Effect of L-Carnitine and/or Calf Thymus Gland Extract Supplementation on Immunity, Antioxidant, Duodenal Histomorphometric, Growth, and Economic Performance of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

This study aimed to evaluate the supplementation (of drinking water) effects of L-Carnitine (LC) and/or calf thymus extract (TE) on immunity, antioxidant, duodenal histomorphometric, growth, and economic performance of Japanese quail. Six hundred, one day old unsexed quail were divided into four groups, the control group (G1) received plain drinking water, while G2, G3, and G4 were supplemented with LC and/or TE, respectively. The treated groups recorded a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, phagocytic activity %, phagocytic index, lymphocytes %, and plasma glutathione level compared to the G1. On the other hand, these supplementations significantly lower the mortality rate %, heterophil %, H/L ratio and plasma malondialdehyde level of the supplemented groups relative to G1. The supplemented groups recorded a non-significant increase in duodenal histomorphometric parameters (villous height, villous width, surface area, and crypt depth) relative to G1. Generally, LC and/or TE improve the values of economic profile (total returns, net profit, total return/total costs %, etc.) in treated groups compared to the control one. In conclusion, L-carnitine supplementation was more effective than TE or their combination with TE in the immunological, anti-oxidative, growth, and economic performance.

Gastroprotective Effects of Spirulina platensis, Golden Kiwifruit Flesh, and Golden Kiwifruit Peel Extracts Individually or in Combination against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Spirulina platensis (SP), golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) flesh (KF), and golden kiwifruit peel (KP) individually or in combination (SFP) on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Negative control rats (GI) were orally administered distilled water in parallel with other treatments. The positive control rat group (GII) was administered 30 mg kg-1 indomethacin to induce gastric ulcers. The KF and KF extracts were used individually or together with SP in treating indomethacin-induced gastric ulcerated rat groups. Gastric ulcerated rat's groups GIII, GIV, GV, GVI, and GVII were orally administered at 30 mg kg-1 rat body weight as total phenolic content (TPC) equivalent from SP, KF, KP, SPF extracts, and Lansoprazole (30 mg kg-1, as reference drug) daily up to 14 days, respectively. The relevant biochemical parameters, antioxidant biomarkers, and histopathological examination were examined. Remarkably, treating rats with SP, KF, KP, and SFP extracts markedly reduced gastric juice and stomach volume expansion induced by indomethacin. The SP significantly retrieved the pH of gastric juice to a regular rate compared to GI. The ulcer index (UI) was significantly attenuated by SP, KF, KP, and SFP administration. The protection index percentage (PI %) was 80.79, 54.51, 66.08, 75.74, and 74.86% in GIII, GIV, GV, GVI, and GVII, respectively. The gastric mucin content was significantly better attenuated by 95.7 in GIII compared to its content in GI. Lansoprazole increased mucin content by 80.3%, which was considerably lower than SP and SFP. SP, KF, KP, SFP, and Lansoprazole improved the reform of gastric mucosal-increased secreted mucus by 95.6, 61.3, 64.8, 103.1, and 80.2% in GIII, GIV, GV, GVI, and GVII, respectively. Interestingly, SFP efficiently increased vit. B12 level by 46.0% compared to other treatments. While Lansoprazole administrating did not significantly attenuate vit. B12 level. The SP and SFP improved iron and Hemoglobin (HB) levels depending on treatment. SP, KF, KP, and SFP significantly decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in blood and stomach tissues. The most potent effect was observed with SP, and SFP was even better than Lansoprazole. Histopathologically, treating rats with SP extract showed a marked reduction of gastric damage and severity changes induced by indomethacin. KP was much better than KF in lessening gastric histopathological damages caused by indomethacin. SFP significantly alleviates gastric histopathological alterations. The lansoprazole-treated group (GVII) greatly relieved the gastric histopathological changes and recorded mild focal necrosis and desquamation of the mucosa in addition to mild oedema in the serosal layer. In conclusion, the presented results proved the antiulcer potential of SP and A. chinensis extracts against an indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats, which may be due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammation efficiency. Thus, these data suggested that SP, KF, KP, and SFP extracts as natural and safe alternatives have a gastroprotective potential against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties are probable mechanisms.

Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic Profile, and Nephroprotective Potential of Anastatica hierochuntica Ethanolic and Aqueous Extracts against CCl4-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Kaff-e-Maryam (Anastatica hierochuntica L.) is extensively used to treat a range of health problems, most notably to ease childbirth and alleviate reproductive system-related disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of A. hierochuntica ethanolic (KEE), and aqueous (KAE) extracts on CCl4-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity in rats using the biochemical markers for renal functions and antioxidant status as well as histopathological examinations of kidney tissue. A. hierochuntica contained 67.49 mg GAE g-1 of total phenolic compounds (TPC), 3.51 µg g-1 of total carotenoids (TC), and 49.78 and 17.45 mg QE g-1 of total flavonoids (TF) and total flavonols (TFL), respectively. It resulted in 128.71 µmol of TE g-1 of DPPH-RSA and 141.92 µmol of TE g-1 of ABTS-RSA. A. hierochuntica presented superior antioxidant activity by inhibiting linoleic acid radicals and chelating oxidation metals. The HPLC analysis resulted in 9 and 21 phenolic acids and 6 and 2 flavonoids in KEE and KAE with a predominance of sinapic and syringic acids, respectively. Intramuscular injection of vit. E + Se and oral administration of KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE at 250 mg kg-1 body weight significantly restored serum creatinine, urea, K, total protein, and albumin levels. Additionally, they reduced malondialdehyde (MOD), restored reduced-glutathione (GSH), and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE protected the kidneys from CCl4-nephrotoxicity as they mainly attenuated induced oxidative stress. Total nephroprotection was about 83.27%, 97.62%, and 78.85% for KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE, respectively. Both vit. E + Se and A. hierochuntica extracts attenuated the histopathological alteration in CCl4-treated rats. In conclusion, A. hierochuntica, especially KAE, has the potential capability to restore oxidative stability and improve kidney function after CCl4 acute kidney injury better than KEE. Therefore, A. hierochuntica has the potential to be a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

Influence of follicle size, methods of retrieval on oocytes yield and morphology in Egyptian Jennies ovaries with special reference to maturation rate in vitro.

UNLABELLED: This work was designed to evaluate the ovarian follicular development, oocytes morphology, methods of oocytes reterival, and the effect of different in vitro maturation (IVM) media on cumulus cell expansion and nuclear maturation of Jennies oocytes. Experiment 1, the number of small (<6 mm), medium (6 to 9 mm) and large size (>10 mm) ovarian follicles was recorded. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were reterived and classified into 4 Grades based on their cumulus-cells investment and the homogenous of the ooplasm. In Experiment 2, COCs were recovered by using 18-G, 20-G needle or slicing and scraping of ovarian follicles to determine the number and morphology of the recovered COCs. In Experiment 3, Grade A and B COCs were IVM in DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG, DMEM-F12, TCM199, TCM199-F12 or CR1aa media supplemented with 10% FCS+10 µg FSH/mL+10 IU hCG/mL+50 µg/mL gentamicin. Maturation was performed for 36 h at 38.5 °C under 5% CO2 in humidified air. After IVM, cumulus cell expansion and oocytes nuclear canfiguration were determined. An average of 6.40±0.26 follicles was recorded per Jenny ovary, representing 3.37±0.46, 1.89±0.14 and 1.14±0.16, for the small, medium and large size follicles, respectively. Oocyte recovery was higher (P<0.05) in large and medium size follicle than in the small one (62%, 60% and 45.1%, respectively). Small size follicles produced higher (P<0.05) percentage of Grade A COCs than large or medium size follicles. A higher number of oocytes was recovered by slincing and scraping of follicles (4.86±0.67), then aspiration of follicles using 18-G needle (3.14±0.36 COCs/ovary, P<0.05). Aspiration using 18-G needle or slicing and scraping of follicles using produced a significantly higher (P<0.05) percentage of Grade A COCs compared to aspiration of follicles using 20-G needle (56.6%, 46.7% and 32.0%, respectively, P<0.05). IVM of COCs in CR1aa and TCM 199-F12 media significantly increased (P<0.05) Grade 3 cumulus-cell expansion compared with TCM199, DMEM-F12, DMEM-LG and DMEM-HG (65.5% and 64.0%, 52.8%, 32.1%, 0.0% and 7.4%, respectively). The proportion of IVM oocytes reaching the M II stage was significantly higher (P<0.05) for oocytes matured in TCM199-F12 or CR1aa media than TCM199, DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG, DMEM-F12 (69.1% and 62.2%, 55.7%, 45.8%, 39.0% and 40.7%, respectively). The proportion of degenerated oocytes IVM in TCM199-F12 (10.3%), CR1aa (11.3%) or TCM199 (13.1%) was lower (P<0.05) than that matured in DMEM-HG, DMEM-LG or DMEM-F12 media (23.7%, 29.3% and 22.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Slicing and scraping or aspiration of follicles using 18-G needle increased the number and percentage of Grade A Jennies oocytes. TCM199-F12, CR1aa and TCM199 medi are more suitable for IVM of Jenny oocytes by promoting cumulus cells expansion and nuclear maturation to M II stage.