Using combined Lactobacillus and quorum quenching enzyme supplementation as an antibiotic alternative to improve broiler growth performance, antioxidative status, immune response, and gut microbiota.

To seek viable alternatives to antibiotics, we determined the combinatorial effects of Lactobacillus and a quorum quenching enzyme (QQE) on broiler growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune responses, and cecal microbial populations. In total, 360 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments, with 12 replicate pens/treatment and 10 birds/replicate pen. Dietary treatments lasted 42 d and comprised: corn-soybean meal basal diet (control group, CON); control plus antibiotic growth promoter supplement group (AGP); and control plus Lactobacillus and QQE supplement group (LQ). Dietary LQ supplementation significantly increased final body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) when compared with CON and AGP groups between 22 and 42 d and 1 to 42 d (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between treatments (P > 0.05). A higher concentration of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was observed on d 42 in the LQ group (P = 0.06). Feeding LQ significantly increased serum immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) levels when compared with other treatments (P < 0.05). A statistical trend was also observed for increased cecal butyrate levels (P = 0.06) in the LQ group. Bacterial α-diversity was unaffected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). However, from principal component analysis (PCoA), the microbial community structure was different between the LQ and AGP groups. Diet supplemented with LQ significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the relative abundance of Synergistota and Proteobacteria and significantly (P < 0.05) increased the proportion of Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium. Thus, supplemental LQ improved growth performance, immune status, and modulated intestinal microbial communities in broilers. We provide a new perceptive on antibiotic substitutes in the poultry industry.

[Experimental study on preventive and therapeutic effect of bushen huoxue recipe on autoimmune premature ovarian failure model].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (BSHXR), a Chinese herbal medicinal preparation for tonifying Kidney and invigorating blood circulation, to prevent and treat autoimmune premature ovarian failure (POF) model. METHODS: Female 8-10 weeks old BAL B/c mice were immunized by intracutaneously injecting porcine ovum zona pellucida (ZP), isolated by immuno-chromatography, in multiple points of two hind footpads to establish the POF model and treated with BSHXR started from early stage of immunization (prevented group) or after 3 times of injection (treated group). Changes in vaginal smears, serum estradiol (E2), antibody titer against ZP, response of splenic lymphocyte to ZP stimulation of different concentrations, and numbers of ovarian follicles and corpus luteum were analyzed. RESULTS: Serum E2 level in the prevented and treated mice was all higher than that in the non-treated immunized model mice (the control group), P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively. But the anti-ZP titer lowered significantly after BSHXR administration, as compared with that in the control group. Level of antibodies in the treated group was lower than that of the control, and it was also lower in the prevented group than that in the control. The histo-morphological examination showed that the developing follicles and corpus luteum after BSHXR medication in both prevented and treated group increased significantly as compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). Splenic lymphocyte in the immunized model showed a higher antigen-specific proliferation reaction than that in non-immunized animal, and the reaction was ameliorated by BSHXR medication. CONCLUSION: BSHXR could recover part of the ovarian function in POF mice mainly through inhibiting specific immune injury to revive the remnant follicles in ovary. The preventive effect of BSHXR was superior to the therapeutic effect of it.

[Experimental study on cell cycle in rabbits' aortic smooth muscle cell culture in vitro with tongmai jiangzhi liquor].

The effects of Tongmai Jiangzhi Liquor (TMJZL) on the cell cycle kinetics in smooth muscle cell (SMCO of rabbits' midlayer of aortic wall was observed. It was showed that TMJZL could extend the time of cell culture, lower the percentage of SMC in G0/G1 phase and elevate the percentage of SMC in S phase gradually. The higher the concentration, the stronger the effect. The experiment showed that TMJZL had a marked inhibition of SMC of rabbits' midlayer of aortic wall cultured in vitro.

[Anti-free-radical damaging action of panaxadiol saponins and panaxatriol saponins on the myocardial contractibility of the isolated rat working heart].

Rats were free-radical-damaged by xanthine 6.4 mg.100g-1.d-1 and xanthine oxidase 0.1U.100g-1d-1 to cause significant decrease in the cardiac functional parameters. Panaxatriol saponins 10mg.100g-1.d-1 converted all the indices toward normal without exception. Panaxadiol saponins were more effective than panaxatriol saponins.

Effects of copper and selenium on electric parameters of cultured myocardial cells damaged by xanthine-xanthine oxidase.

Addition of xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1 and xanthine oxidase 5.3 nmol.L-1 (X-XO) to the culture medium increased the amplitude of ESR spectra of myocardial cells, demonstrating an increase in free radical contents; diminished the action potential parameters significantly and reduced the input impedances from 0.34 +/- 0.11 to 0.24 +/- 0.1 M omega, expressing a typical electrical appearance of membrane damage. Supplying Cu 62.5 ng.ml-1 and/or Se 173 ng.ml-1 to the medium brought all of the electric parameters and the free radical content of myocardial cells back to normal. The results indicate that both the two trace elements are able to scavenge free radicals, thus antagonizing X-XO, which induces damage to myocardial cells.