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Field Rickets in Turkey Poults: Plasma and Bone Chemistry, Bone Histology, Intestinal Calcium-Binding Protein1
Field Rickets in Turkey Poults: Plasma and Bone Chemistry, Bone Histology, Intestinal Calcium-Binding Protein1 S. HURWITZ, A. BAR AND A. MESHORER Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan; and The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Received for publication October 24, 1972)
POULTRY SCIENCE 52: 1370-1374, 1973
L
EG weakness occurring in turkey poults J of different ages has been described and attributed to various nutritional deficiencies. A condition resembling true rickets has been observed in various turkey-farms in Israel since 1967. Some of these cases were diagnosed as phosphate deficiencies and treated accordingly with soluble phosphate salts, which in several cases ameliorated the rachitic condition. Recently, severe outbreaks of rickets were observed on several farms; they could not be overcome by phosphate therapy or dietary additions of physiological levels of vitamin D 3 . An investigation into two such cases, presented in this communication, was aimed at the chemical, biochemical and histological characterization of the rachitic condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Birds were taken from two flocks in which a serious outbreak of rickets had occurred. In both, the poults were of the Large White breed. They received typical 1
Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1972 Series, No. 2224-E. Supported in part by the Israel Poultry Marketing Board.
turkey diets containing 29% protein, all trace minerals and vitamins in sufficient amounts, including 4000 I.U. of vitamin D 3 per kg. The diets also contained 10 mg./kg. penicillin, 100 mg./kg. zinc bacitracin and 375 mg./kg. dibutylidin dilaurate as a coccidiostat. By chemical analysis, the diet in farm A contained 1.0% phosphorus and 1.5% calcium. At the beginning of the outbreak of rickets the diet was supplemented, by the prescription of a veterinary surgeon, with the following (per kg.): sodium monophosphate, 3.5 g.; choline chloride, 150 mg.; vitamin D 3 , 4000 I.U.; and biotin, 0.05 mg. This treatment was ineffective. In both cases we began the investigation after 10-14 days of treatment. In the first case (farm A), which was the more thoroughly investigated one, first symptoms occurred at the age of 3 weeks; our measurements were made when the birds were S^TweeksoId. Over 40% of a flock of 700 poults had to be eliminated due to severe rickets. In the second case (farm B), symptoms occurred at the age of two weeks. Samples were taken by us 10 days later. On this farm_aboilt 30% of the 600 birds were eliminated due to rickets. In both cases, no gross pathological changes,
1370
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
ABSTRACT Severe rickets were observed in several farms despite an apparent adequacy in dietary minerals and vitamin D. The condition was characterized by a slight hypocalcemia, normal plasma inorganic phosphate and reduced bone ash. Histological examination of bone confirmed the rachitic condition. Calcium-binding protein in the duodenal mucosa of the affected poults was severely reduced. The condition could not be ameliorated by intravenous doses of up to 30,0001.U. of vitamin D 3 . A pathological change in the integrity of the intestinal mucosa is suggested as the cause of the rachitic condition.
1371
TURKEY RICKETS
Calcium was determined in plasma by a direct titration with EDTA, with calcein as indicator. Titration was carried out under ultraviolet illumination. For inorganic phosphorus determinations, the plasma was treated with a 20% trichloroacetic acid solution. Phosphorus was determined in the supernatant by the method of Gomori (1942).
Bones were scraped of adhering tissues, dried at 105° and ashed at 600°. Percentage of ash in the total dry matter was then calculated. For calcium-binding protein, the poults were killed with an overdose of Nembutal. Their duodena were rapidly removed, everted and placed in ice cold 120 mM sodium chloride solution. The mucosa was then scraped off and homogenized in a tris buffer (in mM: Tris-HCl, 13.7; NaCl, 119; KC1, 4.54; glucose, 0.09). The homogenates were centrifuged at 33,000 X g and the supernatant was heated for 10 minutes at 60°. The sample was centrifuged again at the same speed. The supernatant was then analyzed for calcium-binding protein by the Chelex assay as described by Wasserman et al. (1968). The test is based on competition between CaBP and the Chelex for calcium-45. Results are therefore expressed as c.p.m./ml. homogenate. Another part of the supernatant was subjected to disc electrophoresis on acrylamide gel as described previously (Bar and Hurwitz, 1972) for visualization of CaBP. For histological observations, bones were fixed in bouine solution, trimmed, and decalcified by frequent changing of the same solution. They were imbedded in parafin and 5 p. sections were prepared, and stained with hemotoxyline-eosin and phosphomolybdic acid—light-green stain. RESULTS
Results of the chemical analyses are given in Table 1. The bones of the rachitic poults contained much less ash than those of the control (normal) ones. In plasma, the rachitic poults demonstrated a slight hypocalcemia but a normal phosphatemia. CaBP activity was about one half of that of the normal. The reduction in CaBP concentration in the rachitic birds
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
other than rickets, could be diagnosed. The outbreak occurred on farm A in December and on farm B, in February; the two farms are in different geographical areas. At each location only turkeys of the same age were raised at any given time. Thus, farms adjoining the infected ones, housed healthy birds, exactly of the same age, and in this case also from the same breeder. They also received an identical diet supplied by a central feed-mill. Poults from these neighboring farms were used as controls. Plasma calcium, inorganic phosphate, bone ash and histology, and mucosal calcium-binding protein (CaBP), were used as diagnostic criteria. The choice of these criteria was based on previous experience with chicks, as follows: Rachitic condition in bone can be assessed by ash determination and bone histology. A phosphate deficiency can be detected by the plasma concentration of inorganic phosphate (Hurwitz, 1964). Changes in plasma calcium may be associated with either calcium or vitamin D deficiency and these conditions can be differentiated between, by measuring the mucosal calcium-binding protein (CaBP). This protein, described by Wasserman et al. (1968), is vitamin D-dependent since it disappears completely in vitamin D deficiency. However, with calcium or phosphate deficiencies its concentration in the duodenal mucosa increases (Morrissey and Wasserman, 1971; Bar and Hurwitz, 1972b).
1372
S. HUKWTI'Z, A. B A R AND A.
TABLE 1.—Parameters of calcium metabolism in normal turkeys and those afflicted with field rickets Normal poults
Parameter Plasma Ca, mg.100 ml. Plasma inorganic P, mg./lOO ml. Bone ash, 2 %
CaBP,» c.p.m./7a.
Rachitic poults
1 1 . 0 5 ± 0 . 1 0 i 10.04 + 0.27 4.83 + 0.48 4.7O±0.47 41.7 ± 0 . 8 33.7 ± 1 . 8 13.69±0.«2 O.W+1.07
1
Average±S.E. - Percentage of dry bone. 3 Duodenal mucosa calcium-binding protein. For definition of units, see text.
vitamin D-resistant rickets are characterized by hypophosphatemia, whereas here, the rachitic poults had a normal plasma level of inorganic phosphorus and a low C a B P . This eliminated a phosphorus deficiency, either nutritional or physiological, as the cause of rickets in the present case. As mentioned earlier, the slight hypocalcemia in the rachitic poults might have resulted from either calcium deficiency or vitamin I) deficiency. Clearly, these deficiencies, if present, could not be of nutritional nature. The possible association of the rachitic condition with the calcium-absorptive mechanism was therefore tested by measuring the calciumbinding protein in the duodenal mucosa. To the best of our knowledge, C a B P has
DISCUSSION
Since rachitic conditions in turkey poults are but poorly documented, most of the reasoning involved in the interpretation of the present d a t a relies heavily on work with chicks. The results clearly show a typical rachitic condition, developed in the face of a diet sufficient in vitamin D and mineral supplements. In this respect, it is reminiscent of the condition known in the human as "vitamin-D-resistant rickets." However, in the human, most cases of
%
FIG. 1. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of supernatants of duodenal mucosae of turkey poults. 1. normal; 2 and 3, rachitic. The lowest band in No. 1, suggested to be CaBP, is almost absent in No. 2 and 3.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
is also apparent from the disc electrophoresis. In the rachitic specimen, the C a B P band was either reduced in intensity or completely absent (Fig. 1). Histological sections of bone (Fig. 2) confirm the rachitic condition of the bones as compared with normal animals, as also suggested by the reduced bone ash. During the assay of calcium-binding protein, we noticed t h a t less mucosa could be recovered from the intestines of the rachitic animals than of the control. This, together with the reduced mucosa calciumbinding protein, suggested the possibility of impairment of intestinal function in the rachitic animal. On farm A, 20 poults were given vitamin D 3 intramuscularly in doses ranging from 10,000 I.U. to 50,000 I.U. per poult. A limited response of both C a B P and bone histology could be observed in doses exceeding 30,000 I.U./poult.
MESHORER
TURKEY RICKETS
1373
not been demonstrated so far in turkeys. It is therefore of interest to note its presence in the duodenal mucosa of turkeys, as evidenced by the Chelex-100 assay. In the disc electrophoresis, an Rj band similar to t h a t of C a B P in the chick is evident, despite some differences in the profile of other supernatant proteins. Furthermore, this band was reduced or missing in the rachitic poults together with a decrease in calcium-binding activity measured by the Chelex-100 assay, as was the case with vitamin D-deficient chicks (Wasserman
et al., 1968). I t is therefore reasonable to suggest t h a t this relatively rapidly migrating protein band on the acrylamide gel is indeed the calcium-binding protein of the poult intestinal mucosa. The reduction or disappearance of the C a B P band in the electrophoresis, suggests t h a t the rachitic condition of the poults examined in this study is the same type as a vitamin D-deficient rickets. Additional evidence is provided by the bone and C a B P response obtained from intramuscularly-injected pharmacological
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
FIG. 2. Histological comparison of tibiae of rachitic and normal turkey poults. 1,2: Rachitic; 3,4: Normal. The rachitic bone as compared with normal bone is characterized by an elongated epiphyseal plate. The dominant histological element of this bone is cartilage whereas it was calcified matrix in the normal bone.
1374
S. H U R W I T Z , A. B A R AND A. M E S H O R E R
doses of v i t a m i n D3. T h e possible etiology of t h e disease is still n o t clear. Theoretically, three possibilities should be considered: (a) v i t a m i n D was n o t absorbed, (b) the metabolism of v i t a m i n D3 to its active metabolites (DeLuca, 1971) was hindered, or (c) t h e action of v i t a m i n D or its active m e t a b o lites a t t h e t a r g e t organs, e.g. intestinal mucosa, was inhibited. T h e first and t h e
Indeed, preliminary observations suggest such mucosal changes. REFERENCES Bar, A., and S. Hurwitz, 1972a. Relationship of duodenal calcium-binding protein to calcium absorption in the laying fowl. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 41B: 735-744.
NEWS AND NOTES {Continued from page 1328) Executive Committee." Written requests should be received by Dr. C. B. Ryan, Secretary-Treasurer, Poultry Science Association, Inc., Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843, before July 1,1974. Dr. M. R. McClung, who is Chairman of the Local Committee at the University of West Virginia, reports that housing space and food service on the campus is adequate to handle some additional visitors. Each guest is required to pay the registration fee, irrespective of the length of attendance, plus meals and lodging. All presentations and proceedings will be in English. No translation service to other languages will be available at this meeting. WISCONSIN NOTES Dr. W. H. McGibbon, Geneticist, Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, was presented with a plaque at the recent annual meeting of the Wisconsin Hatcheries Association. The plaque was presented to Dr. McGibbon by Lloyd Fernholz, President of the Wisconsin Hatcheries Association, for his many years of sound advice and wise counsel.
DAMON NOTES Frank J. Angiullo, former Vice President, Veterinary Marketing, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager (International) of the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Divisions, Damon Corporation. Heinz H. Gunther was appointed Technical Director (International) of the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Divisions; David L. Henriquez was appointed Export Sales Manager, Western Hemisphere of the Veterinary Division; and Dr. Lafayette B. Tennison was appointed Export Sales Manager, Eastern Hemisphere of the Veterinary Division. Alfred T. Zodda was elected a Vice President of the Corporation with responsibility for the Medical Products Group, which comprises the Veterinary, Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic Divisions. He had served as a Vice President and General Manager of the Veterinary Products Division. F.D.A. EVALUATION OF NEW PRODUCTS The Division of Nutritional Sciences within the Bureau of Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration has formulated guidelines for pre-
{Continued on page 1392)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
third possibility could be due t o p a t h o logical changes in t h e intestinal mucosa.
Bar, A., and S. Hurwitz, 1972b. Relationship between duodenal calcium-binding protein, parathyroid activity and various parameters of mineral metabolism in the rachitic and vitamin D-treated chick. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. In press. DeLuca, H. F., 1971. Vitamin D : a new look at an old vitamin. Nutr. Rev. 29: 179-181. Gomori, G., 1942. A modification of the colorimetric phosphorus determination for use with the photometric colorimeter. J. Lab Clin. Med. 27: 955960. Hurwitz, S., 1964. Estimation of net phosphorus utilization by the "slope" method. J. Nutr. 84: 83-92. Morrissey, R. L., and R. H. Wasserman, 1971. Calcium absorption and calcium-binding protein in chicks on differing calcium and phosphorus intakes. Am. J. Physiol. 220: 1509-1515. Wasserman, R. H., R. A. Corradino and A. N. Taylor, 1968. Vitamin D-dependent calciumbinding protein. Purification and some properties. J. Biol. Chem. 243:3978-3986.
POULTRY SCIENCE 52: 1370-1374, 1973
L
EG weakness occurring in turkey poults J of different ages has been described and attributed to various nutritional deficiencies. A condition resembling true rickets has been observed in various turkey-farms in Israel since 1967. Some of these cases were diagnosed as phosphate deficiencies and treated accordingly with soluble phosphate salts, which in several cases ameliorated the rachitic condition. Recently, severe outbreaks of rickets were observed on several farms; they could not be overcome by phosphate therapy or dietary additions of physiological levels of vitamin D 3 . An investigation into two such cases, presented in this communication, was aimed at the chemical, biochemical and histological characterization of the rachitic condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Birds were taken from two flocks in which a serious outbreak of rickets had occurred. In both, the poults were of the Large White breed. They received typical 1
Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1972 Series, No. 2224-E. Supported in part by the Israel Poultry Marketing Board.
turkey diets containing 29% protein, all trace minerals and vitamins in sufficient amounts, including 4000 I.U. of vitamin D 3 per kg. The diets also contained 10 mg./kg. penicillin, 100 mg./kg. zinc bacitracin and 375 mg./kg. dibutylidin dilaurate as a coccidiostat. By chemical analysis, the diet in farm A contained 1.0% phosphorus and 1.5% calcium. At the beginning of the outbreak of rickets the diet was supplemented, by the prescription of a veterinary surgeon, with the following (per kg.): sodium monophosphate, 3.5 g.; choline chloride, 150 mg.; vitamin D 3 , 4000 I.U.; and biotin, 0.05 mg. This treatment was ineffective. In both cases we began the investigation after 10-14 days of treatment. In the first case (farm A), which was the more thoroughly investigated one, first symptoms occurred at the age of 3 weeks; our measurements were made when the birds were S^TweeksoId. Over 40% of a flock of 700 poults had to be eliminated due to severe rickets. In the second case (farm B), symptoms occurred at the age of two weeks. Samples were taken by us 10 days later. On this farm_aboilt 30% of the 600 birds were eliminated due to rickets. In both cases, no gross pathological changes,
1370
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
ABSTRACT Severe rickets were observed in several farms despite an apparent adequacy in dietary minerals and vitamin D. The condition was characterized by a slight hypocalcemia, normal plasma inorganic phosphate and reduced bone ash. Histological examination of bone confirmed the rachitic condition. Calcium-binding protein in the duodenal mucosa of the affected poults was severely reduced. The condition could not be ameliorated by intravenous doses of up to 30,0001.U. of vitamin D 3 . A pathological change in the integrity of the intestinal mucosa is suggested as the cause of the rachitic condition.
1371
TURKEY RICKETS
Calcium was determined in plasma by a direct titration with EDTA, with calcein as indicator. Titration was carried out under ultraviolet illumination. For inorganic phosphorus determinations, the plasma was treated with a 20% trichloroacetic acid solution. Phosphorus was determined in the supernatant by the method of Gomori (1942).
Bones were scraped of adhering tissues, dried at 105° and ashed at 600°. Percentage of ash in the total dry matter was then calculated. For calcium-binding protein, the poults were killed with an overdose of Nembutal. Their duodena were rapidly removed, everted and placed in ice cold 120 mM sodium chloride solution. The mucosa was then scraped off and homogenized in a tris buffer (in mM: Tris-HCl, 13.7; NaCl, 119; KC1, 4.54; glucose, 0.09). The homogenates were centrifuged at 33,000 X g and the supernatant was heated for 10 minutes at 60°. The sample was centrifuged again at the same speed. The supernatant was then analyzed for calcium-binding protein by the Chelex assay as described by Wasserman et al. (1968). The test is based on competition between CaBP and the Chelex for calcium-45. Results are therefore expressed as c.p.m./ml. homogenate. Another part of the supernatant was subjected to disc electrophoresis on acrylamide gel as described previously (Bar and Hurwitz, 1972) for visualization of CaBP. For histological observations, bones were fixed in bouine solution, trimmed, and decalcified by frequent changing of the same solution. They were imbedded in parafin and 5 p. sections were prepared, and stained with hemotoxyline-eosin and phosphomolybdic acid—light-green stain. RESULTS
Results of the chemical analyses are given in Table 1. The bones of the rachitic poults contained much less ash than those of the control (normal) ones. In plasma, the rachitic poults demonstrated a slight hypocalcemia but a normal phosphatemia. CaBP activity was about one half of that of the normal. The reduction in CaBP concentration in the rachitic birds
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
other than rickets, could be diagnosed. The outbreak occurred on farm A in December and on farm B, in February; the two farms are in different geographical areas. At each location only turkeys of the same age were raised at any given time. Thus, farms adjoining the infected ones, housed healthy birds, exactly of the same age, and in this case also from the same breeder. They also received an identical diet supplied by a central feed-mill. Poults from these neighboring farms were used as controls. Plasma calcium, inorganic phosphate, bone ash and histology, and mucosal calcium-binding protein (CaBP), were used as diagnostic criteria. The choice of these criteria was based on previous experience with chicks, as follows: Rachitic condition in bone can be assessed by ash determination and bone histology. A phosphate deficiency can be detected by the plasma concentration of inorganic phosphate (Hurwitz, 1964). Changes in plasma calcium may be associated with either calcium or vitamin D deficiency and these conditions can be differentiated between, by measuring the mucosal calcium-binding protein (CaBP). This protein, described by Wasserman et al. (1968), is vitamin D-dependent since it disappears completely in vitamin D deficiency. However, with calcium or phosphate deficiencies its concentration in the duodenal mucosa increases (Morrissey and Wasserman, 1971; Bar and Hurwitz, 1972b).
1372
S. HUKWTI'Z, A. B A R AND A.
TABLE 1.—Parameters of calcium metabolism in normal turkeys and those afflicted with field rickets Normal poults
Parameter Plasma Ca, mg.100 ml. Plasma inorganic P, mg./lOO ml. Bone ash, 2 %
CaBP,» c.p.m./7a.
Rachitic poults
1 1 . 0 5 ± 0 . 1 0 i 10.04 + 0.27 4.83 + 0.48 4.7O±0.47 41.7 ± 0 . 8 33.7 ± 1 . 8 13.69±0.«2 O.W+1.07
1
Average±S.E. - Percentage of dry bone. 3 Duodenal mucosa calcium-binding protein. For definition of units, see text.
vitamin D-resistant rickets are characterized by hypophosphatemia, whereas here, the rachitic poults had a normal plasma level of inorganic phosphorus and a low C a B P . This eliminated a phosphorus deficiency, either nutritional or physiological, as the cause of rickets in the present case. As mentioned earlier, the slight hypocalcemia in the rachitic poults might have resulted from either calcium deficiency or vitamin I) deficiency. Clearly, these deficiencies, if present, could not be of nutritional nature. The possible association of the rachitic condition with the calcium-absorptive mechanism was therefore tested by measuring the calciumbinding protein in the duodenal mucosa. To the best of our knowledge, C a B P has
DISCUSSION
Since rachitic conditions in turkey poults are but poorly documented, most of the reasoning involved in the interpretation of the present d a t a relies heavily on work with chicks. The results clearly show a typical rachitic condition, developed in the face of a diet sufficient in vitamin D and mineral supplements. In this respect, it is reminiscent of the condition known in the human as "vitamin-D-resistant rickets." However, in the human, most cases of
%
FIG. 1. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of supernatants of duodenal mucosae of turkey poults. 1. normal; 2 and 3, rachitic. The lowest band in No. 1, suggested to be CaBP, is almost absent in No. 2 and 3.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
is also apparent from the disc electrophoresis. In the rachitic specimen, the C a B P band was either reduced in intensity or completely absent (Fig. 1). Histological sections of bone (Fig. 2) confirm the rachitic condition of the bones as compared with normal animals, as also suggested by the reduced bone ash. During the assay of calcium-binding protein, we noticed t h a t less mucosa could be recovered from the intestines of the rachitic animals than of the control. This, together with the reduced mucosa calciumbinding protein, suggested the possibility of impairment of intestinal function in the rachitic animal. On farm A, 20 poults were given vitamin D 3 intramuscularly in doses ranging from 10,000 I.U. to 50,000 I.U. per poult. A limited response of both C a B P and bone histology could be observed in doses exceeding 30,000 I.U./poult.
MESHORER
TURKEY RICKETS
1373
not been demonstrated so far in turkeys. It is therefore of interest to note its presence in the duodenal mucosa of turkeys, as evidenced by the Chelex-100 assay. In the disc electrophoresis, an Rj band similar to t h a t of C a B P in the chick is evident, despite some differences in the profile of other supernatant proteins. Furthermore, this band was reduced or missing in the rachitic poults together with a decrease in calcium-binding activity measured by the Chelex-100 assay, as was the case with vitamin D-deficient chicks (Wasserman
et al., 1968). I t is therefore reasonable to suggest t h a t this relatively rapidly migrating protein band on the acrylamide gel is indeed the calcium-binding protein of the poult intestinal mucosa. The reduction or disappearance of the C a B P band in the electrophoresis, suggests t h a t the rachitic condition of the poults examined in this study is the same type as a vitamin D-deficient rickets. Additional evidence is provided by the bone and C a B P response obtained from intramuscularly-injected pharmacological
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
FIG. 2. Histological comparison of tibiae of rachitic and normal turkey poults. 1,2: Rachitic; 3,4: Normal. The rachitic bone as compared with normal bone is characterized by an elongated epiphyseal plate. The dominant histological element of this bone is cartilage whereas it was calcified matrix in the normal bone.
1374
S. H U R W I T Z , A. B A R AND A. M E S H O R E R
doses of v i t a m i n D3. T h e possible etiology of t h e disease is still n o t clear. Theoretically, three possibilities should be considered: (a) v i t a m i n D was n o t absorbed, (b) the metabolism of v i t a m i n D3 to its active metabolites (DeLuca, 1971) was hindered, or (c) t h e action of v i t a m i n D or its active m e t a b o lites a t t h e t a r g e t organs, e.g. intestinal mucosa, was inhibited. T h e first and t h e
Indeed, preliminary observations suggest such mucosal changes. REFERENCES Bar, A., and S. Hurwitz, 1972a. Relationship of duodenal calcium-binding protein to calcium absorption in the laying fowl. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 41B: 735-744.
NEWS AND NOTES {Continued from page 1328) Executive Committee." Written requests should be received by Dr. C. B. Ryan, Secretary-Treasurer, Poultry Science Association, Inc., Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843, before July 1,1974. Dr. M. R. McClung, who is Chairman of the Local Committee at the University of West Virginia, reports that housing space and food service on the campus is adequate to handle some additional visitors. Each guest is required to pay the registration fee, irrespective of the length of attendance, plus meals and lodging. All presentations and proceedings will be in English. No translation service to other languages will be available at this meeting. WISCONSIN NOTES Dr. W. H. McGibbon, Geneticist, Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, was presented with a plaque at the recent annual meeting of the Wisconsin Hatcheries Association. The plaque was presented to Dr. McGibbon by Lloyd Fernholz, President of the Wisconsin Hatcheries Association, for his many years of sound advice and wise counsel.
DAMON NOTES Frank J. Angiullo, former Vice President, Veterinary Marketing, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager (International) of the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Divisions, Damon Corporation. Heinz H. Gunther was appointed Technical Director (International) of the Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Divisions; David L. Henriquez was appointed Export Sales Manager, Western Hemisphere of the Veterinary Division; and Dr. Lafayette B. Tennison was appointed Export Sales Manager, Eastern Hemisphere of the Veterinary Division. Alfred T. Zodda was elected a Vice President of the Corporation with responsibility for the Medical Products Group, which comprises the Veterinary, Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic Divisions. He had served as a Vice President and General Manager of the Veterinary Products Division. F.D.A. EVALUATION OF NEW PRODUCTS The Division of Nutritional Sciences within the Bureau of Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration has formulated guidelines for pre-
{Continued on page 1392)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Ritsumeikan University on June 9, 2015
third possibility could be due t o p a t h o logical changes in t h e intestinal mucosa.
Bar, A., and S. Hurwitz, 1972b. Relationship between duodenal calcium-binding protein, parathyroid activity and various parameters of mineral metabolism in the rachitic and vitamin D-treated chick. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. In press. DeLuca, H. F., 1971. Vitamin D : a new look at an old vitamin. Nutr. Rev. 29: 179-181. Gomori, G., 1942. A modification of the colorimetric phosphorus determination for use with the photometric colorimeter. J. Lab Clin. Med. 27: 955960. Hurwitz, S., 1964. Estimation of net phosphorus utilization by the "slope" method. J. Nutr. 84: 83-92. Morrissey, R. L., and R. H. Wasserman, 1971. Calcium absorption and calcium-binding protein in chicks on differing calcium and phosphorus intakes. Am. J. Physiol. 220: 1509-1515. Wasserman, R. H., R. A. Corradino and A. N. Taylor, 1968. Vitamin D-dependent calciumbinding protein. Purification and some properties. J. Biol. Chem. 243:3978-3986.