ABSTRACT
Ca and P homeostasis across the egg-laying cycle is a complex process involving absorption in the small intestine, reabsorption/excretion in the kidneys, and eggshell gland secretion. Diets with inadequate calcium and phosphorus can interfere with their absorption and digestibility, resulting in eggshell quality losses and reduced productive life, affecting egg production and welfare. A better understanding of gene expression profiles in the kidneys of laying hens during the late egg-laying period could clarify the renal role in mineral metabolism at this late stage. Therefore, the performance, egg quality and bone integrity-related traits, and expression profiles of kidney candidate genes were evaluated in 73-week-old laying hens receiving different Ca and P ratios in their diet: a high Ca/P ratio (HR, 22.43), a low ratio (LR, 6.71), and a medium ratio (MR, 11.43). The laying hens receiving the HR diet had improved egg production and eggshell quality traits compared to the other two groups. Humerus length was shorter in the HR than in the other groups. The CYP24A1 and TRPC3 genes were differentially expressed (p.adj ≤ 0.05) among the groups. Therefore, their expression profiles could be involved in calcium and phosphate transcellular transport in 73-week-old laying hens as a way to keep mineral absorption at adequate levels.
ABSTRACT
Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is one of the most common conditions in fast growing broilers, being characterized by separation of articular cartilage from epiphysis and classified as femoral head separation (FHS) or FHS with laceration (FHSL) depending on severity. Although molecular mechanisms involved with this disorder have been observed, its etiology is still unclear. Therefore, the expression of 15 candidate genes, chosen based on previous transcriptomic studies, was evaluated in the articular cartilage (AC) of normal and FHS-affected broilers at 21 days of age. Samples were collected based on the absence or presence of FHS for physical-chemical and qPCR analysis. The AvBD2, RHAG, COL28A1, ADA and ANGPTL7 were upregulated in FHS-affected broilers compared to the healthy group. These genes are involved in immune response, defense against pathogens, inflammation, cellular migration and adhesion, indicating different molecular mechanisms to control FHS progression at early age. Our results can contribute to improve the knowledge on FHN etiology in chickens and other species, such as horse and pigs that are severely affected by bone disorders.
Subject(s)
Cartilage, Articular , Femur Head Necrosis , Horse Diseases , Poultry Diseases , Swine Diseases , Animals , Cartilage, Articular/metabolism , Chickens/genetics , Chickens/metabolism , Femur Head/metabolism , Femur Head Necrosis/genetics , Femur Head Necrosis/metabolism , Femur Head Necrosis/veterinary , Horse Diseases/metabolism , Horses , Poultry Diseases/genetics , Swine , Swine Diseases/metabolismABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of including grape pomace in the diet of pigs on pork quality and oxidative stability of body fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Four treatments were compared: T1) Control diet based on corn and soybean meal; T2) Diet with inclusion of 3% of a canola (50%) and flaxseed (50%) oil blend; T3) Diet with inclusion of 3% of the oil blend and sequential levels of 3 and 5% of grape pomace; T4) Diet with inclusion of 3% of the oil blend and sequential levels of 6 and 10% of grape pomace. Inclusion of grape pomace in the diet led to an increase (P<0.10) of a* value and color saturation index of meat. The omega-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content of backfat were increased (P>0.10) with dietary inclusion of oils blend. Neither the inclusion of the oil blend, nor the grape pomace had any effect (P>0.10) on the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the loin samples, despite the higher PUFA content in the fat of pigs fed the oil blend. Antioxidant effect of grape pomace was not possible to prove when measured by TBARS, but the increased redness of the pork from pigs fed with this ingredient suggested a possible antioxidant effect of grape pomace.
RESUMO: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a inclusão do bagaço de uva na dieta de suínos sobre a qualidade da carne e, a estabilidade oxidativa da gordura corporal enriquecida com ácidos graxos ômega-3. Foram comparados quatro tratamentos: T1 - Dieta controle baseada em milho e farelo de soja; T2 - Dieta com inclusão de 3% de uma mistura de óleos de canola (50%) e de semente de linho (50%); T3 - Dieta com inclusão de 3% da mistura de óleos e níveis sequenciais de 3 e 5% de bagaço de uva e; T4 - Dieta com inclusão de 3% da mistura de óleos e níveis sequenciais de 6 e 10% de bagaço de uva. A inclusão do bagaço de uva na dieta resultou no aumento (P<0,10) do valor de a* e índice de saturação da cor da carne. O conteúdo de ômega-3 e ácidos graxos poli-insaturados (PUFA) do toucinho aumentaram (P<0,10) em função da inclusão da mistura de óleos na dieta. A mistura de óleos e o bagaço de uva não afetaram a produção de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) nas amostras de lombo, apesar do maior conteúdo de PUFA na gordura dos suínos que receberam a mistura de óleos na dieta. Não foi possível provar efeito antioxidante do bagaço de uva na carne através da determinação dos valores de TBARS. Porém, a cor vermelha mais intensa na carne dos suínos alimentados com este ingrediente sugere um possível efeito antioxidante do bagaço de uva.
