Changes in composition a metabolism of caecal microbiota in rats fed diets supplemented with copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on the composition and metabolism of the caecal microbiota in rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (average body weight of 82 ± 5 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 8). The dietary treatments were: (i) basal diet, (ii) basal diet + 80 mg/kg BW CuSO(4), (iii) basal diet + 80 mg/kg BW chitosan (CS-I), (iv) basal diet + 80 mg/kg BW copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSN-I) and (v) basal diet + 160 mg/kg BW copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CSN-II). The trial lasted 21 days. The results showed that compared with control, Average day gain (ADG) of group CSN-I and CSN-II increased (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in CuSO(4) or CS-I-treated groups (p > 0.05). There were no effects of these treatments on average day feed intake (ADFI) of rats (p > 0.05). The counts of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus in group CSN-II were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05), while the counts of total aerobes, total anaerobes, Salmonella, Clostridium and coliform were lower than those of the control (p < 0.05). The activity of ß-glucuronidase in group CSN-I or CSN-II was significantly depressed (p < 0.05), while the activities of α-galactosidase and ß-galactosidase were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05). The pH of the caecum digesta and the concentration of propionate and butyrate in group CSN-I and CSN-II were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in these parameters in CuSO(4) or CS-I-treated groups (p > 0.05). The results indicate that the microbiota and environment of caecum are beneficially changed by the administration of copper-loaded CSN.

Effect of chromium nanocomposite supplementation on growth hormone pulsatile secretion and mRNA expression in finishing pigs.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) on growth hormone (GH) pulsatile secretion and pituitary GH mRNA expression in finishing pigs. Fifty-four crossbred pigs (65.57 ± 1.05 kg initial weight) were randomly allotted to one of the three treatments, with three replicate pens per treatment and six pigs per pen. Pigs were offered one of the four diets including a control diet or a control diet supplemented with 200 µg/kg chromium from either chromium chloride (CrCl3) or CrNano for 35 days. During the trial, all pigs were given free access to feed and water. After completion of the feeding trial, blood samples were taken via auriculares at 15 min intervals for 3 h and three pigs from each treatment were slaughtered to collect pituitary to determine GH mRNA level. The results of GH dynamic secretion showed that supplemental CrNano increased the mean level, the lowest value, peak value and peak duration of GH significantly, while there was no significant effect on peak amplitude. Pituitary mRNA expression of GH was improved significantly in pigs fed diet containing Cr from CrNano. These results indicated that CrNano increased GH mRNA expression and secretion in finishing pigs.

Effects of beta-glucanase and xylanase supplementation on gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activities of weaned piglets fed a barley-based diet.

The effects of supplementing a barley-based diet for weaned piglets withexogenous beta-glucanase and xylanase on gastrointestinal digestiveenzyme activities were investigated. Thirty-six cross-bred weaned pigletswere randomly assigned to two groups with three pens based on sexand mass. Each group was fed on the diet based on barley with or withoutadded beta-glucanase and xylanase (0.15%) for a 4-week period. Theresults showed that enzyme supplementation improved growth performanceof piglets significantly (p < 0.05), but had no effect (p = 0.091)on average daily feed intake. The results also showed that supplementationof beta-glucanase and xylanase had no effect on pepsin activity in gastriccontents but slightly decreased (p = 0.092) the pepsin activity ingastric mucosa. Meanwhile, no effect of enzyme supplementation ontrypsin activity in duodenal contents was observed. However, the activitiesof amylase and lipase in duodenal contents were significantly(p < 0.05) decreased, whereas the activities of maltase, sucrase andgamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) in jejunal and ileal mucosa wereenhanced significantly (p < 0.05). The improvement of disaccharidaseand gamma-GT activity may be attributed to the positive impacts of exogenousenzymes on digestion and absorption of the nutrients. In conclusion,the current results indicated that supplementation with enzymes in barley-based diets could improve the growth performance of piglets,decrease the activities of amylase and lipase in duodenal contents andincrease the activities of disaccharidase and gamma-GT in jejunal and ilealmucosa.

Efficacy of chromium(III) supplementation on growth, body composition, serum parameters, and tissue chromium in rats.

Chromium(III) is often claimed to have a positive effect on body composition, while the responses in researches with supplementation of different chemical form of chromium are various and inconsistent. We have studied the effects of 6 weeks of treatment with three different forms of chromium (300 mug/kg) as chromium chloride, chromium tripicolinate, and chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) on growth, body composition, serum parameters, and tissue chromium in rats. The supplementation of CrNano significantly increased average daily gain, food efficiency, and lean body mass and decreased fat mass and body fat proportion and serum levels of glucose, urea nitrogen, triglyceride, and insulin. Chromium contents in liver, kidney, and hind leg muscle were increased significantly with the addition of CrNano in diet. The results indicate that chromium nanocomposite has higher efficacy on growth and body composition compared to the traditional chromium agents.

Effect of supplementation of green tea polyphenols on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes in vitro.

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) supplementation during in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro culture on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes aspirated from the ovaries were matured in vitro (38.5 degrees C for 24 h) and fertilized (38.5 degrees C for 15-18 h) and embryos were cultured (38.5 degrees C for 192 h) in a defined conditioned medium with or without GTPs supplementation. The GTPs used in the present study contained 99% catechin derivatives, with the major components being 50% (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, 22% (-)-epicatechin gallate, 18% (-)-epigallocatechin, and 10% (-)-epicatechin. Four replicate trials were done for each type of experiment. GTPs supplementation (15 microM) of the maturation medium led to a significant increase in the rate of blastocyst formation (34.0 vs 21.4%, P < 0.05). However, the rate of blastocyst formation was not improved when higher GTPs concentrations (20 or 25 microM) were added to the in vitro maturation medium. During in vitro fertilization, supplementation with higher GTPs concentrations (20 or 25 microM) significantly reduced the rate of blastocyst formation (P < 0.05). Supplementation of the culture medium with 15 microM GTPs improved the rate of blastocyst formation, while higher GTPs concentrations (25 microM) significantly reduced embryo development (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that supplementation with GTPs at low concentration (15 microM) during in vitro maturation and in vitro culture improved the developmental competence of bovine oocytes.

Effect of supplementation of green tea polyphenols on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes in vitro

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) supplementation during in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro culture on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes aspirated from the ovaries were matured in vitro (38.5°C for 24 h) and fertilized (38.5°C for 15-18 h) and embryos were cultured (38.5°C for 192 h) in a defined conditioned medium with or without GTPs supplementation. The GTPs used in the present study contained 99 percent catechin derivatives, with the major components being 50 percent (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, 22 percent (-)-epicatechin gallate, 18 percent (-)-epigallocatechin, and 10 percent (-)-epicatechin. Four replicate trials were done for each type of experiment. GTPs supplementation (15 æM) of the maturation medium led to a significant increase in the rate of blastocyst formation (34.0 vs 21.4 percent, P < 0.05). However, the rate of blastocyst formation was not improved when higher GTPs concentrations (20 or 25 æM) were added to the in vitro maturation medium. During in vitro fertilization, supplementation with higher GTPs concentrations (20 or 25 æM) significantly reduced the rate of blastocyst formation (P < 0.05). Supplementation of the culture medium with 15 æM GTPs improved the rate of blastocyst formation, while higher GTPs concentrations (25 æM) significantly reduced embryo development (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that supplementation with GTPs at low concentration (15 æM) during in vitro maturation and in vitro culture improved the developmental competence of bovine oocytes.

Effect of cadmium in feed on organs and meat colour of growing pigs.

One hundred and ninety-two barrows (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire, initial weight 27.7 kg) were used to investigate the effects of cadmium in feed on the function of selected organs and meat colour of growing pigs. The pigs were randomly allocated into four different treatments. Each treatment included three replications with 16 pigs per replicate. The animals were fed corn-soybean basal diet and supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg/kg cadmium (as CdCl(2)), respectively. The feeding trial ended when the average body weight of the pigs reach 90 kg. The results showed that, compared with controls, addition of 10 mg/kg cadmium to the diet resulted in significant elevations of relative weight of liver and spleen by 18.3% (p<0.05) and 19.7% (p<0.05) respectively, and of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activities by 17.8% (p<0.05) and 27.4% (p<0.05) respectively; and significant decreases of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in the liver by 24.6% (p<0.05), the redness of longissimus dorsi by 26.6% (p<0.05) and 24.9% (p<0.05) at 0.75 h and 16 h post mortem, respectively, and of the myoglobin content of longissimus dorsi by 19.4% (p<0.05). No changes were found in these indices above when the pigs were fed the diet supplied with 0.5 or 5 mg/kg cadmium (p>0.05), nor in renal functions among cadmium-treatment treatments (p>0.05) as indicated is the activities of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the content of urinary protein. The study indicated the adverse effects of 10 mg/kg cadmium in feed on liver functions and meat colour of growing pigs.

Effect of beta-mannanase (Hemicell) on growth performance and immunity of broilers.

Two hundred four broilers (1-d-old) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments, each of which had 3 pens of 17 chicks per pen and were used to investigate the effects of beta-mannanase (Hemicell) on growth performance and immunity. The chicks received the same basal diet based on corn-soybean meal and Hemicell was added to the basal diet at 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.075%, respectively. Weight of each replicate was determined at wk 0, 3, and 6 of age. There were no significant differences in average feed intake in the 0- to 3-wk and 0- to 6-wk periods, and no differences in serum IgA, or IgG concentrations. However, the addition of Hemicell significantly increased (P < 0.05) weight gain in the 4- to 6-wk and 0- to 6-wk periods. Feed conversion for the 0.025 and 0.05% groups was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than for the control group in the 4- to 6-wk and 0- to 6-wk periods. Hemicell significantly increased (P < 0.05) the serum IgM concentration in 3- and 6-wk-old broilers. Proliferation of T lymphocytes in 6-wk-old broilers for the 0.05% group was also improved (P < 0.05) significantly. The results indicate that Hemicell may improve growth performance and immunity of broilers.

Effects of dietary arsenic levels on serum parameters and trace mineral retentions in growing and finishing pigs.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary arsenic (As) levels on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and the retention of iron, copper, and zinc in tissues of growing and finishing pigs. Ninety-six crossbred pigs were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments. The corn-soybean basal diets were supplemented with 0, 10, 20, and 30 mg As/kg. Arsenic trioxide was used as the arsenic source. The feeding experiment lasted for 78 d. The results showed that the high arsenic diet decreased average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and increased feed gain ratio (F/G) (p<0.05). Arsenic intake significantly increased (p<0.05) serum gamma-gultamyltransferase (GGT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and decreased (p<0.05) total protein, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and triglycerides. Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activity, albumin, and cholesterol were not affected (p>0.05). Arsenic feeding elevated (p<0.05) liver and kidney copper concentration, but reduced (p<0.05) copper concentration in heart, bile, and lymphaden of intestine mesentery. There were increases in iron levels in liver, bile, spleen, thymus, and pancreas in pigs fed the high As diets (p<0.05), but iron contents in kidney, heart, and serum were decreased by the arsenic treatment (p<0.05). Zinc concentrations were increased (p<0.05) in liver, kidney, and thymus of pigs with arsenic treatment, but decreased (p<0.05) in bile and lymphaden of intestine mesentery. This study suggested that high dietary As levels could alter serum biochemical parameters and the retention of copper, iron, and zinc in the viscera of growing and finishing pigs.

Effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcase composition and metabolism of lipids in male broilers.

1. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcase composition and lipid metabolism in growing broilers. 2. A total of 450 commercial broilers, 22 d of age, were randomly allocated to three groups, each of which included three replicates (50 birds per replicate). The groups received the same methionine-deficient diet supplemented with 0 or 1 g/kg methionine, or 0.5 g/kg betaine, respectively. 3. Methionine and betaine supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion. Supplemental methionine and betaine also significantly increased breast muscle yield and decreased abdominal fat content. Meanwhile, addition of methionine and betaine significantly increased the contents of creatine and free carnitine in liver, the activity of hormone-sensitive lipase in abdominal fat and the concentration of free fatty acid in serum, whereas uric acid concentration in serum was significantly decreased. 4. The results of this study suggest that betaine can spare methionine in its function as an essential amino acid and is as effective as methionine in improving performance and carcase quality of growing broilers if the diet is moderately deficient in methionine. The decrease in abdominal fat may be due to the increased carnitine synthesis in liver and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in abdominal fat.

Effect of excessive dietary fluoride on nutrient digestibility and retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in growing pigs.

Ninety-six crossbred growing pigs were used to evaluate the effects of fluoride levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and the retention of minerals in tissues. Four dietary treatments were formulated by supplementing fluorine (as NaF) to a corn-soybean basal diet (39.75 mg/kg F) to provide the following added fluorine levels: 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg fluorine. The results showed pigs of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine-added groups had decreased average daily gain (ADG) and increased feed gain ratio (F/G) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Apparent digestibility of protein and calcium in 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine-treated groups was significantly lower than that of the control (p < 0.05). On the other hand, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese levels in most tissues of the 100 and 150 mg/kg fluorine groups were markedly changed compared to the control (p < 0.05). However, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and mineral concentrations in all tissues of pigs were not significantly affected by the addition of 50 mg/kg fluorine (p > 0.05). Thus, this study suggested that excess fluoride levels could decrease growth performance and change the retention of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in pigs.

Effects of copper-bearing montmorillonite on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora and morphology of male broilers.

Avian commercial male broiler chicks (n = 240), 1 d of age, were used to investigate the effects of copper-bearing montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora and morphology. The chicks were allocated to 4 treatments, each of which had 5 pens of 12 chicks per pen. The 4 treatments were basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 1.5 g/kg montmorillonite (MMT), basal diet + 36.75 mg/kg Cu, in the form of CuSO4, and basal diet + 1.5 g/kg Cu-MMT. The results showed that supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly improved growth performance compared with the control diet, and that chicks fed with Cu-MMT had higher average daily gain (ADG) than those fed with MMT or CuSO4. Supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly reduced the total viable counts of Escherichia coli and Clostridium in the small intestine and cecum. Supplementation with MMT or CuSO4 had no influence on intestinal microflora. Chicks fed with Cu-MMT had lower viable counts of E. coli in cecal contents than those fed with MMT or CuSO4. The addition of either MMT or Cu-MMT to the diet improved the activities of total protease, amylase, and lipase in the small intestinal contents but had no effect on those in the pancreas. Morphological measurements of the small intestinal mucosa of chicks indicated that dietary addition of MMT or Cu-MMT improved intestinal mucosal morphology.

Effects on growth and cadmium residues from feeding cadmium-added diets with and without montmorillonite nanocomposite to growing pigs.

One hundred and ninety-two crossbred pigs (barrows, Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshine, initial weight 27.6 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of montmorillonite nanocomposite (MNC) on cadmium (Cd) retention in tissues of growing pigs. The animals were randomly assigned to 2 supplementations of Cd (0 or 10 mg/kg) and 2 levels of MNC (0 or 0.5%) in a 2x2 factorial arrangement. Each group was fed corn-soybean basal diets and consisted of 3 replications of 16 pigs. The feeding experiment lasted 83 d. Pig growth performances decreased significantly by addition of 10 mg Cd/kg (p<0.05) and improved with supplementation of MNC (p<0.05). Addition of MNC with Cd decreased Cd retentions in muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, thymus and lymphaden of pigs (p<0.05). MNC also decreased tissue Cd residues of pigs fed the diet without added Cd (p>0.05). There were decreased iron levels and increased copper levels in serum and liver of 10 mg Cd/kg treatment (p<0.05). Zinc content in serum and liver was not affected by the addition of Cd (p>0.05). Serum and liver iron, copper and zinc concentrations of pigs fed MNC without added Cd were unaffected by MNC (p>0.05).

Effects of dietary fructooligosaccharide on digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora and morphology of male broilers.

Two hundred forty male Avian Farms broiler chicks, 1 d of age, were randomly allocated to four treatments, each of which had five pens of 12 chicks per pen. The chicks were used to investigate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microflora and morphology. The chicks received the same basal diet based on corn-soybean meal, and FOS was added to the basal diet at 0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 g/kg diet at the expense of corn. Addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS to the basal diet significantly increased average daily gain of broilers. The feed-to-gain ratios were significantly decreased for the birds fed diets with 2.0 and 4.0 g/kg FOS versus the control. Addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS enhanced the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, but inhibited Escherichia coli in the small intestinal and cecal digesta. Supplementation of 2.0 or 4.0 g/kg FOS to chicks significantly improved the activities of amylase compared to the control (12.80 or 14.75 vs. 8.42 Somogyi units). A significant increase in the activities of total protease was observed in 4.0 g/kg FOS-treated birds versus controls (83.91 vs. 65.97 units). Morphology data for the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed no significant differences for villus height, crypt depth, or microvillus height at the duodenum. By contrast, addition of 4.0 g/kg FOS significantly increased ileal villus height, jejunal and ileal microvillus height, and villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratios at the jejunum and ileum and decreased crypt depth at the jejunum and ileum. However, addition of 8.0 g/kg FOS had no significant effect on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora, or morphology.

Effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, carcass composition, and metabolism of lipids in male broilers.

We studied the effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, carcass composition, and lipid metabolism in male broilers. Six hundred male commercial broilers were allotted to five groups, each of which included three replicates (40 birds per replicate). The groups received the same basal diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine, respectively. The feeding trial showed that L-carnitine had no significant effect on daily gain or feed conversion. Supplementation with L-carnitine (above 25 mg/kg) in the diet increased breast muscle yield (P < 0.05) and crude fat content of the muscles and decreased abdominal fat content (P < 0.05). Addition of 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine to the diet decreased total activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and lipoprotein lipase (P < 0.05) in the subcutaneous fat and total activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I (P < 0.05) in breast muscles. The results of this study indicate that L-carnitine could reduce the deposit of subcutaneous fat by decreasing total activities of enzymes in the fat and enhance intramuscular fat by decreasing the activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I in breast muscles.

Effects of feeding aspirin and soybean oil to weanling pigs.

Three trials were conducted with 216 Yorkshire x Duroc x Hampshire crossbred pigs (equal males and females) weaned at 3 to 4 wk of age (avg 7.4 kg initially) to determine the effectiveness of aspirin in an 18% CP corn-soybean meal starter diet (with and without soybean oil in Trial III) for improving postweaning performance and reducing scours. When aspirin levels common to all trials (0, 250 ppm) or common to Trials II and III (0, 125 and 250 ppm) were compared, improvements in ADG (P less than .10) and daily feed intake (P less than .05) were observed with no effect on efficiency of feed utilization. There was a quadratic effect of aspirin (P less than .10) in Trials II and III, the trend suggesting that the response to 125 ppm was as effective as the response to 250 ppm aspirin. The addition of soybean oil in Trial III did not enhance the response. In all trials, scouring was reduced (P less than .05) when pigs were fed 125 or 250 ppm aspirin; the improvement was greatest for 125 ppm aspirin after 5 d on test. Pooled data suggested no effect (P greater than .10) of aspirin on hemoglobin concentrations and blood clotting times; slightly higher (P less than .10) hematocrit values and DM content of colon digesta occurred in pigs fed 125 ppm aspirin vs controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)