Dietary organic acid salts mitigate plant protein induced inflammatory response and improve humoral immunity,antioxidative status and digestive enzyme activities in yellowfin seabream,Acanthopagrus latus

An eight‐week research was conducted to investigate the effects of single or combined administration of sodium propionate (Na‐P) and sodium acetate (Na‐A) on the performance of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) juveniles (6.5 ± 0.3 g). A plant protein (PP)‐rich diet was supplemented with sole or blends of organic acid salts (OAS) namely Na‐P and Na‐A to design six experimental feeds including control (without OAS), Na‐P5 (5 g/kg Na‐P), Na‐P10 (10 g/kg Na‐P), Na‐A5 (5 g/kg Na‐A), Na‐A10 (10 g/kg Na‐A) and Na‐P + A (5 g/kg Na‐P + 5 g/kg Na‐A). Except for Na‐A5 group, the other OAS‐supplemented treatments had higher growth and feed efficiency ratio than the control (p < .05). The inclusion of OAS in the experimental feeds pronouncedly enhanced plasma lysozyme and alternative complement pathway activities compared to the control. Furthermore, fish fed on the OAS‐supplemented diets had greater catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver than the control (p < .05). Total antioxidant capacity in the liver of fish fed on the OAS‐supplemented diet also was higher than the control. Fish fed on the OAS‐supplemented diets had higher pepsin, trypsin and lipase activities than the control. The insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) gene expression was remarkably down‐regulated in the liver of fish fed on the OAS‐supplemented diets compared to the control especially in groups fed on the Na‐P10 and Na‐A10 diets. The greatest IGF‐1 gene down‐regulation level in the gut was in fish fed on the Na‐P5 and Na‐P10 diets. The interleukine‐1β in the gut was remarkably up‐regulated in the control compared to the other groups (p < .05). The lactic acid bacterial colonies count in the gut of the control was lower than the OAS‐supplemented groups. Based on the findings of the present study, supplementing PP‐rich diets with 10 g/kg Na‐P or blends of Na‐P (5 g/kg) and Na‐A (5 g/kg) beneficially alleviated inflammatory responses and improved immune parameters and digestive capacity in yellowfin seabream juveniles.     

Evaluation of PRE and POST Herbicides on Growth Features,Nodulation, and Nitrogen Fixation of Three Cultivars of Chickpea (Cicer aritinium L.)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - It is exceptionally difficult to have productive farming without the use of herbicides. It has been found that they create difficulties in the growth and...     

Investigation the Efficiency of Soil Stabilizers against Soil Loss and their Effects on Chemical Properties of Soil

Soil erosion and dust storms are the main causes of air pollution in regions where there are dust emitting centers and in their adjacent locations. In recent years, various methods have been considered for stabilizing soil surface against wind erosion. In this study, the effects of two stabilizers (anionic polyacrylamide polymer and vegetable-based mulch) for reducing soil loss at four levels of concentration (0, 15%, 30%, and 60%) on three kinds of soils in western Khuzestan, Iran have been studied. The study was conducted in natural and laboratory-based conditions in four, time intervals (0, 3, 6, and 12 months). Moreover, the study covered the persistence and influence of stabilizers on soil chemical properties. The results showed that wind erosion in no treatment was between of 16.36?kg/m²/hand 26.73?kg/m²/^?h. The statistical results showed that there was a significant difference between the no treatment and soils treated with stabilizers. The polymer reduced soil loss by more than 90%. Mulch efficiency reduced in natural conditions after 6?months; however, there were no changes in laboratory conditions. There was no significant difference between polymer efficiency in the laboratory and natural conditions and the polymer was resistant in natural and laboratory conditions. Polymer increased EC, pH, and SAR in the soil after 1 year. Mulch decreased pH and SAR but did not change EC.     

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.     

Proteomic analysis of porcine saliva

Saliva contains a number of proteins that may be useful as biomarkers of health and disease and can be easily obtained from large numbers of animals in a non-invasive, stress-free way. The objective of this study was to explore the protein composition of porcine saliva from 10 specific pathogen free pigs using first one-dimensional SDS–PAGE and then two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. A reference proteome pattern for porcine saliva was established with the identification of 13 different, mainly saliva-specific, proteins. These reference data will facilitate the investigation of salivary proteins potentially altered in disease and could serve as novel diagnostic biomarkers.     

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.