Effect of cage density and sex on growth, food utilization and some stress parameters of young rabbits

The aim of the experiment was to study the effects of cage density (1, 3 and 5 rabbits per cage) and sex (male and female) on stress parameters of young rabbits. A total of 90 (45 male and 45 female) weaned New Zealand White rabbits aged 35 days old were used in the experiment. Rabbits were allocated as 1, 3 and 5 rabbits, in each of 5 cages, to obtain three different cage density groups: 4200, 1400 and 840 cm(2) floor area per rabbit, respectively. Mean values for total body weight gain, food intake, food:gain ratio, the plasma corticosterone level and serum levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were taken as indicators of stress. The group having 5 rabbits per cage had significantly lower total body weight gain (p<0.00 1), food intake (p<0,001) and higher food:gain ratio (p<0,01) than other groups during the experiment. The levels of plasma corticosterone and serum glucose were higher (p<0.001) in the group with 5 rabbits per cage than other groups. Values for serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were not affected by cage density. Gender effect was detected only in corticosterone level. Male rabbits had higher plasma corticosterone than female rabbits. The results suggest that the allocation of I or 3 rabbits per cage had no measurable adverse effects on the welfare of male and female young rabbits, whereas (at our cage densities) 5 ones

Effects of environmental enrichment and animal density on some welfare parameters in male Swiss albino mice

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the environmental enrichment and the animal density in cage on some welfare parameters in male Swiss albino mice. The experiment was conducted as a 3 [three housing conditions: Non-enriched, enriched with a nest box and super-enriched with a nest box and cotton] X 2 [two animal densities: 2 or 5 mice per cage] full factorial design on 126 male, 8 week old, mice for 12 weeks. Body weights, weight gains and food intake were weekly measured, the behaviour was estimated by the cage emergence test on 18 week old mice, the serum corticosterone concentrations, the titres of the circulating anti-sheep erythrocyte antibodies induced after experimental immunisation and the relative weights of the adrenal gland, the spleen and the thymus were determined at the end of the experiment. Whereas the housing conditions have not significantly affected the weight gain, the circulating corticosterone and antibody concentrations and the relative weight of organs, the environmental enrichment and the cage crowding have significantly reduced the food intake. In addition, the cage escape duration was significantly decreased in mice reared in enriched and super-enriched environments. These results indicate that the improved housing conditions compared to the normal conditions have directly influenced the food intake and the mouse behaviour without interfering with the stress and immune responses

Effect of maternal low quality protein diet on fetal growth and development

WOS: 000374988801180

Effects of dietary yeast cell wall on performance, egg quality and humoral immune response in laying hens

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance, egg quality, some blood parameters and humoral immune response of laying hens during 26 wks period. For this purpose a total of 225 Hyline Brown laying hens, 39 wks of age, were allocated to one control group and four treatment groups. Basal diet was supplemented with YCW derived from bakers yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (InteMOS) at the level of 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/kg in the diets of the first, second, third and fourth treatment groups, respectively. Dietary treatments did not significantly affect body weight, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion, and egg internal and external quality characteristics. YCW supplementation at the level of 1 and 2 g/kg decreased egg yolk cholesterol level as mg per g yolk (P < 0.05). Blood serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased with the dietary inclusion of YCW at the level of 2, 3 and 4 g/kg (P < 0.01). Dietary YCW supplementation increased antibody titres to SRBC (P < 0.01). As a result dietary YCW at the level of 1 and 2 g/kg had beneficial effects in the production of low cholesterol eggs and improvement in humoral immunity response.Integro Food and Feed Manufacturing Company (Istanbul, Turkey)This work was supported by Integro Food and Feed Manufacturing Company (Istanbul, Turkey)

POST-MORTEM INTERVAL ESTIMATION BASED ON LIVER AND STRIATED MUSCLE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ATTENUATIONS IN RATS

OBJECTIVE: The interest on post-mortem computed tomographic studies targeting post-mortem interval (PMI) estimations is increasing. Most studies have been conducted in an uncontrolled or relatively less controlled condition. However, this study investigates the usefulness of computed tomography attenuations of the liver and striated muscles in PMI estimation under strictly controlled environmental conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Post-mortem computed tomography images of 30 Wistar Albino rats were obtained in the first 30 min after death and 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168-hours following death. Repeated attenuations of both thelateral lobes of the liver and paraspinal muscle were recorded in 0.12-cm2 regions of interest. RESULTS: The attenuation values of the liver and paraspinal muscles were higher 12-hour post-mortem. A significant difference was observed between the images obtained 30 minutes post-mortem and those obtained 12 hours post-mortem in both male (p=0.01) and female rats (p=0.01). Different cut-off attenuation values for the liver and muscle tissue were determined to estimate the post-mortem interval. CONCLUSIONS: The use of attenuation values of the liver and striated muscles with the proposed model was found to be beneficial for the determination of PMI. The cut-off values of attenuation, especially for the liver, can be used in the delimitation of the post-mortem interval

Combined Use of Essential Oils With Organic Acids in Modifying Performance, Intestinal Health, Caecal Microflora, and Selected Blood and Bone Parameters in Broilers

Ramay, Muhammad Shazaib/0000-0002-7061-0483;Essential oils (EOs) and organic acids (OAs) are promising feed additives with crucial roles in promoting animal health and performance. This study aimed to assess the combined effects of phytobiotics with organic acids (EOAs) in broiler diets for 39 days. A total of daily 300 male chicks were assigned to three groups, each containing 100 chicks with 5 replicates. The basal diet was supplemented with 0, 0.1, and 0.2% EOAs, respectively. EOAs supplementation did not significantly affect performance values. The villus height/crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and villus dimensions in the ileum showed improvement with EOAs. Dietary EOAs supplementation led to a reduction in the count of Enterobacteriaceae and an increase in Lactobacillus in the caecum. Serum IgA and IgG levels increased with EOAs. Ultimate load, yield load, and the levels of ash, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese in tibia and femur were higher at high levels of EOAs than in the other groups. In conclusion, the study suggests that 0.1% EOAs usage in diets could be a viable option for enhancing intestinal health, immunity, and bone mineralization as an alternative growth promoter, especially in commercial broiler production

In vitro growth stimulatory and in vivo wound healing studies on cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus genus

WOS: 000289866500033PubMed ID: 21291980Aim of the study: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the wound healing effects of the four chief saponins of Astragalus species [cycloastragenol (CA), astragaloside IV (AG), cyclocephaloside I (CCI) and cyclocanthoside E (CCE)]. Material and methods: Effects of cell viability and proliferation of the isolated compounds were evaluated by the MTT assay on human keratinocyte. The wound healing activity was studied by using in vitro wound healing, proliferation and migration scratch assay. In order to see in vivo effectiveness of the compounds, an animal study with Sprague-Dawley male rats at the age of 12 weeks was carried out, and then the main histological outcomes were investigated to observe reepithelization, neovascularization, and presence of inflammatory cells, granulation tissue amount and maturation. Results: All the compounds increased both fibroblast proliferation and migration, but the effects were much superior for CA at 1 ng/ml concentration. Among the compounds, based on the histological findings, 5% CA preparation was found to be the most remarkable in vivo wound healing agent showing greater cell density, more regularly organized dermis and more newly formed blood vessels. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that the cycloartane-type saponins are the principal constituents responsible for wound healing activities of the roots of Astragalus species substantiating its use in traditional medicine. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Ege UniversityEge University [06 MUH 005]This project is supported by Ege University Scientific Research Programme (06 MUH 005)

Fetal Cell Microchimerism; Normal and Immunocompromised Gestations in Mice

Objective: To compare fetal cell microchimerism in normal and immunocompromised gestations. Materials and methods: The study consists of two groups of mature female mice. In the control group and the immunocompromised study group, 5 mg of saline and cyclosporine were injected intraperitoneally, respectively. In the second step, all female mice were mated with “Actine-Luc (+) green fluorescent protein (GFP)” transgenic male mice. Immunohistochemical studies (ALPL-antiluciferase, cytokeratin-antiluciferase, and CD 105-antiluciferase) were carried out on maternal liver, skin, and lung tissues at 6–7th and 14–15th gestational days, and postpartum 3–4th, 12th, and 18–24 months. Results: GFP (+) cells were detected in maternal liver and skin but not in lung tissue. Liver was the most affected tissue. GFP was found to be more intense in the immunocompromised group. Conclusion: Fetal microchimerism was demonstrated in maternal liver and skin and found to be more intensive in the immunocompromised group

Maternal Low Quality Protein Diet Alters Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations of Weaning Rats

Several studies have indicated the influence of a maternal low protein diet on the fetus. However, the effect of a maternal low quality protein diet on fetal growth and development is largely unknown. Wistar rats (11 weeks old) were mated and maintained on either a chow diet with 20% casein (n = 6) as the control group (C), or a low quality protein diet with 20% wheat gluten (n = 7) as the experimental group (WG) through gestation and lactation. Maternal body weights were similar in both groups throughout the study. Birth weights were not influenced by maternal diet and offspring body weights during lactation were similar between the groups. Offspring’s plasma amino acid profiles showed that plasma methionine, glutamine and lysine were significantly lower and aspartic acid, ornithine and glycine-proline were significantly higher in the WG. Plant based protein comprises an important part of protein intake in developing countries. It is well-known that these diets can be inadequate in terms of essential amino acids. The current study shows differential effects of a maternal low quality protein diet on the offspring’s plasma amino acids. Future studies will examine further aspects of the influence of maternal low quality protein diets on fetal growth and development.PubMedWoSScopu

Determination Of The Presence Of Diphtheria Toxin In The Myocardial Tissue Of Rabbits And A Female Subject By Using An Immunofluorescent Antibody Method

Background Clinical diagnosis of diphtheria is often difficult, in particular in countries where the disease is rarely observed, such as Turkey. In 2011, after 12 years of no recorded diphtheria cases in Turkey, a 34-year-old woman was diagnosed with diphtheria; she later died of myocarditis. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic potential of an immunofluorescent antibody method to determine the presence of diphtheria toxin (DT) in the myocardial cells of DT-injected rabbits and the female subject. Methods We randomly divided rabbits into two groups: a control group and a DT-injected group. Diphtheria intoxication was simulated in the rabbits by intravenous injection of DT. The myocardium of the rabbits and the female subject were harvested for histopathologic and immunofluorescence examination. A mouse monoclonal anti-DT antibody was used for the immunofluorescent antibody method. Results The presence of DT in the myocardial cells of both the rabbits and the female subject was visualized using the immunofluorescent method. Conclusions Laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria is challenging because of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains and/or the dysfunction of DT. However, visualizing the presence of DT in the myocardial tissue may act as an indicator of biologically active DT. We validated that an immunofluorescent method, which utilizes a monoclonal anti-DT (A-subunit specific) antibody, is a useful diagnostic tool to determine the presence of DT in the myocardium of rabbits and human.PubMe