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Biomedical subjects

A C Beynen

Publications and source records attributed to A C Beynen.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Transient lowering of plasma vitamin B12 concentrations in Ouessant sheep fed on a potassium-rich ration.

The hypothesis tested was that a high intake of potassium (K) interferes with cobalt (Co)-vitamin B12 metabolism in ruminants. Ouessant sheep were fed either a low- (8 g K/kg dry matter) or high-K diet (43 g K/kg dry matter) with an adequate amount of Co (124 micrograms Co/kg dry matter). Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations were measured. Sheep fed a low-K diet, but containing only 70 micrograms Co/kg dry matter, served as positive controls. Feeding the low-Co ration produced a significant decrease in plasma vitamin B12 concentrations. The high- versus low-K ration induced a significant decrease in plasma vitamin B12 during the first 6 weeks, but thereafter the values in the high-K group rose to those seen in the low-K group. The mechanism by which dietary K may interact with Co-vitamin B12 metabolism in sheep is unknown.

Animal Feed↗

High calcium intake lowers apparent digestibility of energy in veal calves.

Veal calves aged 8 weeks were fed iso-energetic amounts of milk replacers with either a low (7.1 g of calcium/kg of air-dry diet) or a high concentration of calcium (11.6 g of calcium/kg of air-dry diet) for a period of 10 weeks. The extra calcium was added in the form of calcium formiate. Final body weight of the two dietary groups was similar. Faeces were collected during the final week of the trial. The high calcium diet raised faecal dry matter output by 87% and faecal energy by 70%. The extra output of faecal dry matter was composed of 36% and 37% of crude fat and ash, respectively. The extra faecal energy output was for 75% in the form of crude fat. The high versus low calcium intake not only depressed apparent digestibility of total lipids but also that of crude protein, carbohydrates and ash. It is concluded that a high calcium intake by veal calves reduced energy availability without affecting body weight gain.

Animals↗

Dietary potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate have a greater inhibitory effect than does potassium chloride on magnesium absorption in wethers.

We addressed the question whether the type of anion in potassium salts affects magnesium absorption and the transmural potential difference by using wethers (n = 8) fed a control diet and diets supplemented with equimolar amounts of KHCO(3), KCl or K-citrate according to a Latin-square design. The control diet contained 10.9 g K/kg dry matter and the high K diets contained 41.3 g K/kg dry matter. Compared with the control diet, KHCO(3) and K-citrate significantly reduced apparent Mg absorption by 9.5 and 6.5%, respectively. Supplemental KCl tended to reduce (P = 0.070) group mean magnesium absorption by 5.5%. Consumption of supplemental KHCO(3) and K-citrate produced a significant increase in the transmural potential difference (serosal side = positive) by 17.1 and 20.7 mV, respectively, whereas the addition of KCl to the diet did not. The individual values for the four diets tended to show a negative correlation (r = -0.336, n = 32, P = 0.060) between the transmural potential difference and apparent magnesium absorption. We conclude that different potassium salts have different effects on magnesium absorption in ruminants as caused by different effects on the transmural potential difference.

Animals↗

Consumption of casein instead of soybean protein produces a transient rise in the concentration of sphingomyelin in VLDL in rats.

In rats fed cholesterol-rich diets, dietary casein vs. soybean protein raises VLDL cholesterol concentrations. Because sphingomyelin may be an essential, structural component of VLDL, we tested whether casein feeding would raise VLDL-sphingomyelin. Rats were fed cholesterol-rich semipurified diets containing either soybean protein (35 g/100 g) or casein for up to 21 d. Consistent with previous work, casein consumption increased hepatic and VLDL cholesterol concentrations. Dietary casein also significantly raised the amount of sphingomyelin in the VLDL fraction, but this effect was transient. Casein feeding transiently lowered LDL- and HDL-2-sphingomyelin concentrations. We suggest that an increase in hepatic VLDL secretion after casein consumption imposed an increased demand for sphingomyelin in the liver. The activity of key enzymes of sphingomyelin synthesis, i.e., serine palmitoyltransferase, phosphatidylcholine:ceramide phosphocholinetransferase and phosphatidylethanolamine:ceramide phosphoethanolaminetransferase and sphingomyelin degradation, i.e., acid sphingomyelinase, were enhanced and depressed, respectively, by casein consumption. Again these effects were transient. Thus, these data indicate that the extra sphingomyelin needed after short-term casein feeding came about through enhanced rates of biosynthesis and reduced rates of degradation in the liver. In addition, plasma transfer of sphingomyelin from HDL-2 to VLDL might have contributed to the increase in VLDL sphingomyelin in the casein-fed rats. This study shows that dietary casein vs. soybean protein transiently influences sphingomyelin metabolism in rats.

Animals↗

Dietary pectin lowers sphingomyelin concentration in VLDL and raises hepatic sphingomyelinase activity in rats.

There is evidence that cholesterol and sphingomyelin metabolism are interrelated, and thus the hypothesis tested was that dietary pectin, because it can alter hepatic cholesterol metabolism, would also alter hepatic sphingomyelin metabolism. For that purpose, 4-wk-old female Wistar rats were fed a diet without or with pectin (20 g/100 g) up to 21 d. In accordance with previous work, pectin consumption caused a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in hepatic (65%), whole plasma (37%), and VLDL (80%) cholesterol levels. Pectin also significantly reduced VLDL sphingomyelin concentrations (57%), but raised the amount of sphingomyelin in the high density lipoproteins (HDL)-2 fractions (58%), so that the level of sphingomyelin in whole plasma remained unaffected. Pectin did not affect the sphingomyelin concentration in the liver. Pectin consumption did not affect the hepatic sphingomyelin synthesizing enzymes, serine palmitoyltransferase, phosphatidylcholine:ceramide phosphocholine transferase, or phosphatidylethanolamine:ceramide phosphoethanolamine transferase. In contrast, dietary pectin activated both lysosomal (28%) and plasma membrane (26%) sphingomyelinase and thus may have enhanced sphingomyelin degradation. An attempt was made to describe the effects of dietary pectin on sphingomyelin metabolism in terms of altered fluxes through liver and plasma, with whole liver and whole plasma concentrations of sphingomyelin remaining unaffected.

Animals↗

Dietary fat supplementation and equine plasma lipid metabolism.

Feeding of a fat-rich diet to horses may enhance the flux of fatty acids, in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG), through the circulation into skeletal muscle. This hypothesis was tested indirectly by measuring the concentration of plasma TAG and the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in post heparin plasma. Six mature horses were fed a high-fat or a control diet according to a crossover design with feeding periods of 6 weeks. The control diet contained 1.5% fat in the dry matter and the high-fat diet 11.8%. The high-fat diet was formulated by adding soybean oil to the control diet at the expense of an isoenergetic amount of corn starch plus glucose. Both diets consisted of hay and concentrate and were given on a restricted basis. Nine hours after feeding, whole plasma TAG concentration decreased significantly by 84% following fat-supplementation, whereas the whole plasma concentrations of cholesterol and phospholipids were significantly increased by 53% and 26%, respectively. The level of HDL-cholesterol was raised by 54%. The changes in plasma lipids were accompanied by a 79% increase in LPL activity in post heparin plasma. These results indicate that in the fasting state a high-fat diet raises the flux of fatty acids, in the form of TAG, into skeletal muscles as illustrated by the observed decrease in plasma TAG concentrations and increase in LPL activity. It is speculated that the increased flux of fatty acids is associated with an increased oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle which might be advantageous to exercising horses.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

A procedure to secure a jugular vein catheter system onto the neck of the hamster.

We describe a procedure to secure a jugular vein catheter system at the dorsal nape of the neck in the hamster. An 8-cm piece of silicone tubing is connected with a 2.6 cm L-shaped metal tubing which is embedded in prosthetic material. The prosthetic material is placed underneath the neck skin of the hamster and keeps the metal end of the catheter system in a sturdy, upright position.

Animals↗

Salinomycin-induced polyneuropathy in cats: morphologic and epidemiologic data.

In April 1996, an outbreak of toxic polyneuropathy in cats occurred in the Netherlands. All cats had been fed one of two brands of dry cat food from one manufacturer. Chemical analyses of these foods, stomach contents, and liver and kidney of affected cats revealed contamination with the ionophor salinomycin. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected from 823 cats, or about 1% of the cats at risk. In 21 affected cats, postmortem examination was performed. The affected cats had acute onset of lameness and paralysis of the hindlimbs followed by the forelimbs. Clinical and pathologic examination indicated a distal polyneuropathy involving both the sensory and motor nerves.

Animal Feed↗

Hypocalcemia induced by intravenous administration of disodium ethylenediaminotetraacetate and its effects on excretion of calcium in urine of cows fed a high chloride diet.

Evidence supports the theory that a diet that is rich in nonmetabolizable anions fed to dairy cows during the dry period reduces the risk of hypocalcemic paresis puerperalis. When cows are fed a diet that is rich in anions instead of cations, more Ca is absorbed in the intestine and excreted in urine. We hypothesized that, in cows fed a diet that was rich in anions, the increased flow of Ca through the body could be drained to support the maintenance of plasma Ca concentration around parturition. The hypothesis was tested by binding plasma Ca through intravenous administration of Na2-EDTA and measuring excretion of Ca in urine. In a 2-period x 14-d crossover study, six, nonpregnant, nonlactating, multiparous cows were fed either a diet that was rich in cations (dietary cation-anion difference = +332 meq/kg of dry matter) or rich in anions (dietary cation-anion difference = -230 meq/kg of dry matter). On the last day of each feeding period, Na2-EDTA was infused intravenously until the amount of plasma Ca that was not bound to EDTA reached approximately 1 mmol/L. The amount of EDTA that could be infused was significantly greater when the cows were fed the diet that was rich in anions. During the infusion of Na2-EDTA the rate of Ca excretion in urine dropped to almost 0 when the diet that was rich in anions was fed. After feeding the diet that was rich in cations, excretion of Ca in urine was negligible and was not reduced further by Na2-EDTA infusion. Thus, in cows fed a diet that was rich in anions, the Ca intended for excretion with urine can be used when plasma Ca is under stress as would occur at the onset of lactation. However, the amount of Ca derived from plasma, interstitial fluid, and the skeleton during Na2-EDTA infusion was quantitatively much more important to the supply of Ca than was the reduction in excretion of Ca in urine. Most likely, this relationship would also be true when the production of colostrum begins.

Animals↗

Effects of intrinsic potassium in artificially dried grass and supplemental potassium bicarbonate on apparent magnesium absorption in dry cows.

Literature data indicate that the form of K in the ration can affect its inhibitory influence on Mg absorption in ruminants. We tested whether identical amounts of K either intrinsically present in artificially dried grass or present in added KHCO3 have different effects on Mg absorption in dry cows. In a 3 x 3 Latin square design, six cows were fed rations consisting of low-K grass and concentrate with or without KHCO3 or a ration consisting of high-K grass with concentrate without added KHCO3. Each ration was given for a period of 4 wk. The ration low in intrinsic K contained 26 g of K/kg of dry matter, the ration low in intrinsic K plus KHCO3 contained 43 g of K/kg of dry matter, and the ration high in intrinsic K also contained 43 g of K/kg of dry matter. The three rations were balanced for crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, Mg (2.2 g/kg of dry matter), Ca, P, and Na. Apparent Mg absorption was 10.8 +/- 1.54% of intake (mean +/- SE, n = 6) when the cows were fed the low-K ration, but dropped to 1.9 +/- 3.4 and 2.1 +/- 1.9% of intake, respectively, when the rations high in KHCO3 and high in intrinsic K were fed. The two high-K rations induced similar increases in ruminal K concentrations both before and after feed consumption. The feeding of KHCO3 did not influence ruminal pH. The intake of extra K may raise ruminal K concentrations, which increases the transmural potential difference so that Mg transport across the rumen epithelium becomes depressed. Thus, intrinsic and added K had identical effects on ruminal K concentrations and on Mg absorption. Feeding trials with ruminants in which K intakes are manipulated with the use of KHCO3 may reflect those cases when concentrations of K intrinsically present in feedstuffs may vary.

Absorption↗

Calcium balance in Drakensberg crag lizards (Pseudocordylus melanotus melanotus; Cordylidae).

Eight nonreproductive female Drakensberg crag lizards (Pseudocordylus melanotus melanotus) were each fed diets of mealworms and calcium capsules with various calcium levels. Excreta were collected and analyzed for calcium and uric acid content. The amount of calcium in the feces was calculated. The lizards appeared to be able to maintain calcium balance at calcium intakes equivalent to 1.4-5.6% calcium in the dry matter of feed. Calcium balance was maintained by adapting intestinal calcium absorption.

Animal Feed↗

Lowering of serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein--but not lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase--activity levels by hypocholesterolemic drugs in the rabbit.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) are important factors in the regulation of serum lipoprotein metabolism. Rabbits were fed hypocholesterolemic drugs to investigate the effect on serum CETP and LCAT activity levels. The activities were assayed using exogenous substrate assays and are an estimate of CETP and LCAT mass. Groups of eight rabbits were fed a cholesterol-free diet containing either 0.03% simvastatin or 1% cholestyramine for 6 weeks. For comparison eight rabbits were fed a cholesterol-free control diet without drugs or a diet containing 0.1% cholesterol for 6 weeks. Total serum and lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations were not different after intervention with the hypocholesterolemic drugs or the cholesterol diet. Dietary cholesterol induced higher VLDL, IDL, and LDL cholesterol, as well as serum CETP activity, as expected. Serum LCAT activity showed little change with intervention. Both simvastatin and cholestyramine tended to lead to decreased cholesterol in all lipoprotein fractions and caused a significant decrease in serum CETP activity when compared with the control diet. Both drugs also caused a significant lower LDL particle concentration, as judged from differences in LDL protein levels. Intervention with simvastatin or cholestyramine led to relatively cholesterol-poor LDL. These effects on LDL concentration and composition were opposite from the effects of cholesterol feeding. Differences in the cholesterol contents of VLDL and IDL were comparable with those in LDL. The results suggest that decreasing serum CETP activity levels by treatment with simvastatin or cholestyramine may contribute to lowering of cholesterol apo B-containing lipoproteins. The effects are additional to the well-known increase in hepatic LDL receptor activity, which is likely to be the most important factor in LDL cholesterol lowering by these drugs.

Animals↗

Limited effect of consumption of uncooked (RS2) or retrograded (RS3) resistant starch on putative risk factors for colon cancer in healthy men.

To investigate whether resistant starch (RS) affects putative risk factors for colon cancer, 24 healthy men consumed a daily RS supplement for 4 wk in addition to their habitual diet in a single-blind, randomized, balanced multiple crossover trial. During the first week, all subjects consumed the control supplement containing glucose. Subsequently, each subject consumed, in random order, a supplement with RS2 (uncooked high-amylose cornstarch), RS3 (extruded and retrograded high-amylose cornstarch), and glucose, each for 1 wk. The RS2 and RS3 supplements provided 32 g RS/d. Lithium was added to the supplements to measure compliance. Feces, 24-h urine, and breath samples, as well as a 24-h food-consumption recall were obtained weekly from each subject. Compliance as measured by urinary lithium recovery was satisfactory. The mean composition of the background diet did not differ between the various supplementation periods. Breath-hydrogen excretion, stool weight, and fecal starch excretion were significantly higher during RS than during glucose supplementation, but did not differ during RS2 and RS3 supplementation. There were no significant differences in fecal dry weight, pH, or short-chain fatty acid concentrations, nor in the pH, bile acid concentrations, cytotoxicity, or osmolality of fecal water. It is concluded that in healthy men, supplementing the habitual diet for 1 wk with 32 g RS2 or RS3/d compared with glucose had no effect on putative risk factors for colon cancer, except for increasing stool weight and colonic fermentative activity. There were no significant differences between the effects of RS2 and RS3 on the indexes studied.

Adult↗

Dietary pectin with high viscosity lowers plasma and liver cholesterol concentration and plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity in hamsters.

We fed semipurified diets containing pectin with either a high or low in vitro viscosity at a level of 3 g/100 g air-dried diet to hamsters for 8 wk. A control group was fed cellulose and a positive control group was fed psyllium. The pectins used were a calcium-sensitive pectin (CS-pectin) that has a high viscosity and a noncalcium-sensitive pectin (NCS-pectin) that has a low viscosity. In the presence of calcium, CS-pectin has a more than 80-fold higher viscosity than NCS-pectin which offered the opportunity to investigate the possible role of viscosity in the hypolipidemic properties of pectin. The hamsters fed CS-pectin or psyllium had considerably lower plasma cholesterol concentrations (3.69 +/- 0.44 and 4.21 +/- 0.45 mmol/L, respectively, mean +/- SD, n = 14) than those fed NCS-pectin (5.03 +/- 1.15 mmol/L) or cellulose (5.72 +/- 1. 04 mmol/L). Differences in total plasma cholesterol were reflected in both high density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. There was no effect of fiber on low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Liver cholesterol concentrations paralleled the plasma cholesterol levels and were 9.91 +/- 2.48 micromol/g of liver for the CS-pectin group, 15.03 +/- 5.75 for the psyllium group, 17. 69 +/- 10.66 for the NCS-pectin group, and 25.57 +/- 9.23 for the cellulose group. Fecal bile acid and neutral steroid excretion tended to be higher in the hamsters fed CS-pectin than in their counterparts fed NCS-pectin. The hamsters fed psyllium had significantly greater fecal excretions of bile acids than the hamsters fed cellulose, CS-pectin or NCS-pectin, whereas the excretion of fecal neutral sterols tended to be lower. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity was significantly lower in the hamsters fed CS-pectin than in those fed NCS-pectin. The results of this study suggest that the viscosity of pectins may determine their cholesterolemic effect.

Animals↗

The inhibitory effect of carboxymethylcellulose with high viscosity on lipid absorption in broiler chickens coincides with reduced bile salt concentration and raised microbial numbers in the small intestine.

Two diets, with or without a nonfermentable carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with high viscosity, were fed to broiler chickens beginning at 2 wk of age to study whether the anti-nutritive effect of gelling fibers on lipid digestibility may be associated with reduced intestinal bile salt concentration. Moreover, the microflora were examined to study whether possible changes in bile salt concentration coincide with alterations in microbial numbers. Carboxymethylcellulose depressed apparent lipid digestibility (P = 0.021). Feed intake and weight gain were not significantly affected. Water intake was increased in birds fed the CMC diet (P = 0.039). Bile acid concentration in small intestinal digesta was decreased (P = 0.047) in birds fed the CMC diet, which may have been caused by the increased water content of digesta (P < 0.001). The concentration of bile acids per gram dry matter or per milligram chromium was not reduced in small intestinal contents. Broiler chickens fed the CMC diet excreted more bile acids in the excreta (P < 0.001). Total aerobic and anaerobic microbial counts in the intestinal digesta were significantly increased in the duodenum plus jejunum (P = 0.038) but not in the ileum. Significant increases were found in the numbers of Clostridia (P = 0.017), Lactobacillus (P = 0.009), Bacteroides (P = 0.022), and yeasts and molds (P = 0.012). The present study supports the hypothesis that a nonfermentable gelling fiber (CMC) decreases apparent lipid digestibility by reducing the concentration of bile acids in the chyme in broiler chickens. Moreover, the ingestion of gelling fibers may increase the bacterial activity in the small intestine, which may further contribute to malabsorption of lipids.

Animal Feed↗

The influence of dietary phosphorus and magnesium concentrations on the calcium content of heart and kidneys of DBA/2 and NMRI mice.

Dystrophic cardiac calcification (DCC) is often found in DBA/2 mice, reportedly in association with low plasma magnesium levels in this mouse strain. It was hypothesized that high-phosphorus diets and low-magnesium diets that are known to lower plasma magnesium concentrations would promote the development of DCC. DBA/2 mice were fed diets with either low-magnesium (0.02%, w/w) or high-phosphorus (0.8%) concentrations or a combination of the two variables. NMRI mice were given either a low- (0.2%) or high- (0.6%) phosphorus diet. Female, but not male, NMRI mice accumulated calcium in the heart when fed the high-phosphorus diet; neither gender developed kidney calcification. DBA/2 mice with either a low-magnesium or a high-phosphorus intake developed marked cardiac calcifications. The combination of low-magnesium and high-phosphorus intake caused severe calcification of the heart, kidney and tongue. Increasing the dietary magnesium content (0.08%) and reducing phosphorus (0.2%) did not fully prevent cardiac calcification, but reduced heart calcium concentrations in male DBA/2 mice. It is concluded that diets for DCC-susceptible mice should contain adequate amounts of magnesium and low, but sufficient amounts of phosphorus in order not to additionally stimulate cardiac calcification.

Animals↗