ABSTRACT The first aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perch cooling and different litter thicknesses on litter quality of the housing facility, welfare criteria (incidence of footpad and hock burns, gait score, plumage cleanliness and damages), heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, growth, and carcass compositions of broilers reared at high ambient temperature. Secondly, the study was conducted to determine whether cooled perches would be preferred by broiler chickens exposed to a hot environment, and subsequently, whether the utilization of these perches would improve the welfare and performance of broilers, beyond those provided by non-cooled perches. A total of 459 1-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to nine treatment groups based on the perch treatment (no perch, non-cooled, cooled perches) and litter thicknesses (1, 7, 14 cm) with three replicates. Aerial ammonia and litter moisture levels were lower in broilers reared at 14 cm litter thickness group than in broilers reared at 1 cm thickness group. The perch-contact incidence of chickens reared under the cooled perch was found higher than the non-cooled chickens at 36 to 42 days of age. Cooled perches and 14 cm of litter thickness tended to decrease the incidence of footpad and hock burn. The body weight gain of the broilers in cooled perch group was higher than those in no perch and non-cooled perch groups at 0-42 d (p<0.05). These results suggest that cool perches have a beneficial effect on the performance and welfare of broilers.

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of dietary phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on growth performance, caecal microbiota, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 480 Ross-308 one-day-old male broilers chicks (body weight 43±3 g) were randomly assigned to 32 replicate pens of four experimental groups, each experimental group consisting of 8 replicates (each replicate pen consisting of 15 chicks). A basal diet was formulated based on corn and soybean meal that was fed to the control group. Other dietary treatments received a commercial PFA at 100 mg/kg (PFA100), 125 mg/kg (PFA125), and 150 mg/kg (PFA150). Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate of broilers were recorded on 1-21, 22-42, and 1-42 days of age. One bird was slaughtered on the 21st and 42nd days and caecal contents were aseptically collected. Jejunal tissue samples were also collected on the same days. Total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and lactobacilli were counted in the caecal contents. Villus height, villus diameter, crypt depth, muscular thickness, and goblet cell number per villus were recorded. There was no difference among the dietary treatments for growth performance and caecal microbe populations at any phase. However, the dietary PFA supplementation increased the villus height, villus width, muscularis thickness, and reduced the crypt depth and goblet cell number per villus in broilers compared to those fed control diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that dietary supplementation of a PFA consisting of blend of different spices and essential oils did not improve growth performance and caecal microbial populations despite a positive improvement in the jejunal morphometry of broilers.

Background. An increase in the level of intracellular calcium activates the calcium-dependent neutral pro-tease calpain, which in turn leads to cellular dysfunction and cell death after an insult to the central nervous system. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a calpain inhibitor, AK 295, on spinal cord structure, neurologic function, and apoptosis after spinal cord injury (SCI) in a murine model. Methods. Thirty albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 10 each: the sham-operated control group (group 1), the spinal cord trauma group (group 2), and the spinal cord trauma plus AK 295 treatment group (group 3). After having received a combination of ketamine 60 mg/kg and xylazine 9 mg/kg to induce anesthesia, the rats in groups 2 and 3 were subjected to thoracic trauma by the weight drop technique (40 g-cm). One hour after having been subjected to that trauma, the rats in groups 2 and 3 were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of either dimethyl sulfoxide 2 mg/kg or AK 295 2 mg/kg. The effects of the injury and the efficacy of AK 295 were determined by an assessment of the TUNEL technique and the results of examination with a light microscope. The neurologic performance of 5 rats from group 2 and 5 from group 3 was assessed by means of the inclined plane technique and the modified Tarlov's motor grading scale 1, 3, and 5 days after spinal cord trauma. Findings. Light-microscopic examination of spinal cord specimens from group 2 revealed hemorrhage, edema, necrosis, and vascular thrombi 24 hours after trauma. Similar (but less prominent) features were seen in specimens obtained from group 3 rats. Twenty-four hours after injury, the mean apoptotic cell numbers in groups 1 and 2 were zero and 4.57 ± 0.37 cells, respectively. In group 3, the mean apoptotic cell number was2.30 ± 0.34 cells, a value significantly lower than that in group 2 (P < .05). Five days after trauma, the injured rats in group 2 demonstrated significant motor dysfunction (P < .05). In comparison, the motor scores exhibited by group 3 rats were markedly better (P < .05). Conclusions. AK 295 inhibited apoptosis via calpaindependent pathways and provided neuroprotection and improved neurologic function in a rat model of SCI. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the use of AK 295, a calpain inhibitor, after SCI. Our data suggest that AK 295 might be a novel therapeutic compound for the neuroprotection of tissue and the recovery of function in patients with a SCI.

Introducción. Una lesión en el sistema nervioso central origina un incremento en los niveles de calcio intracelular que activa la proteasa neutral calcio-dependiente calpaina, que a su vez conduce a la producción de disfunción y muerte celular. En este estudio evaluamos el efecto de un inhibidor de la calpaina, AK 295, sobre la estructura de la médula espinal, la función neurológica y apoptosis tras lesión medular en un modelo murino. Métodos. Treinta ratas Wistar se dividieron en tres grupos de 10 ratas cada uno: Un grupo control (grupo 1), un grupo sometido a trauma espinal (grupo 2) y un grupo de ratas a las que se sometió a trauma medular y tratamiento con AK 295 (grupo 3). Después de recibir una combinación de ketamina 60mg/kg y xylazina 8mg/kg para la inducción anestésica, las ratas del grupo 2 y 3 fueron sometidas a trauma medular torácico mediante la técnica de caída de peso (40 g-cm). Una hora después de haber sufrido el traumatismo, las ratas del grupo 2 y 3 fueron tratadas mediante una inyección intraperitoneal bien de dimetil-sulfóxido 2mg/kg o de AK 295 2 mg/kg. Los efectos del traumatismo y la eficacia de AK 295 fueron determinados mediante la estimación de la técnica TUNEL y los resultados del examen del tejido mediante microscopía óptica. La función neurológica de 5 ratas del grupo 2 y 5 del grupo 3 fue estimada mediante la técnica del plano inclinado y la escala motora de Tarlov modificada a 1, 3 y 5 días desde el traumatismo medular. Resultados. El estudio mediante microscopía óptica de las preparaciones de médula espinal del grupo 2 demostró la existencia de hemorragia, edema, necrosis y trombosis vascular 24 horas tras el traumatismo. Hallazgos similares pero menos importantes se encontraron en las preparaciones procedentes del grupo 3. Veinticuatro horas tras el trauma, el número medio de células apoptóticas en los grupos 1 y 2 fueron cero y 4.57 ± 0.37 células respectivamente. En el grupo 3, el número medio de células apoptóticas fue de 2.30 ± 0.34 células, un valor significativamente menor que en el grupo 2 (p < 0.05). Cinco días tras el traumatismo, las ratas lesionadas en el grupo 2 demostraron una significativamente mayor disfunción neurológica (p<0.05). En comparación, la puntuación motora que exhibieron las ratas del grupo 3 fue marcadamente mejor (p < 0.05). Conclusión. AK 295 inhibe la apoptosis a través de vías calpain-dependientes y provee neuroprotección y consigue una mejor función neurológica en el modelo de lesión medular traumática en la rata. En nuestro conocimiento, este es el primer estudio en evaluar el uso de AK 295, un inhibidor de la calpaina, tras lesión medular traumática. Nuestros datos sugieren que AK 295 podría ser un nuevo compuesto terapéutico capaz de ofrecer neuroprotección tisular y recuperación funcional en pacientes con lesión medular traumática.

Sixty, two-month old male Awassi lambs were used in this study to investigate the effects of feed refreshing (FR) frequencies on their growth and carcass characteristics over a period of 65 days. Treatments were:: Feed refreshing at 2 h (FR2), 4 h (FR4), 8 h (FR8), 12 h (FR12) and 24 h (FR24) intervals. The lambs were fed individually. At the onset of each refreshing period the lambs were offered fresh feed ad libitum. Daily feed intakes, weekly live weights and carcass characteristics were recorded. Daily feed intakes per lamb per treatment were: 1.13 kg, 1.05 kg, 1.00 kg, 0.98 kg and 0.95 kg; daily gains were 193.6 g, 180.6 g, 148.6 g, 169.3 g and 146.4 g; feed conversion ratios (kg feed/kg gain) were 6.1, 6.7, 7.2, 7.2 and 7.5; hot carcass weights were 13.0 kg, 13.1 kg, 12.1 kg, 13.3 kg and 13.1 kg; dressing percentages were 42.3%, 42.4%, 39.9%, 40.2% and 41.2%; the proportion of muscle in the carcass was 52.0%, 55.2%, 55.6%, 55.8% and 54.8%; bone ratio was 20.4%, 20.3%, 21.9%, 21.1% and 20.9%; subcutaneous fat ratio was 16.9%, 14.2%, 12.9%, 12.7% and 14.0% and intramuscular fat ratio was 8.8%, 7.1%, 6.8%, 8.7% and 7.7% in FR2, FR4, FR8, FR12 and FR24 treatments, respectively. Results showed that frequent feed refreshing stimulated feed intake and daily gain without affecting carcass characteristics