Production and reproduetive traits in Danish Landrace (LD) and Large White (LW) swine were analysed by restricted maximum likelihood methods to obtain heritabilities as well as genetic and phenotypic correlations. Production traits were: age, backfat thickness (BT), muscle depth (MD) and the ratio BT/MD, adjusted to Standard bodyweight of 85 kg. Reproduction traits were: number of pigs born (NB) and number of pigs weaned (NW) per sow and parity. Heritabilities for age, BT, MD and BT/MD were 0.60, 0.44, 0.51 and 0.42 for LD and 0.36, 0.44, 0.37 and 0.45 for LW, respectively. Genetic correlations between age and BT were-0.22 in LD and-0.44 in LW. The genetic correlation between age and MD was close to zero in both breeds. Genetic correlation between BT and MD were-0.36 and-0.25 in LD and LW, respectively. Heritabilities for NB were 0.25 in LD and 0.13 in LW while heritabilities for NW were close to zero in both breeds. Genetic correlation between NB and NW was 0.46 and 0.70 in LD and LW, respectively. Zusammenfassung Titel der Arbeit: Genetische Parameter von Produktions-und Reproduktionsmerkmalen bei Schweinen der Rassen Danish Large White und Landrasse untersucht in einem Betrieb in Griechenland Heritabilitäten sowie phänotypische und genetische Korrelationen einiger Produktions-und Reproduktions-merkmale bei Schweinen der Rassen Danish Large White (LW) und Landrasse (LD) wurden mit Restricted Maximum Likelihood Methoden geschätzt. Folgende Produktionsmerkmale wurden untersucht: Alter, Rückenspeckdicke (BT), Muskeldicke (MD) und das BT/MD Verhältnis, korrigiert auf ein konstantes Körpergewicht von 85 kg. Folgende Reproduktionsmerkmale wurden untersucht: Wurfgrösse bei der Geburt (NB) und beim Absetzen (NW). Bei den LD-Schweinen wurden Heritabilitätswerte von 0,60 ftlr das Alter, 0,44 flir die BT, 0,51 ftlr die MD und 0,42 ftlr das BT/MD Verhältnis geschätzt. Die entsprechenden Werte bei den LW-Schweinen waren 0,36 für das Alter, 0,44 für die BT, 0,37 für die MD und 0,45 für das BT/MD Verhältnis. Die geschätzte genetische Korrelation zwischen dem Alter und der BT betrug-0,22 bei den LD-und-0,44 bei den LW-Schweinen, während die entsprechende Korrelation zwischen dem Alter und der MD in beiden Rassen nahe Null lag. Die geschätzte genetische Korrelation zwischen der BT and der MD betrug-0,36 bei den LD-und-0,25 bei den LW-Schweinen. Die Heritabilitätswerte für die NB betrug 0,25 bei den LD-und 0,13 bei den LW-Schweinen, während die entsprechenden Werte für die NW bei beiden Rassen gleich Null waren. Zwischen der NB und der NW wurde eine genetische Korrelation von 0,46 bei den LD-und von 0,70 bei den LW-Schweinen ermittelt.

Men with PRL-producing macroadenomas often present with hypogonadism and impotence. This report documents exacerbation of a PRL-secreting tumor after two separate 200-mg testosterone enanthate (T) injections despite continued bromocriptine (BRC) therapy. A 37-yr-old man with a 60-mm invasive tumor and a serum PRL level of 13,969 +/- 332 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) responded to BRC therapy with rapid disappearance of visual field defect, headache, and facial pain as well as decrease in serum PRL to 5,103 +/- 1,446 ng/ml. T injection was followed by severe headache, facial pain, and increase in PRL to 13,471 ng/ml. Visual field deterioration and increased tumor size (height, 40-43 mm) by computed tomography were documented. A relationship between T injection and exacerbation of the prolactinoma was not recognized until after a second T injection 3 months later. After that therapy, baseline PRL increased from 6,900 to 12,995 ng/ml. The hypothesis that T was aromatized to estradiol, directly stimulating lactotrophs, was supported by an increase in serum estradiol from 24 to 51 pg/ml after the second T injection. Although T treatment is accepted as appropriate therapy for hypogonadism in men with prolactinomas, it may not only interfere with the response of the tumor to BRC therapy, but even stimulate tumor growth and secretion.

The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of maternal genetic effects on postweaning performance traits of Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, and Hampshire breeds of swine. Data consisted of performance test records collected in a commercial swine operation from 1992 to 1999. Boars from 60% of the litters were culled at weaning based on a combination of maternal and performance indexes that differed by breed. Remaining boars and all females were grown to 100 d of age. At this time all pigs were weighed (WT100) and selected for testing using recalculated breed-specific indexes (n = 15,594, 55,497, 12,267, and 9,782 for Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire, respectively). All pigs were weighed at the end of the 77-d test, and backfat (BF) and loin eye area (LEA) were measured over the 12th rib by ultrasound. Average daily feed intake was calculated for boars, and ADG was calculated for all animals. Genetic parameters were estimated for each breed and trait using multiple-trait DFREML procedures. Fixed effects were contemporary groups and either initial or final test age as a covariate. Four models were examined. Model 1 included only the additive genetic effect of the animal. Model 2 added the common litter environmental effect; Model 3 added the maternal genetic value assumed to be uncorrelated with additive genetic effects. Model 4 was the same as Model 3 with additive and maternal genetic effects assumed to be correlated. All models were two-trait models with WT100 as the second trait. Ratios of likelihoods were used to compare models. Maternal effects were important (P < 0.05) for WT100, ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF in Landrace; for WT100, ADG, LEA, and BF in Yorkshire; for WT100 and ADG in Duroc, and for WT100 in Hampshire. Estimates of heritabilities for direct additive effects using the appropriate model for ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF were 0.28, 0.34, 0.48, and 0.63 for Landrace; 0.26, 0.31, 0.39, and 0.65 for Yorkshire; 0.14, 0.20, 0.26, and 0.35 for Duroc; and 0.17, 0.23, 0.25, and 0.31 for Hampshire, respectively. Heritability estimates for maternal genetic effects for ADG, ADFI, LEA, and BF were 0.02, 0.05, 0.06, and 0.07 for Landrace and 0.02, 0, 0.04, and 0.06 for Yorkshire, respectively. They were zero for all traits except ADG (0.03) in Duroc and for all traits in Hampshire. Maternal effects may need to be considered in genetic evaluation of performance traits in some breeds of swine.

The objective of this study was to estimate heritability for body length (LEN) at the end of performance testing and to estimate genetic correlations with backfat (BF) thickness and loin muscle area (LMA) in Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire breeds of swine. Also examined were two measures of body density involving body length and weight and their relationships to backfat and loin muscle area. Data consisted of performance test records collected in a commercial swine operation from 1992 to 1999. Boars from 60% of the litters were culled at weaning based on a maternal breeding value of the dam. Remaining boars and all females were grown to 100 d of age (15,594, 55,497, 12,267, and 9,782 Landrace, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire pigs, respectively). At this time, all pigs were weighed (WT100) and selected for performance testing based on a combination of maternal and performance indexes, which differed by breed. All pigs were weighed at the end of the 77 d performance test (WT177) when BF, LMA, and LEN were measured. Two measures of body density involving length were calculated: Body mass index (BMI) = WT177/LEN2 and body density (DENSITY) = WT177/LEN. For each breed, genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model with random litter effects and multiple-trait REML procedures. A series of three-trait models including WT100 and combinations of two other traits in each analysis was conducted. Fixed effects included contemporary group and age as a covariate. Average estimates of heritability were 0.16 to 0.32 for LEN (unadjusted for WT177), 0.12 to 0.26 for LEN (adjusted for WT177), 0.23 to 0.33 for DENSITY, and 0.16 to 0.25 for BMI. Genetic correlations between LEN and LMA were low. Genetic correlations between LEN (unadjusted for WT177) and BF were 0.10 to 0.41. Adjusting LEN for WT177 gave correlations of 0.11 for Landrace and Hampshire and negative correlations (-0.06 and -0.19, respectively) for Yorkshire and Duroc. Genetic correlations between LMA and DENSITY and between LMA and BMI were comparable and ranged from 0.44 to 0.54. Genetic correlations between BF and DENSITY were slightly higher (0.53 to 0.68) than those between BF and BMI (0.37 to 0.67). In these data, not much relationship between BF and body length at a constant weight and age was found. There was a negative relationship between LMA and LEN at a constant weight and age, implying that longer pigs had smaller LMA.