Mitigation of endogenous oxidative stress and improving growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, and reproductive performance of Zaraibi goat bucks by dietary supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris or/and vitamin C

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) or/and vitamin C (VC) on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, oxidative and antioxidant status, reproductive hormones, and semen quality variables, and scrotal-testicular dimensions of Zaraibi goat bucks. Twenty sexually mature bucks (41.49 ± 0.91 kg BW) were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 bucks/group). The control group was fed the control diet, while the other three groups received a diet supplemented with VC (2 g/animal /day), CV (5 g/animal/day), and CV plus VC (the same levels), respectively, for 8 weeks (treatment period), and then semen was collected for 8 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with CV-VC combination significantly increased the final body weight, weight gain, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and lymphocytes; elevated serum total protein, globulin, testosterone, estradiol, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase with a significant reduction in Malondialdehyde in serum and seminal plasma. Also, the CV-VC combination significantly improved the ejaculate volume, total sperm output, sperm concentration, and live sperm, and reduced reaction time and sperm abnormality of bucks. Either CV or VC given separately or in combination, at the chosen levels, had no detrimental effects on animal physiological responses with normal hepatic and renal functions. Therefore, the CV-VC combination could be safely utilized as a dietary supplement in buck's diets to improve antioxidant defenses, scavenge free radicals, and potentiate buck's reproductive activities under normal conditions.

Ultrastructural features on the oral cavity floor (tongue, sublingual caruncle) of the Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): gross, histology and scanning electron microscope

The present work was focused on the morphological characters of the lingual caruncles, and tongue with its papillae of Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using the gross, light, and scanning electron microscope. The ventral surface of the sublingual caruncle carried a small opening of the duct of both monostoamtic and mandibular salivary gland. The lingual mucosa of dorsal, lateral border, some extent to ventral surface of apex had lingual papillae (filiform, fungiform), while the lingual mucosa of body especially at torus linguae had conical papillae, but circumvallate papillae observed at the caudal part of body and root. The dorsal surface of apex and body carried numerous long thread-like with blunt apex caudally directed filiform papillae that covered with keratinized scales without secondary papillae. The degree of keratinization classified filiform papillae into rostral part of high keratinization and caudal less keratinization. Conical papillary surface carried exfoliated epithelium with longitudinal groove on its rostral surface and had CT core does not reach the level surface of epithelium and carried secondary papillae. Fungiform papillae scattered among filiform papillae on the dorsal and ventral surface of apex and its convex surface had exfoliated keratinized epithelium. Circumvallate papillae surrounded by circular deep groove that bordered by vallum that carried small secondary papillae that ended into the primary groove. Taste buds of circumvallate papillae opened in the lateral lining epithelium facing the groove. Von Ebner's glands were observed in CT under papillae especially toward the groove and their ducts open into the base of the groove.

Structural and Functional adaptation of the lingual papillae of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus): Specific Adaptive feeding Strategies

The current investigation was directed to clarify the correlations between the feeding strategy and lingual structure of the Egyptian fruit bat captured from the Egyptian east desert. The current work depends on twelve adult Egyptian fruit bats that observed grossly and with the help of the stereo, light, and scanning electron microscope. There were three types of the lingual papillae; one mechanical filiform and two gustatory (fungiform and circumvallate). There were seven subtypes of filiform papillae were recognized on the seven lingual regions. There were scanty numbers of fungiform papillae distributed among the filiform papillae on the lingual tip and two lateral parts of apex and body while fungiform papillae completely absent in the median part. There were three circumvallate papillae. The central bulb of circumvallate papillae surrounded by one layer of two segmented circular annular bad. The lingual tip had cornflower-like and diamond-shaped filiform papillae. Histochemical results revealed that the lingual glands were a stronger AB-positive reaction and gave dark blue color, while the reaction for the PAS-stain was negative. Also, the glands exhibited a blue color as an indication of positive AB reactivity with combined AB-PAS staining.

Morphology of the lips, cheeks, and the hard palate of the Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): a focus on histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural aspects

BACKGROUND

The available data is scanty about Egyptian water buffalo lips, cheeks, and palate.

AIMS

The current investigation was focused on describing the morphology of the lip, cheek, and palate.

METHODS

Our study included the gross, light, and electron microscopic examinations of ten heads of the Egyptian water buffalos.

RESULTS

The nasolabial plate surface carried numerous scales of keratinized epithelium. Internal labial surface and labial mucocutaneous junctions were covered with stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. Two types of hair follicles in the dermis included ordinary and cavernous types characterized by cavernous space. The conical papillae on the internal aspect of the oral commissure were projected from the mucous membrane. Seromucous glands were occasionally observed under the oral mucous membrane of the commissure and gave positive PAS and AB. Conical papillae density on the inner cheek surface had some variations: the rostral part had large papillae, while the dorsal part had numerous papillae than the ventral part, the caudal part had a smaller number of papillae, while the middle part was devoid of papillae. Parotid duct opening in the buccal vestibule was without papillae. Conical papillae had two surfaces; the rostral surface was highly keratinized than the caudal one. The buccal gland was a compound tubuloacinar mixed (mucoserous) gland and mucus acini only reacted to PAS and AB. The oral surface of palatine rugae was covered with highly keratinized epithelium than the aboral surface. Palatine glands showed PAS and AB positive.

CONCLUSION

The result describes the relationship between the available food particles, environmental conditions and the lip, cheek, and palate appearance, and structure.

Both experimental hypo- and hyper-thyroidism exacerbate the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in broilers

1. The effects of hypo- and hyper-thyroidism in mitigating or exacerbating the negative changes of chronic heat stress (HS) in broilers were investigated.2. Three-week-old broilers were distributed into six groups (n = 13 per group). Three groups were housed at ambient room temperature: control group (CN), propylthiouracil-treated group (AN) and thyroxine-treated group (TN). The other three groups were exposed to HS at 33 ± 1°C for 2 weeks: control heat stress (CH), propylthiouracil + heat stress (AH) and thyroxine + HS (TH).3. Induced hypothyroidy significantly decreased cloacal temperature and body weight gain in the birds in both the normal and HS groups (AN, AH). Conversely, hyperthyroidy resulted in a significant elevation in cloacal temperature in the TN and TH groups and a significant decline in weight gain in the TH group. Hyperthyroidy exacerbated the HS-induced degenerative changes in jejunal mucosa and caused noticeable vascular changes. A significant increase in the expression levels of jejunal nutrient transporter genes was observed in the AH and TH groups. The hyperthyroidic state significantly upregulated the HSP70 expression level in the TH group and the reverse occurred with propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment in the AH group.4. PTU supplementation to chicks reared under HS significantly decreased the triiodothyronine level, antibody (Ab) titre, and increased the heterophil-lymphocyte ratio. Furthermore, it induced higher hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the AN and AH groups and decreased the malondialdehyde content (MDA) in the AN group. Hyperthyroidy significantly increased triiodothyronine concentration, H/L ratio and decreased Hb concentration and Ab titres in the TH group. Additionally, this status increased the MDA content and decreased the GSH-Px activities.5. In conclusion, manipulation of thyroid status is not a remedy to overcome the undesirable effects of HS in broilers.

Effects of blindfolding and tail bending of Egyptian water buffaloes on their behavioural reactivity and physiological responses to pain induction

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of blindfold and tail bend during restraint of Egyptian buffaloes on behavioural reactivity and physiological responses to stressful handling procedures. Twenty-four buffalo bulls, naïve to the testing situation, were arbitrarily assigned to either blindfold (visual restriction) (BF), tail bending (physical control) (TB) or control (CT) (no visual restriction or physical control) treatment during restraint. For three minutes each, during veterinary procedures animals entered the squeeze chute and were subjected to testing trials. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and various behaviours of reactivity were recorded. Average HR and RR decreased in both TB and BF bulls but the reduction was greater in BF bulls. Use of the blindfold and tail bend decreased behavioural indicators of reactivity including: chest chute forcing, head move, kicking and struggling. The reduction was greater in BF bulls in the case of use of the chest chute and struggling. Both tail bend and blindfolded buffaloes decreased behavioural and physiological indicators of stress but BF appeared more beneficial, and may therefore be recommended to reduce stress accompanying routine veterinary examination of buffaloes.

The ameliorative effect of Aspergillus awamori on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic damage in rabbits

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Aspergillus awamori on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced liver damage in rabbits. Administration of AFB1 (0.3 mg/kg diet) led to a significant reduction in body weight, body weight gain, total feed intake, total serum proteins, albumin, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, and the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Moreover, AFB1 administration was associated with a significant increase in feed conversion ratio, lipid peroxidation and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin. In addition, livers of AFB1-supplemented animals showed fatty degeneration with vacuolisation, focal areas of necrosis, mononuclear cells infiltration hyperplasia of bile ducts and sinusoids. A significant increase in the hepatic expression of the biotransformation gene (Cyp3A6), stress-sensitive genes (HO1 and SOD1), and inflammation-related genes (IL6, TNFa, NF-kB, and Cox2) was also observed. Supplementation of the diets with 0.05, 0.1 or 0.15% A. awamori ameliorated all AFB1 deleterious effects with the best improvement observed at the lowest concentration. This is the first investigation to report that supplementation of rabbit diets with A. awamori has an ameliorative effect against AFB1-induced liver damage possibly through preventing hepatic oxidative stress, promoting the antioxidant defence systems, and inhibiting expression of Cyp3A6, HO1, SOD1, IL6, TNFa, NF-kB, and Cox2. Therefore, A. awamori could be used as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for aflatoxicosis.