Effects of three kinds of Chinese herbs on growth performance, oocysts output and gut microbiota in growing lambs with coccidiosis.

Coccidiosis is a protozoan intestinal disease that reduces the production of the sheep industry and causes large economic losses for sheep. Although chemically synthesised drugs are routinely employed to treat coccidiosis in sheep, the anticoccidial drug resistance and drug residues in edible meat have prompted an urgent search for alternatives. Herein, the anticoccidial properties of diclazuril, a conventional anticoccidial drug, and Allium sativum, Houttuynia cordata and Portulaca oleracea were assessed. Forty 45-day-old lambs naturally infected with Eimeria spp. were selected and randomly divided into five groups. The results showed that the sheep treated for coccidiosis had considerably decreased average daily gain (ADG) during both administration and withdrawal of the drug compared to the control group. Furthermore, at days 14, 21, 28 and 35, respectively, the three herbs and diclazuril had similar anticoccidial effects, with lower oocysts per gram (OPG) than the control group. On day 78, OPG in the three herbal groups was significantly lower than in the diclazuril group. In addition, the abundance and composition of the gut microbiota were changed in sheep treated with the three herbs and diclazuril compared to the untreated sheep. Moreover, some intestinal microorganisms have a correlation with OPG and ADG when using Spearman correlation analysis. In summary, our results suggest that all three herbs produce anticoccidial effects similar to diclazuril and modulate the balance of gut microbiota in growing lambs.

Effects of Radix dichroae extract supplementation on growth performance, oocysts output and gut microbiota in growing lambs with coccidiosis.

Coccidiosis is an intestinal protozoan disease of sheep, that causes substantial economic losses in the industry due to its intestinal protozoan origins. Many anti-protozoan drugs including ionophores, triazines, and sulfonamides have been widely used to treat sheep coccidiosis. Still, anticoccidial resistance and drug residues in edible tissues have prompted an urgent search for alternatives. In this study, the anti-coccidial effectiveness of the Radix dichroae extract was compared to that of the conventional anti-coccidial drug diclazuril. Here, eighteen 45-day-old lambs naturally-infected with Eimeria spp. were randomly allocated in three groups: control group, Radix dichroae extract group and diclazuril group. The results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) during the treatment and withdrawal periods was considerably improved in the coccidiosis-infected sheep treated with Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril compared to the control group, respectively. Additionally, the Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril had fewer oocysts per gram (OPG) than the control group, showing similar anti-coccidial effects on days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 78, respectively. Furthermore, Radix dichroae extract and diclazuril treatment altered the structure and composition of gut microbiota, promoting the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Alistipes, and Bifidobacterium, while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidota, Marinilaceae, Helicobacteraceae, and Prevotella. Moreover, Spearman's correlation analysis further revealed a correlation between the OPG and BWG and gut microorganisms. Collectively, the results indicated that Radix dichroae extract had similar anti-coccidial effects as diclazuril, and could regulate gut microbiota balance in growing lambs.

[Effect of 17beta-estradiol on myocardial inducible NOS and endothelial NOS activities after ischemia-reperfusion in rat heart model].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) on myocardial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activities of ischemia-reperfusion myocardium in rat model. METHODS: 40 Langendorff perfused hearts isolated from bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) rat were randomly divided into four groups: control group (Group C), in which hearts were reperfused ex vivo for 15 minutes before ischemia in rat; ischemia-reperfusion control (Group I-R), in which modified St. Thomas II cardioplegic solution was perfused to perform the ischemia-reperfusion; dissolved control group (Group D), in which 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was dissolved in cardioplegic solution; E(2) group (Group E), in which 0.1% DMSO and 5 micromol of E(2) were dissolved in cardioplegic solution. Myocardial iNOS and eNOS activities were detected before and after reperfusion. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and nitric oxide (NO) of coronary flow were measured, and heart function was evaluated to observe the effect of E(2) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). RESULTS: Myocardial eNOS activity declined (P < 0.01) and iNOS activity increased after ischemia-reperfusion (8.87 +/- 3.74 nmol/min/g in Group C, 15.83 +/- 2.42 nmol/min/g in Group I-R, 17.60 +/- 5.21 nmol/min/g in Group E; P < 0.01), moreover, iNOS activity was much higher in Group E (25.85 +/- 5.21 nmol/min/g, P < 0.01). NO production was lower in Group I-R and Group D (P < 0.05), and higher in Group E (30.96 +/- 4.91 micromol/L in Group C, 33.16 +/- 5.57 micromol/L in Group E; P < 0.01). CPK and LDH were lower in Group E (P < 0.05). Recovery of heart function was better in Group E (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: E(2) can relieve the injury of MIRI and promote heart function recovery by increasing iNOS activity and NO production.