Mitigation of endogenous oxidative stress and improving growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, and reproductive performance of Zaraibi goat bucks by dietary supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris or/and vitamin C.

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) or/and vitamin C (VC) on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, oxidative and antioxidant status, reproductive hormones, and semen quality variables, and scrotal-testicular dimensions of Zaraibi goat bucks. Twenty sexually mature bucks (41.49 ± 0.91 kg BW) were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 bucks/group). The control group was fed the control diet, while the other three groups received a diet supplemented with VC (2 g/animal /day), CV (5 g/animal/day), and CV plus VC (the same levels), respectively, for 8 weeks (treatment period), and then semen was collected for 8 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with CV-VC combination significantly increased the final body weight, weight gain, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and lymphocytes; elevated serum total protein, globulin, testosterone, estradiol, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase with a significant reduction in Malondialdehyde in serum and seminal plasma. Also, the CV-VC combination significantly improved the ejaculate volume, total sperm output, sperm concentration, and live sperm, and reduced reaction time and sperm abnormality of bucks. Either CV or VC given separately or in combination, at the chosen levels, had no detrimental effects on animal physiological responses with normal hepatic and renal functions. Therefore, the CV-VC combination could be safely utilized as a dietary supplement in buck's diets to improve antioxidant defenses, scavenge free radicals, and potentiate buck's reproductive activities under normal conditions.

Structural and functional adaptation of the lingual papillae of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus): specific adaptive feeding strategies.

BACKGROUND: The current investigation was aimed to clarify the correlations between the feeding strategy and lingual structure of the Egyptian fruit bat captured from the Egyptian east desert. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current work was performed on 12 adult Egyptian fruit bats that were observed grossly and with the help of the stereo, light, and scanning electron microscope. There were three types of the lingual papillae: one mechanical (filiform) and two gustatory (fungiform and circumvallate). RESULTS: There were seven subtypes of filiform papillae recognised on the seven lingual regions. There were few fungiform papillae distributed among the filiform papillae on the lingual tip and two lateral parts of apex and body while fungiform papillae were completely absent in the median part. There were three circumvallate papillae. The central bulb of circumvallate papillae was surrounded by one layer of two segmented circular pad. The lingual tip had cornflower-like and diamond-shaped filiform papillae. CONCLUSIONS: Histochemical results revealed that the lingual glands showed a stronger Alcian Blue (AB)-positive reaction and gave dark blue colour, while the reaction for the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-stain was negative. Also, the glands exhibited a blue colour as an indication of positive AB reactivity with combined AB-PAS staining.

Ultrastructural features on the oral cavity floor (tongue, sublingual caruncle) of the Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): gross, histology and scanning electron microscope.

BACKGROUND: The present work was focused on the evaluation of morphological characteristics of the lingual caruncles and tongue with its papillae of Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using gross examination, light and scanning electron microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ventral surface of the sublingual caruncle carried a small opening of the duct of both monostomatic and mandibular salivary gland. The lingual mucosa of dorsal, lateral border and, to some extent, of ventral surface of apex had lingual papillae (filiform, fungiform), while the lingual mucosa of the lingual body especially at torus linguae had conical papillae, but circumvallate papillae observed at the caudal part of body and root. The dorsal surface of the apex and body carried numerous long, thread-like, with blunt apex, caudally directed filiform papillae that covered with keratinised scales without secondary papillae. RESULTS: The degree of keratinisation classified filiform papillae into rostral part of high keratinisation and caudal of less keratinisation. Conical papillary surface carried exfoliated epithelium with longitudinal groove on its rostral surface and carried secondary papillae. Fungiform papillae were scattered among filiform papillae on the dorsal and ventral surface of the apex and its convex surface had exfoliated keratinised epithelium. Circumvallate papillae were surrounded by circular deep groove bordered by vallum that carried small secondary papillae that ended into the primary groove. Taste buds of circumvallate papillae opened in the lateral lining epithelium facing the groove. CONCLUSIONS: Von Ebner's glands were observed in computed tomography under papillae especially toward the groove and their ducts open into the base of the groove.

Morphology of the lips, cheeks, and the hard palate of the Egyptian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): a focus on histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural aspects.

BACKGROUND: The available data is scanty about Egyptian water buffalo lips, cheeks, and palate. AIMS: The current investigation was focused on describing the morphology of the lip, cheek, and palate. METHODS: Our study included the gross, light, and electron microscopic examinations of ten heads of the Egyptian water buffalos. RESULTS: The nasolabial plate surface carried numerous scales of keratinized epithelium. Internal labial surface and labial mucocutaneous junctions were covered with stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. Two types of hair follicles in the dermis included ordinary and cavernous types characterized by cavernous space. The conical papillae on the internal aspect of the oral commissure were projected from the mucous membrane. Seromucous glands were occasionally observed under the oral mucous membrane of the commissure and gave positive PAS and AB. Conical papillae density on the inner cheek surface had some variations: the rostral part had large papillae, while the dorsal part had numerous papillae than the ventral part, the caudal part had a smaller number of papillae, while the middle part was devoid of papillae. Parotid duct opening in the buccal vestibule was without papillae. Conical papillae had two surfaces; the rostral surface was highly keratinized than the caudal one. The buccal gland was a compound tubuloacinar mixed (mucoserous) gland and mucus acini only reacted to PAS and AB. The oral surface of palatine rugae was covered with highly keratinized epithelium than the aboral surface. Palatine glands showed PAS and AB positive. CONCLUSION: The result describes the relationship between the available food particles, environmental conditions and the lip, cheek, and palate appearance, and structure.

Erratum to "Effects of blindfolding and tail bending of Egyptian water buffaloes on their behavioural reactivity and physiological responses to pain induction" [5C (June 2018) 38-43].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2018.06.001.].

Both experimental hypo- and hyper-thyroidism exacerbate the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in broilers.

1. The effects of hypo- and hyper-thyroidism in mitigating or exacerbating the negative changes of chronic heat stress (HS) in broilers were investigated.2. Three-week-old broilers were distributed into six groups (n = 13 per group). Three groups were housed at ambient room temperature: control group (CN), propylthiouracil-treated group (AN) and thyroxine-treated group (TN). The other three groups were exposed to HS at 33 ± 1°C for 2 weeks: control heat stress (CH), propylthiouracil + heat stress (AH) and thyroxine + HS (TH).3. Induced hypothyroidy significantly decreased cloacal temperature and body weight gain in the birds in both the normal and HS groups (AN, AH). Conversely, hyperthyroidy resulted in a significant elevation in cloacal temperature in the TN and TH groups and a significant decline in weight gain in the TH group. Hyperthyroidy exacerbated the HS-induced degenerative changes in jejunal mucosa and caused noticeable vascular changes. A significant increase in the expression levels of jejunal nutrient transporter genes was observed in the AH and TH groups. The hyperthyroidic state significantly upregulated the HSP70 expression level in the TH group and the reverse occurred with propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment in the AH group.4. PTU supplementation to chicks reared under HS significantly decreased the triiodothyronine level, antibody (Ab) titre, and increased the heterophil-lymphocyte ratio. Furthermore, it induced higher hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the AN and AH groups and decreased the malondialdehyde content (MDA) in the AN group. Hyperthyroidy significantly increased triiodothyronine concentration, H/L ratio and decreased Hb concentration and Ab titres in the TH group. Additionally, this status increased the MDA content and decreased the GSH-Px activities.5. In conclusion, manipulation of thyroid status is not a remedy to overcome the undesirable effects of HS in broilers.

Effects of blindfolding and tail bending of Egyptian water buffaloes on their behavioural reactivity and physiological responses to pain induction.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of blindfold and tail bend during restraint of Egyptian buffaloes on behavioural reactivity and physiological responses to stressful handling procedures. Twenty-four buffalo bulls, naïve to the testing situation, were arbitrarily assigned to either blindfold (visual restriction) (BF), tail bending (physical control) (TB) or control (CT) (no visual restriction or physical control) treatment during restraint. For three minutes each, during veterinary procedures animals entered the squeeze chute and were subjected to testing trials. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and various behaviours of reactivity were recorded. Average HR and RR decreased in both TB and BF bulls but the reduction was greater in BF bulls. Use of the blindfold and tail bend decreased behavioural indicators of reactivity including: chest chute forcing, head move, kicking and struggling. The reduction was greater in BF bulls in the case of use of the chest chute and struggling. Both tail bend and blindfolded buffaloes decreased behavioural and physiological indicators of stress but BF appeared more beneficial, and may therefore be recommended to reduce stress accompanying routine veterinary examination of buffaloes.

A potential mechanism associated with lead-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of lead (Pb)-induced testicular toxicity. We examined the impact of Pb toxicity on 17ß-oestradiol (E2), oestrogen receptors (ERs) and aromatase P450 which are key factors in spermatogenesis. Treatment of rats with Pb acetate (PbAc, 50 mg/L in drinking water) significantly reduced sperm count, motility, viability and increased sperm abnormalities along with degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells. Additionally, administration of PbAc resulted in a significant reduction in serum testosterone, serum and testicular E2 as well as increased level of testicular testosterone. Pb also induced testicular oxidative stress as evidenced by a significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase antioxidant enzymes, and increased malondialdehyde level in the testis. At the molecular level, Pb treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of P450 arom (Cyp19) and ERα. In conclusion, Pb induces testicular oxidative damage and disrupts spermatogenesis, at least in part, via downregulation of Cyp19 and ERα expression, which further decrease E2 level. These data, therefore, provide insight into the mechanism of lead-induced testicular toxicity.

Endoscopic repair in 154 cases of urethral occlusion: the promise of guided optical urethral reconstruction.

PURPOSE: We determined whether optical urethral reconstruction, with the use of a Béniqué bougie in the proximal urethra and transrectal digital guidance, is effective for the treatment of long and severe urethral occlusions. However, with some skill the procedure can be done without the bougie for the treatment of short occlusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 9-year period 154 men with complete urethral occlusion underwent core through optical urethrotomy via transrectal digital guidance, using the Béniqué bougie in 89 (58%). A total of 400 urethrotomies was performed. All lesions were in the posterior urethra except 8 in the pendulous portion. There were 64 war related injuries (41.6%). Combined voiding and retrograde urethrography was not useful to measure the length of the occlusion due to failure of proximal urethral filling. Guided optical urethral reconstruction consisted of optical urethrotomy performed with a Béniqué bougie introduced proximally through the suprapubic catheter site and into the proximal urethra with the index finger of the operator in the rectum. The same procedure was performed blindly without use of the bougie in 65 patients (42%), and in 43 with lesions shorter than 1 cm. and 4 with multiple annular lesions. We also used the blind technique successfully to reestablish 18 occlusions longer than 1 cm. For optimal epithelialization of the urethral tract we suggest leaving a silicone catheter indwelling for 3 months. No prophylactic antibiotics were given. RESULTS: Of the patients 54 (35%) were cured after 1 procedure, whereas the remaining 100 (65%) required 1 to 9 additional urethrotomies (mean 3). Patients with an uninstrumented urethra who were treated initially with suprapubic catheterization required 1 to 6 urethrotomies (mean 2), compared to 1 to 10 (mean 3) for those who had undergone a prior procedure. Hematuria occurred in 9% of the patients, symptomatic urinary tract infection in 7% and slight extravasation in 3.2%. One patient had stress incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Our procedure is effective, simple, safe, repeatable, inexpensive and minimally invasive, and it does not require special or sophisticated guiding instruments, which are necessary for previously described techniques. It can be performed with or without use of a Béniqué bougie depending on the extent of the lesion and skill of the surgeon. The outcome can be judged from the symptomatic response of the patient, and flow studies and urethrography are not mandatory during routine followup.

Quantitative variability in wheat following irradiation, EMS, and hybridization.

The effects of gamma irradiation and EMS seed treatment on the genetic properties of pure line and hybrid wheat populations were measured. Two hundred lines were derived from each mutagenic treatment of each genetic source and, together with their control materials, were assayed for heading date, plant height, spike length, and kernel weight in a replicated field experiment.Both mutagens induced significant genetic variability for the four traits in either 'Giza 150' or 'Sonora 64', two pure cultivars, but neither was effective in increasing the genetic variation in their hybrid background. The relative magnitude of induced variation compared with that from hybridization depended on the particular mutagen and attribute and averaged less than 50% of that from hybridization. Heritabilities and expected genetic gains were not much lower in mutagenic populations than in hybrid populations. The relative distributions of the variance components among families and within families, and the estimates of the genetic correlations in the various populations, indicated that induced mutations were somewhat similar in nature to the variation released from hybridization. The induced variation was not accompanied by any shift in the population mean and, in most cases, variation was equally distributed around the population mean.