The effect of ensiled paulownia leaves in a high-forage diet on ruminal fermentation,methane production,fatty acid composition,and milk production performance of dairy cows

Background:The use of industrial by-products rich in bioactive compounds as animal feeds can reduce greenhouse gas production.Paulownia leaves silage(PLS)was supplemented to dairy cows'diet and evaluated in vitro(Exp.1;Rusitec)and in vivo(Exp.2,cannulated lactating dairy cows and Exp.3,non-cannulated lactating dairy cows).The study investigated the PLS effect on ruminal fermentation,microbial populations,methane production and concentration,dry matter intake(DMI),and fatty acid(FA)proportions in ruminal fluid and milk.Results:Several variables of the ruminal fluid were changed in response to the inclusion of PLS.In Exp.1,the p H increased linearly and quadratically,whereas ammonia and total volatile fatty acid(VFA)concentrations increased linearly and cubically.A linear,quadratic,and cubical decrease in methane concentration was observed with increasing dose of the PLS.Exp.2 revealed an increase in ruminal p H and ammonia concentrations,but no changes in total VFA concentration.Inclusion of PLS increased ruminal propionate(at 3 h and 6 h after feeding),isovalerate,and valerate concentrations.Addition of PLS also affected several populations of the analyzed microorganisms.The abundances of protozoa and bacteria were increased,whereas the abundance of archaea were decreased by PLS.Methane production decreased by 11%and 14%in PLS-fed cows compared to the control in Exp.2 and 3,respectively.Exp.3 revealed a reduction in the milk protein and lactose yield in the PLS-fed cows,but no effect on DMI and energy corrected milk yield.Also,the PLS diet affected the ruminal biohydrogenation process with an increased proportions of C18:3 cis-9 cis-12 cis-15,conjugated linoleic acid,C18:1 trans-11 FA,polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA),and reduced n6/n3 ratio and saturated fatty acids(SFA)proportion in milk.The relative transcript abundances of the 5 of 6 analyzed genes regulating FA metabolism increased.Conclusions:The dietary PLS replacing the alfalfa silage at 60 g/kg diet can reduce the methane emission and improve milk quality with greater proportions of PUFA,including conjugated linoleic acid,and C18:1 trans-11 along with reduction of SFA.

The effects of fermentation and adsorption using lactic acid bacteria culture broth on the feed quality of rice straw

To improve the nutritional value and the palatability of air-dried rice straw, culture broth of the lactic acid bacteria community SFC-2 was used to examine the effects of two different treatments, fermentation and adsorption. Air-dried and chopped rice straw was treated with either fermentation for 30 d after adding 1.5 L nutrient solution（50 m L inocula L–1, 1.2×1012 CFU m L–1 inocula） kg–1 straw dry matter, or spraying a large amount of culture broth（1.5 L kg–1 straw dry matter, 1.5×1011 CFU m L–1 culture broth） on the straw and allowing it to adsorb for 30 min. The feed quality and aerobic stability of the resulting forage were examined. Both treatments improved the feed quality of rice straw, and adsorption was better than fermentation for preserving nutrients and improving digestibility, as evidenced by higher dry matter（DM） and crude protein（CP） concentrations, lower neutral detergent fiber（NDF）, acid detergent fiber（ADF） and NH3-N concentrations, as well as higher lactic acid production and in vitro digestibility of DM（IVDMD）. The aerobic stability of the adsorbed straw and the fermented straw was 392 and 480 h, respectively. After being exposed to air, chemical components and microbial community of the fermented straw were more stable than the adsorbed straw.

Effects of exogenous enzymes, Lactobacillus acidophilus or their combination on feed performance response and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed sugarcane bagasse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus（LAC）, exogenous enzymes of ZAD（exogenous enzyme preparation） or their combination on feed conversion, and dressing of rabbits fed different treatments of sugarcane bagasse（SCB）. Five rations were allotted randomly to five groups of New-Zealand White（NZW） rabbits（n=10） with initial live body weight of（838±42.4） g and 5 weeks of age. Rabbits were fed on diets with different sources of fiber as follows,（i） a control diet composed of 100% berseem hay and 0% SCB,（ii） 50% berseem hay and 50% untreated SCB（USCB）,（iii） 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with L. acidophilus（LAC）,（iv） 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with ZAD（ZAD）, and（v） 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with a combination of LAC＋ZAD（LZ）. Treatments of SCB with L. acidophilus, ZAD and LAC＋ZAD had the highest feed conversion ratio than both USCB and control. The dressing percentage of rabbits that fed the LAC and LZ diets was higher（P〈0.05） compared with that in the other groups. Performance index（PI） for LAC group was improved（P〈0.05） compared to that for the other groups; however, PI for USCB group was the lowest（P〈0.05）. It could be concluded that treating SCB with L. acidophilus, exogenous enzymes of ZAD or their combination improved feed conversion and performance with more positive effects with L. acidophilus than the other treatments.

Effects of cellulase and xylanase enzymes mixed with increasing doses of Salix babylonica extract on in vitro rumen gas production kinetics of a mixture of corn silage with concentrate

An in vitro gas production （GP） technique was used to investigate the effects of combining different doses of Salix babylonica extract （SB） with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes （EZ） based on xylanase （X） and cellulase （C）, or their mixture （XC; 1：1 v/v） on in vitro fermentation characteristics of a total mixed ration of corn silage and concentrate mixture （50：50, w/w） as substrate. Four levels of SB （0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mL g-1 dry matter （DM）） and four supplemental styles of EZ （1 μL g-1 DM; control （no enzymes）, X, C and XC （1：1, v/v） were used in a 4×4 factorial arrangement. In vitro GP （mL g-1 DM） were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h of incubation. After 72 h, the incubation process was stopped and supernatant pH was determined, and then filtered to determine dry matter degradability （DMD）. Fermentation parameters, such as the 24 h gas yield （GY24）, in vitro organic matter digestibility （OMD）, metabolizable energy （ME）, short chain fatty acid concentrations （SCFA）, and microbial crude protein production （MCP） were also estimated. Results indicated that there was a SBxEZ interaction （P〈0.0001） for the asymptotic gas production （b）, the rate of gas production （c）, GP from 6 to 72 h, GP2 （P=0.0095）, and GP4 （P=0.02）. The SB and different combination of enzymes supplementation influenced （P〈0.001） in vitro GP parameters after 12 h of incubation; the highest doses of SB （i.e., 1.8 mL g-1 DM）, in the absence of any EZ, quadratically increased （P〈0.05） the initial delay before GP begins （L） and GP at different incubation times, with lowering b （quadratic effect, P〈0.0001 ） and c （quadratic effect, P〈0.0001 ; linear effect, P=0.0018）. The GP was the lowest （P〈0.05） when the highest SB level was combined with cellulose. There were SBxEZ interactions （P〈0.001） for OMD, ME, the partitioning factor at 72 h of incubation （PF72）, GY24, SCFA, MCP （P=0.0143）, and pH （P=0.0008）. The OMD, ME, GY24 and SCFA with supplementation of SB extract at 1.8 mL g-1 DM were higher （P〈0.001） than the other treatments, however,PF72 was lower （quadratic effect, P=0.0194） than the other levels. Both C and X had no effect （P〉0.05） on OMD, pH, ME, GY24, SCFA and MP. The combination of SB with EZ increased （P〈0.001） OMD, ME, SCFA, PFz2 and GP24, whereas there was no impact on pH. It could be concluded that addition of SB extract, C, and X effectively improved the in vitro rumen fermentation, and the combination of enzyme with SB extract at the level of 1.2 mL g-1 was more effective than the other treatments.

Molecular and in vitro Characterization of Field Isolates of Bovine Herpesvirus-1

Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is distributed worldwide and is a major pathogen in cattle, being the causal agent of a variety of clinical syndromes. The aim of this study was to isolate and to characterize (molecular and biological characterization) BoHV-1 from 29 immunosuppressed animals. It was possible to obtain 18 isolates, each from a different animal, such as from the respiratory and reproductive tracts. In some cases the cytopathic effect was visible 12 hours post-inoculation, and became characteristic after 36-48 hours. Biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with Iowa and Colorado-1 reference strains, and differences were found in plaque size, virus titer measured by TCID50 and PFU/mL, and one step virus curves. These results showed that some isolates had a highly virulent-like behavior in vitro, compared to the reference strains, with shorter eclipse periods, faster release of virus into the supernatants, and higher burst size and viral titer. There were no differences in glycoprotein expression of BoHV-1 isolates, measured by Western blot on monolayers. Moreover, using restriction endonucleases analysis, most of the viruses were confirmed as BoHV-1.1 and just one of them was confirmed as BoHV-1.2a subtype. These findings suggest that some wild-type BoHV-1 isolates could be useful as seeds to develop new monovalent vaccines.

Distribution of the P2X2 receptor and chemical coding in ileal enteric neurons of obese male mice(ob/ob)

AIM:To investigate the colocalization,density and profile of neuronal areas of enteric neurons in the ileum of male obese mice.METHODS:The small intestinal samples of male mice in an obese group(OG)(C57BL/6J ob/ob)and a control group(CG)(+/+)were used.The tissues were analyzed using a double immunostaining technique for immunoreactivity(ir)of the P2X2 receptor,nitric oxide synthase(NOS),choline acetyl transferase(ChAT)and calretinin(Calr).Also,we investigated the density and profile of neuronal areas of the NOS-,ChAT-and Calrir neurons in the myenteric plexus.Myenteric neurons were labeled using an NADH-diaphorase histochemical staining method.RESULTS:The analysis demonstrated that the P2X2receptor was expressed in the cytoplasm and in the nuclear and cytoplasmic membranes only in the CG.Neuronal density values(neuron/cm2)decreased 31%(CG:6579±837;OG:4556±407)and 16.5%(CG:7796±528;OG:6513±610)in the NOS-ir and calretininir neurons in the OG,respectively(P<0.05).Density of ChAT-ir(CG:6200±310;OG:8125±749)neurons significantly increased 31%in the OG(P<0.05).Neuron size studies demonstrated that NOS,ChAT,and Calr-ir neurons did not differ significantly between the CG and OG groups.The examination of NADH-diaphorase-positive myenteric neurons revealed an overall similarity between the OG and CG.CONCLUSION:Obesity may exert its effects by promoting a decrease in P2X2 receptor expression and modifications in the density of the NOS-ir,ChAT-ir and CalR-ir myenteric neurons.

Effects of organic chromium supplementation to finishing lambs diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate supplemental organic chromium（Cr） to finishing lambs on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Eighteen Suffolk lambs（age（4.5±0.2） mon;（25.8±3.6） kg body weight（BW）） were randomly assigned to three levels of supplemental organic Cr（0.0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg kg^–1 dry matter（DM）） in a complete random design. Growth performance was evaluated for 70 d, and then lambs were slaughtered to study carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat. Orthogonal contrasts were performed（contrast one-average level 0.2 ppm Cr vs. average level 0.4 ppm Cr; contrast two-level 0 vs. average levels（0.2＋0.4） ppm Cr）. Orthogonal polynomials were used to estimate the linear and quadratic effects of Cr concentrations. Growth and carcass performance were not affected by supplemental organic Cr. Muscle conformation and leg perimeter linearly increased（P〈0.05） as organic Cr level increased in the diet. Kidney fat decreased linearly（P〈0.05） as supplemental Cr increased. In Longissimus dorsi（LD）, the ash content decreased linearly, and shear force（kg cm^–2） increased（P〈0.05） as organic Cr level increased in the diet. It is concluded that organic Cr did not affect growth performance, but it improved positively the muscle conformation, reduced kidney fat, whereas in LD there was an increment in shear force in finishing carcass lambs.

An Inactivated Vaccine from a Field Strain of Bovine Herpesvirus-1(BoHV-1) has High Antigenic Mass and Induces Strong Efficacy in a Rabbit Model

Bovine Herpesvirus-1 （BoHV-1） is a DNA virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alfaherpesvirinae; it is a worldwide pathogen, causing serious economic losses in livestock. In Colombia there have been multiple isolates of BoHV-1 that have been subjected to molecular characterization, classifying most of the country isolates as BoHV-I.1. In the present study we developed and evaluated an ethyleneimine binary inactivated isolate from the native BoHV-1 strain （C6rdoba-2） in a rabbit model of vaccination and infection. The vaccine was evaluated in two phases, one of immunogenicity with vaccination and a booster after 21 days, and an evaluation phase of protection against challenge with a highly virulent reference strain. The results demonstrate optimum serum-conversion, with protective neutralizing antibody titers 28 days post vaccination and optimal protection against challenge with the reference strain with decreased clinical signs of infection, protection against the onset of fever and decrease of virus excretion post challenge. In conclusion, our results show the enormous potential that an immunogenic inactivated vaccine has produced from the native BoHV-I.1 strain, which produces a high antigen mass to the vaccine to induce optimal immunity and protection, and it is a strong candidate for evaluation and possible future use in different cattle populations.

Association of swine influenza H1N1 pandemic virus(SIV-H1N1p) with porcine respiratory disease complex in sows from commercial pig farms in Colombia

Porcine respiratory disease complex （PRDC） is a serious health problem that mainly affects growing and finishing pigs. PRDC is caused by a combination of viral and bacterial agents, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus （PRRSV）, swine influenza virus （SIV）, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae （Myh）, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae （APP）, Pasteurella multocida and Porcine circovirus 2 （PCV2）. To characterize the specific role of swine influenza virus in PRDC presentation in Colombia, 11 farms from three major production regions in Colombia were examined in this study. Nasal swabs, bronchial lavage and lung tissue samples were obtained from animals displaying symptoms compatible with SIV. Isolation of SIV was performed in 9-day embryonated chicken eggs or Madin-Darby Canine Kidney （MDCK） cells. Positive isolates, identified via the hemagglutination inhibition test, were further analyzed using PCR. Overall, 7 of the 11 farms were positive for SIV. Notably, sequencing of the gene encoding the hemagglutinin （HA） protein led to grouping of strains into circulating viruses identified during the human outbreak of 2009, classified as pandemic H1N1-2009. Serum samples from 198 gilts and multiparous sows between 2008 and 2009 were obtained to determine antibody presence of APP, Myh, PCV2 and PRRSV in both SIV-H1Nlp-negative and -positive farms, but higher levels were recorded for SIV- HI Nlp-positive farms. Odds ratio （OR） and P values revealed statistically significant differences （p〈0.05） in PRDC presentation in gilts and multiparous sows of farms positive for SIV-HINlp. Our findings indicate that positive farms have increased risk of PRDC presentation, in particular, PCV2, APP and Myh.

Oral administration of Sauce llorón extract to growing lambs to control gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp.

Objective: To explore anthelmintic effects of oral administration of aqueous extract of Sauce llorón(Salix babylonica; SB) against gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. Methods: Sixteen Pelibuey male lambs of 3-4 months of age and(23.7±3.3) kg body weight were used in a completely randomized design to be fed a total mixed ration(Control; SB0), or Control plus SB extract using 20(SB20), 40(SB40) and 60(SB60) mL/lamb/day for 45 days. Lambs had a natural gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. infection and had never been treated with chemical anthelmintic drugs. Individual faecal samples were collected for ova counting using Mc Master procedure after 0, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 45 days post extract administration. Results: No extract dose×day interactions for both gastrointestinal nematodes and Monieziaspp. egg count were found. Administration of SB extract had a higher effect(quadratic effect, P=0.0064) at dose of 20 mL SB/lamb/day for gastrointestinal nematode eggs during the first 21 days; however, the dose of SB40 tended(linear effect, P=0.0897) to be more effective than the others for Moniezia spp. egg during the first 7 days. Sampling day had a linear(P=0.0436) effect on Moniezia spp. egg count. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of SB could be more effective against nematodes at 20 and at 40 mL/lamb/day for Moniezia spp. The use of the SB extract could represent a promising alternative to synthetic anthelmintics for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia spp. in small ruminants from organic and conventional production systems.

Dietary Coleus amboinicus Lour. decreases ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation, and improves meat quality and fatty acid composition in longissimus thoracis muscle of lambs

Background:Methane production and fatty acids(FA)biohydrogenation in the rumen are two main constraints in ruminant production causing environmental burden and reducing food product quality.Rumen functions can be modulated by the biologically active compounds(BACs)of plant origins as shown in several studies e.g.reduction in methane emission,modulation of FA composition with positive impact on the ruminant products.Coleus amboinicus Lour.(CAL)contains high concentration of polyphenols that may potentially reduce methane production and modulate ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA.This study aimed to investigate the effect of BAC of Coleus amboinicus Lour.(CAL)fed to growing lambs on ruminal methane production,biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA and meat characteristics.In this study,the in vitro experiment aiming at determining the most effective CAL dose for in vivo experiments was followed by two in vivo experiments in rumen-cannulated rams and growing lambs.Experiment 1(RUSITEC)comprised of control and three experimental diets differing in CAL content(10%,15%,and 20%of the total diet).The two in vivo experiments were conducted on six growing,rumen-cannulated lambs(Exp.2)and 16 growing lambs(Exp.3).Animals were assigned into the control(CON)and experimental(20%of CAL)groups.Several parameters were examined in vitro(pH,ammonia and VFA concentrations,protozoa,methanogens and select bacteria populations)and in vivo(methane production,digestibility,ruminal microorganism populations,meat quality,fatty acids profiles in rumen fluid and meat,transcript expression of 5 genes in meat).Results:CAL lowered in vitro methane production by 51%.In the in vivo Exp.3,CAL decreased methane production by 20%compared with the CON group,which corresponded to reduction of total methanogen counts by up to 28%in all experiments,notably Methanobacteriales.In Exp.3,CAL increased or tended to increase populations of some rumen bacteria(Ruminococcus albus,Megasphaera elsdenii,Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus,and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens).Dietary CAL suppressed the Holotricha population,but increased or tended to increase Entodiniomorpha population in vivo.An increase in the polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA)proportion in the rumen of lambs was noted in response to the CAL diet,which was mainly attributable to the increase in C18:3 cis-9 cis-12cis-15(LNA)proportion.CAL reduced the mRNA expression of four out of five genes investigated in meat(fatty acid synthase,stearoyl-CoA desaturase,lipoprotein lipase,and fatty acid desaturase 1).Conclusions:Summarizing,polyphenols of CAL origin(20%in diet)mitigated ruminal methane production by inhibiting the methanogen communities.CAL supplementation also improved ruminal environment by modulating ruminal bacteria involved in fermentation and biohydrogenation of FA.Besides,CAL elevated the LNA concentration,which improved meat quality through increased deposition of n-3 PUFA.Highlight·Coleus amboinicus Lour.(CAL)into sheep diet decreased CH4emission.·CAL did not reduce nutrient digestibility,but inhibited the methanogen community.·CAL increased ruminal propionate proportion and decreased acetate/propionate ratio.·CAL elevated n-3 fatty acid concentration in ruminal fluid and meat.·Supplementation of CAL improved some meat quality traits.

The Antiproliferative and Pro-apoptotic Role of 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen Phosphate in Triple-negative Breast Tumor Cells

Antineoplastic phospholipids are a new class of antitumor agents.These molecules interact with the plasma membrane,changing numerous pathways that induce cell death,with high selectivity for cancer cells.A representative of this class of antineoplastic agents is 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate(2-AEH2P).It is present in high intracellular concentrations in various tissues and organelles with antitumor,antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic action.Therefore,4T1 triple-negative tumor cells were treated in different concentrations in order to assess the cytotoxic potential and its effects on the modulation of cell death pathways in association with the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel.2-AEH2P promoted cytotoxicity in tumor cells and significant morphological changes,however,it did not cause these effects in normal cells.There was positive regulation of proteins involved in the intrinsic pathway of cell death by apoptosis and regulation of the phases of cell cycle progression.Furthermore,structural and distribution changes in mitochondria,as well as decreased cell density and regression of the cytoskeleton were observed.The 2-AEH2P demonstrated a modulatory potential of apoptotic pathways inducing cell death,being a new compound with antitumor properties.

Direct-fed microbial: Animal nutrition and reproduction responses

Manipulating the gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem to enhance animal performance and reproductive responses has been one of the main goals of animal science researchers and veterinarians.Recent restrictions to the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters led researchers to seek alternative practices that can show promise both from the standpoint of efficacy as well as from the practical and economic aspects.One of the alternatives that surfaced as very promising in the last few decades is the use of direct-fed microbials （DFM） as a means to modulate the effects of the gastrointestinal microbiome on the host immune status, health and productivity.

Biochemical Composition and Anticancer Effect of Different Seaweed Species(In-vitro and In-vivo Studies)

Seaweed is an enormous resource comprised with natural bioactive compounds with several therapeutic effects including anticancer activity.In this context,the biochemical composition of seaweed plays a major role.Many biochemical compounds isolated from seaweed,fractions of seaweed and crude extracts has revealed ability of seaweed to fight against several cancer types.In this contrast seaweed extracts inhibit cancer cell growth and proliferation by inducing apoptosis and by inhibiting metastasis activity.In this review,biochemical and anticancer properties of seaweeds are discussed and this will provide the basic information to develop a novel chemotherapeutic drug to challenge the cancers.

Anatomophysiological relationships and clinical considerations of taste and smell loss in patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND There are numerous conflicting discussions about the outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019(COVID-19).AIM To present some anatomical and physiological considerations about two of the symptoms reported by patients:The loss or reduction of smell and taste.METHODS The loss or reduction of smell and taste is presented in a peculiar way,with some cases of persistence even after COVID-19.For this,it was searched in three databases,PubMed/MEDLINE,Web of Science,and Scopus,using the following keywords:"Smell","Taste","Smell AND COVID-19","Taste AND COVID-19",with no publication time restriction,only in English with full text available,excluding also brief communications,letters to the editor,editorials,reviews,comments,and conference abstracts.RESULTS The search found 776 articles in the PubMed/MEDLINE database,1018 in the Web of Science database,and 552 in the Scopus database,from which duplicates were removed(104 articles).Finally,17 studies were selected for detailed analysis within the eligibility criteria,with titles and abstracts related to central nervous system lesions responsible for smell and taste.This review suggests that viral mechanisms of action may be related to lesions both at the local level and at the level of the central nervous system,lasting up to 3 to 4 wk.It is considered persistent if it exceeds this period,as reported in one case in this review.There are still few studies about the treatment,and among those addressed in this review,only two studies reported possible treatments and emphasized the scarcity of data,with the best option being treatments that do not cause harm,such as gustatory and olfactory physiotherapy CONCLUSION Given the scarcity of data,this review emphasizes the importance of prevention,through the correct use of personal protective equipment by health professionals and respect for local behavioral indications.It is also emphasized,through five studies,that there is a predominance of such symptoms in patients with COVID-19,which can be a tool to control dissemination,through the early isolation of patients until the results are ready.

Direct-fed microbes: A tool for improving the utilization of low quality roughages in ruminants

For many years, ruminant nutritionists and microbiologists have been interested in manipulating the microbial ecosystem of the rumen to improve production efficiency of different ruminant species. Removal and restriction of antibiotics subtherapeutic uses from ruminant diets has amplified interest in improving nutrient utilization and animal performance and search for more safe alternatives. Some bacterial and fungal microorganisms as a direct-fed microbial（DFM） can be the most suitable solutions. Microorganisms that are commonly used in DFM for ruminants may be classified mainly as lactic acid producing bacteria（LAB）, lactic acid utilizing bacteria（LUB）, or other microorganism＇s species like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Propionibacterium, Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotellabryantii, in addition to some fungal species of yeast such as Saccharomyces and Aspergillus. A definitive mode of action for bacterial or fungal DFM has not been established; although a variety of mechanisms have been suggested. Bacterial DFM potentially moderate rumen conditions, and improve weight gain and feed efficiency. Fungal DFM may reduce harmful oxygen from the rumen, prevent excess lactate production, increase feed digestibility, and alter rumen fermentation patterns. DFM may also compete with and inhibit the growth of pathogens, immune system modulation, and modulate microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract. Improved dry matter intake, milk yield, fat corrected milk yield and milk fat content were obtained with DFM administration. However, the response to DFM is not constant; depending on dosages, feeding times and frequencies, and strains of DFM. Nonetheless, recent studies have supported the positive effects of DFM on ruminant performance.

Biological treatments as a mean to improve feed utilization in agriculture animals——An overview

As a result of agriculture practices, million tons of agriculture are produced as a secondary or by-products; however, with low nutritive values. Many methods are applied to improve the nutritive value and increase its utilization in ruminant＇s nutrition. The biological treatments are the most common with more safe-treated products. In most cases, the biological treatments are paralleled with decreased crude fiber and fiber fractions content with increased crude protein content. Direct-fed microbial and exogenous enzymes to animal are other ways of biological methods for improving nutritive value of feeds. Here in this review, we will try to cover the biological treatments of by-products from different sides view with different types of animals and different animal end-products.

Mechanisms of calcium transport across the placenta: Review

Studies of calcium transfer across the placenta have been reviewed because of the physiological and nutritional importance of this mineral during pregnancy, especially in order to better understand its contribution to development of the fetal skeleton. The placental transfer of maternal calcium to the fetus represents a vital mechanism for fetal development and breast-milk production, yet little meaningful information is currently available regarding the biochemical mechanisms involved in this process. Once again, the use of different animal models as rodents, rabbit, sheep and bovine have demonstrate different mechanisms of calcium transport across the placenta and contribute to better understand its effects in both fetus and mother during the gestation. In relation to the transfer of calcium from the mother to fetus data suggest it occur via an active mechanism;thus calcium concentration is higher in fetus than in maternal blood. Despite conflicting reports, several investigators agreed that calcium concentration in the fetal blood is mainly regulated by fetal parathyroid hormone and plasma concentration of vitamin D3, a metabolite that plays a key role in calcium transport through the syncytial cells.

Cycloheximide prevents production of arresting,a fraction of 30-50 kDa obtained from seminiferous tubule conditioned medium

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide on arresting activity in spermato-genesis and sperm count in male rats. Methods: The study used seminiferous tubule (ST) segments from adult rats cultured in vitro with or without cycloheximide to condition culture media, which have been concentrated, size fractioned (30-50 kDa) and administered 7 days to adult rats by intraperitoneal injections. The effects on testicular and epididymal weights, spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm count were determined. Results: The fraction (30-50 kDa), named arresting, obtained from the culture without cycloheximide decreased testicular and epididymal weights (P<0.01) and reduced the epididymal sperm count significantly. Study of the spermatogenic cycle by transillumination showed spermatogenic arrest at stage VII in rats treated with arresting compared to that observed in controls. The length of stage VII in the group receiving the seminiferous tubules culture media with cycloheximide (30-50 KDa CHX-STCM fraction) was similar to control. Conclusion: The difference in the effect may be the result of the presence or absence of arresting, a protein secreted by the tubules.

Ultrasound guided testicular fine needle aspiration in buck (Capra hircus)-An animal model

Objective:To establish ultrasound guided testicular fine needle aspiration (TFNA) as well as to assess the effectiveness of uni-directional (UD) and multi-directional (MD) TFNA in buck according to testicular cells, echotexture and gross changes of testicle, age of buck was considered.Methods:A total of 120 samples were collected with both directions (UD, n=60) and (MD,n=60) suction from testis of 10 apparently healthy bucks. All slides were stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa and examined under light microscope with 1000× magnifications to count spermatogenic cells, spermatozoa and sertoli cells. The percentage of spermatozoa and sertoli cells were expressed as spermatic index and sertoli cell index.Results:Results revealed no difference in the presence of various spermatogenic and sertoli cells in cell cluster of slides made either unidirectional TFNA or multidirectional TFNA. Early spermatids were the most numerous, followed by late spermatids, primary spermatocytes, spermatogonia. Sertoli cell index was higher in TFNA smears of young bucks prepared from (7-13 mo) of age and spermatic index was higher in adult bucks (14-24 mo) of age. No echogenic change was observed in the echotexture of testisafter TFNA.Conclusion: It seems that TFNA has no serious ill effect on the buck testis when uni-direction aspiration is performed. Moreover, the possibility to standardize this method might provide a greater impulse to the clinical diagnostics of male animal infertility.