Effect of ghrelin peripheral administration on growth performance, carcass quality, and selected serum parameters in broiler chickens

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe aim of present study was to investigate the short-term and long-term effect of the peripheral administration of ghrelin on the growth performance (feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio), carcass quality, and selected serum biochemical (glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and total protein) and hormonal (T3, T4, and corticostrone) indices in broiler chickens. 240 one-day-old broiler chickens were selected, and allocated into three treatment groups (control and two experimental groups). On day-21 of the rearing period, ghrelin was peripherally administrated to three experimental groups. The control group contained birds without any administration of peptide or solution, groups G50 and G100; included birds with Ip-injection of 50 and 100 (ng/100g BW) ghrelin peptide, respectively. The peripheral administration of exogenous ghrelin did not affect feed intake, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens. In short-term samples taken 12h after ghrelin infusion, the glucose level was increased in ghrelin-treated groups (162 and 151 mg/dl in G50 and G100 compared with 117 mg/dl in control; P< 0.01) and there were significant declines for TC, triglyceride, and TP in the ghrelin-treated groups (G50 and G100) compared with the control. In addition, long-term glucose level has a greater value in G50 and G100 (182 and 200.66 mg/dl) compared with control (133.60 mg/dl) group (P< 0.01). A significant decline was also observed for TC and triglyceride content in the ghrelin-treated groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference among groups for TP in short-term and long-term samples. There was a significant increase for T4 in ghrelin-treated groups (G50 and G100) compared with the control (4.55 and 4.57 ng/ml vs 4.20 ng/ml respectively; P< 0.05) in long-term samples. In conclusion, the peripheral administration of ghrelin in broiler chickens, during the commercial rearing period did not affect the overall growth performance, carcass quality and feed conversion ratio. The infusion of exogenous ghrelin may increase the levels of serum glucose, decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride, and T4 levels are increased in the long-term (and not in the short-term or 12h after administration)

Effects of dietary inclusion of commercial toxin binders and prebiotics on performance and immune responses of broiler chicks fed aflatoxin-contaminated diets

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the dietary inclusion of commercial toxin binders (CTs) and prebiotics on growth performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology and blood variables of broiler chicks fed with aflatoxin and non-aflatoxin-contaminated diets. Six hundred one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks, initial weight of 42 ± 3 g, were used in 10 treatments with six replications (n = 10 birds). ASRI1 and ASRI2 commercial toxin binders and lactose prebiotic were included in their diets. Experimental diets included: 1) basal diet without aflatoxin and additives (NC); 2) basal diet containing aflatoxin (PC); 3) NC diet containing ARSI1; 4) NC diet containing ARSI2; 5) NC diet containing prebiotics; 6) PC diet containing ARSI1; 7) PC diet containing ARSI2; 8) PC diet containing prebiotics; 9) PC diet containing ARSI1+prebiotics; and 10) PC diet containing ARSI2+prebiotics. Growth performance, humoral and cellular immune responses, jejunal morphology and some blood variables were assessed. Results showed that broiler chicks fed with a PC diet showed a higher feed conversion ratio and lower body weight in the grower and finisher periods. Broiler chicks fed with PC diets showed lower immunoglobulin G and M and also cellular immunities compared to the NC diet. The PC group also showed lower values for villus length, villus width and crypt depth, and higher values for liver enzyme activities compared to the PC diet. However, dietary inclusion of prebiotics and CTs, in single and combined form, improved growth performance in grower and finisher periods, cellular and humoral immunities, intestinal morphology and the serum concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose and liver enzyme activities of broiler chicks fed with aflatoxin.Keywords: Aflatoxin, ASRI1 toxin binder, broiler chicks, growth performance, humoral immunit

EFFECTS OF 900 MHz ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS EMITTED FROM A CELLULAR PHONE ON THE T 3 , T 4 , AND CORTISOL LEVELS IN SYRIAN HAMSTERS

Abstract The effects of exposure to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) on the serum cortisol and triiodothyronine-thyroxin (T 3 -T 4 ) levels in adult male Syrian hamsters were evaluated. Seventy two hamsters were used in three independent groups: 24 served as controls (without exposure to stress and EMF), 24 were exposed to a 900 MHz EMF for 10 d, and 24 were exposed to a 900 MHz EMF for 50 d. The exposures were performed 1 h/d to a 900 MHz EMF emitted by cellular phones. The levels of cortisol and T 3 -T 4 were measured by using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) method. The results revealed the cortisol values of the group, which was exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 50 d, were higher than those of the other groups (P<0.01). The levels of T 3 in the control group were higher than that of the long-term exposure group (P<0.01), and levels of T 4 in the 900 MHz EMF group for the long-term and short-term exposure groups, were higher than that of the control group (P <0.01). These results indicate that a 900 MHz EMF emitted by cellular phones, especially in the case of long-term exposure, increased the serum cortisol and T 4 levels and decreased the T 3 level, and suggest that it can destroy the endocrine system in general

Effect of Different Oil Sources on Muscle Fatty Acid Composition and Serum Lipoproteins Levels in Sarabi Beef Steer

Abstract: This study examined the effects of different vegetable oil sources on the Fatty Acid (FA) composition of muscle and performance of beef steer (Sarabi strain). Twenty one steers (384±17 kg BW) were assigned in seven treatment that fed diets containing 0% oil (control), 2 and 4% of Canola Oil (CO), Sunflower Oil (SO) and Restaurant Waste Oils (RWO). Ribeye steaks from steers fed CO, SO and RWO for 90 days of experiment were used after slaughtering to evaluate the effects of oil source on fatty acid composition. Amounts of muscle saturated FAs decreased and polyunsaturated FAs increased in both 2% CO and 2% SO groups. The highest contents of Total n-3, n-6 and n-7 FAs were significantly (p<0.05) obtained with 2% CO, 2% SO and control groups, respectively. Animals fed 2% CO had the lowest content of total n-9 FAs in compared to other groups. Control and 2% SO dietary groups presented lowest total cholesterol and 4% CO group resulted in a lowest triglycerides (p<0.01). The high and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) was highest in 2 and 4% RWO group, respectively and animals fed 4% SO and 4% CO had the lowest LDL and very low-DL (VLDL), respectively. Control animals and those fed 2% oils tended to have higher dry matter intake (DMI, <0.05). The best Daily Weight Gain (DWG) was related to 2% RWO dietary group and followed by 2% SO dietary groups; however, differences were not significant