Hormone-mediated maternal stress affects embryonic development during incubation without adverse effect on chick weight and body composition

1. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal stress (MS) induced by supplementing the hen’s diet with 2 mg/hen/d dietary corticosterone (CORT) on embryonic development, biochemical blood parameters and hatching performance of broiler chicks.

2. A total of 200 Ross broiler breeder hens at 42 weeks of age were randomly divided into two groups: MS or control. Hens in the MS were fed 2 mg/hen/d CORT for 14 d. Eggs (648 and 635 eggs for MS and control, respectively) were collected from d 3 to 14 of dietary CORT supplementation and incubated. Weights of embryo, chicks and organs and body composition were determined during incubation and at hatch. Biochemical blood parameters were measured at internal pipping stage and day of hatch. Hatching performance and embryonic mortalities were recorded.

3. Hens fed a diet supplemented with CORT had lighter body weight and produced less eggs at the end of the 14-d treatment period. Although MS embryos were heavier than control from 12 to 18 d of incubation, chick weight was similar at the day of hatch. Lower relative weights for yolk sac and bursa were observed at 12 d of incubation for MS chicks compared to control. Chicks from both groups had similar body content in spite of higher fat content of MS embryos on d 18 of incubation.

4. MS had no effect on the duration of incubation or hatching performance but increased mortality at the pipping stage.

5. The results suggest that hormone-mediated MS might affect embryonic development during incubation without adverse effect on chick weight and body composition.     

The lumbosacral Plexus of the Barn Owl (tyto alba): Formation,branches and distribution

The aim of the present study is to reveal the anatomical structure of lumbosacral plexus of barn owl. Six barn owls were included in the study. Nerves originating from plexus were dissected individually, and findings of innervation areas of nerves were determined. Lumbosacral plexus of barn owl was observed to be formed by ventral rami of ten synsacral spinal nerves. It was found that while the r. cutaneus femoris lateralis, the n. obturatorius, the n. coxalis cranialis, the r. cutaneus femoris medialis, the n. cutaneus femoris cranialis and the n. femoralis originated from the lumbar plexus, the n. isciofemoralis, the n. cutaneus femoris caudalis, the n. coxalis caudalis and the n. ischiadicus originated from the sacral plexus. Consequently, when the results of the study were compared with information of different avian species, it was observed that differences focused on the formation of the lumbar and sacral plexuses and innervation level of digits.     

Therapeutic effects of thymoquinone in doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity via oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis

Cancer is a lethal disease that is characterized by uncontrolled cell division and proliferation, and it results in death in many organisms. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a therapeutic agent used for treatment of many cancer types, but it induces serious hepatotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to determine possible hepato-therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (THQ) on DOX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): Control, THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p for 14 days), Olive Oil (equal volume with THQ for 14 days), DOX (single dose, 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day) and DOX + THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p and DOX 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day). At the end of the experiment, liver tissues were extracted and evaluated histopathologically. eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 immunostaining were performed to determine the expression levels. TUNEL method was used to determine apoptotic index. Furthermore, liver tissue total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), TNF-α and TGF-β levels were measured by ELISA assay. The DOX group showed histopathological deterioration compared to Control group. Moreover, apoptotic index, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions increased in DOX group. While TAS level of the DOX group decreased, TOS level increased. TNF-α and TGF-β levels increased in DOX group. However, there was improvement in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. Moreover, apoptotic cell number, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions decreased in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. We concluded that thymoquinone can be used as a phytotherapeutic for reducing DOX-induced liver damage.     

Comparative efficiency of novel laparoscopic and routine vaginal inseminations with cryopreserved semen in rabbits

Laparoscopic artificial insemination technique (LAI) is described to overcome reduced fertility problems in sheep artificial insemination (AI) programmes with frozen semen. Later on, this technology was modified for endangered non-domestic cats to deposit low quality or reduced number of sperm cells hardly obtained by electro-ejaculation into the oviduct. This technique by passes the complex structure of cervix and efficiently transfers the sperm cells to the point of fertilization. In recent years, rabbits are becoming popular transgenic animal models producing various therapeutic and commercial products, as well as being experimental animals for disease models. The worldwide transportation of frozen semen and re-establishment of transgenic lines using AI technology has become a common practice. Therefore, this study was designed to describe a laparoscopic intrauterine insemination technique, which might assist in conceiving the animals with limited number of sperm cells. The female rabbits were laparoscopically (n = 22) or vaginally (n = 13) inseminated with frozen–thawed semen samples containing approximately 10 × 10⁶ motile sperm. The laparoscopic insemination technique provided higher pregnancy rate (45.5%) than vaginal insemination technique (7.7%) (p < .05). In conclusion, the described laparoscopic AI might be a new alternative technique, thus enabling limited or low-quality frozen sperm samples to establish pregnancy in rabbits.     

Does the length of time dried distillers' grain with solubles substitution for soybean meal affect physiological indicators and meat quality in finishing lambs?

This study examined how inclusion of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing lamb diets for different periods affects some physiological indicators and meat quality. A total of 40 male lambs were divided into four groups according to feeding regimen during the 120-day finishing period as follows: C120: no DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D120: DDGS included in diet for 120 days; D75: no DDGS included in diet for 45 days + DDGS included in diet for 75 days; D45: no DDGS included in diet for 75 days + DDGS included in diet for 45 days. Dietary inclusion rate of DDGS was 27.5%. Fattening performance and rumen parameters were not affected by treatment. Feeding regimens had no significant effect on meat quality except the instrumental tenderness and juiciness score. DDGS fed lambs had higher level of total trans fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio in meat. 10t-C18:1, 11t-C18:1 and 9c,11t conjugated linoleic acid contents of adipose tissue were higher in all the DDGS groups compared with C120 lambs (p < .001). These results suggest that soybean meal can be replaced with corn DDGS in lamb diets for up to 120 days during the finishing period with no adverse effects on some physiological response feedlot performance and meat quality.     

Trends of Growing Degree-Days in Turkey

Variations in the surface air temperatures show an associationwith the atmospheric CO₂ under the hypothesis that warmertemperatures promote increases in plant growth in mid-northernlatitudes. Historical daily temperature records at seventy-fourweather stations (around 60-yr) in Turkey are used in orderto investigate this hypothesis. Separate calculations and analyses are undertaken for monthly and seasonal growing degree-days (GDD). The sequential version of Mann-Kendall rankstatistic is applied to demonstrate existence of any possible non-linear trends in accumulated GDDs above 5 °C over the months and seasons. Spatially coherent and statisticallysignificant trends of GDD are shown in some parts of Turkey. The statistically significant trends are negative mostly in summer and autumn seasons over the coastal areas of Turkey.These results strongly agree with the previous studies where weak cooling trends are observed in maximum temperatures overTurkey. They suggest the significant decreases in GDD may lead to long-term decreases in vegetation growth mostly overthe coastal regions of Turkey.     

Evaluation of Heavy Metals' (Cd,Cu, Ni,Ph, and Zn) Distribution in Sowing Regions of Potato Fields in the Province of Niğde,Turkey

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - The Province of Ni?de, located in central Anatolia, supplies approximately 25% of the total potato production in Turkey. In order to investigate selected...     

The effects of slaughter weight on chemical composition,physical properties,and fatty acid profile of musculus longissimus dorsi in Holstein bulls

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study was conducted to investigate the effects of slaughter weight on chemical composition, physical properties, and fatty acid profile of musculus...     

The Effect of Depuration on Metals,Bacteria, and Nutrition in Venus verrucosa from the Aegean Sea: Benefit and Risk for Consumer Health of Warty Venus

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of the depuration period on proximate composition, metals, fatty acids, and bacteria in the edible tissue of warty venus (Venus verrucosa) collected from ?zmir Bay in the Aegean Sea was investigated. In addition, benefit and risk for human health associated with the consumption of warty venus were determined by atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), polyene index (PI), fish lipid quality (FLQ), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI). The depuration process did not show a significant (P > .05) effect on proximate composition, except for ash. The depuration process was successful in reducing bacteria growth and the concentrations of all metals, except for copper. Total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count of 1.94 log CFU/g in the fresh samples was uncountable at 24 h of depuration. The concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper, iron, and zinc were below the limit values allowed for safe consumption. The analyzed metals were safe for human consumption based on provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), THQ, and HI. Significant variations were also observed in the fatty acid values depending on the depuration periods (P < .05). The n3/n6 and polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratios were greater than those recommended by the FAO/WHO. Moreover, the AI and TI of samples were under established limits.     

A comparative study on the effects of a pesticide (cypermethrin) and two metals (copper, lead) to serum biochemistry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

The present study was designed to compare the responses in freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus exposed to a synthetic pyrethroid, cypermethrin (CYP); an essential metal, copper (Cu); and a nonessential metal, lead (Pb). Fish were exposed to 0.05 μg/l CYP, 0.05 mg/l Cu, and 0.05 mg/l Pb for 4 and 21 days, and the alterations in serum enzyme activities, metabolite, and ion levels were determined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities increased in response to CYP, Cu, and Pb exposures at both exposure periods. While elevations in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and in cholesterol level were observed in pesticide-exposed fish at 4 and 21 days, they increased in Cu- and Pb-exposed fish at 21 days. Although metal-exposed fish showed increases in cortisol and glucose levels at 4 days followed by a return to control levels at the end of the exposure period, their levels elevated in pesticide-exposed fish at both exposure periods. Total protein levels decreased in Pb- and pesticide-exposed fish at 21 days. Na⁺ and Cl⁻ levels decreased in pesticide-exposed fish at both exposure periods and in Cu- and Pb-exposed fish at 21 days. The exposures of pesticide and metals caused an elevation in K⁺ level at the end of the exposure period. The present study showed that observed alterations in all serum biochemical parameters of fish-treated pesticide were higher than those in fish exposed to metals.