Effects of Dihydromyricetin Extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata on Visceral Organ Indexes and Intestinal Digestive Enzyme Activities of Chickens

To provide a reference basis for reasonable development and utilization of Ampelopsis grossedentata resource and its application in production,we added 0.025%,0.05% and 0.1% dihydromyricetin（DMY）extracted from A.grossedentata into the basal diets of Yaoshan chickens,and studied the effects of DMY on visceral organ indexes and digestive enzyme activities of 40-day-old healthy Yaoshan chickens.Supplementation of DMY in basal diets influenced visceral organ weight,organ index,length and digestive enzyme activity of small intestine of chickens.Among them,0.05% DMY was the most appropriate volume for supplementation.Compared with control group（without DMY）,0.05% DMY reduced lung weight and index（P〉0.05）,significantly reduced liver weight（P〈0.05）,extremely reduced stomach weight and stomach index（P〈0.01）,increased activity of amylase in small intestine（P〉0.05）,significantly increased length of small intestine and activity of protease（P〈0.05）.Supplementation of 0.05% DMY reduced the visceral organ weight and organ index,enhanced digestion and absorption ability of gastrointestinal tract,thereby improving feed utilization rate and promoting the growth of chickens.

Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate-lipid Ratio on Growth, Body Composition and Digestive Enzyme Activities of Juvenile Peanut Worm,Sipunculus nudus

[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate-lipid( C / L) ratios on growth performance,body composition and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile peanut worm. [Methods]Juvenile peanut worm with average body weight of( 16. 77 ± 0. 40) mg were fed with five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets formulated to contain different carbohydrate / lipid( C / L) ratios( 0. 68,1. 02,1. 62,2. 61 or 4. 35) for 8 weeks. [Results] The dietary C / L ratios had no significant effects on survival of juvenile peanut worm( P 】 0. 05). With the increasing of dietary C / L ratios,weight growth rate( WGR)and specific growth rate( SGR) increased when dietary C / L ratios were between 0. 68 and 2. 61,and then decreased significantly with dietary C / L ratio further increased. When the dietary C / L ratio was 2. 61( carbohydrate level was 20. 64%,lipid level was 7. 92%) both WGR and SGR produced the maximum value,they were 451. 78 ± 16. 85% and 3. 41 ± 0. 06 % / d,respectively. The dietary C / L ratios had significant effects on body moisture,body protein content and body lipid content( P 【 0. 05),but no significant effects on body ash content of juvenile peanut worm( P 】 0. 05). Different C / L ratios had significant effects on amylase activity and lipases activity of juvenile peanut worm( P 【 0. 05),but no significant effects on protease activity( P 】 0. 05). [Conclusion]The regression model analysis showed that the most suitable dietary C / L ratio which can make juvenile peanut worm acquire the best weight growth rate is 2. 42.

Comparison of Digestive Enzyme Activities in Normal and Growth Retarded Japanese Eels(Anguilla japonics)

[ Objective] This experiment was conducted to compare the activity difference of digestive enzymes in Japanese eels Anguilla japonics and growth retarded eels under different reaction temperature. [Method] Both 20 normal Japanese eels （Weight from 126.4 to 140.2 g per eel） and 20 growth retarded eels （Weight from 3.5 to 8.6 g per eel） were selected, then, the protease, amylase, lipase activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach under the reaction temperature 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 55℃ were measured. [ Result] The protease activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach all reached the highest value for both normal eels and growth retarded eels, and the order of protease activities was intestine 〉 stomach 〉 hepatopancreas except the protease activities of growth retarded eels at the temperature of 5, 15, 55℃ The protease activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach of growth retarded eels were 29.5%, 15.7% and 25.2% of those of normal eels（ P 〈0. 05）. The amylase activities of both normal and growth retarded eels reached the highest value at the temperature of 30 ~C. The amylase activity or- der of normal eels was hepatopancreas 〉 intestine 〉 stomach expect the amylase activity at the temperature of 5 ~C, while the amylase activity order of growth retarded eels is intestine 〉 hepatopancreas 〉 stomach. The amylase activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach of growth retarded eels were 42.4%, 73.7% and 43.8% of those of normal eels （ P 〈 0.05）. The lipase activities of both normal and growth retarded eels reached the highest value at the temperature of 35 ~C. The lipase activity order of normal eels was hepatopancreas 〉 stomach 〉 intestine, while the lipase activity order of growth retarded eels was hepatopancreas 〉 intestine 〉 stomach expect the lipase activity at the temperature of 35 ~C. The lipase activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach of growth retarded eels were 41.5%, 45.6% and 23.2% of those of normal eels（ P 〈0.05）. [ Conclusion] The protease, amylase, lipase activities in hepatopancreas, intestine and stomach of growth retarded Japanese eels were significantly lower than those of normal Japanese eels, therefore, its growth was affected directly.

Effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic,Clostridium butyricum,on growth performance,immune response,intestinal barrier function,and digestive enzyme activity in broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli K88

Background： Colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil （E. coil} results in economic losses in the poultry industry. Antibiotics are usually used to control colibacillosis, however, E. coli has varying degrees of resistance to different antibiotics. Therefore the use of probiotics is becoming accepted as an alternative to antibiotics. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Clostfidium butyricum （C. butyficum） on growth performance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and digestive enzyme activity in broiler chickens challenged with Eschefichia coli （E. coil） K88. Methods： The chickens were randomly divided into four treatment groups for 28 days. Negative control treatment （NC） consisted of birds fed a basal diet without E. coil K88 challenge and positive control treatment （PC） consisted of birds fed a basal diet and challenged with E. coil K88. C. buO/ricum probiotic treatment （CB） consisted of birds fed a diet containing 2 x 107 cfu C. buO/ricum/kg of diet and challenged with E. coil K88. Colistin sulfate antibiotic treatment （CS） consisted of birds fed a diet containing 20 mg colistin sulfate/kg of diet and challenged with E. coil K88. Results： The body weight （BW） and average day gain （ADG） in the broilers of CB group were higher （P 〈 0.05） than the broilers in the PC group overall except the ADG in the 14-21 d post-challenge. The birds in CB treatment had higher （P 〈 0.05） concentration of tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） at 3 and 7 d post-challenge, and higher （P 〈 0.05） concentration of interleukin-4 （IL-4） at 14 d post-challenge than those in the PC treatment group. The concentration of serum endotoxin in CB birds was lower （P 〈 0.05） at 21 d post-challenge, and the concentrations of serum diamine oxidase in CB birds were lower （P 〈 0.05） at 14 and 21 d post-challenge than in PC birds. Birds in CB treatment group had higher （P 〈 0.05） jejunum villi height than those in PC, NC, or CS treatment at 7, 14, and 21 d post-challenge. In comparison to PC birds, the CB birds had lower （P 〈 0.05） jejunum crypt depth during the whole experiment. The birds in CB or CS treatment group had higher （P 〈 0.05） activities of amylase and protease at 3, 7, and 14 d post-challenge, and higher （P 〈 0.05） activity of lipase at 3, 7 d post-challenge than PC birds.

Impact of Different Diets on Adult Tri-Spine Horseshoe Crab,Tachypleus tridentatus

Effective culture and management of adult tri-spine horseshoe crab,Tachypleus tridentatus can ensure that stock enhancement programs and aquaculture systems are maintained.To explore suitable feed for animals during the breeding season,Pacific oyster(Ostrea gigas)(oyster group;OG)and frozen sharpbelly fish(Hemiculter leucisculus)(frozen fish group;FG)were selected to feed 20 T.tridentatus male and female pairs,respectively.At the end of the experiment,intestinal samples were obtained to measure digestive enzymes activities.The intestinal flora were determined by 16S r DNA sequencing.No eggs were observed in the FG and one T.tridentatus adult died.No animals died in the OG,and 9.7×10;eggs were obtained.These results show that oysters are more suitable for the development and reproduction of adult T.tridentatus than frozen fish.Additionally,the digestive enzyme activity analysis revealed that animals in the OG exhibited higher protein digestibility than those in the FG,but no significant differences in lipid and carbohydrate uptake were observed between the groups.Furthermore,the intestinal flora analysis showed that operational taxonomic units(OTUs)and the Chao1 index were significantly higher in the OG than in the FG,but no significant difference was observed in the Shannon or Simpson indices between the groups.Our data indicate that the oyster diet improved the intestinal microbial diversity of T.tridentatus.We hypothesize that nutrients,such as oyster-based taurine,proteins,and highly unsaturated fatty acids,improve protease activity in the T.tridentatus digestive tract,alter the intestinal floral structure,and improve the reproductive performance of T.tridentatus.

Comparisons of blood biochemical parameters,digestive enzyme activities and volatile fatty acid profile between Meishan and Yorkshire piglets

This study was conducted to compare physiological characteristics between Meishan and Yorkshire piglets in their early lives. Six healthy purebred Meishan sows and Yorkshire sows with close farrowing dates were used in this research. The piglets sucked their respective sow’s milk for 14 days, then they were slaughtered to collect samples of blood, pancreas, contents of stomach, jejunum, cecum, colon as well as feces for analysis of blood biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes, and volatile fatty acid(VFA). The results showed that Yorkshire piglets had higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and total cholesterol(TC)(P < 0.05). Gastric lipase activity was higher in Meishan piglets but Yorkshire piglets had higher lactase activity(P < 0.05). The total VFA together with acetate and propionate in cecum and colon were higher in Meishan piglets than in Yorkshire piglets(P < 0.05),but acetate in jejunum and ratio of acetate to propionate in colon were lower in Meishan piglets than in Yorkshire piglets(P < 0.05). In conclusion, in early suckling period, significant differences exist in host metabolism and intestinal microbial metabolism between Meishan and Yorkshire piglets.

Colonization and Probiotic Effect of Metschnikowia sp. C14 in the Intestine of Juvenile Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

Viable cell count was used to determine whether Metschnikowia sp.C14 can colonize the intestine of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.Sea cucumber individuals were divided into two groups,which were fed the control diet for 38 days or the C14-supplemented diet at 105 cells g−1 diet for 28 days,then the control diet from day 29 to day 38.The number of C14 cells in the intestine of sea cucumber fed the C14-supplemented diet significantly increased from day 7 to day 28,and decreased from day 29 to day 38.Sea cucumber fed with the diet containing C14 showed a significant increase in trypsin activity and lipase activity from day 21 to day 33 compared with the control.Feeding C14 significantly improved the phagocytic activity and respiratory burst in coelomocytes from day 21 to day 35 and from day 14 to day 38,respectively.In addition,there was an obvious enhancement in lysozyme activity(from day 21 to day 38 or day 33),phenoloxidase activity(from day 21 to day 28)and total nitric oxide synthase activity(from day 14 to day 38)in coelomic fluid supernatant and/or coelomocyte cell lysate supernatant compared with the control.There were significant positive correlations between the number of C14 cells colonizing the intestine and trypsin activity of the intestine,lysozyme activity of the coelomic fluid supernatant and coelomocyte lysate supernatant from sea cucumber.These data suggested that the number of C14 cells should be maintained at 105 cfu(colony-forming units)g−1 intestine material for the maximum benefit.

Short-Term Biochemical Impacts in Cyphoderus javanus Borner (Collembola) as Potential Biomarkers of Fly Ash and Heavy Metal Pollution in Tropical Lateritic Soil

The detritivorous soil microarthropods are ideal models for environmental health assessment, but only scant information is available on their biomarker potentials against xenobiotics in the tropical edaphic conditions. This microcosm study has estimated short-term biochemical changes with respect to tissue nutrient levels and digestive enzyme activities in a near cosmopolitan Collembola Cyphoderus javanus Borner exposed to coal fly ash amended lateritic cropland soil (5% and 20% w/w i.e. 50 or 200 t ·ha-1), and cadmium sulphate (200 mg/kg soil)/lead acetate (200 mg/kg soil) treated sterile river sand. The levels of total tissue carbohydrates, proteins, free amino acids, and lipids decrease within 7 days in the specimens of fly ash (P α-amylase, cellulase and protease activities are also down regulated by fly ash and heavy metals (P < 0.05). It is also observed the enzyme: protein ratios increase in fly ash treated sets and decrease in lead and cadmium treated specimens. Specimens in treated sets accumulate high levels of lead and cadmium within 15 days, which decrease subsequently probably due to elimination through frequent moulting. These short-term biochemical effects in Collembola have applied importance in C. javanus, as biomarkers for quick ecotoxicological assessments in the tropical agricultural soils.

Effect of Fermentation Bed with Spent Mushroom Substrate of Pleurotus eryngii on Weaning Piglets

[Objective] The paper was to investigate effects on fermentation bed temperature,growth performance,diarrhea rate and digestive en-zyme activity of weaning piglets by using spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus eryngii as padding.[Method] A total of 120 weaning piglets（Duroc × Landrace ×Yorkshire） with average initial body weight of（8.0 ±0.5）kg were allocated to five dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design for 42 d,each of which was replicated three times with eight piglets per replicate（half male,half female）.The padding for control group was（50% sawdust ＋50% rice husk）;experimental group Ⅰ 100% spent mushroom substrate;experimental group Ⅱ（15% sawdust ＋15% rice husk ＋70% spent mushroom substrate）;experimental group Ⅲ（25% sawdust ＋25% rice husk ＋50% spent mushroom substrate）;experimental group Ⅳ（35% sawdust ＋35% rice husk ＋30% spent substrate）.[Result] There was no significant difference in surface temperature of fermentation bed between experimental groups and control group（P〉0.05）.Compared with the control group,the temperature under 20 cm of fermentation bed in ex-perimental groups I,Ⅱ and Ⅲ increased significantly（P〈0.05）.Except for experimental group Ⅳ,other three experimental groups had higher aver-age daily gain（P〈0.05） and experimental group Ⅰ had higher average daily feed intake（P〈0.05） compared to the control group.The diarrhea rate and mortality of weaning piglets in experimental groups Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly decreased compared with the control group（P〈0.05）.Compared with the control group,other three experimental groups had higher digestive enzyme activity in duodenal contents except for experimental group Ⅳ（P〈0.05）.[Conclusion] Spent mushroom substrate of P.eryngii can be used as fermentation bed padding,and the optimal proportion was experimental group Ⅲ.

Potential probiotic and health fostering effect of host gut-derived Enterococcus faecalis on freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The present study investigated the potential probiotic effect of Enterococcus faecalis against a pathogenic microorganism,Vibrio harveyi occurring in the giant freshwater prawn(Macrobrachium rosenbergii).V.harveyi was isolated from the intestine of M.rosenbergii through biochemical tests and PCR-based molecular assays.An in-vitro challenge was conducted by mixing isolated probiotic(5.12 log CFU/g)and V.harveyi(3.09 log CFU/g).Feeds incorporated with E.faecalis(9.02 log CFU/g)were applied to the treatment group during in vivo test in the aquarium and earthen pond(70 m^(2),1 m depth).Pathogenic bacteria were found to be reduced after 8 h(from 5.02 to 3.62 log CFU/g)and 60 days(from 5.44 to 2.15 log CFU/g)of probiotic administration in the in vitro and in vivo test,respectively.The E.faecalis mixed feed also showed higher weight gain(WG%,481.22%±17.71%;SGR%,2.93%±0.18%)and digestive enzymes activities(amylase,1.26±0.08 unit/mg;protease,2.78±0.02 unit/mg)compared to control group(WG%,371.31%±13.35%;SGR%,2.30%±0.32%;amylase,0.7±0.03 unit/mg;protease,1.82±0.02 unit/mg).Furthermore,the probiotic also improved the immune response by augmenting NGH(from 73.33%±0.23%to 74.63%±0.11%)and SGH(from 22.24%±0.06%to 23.13%±0.08%)in the treatment group.Therefore,E.faecalis could be recommended to use against bacterial infections of the M.rosenbergii.