Changes in the fecal concentrations of cortisol and androgen metabolites in captive male jaguars (Panthera onca) in response to stress

In the present study we determined the efficacy of the measurement of fecal cortisol and androgen metabolite concentrations to monitor adrenal and testicular activity in the jaguar (Panthera onca). Three captive male jaguars were chemically restrained and electroejaculated once or twice within a period of two months. Fecal samples were collected daily for 5 days before and 5 days after the procedure and stored at -20ºC until extraction. Variations in the concentrations of cortisol and androgen metabolites before and after the procedure were determined by solid phase cortisol and testosterone radioimmunoassay and feces dry weight was determined by drying at 37ºC for 24 h under vacuum. On four occasions, fecal cortisol metabolite levels were elevated above baseline (307.8 ± 17.5 ng/g dry feces) in the first fecal sample collected after the procedure (100 to 350% above baseline). On one occasion, we did not detect any variation. Mean (± SEM) fecal androgen concentration did not change after chemical restraint and electroejaculation (before: 131.1 ± 26.7, after: 213.7 ± 43.6 ng/g dry feces). These data show that determination of fecal cortisol and androgen metabolites can be very useful for a noninvasive assessment of animal well-being and as a complement to behavioral, physiological, and pathological studies. It can also be useful for the study of the relationship between adrenal activity and reproductive performance in the jaguar.

Quantification of fecal estradiol and progesterone metabolites in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Alternative methods to the utilization of laboratory animal blood and its by-products are particularly attractive, especially regarding hamsters due to their small size and difficulties in obtaining serial blood samples. Steroid hormone metabolite quantification in feces, widely used in studies of free-ranging or intractable animals, is a non-invasive, non-stressor, economical, and animal saving technique which allows longitudinal studies by permitting frequent sampling of the same individual. The present study was undertaken to determine the suitability of this method for laboratory animals. Estradiol and progesterone metabolites were quantified by radioimmunoassay in feces of intact, sexually mature female Syrian hamsters during the estrous cycle (control) and in feces of superovulated females. Metabolites were extracted by fecal dilution in ethanol and quantified by solid phase radioimmunoassay. Median estrogen and progesterone concentrations were 9.703 and 180.74 ng/g feces in the control group, respectively. Peaks of estrogen (22.44 ± 4.54 ng/g feces) and progesterone (655.95 ± 129.93 ng/g feces) mean fecal concentrations respectively occurred 12 h before and immediately after ovulation, which is easily detected in this species by observation of a characteristic vaginal postovulatory discharge. Median estrogen and progesterone concentrations (28.159 and 586.57 ng/g feces, respectively) were significantly higher in superovulated animal feces (P < 0.0001). The present study demonstrated that it is possible to monitor ovarian activity in Syrian hamsters non-invasively by measuring fecal estradiol and progesterone metabolites. This technique appears to be a quite encouraging method for the development of new endocrinologic studies on laboratory animals.

Antinociceptive properties in mice of a lectin isolated from the marine alga Amansia multifida Lamouroux

The antinociceptive effects of a lectin (LEC) isolated from the marine alga Amansia multifida were determined in Swiss mice. The LEC (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal writhings in a dose-dependent manner after intraperitoneal or oral administration. A partial but significant inhibition of writhings was observed after the combination of LEC (10 mg/kg) with avidin (1 mg/kg), a potent inhibitor of the hemmaglutinant activity of the lectin. However, total writhing inhibition was demonstrable in the group of mice treated with LEC plus mannose (1 mg/kg), as compared to LEC alone or to control groups. Furthermore, avidin and mainly mannose also play a role in antinociception, somehow facilitating the interaction of LEC with its active cell sites. In the formalin test, although both phases of the response were significantly inhibited, the effect of LEC was predominant during phase 2, causing inhibition of licking time that ranged from 48 to 88% after oral (5 and 10 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal (1 to 5 mg/kg) administration. As is the case with morphine, the effect of LEC (2 mg/kg) was reversed by naloxone (2 mg/kg), indicating the involvement of the opioid system. LEC was also effective in the hot-plate test, producing inhibitory responses to the thermal stimulus, and its effects were blocked by naloxone. In the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, although LEC did not alter the onset of sleep significantly, it increased the time of sleep within the same dose range compared to control. These results show that LEC presents antinociceptive effects of both central and peripheral origin, possibly involving the participation of the opioid system.

Measurement of serum estrogen and estrogen metabolites in pre- and postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Although 17β-estradiol (E2) deficiency has been linked to the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in middle-aged women, there are few studies relating other estrogens and estrogen metabolites (EMs) to this condition. We developed a high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method to measure the levels of six EMs (i.e., estrone, E2, estriol, 2-hydroxyestrone, 2-hydroxyestradiol, and 16a-hydroxyestrone) in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women and women with OA. This method had a precision ranging from 1.1 to 3.1% and a detection limit ranging from 10 to 15 pg. Compared to healthy women, serum-free E2 was lower in the luteal and postmenopausal phases in women with OA, and total serum E2 was lower in postmenopausal women with OA. Moreover, compared to healthy women, total serum 2-hydroxyestradiol was higher in postmenopausal women with OA and total serum 2-hydroxyestrone was lower in both the luteal and follicular phases in women with OA. In conclusion, our HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method allowed the measurement of multiple biochemical targets in a single assay, and, given its increased cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and speed relative to previous methods, this method is suitable for clinical studies.

Effects of filtration methods on the neutralization yield of crude marine fish oil

The evaluation of filtration methods on the yield and oleochemicals characteristics on the crude fish oil from the soapstock of marine fish for purposes of nutrition has been conducted in this work. The analytical properties of the crude and the neutralized oil with three excesses of sodium hydroxide (NaOH, 20%, 40% and 60%) were carried out on two different ways with organza and the “glass wool”. The neutralization of the oil brought about a notable improvement in the analytical properties of the oil. Thus, it leads to a high quality fish oil in terms of taste, colour, odours, shelf life and market value. Based on the improved characteristics of the oil, it could be suitable for applications in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Amiral Benson [William Shepherd de la marine des États-Unis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58550

13-6-20, Rouen, fêtes de Jeanne d'Arc, les autorités, préfet, général Pereira [britannique], M. [Paul] Bignon [sous-secrétaire d'Etat à la Marine marchande], cardinal [Louis-Ernest] Dubois : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59687

13-6-20, Rouen, fêtes de Jeanne d'Arc, discours de M. [Paul] Bignon [sous-secrétaire d'Etat à la Marine marchande] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59689

Recueil de copies et de pièces originales, manuscrites et imprimées, sur la Marine (listes d'officiers, revues, états, procès de discipline, ports de Marseille, Toulon, Dunkerque, Brest, Rochefort, etc., les Galères et les Colonies) de 1663 à 1754. II Années 1663-1699. — Lettres orig. notamment du chevalier de Valbelle, Messine 1676 (p. 191), de Me Agnès de Bonvoison, Toulon 1687 (p. 576 et 588), de M. de la Planche, Boulogne 1687 (p. 582), de M. d'Argenson, Paris 1699 (p. 1002 et 1014).

Contient : Réception d'ambassadeurs (1663-1686) ; Pièces sur l'Acadie et le Canada ; « Lettera scritta da Venetia da un partiale del popolo di Messina all' Eccellentiss. Senato de quella città ». Impr. S. l. n. d., in-8° de 14 pages ; « Arrest de la Cour du Parlement contre la nommée Jeanne Moyon, veuve Jean Lesur, et autres, accusées de prostitution publique. » Impr. Paris, P.-G. Simon, 1750, in-4° de 4 pages ; Extrait de la relation envoyée par M. de Terron du combat naval du 8 janvier 1776 ; Inscriptions de l'Arsenal de Brest, par Victorin Santeul et P. Corneille ; « Discorso sopra le due comete apparse l'anno corrente 1682 gl'ultimi giorni d'agosto... dedicate all' ill. et eccell. sig. Nicolo Doria, senatore della Republica de Genova... » Impr. Gênes, Antonio Casamara, s. d., in-4° de 8 pages ; « Coppie d'une lettre qu'un François écrit à un de ses amis, contenant ce qui s'est passé à Gênes pour célébrer la naissance de Mgr le duc de Bourgogne. » Impr. Marseille, P. Mesnier, 1682, in-4° de 12 pages ; Liste des vaisseaux danois armés à Copenhague en 1683 ; « Liste des officiers qui sont dans les forts Cataracoüy et Niagara. » ; Pièces sur Cayenne ; Pêche de la baleine ; Envoi de denrées en Irlande