Short chain fatty acids may improve hepatic mitochondrial energy efficiency in heat stressed-broilers.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of four dietary fat types and two environmental temperatures on the hepatic mitochondrial energetic in male broilers exposed to heat stress. The birds were kept in two separate rooms at 24 °C or 36 °C from 32 to 42 d of age with four experimental groups in each room. The birds fed on the diets supplemented containing rich sources of long-chain saturated fatty acids (beef tallow), middle-length-chain saturated FA (coconut oil), monounsaturated FA (olive oil), or polyunsaturated FA (soybean oil) for ten days. At 36 °C, the highest body weight and lowest feed conversion ratio were recorded in the birds fed on the diets supplemented with coconut oil or beef tallow. Temperature and fat type significantly affected the activities of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes (P < 0.01). There was a significant interaction between the temperature and fat type (P < 0.01). Generally, electron transport chain complexes I-V enzymatic activities were decreased at 36 °C. The coconut oil-fed birds showed the highest complex I activity at both temperatures. The beef tallow-fed broilers showed the lowest complex II activity at 24 °C. In birds exposed to 36 °C, complex II activity was higher for birds fed saturated coconut oil or beef tallow than those feeding the unsaturated olive oil or soybean oil-supplemented diets. At 24 °C, the highest and lowest complex III activities were recorded for the coconut oil- and beef tallow-supplemented diets, respectively. At 36 °C, the activity of complex III was coconut oil > beef tallow > olive oil > soybean oil. At 24 °C, complex IV activity was highest in coconut oil- or soybean oil-fed broilers; and at 36 °C, complex IV showed the lowest activity in soybean oil-fed birds. The highest complex IV activity was observed in coconut oil-fed chickens followed by olive oil-fed and beef tallow-fed birds, respectively. At 24 or 36 °C, the highest and lowest complex V activity was observed in coconut oil-fed and soybean oil-fed chickens, respectively. ATP concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential were in the order of coconut oil > beef tallow > olive oil > soybean oil at both temperatures. Temperature and fat type significantly affected the avANT mRNA concentration. Exposure of broilers to 36 °C generally decreased the mRNA expression of avANT, with beef tallow- or coconut oil-supplemented birds showing a lower avANT mRNA expression than those receiving olive oil- or soybean oil-supplemented diets. These findings provide further information on the use of fat sources in the diet of heat stressed-broilers.

Saturated fatty acids may ameliorate environmental heat stress in broiler birds by affecting mitochondrial energetics and related genes.

Heat stress decreases performance of poultry. The novel strategies to maintain production level, or at least minimizing the decrease in productivity during hot days need to be elucidated. This study was conducted to determine the effect of four fat types on mitochondrial energetics in heat-stressed broilers. In experiment 1, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) content of four supplemental fat sources, including olive oil, soybean oil, coconut oil and beef tallow, all supplemented at 3%, 6%, and 9% in the basal diet, was evaluated. The AMEn values of fats were determined as 9738.0 ± 137.9, 8949.0 ± 159.9, 7844.0 ±â€¯91.7, and 7368.0 ±â€¯190.3 kcal/kg for olive oil, soybean oil, coconut oil and beef tallow, respectively. In experiment 2, birds were kept in two separated rooms under 24 °C or 36 °C from 32 to 42 d of age. Each room consisted of four experimental groups. Birds in the experimental groups were fed on beef tallow-, coconut oil-, olive oil- or soybean oil-supplemented diets (factorial arrangement with two factors of fat types and environmental temperatures). The birds reared under 24 °C had higher final body weight (P < 0.01), weight gain (P < 0.01), feed intake (P < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) than the birds grown under 36 °C. There was a temperature by fat type interaction effect on mitochondrial attributes. At 36 °C, in birds fed on coconut oil- or beef tallow-supplemented diets, the expression levels of avUCP and avANT mRNA were lower (P < 0.05) but that of HSP70 mRNA was higher (P < 0.01) in comparison with the birds feeding on the olive oil- or soy oil-supplemented diets. An interaction effect was recorded between the temperature and fat type for ATP concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01); with significant differences between birds receiving the coconut oil- or beef tallow-supplemented diets and the birds feeding on the soy oil- or olive oil-supplemented diets. It was also found that unsaturated fatty acids had a more significant effect on avUCP and avANT mRNA expression. It can be concluded that when using fat in the diet of heat stressed-broilers, it is advisable to choose a type, which has a lower effect on the expression of avUCP and avANT, and hence reduces the metabolic heat load in the bird.

Dual effects of sulfasalazine on rat sperm characteristics, spermatogenesis, and steroidogenesis in two experimental models.

There are reports of sulfasalazine (Salazosulfapyridine; SASP)-induced reproductive toxicity, but there it is not known whether the SASP molecule or its intestinal metabolites are responsible for this effect. Rats received SASP (150, 300, and 600mg/kg) for 60 consecutive days (in vivo). Additionally, epididymal sperm was isolated and incubated with SASP (10µM-1600µM) (in vitro). Markers of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and sperm functionality, along with testis histopathology as well as several steroidogenic genes and proteins, including steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc; Cyp11a), 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD) were measured. SASP toxicity was evident as shown by severe testicular histopathological alterations, along with poor sperm parameters and increased markers of oxidative stress. Plasma testosterone level and steroidogenesis-related gene and protein (StAR, 3-beta-HSD, 17-beta-HSD) expressions, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential, were significantly decreased at high doses of SASP (in vivo). Interestingly, in vitro treatment of sperm with SASP not only caused no significant detrimental effect on rat sperm but also increased parameters of sperm functionality and decreased markers of oxidative stress. SASP had paradoxical actions on the rat sperm in these experimental models. The findings might be useful in understanding the mechanism(s) of SASP-induced reproductive toxicity. The present findings have opened a new molecular window into the relationship between disrupted steroidogenesis and mammalian reproduction indices and also are vital regarding clinical administration of SASP and human reproductive health.

Efficiency of early, single-dose probiotic administration methods on performance, small intestinal morphology, blood biochemistry, and immune response of Japanese quail.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of early probiotics (single dose) administered in different ways, on quails' performance, small intestine morphology, blood biochemistry, and immune response. In total, 192 day-old chicks were used in one of the following experimental groups before being transferred to a raising room: 1) Control (no probiotic administered), 2) oral gavage, 3) spray, and 4) vent lip. Four replicates of 12 chicks per cage were considered for each treatment and birds were raised up to 35 d in the same conditions. Probiotic treated birds had higher d 1 to 35 feed intake than the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, oral-gavaged birds had a higher body weight gain as compared to the control (P < 0.05). The values of duodenum length and villus height of the oral group and ileum length and villus height of the vent lip group were greater than that of the control (P < 0.01). Regardless of the method of administration, probiotics resulted in deeper crypts and in a higher number of goblet cells in the duodenum and ileum as compared to the control (P < 0.01). The administration of probiotics resulted in increased plasma uric acid (P < 0.05), glucose, and total protein (P < 0.01). The concentration of hemoglobin was slightly higher in probiotic-supplemented groups. While a decreased concentration of triglyceride was observed in vent-lip probiotic-administered birds compared to control (P < 0.05), the concentration of cholesterol was not significantly affected by treatments (P > 0.01). None of the immune-related parameters were affected by the probiotic (P > 0.05). Single dose usage of probiotics exerts its beneficial effects on quails' body weight gain, feed intake and mortality in 1 to 35 d period, regardless of the route of administration. This work generally supports the efficacy of single-dose usage of probiotics and suggests the spray of probiotics as an early, single-dose administration method.