of 227 g/d at 135 kg BW. In Period I, when BW was below 30 kg, 12 measurements fulfilled the chosen criterion for digested protein but not for ME, and these data were used comparatively. Protein retention of boars with a low ME intake in Period I was significantly below that of boars with a high ME intake (93 g/d vs. 107 g/d; P = 0.02). In summary, the present data have shown that boars of high genetic potential have capacity for maximum protein retention of about 230 g/d, and that there was a significant quadratic relationship between protein retention and metabolic body weight, indicating that maximum protein retention was not reached until 135 kg BW. Differences in capacity for protein retention were recorded between boars of different breeds, with Duroc and Hampshire boars being superior to Danish Landrace boars. Additionally, the crucial importance of a sufficient ME supply early in the growth period was underscored by a lower protein accretion rate of boars given a daily ME supply below 1100 kJ ME/kg0.75 at an approximate BW of 25 kg.

Heat production and substrate oxidation in rats fed at maintenance level and during fasting.

A total of 36 Wistar rats were fed a commercial diet to a stipulated live weight of 75 g (Group A), 100 g (Group B) and 225 g (Group C). All rats were measured in energy balance experiments, in which the animals were fed near maintenance level, followed by a period of fasting with measurements of the gas exchange. The rats in Group A, B and C were fasted for 2, 3 and 4 days, respectively. The minimum heat production on the last day of fasting for all groups was proportional to metabolic body weight (kg0.75) with a regression: heat production, kJ day-1 = 321 x kg0.75 (R2 = 0.994). In rats fed near maintenance level, heat production was provided by oxidation of carbohydrates in 80-85%, oxidation of protein was 10-15%, while oxidation of fat contributed less than 10%. It is suggested that in the fasting period, the contribution to the total heat production from oxidized carbohydrate and fat depended on the size of the fat depots, a large fat depot giving rise to fat oxidation. On the last day of fasting, 24, 51 and 90% of the total heat originated from fat oxidation in Group A, B and C, respectively.

Quantitative oxidation of nutrients in growing calves.

The present paper deals with the possibility of using measurements of CH4 production in growing calves to estimate the amount of CO2 produced by fermentative processes and to calculate the oxidation of nutrients. Twenty bull calves were fed diets with varying proportions of corn grain and forage. The protein and energy metabolism was measured in 118 individual balance trials in the live weight range of 120-350 kg by means of indirect calorimetry and carbon-nitrogen balances. The values of oxidized carbohydrate (OXCHO) and fat (OXF) were directly dependent on the fermentation level. With increasing fermentation, less glucose was absorbed and oxidized as OXCHO, while more carbohydrate was converted to short chain fatty acids and oxidized as OXF.

Quantitative protein and fat metabolism in bull calves treated with beta-adrenergic agonist.

Protein and energy utilization and quantitative retention of protein, fat and energy was investigated with 12 Red Danish bulls during two subsequent 6 weeks trials (Sections A and B) at a mean live weight of 195 and 335 kg respectively. Treatments were control (Group 1) and beta-agonist (L-644,969) treated animals (Group 2 and 3). Beta-agonist supplementation was 5 and 10 mg/d in Group 2 and 3 respectively in Section A and 10 and 20 mg/d in Section B. Measurements were performed by means of nitrogen and carbon balances and with use of indirect calorimetry. In each section the mean intake of dry matter, metabolizable energy and digestible protein was of the same magnitude for all groups. The beta-agonist had no significant effect on protein digestibility and metabolizability of energy, but daily live weight gain was significantly higher in the treated bulls. The utilization of digested protein was strongly influenced by treatment, with the highest values for Group 2 in both sections. The protein retention increased with 25% in Group 2, with the highest increment of 113 g/d in Section B. The fat retention decreased in treated animals, most pronounced in Group 3, where the reduction was about 50% with a mean decrease of 145 g/d in Section B. The total energy retention was not different between control animals and Group 2 in both sections, but there was a shift in energy retention from fat to protein. The higher levels of beta-agonist used in Group 3 generated the same increase in protein retention, but fat retention was markedly lower and consequently the total energy retention was reduced.

The pattern of protein retention in pigs from 2 to 120 kg live weight.

1. Data from experiments with growing pigs of Danish Landrace (n = 782) including measurements of nitrogen and energy balances were scrutinized in order to select observations in which maximum protein retention (RP) were expected. 2. The criterions for selection were based on intake of metabolizable energy and oxidation of nutrients and a total of 152 measurements in the live weight (LW) range from 2 to 120 kg complied with the criterions. 3. The selected material were used in a quadratic function of RP on metabolic weight (kg0.75) to describe the curve for maximum RP. 4. The function obtained was: RP, g/d = 11.55 x kg0.75 - 0.185 x kg1.50 with a maximum of 180 g/d at 98 kg LW. 5. The RP-values were compared with data from the literature with other races and the function seems well established to describe maximum protein retention in non-hormone treated or specific selected pigs.

Oxidation of nutrients in bull calves treated with beta-adrenergic agonists.

Oxidation of protein (OXP), carbohydrate (OXCHO) and fat (OXF) was investigated with 12 growing bulls treated with beta-agonist (L-644, 969) during two 6 weeks trials (Section A and B) at a mean live weight of 195 and 335 kg. Heat production and nutrient oxidation was calculated from gas exchange, with CO2 reduced for CO2 from fermentation processes, and nitrogen excretion in urine. The beta-agonist had no effect on the level of rumen fermentation as indicated by the same methane production for control and treated animals. Heat Production (HE, RQx) increased by the treatment of beta-agonist corresponding to the increment in the protein retention. OXP/HE,RQx was reduced to about 10% in treated animals, indicating that in order to supply amino acids for an increased protein deposition oxidation of protein is decreased. OXF/HE,RQx were markedly higher in treated animals, but as indicated by the same CH4 production the level of the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) production was the same. Therefore, it was concluded that the increase in OXF was not caused by an increase in SCFA but by a direct influence of beta-agonist on mobilization and oxidation of body fat.

Quantitative partition of protein, carbohydrate and fat pools in growing pigs.

A model combining data from balance experiments with data from oxidation of nutrients demonstrating the pools of protein, carbohydrate and fat and their partition in the body was presented. Data from more than 200 experiments with growing pigs were used to fill up the "black boxes" in the model and to discuss the pattern between catabolic and anabolic processes of the different nutrients. With a ME-intake of 1.3 MJ/kg0.75 the proportion of retained protein from the protein pool varied from 50 to 75% depending on the age of animals and the protein quality. At a low protein intake and ME of 0.6 MJ/kg0.75 the utilization of protein was reduced to about 25% as a substantial part of the protein pool was oxidized. The carbohydrate group from the protein sources constituted less than 5% of the carbohydrate pool. The oxidation of carbohydrates was between 50-75% of the pool in all experiments, while the rest was used for lipogenesis. Even on a low feeding level the pattern occurred indicating a requirement for specific substances formed in the body. Lipogenesis constituted 46-96% of the fat pool depending of the amount on digested fat in the different experiments. No oxidation of fat was observed in experiments with pigs (30-90 kg LW) on a high feeding level in spite of the broad variation in the amount of digested fat, indicating a complete storage of the fat pool into body fat. In experiments with piglets (3-9 kg LW) on the same energy intake fat oxidation of about 30% occurred, probably caused by the high energy requirement of the piglets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Heat production and quantitative oxidation of nutrients by physical activity in pigs.

Two groups of pigs weighing 90 (Expt A) or 80 (Expt B) kg walked on a horizontal moving rubber belt for a distance of 315 m at a speed of 25.6 +/- 0.38 and 28.8 +/- 0.35 m/min respectively for 10 min in an open-air-circuit respiration unit. From measurements of VO2 and VCO2, heat production and oxidation of carbohydrate and fat were calculated 30 min before (I), 10 min during walking (II) and in intervals of 10 min (III, IV) and 30 min (V) after walking. Heat production increased 2-3 times in section II in relation to section I, remained high for 20 min in section III and IV, but reached the basal line in section V. Oxidation of carbohydrate was the main source for heat production.

Heat production and quantitative oxidation of nutrients by physical activity in humans.

The effect of physical activity on heat production and oxidation of nutrients was measured by means of indirect calorimetry. The experiment included 6 male and 4 female healthy subjects who, during a 24-hour stay in the respiration chambers, performed, in the morning and afternoon, 15 min cycling with the total work of 6,750 kg m. Experiments were repeated twice (3- to 4-week interval) showing no differences between the gas exchange in the morning and afternoon and between first and second experiment. The gas exchange during cycling was about 4 times higher than during basal periods. The identical work of 66.2 kJ by cycling caused on average a heat increment of 309 kJ, yielding the mean energetic efficiency for the performed work of 0.22. The activity caused an increment of 11.5 g oxidized carbohydrate and 2.6 g oxidized fat.

The respiratory quotient in relation to fat deposition in fattening-growing pigs.

The relationship between non-protein respiratory quotient (RQnp) and total fat retention (RFAT) or fat retained from synthesized carbohydrates (RFAT(CHO)) was evaluated from experiments with fattening--growing pigs in the live weight (LW) range from 45 to 120 kg. A commercial feed compound (31 g fat/kg) was fed at low (LI) or high (HI) feed intake in Expt 1, while a semi-purified diet (9.5 g fat/kg) was given without (LO) or with (HO) supplement of 90 g soya-bean oil/kg in Expt 2. RQnp was calculated from 24 h measurements of the gas exchange, RFAT from 7 d N and C balances and RFAT(CHO) from differences between RFAT and digested fat. The measurements showed that about 85% of the total gas exchange was caused by oxidation of non-protein nutrients and the RQnp varied from 1.00 to 1.34. In Expt 1 RFAT increased with LW from 46 to 141 and from 199 to 335 g/d on LI and HI respectively, whilst in Expt 2 RFAT increased from 191 to 377 and from 267 to 511 g/d on LO and HO respectively. A pronounced linearity was found between RQnp and RFAT for all diets, but the curve for Expt 2 on HO had a lower position than the common curve for the other diets. By relating RQnp to RFAT(CHO) a common linear curve and regression equation could be established in spite of the great variation in dietary composition, intake of fat and fat deposition.

The effect of ephedrine/caffeine mixture on energy expenditure and body composition in obese women.

Treatment with beta 2-agonists promotes fat loss and muscle growth in numerous species, but human studies are lacking. We studied the effect of a compound with beta 2-agonistic properties (ephedrine 20 mg/caffeine 200 mg [E + C]). Fourteen obese women were treated with a 4.2-MJ/d diet and either E + C or placebo (P) three times per day for 8 weeks in a double-blind study. Weight-loss was not different in the groups, but the E + C group lost 4.5 kg more body fat and 2.8 kg less fat-free mass (FFM). The decrease in 24-hour energy expenditure (EE) seen in the P group was 10% at day 1 and 13% at day 56, but was only 7% and 8% in the treated group (P = .044). The higher EE in the E +C group was entirely covered by fat oxidation. These findings provide evidence that promotion of fat loss and preservation of FFM during weight reduction may also be achieved pharmacologically in humans.

Prediction of 24-h energy expenditure and its components from physical characteristics and body composition in normal-weight humans.

The applicability of body composition as estimated by the bioimpedance method to predict energy expenditure (EE) was studied. Ten healthy subjects underwent measurement of body composition and 24-h energy expenditure (24-h EE) twice in a respiration chamber on a fixed program. The 24-h EE and its components, sleeping EE (SEE), basal EE (BEE), and daytime EE, for an individual were very reproducible (coefficient of variation 2.3%, 1.4%, 5.0%, & 3.1%, respectively). The variability of 24-h EE among subjects was 11.4% but only 4.1% when adjusted for differences in lean body mass (LBM). LBM was the best determinant of 24-h EE, BEE, and SEE and accounted for 91-93% of the interindividual variance of EE. The prediction equations were 24EE (kcal/d) = 390 + 33.3 LBM (r2 = 0.93, P = 0.000001), SEE (kcal/h) = 9.8 + 1.1 LBM (r2 = 0.92, P = 0.000001), and BEE (kcal/h) = -3.1 + 1.35 LBM (r2 = 0.91, P = 0.000002). In conclusion, 24EE, BEE, and SEE can be predicted with a high degree of precision from LBM as estimated by bioimpedance in normal-weight subjects.

Heat production in growing pigs calculated according to the RQ and CN methods.

1. Heat production, calculated according to the respiratory quotient methods, HE(RQ), and the carbon nitrogen balance method, HE(CN), was compared using the results from a total of 326 balance trials with 56 castrated male pigs fed different dietary composition and variable feed levels during the live wt range 20-120 kg. 2. HE(RQ) was generally higher than HE(CN). 3. HE(RQ) depended on feed composition and feed level and, consequently, on the synthesis and deposition of depot fat. For RQ-values above 1, HE(RQ) was overestimated. 4. HE(CN) was generally underestimated, because N- and C-balances in general were overestimated due to losses in excreta. 5. The difference between HE(RQ) and HE(CN) was not constant. It was smallest when fat synthesis and fat deposition were low (2-3.5%) and greatest when fat synthesis and fat deposition were high (7-9%). The presence of dietary fatty acids may affect the difference. 6. In pigs receiving a cereal based diet, HE(RQ) may be expected to give 3-4% higher values than HE(CN), but in case easily available carbohydrates (glucose, sucrose) or high-fibre diets are provided, the differences may be larger. 7. Both methods were carried out with similar accuracy and precision. The results indicated that both methods are equally reliable.

Studies on nitrogen retention in growing pigs.

Nitrogen retention (RN) was measured in 60 barrows of Danish Landrace and a total of 470 balance periods was carried out during the growth period from 20 to 85 kg live weight. In the first serie (Expt A) six different feed compounds of high biological value (HBV) were fed to 48 barrows, while in the second serie (Expt B) 12 barrows were measured on feed compounds of HBV or low biological value (LBV). Three different levels of gross energy were used in Expt B. Individual differences of 10-20% in the pigs capability for nitrogen retention were observed. Nitrogen retention increased from 12 to 21 g N/d on the HBV-compounds and was not influenced by increasing nitrogen or energy intake. Nitrogen retention was curvilinear in relation to metabolic live weight (kg0.75) in both series. A parabolic function on kg0.75 gave the best fit to the data with the following regression equations: Expt A + B: RN, g/d = 1.48 LW, kg0.75 - 0.027 LW, kg1.50 (HBV) Maximum = 20.5 g RN/d at 84 kg LW Expt B: RN, g/d = 1.03 LW, kg0.75 - 0.013 LW, kg1.50 (LBV) Maximum = 20.4 g RN/d at 133 kg LW

Methane excretion in the growing pig.

Total methane excretion (CH4 in breath + flatus) was measured in two experiments with thirty-six castrated male pigs (Danish Landrace) during the growth period from 20 to 120 kg live weight (LW). In Expt A, twenty-eight pigs were fed on a commercial diet alternately at high (HFL; metabolizable energy (ME) 1234 (SE 41) kJ/kg LW 0.75) or low (LFL; ME 784 (SE 31) kJ/kg LW 0.75) feed levels in different weight classes. In Expt B, eight pigs were constantly fed on a semi-purified diet at HFL without (-oil) or with 90 g soya-bean oil/kg diet (+oil) corresponding to daily intakes of ME of 1339 (SE 11) and 1413 (SE 8) kJ/kg LW 0.75 respectively. CH4 excretion was measured during 24 h respiration trials in open-air-circulation chambers. About 1 litre CH4 was excreted per day at 20-25 kg LW increasing to a maximum of 12 litres at 120 kg LW, which corresponded to no more than 1.2% of dietary gross energy. In Expt A, CH4 excretion increased linearly with LW, while in Expt B the increase was linear until about 70 kg LW, when it reached a plateau. On average LFL reduced CH4 excretion by 23% compared with HFL. When related to dry matter (DM) intake, however, the pigs on LFL excreted 3.1 litres CH4/kg dietary DM and those on HFL 2.5 litres CH4/kg dietary DM, the difference being significant (P less than 0.05). In Expt B the inclusion of soya-bean oil in the basal diet (+oil) reduced CH4 excretion by 26% compared with the diet without oil (-oil).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)