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

Alterations in body weight and blood glucose level of female hamsters exposed to electromagnetic fields of cell phones

Microwaves such as those emitted from electromagnetic fields of cell phones can penetrate live tissues and results in changes of ion distribution in membranes and may interfere with metabolic reactions. Considering the increasing use of cell phones, in the present study the effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic fields of cell phones on body weight and blood glucose concentration of adult hamsters were investigated. Seventy two female hamsters were randomly allocated into three experimental groups. Group 1 served as the control group without the effect of electromagnetic field. Group 2 was exposed to electromagnetic field emitted by cell phones for 10 days (short term) and group 3 for 50 day (long term). In the latter groups, the exposure was 1 hour per day. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were weighed and blood glucose concentrations were determined by obtaining blood samples from 8 randomly selected hamsters in each group.  The blood glucose level was significantly higher in long-term exposed group in comparison with the control and short-term exposed groups (175, 11.6 and 107 mg/dl, respectively) (

Effects of peripheral administration of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 on growth performance and blood biochemical indices in broiler chickens

In the present study, possible effects of peripheral administration of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 on chicken performance, thyroid hormones level and serum biochemical parameters were investigated. Broiler chicks divided into five experimental groups were reared up to day 42. On day 21, a treatment was assigned to the five groups: group 1 (control), chickens without any administration of peptide or solution; group 2 (G50), chickens with intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 50 ng per 100 g body weight (BW) of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; group 3 (G100), chickens with IP injection of 100 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; group 4 (G150), chickens with IP injection of 150 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; and group 5 (G200), chickens with IP injection of 200 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21. On days 21 (post-injection) and 42 (post-rearing), blood samples were obtained from the animals for laboratory analyses. Experimental groups administered the GHS-R antagonist showed less feed intake – i.e., administration of greater doses led to less feed intake (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). Daily weight gains within groups G150 and G200 decreased (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) in comparison with the control. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ among the groups. There was a significant difference between control and experimental groups for glucose, total cholesterol and phosphorus levels (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) in post-injection samples. In post-injection and post-rearing blood samples, the thyroid hormone (T₃ and T₄) in 6 h increased in treated groups in comparison with the control (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). The infusion of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 reduces feed intake and body weight. With regard to increase in T₄ level, it can be inferred that [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 may increase metabolic rate, lipolysis and weight loss, which is similar to results obtained in mammalian species

Effects of peripheral administration of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 on growth performance and blood biochemical indices in broiler chickens

In the present study, possible effects of peripheral administration of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 on chicken performance, thyroid hormones level and serum biochemical parameters were investigated. Broiler chicks divided into five experimental groups were reared up to day 42. On day 21, a treatment was assigned to the five groups: group 1 (control), chickens without any administration of peptide or solution; group 2 (G50), chickens with intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 50 ng per 100 g body weight (BW) of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; group 3 (G100), chickens with IP injection of 100 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; group 4 (G150), chickens with IP injection of 150 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21; and group 5 (G200), chickens with IP injection of 200 ng per 100 g BW of D-Lys³ peptide on day 21. On days 21 (post-injection) and 42 (post-rearing), blood samples were obtained from the animals for laboratory analyses. Experimental groups administered the GHS-R antagonist showed less feed intake – i.e., administration of greater doses led to less feed intake (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). Daily weight gains within groups G150 and G200 decreased (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) in comparison with the control. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ among the groups. There was a significant difference between control and experimental groups for glucose, total cholesterol and phosphorus levels (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01) in post-injection samples. In post-injection and post-rearing blood samples, the thyroid hormone (T₃ and T₄) in 6 h increased in treated groups in comparison with the control (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.01). The infusion of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 reduces feed intake and body weight. With regard to increase in T₄ level, it can be inferred that [D-Lys³]-GHRP-6 may increase metabolic rate, lipolysis and weight loss, which is similar to results obtained in mammalian species

The effect of peripheral administration of ghrelin on the performance of growing geese

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) injection of ghrelin on goose performance. Hence, forty-eight 28-day-old geese were assigned into three treatments which lasted 40 days. The first intact group included no injection; that is, treatment 1 was characterized by G0; treatment 2, given to the second intact group, was characterized by G50, 50 ng kg⁻¹ ghrelin body weight (BW); and treatment 3, given to the third intact group, was characterized by G100, 100 ng kg⁻¹ ghrelin BW. Ghrelin was injected at the outset of the experimental rearing period (28-day-old birds). Blood samples were taken at two different times: (1) 12 h after the injection and (2) at the end of the rearing period. The effects of the injections were examined and evaluated during two rearing periods (28–48 days old and 48–68 days old). In the second treatment (G50), ghrelin injection caused an increase in the feed intake during the growing period but not the finishing period. Body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the growing period and finishing period did not change following any ghrelin treatments (<i>P</i> > 0.05). Injection of ghrelin at G100 increased breast muscle (pectoral) weight. The results of the present study indicate that ghrelin has a significant impact on feeding regulation and muscle growth at a certain period in geese. Nevertheless, it should be noted that ghrelin may have different effects on feeding of avian species