News and views of neuroprotection in complete traumatic spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injury (SCI) due to trauma has major functional, medical, and financial effects on the injured person, as well as an important effect on the individual's psychosocial well-being. These patients have not any treatment for their or tetraplegia and any therapeutical attempt can bring hope and can improve their quality of life. Today methylprednisolone is a standard treatment option for an acute spinal cord injury but it is not a cure for a spinal cord injury. Surgery is often necessary for decompression, to realign and to stabilize the spine. The experimental treatments had yet not results. In case of acute complete traumatic SCI, steroid medication is insufficient and it is necessary to add new immediate procedures at the standard treatment performed today. Treatment should be started immediately and must stop cell death, control inflammation and promote nerve regeneration (action to primary and secondary damage)

Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

The immunotoxic effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and its cytotoxic action on the intestinal epithelium were studied in broiler chickens experimentally treated with the toxin. From the 7th day of life, 80 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups of 20 birds each. The three experimental groups (E1-3) were treated with OTA for 28 days (E1: 50 μg/kg body weight [bw]/day; E2: 20 μg/kg bw/day; E3: 1 μg/kg bw/day) and the fourth group served as control. Histological examination of the intestinal mucosa and immunohistochemical staining for identification of CD4+, CD8+, TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocytes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileocaecal junction were performed, and CD4+/CD8+ and TCR1/TCR2 ratios were calculated. OTA toxicity resulted in decreased body weight gain, poorer feed conversion ratio, lower leukocyte and lymphocyte count, and altered intestinal mucosa architecture. After 14 days of exposure to OTA, immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the lymphocyte population in the intestinal epithelium and the lamina propria. After 28 days of exposure, an increase in the CD4+ and CD8+ values in both the duodenum and jejunum of chickens in Groups E1 and E2 was observed, but the TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocyte counts showed a significant reduction. No significant changes were observed in Group E3. The results indicate that OTA induced a decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and was cytotoxic to the intestinal epithelium and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, altering the intestinal barrier and increasing susceptibility to various associated diseases

Characterization of the relations between morphology and physiological status of the pineal gland in connection with the somatic development level in turkeys reared in Romania

This research started from the premises of the existence of some possible relationships between indole and pineal peptide hormones and the somatic development, with participation of hypothalamic-pituitary complex. Experimental factors, which were the subject of the present paper, influenced the dynamics of corporal mass and fodder consumption, leading to the occurrence of some important structural modifications at the level of pineal gland. The exposure of the individuals to continuous light (photic pinealectomy) produces increases in corporal mass, showing the involvement of the pineal gland in neuro-endocrine-metabolic reactions, which contributes to the maintenance of homeostatic balance, including somatic ones. Biological material was represented by a number of 50 individuals belonging to B.U.T. Big 6 hybrid, reared on soil, on a permanent litter, which could assure the expanding of knowledge area regarding the relation between rearing technology, modulation of some microclimate parameters and growing performances. Were also realised cytometric and hystometric muscular determinations

The presence of neurotrophins and their specific receptors in adult and developing Japanese quail ovaries

The presence of neurotrophins and their specific receptors in adult and developing Japanese quail ovaries Nechita E-L, Arcamone N, Maruccio L, Solcan C, Cotea C Nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are members of neurotrophins family, which are involved in growth, maintaining, differentiation and survival of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. The activity of these neurotrophins is elicited in systems other than nervous, such as reproductive and endocrine systems. In mammals, neurotrophins and their receptors TrkA, TrkB, TrkC play a critical role in oogenesis and folliculogenesis, promoting the follicular development and oo-cyte maturation, also during early embryonic development. In this study we report the presence of NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and their specific receptors in adult and embryonic quail gonads. The investigations were con-ducted on embryonic stages from 4th to 17th day of incubation and on adult laying quail ovaries. Immunohisto-chemical Envision technique was used. The immunoreactivity (ir) was observed from 6th day of embryonic de-velopment. Neurotrophins and their receptors were differently distributed in cortical and medullary areas. The localization of NGF, NT3 and Trk receptors-ir was differently observed in cytoplasm of oocytes, follicular cells and stromal cells, both in adult and embryonic quail ovaries from the 9th day of incubation, while BDNF ir was observed only in adult. The results obtained confirm the involvement of neurotrophins during the development of gonads in quails, as well as in mammals. Furthermore, the occurrence of neurotrophins and the receptors could provide new insights on their possible paracrine and/or autocrine mode of action in quail ovary during development and folliculogenesis

Effects of Wine by-Products on Growth Performance, Complete Blood Count and Total Antioxidant Status in Broilers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole grape pomace (GP), grape seed (GS) and grape pomace polyphenolic extract (GPEP) on growth performance, total antioxidant status (TAS) and complete blood count (CBC) of 40-day-old chicks (hybrid Cobb 500). A total of 432 unsexed one-day-old chicks were divided into six groups: control (CON) and five experimental groups, 10 g/kg GP, 20 g/kg GP, 5 g/kg GS, 10 g/kg GS and 15 mL/L GPEP. The results showed a higher increase in growing rate in 5 g/kg GS group, from the first week of the chicks’ life throughout their growth, the average body weight of the chicks being significantly higher (p0.05) at 40 days of age. As a conclusion, the amount of 5 g/kg seeds, 10 g/kg and 20 g/kg pomace, can be added to the diet of the broilers, the dose of 5 g/kg seeds in the diet offering advantages in growing rate and feed valorization in weight gain