Dietary soybean phosphatidylcholine affects growth performance and lipolytic enzyme activity in Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta Caspius) alevin

The effects of supplemental dietary phosphatidylcholine (PtCho) on the growth performance, survival and digestive enzyme activity of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler 1877) alevins were investigated in this study. Alevin (initial weight 0.8 ± 0.12 g) was fed for 5 weeks with an isoproteic‐ and isolipidic‐formulated diet with increased levels of PtCho from 0 to 60 g kg^?1 dry matter and decreasing levels of soybean oil. The increase in dietary PtCho up to 4% led to an increase in alevin final weight, suggesting that moderate PtCho levels are needed during this stage of Caspian brown trout. Survival was not affected by the dietary PtCho level. Phosphatidylcholine incorporation into the diet caused higher phospholipase A2‐specific activity. Phosphatidylcholine did not show a beneficial effect on the specific activity of amylase and protease. Lipase‐specific activity was significantly higher in the PtCho groups compared with the control group. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly influenced by the dietary PtCho level. The results of the present study indicated that the dietary supplementation of PtCho in the diet of Caspian brown trout alevin improved growth and lipolytic enzyme activity.     

Growth response,body composition and fatty acid profile of Caspian brown trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta Caspius</Emphasis>) juvenile fed diets containing different levels of soybean phosphatidylcholine

We investigated the effects of soybean phosphatidylcholine (PtCho) on the growth, fatty acid (FA) profile, and body composition of juvenile Caspian brown trout. Juvenile trout, initial average weight 0.8 ± 0.12 g, were fed semi-purified formulated diets supplemented with 2, 4, and 6% PtCho for 5 weeks. Results showed that fish with diets containing 4 or 6% PtCho had significantly greater growth. The FA profiles of both the polar lipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) in juvenile tissues were influenced by dietary FA, although the effects of PtCho supplementation were more marked for PL than for NL. Fish fed PtCho in the diet also had higher levels of 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and n-6, and significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in both PL and NL. The lipid contents of whole-body tissues and liver were positively affected by PtCho percentage in the diet. Specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, visceralsomatic index, and protein efficiency ratio were also significantly influenced by dietary PtCho. The results of our study indicate that dietary PtCho has a growth-promoting effect and that juvenile Caspian brown trout have a relatively moderate PtCho requirement (at least 4% dry weight of the diet).     

Dry chemical processing and ensiling of rice straw to improve its quality for use as ruminant feed

In this study, changes in the chemical composition, pH, cell wall and degradability of ensiled rice straw were investigated when treated with alkali, acid, oxidant agents (1–11 %, w/w) and a combination of an oxidant with either an alkali (ALHP) or an acid (ACHP). The findings of the study revealed that ALHP had a lower efficiency in enhancing fibre degradability compared to alkali alone. Oxidant treatment showed no detectable changes in pH, dry matter (DM) and phenolic compound (PC) solubility, or in silica and fibre content, but led to increased esterified groups formed within the cell wall constituents (hemicellulose and lignin). Increasing acid concentration led to an exponential change in both pH and solubility of DM and hemicelluloses while it quadratically increased PC and silica solubility. Moreover, crystallinity, hydrogen bonding and esterification were enhanced under high acid concentrations (11 %), but decreased under mild acid conditions (5 %). Increased alkalinity led to the linear enhancement of DM and PC solubility. Solubility of silica and hemicellulose did not exhibit any significant changes with alkali concentration above 7 %. A gradual enhancement (29 %) was observed in ruminal DM degradability with increasing oxidant concentration, whereas exponential (91 %) and quadratic (23 %) enhancements were observed with alkaline and acid treatments, respectively. Treatment with acid showed observable reductions in the degradability of both cellulose and hemicellulose, whereas oxidant treatment reduced only that of hemicellulose. Treatment with 7 % alkali (pH?～?12) followed by ensiling appeared to be a promising process for improving rice straw quality.     

Pharmacokinetics of harpagoside in horses after intragastric administration of a Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) extract

Devil's claw is used for the treatment of inflammatory symptoms and degenerative disorders in horses since many years, but without the substantive pharmacokinetic data. The pharmacokinetic parameters of harpagoside, the main active constituent of Harpagophytum procumbens DC ex Meisn., were evaluated in equine plasma after administration of Harpagophytum extract FB 8858 in an open, single‐dose, two‐treatment, two‐period, randomized cross‐over design. Six horses received a single dose of Harpagophytum extract, corresponding to 5 mg/kg BM harpagoside, and after 7 days washout period, 10 mg/kg BM harpagoside via nasogastric tube. Plasma samples at certain time points (before and 0–24 hr after administration) were collected, cleaned up by solid‐phase extraction, and harpagoside concentrations were determined by LC‐MS/MS using apigenin‐7‐glucoside as internal standard. Plasma concentration‐time data and relevant parameters were described by noncompartmental model through PKSolver software. Harpagoside could be detected up to 9 hr after administration. C_max was found at 25.59 and 55.46 ng/ml, t_1/2 at 2.53 and 2.32 hr, respectively, and t_max at 1 hr in both trials. AUC_0–inf was 70.46 and 117.85 ng hr ml^?1, respectively. A proportional relationship between dose, C_max and AUC was observed. Distribution (V_z/F) was 259.04 and 283.83 L/kg and clearance (CL/F) 70.96 and 84.86 L hr^?1 kg^?1, respectively. Treatment of horses with Harpagophytum extract did not cause any clinically detectable side effects.     

The effect of Teucrium polium (Calpoureh) on liver function, serum lipids and glucose in diabetic male rats

BACKGROUND: Teucrium polium is an analgesic, antidiabetic and antilipeidemic herbal medicament. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract T. polium on liver enzymes linked to liver dysfunction, serum lipids and glucose, in diabetic male rats. METHODS: A total of 20 Sprague-Dawly male rats became diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). the animals were divided randomly into two groups. Experimental group was fed Teucrium polium (50 mg/kg) for a month but control group was received the same volume of distilled water. Liver enzymes, biochemical parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, alanine transaminase, aspartae transaminase) and glucose were measured by kinetic (Enzymatic) and colorimetric methods. Data obtained were analyzed and mean values were compared by paired student's t-test. The results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Significant differences were set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Our results showed that in test group, serum glucose values decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, alanine transaminase and aspartae transaminase increased significantly after use of T. polium (P < 0.05). This parameters value did not show any changes in control group. CONCLUSION: Although the aqueous extract of Teucrium polium has strong hypoglycemic properties in experimental animals, but because of some hepatotoxic effects, it is not suitable to use it in human as an antidiabetic agent.     

Acephalous lamb from an in vitro-produced sheep embryo

This is the first report of an acephalous lamb from the transfer of an in vitro-produced sheep embryo. Twelve in vitro-fertilized embryos were transferred to 4 recipient ewes (3 embryos/ewe). Two ewes remained pregnant: one delivered a normal female lamb, the other a male acephalous lamb. Possible contributing factors are discussed.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and tillage practices on yield-scaled nitrous oxide emission from a maize field in Iran

Nitrification inhibitors can effectively decrease nitrification rates and nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission while increasing crop yield under certain conditions.However,there is no information available on the effects of nitrification inhibitors and tillage practices on N₂O emissions from maize cropping in Iran.To study how tillage practices and nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor)affect N₂O emission,a split factorial experiment using a completely randomized block design with three replications was carried out in Northeast Iran,which has a cold semiarid climate.Two main plots were created with conventional tillage and minimum tillage levels,and two nitrogen(N)fertilizer(urea)management systems(with and without nitrapyrin application)were created as subplots.Tillage level did not have any significant effect on soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-)concentrations,cumulative amount and yield-scaled N₂O emission,and aboveground biomass of maize,whereas nitrapyrin application showed significant effect.Nitrapyrin application significantly reduced the cumulative amount of N₂O emission by 41%and 32%in conventional tillage and minimum tillage practices,respectively.A reduction in soil NO₃^-concentration by nitrapyrin was also observed.The average yield-scaled N₂O emission was 13.6 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake in both tillage systems without nitrapyrin application and was significantly reduced to 7.9 and 8.2 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake upon the application of nitrapyrin in minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices,respectively.Additionally,nitrapyrin application increased maize biomass yield by 4%and 13%in the minimum tillage and conventional tillage systems,respectively.Our results indicate that nitrapyrin has a potential role in reducing N₂O emission from agricultural systems where urea fertilizers are broadcasted,which is common in Iran due to the practice of traditional farming.     

Distribution of inorganic phosphorus fractions in some soil profiles of Zagros forest of Iran

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of inorganic phosphorus (P) fractions in ten virgin soil profiles, and to study the relationships between P fractions and soil properties from Kohgyloyeh and Boir Ahmad province, Iran. The soils belonged to Alfisols, Entisols, Mollisols, and Inceptisols. Mean annual precipitation and temperature ranges were 450–850 mm and 12.2–22.4°C, respectively. Inorganic P was fractionated by sequential extraction with NaHCO₃, NH₄OAc, MgCl₂, NH₄F, NaOH, citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate (CBD), and H₂SO₄, which are referred to as NaHCO₃–P, NH₄OAc–P, MgCl₂–P, NH₄F–P, NaOH–P, CBD–P, and H₂SO₄–P, respectively. Generally, the NaHCO₃–P, NH₄OAc–P, MgCl₂–P, and NH₄F–P were higher in surface horizons, especially wherever there was higher annual precipitation. Results showed that H₂SO₄–P constituted the largest inorganic P fractions in all profiles. For all the soils studied the distribution of P fractions was similar to that of weakly weathered soils under arid and semi-arid regions which represent an early stage of development. Pedogenic P compounds were higher where weathering was higher, i.e., in surface horizons and at higher annual precipitation.