Performance, digestibility and meat quality from lambs fed diets with plantago lanceolata, Italian ryegrass or sainfoin herbages.

Plantago species, which is known to adapt to different climatic conditions, drought, temperature and different soil types. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of P. lanceolata herbage on fattening performance, rumen variables, digestibility, meat quality, meat nutrients and meat textural variables in lambs with the values of Italian ryegrass and sainfoin herbages. The lambs were fed total mix ration (TMR) with concentrated feed (about 30%) plus forage (about 70%) (P. lanceolata, PLA, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum); IRY or sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) herbages, SAI). Twenty-four male lambs (Akkaraman breed) were assigned to three treatments with 8 lambs in each group. Fattening performance parameters, digestibility and carcass variables were determined. Meat quality and shelf life variables (oxidation, fatty acid profile and textural variables) was detected in the loin (Musculus longissimus), shoulder (M. deltoideus) and leg (M. semitendinosus) muscle samples, which were rested for 24 h +4°C and stored at -20°C for one week, one month, three months and six months. The dry matter (DM) intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass yield values of lambs, the DM and organic matter (OM) digestions (DMD and OMD) of TMRs, and the pH value, ammonia-nitrogen and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations of rumen fluid in lambs consuming PLA were similar to those of IRY and SAI (p > 0.05). PLA increased water holding capacity (WHC) and decreased cooking loss of meat compared to feeding with those of IRY and SAI (p < 0.05). The peroxide value (PV) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased with the stocking time in the meats (p < 0.05). Therefore, PV and MDA concentrations of shoulder, leg and loin meats up to 6th months for PLA were lower than those of IRY and SAI (p < 0.05). The linoleic acid concentration of loin and shoulder meats in PLA were higher than those of IRY and SAI (p < 0.05). The average oleic acid and ∑ω6 fatty acids concentration of meat in PLA was lower than those in IRY and SAI (p < 0.05). Atherogenic index and thrombogenic index values and palmitic acid levels of meat in PLA were similar to those in IRY, but lower than those in SAI (p < 0.05). Springiness, cohesiveness, resilience, hardness and chewiness values of the textural analysis parameters in meat of PLA were lower than those of IRY and SAI. As a result, effect of P. lanceolata on the fattening performance and rumen fermentation of lambs were similar with those of Italian ryegrass (Gramineae family) and sainfoin (Leguminosae family) forages and, it had a positive effect on meat quality (water holding capacity, cooking loss) and meat shelf life criteria (MDA, PV, fatty acid profile and textural variables). For functional lamb meat production, P. lanceolata can be included in the diet of lamb fattening.

In vitro ruminal fermentation, core nutrient, fatty acids and mineral matter of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) herbage at different phenological stages.

BACKGROUND: In ruminants, fibrous feedstuffs must be included in the ration to ensure normal rumen physiology and to prevent the occurrence of rumen-related metabolic diseases. In addition to being a source of fibrous feedstuffs, they contain energy depending on the level of digestion and protein, minerals, fatty acids, minerals, and secondary compounds. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the nutrient matter, fatty acid, mineral and in vitro rumen fermentation values of the pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) plant. METHODS: The pennyroyal plant samples were collected at different phenological stages (vegetative, full flowering, and seed bulking) from the natural meadow. The samples were analysed for core nutrients, condensed tannins, minerals, fatty acids, and in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters. RESULTS: The calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) contents and in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters (total gas production and methane production, organic matter digestion (OMd), and the ammonia-nitrogen) decreased with increasing phenological stage (p < 0.05). The percentages of linoleic, α-linolenic, ω-3, ω-6 and polyunsaturated fatty (PUFA) acids of the pennyroyal plant linearly increased with the phenological stages (p < 0.05). However, butyric acid (BA) concentration in the in vitro ruminal fermentation fluid in the full flowering stage was lower than that of other stages (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pennyroyal plant is a functional plant in terms of high values of ether extract (EE), α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, ∑ω-3 fatty acids, Ca, Fe and Zn contents. For this plant to be used as animal feed, the stage when it has the highest values for Ca, Mg, S and Zn minerals and in vitro OMd were vegetative and full flowering. The stage with good potential as animal feed for ∑ω-3 and ∑ω-6 fatty acids and core nutrients (CP and EE) is the seed bulking stage.

Ear atresia: Is there a role of apoptosis-regulating miRNAs?

OBJECTIVE: The molecular events underlying ear development involve numerous regulatory molecules; however, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) has not been explored in patients with ear atresia. Here, we aimed to investigate the expressions of 20-22 nucleotide noncoding RNAs. METHODS: We selected 12 miRNAs that function to control post-transcriptional gene expression in different pathways, including apoptosis, angiogenesis, and chondrogenesis. The altered miRNA expressions were analyzed by real-time PCR from serum samples of 7 patients with ear atresia and 8 controls. RESULTS: We found that the expression of apoptosis-regulating miRNAs was significantly downregulated in patients with ear atresia. TThe expressions of miR126, miR146a, miR222, and miR21 were significantly decreased by 76.2-(p=0.041), 61.8-(p=0.000), 30.5-(p=0.009), and 71.21-fold (p=0.042), respectively, compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Abnormal ear development in ear atresia patients, could possibly be due to the reduced expression of apoptosis regulating miRNAs. Changes in the regulation of tumor protein p53 (TP53), p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), FAS ligand (FasL), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) directly or within the apoptosis-related cascades may play important roles during development, particularly in the external ear. This is the first report to present the possible association between apoptosis-regulating miRNAs and ear atresia/microtia.