Apigenin supplementation substantially improves rooster sperm freezability and post-thaw function.

This pioneering research investigated apigenin potential to augment rooster sperm cryosurvival in an extender model. Apigenin is a natural antioxidant flavonoid showing promise for improved post-thaw sperm function. However, its effects on avian semen cryopreservation remain unexplored. This first study supplemented rooster sperm Lake extender with 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 µmol/L apigenin to determine the optimal concentrations for post-thaw quality. Supplementation with 100 µmol/L apigenin resulted in significant enhancements in total motility (from 41.5% up to 71.5%), progressive motility (18.1% to 29.1%) (p < 0.05), membrane integrity (40% to 68%), mitochondrial function (p < 0.001), viability (37% to 62%) and total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001) compared to the control. It also substantially reduced percentages of abnormal morphology, reactive oxygen species and apoptosis (p < 0.001). Although 200 µmol/L apigenin significantly enhanced some attributes, effects were markedly lower than 100 µmol/L. Higher doses did not improve cryoprotective parameters. This indicates 100 µmol/L as the optimal apigenin concentration. This represents the first report of apigenin protecting rooster sperm from cryodamage. The natural antioxidant improved post-thaw sperm quality, likely by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis. Apigenin shows promise for enhancing rooster sperm cryosurvival.

Alpha-linolenic acid alleviates the detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide during in vitro ovine oocyte development.

During the transition period and early lactation of ruminants with higher production, the reproductive organs are exposed to various stressors, like inflammation stimulators such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), as a consequence of high concentrate consumption. In this study, we aimed to determine the probable potential of α-linolenic acid (ALA) in alleviating LPS-induced effects in ovine oocytes in vitro as well as the underlying controlling mechanisms. Different concentrations of LPS (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 µg/mL) were added to the oocyte maturation medium to evaluate its effect on oocyte developmental competence. Likewise, different concentrations of ALA (0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 µM/mL) were added to the maturation medium to define its effects on oocyte developmental competence. Accordingly, a combination of ALA and LPS in a dose-dependent manner was added to the maturation medium to elucidate their effect on oocyte developmental competence and uncover any possible potential of ALA to alleviate the detrimental effect induced by the presence of LPS. The expressions of candidate genes were measured in mature oocytes treated either with ALA, LPS, or ALA plus LPS. Adding LPS to the maturation medium decreased the cleavage rate of the treated oocytes, and those oocytes reached the blastocyst stage at a lower rate. Adding ALA to the maturation medium in the presence of LPS alleviated the detrimental effects of LPS in a dose-dependent manner, which ultimately led to higher cleavage and blastocyst formation. A higher expression of Trim26, GRHPR, NDUFA, PGC-1α, SOD, CS, SDH, p53, and CAT was observed in LPS-treated oocytes compared with the ALA and control groups. Additionally, CS and CAT transcripts were down-regulated in oocytes in LPS plus ALA-treated group compared to that of the LPS-treated group. These findings revealed that ALA has the potential to alleviate the detrimental effects induced by LPS on in ovine oocytes during maturation in vitro. Thus, LPS-detrimental effect and ALA-preventing mechanisms seem to be regulated through the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function, oxidative stress, and antioxidant systems.

Effects of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets on nutrient digestibility and egg quality parameters of a white laying hen strain.

This study was conducted to understand the impact of including full fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer hen diets on nutrient digestibility and added nutritional value in eggs. Forty-eight layers (∼36 wk old) were randomly assigned to one of 4 isonitrogenous (18.5% crude protein) treatment diets with 12 replicate birds per treatment in a 3-wk study. Treatments were 1) solvent extracted defatted soybean meal + corn diet, 2) dry extruded defatted soybean meal + corn, 3) full-fat soybean meal + corn, 4) high-oleic full-fat soybean meal + corn diet. Apparent ileal digestibility of crude fat (CF) and crude protein (CP) were determined using celite (∼2%) as an indigestible marker. Tibia strength and egg quality parameters (egg weight, shell strength, Haugh unit, shell color, and yolk color) were recorded during the study. Fatty acid profiles, including the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid (C18:1, cis), in eggs and adipogenic tissue (liver, muscle, and fat pad) were measured using gas chromatography (GC-FID). Digestibility values of CF ranged from 71 to 84% and CP varied from 67 to 72% for treatment diets, with treatment mean values being no different (P > 0.05) between treatment diets. No differences between treatment diets in tibia strength or egg quality parameters (egg weight, shell strength, and Haugh unit) were observed (P > 0.05) except for yolk color. Similarly, there were no differences in the total lipids in egg yolk (P > 0.05) between treatment diets. However, oleic acid percentage of total lipid in egg and tissue was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in hens given the high-oleic full-fat soybean meal diet than in other treatment groups. No difference was observed in oleic acid percentage of total lipid in egg between the other 3 treatment diets (P > 0.05). Overall, the results exhibited that the eggs and tissue of layer hens fed the full-fat high-oleic acid soybean meal diet were higher in oleic acid while the CF and CP digestibility remained similar to the digestibility of the other diets.

The effects of team-based learning on learning outcomes in a course of rheumatology.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the effects of implementing Team-Based Learning (TBL) on student engagement, accountability, satisfaction, and preference for lecture or team-based learning. Moreover, we assessed the effect of TBL on knowledge retention and application over time through short answer questions based on clinical scenarios addressing history taking and diagnosis skills in medical students. METHODS: The study was conducted in a quasi-experimental design. The study population were all of the third-year medical students (n = 84) participating in a course of rheumatology in Shariati Hospital, which is a teaching hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We compared TBL with the conventional lecture-based method. The assessments were performed after implementation of TBL by the Classroom Engagement Survey (CES) and Team-Based Learning Student Assessment Instrument (TBL-SAI). The assessment for application of knowledge was conducted in 3 time-points through short answer questions on rheumatic diseases. The comparison of results was made by Student's t-test and repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) using SPSS software, version 16. RESULTS: The CES scores indicated a high level of engagement in TBL (Mean±SD=26.7±3.70, p=0.0001) but not in the lecture-based sessions (Mean±SD=23.80±4.35, p=0.09). The total mean score (SD) for TBL-SAI was 159.68 (14.14) for TBL sessions indicating a favorable outcome (p=0.0001). The student scores obtained from the short answer questions showed that over time the students' scores had declined significantly less for the TBL sessions in comparison to the lecture-based sessions, F (2, 166) = 4.624, p=0.011. CONCLUSION: The results indicated higher student engagement, satisfaction and long term learning by TBL.