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An investigation into the loss of activity of 14C-labelled volatile fatty acid (VFA) tracers used to measure VFA production rates in the rumen of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

S. Wilson  and
J. C. Macrae
S. Wilson
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PY
J. C. Macrae
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PY
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Extract

Few problems have been reported with the use of the isotope dilution technique for measuring volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in the rumen of sheep. However, early studies carried out in this laboratory, using a standard technique (Leng & Leonard, 1965) showed serious limitations associated with losses of activity from the infusates. Subsequent inquiries suggested that other laboratories had experienced similar problems (J. D. Sutton, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, and D. E. Beever, Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, personal communication). When solutions of [U-14C]Na acetate, [l·14C]Na propionate and [l·14C]Na butyrate obtained from the Radiochemical Centre, Amersham, were each diluted with deionized water to provide 0·5 μtCi μtmol/ml (hereafter designated 14Ac, 14Pr and 14Bu respectively) and left to stand at room temperature for 6 h, losses of activity of C, 15 and 3% respectively were found.

Type
Short Note
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , February 1977 , pp. 245 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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References

Leng, R. A. & Leonard, G. J. (1965). Measurement of the rates of production of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in the rumen of sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 19, 469–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, J. C. (1966). A survey of some methods sample preparation for liquid scintillation counting, In Sample Preparation Techniques for Liquid Scintil lation Counting (Proceedings of the Beckman Summer School, University College, London, 1966), pp. la–17aGoogle Scholar