title: Ammoniation to reduce the toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed fed to rats.
abstract: To assess the efficacy of ammoniation in the detoxification of endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 40 male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following four treatments for 28 d: endophyte-free (E-), endophyte-infected (E+), ammoniated (2% dry matter basis, 7 d) endophyte-free (AE-), and ammoniated endophyte-infected (AE+) tall fescue seed. Total pyrrolizidine alkaloid (N-acetyl and N-formyl loline) and ergovaline contents of endophyte-infected fescue seed were reduced 24 and 54%, respectively, by ammoniation. Endophyte-infected treatment groups had lower (P < 0.01) daily feed intakes (DFI), daily weight gains (DWG), feed effieiencies, and primary serum hemagglutination titers to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) immunization than endophyte-free treatment groups. Performance parameters were higher (P < 0.01) for ammoniated diets in comparison to non-ammoniated die [s; however, anti-SRBC titers were not significantly different. When compared to the E+ diet, the AIE+ diet increased (P < 0.01) DFI (24%), DWG (41%) and feed efficiency (13%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Westendorf
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000164:Acremonium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D008297:Male; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000641:Ammonia