Effect of oils sources on blood lipid parameters of commercial laying hens

The experiment was carried out to verify if total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglicerol plasma levels are affected when laying hens are fed rations containing different dietary oil sources. One hundred sixty 50 week-old hens, assigned to four treatments with five replicates using 8 hens per replicate were used. The experimental period was of 84 days divided in 3 cycles of 28 days each. In the last day of each cycle, blood samples of 2 hens per replicate were randomly choose and blood samples were collected. On the other hand, blood was also collected at 7 am, 11 am and 3 pm aiming to study the daily changes of these lipids. Blood lipid parameters were not affected by different dietary oil sources (p > 0.05); however, HDL-cholesterol did change during the day, giving evidence that this lipid is indeed involved in the egg yolk formation

Alternative calcium source effects on commercial egg production and quality

This study aimed at verifying the possibility of replacing calcitic limestone by marine calcium in the diet of layers. A total number of 321 Hi-sex hens, with 40 weeks of age at the beginning of the experiment, was used. A completely randomized experimental design was applied, with 5 treatments (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 % of calcitic limestone replacement by marine calcium source) and eight replicates of eight birds each. Treatments significantly affected specific gravity (p<0.05), with the inclusion of 60% marine calcium (T5) presenting the worst result as compared to T1, which included only calcitic limestone as calcium source. It was concluded that marine calcium can replace up to 45% of calcitic limestone with no effects on performance or egg quality

Efeito da Suplementação de Metionina Sobre o Desempenho e a Avaliação de Carcaças de Frangos de Corte Effect of Methionine Supplementation on Performance and Carcass Yield of Broiler Chickens

Um experimento foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de metionina em dietas de crescimento (22 a 42 dias de idade) sobre o desempenho, rendimento e composição química da carcaça de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 2000 frangos de corte da linhagem comercial Ross, sexados, distribuídos em um delineamento ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 5 (sexo e níveis de metionina) com quatro repetições de 50 aves cada. As dietas foram formuladas para conter 100% ,110%, 120%, 130% e 140% dos níveis de metionina recomendados pelo NRC (1994). Aos 42 dias de idade, as aves foram abatidas para avaliar a quantidade de gordura abdominal, bem como o rendimento e a composição química da carcaça. Ao aumentar o nível de metionina da dieta, não houve efeito (p> 0,05) sobre o ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, mortalidade, gordura abdominal, e rendimento de carcaça, bem como, umidade, proteína, gordura e cinzas do peito e pernas. Não foi verificado efeito (p>0,05) de interação entre nível de metionina e sexo, mas as fêmeas apresentaram maior percentual de gordura abdominal (p<0,05) que os machos. Como o nível de metionina não afetou o desempenho, rendimento e composição química da carcaça, concluiu-se que a recomendação sugerida pelo NRC (1994) de 0,38% para frangos de corte no período de 22 a 42 dias de idade está adequada.<br>One experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary additional methionine levels during the grower period (22 a 42 days of age) on performance, carcass yield, and chemical composition of broiler chickens. Two thousand sexed Ross broilers, were reared in a randomized factorial 2 x 5 design (sex and methionine levels) with four replications of 50 birds each. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 100%, 110%, 120%, 130% and 140% of methinine level suggested by NRC (1994). Methionine levels were, .38, .42, .46. .50 and .54%, respectively. At 42 days of age birds were slaughtered to evaluate carcass yield, abdominal fat and chemical composition. Increasing methionine level did not affect (p>.05) weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, mortality, abdominal fat, and carcass yield and breast and thigh moisture, protein,fat and ash.. Interaction between methionine level and sex was not significant (p>.05), but females presented higher abdominal fat (p<.05) than males. As methionine level did not affected performance and carcass yield and composition, it was concluded that the methionine level during grower period (22 to 42 days of age) suggested by NRC (1994) is adequate

Biochemical and pharmacological role of A1adenosine receptors and their modulation as novel therapeutic strategy

Adenosine, the purine nucleoside, mediates its effects through activation of four G-protein coupled adenosine receptors (ARs) named as A1, A2A, A2Band A3. In particular, A1ARs are distributed through the body, primarily inhibitory in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity and able to reduce the cyclic AMP levels. Considerable advances have been made in the pharmacological and molecular characterization of A1ARs, which had been proposed as targets for the discovery and drug design of antagonists, agonists and allosteric enhancers. Several lines of evidence indicate that adenosine interacting with A1ARs may be an endogenous protective agent in the human body since it prevents the damage caused by various pathological conditions, such as in ischemia/hypoxia, epileptic seizures, excitotoxic neuronal injury and cardiac arrhythmias in cardiovascular system. It has also been reported that one of the most promising targets for the development of new anxiolytic drugs could be A1ARs, and that their activation may reduce pain signaling in the spinal cord. A1AR antagonists induce diuresis and natriuresis in various experimental models, mediating the inhibition of A1ARs in the proximal tubule which is primarily responsible for reabsorption and fluid uptake. In addition, the results of various studies indicate that adenosine is present within pancreatic islets and is implicated through A1ARs in the regulation of insulin secretion and in glucose concentrations. In the present paper it will become apparent that A1ARs could be implicated in the pharmacological treatment of several pathologies with an important influence on human health