Structural characterization of three aldobiuronic acids derived from the capsular polysaccharide produced by the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus

This study deals with the chemical characterization of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) produced by a thermal biomass formed by the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. Acid hydrolysis performed on the purified polysaccharide has led to the isolation of several acid-resistant oligosaccharides. Two of them have already been reported and assigned as: alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 2) - alpha - GalA - (1 --> 2) - Man. and alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 2) - alpha - GalA - (1 --> 2) - beta - Man - (1 --> 4) - beta - Gal(1 --> 2) - Rha. In this report, results on the isolation and partial purification of three supplementary oligosaccharidic units are presented. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy investigations allowed them to be assigned as three aldobiuronic acids with the following structures: alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 3) - Gal alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 3) - Fuc alpha - GalA - (1 --> 3) - Fuc.

Review of the literature and investigations on the prevalence and consequences of yeasts in reptiles

Ninety-one reptiles were examined for the presence of yeasts by standard protocols and pathohistological methods. Yeasts were isolated from 42 of the animals. Representatives of herbivorous families (Testudinidae and Iguanidae) carried yeasts more often than animals belonging to carnivorous taxa (Boidae and Emydidae). Yeasts were most often isolated from the gastrointestinal tract, and in 24-6 per cent of cases they could be cultured from the oral cavity and/or cloaca of living animals. Postmortem examination revealed that the intestines of 80-6 per cent of the animals carried yeasts. In all, 56 isolates, belonging to the genera Candida (32), Trichosporon (11), Torulopsis (9) and Rhodotorula (3), and one perfect yeast were obtained. The species included taxa potentially pathogenic to man. However, no sufficiently reliable criteria could be established to prove that positive culture results were associated with disease. In the reptiles examined postmortem, three cases of dermatomycosis were detected histologically. No case of organ mycosis was identified.

Persistence of the AML1/ETO fusion transcript in patients treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for t(8;21) leukemia

The AML1/ETO fusion transcript is expressed in virtually all patients with t(8;21) (q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The fusion transcript can be detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in most of these patients in long-term complete remission (CR) following conventional chemotherapy or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). However, AML1/ETO expression has not been analyzed in a series of patients following allogeneic BMT. We examined CR bone marrow (BM) samples and, in some cases, blood samples from 10 patients with t(8;21) leukemia who underwent allogeneic BMT in either first or second remission or first or second relapse. A variety of myeloablative regimens were used. Eight patients received non-T-cell depleted BM from matched sibling donors, one patient received a T-cell depleted haploidentical BM, and one patient received a non-T-cell depleted BM from a matched unrelated donor (MUD). Five patients developed acute and/ or chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). The furthest time points analyzed for the AML1/ETO transcript in the 10 patients in CR following allogeneic BMT ranged from 7.5 to 83.0 months. Sufficient RNA was extracted from the most recent BM or BM and blood samples from nine patients to assay for presence or absence of the AML1/ETO fusion transcript by RT-PCR. The fusion transcript was detected by RT-PCR in all nine of these patient samples; eight were positive in BM and one was negative in BM, but positive in blood. The fusion transcript could not be detected in a BM sample from the tenth patient obtained 7.5 months after BMT, but the amount of RNA available was suboptimal. Hematopoietic chimerism could be demonstrated in sorted CD34+ BM cells from two of four patient CR BM samples with RT-PCR evidence of the fusion transcript. Additionally, in one of the two cases with chimerism, we demonstrated an abnormal clonal population of recipient cells in the CR BM sample by fluorescence in situ hybridization. One patient died of complications from GVHD, while the other nine patients remain alive without evidence of relapse, with a median follow-up time of 27 (range, 7.5 to 87) months post-BMT. These data suggest that allogeneic BMT, like conventional chemotherapy and autologous BMT, is not sufficient to eradicate cells expressing AML1/ETO, and that a positive RT-PCR for the fusion transcript post allogeneic BMT is compatible with continued CR.

Identification by NMR spectroscopy of oligosaccharides obtained by acidolysis of the capsular polysaccharides of a thermal biomass

This study deals with the chemical characterization of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) produced by a thermal biomass largely comprising the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. The sugar moiety of this polymer is composed of seven neutral monosaccharides (Rha, Fuc, Ara, Xyl, Man, Glc, Gal) and two uronic acids (GalA, GlcA). Proteins represent 18% of the dry weight of the CPS. Organic acid substituents (acetate, pyruvate, succinate) were also detected and estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The presence of sulfate groups (5% w/w) was observed, which represents a relatively rare feature for cyanobacteria. Acidic hydrolysis of the purified polysaccharide led to the isolation of four oligosaccharidic fractions. NMR spectroscopy studies of two of the four purified oligosaccharides allowed them to be identified as: alpha-GlcA-(1-->2)-alpha-GalA-(1-->2)-Man and alpha-GlcA-(1-->2)-alpha-GalA-(1-->2)-beta-Man-(1-->4)-beta-Gal-(1 -->2)-Rha.

Therapy-related acute promyelocytic leukemia with t(15;17) (q22;q12) following chemotherapy with drugs targeting DNA topoisomerase II. A report of two cases and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The development of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) with balanced translocations to chromosome bands 11q23 and 21q22 has recently been significantly related to previous treatment with several cytostatic drugs poisoning DNA topoisomerase II. A similar association was suspected for other balanced chromosomal aberrations such as the t(15;17) characteristic of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia were observed following treatment for seminoma with etoposide, cisplatin, and bleomycin and treatment for breast cancer with 4-epi-doxorubicin and subsequent cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy. Both cases presented a t(15;17) (q22;q12) and were examined for the characteristic chimeric rearrangement of the RAR alpha and PML genes observed in acute promyelocytic leukemia de-novo.

RESULTS

In both cases the characteristic chimeric rearrangement was demonstrated. Case no. 2 in addition to the t(15;17) showed an inversion of the long arm of a chromosome no. 5 and a del(7)(q22) in all abnormal mitoses studied. Despite these findings the patient obtained a complete morphological and cytogenetic remission of the leukemia following treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these two cases and a review of the literature it is concluded that the development of t-APL with the balanced translocation t(15;17) is related to previous treatment with cytostatic drugs targeting DNA topoisomerase II and that additional abnormalities of the long arms of chromosomes no. 5 and no. 7 do not interfere with the induction of remission with all-trans-retinoic acid.

[Bladder rupture. Diagnosis, etiology and treatment]

The majority of bladder ruptures (80-90%) are caused by major blunt abdominal trauma. Penetrating injuries account for the rest. Bladder rupture is seen most often in patients with pelvic fracture. More seldom, the rupture can be caused by energetic blunt abdominal trauma. The rupture can either be intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal. The symptoms are macroscopic haematuria, suprapubic pain and, in some patients, an inability to avoid. Retrograde cystography is the diagnostic procedure of choice. An intravenous infusion pyelogram does not provide adequate examination of the bladder. The rupture is treated by operative closure and drainage by catheter. Extraperitoneal rupture may be treated with only catheter drainage and close clinical evaluation. We describe two patients with intraperitoneal bladder rupture after low energetic abdominal trauma.

Two-step activation of meiosis by the mat1 locus in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The mat1 locus is a key regulator of both conjugation and meiosis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Two alternative DNA segments of this locus, mat1-P and mat1-M, specify the haploid cell types (Plus and Minus). Each segment includes two genes: mat1-P includes mat1-Pc and mat1-Pm, while mat1-M includes mat1-Mc and mat1-Mm. The mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc genes are responsible for establishing the pheromone communication system that mediates conjugation between P and M cells, while all four mat1 genes are required for meiosis in diploid P/M cells. Our understanding of the initiation of meiosis is based largely on indirect observations, and a more precise investigation of these events was required to define the interaction between the mat1 genes. Here we resolve this issue using synthetic pheromones and P/M strains with mutations in either mat1-Pc or mat1-Mc. Our results suggest a model in which the mat1 locus plays two roles in controlling meiosis. In the first instance, the mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc functions are required to produce the mating pheromones and receptors that allow the generation of a pheromone signal. This signal is required to induce the expression of mat1-Pm and mat1-Mm. This appears to be the major pheromone-dependent step in controlling meiosis since ectopic expression of these genes allows meiosis in the absence of mat1-Pc and mat1-Mc. The mat1-Pm and mat1-Mm products complete the initiation of meiosis by activating transcription of the mei3 gene.

[Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows and suckling piglets. 7. Energy and nitrogen metabolism in suckling piglets]

In 23 litters, each with 10 or 11 piglets, the energy and nitrogen metabolism was measured on base of 218 body analyses in suckling piglets and on base of 96 total metabolism experiments in early weaned piglets, combined with 134 body analyses. The studies were carried out as part of a complex experimental program for the factorial derivation of energy and protein requirement of piglets and for measuring the milk production of lactating sows. The energy maintenance requirement of suckling piglets (sow's milk nutrition, I) and of early weaned piglets (sow's milk replacement on the basis of cow's milk, II) amounted to 468 (I) and 451 kJ (II) metabolizable energy per kg LW0.75 . d, the utilization of of metabolizable energy for energy deposition to 70(I) and 72% (II). With mean live weight gains (LWG) of 161 and 162 g per animal and day the cost per kg LWG amounted to 19.9 and 20.4 MJ gross energy, 19.3 and 19.4 MJ metabolizable energy as well as 14.4 and 14.2 MJ net energy-fat in suckling and early weaned piglets resp. The mean energy content of the LWG amounted to 8.9 (I) and to 7.9 MJ/kg (II).

Low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 therapy in advanced multiple myeloma

In vitro data have demonstrated autologous T-lymphocytes with anti-tumour activity in multiple myeloma (MM). Therefore a phase I/II trial was conducted to study the feasibility, the effect on several immunological parameters, and the tumour response induction of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in MM patients. 18 MM patients of advanced stages in progress, who had failed on standard chemotherapy received 9 x 10(6) IU/m2 rIL-2 twice daily on days 1 and 2 and 0.9 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily for 5 subsequent days per week subcutaneously from days 3 to 56 (repeated every 12 weeks until progression). Patients were treated for between 8 and 1086 + d (mean 241 d) without serious side-effects. 6/17 patients experienced tumour response (2/17 objective tumour mass reduction, 4/17 long-lasting stable disease following tumour progression before initiation of rIL-2 treatment). During therapy the number of eosinophils increased 15-fold, CD4+ T lymphocytes were activated as demonstrated by enhanced CD25 antigen expression, and CD56+ NK cells expanded in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, a diminished pre-treatment ratio of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes was normalized during rIL-2 treatment. NK cell activity and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell activity was significantly enhanced. Endogenous IL-2 production and elevated soluble IL-2 receptor serum concentrations were induced. Low-dose rIL-2 can stimulate immune enhancement in MM despite the characteristic tumour-induced immunodeficiency. The treatment has proven though limited efficacy in advanced MM. Because most of the responders experienced termination of tumour progression rather than tumour regression, rIL-2 maintenance of chemotherapy-induced remissions should be investigated.

[Proposal for the introduction of an energetic feed evaluation system for all domestic animals based on uniform parameters and principles. 2. Energetic feed evaluation for swine]

The energy availability from the feedstuffs and the energy requirement of animals are characterized by the metabolizable energy. The metabolizable energy of the feed (feedstuff, ration) is interpreted as potential energy. For comparative analyses within and between animals species with regard to the energetic feed value of single feedstuffs the parameter "relative fat retention effect" is introduced. The metabolizable energy of a ration is estimated in consideration of live weight and protein production (protein in body gain and milk). The energy requirement is calculated factorial--as a rule by the partial utilization of metabolizable energy for partial performances (e.g., kf, kp, kl) in connection with the level and kind of partial performance; km is not used in the system. The proposed system of energetic feed evaluation is available as "computer variant" as well as "manual variant". The computer programme is fitted first of all to application in research and teaching. (The complete documentation of the proposal for energetic feed evaluation for pigs including a diskette for using of the computer programme for scientific applications can be claimed in limited extend from the author.)

[Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows and suckling piglets. 5. Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant sows]

The energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant sows was measured with the method of indirect calorimetry in dependence on the number of gestation (1,2 and 4), on the energy supply (120, 100 and 80% of the requirement recommendation) and on the gestation stage. Values of maintenance requirement and of energy and nitrogen utilization for body deposition were calculated on the basis of results of energy and nitrogen metabolism. The energy maintenance requirement increased from 389 to 435 and 473 kJ metabolizable energy per kg LW0.75.d with rising number of gestation. The heat production increased from 85th to 115th day of gestation by 6%. The efficiency of the partial energy utilization for the energy deposition amounted to 66% on the average. The efficiency of the partial utilization of digestible nitrogen for the nitrogen deposition was calculated to 75%. The nitrogen maintenance requirement values amounted to 0.5 and 0.4 g digestible nitrogen per kg LW0.75.d in the 1st and 2nd half of gestation.

[Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows in addition to the suckling piglets. 4. Chemical composition and energy content of the conception products, reproductive organs and the live weight gain or loss in pregnant or lactating sows]

The chemical composition and the energy content of the conception products, the reproductive organs and the live weight gains or losses of pregnant and lactating sows were determined in dependence on the litter number (1, 2 and 4) and the energy supply (120, 100 and 80% of requirement recommendation) of sows as well as on the course of gestation and lactation. The results will be used as a basis for factorial derivation of requirement recommendation. The deposition of protein and energy in the conception products in dependence on the time is characterized by an exponential function. The deposition of nutrients and energy in the conception products is increased with rising litter size. The deposition of nutrients and energy per fetus is lower in the litter number 1 than in the litter number 2 and 4. The energy supply in the selected limits has no significant influence on the litter size as well as on the intrauterine deposition of nutrients and energy. The litter number, the energy supply as well as the course of gestation and lactation influence considerably the weight, the chemical composition and the energy content in the mammary gland. The chemical composition and the energy content of the live weight gains or losses of pregnant and lactating sows are strong affected by the energy supply. The increased energy supply of the pregnant sows is connected with increased live weight gains and with increased contents of dry matter, fat and energy however decreased contents of protein in the live weight gains. The live weight losses of the lactating sows are connected with mobilisation of body fat and body protein. The proportion of body fat to body protein degradation is increased with increased losses of body weight. Regression equations are calculated for the relationships between course of gestation and lactation respectively and deposition of protein and energy in the conception products, reproductive organs and maternal live weight gains or losses of sows.

[Effect of the convertibility of energy (Q) on energy maintenance requirement and utilization and convertible energy for the assessment of ruminants. 1. Digestibility of energy and nutrients]

The energy metabolism was measured by means of indirect calorimetry in growing bulls with mean live weights of 290-420 kg and in wethers with mean live weights of 40-60 kg. The animals were fed 12 (bulls) and 8 rations (wethers) with high variation in the nutrients composition and with a range of energy metabolizability (q) between 0.74 and 0.47 on 3 steps of nutrition level (deposition, maintenance, underfeeding) as a rule. The energy digestibility of the 12 rations tested in growing bulls on the nutrition level maintenance was measured between 81.9 and 56.4% and that of the 8 rations tested in wethers was measured between 82.6 and 55.6%. On the high and middle nutrition levels the data of energy and nutrients digestibility in growing bulls and wethers were in good agreement, except the significant lower digestibility of crude protein in cattle. On the low nutrition level digestibility of energy, crude protein, crude cellulose and N free residual substances in wethers was 3-5 digestibility units lower than in bulls. The increase of nutrition level by 1 unit lowered the energy digestibility in bulls by 4.2 and the nutrients digestibility about 4-8%-units (0.7 for starch). In sheep the effect was not so high as in cattle. There were differences in the rumen physiological parameters between the animal species. In the growing bulls' rumen liquid the part of acetate was higher and the parts of propionate and butyrate were lower. The content of NH3 was higher in sheep. The increase of nutrition level caused higher amounts of volatile fatty acids in the two animal species with lowering the part of acetic acid and raising the parts of propionic and butyric acid.

[Effect of the convertibility of energy (Q) on energy maintenance requirement and utilization and convertible energy for the assessment of ruminants. 2. Energy maintenance requirements and energy utilization]

In growing bulls (290-420 kg LW) and wethers (40-60 kg LW) the energy metabolism was measured by means of indirect calorimetry on 3 steps of energy intake (deposition, maintenance, underfeeding) as a rule with feeding 12 (growing bulls) resp. 8 rations (wethers) with a range of energy metabolizability (q) between 0.74 and 0.47. Investigations were carried out in oxen previously with 9 rations with a range of q between 0.65 and 0.56 were completed by measurements of the energy metabolism with underfeeding and also analysed for the influence of q on energy maintenance requirement and energy utilization. In all 3 animal categories the energy maintenance requirement was not dependent on q significantly. On the nutrition level maintenance the mean energy maintenance requirement amounted to 467 +/- 64 in growing bulls (n = 104), 533 +/- 53 in oxen (n = 44) and 323 +/- 59 kJ ME/kg LW0.75.d in wethers (n = 32). The partial utilization of the metabolizable energy for deposition was influenced significantly (alpha = 0.05) by q in growing bulls only (kpf = -0.1495 + 0.9933q +/- 0.050). A differentiation of the utilization of metabolizable energy for deposition was demonstrable in wethers only with mean values of 50.7% (kf) and of 64.2% (km); km was also independent on q.

[Proposal for the introduction of an energy feed evaluation system based on unitary parameters and principles for all farm animals. 3. Energy feed evaluation for fowls]

The energy availability from the feedstuffs and the energy requirement of animals are characterized by the metabolizable energy. The metabolizable energy of the feed (feedstuff, ration) is interpreted as potential energy. For comparative analyses within and between animal species with regard to the energetic feed value of single feedstuffs the parameter "relative fat retention effect" is introduced. The metabolizable energy of a ration is estimated in consideration of live weight and protein production (protein in body gain and egg). The energy requirement is calculated factorial - as a rule by the partial utilization of metabolizable energy for partial performances (kf, kp, ko) in connection with the level and kind of partial performance; km is not used in the system. The proposed system of energetic feed evaluation is available as "computer variant" as well as "manual variant". The computer programme is fitted first of all to application in research and teaching. (The complete documentation of the proposal for energetic feed evaluation for fowls including a diskette for using of the computer programme for scientific application can be claimed in limited extend from the author.)

[The energetic utilization of L-fructose in rats]

The energetic utilization of L-fructose (LF) and D-fructose (DF) was investigated by means of indirect calorimetry in a difference trial on 9 male Wistar rats in the live weight range of 250 to 300 g. The daily rations in the two comparable periods with added fructose consisted of 10 g basal diet plus 2.7 g LF or 2.5 g DF. The digestibility and metabolizability of energy of the LF-ration were decreased by about 4 and 6%, resp., in comparison to the DF-ration. The efficiency of total utilization of energy (energy deposition/gross energy) amounted to (7 +/- 3)% (mean +/- SD) for the LF-ration and (10 +/- 3)% for the DF-ration. The lower digestibility of energy of the LF-ration was mainly due to a depression of apparent digestibility of crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre--obviously caused by increased microbial fermentation. With correction of the depression of digestibility the following values of energetic utilization resulted from the difference evaluation for LF and DF, resp.: digestibility (90 +/- 8)% and (100 +/- 6)%, metabolizability (85 +/- 8)% and (102 +/- 5)%, utilization of gross energy for energy deposition (69 +/- 11)% and (86 +/- 11)% and utilization of metabolizable energy (81 +/- 7)% and (84 +/- 11)%, resp.

[Dependence of gross energy, digestive energy and metabolizable energy of feed and the energy disposition on the content of digestible nutrients in relation to starch and sugar. The progress of energetic feed evaluation. 1. Results from studies on swine]

On the basis of an analysis of energy metabolism measurements on adult pigs, fed on 92 ratios with very heterogeneous nutrient composition, the following prediction equations for gross energy (y1), digestible (y2) and metabolizable energy (y3) as well as for energy deposition effect of ratios (y) (kJ) are presented: y1 = 23.6z1 + 39.8z2 + 17.3z3 + 16.0z4 + 18.9z5 y2 = 23.6x1 + 39.8x2 + 17.3x3 + 16.0x4 + 17.2x5 y3 = 20.5x1 + 39.8x2 + 17.3x3 + 16.0x4 + 17.0x5 y = 11.0x1 + 34.0x2 + 12.7x3 + 11.6x4 + 5.0x7 + (12.0-0.14(80-x6))(x5-x7) [table: see text]

[Energy metabolism of chicks at low environmental temperatures]

The daily energy metabolism of growing chickens for meat production (origin T 82) fed ad libitum was measured from the 5th up to the 65th day of life at environmental temperatures decreasing in the course of development (25, 20, 15, 15, 15, 10, 10, 5 and 5 degrees C, resp.). Further in each period the heat production was measured through a wide range of temperatures (Maximum 40 degrees C to 5 degrees C in steps of 5 K) by 30-minute short time measurements. The mean live weight of the chickens was 75 g at the beginning of the experiment and 3416 g (male) or 2952 g (female) at the end of the experiment. The digestibility of energy and nutrients was independent of the stage of development. On average the total efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy was 39.2 +/- 4.8% and the partial efficiency of utilization was 69.7 +/- 2.1%. 15-38% of the produced heat, caused by thermoregulation. The thermoneutral temperature decreased in the course of development from 35 to 18 degrees C and in the same way the thermoregulatory heat production decreased from 23 to 12 kJ/kg LW0.75.d.K. In the 2nd period the thermoregulatory heat production was extraordinarily high at an amount of 28 kJ/kg LW0.75.d.K.

[Dependence of gross energy, digestible and metabolizable energy of feed and the energy onset on the content of digestible nutrients in regard to starch and sugar. A contribution to the further development of energetic feed evaluation. 2. Results from studies of cattle]

On the basis of an analysis of energy metabolism measurements on adult cattle (oxen), fed on 110 rations with very heterogeneous nutrient composition, the following prediction equations for gross energy (y1), digestible (y2) and metabolizable energy (y3) as well as for energy deposition effect of rations (y) (kJ) are presented: y1 = 23.6z1 + 34.0z2 + 17.3z3 + 16.0z4 + 19.1z5 y2 = 23.6x1 + 34.0x2 + 17.3x3 + 16.0x4 + 18.0x5 y3 = 17.3x1 + 34.0x2 + 15.9x3 + 15.1x4 + 15.4x5 y = (6.5x + 26.6x2 + 10.1x3 + 7.5x4 + 8.9x5) (-0.5574 + 0.04050x6 - 0.0002633x6(2)) [table: see text]

[Comparative studies of the parameters of rumen fermentation and the digestibility of feed rations in cattle and sheep. 2. The digestibility of feed rations]

The results from 283 comparisons of digestibility in cattle (ox, cow, male and female young cattle) and sheep (adult wether) are presented. The crude protein content of the applied rations ranged from 90 to 340 and the crude fibre content from 80 to 430 g/kg DM. Within the range of rations with 200-350 g crude fibre per kg DM the differences between adult cattle and wether in the digestibility of energy and organic matter don't exceed 1%-unit (mean -0.5 +/- 2.5), that of crude protein is 5%-units lower in adult cattle than in adult wether. In young cattle digestibility is altogether lower than in wether; in young cattle with 120 to 200 kg live weight 4 to 6 and in more developed cattle 3 to 4 digestibility units for energy. In the metabolizability of the energy in comparison between adult wether and the different animal categories of cattle the difference don't exceed 1.5%-units. Relations between the live weight of cattle, the crude fibre of the rations as well as the nutrition level and the amount of difference of digestibility between cattle and sheep are considered.