Effects of five cryoprotectants on proliferation and differentiation‐related gene expression of frozen‐thawed bovine calf testicular tissue

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is a potential method for preserving male fertility. However, the effect of cryopreservation on bovine calf testicular tissue is scarce. This study investigated the effect of different cryoprotectants on bovine calf testicular tissue at the molecular level. Testicular tissue from ten immature bovine calves (6 months) was collected after slaughter and cryopreserved in an extender containing different concentrations of the following five cryopreservation solutions (CP): bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), trehalose with 5% DMSO, DMSO and glycerol and ethylene glycol (EG). After 7‐day cryopreservation, the expression levels of three spermatogonial stem cell (SSC)‐related genes, octamer‐4 (OCT4), KIT ligand (MGF/SCF) and kit oncogene (C‐KIT), were investigated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The cell viability was highest for the tissues preserved with 30 mg/ml BSA (77.82% ± 1.22) and 40 mg/ml trehalose (74.23% ± 1.16) compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and the level of expression of the three genes was highest with 30 mg/ml BSA (p < 0.05). Compared with other CPs, the 30 mg/ml BSA and 40 mg/ml trehalose have the better cryopreserve protection. The 30 mg/ml BSA is the most viable media for the cryopreservation of testicular tissue from cattle.     

Maltoporin (LamB protein) contributes to the virulence and adhesion of Aeromonas veronii TH0426

Aeromonas veronii is one of the main pathogens causing freshwater fish sepsis and ulcer syndrome. More and more cases have shown that it has become an important zoonotic and aquatic agent. In this study, a A. veronii TH0426 mutant strain (ΔlamB) with an in‐frame deletion removed nucleotides 10–1,296 of the lamB gene was firstly constructed to investigate its functions. The results showed that the LD₅₀ value of the mutant ΔlamB to zebrafish and mice was 13.7‐fold and 5.6‐fold higher than those of the wild‐type strain, respectively. The toxicity of wild‐type strain to EPC cells was 2.1‐fold and threefold higher than those of ?lamB when infected for 1 and 2 hr. Furthermore, the ability of biofilm formation and the adhesion and invasion to EPC cells of ?lamB significantly decreased for 5.6‐fold and 1.8‐fold separately. In addition, motility detection result indicated that ?lamB lost the swimming ability. The results of flagellar staining and TEM demonstrated that the flagella of ?lamB were shed. In general, the deletion of lamB gene caused a significant decrease in the virulence and adhesion of A. veronii TH0426, and it can be known that the lamB gene of A. veronii plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis.     

Potato tuber yield and quality in response to different nitrogen fertilizer application rates under two split doses in an irrigated sandy loam soil

Abstract

Management strategies to minimize nitrogen (N) losses to the atmosphere and water bodies from potato production fields while maintaining tuber yields and quality relies on good N management. A 2-year (2016–17 and 2017–18) field trial with ‘Symphonia’ potato was completed on a sandy loam soil irrigated with flood irrigation in Punjab, Pakistan to investigate the effect of N fertilizer rate on vegetative, yield and tuber quality parameters. The N fertilizer treatments comprising six N rates from 0 to 300?kg ha^?1 were applied at 50?kg N increments. Number of stems and tubers plant^?1 showed a quadratic response while other parameters revealed cubic trends in response to N fertilizer rates. Applying more than 250?kg ha^?1 of N fertilizer did not increase vegetative growth and yield. In conclusion, the optimal N-application rate of 250?Kg ha^?1 has great potential to improve yield and quality of potato in the sub-tropical region of Punjab, Pakistan. These findings, besides improving productivity can minimize the risk of N fertilizer loss to the atmosphere.     

Effects of feed ingredients on nutrient digestibility,nitrogen/energy balance and morphology changes in the intestine of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The present study assessed the effect of different feed ingredients on nutrient apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC), nitrogen/energy balance and morphology changes in the intestine of Nile tilapia; using a control diet and six test diets, in which the following six ingredients were included at 30%: hydrolysed feather meal (HFM), soybean meal (SBM), rice bran (RB), rapeseed meal (RM), sunflower meal (SFM) and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). The proximal, middle and distal intestine was processed for quantitative histology counting the number of goblet cells (GC), and measuring the thickness of lamina propria (LP) and submucosa (SM). The study showed that the ADC of protein in raw materials were highest in SBM (92.2%), followed by SFM (90.2%), DDGS (89.2%), RM (87.8%), HFM (86.9%) and RB (84.0%). The nutrient ADCs had no correlation with intestinal morphology changes. Only the SBM diet caused noticeable changes in intestinal morphology such as an increase the thickness of SM and LP and the number of GC. The diet composition, however, altered the protein efficiency and the maintenance energy requirement. Protein retention efficiency was the lowest in fish fed HFM and the highest in RB. The highest maintenance energy requirements were observed in HFM and SBM treatments.     

Influence of multi-enzyme preparation supplemented with sodium butyrate on growth performance blood profiles and economic benefit of growing rabbits

The present study was carried out to explore the impacts of dietary supplementation of enzyme mixture with sodium butyrate on the growth performance, carcass traits, blood profile and economic benefit in two breeds of weanling rabbits adapted to survive in Egypt (New Zealand White and Rex). One-hundred and twenty weaned male rabbits (New Zealand White and Rex) of 6 weeks of age and 770.5 ± 20 g body weight were allotted randomly into four groups in a factorial arrangement. The obtained results indicated that there were non-significant differences in all growth performance traits, blood profile and economic parameters due to the breed effect. However, there were significant differences in most of carcass traits due to the breed effect except total giblets and New Zealand White breed showed the highest value of these parameters including dressing % (p < .01), forequarter and loin % (p < .001) and hindquarter % (p < .003) compared with Rex breed counterparts. The effect of the treatment and its interaction with the breed significantly (p < .05) improved body weight gain, feed consumption and carcass traits (percentage of dressing, forequarter, hind quarter and lion). However, final body weight and feed conversion ratio were not significantly influenced. Supplementing a diet with treatment significantly decreased blood triglycerides, cholesterol and the ratio between albumin and globulin (A/G ratio), while increased blood total protein and globulin. Although higher feed cost and total costs in treated groups than control ones in each breed, they showed higher total return and net return. Rex non-treated rabbit breed showed the lowest profitability measures compared with other groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of multi-enzyme with sodium butyrate is highly recommended in growing rabbits due to their beneficial effects on the growth performance and profitability.     

Comparison of the Repeatability of Echocardiographic Measurements from Different Modes and Views in Horses of Various Breeds and Sizes

The objective of this study was to compare the repeatability of echocardiographic measurements obtained from different echocardiographic modes and views in healthy adult equids of various sizes, breeds, and thorax shapes. Ten equids (body weight: 120–662 kg; age: 1–26 years) from various breeds, free of cardiac disease, were used in this study. Each animal was submitted to a standardized echocardiographic and Doppler protocol 3 times at 1 day interval. This protocol included the measurements of left and right ventricular, aortic, pulmonary, and left atrial parameters obtained from different views using the bidimensional (2D) or the motion (M) modes, and the measurement of several parameters of blood flow obtained from the pulsed wave Doppler mode. Repeatability of each measurement was estimated on the basis of the residual variance using a linear model and the coefficient of variation of repeated measurements. A two by two comparison of the repeatability of measurements performed in different views was performed using the residual variances in a variance ratio F test. Results showed that repeatability of echocardiographic or Doppler measurements in equids of various sizes, breeds, and thorax shapes are comparable to previously reported results in thoroughbred and standardbred horses. Left ventricular morphologic parameters showed a good repeatability in the classic M-mode right parasternal short axis view at the level of the chordae tendineae, but the 2D-mode right parasternal long axis four-chamber view appeared to offer an interesting alternative measurement. This latter view also allowed obtaining the most repeatable measurement of right ventricular internal diameter. The left atrial diameter was maximal and most repeatable in the 2D-mode left parasternal long axis four-chamber angled view, and the repeatability of the aortic diameter was best in the 2D-mode right parasternal long axis five-chamber view. Finally, aortic systolic time intervals were more repeatable when measured from the Doppler mode as compared with the M-mode. In conclusion, repeatability of echocardiographic measurements in horses could be optimized after the following protocol: (1) M-mode right parasternal short axis view at the level of chordae tendineae to measure left ventricular morphologic parameters, and 2D-mode right parasternal long axis four-chamber as an alternative view; (2) 2D-mode right parasternal long axis five-chambers to measure the aortic diameter; (3) 2D-mode left parasternal long axis four-chambers angled view to measure the left atrial diameter.     

Ion flux kinetics in blue light‐grown field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) seedlings

Previous studies have revealed that blue light stimulates coiling and prehaustoria development in young de‐etiolated dodder seedlings prior to host attachment. In this study, the Ca²⁺ and H⁺ flux kinetics that are associated with blue light‐mediated coiling and prehaustoria development in de‐etiolated dodder seedlings were measured uninvasively using the ion‐selective, vibrating microelectrode ion flux system. The findings showed that blue light induces rapid transient changes in the net Ca²⁺ and H⁺ fluxes. A clearly pronounced lag of about several minutes was observed between the blue light‐induced changes in the Ca²⁺ and H⁺ fluxes, with H⁺ being a leading ion. The addition of 1 mol L^?1 vanadate, a known blocker of the plasma‐membrane H⁺‐ATPase, to the bathing solution completely prevented both the H⁺ and the Ca²⁺ flux responses and inhibited coiling and prehaustoria development, suggesting a causal relationship between the blue light‐induced changes in the net Ca²⁺ and H⁺ fluxes and seedling movements. It is concluded that the plasma‐membrane H⁺‐ATPase plays a key role in a dodder's parasitic mode of growth and its adaptive response to the environment.     

Improving Water Use Efficiency in Semi-Arid Regions through Integrated Aquaculture/Agriculture

Two experiments were performed in the Bekaa plain in Lebanon to evaluate the feasibility of integrating aquaculture with established agriculture production in order to increase water productivity. Both experiments consisted of four plant management treatments: 1) Aquaculture effluent irrigation and no fertilizer; 2) aquaculture effluent irrigation and inorganic fertilizer; 3) well water irrigation and no fertilization; and 4) well water irrigation with inorganic fertilizer. In the first experiment, tilapia growth and radish production using aquaculture effluent were evaluated. All fish survived and grew, and radish production was improved by irrigating with aquaculture effluent. In the second experiment, maize (Zea mays) in large plots was irrigated with aquaculture effluent. Irrigation with effluent water improved maize production and improved soil nitrogen availability. In both experiments, fish production improved water value index and water use efficiency. Results suggest that aquaculture effluent can supplant inorganic fertilizers and could actually yield better crop production.     

Halal slaughtering,welfare, and empathy in farm animals: a review

Pre-slaughter and slaughter stressors are considered major concerns in animal welfare. Halal slaughtering method is considered one of the slaughtering stressors in livestock. This method seems to cause fear followed by stress in animals mainly due to inhuman handling. In this review, empathy and animal welfare are discussed in light of Islamic sharia and has further linked with animal’s physiology and behavioral responses during slaughtering. Islam as a religion forbids slaughtering an animal in front of another animal as through optic, olfactory, and cochlear senses animals can perceive the stress state of conspecifics. This suggests and strengthens the hypothesis that animals being slaughtered in front of each other may produce stress in them. This argument further leads to a claim that animals can experience empathy of each other through olfaction of semiochemicals (stress pheromones) emitted from animals slaughtered in the stressful condition that can be detected by other animals in abattoirs. Hence, research is needed to find out these specific stress pheromones and legislation needs to be adopted in slaughterhouses to isolate the areas of butchery from slaughtering lines to ensure proper guidelines of Halal slaughtering in slaughterhouses.