On the Occasion of the "International Conference on the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Ciliates and Anaerobic Protozoa in connection with the 22nd Annual meeting of the German Society for Protozoology" (March 4-8, 2003, Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

Kišidayová, Svetlana

Váradyová, Zora

150-153

The influence of insulin on total gas and methane production, the production of total and individual fatty acids and dry matter degradability was investigated in a rumen ciliate culture of Entodinium caudatum. The experiment lasted for 24 h in two basic groups: whole protozoan culture (protozoa plus bacteria) and bacterial fraction (bacteria without protozoa). The treatment groups consisted of a control one (without insulin) and two groups with insulin application - single-shot and long-time application (one month - every 4-5th day together with feed). Long-time application of insulin significantly increased methane production in the whole protozoan culture. Total VFA concentration was significantly increased by long-time as well as single-shot application of insulin (by 255% and 158 %, respectively). Single-shot application of insulin into the bacterial fraction significantly decreased the production of total VFA when compared to the control (by 80%). The addition of insulin enhanced the acetogenesis and decreased the production of propionate. The growth of the ciliate was not influenced by insulin treatments. It can be concluded that the fermentation activity of the rumen ciliate Entodinium caudatum is obviously stimulated by long-time application of insulin.