Effects of astaxanthin on biochemical and histopathological parameters related to oxidative stress on testes of rats on high fructose regime.

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a xanthophyll family of hydroxycarotenoids which contains several double bonds. It is produced by Haemococcus pluvialis, a microalgae and possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to test whether ASX could protect against oxidative damage in the testicular tissues of rats receiving high fructose. The rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into two main groups: control and fructose (30%, via drinking water) and then each main group either not supplemented or supplemented with ASX (1 mg kg-1 day-1 , within 0.2 ml olive oil) via oral gavage. Data were subjected to two-way ANOVA. High fructose consumption tended to increase testis weight and serum testosterone concentration and decreased testicular tissue glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, but did not affect testicular tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Astaxanthin administration increased testosterone, GST and SOD levels and testis weight and decreased MDA concentration. However, ASX administration did not reverse alterations in antioxidant parameters caused by high fructose consumption. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) tended to increase in sertoli cell, spermatid and spermatogonia, but not in spermatocytes and leydig cell in response to high fructose consumption. Astaxanthin administration tended to reverse elevation in iNOS in testis cells. In conclusion, ASX could help alleviate oxidative damage caused by high fructose consumption.

Lycopene activates antioxidant enzymes and nuclear transcription factor systems in heat-stressed broilers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lycopene supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant status, and muscle nuclear transcription factor [Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)] expressions in broiler chickens exposed to heat stress (HS). A total of 180 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned randomly to one of 2×3 factorially arranged treatments: two housing temperatures (22°C for 24 h/d; thermoneutral, TN or 34°C for 8 h/d HS) and three dietary lycopene levels (0, 200, or 400 mg/kg). Each treatment consisted of three replicates of 10 birds. Birds were reared to 42 d of age. Heat stress caused reductions in feed intake and weight gain by 12.2 and 20.7% and increased feed efficiency by 10.8% (P<0.0001 for all). Increasing dietary lycopene level improved performance in both environments. Birds reared under the HS environment had lower serum and muscle lycopene concentration (0.34 vs. 0.50 µg/mL and 2.80 vs. 2.13 µg/g), activities of superoxide dismutase (151 vs. 126 U/mL and 131 vs. 155 U/mg protein), glutathione peroxidase (184 vs. 154 U/mL and 1.39 vs. 1.74 U/mg protein), and higher malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (0.53 vs. 0.83 µg/mL and 0.78 vs. 0.45 µg/ mg protein) than birds reared under the TN environment. Changes in levels of lycopene and MDA and activities of enzymes in serum and muscle varied by the environmental temperature as dietary lycopene level increased. Moreover, increasing dietary lycopene level suppressed muscle Keap1 expression and enhanced muscle Nrf2 expression, which had increased by 150% and decreased by 40%, respectively in response to HS. In conclusion, lycopene supplementation alleviates adverse effects of HS on performance through modulating expressions of stress-related nuclear transcription factors.

Endometrial echotexture parameters in Turkish Saanen Goats (Akkeci) during oestrus and early pregnancy.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate endometrial echotexture in oestrus and early pregnancy and its association with ovarian hormones and foetal count in goats. Akkeci goats (Saanen×Kilis crossbreed, n=40) were randomly divided into two groups. Ten does (NAT) were mated on natural oestrus and 30 does (SYN) were subjected to synchronisation-prior to mating. The uterus was scanned on the days of sponge insertion (d -14), sponge removal (d -2) and mating (d 0) as well as 17 (d 17) and 30 (d 30) days after mating. Mean gray level (MGL), homogeneity (HOM) and contrast (CON) values were calculated. Blood samples were collected on days ultrasonography was performed. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, ANOVA, regression tests. HOM value reached the highest level on the mating day and then continuously decreased (P<0.0001). Overall, HOM values were greater for SYN does than for NAT does after mating. CON values were virtually stable during the experimental period. MGL value fluctuated during the breeding period (P<0.03) at a similar fashion in NAT and SYN does. Foetal count was not correlated with plasma hormones and echotexture parameters. Plasma progesterone concentration was correlated with echotexture parameters (r=-0.28 for HOM; r=0.29 for CON; r=0.25 for MGL; P<0.05 for all) during post-mating. In conclusion, echotexture parameters changed during the breeding period, in association with plasma progesterone concentration. Future studies should test if the echotextural changes during embryonic fixation days can be used as a marker for early detection of pregnancy in does.

The effect of Cirsium arvense extract on antioxidant status in quail.

1. The herb Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense (C. arvense), has been used in folk medicine due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. 2. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary C. arvense extract supplementation on performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant status in quail. 3. Quails (n = 150) were allocated randomly to one of the three dietary treatments: basal diet and basal diet enriched with 100 and 200 mg C. arvense extract per kg diet. 4. Dietary enrichment with C. arvense extract altered neither performance and egg quality parameters nor nutrient digestibility. Although there were no changes in concentrations of vitamin A and E in serum, liver and egg yolk, supplemental C. arvense extract decreased MDA concentrations in serum, liver and egg yolk by 39.3, 40.5 and 51.5%, respectively, in a dose-response manner. As supplemental C. arvense extract increased to 200 mg/kg, the activity of hepatic SOD, CAT and GSH-Px increased by 14.5, 17.4 and 35.5%, respectively. 5. Addition of C. arvense extract up to 200 mg to per kg diet enhanced antioxidant status in laying quail and their eggs, without affecting performance and other egg quality parameters. 6. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism behind the antioxidant effects of C. arvense extract.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate exerts protective effects against heat stress through modulating stress-responsive transcription factors in poultry.

1. The aim of the study was to describe the effect of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol derived from green tea, on activator protein-1 (AP-1) components (phospho-c-Jun and c-Fos), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the liver of heat-stressed quails. 2. A total of 180 5-week-old female Japanese quails were reared either at 22°C for 24 h/d (thermoneutral, TN) or 34°C for 8 h/d (heat stress, HS) for 12 weeks. Birds in both environments were randomly given 1 of 3 diets: basal diet and basal diet with 200 or 400 mg of EGCG added per kilogram of diet. 3. The hepatic c-Jun, c-Fos, COX-2 and HSPs gene expression for quails reared under the HS environment was greater than those reared under the TN environment. Supplemental EGCG decreased hepatic expression of these proteins at a greater extent under HS than TN. 4. In conclusion, suppression of AP-1 COX-2 and HSPs may partly account for the inhibitory effect of EGCG in heat-stressed quail.

Erectile dysfunction and depression in patients with chronic lead poisoning.

In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and chronic lead intoxication (CLI) as well as the role of depression in this relationship. We compared the findings of 26 male patients with CLI and 24 male patients as the control group between November 2008 and January 2009. The blood lead levels and smoking index of patients were evaluated for both groups. The International Index of Erectile Dysfunction-erectile function domain (EFD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were obtained and reviewed in both groups. The mean blood lead levels of patients in the CLI and control groups were 42.1 and 3.2 µg dl(-1) respectively (P < 0.01). The mean interval of lead exposure of patients in CLI group was 71.5 (6-360) months. EFD scores of patients in CLI group were significantly lower, and number of patients with ED in CLI group was statistically higher (P < 0.05). BDI scores of patients in CLI group were significantly higher (P < 0.05). We detected a mildly negative and statistically significant relationship between the EFD scores and blood lead levels (r = -0.453 and P < 0.05). Our results showed that the increased frequency of ED is an independent factor in CLI group.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate prevents lipid peroxidation and enhances antioxidant defense system via modulating hepatic nuclear transcription factors in heat-stressed quails.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol derived from green tea, exerts antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress is one of the consequences of heat stress (HS), which also depresses performance in poultry. This experiment was conducted to elucidate the action mode of EGCG in alleviation of oxidative stress in heat-stressed quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 180 five-week-old female Japanese quails were reared either at 22°C for 24 h/d (thermoneutral, TN) or 34°C for 8 h/d (HS) for 12 wk. Birds in both environments were randomly fed 1 of 3 diets: basal diet and basal diet added with 200 or 400 mg of EGCG/kg of diet. Each of the 2×3 factorially arranged groups was replicated in 10 cages, each containing 3 quails. Performance variables [feed intake (FI) and egg production (EP)], oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)] and hepatic transcription factors [nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)] were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA. Exposure to HS caused reductions in FI by 9.7% and EP by 14.4%, increased hepatic MDA level by 84.8%, and decreased hepatic SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities by 25.8, 52.3, and 45.5%, respectively (P<0.0001 for all). The hepatic NF-κB expression was greater (156 vs. 82%) and Nrf2 expression was lower (84 vs. 118%) for quails reared under the HS environment than for those reared under the TN environment (P<0.0001 for both). In response to increasing supplemental EGCG level, there were linear increases in FI from 29.6 to 30.9 g/d and EP from 84.3 to 90.1%/d, linear decreases in hepatic MDA level from 2.82 to 1.72 nmol/g and Nrf2 expression from 77.5 to 123.3%, and linear increases in hepatic SOD (146.4 to 182.2), CAT (36.2 to 47.1), and GSH-Px (13.5 to 18.5) activities (U/mg of protein) and NF-κB expression (149.7 to 87.3%) (P<0.0001 for all). Two-way treatment interactions revealed that the degree of restorations in all response variables was more notable under the HS environment than under the TN environment as supplemental EGCG level was increased. Moreover, levels of oxidative biomarkers were strongly correlated with expressions of hepatic nuclear transcription factors. In conclusion, supplemental EGCG alleviates oxidative stress through modulating the hepatic nuclear transcription factors in heat-stressed quails.

Sensitivity and specificity of infrared thermography in detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.

The objectives of this experiment were to determine interrelationships among mastitis indicators and evaluate the subclinical mastitis detection ability of infrared thermography (IRT) in comparison with the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Somatic cell count (SCC), CMT, and udder skin surface temperature (USST) data were compiled from 62 Brown Swiss dairy cows (days in milk=117+/-51, milk yield=14.7+/-5.2 kg; mean +/- SD). The CORR, REG, and NLIN procedures of Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) were employed to attain interrelationships among mastitis indicators. The diagnostic merit of IRT as an indirect measure of subclinical mastitis was compared with CMT using the receiver operating characteristics curves. The udder skin surface temperature was positively correlated with the CMT score (r=0.86) and SCC (r=0.73). There was an exponential increase in SCC (SCC, x10(3) cells/mL=22.35 x e(1.31 x CMT score); R(2)=0.98) and a linear increase in USST (USST, degrees C=33.45+1.08 x CMT score; R(2)=0.75) as the CMT score increased. As SCC increased, USST increased logarithmically [USST, degrees C=28.72+0.49 x ln(SCC, x10(3) cells/mL); R(2)=0.72]. The USST for healthy quarters (SCC 400,000 cells/mL; n=135) (mean +/- SE; 33.45+/-0.09 vs. 35.80+/-0.08 degrees C). The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 95.6, 93.6, 14.97, 0.05, 95.0, and 93.6, respectively, for IRT and 88.9, 98.9, 83.56, 0.11, 99.2, and 86.1, respectively, for CMT. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for IRT and CMT was not different. In conclusion, as a noninvasive and quick tool, IRT can be employed for screening subclinical mastitis via measuring USST, with a high predictive diagnostic ability similar to CMT when microbiological culturing is unavailable. However, the reliability of IRT among cows with different characteristics and those living under various environmental conditions remains to be determined.

Effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation on egg production and antioxidant status.

Resveratrol, a polyphenol derived from red grapes, berries, and peanuts, exerts antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation on performance and serum and egg yolk antioxidant status in quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 150 five-week-old quails were allocated randomly to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: basal diet and basal diet supplemented with 200 or 400 mg of resveratrol/kg of diet. Each diet was offered to 10 cages of 5 birds in each from 4 to 16 wk of age. Serum and egg samples were collected at the beginning and end the experimental period to be evaluated for malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin A, and vitamin E. Data were subjected to analysis of covariance using the MIXED procedure. There was no treatment effect on feed intake, egg production, or egg quality parameters related to shell, yolk, and albumen. There were no effects of resveratrol supplementation on serum and egg yolk vitamin A concentrations. The quails supplemented with resveratrol had a lower serum MDA concentration (0.56 vs. 0.88 mg/L, P<0.03) and a higher serum vitamin E concentration (5.72 vs. 3.56 mg/L, P<0.008) than those not supplemented with resveratrol. Moreover, there was a linear decrease in serum MDA concentration (P<0.02) and a linear increase in serum vitamin E concentration (P<0.01) as supplemental resveratrol level increased. The treatment groups had less egg yolk MDA concentration than the control group (0.21 vs. 0.15 microg/g, P<0.002). Egg yolk MDA concentration decreased linearly in response to increasing dietary resveratrol level (P<0.0003). In conclusion, inclusion of resveratrol up to 400 mg/kg into quail diets enhanced antioxidant status of birds and eggs. Further studies should investigate the carryover effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation on product quality with respect to shelf life, antioxidant stability, and its nutritive value for human consumption.

Sunflower oil supplementation alters meat quality but not performance of growing partridges (Alectoris chukar).

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sunflower oil supplementation (0%, 3%, 6% and 9%) to partridge chicks (Alectoris chukar) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics. Feed consumption and live weight gain were responsive to dietary sunflower oil inclusion during the starter period, but not during the grower period. Increasing sunflower oil level linearly increased crude protein and fat digestibilities. Except for abdominal fat, weights of inedible parts and edible organs remained unchanged by the diets. The treatments linearly decreased weight and efficiency of carcass and weights of wings and breast and did not alter weights of thighs and neck. Breast meat saturated fatty acids decreased linearly by 17.9% and unsaturated fatty acids increased linearly by 10.6%, as sunflower oil level increased in the diets. Monounsaturated fatty acids decreased linearly by 27.3%, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids increased linearly by 51%. Overall, n-3 (0.78% vs. 0.59%) and n-6 (42.6% vs. 29.8%) were greater in breast meat in treatment groups than in control group. In conclusion, sunflower addition into diets has minimal effects on performance of growing partridges, but significantly alters meat fatty acid composition.

Reproductive performance of dairy cows is influenced by prepartum feed restriction and dietary fatty acid source.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feed restriction and source of dietary fatty acids during the close-up dry period on postcalving reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Thirty-four days before expected calving, pregnant Holstein cows (n = 72; parity 1 to 5) were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 treatments. Treatments were ad libitum (AL) or 24% feed restriction (FR) in combination with 1 of 3 oilseed supplements at 8% of diet dry matter: canola, linola, or flax to enrich the rations with oleic, linoleic, or linolenic fatty acids, respectively. After calving, cows were fed a common lactation diet that contained no oilseeds. Measurements of uterus, corpus luteum, and follicles were obtained by ultrasonography twice weekly from 7 +/- 1 d after calving until the first ovulation. Cows (n = 66) were subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI), and pregnancy was determined 32 d later. Feed-restricted cows had lower dry matter intake and lost more body weight prepartum. Energy balance (Mcal/d) was negative in FR cows prepartum but they had a less severe negative energy balance postpartum. The dietary source of fatty acid did not affect energy balance. Cows fed AL had a higher incidence of uterine infections (10/37 vs. 2/35) but tended to have fewer ovarian cysts (2/37 vs. 7/35) than FR cows. Mean (+/-SE) interval from calving to uterine involution did not differ among dietary treatments (26.8 +/- 1.8 d). Interval from calving to first ovulation was longer in cows fed canola than in those fed either linola or flax (34.7 +/- 3.1 vs. 23.7 +/- 3.2 and 21.0 +/- 3.1 d, respectively). A greater percentage of cows fed AL conceived to the first TAI (47.1 vs. 18.8) and tended to have fewer mean days open (157 +/- 10.8 vs. 191 +/- 10.1) than cows fed FR. In summary, FR cows had a lower incidence of uterine infections, but they were less fertile as reflected by a lower percent pregnancy to first TAI and increased days open. Cows fed diets enriched in linoleic or linolenic fatty acids had a lesser incidence of ovarian cysts and ovulated sooner with no effect on energy balance or fertility.

Cell viability of normal human skin fibroblast and fibroblasts derived from granulation tissue: effects of nutraceuticals.

The effects of lycopene, genistein, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cell viability were tested in vitro using a normal human skin fibroblast (NHSF) cell line (CRL-1474) and granulation tissue fibroblasts (GTFs) obtained from a patient with middle ear cholesteatoma. Cell cultures were added with lycopene (1, 5, and 10 microM), genistein (1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 microM), and EGCG (1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 microM) and their respective control cultures were established by adding 5 mL/L tetrahydrofuran (THF), 5 mL/L dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 5 mL/L DMSO. A colorimetric assay was employed for determining cell viability using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide. Cell viability was expressed as a percentage of the control. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance separately for each compound. Lycopene addition decreased viability of NHSFs and GTFs compared with THF addition (64.1%, 60.5%, and 100%, respectively, P < .0001). Genistein addition also increased viability of both NHSFs and GTFs compared with DMSO addition (P < .02). Increasing EGCG concentration tended to cause a linear increase in viability of NHSFs but did not alter viability of GTFs (P < .10). Our data suggest that genistein and EGCG but not lycopene could help maintaining or improving skin health through enhancing viability of skin fibroblasts.

Short communication: early detection of mastitis using infrared thermography in dairy cows.

Infrared thermography (IRT) absorbs infrared radiation and generates images based on the amount of heat generated. It has been used in human medicine for diagnosis of various cancers. This experiment was conducted to determine if IRT had merit for early detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Milk sample and skin surface temperature (SST) were simultaneously evaluated using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and IRT for each quarter in 94 dairy cows (49 Brown Swiss and 45 Holstein). Average days in milk (DIM) and milk production were 93 +/- 37 d and 16 +/- 2.2 kg (mean +/- SD) and their ages ranged from 4 to 8 yr. There was a strong correlation between SST and CMT score (r = 0.92). Average SST was 33.19, 34.08, 34.99, and 36.15 degrees C for quarters with the CMT score of 0 (n = 156), +1 (n = 116), +2 (n = 80), and +3 (n = 24), respectively. This association was best described by a linear model as follows: y = 0.94x + 33.17, R(2) = 0.85, where y = SST and x = CMT score. Changes in rectal temperature (RT) due to the CMT score were minor (y = 0.09x + 38.39, R(2) = 0.07, where y = RT and x = average CMT score). In conclusion, RT may not confirm mastitis. However, IRT is sensitive enough to perceive changes in SST in response to varying degrees of severity of the mammary gland infection as reflected by the CMT score, suggesting that as a noninvasive tool, IRT can be employed for screening dairy cows for mastitis.

Effect of chromium supplementation on production and metabolic parameters in periparturient dairy cows.

The effect of supplemental chromium as chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) on production and metabolic parameters was investigated in 48 cows from 28 d before expected calving date through 28 d of lactation. Average body weight (BW) was 730 +/- 61 kg before treatment. Treatments were supplementation of 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 mg of Cr as Cr-Met/kg of BW(0.75). Dry matter intake increased linearly and quadratically during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively, and body condition score loss decreased linearly during the postpartum period with increasing Cr-Met. Increasing Cr-Met supplementation caused quadratic increases in milk, fat, and lactose yields. Treatments did not affect concentrations of blood metabolites and liver triglyceride. Serum insulin concentration and molar ratio of insulin to glucose for cows receiving Cr-Met were lower than for cows not receiving Cr-Met, but they increased quadratically with increasing Cr-Met. Glucose tolerance tests (GTT) were conducted on d 10 prepartum and d 28 postpartum. Chromium-methionine supplementation attenuated insulin sensitivity prepartum and enhanced glucose tolerance postpartum, but not prepartum. Basal insulin concentrations for cows receiving Cr-Met were higher than for cows not receiving Cr-Met during the prepartum GTT. During the postpartum GTT, peak glucose concentration and clearance rate decreased and half-life (t(1/2)) and time to reach basal concentration (T) were prolonged quadratically by increasing Cr-Met. Additionally, peak insulin concentration, area under the curve, and molar ratio of insulin to glucose were higher for cows not receiving Cr-Met than for cows receiving Cr-Met and t(1/2) and T were shortened quadratically by increasing Cr-Met.