The effect of the supplementation with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion on final body weight and mean growing rate of 42-day-old broilers.

<p>The effect of the supplementation with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion on final body weight and mean growing rate of 42-day-old broilers.</p

The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on densitometry, geometric and mechanical properties of the femur in newborn piglets.

<p>The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on densitometry, geometric and mechanical properties of the femur in newborn piglets.</p

Physical, mechanical and geometric properties of tibia obtained from 42-day-old broilers in control groups and supplemented with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion.

<p>Physical, mechanical and geometric properties of tibia obtained from 42-day-old broilers in control groups and supplemented with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion.</p

The immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of osteoprotegerin from the proliferative zone of growth plate.

<p>Representative pictures of the immunohistochemical analysis carried out on formaldehyde-fixed sections from the femoral growth plate of newborn piglets from the proliferative zone in the control male group (A), the HMB-treated male group (B), the control female group (C), and the HMB-treated female group (D). <b>*</b> antibody control in males; <b>*</b>^<b>,</b> antibody control in females. The nucleus in the chondrocyte with the negative OCN signal is stained blue and indicated by blue arrows. The positive OCN signal is indicated in cells by brown arrows. Magnification x200.</p

The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on trabecular bone morphology of the femur obtained from newborn piglets.

<p>The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on trabecular bone morphology of the femur obtained from newborn piglets.</p

The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on femoral cartilage morphology and densitometry in newborn piglets.

<p>The effect of maternal treatment with HMB on femoral cartilage morphology and densitometry in newborn piglets.</p

Representative images of the femoral articular cartilage stained with safranin-O carried out on formaldehyde-fixed sections.

<p>Vertical section of total femoral articular cartilage from the control male group (A), the HMB-treated male group (B), the control female group (C), and the HMB-treated female group (D). Magnification x100.</p

Histomorphometrical parameters of trabeculea of cancellous bone in tibia obtained from 42-dy-old broilers in control groups and supplemented with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion.

<p>Histomorphometrical parameters of trabeculea of cancellous bone in tibia obtained from 42-dy-old broilers in control groups and supplemented with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion.</p

Composition and nutritive value of the experimental diets.

<p>Composition and nutritive value of the experimental diets.</p

Representative images of Goldner’s trichrome staining carried out on formaldehyde-fixed sections from the tibial proximal part of 42-day-old chickens in control groups and supplemented with organic Zn in 25% of recommended dose with or without phytase inclusion.

<p>A–the NC group fed without Zn supplementation, B–the Zn25% group, C–the Zn25%+phyt group, the PC group fed diet supplemented with ZnO in 100% of daily recommended dose (D). The description of the groups as in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0191964#pone.0191964.g001" target="_blank">Fig 1</a>. The real bone volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) significantly increased as Zn was added to the diet, with the highest value observed in PC group. A significant increase of trabecular space was additionally observed in the Zn25% group. The black arrow heads indicate trabecule, the red arrow heads indicate bone marrow. Magnification x50.</p