Effects of monochromatic green light stimulation during embryogenesis on hatching and posthatch performance of four strains of layer breeder.

Providing green light during incubation has been shown to accelerate the embryo development and shorten the hatching time in broilers. Few studies have concentrated on the exact effects on layer breeders in the aspects of hatching and posthatch performance. In this study, 4 strains of layer breeder eggs, namely White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Columbia Rock, and Barred Rock were used to assess the effects of monochromatic green light during embryogenesis on hatching performance, chick quality, and pubertal growth. Each strain of 600 eggs was incubated under photoperiods of either 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness (12L:12D, light group) or 0 h of light and 24 h of darkness (0L:24D, dark group) for 18 D, with 2 replicates for each treatment. The results showed hatch time, time reaching 90% hatch, and average hatch time were significantly shorter among the 4 strains in the light group (P < 0.01). In addition, hatch window and peak hatching period were not extended by the green light stimulation (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in hatchability of fertile eggs, chick weight/egg weight, or chick quality among the 4-strain eggs between the light group and dark group (P > 0.05). There was no difference (P > 0.05) in posthatch BW between different light treatments of the 3 strains (White Leghorn, Columbia Rock, and Barred Rock), whereas the BW of Rhode Island Red was higher in light group than that of the dark group at 8 to 12 wk of age (P < 0.05) and the difference disappeared from week 14. The results demonstrate that 12L:12D monochromatic green light stimulation during embryogenesis shortens the hatching time with no negative effects on hatching and posthatch performance. These effects were consistent among the 4 layer strains.

The effect of supplementary ultraviolet wavelengths on the performance of broiler chickens.

Qualities of the light environment, such as the spectral composition of light, have been shown to impact growth and performance of broiler chickens. UVA light is visible to broiler chickens, whereas UVB wavelengths promote endogenous vitamin D synthesis, which could support their rapid development. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impacts of supplementary UVA and UVB wavelengths on performance indicators of broiler chickens. Day-old Ross 308 chicks (n = 638), reared to a target stocking density of 33 kg/m2, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 lighting treatments: A) White light emitting diode (LED) and supplementary UVA LED lighting (18-h photoperiod); B) White LED with supplementary UVA and UVB fluorescent lighting providing 30 µW/cm2 UVB at bird level (lights on for 8 h of the total photoperiod to avoid overexposure of UVB); and C) White LED control group, representative of farm conditions (18-h photoperiod). Mortality was recorded, and broiler chickens were individually weighed at 8, 15, 22, 27, and 34 D of age. Generalized linear models and nonlinear mixed effects models (Gompertz curve) were fitted to determine the effects of UV wavelengths on broiler mortality and growth performance. UV did not impact breast or leg weight of broiler chickens but was associated with differences in mortality, growth, and end weight. Broiler chickens provided with UVA for the full 18-h photoperiod had slower initial growth than control broilers and a reduction in mortality. Results from male broilers reared with supplementary UVA + UVB for 8 h indicated they could reach finishing weights sooner than controls, which supports the potential for UVA + B to improve the growth performance of males. Results suggest that the provision of supplementary UVA + UVB wavelengths may improve the performance of male broiler chickens. The reduction in mortality in the UVA only treatment may warrant further investigation. The inclusion of UV wavelengths within poultry lighting regimes represents a promising area of further study.

Reproductive and developmental F1 toxicity following exposure of pubescent F0 male mice to bisphenol A alone and in a combination with X-rays irradiation.

Exposure to environmental toxicants may affect reproduction and development of subsequent generations. This study was aimed at determining the male-mediated F1 effects induced following 8-weeks of subchronic exposure of F0 male mice to bisphenol A (BPA) alone and in a combination with X-rays irradiation (IR) started during their puberty. 4.5 weeks old F0 male mice were exposed to BPA dissolved in ethyl alcohol and diluted in drinking water at the following doses: 5 mg/kg bw, 10 mg/kg bw, 20 mg/kg bw or irradiated with X-rays (0.05 Gy) or exposed to a combination of low doses of both agents (0.05 Gy + 5 mg/kg bw BPA). Immediately after the end of the 8 weeks exposure F0 males were caged with two unexposed females each. Three quarters of the mated females from each group were sacrificed 1 day before expected parturition for examination of prenatal development of the offspring. The remainder of the females from each group were allowed to deliver and rear litters. Pups of exposed males were monitored for postnatal development for 8 weeks. At 8-9 weeks of age 6-8 males from each group of F1 generation were sacrificed to determine sperm count and quality. The current results, compared to the earlier results, showed that exposure of pubescent males to BPA alone or in combination with irradiation may be more damaging to their offspring than the exposure of adult males. The exposure of pubescent males to BPA alone and in combination with irradiation significantly increased the frequency of abnormal skeletons of surviving fetuses, increased the percent of mortality of pups in the F1 generation, reduced the sperm motility of F1 males and may induce obesity. Additionally, the combined BPA and irradiation exposure reduced the number of total and live implantations, whereas the exposure to BPA alone disturbed the male:female sex ratio. The above results may be caused by genetic or by epigenetic mechanisms. Limitation of use of products including BPA, especially by children and teenagers, is strongly recommended.

Response of Caenorhabditis elegans to wireless devices radiation exposure.

PURPOSE: To examine the impact of electromagnetic radiation, produced by GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) mobile phones, Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity) routers and wireless DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phones, on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We exposed synchronized populations, of different developmental stages, to these wireless devices at E-field levels below ICNIRP's (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines for various lengths of time. WT (wild-type) and aging- or stress-sensitive mutant worms were examined for changes in growth, fertility, lifespan, chemotaxis, short-term memory, increased ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production and apoptosis by using fluorescent marker genes or qRT-PCR (quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the exposed and the sham/control animals in any of the experiments concerning lifespan, fertility, growth, memory, ROS, apoptosis or gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: The worm appears to be robust to this form of (pulsed) radiation, at least under the exposure conditions used.

Growth impairment after TBI of leukemia survivors children: a model- based investigation.

BACKGROUND: Children receiving Total Body Irradiation (TBI) in preparation for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) are at risk for Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), which sometimes severely compromises their Final Height (FH). To better represent the impact of such therapies on growth we apply a mathematical model, which accounts both for the gompertzian-like growth trend and the hormone-related 'spurts', and evaluate how the parameter values estimated on the children undergoing TBI differ from those of the matched normal population. METHODS: 25 patients long-term childhood lymphoblastic and myeloid acute leukaemia survivors followed at Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital (Turin, Italy) were retrospectively analysed for assessing the influence of TBI on their longitudinal growth and for validating a new method to estimate the GH therapy effects. Six were treated with GH therapy after a GHD diagnosis. RESULTS: We show that when TBI was performed before puberty overall growth and pubertal duration were significantly impaired, but such growth limitations were completely reverted in the small sample (6 over 25) of children who underwent GH replacement therapies. CONCLUSION: Since in principle the model could account for any additional growth 'spurt' induced by therapy, it may become a useful 'simulation' tool for paediatricians for comparing the predicted therapy effectiveness depending on its timing and dosage.

Quality of survival and growth in children and young adults in the PNET4 European controlled trial of hyperfractionated versus conventional radiation therapy for standard-risk medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: To compare quality of survival in "standard-risk" medulloblastoma after hyperfractionated radiation therapy of the central nervous system with that after standard radiation therapy, combined with a chemotherapy regimen common to both treatment arms, in the PNET4 randomised controlled trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Participants in the PNET4 trial and their parents/caregivers in 7 participating anonymized countries completed standardized questionnaires in their own language on executive function, health status, behavior, health-related quality of life, and medical, educational, employment, and social information. Pre- and postoperative neurologic status and serial heights and weights were also recorded. RESULTS: Data were provided by 151 of 244 eligible survivors (62%) at a median age at assessment of 15.2 years and median interval from diagnosis of 5.8 years. Compared with standard radiation therapy, hyperfractionated radiation therapy was associated with lower (ie, better) z-scores for executive function in all participants (mean intergroup difference 0.48 SDs, 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.81, P=.004), but health status, behavioral difficulties, and health-related quality of life z-scores were similar in the 2 treatment arms. Data on hearing impairment were equivocal. Hyperfractionated radiation therapy was also associated with greater decrement in height z-scores (mean intergroup difference 0.43 SDs, 95% confidence interval 0.10-0.76, P=.011). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperfractionated radiation therapy was associated with better executive function and worse growth but without accompanying change in health status, behavior, or quality of life.

Pediatric brain tumor treatment: growth consequences and their management.

Tumors of the central nervous system, the most common solid tumors of childhood, are a major source of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in children. Survival rates have improved significantly following treatment for childhood brain tumors, with this growing cohort of survivors at high risk of adverse medical and late effects. Endocrine morbidities are the most prominent disorder among the spectrum of longterm conditions, with growth hormone deficiency the most common endocrinopathy noted, either from tumor location or after cranial irradiation and treatment effects on the hypothalamic/pituitary unit. Deficiency of other anterior pituitary hormones can contribute to negative effects on growth, body image and composition, sexual function, skeletal health, and quality of life. Pediatric and adult endocrinologists often provide medical care to this increasing population. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of growth failure as a consequence of childhood brain tumor, both during and after treatment, is necessary and the main focus of this review.

Effect of continuous light on daily levels of plasma melatonin and cortisol and expression of clock genes in pineal gland, brain, and liver in atlantic salmon postsmolts.

Continuous light is a common practice in salmon farming, where it is used to enhance growth, induce smoltification, and regulate puberty. However, knowledge about how different tissues receive information about daylength is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the daily expression of clock (Per1-like, Cry2, and Clock), the nuclear transcription factor (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, PPAR; CCAAT/enhancer binding protein, C/EBP), and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (protein disulfide isomerase associated 3, PDIA3) genes in the pineal gland, brain, and liver of Atlantic salmon postsmolts reared under 12-h light:12-h dark (LD) regimes or under continuous light (LL) for 6 wks following transfer to seawater. All measured clock mRNAs displayed daily variations in one or more organs under LD, as well as plasma levels of melatonin. Similar variations were noted in the liver c/ebpα, pineal c/ebpδ, and pdia3 mRNAs. Under LL, the clock and nuclear transcription factor mRNAs did not show any daily variation in the studied organs, with the exception of pineal pdia3. Furthermore, LL had the opposite effect on the levels of melatonin and cortisol, as observed by the increase in pineal Clock, Per2, pparα, and c/ebpα and c/ebpδ mRNAs and decrease in liver Clock, Per2, and pparα mRNAs compared to those under LD. The present findings show that the expression of clock genes is affected by the light across organs and that there is a relation between PPAR, C/EBP, and clock mRNAs; however, the functional role of the individual nuclear transcription factors related to this observation remains to be established in the pineal gland and liver. (Author correspondence: Tihu@nifes.no ).

In utero exposure to therapeutic radiation for Hodgkin lymphoma.

QUESTION: One of my patients was incidentally found to be pregnant after completion of radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. What are the possible effects that I should discuss with her before she makes a final decision regarding continuation of her pregnancy? ANSWER: Radiotherapy might not be an absolute contraindication in pregnant women who are diagnosed with cancer located in areas remote from the pelvis. However, the fetal exposure should be carefully estimated, and the known dose-response information has to be discussed individually to allow informed decisions to be made.

The effect of the prenatal and post-natal long-term exposure to 50 Hz electric field on growth, pubertal development and IGF-1 levels in female Wistar rats.

To investigate prenatal and post-natal effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electric field (EF) on growth and pubertal development, pregnant Wistar rats were randomly distributed among three groups. The pregnant rats of the prenatal group were exposed to 24-hour EF at 50 Hz EF 10 kV/min during pregnancy and their subsequent randomly selected female pups continued to be exposed until puberty. The post-natal group was unexposed to EF during pregnancy, but randomly selected female pups from this group were exposed to EF between delivery and puberty at the same doses and duration as the prenatal group. The third group was a sham-exposed group. The mean birth weight and weight gain of the pups during study period were found significantly reduced in prenatal group than post-natal and sham-exposed groups (p < 0.001). No difference could be found among the three groups for body weight at puberty (p > 0.05). The mean age at vaginal opening and estrous were significantly higher at prenatal group than post-natal and sham-exposed groups (p < 0.001). Serum insulin-like growth hormone-1 (IGF-1) levels were found significantly reduced in prenatal exposure group compared with the other two groups (p < 0.001). There was no difference for birth weight, weight gain, the mean age at vaginal opening and estrous and IGF-1 levels between post-natal and sham-exposed groups (p > 0.05). There was also no difference for FSH, LH and E2 levels at puberty among the three groups (p > 0.05). Histological examination revealed that both the prenatal and post-natal groups had the evidence of tissue damage on hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries. In conclusion, early beginning of prenatal exposure of rats to 24 hours 50 Hz EF at 10 kV/m until puberty without magnetic field (MF) resulted in growth restriction, delayed puberty and reduced IGF-1 levels in female Wistar rats. These effects probably associated with direct toxic effects of EF on target organs. Post-natal exposure to EF at similar doses and duration seems to be less harmful on target organs. Post-natal exposure to EF at similar doses and duration seems to be less harmful.

[The influence of electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna]. / Wplyw pól elektromagnetycznych na flore i faune.

This paper presents the influence of natural and artificial electromagnetic fields (EMF) on fauna and flora. The mechanisms of Earth's magnetic field detection and the use of this skill by migratory animals to faultlessly reach the destination of their travel are discussed, as well as the positive effects of electric and magnetic fields on plants relative to their physiology, yielding and health. EMF influence on social insects and animal organisms, including possible DNA damages and DNA repair systems, is presented. The influence of high frequency electromagnetic fields on birds nesting is also discussed.

Persistent transcription-blocking DNA lesions trigger somatic growth attenuation associated with longevity.

The accumulation of stochastic DNA damage throughout an organism's lifespan is thought to contribute to ageing. Conversely, ageing seems to be phenotypically reproducible and regulated through genetic pathways such as the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) receptors, which are central mediators of the somatic growth axis. Here we report that persistent DNA damage in primary cells from mice elicits changes in global gene expression similar to those occurring in various organs of naturally aged animals. We show that, as in ageing animals, the expression of IGF-1 receptor and GH receptor is attenuated, resulting in cellular resistance to IGF-1. This cell-autonomous attenuation is specifically induced by persistent lesions leading to stalling of RNA polymerase II in proliferating, quiescent and terminally differentiated cells; it is exacerbated and prolonged in cells from progeroid mice and confers resistance to oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of DNA damage in transcribed genes in most if not all tissues contributes to the ageing-associated shift from growth to somatic maintenance that triggers stress resistance and is thought to promote longevity.

Phototropic growth in a reef flat acroporid branching coral species.

Many terrestrial plants form complex morphological structures and will alter these growth patterns in response to light direction. Similarly reef building corals have high morphological variation across coral families, with many species also displaying phenotypic plasticity across environmental gradients. In particular, the colony geometry in branching corals is altered by the frequency, location and direction of branch initiation and growth. This study demonstrates that for the branching species Acropora pulchra, light plays a key role in axial polyp differentiation and therefore axial corallite development--the basis for new branch formation. A. pulchra branches exhibited a directional growth response, with axial corallites only developing when light was available, and towards the incident light. Field experimentation revealed that there was a light intensity threshold of 45 micromol m(-2) s(-1), below which axial corallites would not develop and this response was blue light (408-508 nm) dependent. There was a twofold increase in axial corallite growth above this light intensity threshold and a fourfold increase in axial corallite growth under the blue light treatment. These features of coral branch growth are highly reminiscent of the initiation of phototropic branch growth in terrestrial plants, which is directed by the blue light component of sunlight.

Green light stimulates somatic growth in the barfin flounder Verasper moseri.

We examined the effects of different light wavelengths-blue, green, and red-on the somatic growth of the barfin flounder Verasper moseri, a flatfish. The light sources used were fluorescent lamps and a combination of daylight and fluorescent lamps that produced ambient light. These light sources were filtered using blue, green, or red filters. During the experiments, the fish were reared in indoor tanks with running seawater of natural temperature and fed with commercial pellets twice daily until satiety. The tanks were white in color. Fish were exposed to constant light emitted from the fluorescent lamps (9:15, light:dark; 08:00-17:00, light) for 14 weeks from October or September to January or to ambient light with a 14-week natural photoperiod from September to December. The wavelengths that were filtered from the fluorescent lamp light modified the growth of the fish, i.e., fish reared under green or blue light exhibited a greater total length (TL; P<0.01) and body weight (BW; P<0.01) than those reared under red light. In contrast, in the case of fish exposed to filtered ambient light, fish reared under green light exhibited a greater TL (P<0.01) and BW (P<0.01) than fish exposed to other wavelengths-blue-, red-, and nonfiltered ambient light. Our results indicate that flounder growth was modified by certain wavelengths, namely, green and red light, which had growth-stimulating and growth-inhibiting effects, respectively.