EIGHT West African dwarf ewes were allocated into two equal groups in an attempt to study the effect of epinephrine on body glucose, post mortem glycolysis and some 4s pects of meat quality factors. One group was injected subcutaneously a one-shot dosage of 0.1% adregaline solution at a level of 1.8 mg/ 10 kg live body weight six hours prior to slaughtering. Blood glucose levels were estimated during the first hour post injection. The other group of ewes which was injected with an equal volume of water served as control. Following death, the pH of the longi bsimum dorsi was followed as an index of glycolysis. Subsequently, brine diffusion distance, salt uptake, drip loss, cooking loss, total moisture and the organoleptic attributes of tenderness, juiciness, flavour and overall acceptability were estimated in selected muscles. An overall elevation of plasma glucose by epinephrine was observed during the one hour period of blood collection. A lower than normal initial pH was observed in both groups since both struggled prior to death. The ultimate 24 hour pH was higher in the epinephrine treated mutton (6.43) than in the control group (5.63). Mean drip loss and cooking loss were 1.86% and 30.88% in the epinephrine treated samples as against 1.639 and 33:38% respectively in the control samples. Higher estimates of diffusion lengths were obtained in the treated samples (P <0.05) although between muscle variations were observed. Slight differences were observed as a result of treatment effect on tenderness. juiciness, flavour and overall acceptability. Between muscle variation in these parameters were highly significant.

There is an indication of abrupt rise in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Nigeria and thyroid function involvement has not been sufficiently evaluated. This study determined thyroid gland function among subjects with CKD in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 184 randomized CKD patients attending specialist clinic and 80 healthy control subjects were recruited for this study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demography. Blood specimens were collected and used for the determination of thyroid function parameters; thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Abs), thyroid globulin antibody (Tg-Abs) and Deiodinase enzyme Type 1 (D1). SPINA GD and SPINA GT were calculated using Michaelis-Menten model. The CKD was classified into stages using Modification of Drug in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Thyroid dysfunctions observed were clinical hyperthyroidism 1 (0.54%), non-thyroidal illness 78 (42.4%), clinical hypothyroidism 11 (6.0%), sub-clinical hyperthyroidism 3 (1.60%), and sub-clinical hypothyroidism 11 (6.0%), while euthyroid were 80 (43.5%). SPINA GD of CKD patients (33.85 ± 10.94) was not significantly different when compared with controls (24.85 ± 1.57), whereas, SPINA GT was significantly higher (p < 0.01) among CKD patients (3.74 ± 0.31) than controls (2.68 ± 0.11). Autoimmune thyroid disease demonstrated by positive Tg-Abs and TPO-Abs were observed among approximately 7.9% of CKD patients. Serum TPO-Abs concentration increased with CKD progression. Thyroid dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of CKD patients. The etiologies are multifactorial and immunological mechanisms of autoimmune thyroid disease may be a contributing factor.