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<li>Isolate, characterize, and monitor abortifacient and toxic components of pine needles and boom snakeweed.</li>
<li>Determine the metabolism and clearance times of these compounds and describe their physiologic activity.</li>
<li>Describe pathophysiologic changes associated with the abortion and determine effects on neonatal survival and postpartum interval; and develop treatment for abortion sequelae.</li>
<li>Determine plant, animal, environmental,and management factors influencing consumption and develop strategies to reduce losses.</li>
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<p>Identify serum metabolites of isocupressic acid (ICA), determine active component(s), their rates of metabolism, and serum clearance times. Presence of ICA will be evaluated for other pine, fir, or juniper species. Effect of environment on toxin distribution and concentration will be surveyed. Environmental conditions, animal nutritional studies, forage type, quality, availability, and management factors will be studied to determine why and when cows eat pine needles. Aversive conditioning will be evaluated as a tool to prevent grazing of needles. In vitro and in vivo physiologic, endocrine and receptor binding studies, and cattle response to antidotes and treatments ill be studied to further elucidate mechanism of action. Continue to develop treatments for premature calves and cows with retained fetal membranes. Broom snakeweed (BSW) extracts will be evaluated in cows, sheep, or goats for abortifacient or toxic activity. Active compounds will be identified. Toxic effects of BSW will be fully described to better diagnose intoxication and explain mechanism of action.</p>
<p>Wang, S., Panter, K.E., Gardner, D.R., Evans, R.C., Holyoak, G.R. and Bunch T.D. Effects of isocupressic acid (ICA), a pine needle abortifacient toxin, on in vitro development of bovine embryos. Theriogenology 53:369, 2000. (Abstract)</p>