Histological and histometrical changes of ostrich thyroid gland during summer and winter seasons in Tehran, Iran

The seasonal changes of ostrich thyroid structure in Tehran, which has a hot summer and a relatively cold winter, were studied. The study was conducted on thyroid glands of 20 ostriches in two groups (summer and winter group). The samples were collected by autopsy with a maximum of 0.5 cm thickness and were fixed in 10% formalin saline. The samples were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 to 6 μm, stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin method and examined under light microscope. The results showed that the seasons had a significant effect on thyroid parenchyma-stroma ratio. This ratio was significantly increased in winter. The number and diameter of thyroid follicles were increased in winter too. The histometrical results showed that the number of thyroid follicles, active follicles and follicles with vacuolated colloid were significantly increased in winter (p < 0.01). The diameters of large follicles and epithelium height of follicles were also increased in winter significantly (p < 0.01). However, the results showed that the parenchyma of thyroid glands was significantly increased in winter which is associated with increase in thyroid activity in winter.Key words: Seasonal changes, histology, thyroid, Ostrich, Iran

Effects of &#946-Mannanase on broiler performance, gut morphology and immune system

An experiment was designed to assess the effects of graded levels of β-mannanase on performance, gut morphology and some blood proteins and leucocytes of broilers provided with diets based on corn and soybean meal. Broiler chickens are divided four group and supplied diet which contains 0, 500, 700, or 900 g/ton β-mannanase. Each treatment contained 4 pen with 15 birds/pen. 900 g/ton β- mannanase supplementation significantly reduced feed intake but did not influenced body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in both finisher and total period. 900 g/ton β-mannanase supplementation increased (P < 0.01) villus height and crypt depth and decreased (P < 0.01) goblet cell number, epithelial thickness and ratio of crypt depth to villus height in different sections of small intestine, suggesting that β-mannanase improves gut morphology in broiler chickens. The addition of β- mannanase at 700 and 900 g/ton to the diets significantly (P < 0.05) reduced jejunal viscosity compared with the control group. β-mannanase did not influence the blood serum proteins (albumin, alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta and gamma-globulins) eosinophils and monocytes, but the addition β-mannanase increased lymphocyte, and decreased heterophil and heterophil: lymphocyte (H:L) ratio (p < 0.05). Thus it improved chickens immune system.Key words: Broiler, leucocytes, viscosity, serum proteins

Histological study of liver and pancreas in adult Otolithes ruber in Bushehr, Iran

In this study, the digestive systems of 10 adult Otolithes ruber specimens from Bushehr province water, south-west Iran were removed and the livers and pancreases were fixed in formalin 10%. The routine procedures of preparation of tissues were followed and the paraffin blocks were cut at 6 microns, stained with H&E and studied under light microscope. The results of microscopic studies showed that liver as the largest accessory organ surrounds the pancreatic tissue in the fish. Liver was found to be a lobulated organ encircling the pancreas among its lobules. Hepatic tissue of the fish was found to be similar to many other bony fishes. Hepatocytes included glycogen and fat vacuoles that located around the hepatic sinusoids. Pancreas as a mixed gland microscopically, was composed of lobules consisting of serous acini (exocrine portion) and langerhans islets (endocrine portion). Pancreatic lobules are usually found as two rows of acini which a large blood vessel located in between

Histological and histometrical changes of ostrich thyroid gland during summer and winter seasons in Tehran, Iran

The seasonal changes of ostrich thyroid structure in Tehran, which has a hot summer and a relatively cold winter, were studied. The study was conducted on thyroid glands of 20 ostriches in two groups (summer and winter group). The samples were collected by autopsy with a maximum of 0.5 cm thickness and were fixed in 10% formalin saline. The samples were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 to 6 µm, stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin method and examined under light microscope. The results showed that the seasons had a significant effect on thyroid parenchyma-stroma ratio. This ratio was significantly increased in winter. The number and diameter of thyroid follicles were increased in winter too. The histometrical results showed that the number of thyroid follicles, active follicles and follicles with vacuolated colloid were significantly increased in winter (p < 0.01). The diameters of large follicles and epithelium height of follicles were also increased in winter significantly (p < 0.01). However, the results showed that the parenchyma of thyroid glands was significantly increased in winter which is associated with increase in thyroid activity in winter

Effects of dietary probiotic, prebiotic and butyric acid glycerides on performance and serum composition in broiler chickens

An experiment on ROSS 308 male broilers was conducted to evaluate probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (Fermacto) and butyric acid glycerides (Baby C4) on broiler performance and serum composition. Sevenhundred and four day-old broilers were randomly distributed in a 222 factorial arrangement with two levels of probiotic, prebiotic and butyric acid glycerides. Eight treatments with four replicates each with22 birds per pen were used. Three-way interaction between dietary treatments were observed for final body weight (

The Effect of Wheat Sprout Extract on Skin Injury Following Injection of Lead Acetate in Rat

Abstract &nbsp; Background & aim: Skin is constantly exposed to environmental contaminants such as heavy metals (lead).Medicinal plants have been concern for the treatment of of human pain. and pain. Wheat Sprout is one of medicinal plants which are rich in vitamins, minerals and powerful antioxidant compounds respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of wheat Sprout extract on tissue texture following injection of lead acetate in rats. &nbsp; Methods: Thirty healthy adult Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups: Control group received 1 ml/kg/day of normal saline, group 2 received 20 mg/kg/day of lead acetate intraperitoneally respectively, group 3 and group 4 received 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of wheat sprout extract by gavage feeding, group 5 and group 6 received 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of wheat sprout extract by gavage feeding along with 20 mg/kg/day of lead acetate intraperitoneally. After five weeks, skin tissue of dorsal region and blood samples were collected for histomorphometric studies and serum assessment. Serum samples were tested for determining antioxidant activity (AOA) based on power ferric reduction antioxidant (FRAP) assay and peroxidation of lipids by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA). The 5 to 6 &mu;m thickness sections were made using paraffin embedding method after stained by hematoxylin and eosin, safranin and masson trichrome. For microscopic study, Dino-Lite digital lens and Dino Capture 2 Software were used. &nbsp; Results: The lead significantly decreased the total thickness of the skin, the dermal layer, hypoderm, the number and maximum depth of hair follicles and the epidermis pod thickness of the hair root compared with the control group (p <0.05). A significant increase was seen in numbers of sebaceous glands and hair follicles in group receiving 200 mg/kg/day of wheat sprout, compared to that in control group (P <0.001). Wheat sprout simultaneously with lead increased the epidermis sheath thickness of the root (p <0.01) but no significant increase was seen in the depth of hair follicles in comparison with the lead group.MDA level showed a significant increase in lead group, compared to control group (P <0.01). AOA level showed a significant increase in wheat sprout (200 mg/kg/day) group, compared to other groups (P <0.001). &nbsp; Conclusion: The results showed that lead can induce negative effects in skin tissues. Wheat sprout extract (200 mg/kg/day) can inhibit toxic effects of lead in skin tissues and that leads to refreshing in skin. &nbsp; &nbsp

Effects of dietary probiotic, prebiotic and butyric acid glycerides on performance and serum composition in broiler chickens

An experiment on ROSS 308 male broilers was conducted to evaluate probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (Fermacto) and butyric acid glycerides (Baby C 4 ) on broiler performance and serum composition. Seven hundred and four day-old broilers were randomly distributed in a 2×2×2 factorial arrangement with two levels of probiotic, prebiotic and butyric acid glycerides. Eight treatments with four replicates each with 22 birds per pen were used. Three-way interaction between dietary treatments were observed for final body weight (P&lt;0.05), feed intake (P&lt;0.01) and feed conversion ratio (P&lt;0.01) in the experiment. Body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio between supplementary treatments and control group were significantly different (P&lt;0.01). Three-way interaction between dietary treatments were observed for total cholesterol (P&lt;0.05), LDL (P&lt;0.01), cholesterol/HDL ratio and HDL/LDL ratio (P&lt;0.01) in the experiment. Total cholesterol concentration, LDL, HDL/LDL ratio and cholesterol/HDL ratio between supplementary treatments and control group were significantly different (P&lt;0.05 and P&lt;0.01). Serum triglyceride, HDL and VLDL cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different among dietary treatment when compared to control group (P&gt;0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation improved the body weight, feed conversion ratio, HDL/LDL ratio and decreased feed intake, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and cholesterol/HDL ratio in the serum of broiler chickens