Effect of probiotics and humate substances on blood parameters, intestinal development and immune organs of growing quail.

This study aimed to evaluate impacts of dietary probiotics (Bacillus subtilis PB6) and humate substances (HS) supplementation on histomorphometry of small intestine and immune organs, blood parameters of growing quail. A total of 216 unsexed quails (seven days old) were randomly distributed to six groups. The 1st group did not receive any supplements (control), 2nd group received B. subtilis (CloSTAT: 0.5 g/kg diet), 3rd and 4th groups received HS (4 and 8 g/kg diet, respectively), 5th and 6th groups received CloSTAT + 4g HS and CloSTAT + 8g HS, respectively. Results showed that the inclusion of B. subtilis alone in quail diets significantly improved histomorphometry indices of intestine and immune organs compared to the control. Dietary supplementation of HS alone led to deteriorating histomorphometry indices of intestinal segments and immune organs compared to the control. CloSTAT, HS or both improved lipid profile and antioxidant parameters. Serum mineral levels did not differ significantly among groups except for Ca levels. In conclusion, dietary probiotics supplementation enhanced histomorphometry of intestine and immune organs and improved serum Ca, lipid profile and antioxidant indices. Moreover, the addition of HS (4 or 8 g/kg diet) improved lipid profile and antioxidant indices, but led to undesirable results in intestinal development and immune organs.

Ameliorative effects of Dictyota dichotoma on hepatotoxicity induced by gibberellic acid in albino rats.

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is a natural plant growth regulator that is crucial for plant structural and functional development. We examined the alleviating capacity of brown algae (Dictyota dichotoma) on biochemical and molecular degenerative processes caused by sub-chronic exposure to gibberellic acid resulting in hepatic cell apoptosis. Adult male albino rats were divided into five equal groups: the first group received distilled water, the second group was treated with GA3, the third group was administered D. dichotoma extract suspended in 1% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), the fourth group was administered both GA3 and D. dichotoma simultaneously, and the fifth group received 1% CMC orally, 5 days per week for a total of 50 days. The results indicated that GA3 induced a significant increase in liver function parameters based on serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin, which indicate hepatotoxicity. A marked increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a marked decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed as a result of induction of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Histopathology revealed severely degenerated hepatocytes including cytoplasmic vacuolations and many apoptotic cells with weak Bcl2 expression. Similarly, there was a significant up-regulation of gene and protein expression levels for the pro-apoptotic markers, Caspase-3 and Bax, and an increase in pro-inflammatory marker levels, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as C-reactive protein (CRP). The co-administration of D. dichotoma restored the disrupted biochemical, histopathological, molecular, and inflammatory changes resulting from GA3 toxicity. Our results confirm the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and hepatoprotective potential of D. dichotoma.