A series of in vitro studies were carried out to determine i) the effects of enzyme and formaldehyde treatment on the degradation characteristics of carbohydrate and protein sources and on the synchronicity of these processes, and ii) the effects of synchronizing carbohydrate and protein supply on rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis (MPS) in in vitro experiments. Untreated corn (C) and enzyme-treated corn (EC) were combined with soy bean meal with (ES) and without (S) enzyme treatment or formaldehyde treatment (FS). Six experimental feeds (CS, CES, CFS, ECS, ECES and ECFS) with different synchrony indices were prepared. Highly synchronous diets had the greatest dry matter (DM) digestibility when untreated corn was used. However, the degree of synchronicity did not influence DM digestibility when EC was mixed with various soybean meals. At time points of 12 h and 24 h of incubation, EC-containing diets showed lower ammonia-N concentrations than those of C-containing diets, irrespective of the degree of synchronicity, indicating that more efficient utilization of ammonia-N for MPS was achieved by ruminal microorganisms when EC was offered as a carbohydrate source. Within C-containing treatments, the purine base concentration increased as the diets were more synchronized. This effect was not observed when EC was offered. There were significant effects on VFA concentration of both C and S treatments and their interactions. Similar to purine concentrations, total VFA production and individual VFA concentration in the groups containing EC as an energy source was higher than those of other groups (CS, CES and CFS). The results of the present study suggested that the availability of energy or the protein source are the most limiting factors for rumen fermentation and MPS, rather than the degree of synchronicity.

Cell-based signal chemical genomics can profile the signalling pathway for certain cellular events by using a target-known chemical library. To ascertain its usefulness, the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in mouse monocyte/macrophage cells RAW264.7 was used as an in vitro experimental model. Of 180 target-known inhibitors/activators formatted in a 384-well plate, 8 chemicals were shown to inhibit the osteoclast formation, but 4 chemicals enhanced this process. A variety of references support, or possibly lead one to expect the effects of these 12 chemicals on the cellular process of osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells, but several signalling pathways were newly found in this study; for example, CA-074 Me inhibiting cathepsin B and nitrendipine blocking the calcium channel could have the potential to inhibit the osteoclast formation as well as bone resorption. This is a simple but very fast and powerful method of profiling the signalling pathway of certain cellular events. Signal chemical genomics could provide invaluable information for the exploration of new target signalling processes and further target-based drug discovery strategies.

This study aimed to provide basic information as the foundation for further studies on the assessment of velvet antler quality by investigating the changes in fatty acid, vitamin A and E, minerals and GAGs contents by development stage of antler in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Twelve stags (aged 4 to 5 years) were divided into two groups and velvet antler harvested 40 days (FDG) and 60 days (SDG) after casting of the buttons from the previous set. Total saturated fatty acid was lower in FDG than SDG (p<0.05). Total monounsaturated fatty acid, conjugated linoleic acid (p<0.05), polyunsaturated fatty acid and ω3 fatty acid were higher in FDG than SDG. The vitamin A content of FDG was higher than that of SDG, but the vitamin E content of FDG was lower than that of SDG (p<0.05). SDG had significantly higher calcium and phosphate content than FDG (p<0.05). The magnesium content showed a similar trend to the contents of calcium and phosphate, but there was no significant difference between SDG and FDG. Uronic acid content was higher in FDG than SDG but there was no significant difference. The contents of GAGs and sialic acid were significantly higher (p<0.05) in FDG than SDG. These results indicated that the longer stage of antler development had lower content of activating components and this lead to a decrease of antler quality.

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