Welfare of Ferrets

Dietary factors affecting tissue storage of beta-carotene (BC), alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T), and retinol (ROL) in mammals include taurocholate, protein, and fat. Few studies have examined the effects of these factors on the storage of BC, retinyl esters, and alpha-T in a mammalian system that is similar to humans. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effects of taurocholate (TC), fat, and protein on the absorption and metabolism of BC and alpha-T in ferret tissues. Three 4-week experiments were conducted using groups of 5-6 ferrets per treatment. All diets contained 0.2% BC. In Experiment 1, taurocholate was fed at concentrations of 0, 0.5, or 1%. Effects of two concentrations of dietary fat (6 and 23%) and three concentrations of protein (10, 20, and 40%) were also studied in Experiments 2 and 3, respectively. Tissues were analyzed for BC, retinoids, and alpha-T by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Taurocholate enhanced hepatic and plasma concentrations of BC (2.3to 3-fold), retinyl palmitate [(RP) 3.2to 9.5-fold], retinyl stearate [(RS) 2.9­ to 6fold], and hepatic alpha-T (6to 13fold) at p < 0.05. High-fat diets elevated hepatic BC, RP, RS, and retinyl linoleate (RL) concentrations (2to 3.6-fold, p < 0.05). In contrast, high-protein diets lowered hepatic RL 1.8-fold and alpha-T 8-fold (p < 0.05). Our results indicate the importance of taurocholate, fat, and protein in achieving adequate levels of vitamins A and E in mammals. Descriptors: ferrets, dietary fats, dietary proteins, taurocholic acid, alpha tocopherol, beta carotene, liquid diet, liver chemistry, blood, nutrition. Triantafyllou, A., D. Fletcher, and J. Scott (2005). Organic secretory products, adaptive responses and innervation in the parotid gland of ferret: A histochemical study. Archives of Oral Biology 50(9): 769-777. ISSN: 0003­ 9969. NAL Call Number: RK1.A6989 Abstract: To qualify cellular events of possible pathophysiological significance in the parotid of ferret, tissue obtained post-mortem from mature animals of either sex was examined by light microscopical histochemistry for calcium, protein, amino acids, mucosubstances and hydrolases, and by neurohistology. Calcium was localised in acinar cells replete with granules containing protein, disulphides and usually carboxylated mucosubstances. Acid phosphatase activity was basally concentrated in the acinar cells. The granular luminal region of striated ductal cells showed protein, tryptophan, disulphides, neutral mucosubstances, and E600­ sensitive esterase and Naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activities, whereas their basal region showed acid phosphatase activity. Strong periluminal activity of acid phosphatase and E600-resistant esterase characterised the collecting ducts. Cholinesterase activity was associated with an extensive network of nerve fibres embracing parenchyma. Catecholamine fluorescence was not seen. beta-glucuronidase reactive macrophages abounded in the interstices. The results suggest that while the acini in the parotid of ferret secrete polyionic glycoproteins, shielded by calcium, the striated ducts secrete tryptophan-rich products comprising neutral glycoproteins and showing proteolytic activity. Innervation is of the cholinergic type and parenchymal lysosomal activity, possibly related to autophagy of stored secretory products and heterophagy of luminal material, is brisk. Macrophages contribute to maintaining the glandular microenvironment, wherein secretory activity appears to be lethargic. Descriptors: ferrets, metabolism, phosphatase analysis, calcium analysis, disulfides analysis, anatomy, histology, hydrolases metabolism, nerve fibers, parotid gland cytology, innervation. Wang, X.D. (2005). Can smoke-exposed ferrets be utilized to unravel the mechanisms of action of lycopene. Journal of Nutrition 135(8): 2053S-2056S. ISSN: 0022-3166. NAL Call Number: 389.8 J82 Descriptors: tomato products, lycopene, anticarcinogenic activity, lung cancer, ferrets, animal models, smoking habit, mechanism of action, dosage, metabolites, blood chemistry, lungs, cell proliferation, epidemiology. Notes: In the special section: "Promises and perils of lycopene/tomato supplementation and cancer prevention." Presented at a conference held February 17-18, 2005, Bethesda, Maryland.