Effects of dietary copper supplementation on production performance and plasma biochemical parameters in broiler chickens.

A study was conducted to estimate the effect of copper (Cu) supplementation on growth performance and biochemical profiles of blood and meat in broiler chickens. A total of 240 d-old broiler chicks (Vencobb-100) were randomly divided into 12 groups, each of 20 chicks (4 treatments x 3 replicates). The basal diet (T1) contained 215 g kg⁻¹ crude protein (CP), 12·76 MJ kg⁻¹ ME, 32 g kg⁻¹ total calcium and 5 g kg⁻¹ total phosphorus. T2, T3 and T4 were formulated to contain an additional 75, 150 and 250 mg Cu kg⁻¹ diet, respectively. Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO4, 5H2O) was used as the source of Cu. Significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride, and an elevated concentration of HDL-cholesterol, were observed in the chickens fed with 250 mg Cu kg⁻¹ (T4) of feed at the 3rd and 6th week of the experiment. Total cholesterol in meat decreased significantly in the birds fed with dietary Cu at 250 mg kg⁻¹ (T4) of feed. Growth performance was measured in terms of live weight gain, cumulative feed intake and feed conversion ratio at the end of d 21 and d 42 of the experiment, and the result was found to be commercially beneficial for the chickens receiving 150 mg Cu kg⁻¹ (T3) of diet. The concentration of Cu in breast muscle and liver increased significantly at the end of experiment. From this study it can be concluded that supplementation with dietary Cu may be beneficial for production performance and plasma biochemical characteristics of broiler chickens.

Human papillomavirus testing for suspected cervical cancer patients from Southern Assam by fast-PCR.

World-wide epidemiological studies have shown that cancer of the uterine cervix is the second most common malignant disease in women. Virtually every cervical cancer (99.7%) is HPV-positive, indicating that the presence of HPV is an obligatory element in their development. The present study was conducted by Fast-PCR (within 15 min.) based diagnosis of HPV 16 and HPV 18 infection amongst patients of suspected cervical cancer, confirmed by cytological methods. Twelve women, out of a total of fifty studied cases who had positive cervical pap smears (24%) were found to be positive for HPV 16/HPV 18 infection when PCR based technique was applied. The results indicate, perhaps, a greater specificity of PCR based diagnosis, or presence of other HPV subtypes as etiological factors in the present study group confined to Southern Assam.

Studies on sodium and potassium metabolism and subsequent influence on electrocardiogram in unilaterally adrenalectomized black Bengal goat (Capra hircus).

Unilateral adrenalectomy was performed in six black Bengal goat (Capra hircus)to study electrocardiograph in connection with mineral metabolism with special reference to sodium and potassium and some other factors of physiological importance. The parameters were studied at every 12 hrs interval upto 120 hrs and 24 hrs interval from 120 to 240 hrs. Physiological parameters, like body weight and rectal temperature, changed non-significantly (p < 0.05) after adrenalectomy. Among minerals, plasma sodium (p < 0.01) and plasma potassium (p < 0.05) concentration were changed significantly between hours leaving impression in ECG as widening of QRS complex and peaked T wave with increased amplitude found after unilateral adrenalectomy. Heart rate also increased significantly (p < 0.01) between hours.

Leucocyte responses to fighting in the adult male bandicoot rat.

The effect of fighting stress on blood leucocyte count was studied in the adult male bandicoot rat. Exposure to fighting stress for 3 h induced neutrophilia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia. The changes were more significant in the subordinate rat than in the dominant animal. It is suggested that leucocyte responses to fighting are perhaps mediated by the adrenal gland in these animals.

Circadian rhythms in adrenal adrenaline and noradrenaline and in blood glucose levels in the bandicoot rat (Bandicota bengalensis).

The aim of the present investigation was to ascertain circadian rhythms in adrenomedullary hormones and blood glucose level in the adult male bandicoot rat. Adrenomedullary hormones and blood glucose were measured during 0600 h, 1200 h, 1800 h and 2400 h of a 24-hour period from different groups of animals. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and blood glucose levels increased during 2400 h through 0600 h and decreased during 1200 h through 1800 h. The finding indicates that there is a circadian rhythm in adrenomedullary hormones and blood glucose level in the bandicoot rat. It is suggested that circadian fluctuation in these substances may be due to diurnal variation in the activity of the animals.

Cytophysiological responses of the pineal gland to intermale aggression in a wild rat.

Intermale aggression by pairing bandicoot rats (Bandicota bengalensis) in their home cage, continuously for three hours, stimulated the pineal gland activity, cytologically measured by decreasing cell population density and increasing nuclear size of the pinealocytes, in the socially subordinate animals. The pineal gland of the dominant animal was not perceptibly affected by aggression. It is suggested that during aggression, the subordinate rats perhaps suffered from psychosocial stress that might have caused hyperactivity of their pineal gland.