Induction of superovulation in mature mice and rats using serum of spayed female dogs / 한국실험동물학회지

The following experiments were designed to examine the effect of serum of spayed dogs on superovulation response in mice and rats. In Experiment 1, female mice at diestrus (n=30) were divided into three equal groups and superovulated with either administration of 5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) or recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) (reducing dose from 2.5 to 0.5 IU) and 5 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administered 48h later. Serum of spayed dogs was administered intraperitoneally at a reduced dose from 0.1 to 0.025 mL in a 48 h period. In Experiment 2, female rats (n=30) at diestrus stage were divided into three equal groups. Superovulation was induced using either 30 IU PMSG, or a dose reduced from 5 to 1 IU rFSH and 25 IU hCG administered 48h later. Serum of spayed dogs was administered in a reduced dose from 0.6 to 0.1 mL in a 48 hour period. Female mice and rats were mated 24 h following hCG administration. On day 14 after mating, animals were euthanized and ovarian sections were fixed for histopathological evaluation and corpus luteum (CL) counting. No significant difference observed in mean (±SEM) number of CLs between the PMSG group and the mice that received serum of spayed dog (10.4±1.3 vs 9.2±1.0). Mean (±SEM) number of CLs tended to be lower in rats that received serum of spayed dog than those of rats which received either PMSG or rFSH (15.1±1.9 vs 23.6±3.1 and 23.1±2.9, P=0.06, respectively). In conclusion, serum of spayed dogs is able to induce a superovulatory response in mice and rats.

[Effects of addition of berberis vulgaris root powder to the arbor acers chicks ration as arowth promoter]

Barberry [Berberis vulgaris L. family Berberidaceae] is well known in Iran, and various parts of this plant including its root, bark, leaf and fruit have been used in folk medicine. There are evidences that this plant contains several antibacterial agents and has been used as a food additive. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Berberis vulgaris root powder in the diets of broiler chickens on growth performance. One hundred thirty Arbor Acers day old chicks from both sexes [mean of Body weight: 40 g] were divided into two equal groups in a completely randomized design. Dried roots of Berberis vulgaris were powdered and added to the ration of experimental group at a rate of 1%. The measured traits in this study were: live body weight, feed consumption and eventual side effects [gross and histopathological lesions]. Tissue samples of heart, liver and skeletal muscles were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histopathologic examination. Data were analyzed by two independent sample t-test, using SPSS/PC software. At six weeks of age, there was a significant and greater weight gain in chickens of experimental group [means +/- S.D in experimental groups was 1822.2 +/- 75.1 g versus 1662.8 +/- 85.2 g in control group] [p