Use of Poultry By-product and Plant Protein Sources in Diets of Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus)

A total of 300 juvenile crayfish (13.0±0.03 g) were randomly distributed among 5 dietary groups (n=60, 3 replicates) held within 15×500 L-1 fiberglass tanks connected to a recirculation system (RAS), at 20 crayfish per tank. Each group was fed for 12 weeks one of five experimental diets where the main protein sources were: 1) control, fish-meal-based diet (FM, 48% of the diet); 2) 10% FM + 52.5% poultry by-product meal (PoM); 3) 34.5% soybean meal + 34.5% corn gluten meal (Pmix); 4) 34.5% PoM + 32.soybean/corn gluten meal mix (PoM/Pmix); and 5) 10% FM + 27.5% soybean + 27.5% corn gluten meal (FM/Pmix). The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences among diets in terms of growth and feed utilization efficiency. Muscle amino acid profile of redclaw crayfish fed the FM diet had the highest level of total essential amino acids, followed by FM/PMix, Pmix, PoM/Pmix, and PoM diets. Particularly, in all experimental groups, the highest essential amino acids (EAA) were lysine, arginine, and leucine. Based on these findings, we conclude that redclaw can perform well with FM-free vegetable diets and PoM-based diets although more research is needed into the total composition of EAA and FA in muscle

Maize Adaptability to Heat Stress under Changing Climate

The rapidly increasing human population is an alarming issue and would need more food production under changing climate. Abiotic stresses like heat stress and temperature fluctuation are becoming key issues to be addressed for boosting crop production. Maize growth and productivity are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Grain yield losses in maize from heat stress are expected to increase owing to higher temperatures during the growing season. This situation demands the development of maize hybrids tolerant to heat and drought stresses without compromising grain yield under stress conditions. The chapter aimed to assess the updates on the influence of high-temperature stress (HTS) on the physio-biochemical processes in plants and to draw an association between yield components and heat stress on maize. Moreover, exogenous applications of protectants, antioxidants, and signaling molecules induce HTS tolerance in maize plants and could help the plants cope with HTS by scavenging reactive oxygen species, upregulation of antioxidant enzymes, and protection of cellular membranes by the accrual of compatible osmolytes. It is expected that a better thought of the physiological basis of HTS tolerance in maize plants will help to develop HTS maize cultivars. Developing HTS-tolerant maize varieties may ensure crops production sustainability along with promoting food and feed security under changing climate

Dietary Supplementation of L-Arginine and N-Carbamylglutamate Attenuated the Hepatic Inflammatory Response and Apoptosis in Suckling Lambs with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

L-arginine (Arg) is a semiessential amino acid with several physiological functions. N-Carbamylglutamate (NCG) can promote the synthesis of endogenous Arg in mammals. However, the roles of Arg or NCG on hepatic inflammation and apoptosis in suckling lambs suffering from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are still unclear. The current work is aimed at examining the effects of dietary Arg and NCG on inflammatory and hepatocyte apoptosis in IUGR suckling lambs. On day 7 after birth, 48 newborn Hu lambs were selected from a cohort of 432 twin lambs. Normal-birthweight and IUGR Hu lambs were allocated randomly (n=12/group) to control (CON), IUGR, IUGR+1% Arg, or IUGR+0.1% NCG groups. Lambs were fed for 21 days from 7 to 28 days old. Compared with CON lambs, relative protein 53 (P53), apoptosis antigen 1 (Fas), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), caspase-3, cytochrome C, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65, and NF-κB pp65 protein levels were higher (P<0.05) in liver from IUGR lambs, whereas those in liver from IUGR lambs under Arg or NCG treatment were lower than those in IUGR lambs. These findings indicated that supplementing Arg or NCG reduced the contents of proinflammatory cytokines at the same time when the apoptosis-related pathway was being suppressed, thus suppressing the IUGR-induced apoptosis of hepatic cells

Gut microbiota contributes to bisphenol A-induced maternal intestinal and placental apoptosis, oxidative stress, and fetal growth restriction in pregnant ewe model by regulating gut-placental axis

Abstract Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental contaminant with endocrine-disrupting properties that induce fetal growth restriction (FGR). Previous studies on pregnant ewes revealed that BPA exposure causes placental apoptosis and oxidative stress (OS) and decreases placental efficiency, consequently leading to FGR. Nonetheless, the response of gut microbiota to BPA exposure and its role in aggravating BPA-mediated apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and OS of the maternal placenta and intestine are unclear in an ovine model of gestation. Results Two pregnant ewe groups (n = 8/group) were given either a subcutaneous (sc) injection of corn oil (CON group) or BPA (5 mg/kg/day) dissolved in corn oil (BPA group) once daily, from day 40 to day 110 of gestation. The maternal colonic digesta and the ileum and placental tissue samples were collected to measure the biomarkers of autophagy, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, ERS, and OS. To investigate the link between gut microbiota and the BPA-induced FGR in pregnant ewes, gut microbiota transplantation (GMT) was conducted in two pregnant mice groups (n = 10/group) from day 0 to day 18 of gestation after removing their intestinal microbiota by antibiotics. The results indicated that BPA aggravates apoptosis, ERS and autophagy, mitochondrial function injury of the placenta and ileum, and gut microbiota dysbiosis in pregnant ewes. GMT indicated that BPA-induced ERS, autophagy, and apoptosis in the ileum and placenta are attributed to gut microbiota dysbiosis resulting from BPA exposure. Conclusions Our findings indicate the underlying role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and gut-placental axis behind the BPA-mediated maternal intestinal and placental apoptosis, OS, and FGR. The findings further provide novel insights into modulating the balance of gut microbiota through medication or probiotics, functioning via the gut-placental axis, to alleviate gut-derived placental impairment or FGR. Video Abstrac

NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF MAIZE IN RESPONSE TO DROUGHT STRESS DURING GRAIN-FILLING STAGES IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE CONDITION

WOS: 000389137600006Maize is considered one of the most essential dietary components in human food and animal feeding. The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effects of drought stress on qualitative traits of maize at grain-filling stages. Hybrids maize seeds were grown by applying full and water stress conditions during the grain filling stage. Various nutritional properties (crude oil, starch, grain protein content) were determined in 2014 and 2015 at the second crop growing season in Adana, Turkey. Based on the results of this study, genotype and environment were found to influence all quality traits significantly. Further, result of study suggest that water stress caused a significant reduction in major quality traits. Grain weight and grain quality yield as well crude oil, protein and ash yield were significantly decreased due to water deficit condition in the both growing seasons. Significant differences were observed among hybrids in respect of all measurements due to irrigation regimes. The genotypes, Sancia and Calgary were tolerant by producing higher grain weight. Accordingly, grain qualities of 71May69, Aaccel and Calgary maize hybrids were less affected under drought stress

Effect of Nano-hydroxyapatite as an Alternative to Inorganic Dicalcium Phosphate on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism of Broiler Chickens

The influence of nano-hydroxyapatite (NHA) as a source of calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) alternative to inorganic dicalcium phosphate (DCP) on the performance, carcass traits, and the Ca and P contents in serum, bone, and excreta was evaluated in broiler chickens. One-day-old un-sexed Arbor Acres Plus broiler chickens (n.= 160) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of four replicates with 10 birds in each replicate.

KEYWORDS Deficit irrigation Grain filling stage Starch Oil and protein content NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF MAIZE IN RESPONSE TO DROUGHT STRESS DURING GRAIN-FILLING STAGES IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE CONDITION

ABSTRACT Maize is considered one of the most essential dietary components in human food and animal feeding. The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effects of drought stress on qualitative traits of maize at grain-filling stages. Hybrids maize seeds were grown by applying full and water stress conditions during the grain filling stage. Various nutritional properties (crude oil, starch, grain protein content) were determined in 2014 and 2015 at the second crop growing season in Adana, Turkey. Based on the results of this study, genotype and environment were found to influence all quality traits significantly. Further, result of study suggest that water stress caused a significant reduction in major quality traits. Grain weight and grain quality yield as well crude oil, protein and ash yield were significantly decreased due to water deficit condition in the both growing seasons. Significant differences were observed among hybrids in respect of all measurements due to irrigation regimes. The genotypes, Sancia and Calgary were tolerant by producing higher grain weight. Accordingly, grain qualities of 71May69, Aaccel and Calgary maize hybrids were less affected under drought stress

Influence of Combined Yeast-derived Zinc, Selenium and Chromium on Performance, Carcass Traits, Immune Response and Histomorphological Changes in Broiler Chickens

This study was carried out to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of yeast-based Zn, Se, and Cr on growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune response, and histomorphological changes in broiler chickens. A total of 1092 one-day-old unsexed broilers of Ross 308 strain were randomly allocated into two equal treatment groups (6 equal replicates/ group). Birds were fed the dietary treatments from day 1 to day 35 of age. The first group was fed a basal diet without yeast-based Zn, Se and Cr supplementation (control). The second group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 1.5 mg, 0.15 mg and 2 µg / kg diet of Zn, Se, and Cr, respectively. The yeast-based Zn, Se and Cr increased (P&lt;0.05) the growth rate, carcass traits and improved feed conversion ratio compared to control. The antibody titer against avian influenza and the relative weight of bursa, thymus and spleen were increased (P &lt; 0.05) in broilers supplemented with yeast-based Zn, Se, and Cr compared with the control. The intestinal villi height and crypt depth and bursa diameters were increased in broilers fed the yeast-based Zn, Se and Cr supplemented diet. In addition, there was an increase in the lymphocytic infiltration in the bursa and a decrease in germinal centers in the submucosal lymph nodules of the ileum of birds supplemented with yeast-based Zn, Se and Cr compared to the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of yeast-based Se, Cr, and Zn in combination could improve growth performance, carcass traits, immune responses and histo-morphological parameters in broiler chickens

Mechanisms underlying the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the placental injury and fetal growth restriction in an ovine gestation model

Abstract Background Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental pollutant known for its endocrine-disrupting properties, during gestation has been reported to increase the risk of fetal growth restriction (FGR) in an ovine model of pregnancy. We hypothesized that the FGR results from the BPA-induced insufficiency and barrier dysfunction of the placenta, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). However, precise mechanisms underlying the BPA-induced placental dysfunction, and subsequently, FGR, as well as the potential involvement of placental ERS in these complications, remain to be investigated. Methods In vivo experiment, 16 twin-pregnant (from d 40 to 130 of gestation) Hu ewes were randomly distributed into two groups (8 ewes each). One group served as a control and received corn oil once a day, whereas the other group received BPA (5 mg/kg/d as a subcutaneous injection). In vitro study, ovine trophoblast cells (OTCs) were exposed to 4 treatments, 6 replicates each. The OTCs were treated with 400 μmol/L BPA, 400 μmol/L BPA + 0.5 μg/mL tunicamycin (Tm; ERS activator), 400 μmol/L BPA + 1 μmol/L 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA; ERS antagonist) and DMEM/F12 complete medium (control), for 24 h. Results In vivo experiments, pregnant Hu ewes receiving the BPA from 40 to 130 days of pregnancy experienced a decrease in placental efficiency, progesterone (P4) level and fetal weight, and an increase in placental estrogen (E2) level, together with barrier dysfunctions, OS, inflammatory responses, autophagy and ERS in type A cotyledons. In vitro experiment, the OTCs exposed to BPA for 24 h showed an increase in the E2 level and related protein and gene expressions of autophagy, ERS, pro-apoptosis and inflammatory response, and a decrease in the P4 level and the related protein and gene expressions of antioxidant, anti-apoptosis and barrier function. Moreover, treating the OTCs with Tm aggravated BPA-induced dysfunction of barrier and endocrine (the increased E2 level and decreased P4 level), OS, inflammatory responses, autophagy, and ERS. However, treating the OTCs with 4-PBA reversed the counteracted effects of Tm mentioned above. Conclusions In general, the results reveal that BPA exposure can cause ERS in the ovine placenta and OTCs, and ERS induction might aggravate BPA-induced dysfunction of the placental barrier and endocrine, OS, inflammatory responses, and autophagy. These data offer novel mechanistic insights into whether ERS is involved in BPA-mediated placental dysfunction and fetal development