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Simple Summary: Brain aging in mammals is characterized by morphological and functional changes in neural cells. This process, although physiological, leads to progressive cerebral tissue volume loss and functional decline, including memory loss motor neuron deficits and behavioral disorders. It is generally accepted that aging is associated with a shift in the proportion between the functional cell (neuron) and support cells (astrocytes) in favor of the latter, which also appear different from those of healthy and young brain tissue. Also, dysfunctional autophagy contributes to altering brain homeostasis. This review summarizes and updates the most recent knowledge about brain aging through a comparative approach, where similarities and differences in some mammalian species are considered. Brain aging in mammals is characterized by morphological and functional changes in neural cells. Macroscopically, this process, leading to progressive cerebral volume loss and functional decline, includes memory and motor neuron deficits, as well as behavioral disorders. Morphologically, brain aging is associated with aged neurons and astrocytes, appearing enlarged and flattened, and expressing enhanced pH-dependent β-galactosidase activity. Multiple mechanisms are considered hallmarks of cellular senescence in vitro, including cell cycle arrest, increased lysosomal activity, telomere shortening, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. The most common markers for senescence identification were identified in (i) proteins implicated in cell cycle arrest, such as p16, p21, and p53, (ii) increased lysosomal mass, and (iii) increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) expression. Finally, dysfunctional autophagy, a process occurring during aging, contributes to altering brain homeostasis. The brains of mammals can be studied at cellular and subcellular levels to elucidate the mechanisms on the basis of age-related and degenerative disorders. The aim of this review is to summarize and update the most recent knowledge about brain aging through a comparative approach, where similarities and differences in some mammalian species are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Asinara donkeys are unique worldwide for expressing a particular form of albinism spread to all individuals of the breed. This peculiar condition of oculo-cutaneous albinism of type 1 (OCA1) is a rare condition from a recessive autosomic mutation, fixed through generations, thanks to the isolation of donkeys on Asinara Island (from which the breed name originates) favoring inbreeding. Asinara island is a small island of Sardinia, one of the biggest islands in the Mediterranean sea. Asinara donkeys have shown good adaptation to the Mediterranean climate through various metabolic strategies, one of which relies on endogenous retinol mobilization during the positive photoperiod for protective effect and adequate circulating vitamin E. Indeed, their exposure to sun radiation and high temperature on one hand, and the lack of melanin in the coat, skin, iris and mucocutaneous junctions on the other, require them to overcome such an extended lack of photoprotective pigment (melanin) in alternative ways to prevent UV radiation damage. In this investigation, our interest was oriented toward screening the complete blood cell count to understand whether metabolic adaptation to the environment involved blood cell lines. Such an idea comes from the fact that in humans, a particular condition of albinism is reported to share the same gene with other mutations involving hemoglobin synthesis. In our case, significant differences were observed in relation to red blood cells (RBCs), in terms of their average volume (MCV), width distribution (RDW-CV), and width deviation (RDW-SD), in comparison to pigmented (gray) Sardo donkeys. The complete blood cell count (CBC) was screened in a group of 15 donkeys, of which 8 were of Asinara breed (oculocutaneous albinism type 1, OCA1) and 7 of Sardo breed (gray coat). All donkeys were kept under same management and dietary conditions and underwent periodic health monitoring in the month of June 2024, at the peak of the positive photoperiod, at Mediterranean latitudes. One aliquot of whole blood, drawn from each individual into K2-EDTA containing tubes, was analyzed for the complete blood cell count through an automatic analyzer, within two hours of sampling. Data were analyzed and compared by one-way ANOVA, where the breed was an independent variable. All animals appeared clinically healthy, though mild eosinophilia was observed in Sardo donkeys. The red blood cell line showed peculiar traits for Asinara donkeys, which displayed significantly higher circulating red blood cell numbers than gray coat Sardo donkeys (RBC, 5.19 vs. 3.80 1012/mL ± 0.98 pooled-St. Dev, respectively; p = 0.017). RBCs also exhibited a smaller diameter and higher degree of anisocytosis in Asinara donkeys, along with lower hematocrit value, albeit within physiological ranges. Taken all together, such hematological profile depicts a peculiar trait of the red blood cell line in albino donkeys during the positive photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous works on albinism form of Asinara white donkeys ( Equus asinus) identified the mutation leading to the peculiar phenotype spread to all specimens of the breed. Inbreeding naturally occurred under geographic isolation, on Asinara Island, in the Mediterranean Sea. Albino individuals can be more susceptible to develop health problems when exposed to natural sun radiation. Alternative metabolic pathways involved in photoprotection were explored in this trial. Nutrition-related metabolites are believed to contribute to the conservation of Asinara donkeys, in which melanin, guaranteeing photoprotection, is lacking. Biochemical profiles with particular focus on blood serum β-carotene and retinol levels were monitored. Identical natural grazing conditions for both Asinara (albino) and Sardo (pigmented) donkey breeds were assured on same natural pastures throughout the experimental period. A comparative metabolic screening, with emphasis on circulating retinol and nutrient-related metabolites between the two breeds, was carried out over one year. Potential intra- and interspecimen fluctuations of metabolites involved in photoprotection were monitored, both during negative and positive photoperiods. Differences ( p = .064) between blood serum concentrations of retinol from Asinara versus Sardo breed donkeys (0.630 vs. 0.490 μg/ml, respectively) were found. Retinol levels of blood serum turned out to be similar in the two groups (0.523 vs. 0.493 μg/ml, respectively, p = .051) during the negative photoperiod, but markedly differed during the positive one (0.738 vs. 0.486, respectively, p = .016). Blood serum β-carotene levels displayed to be constantly around the limit of sensitivity in all animals of both breeds. Variations in blood serum concentrations of retinol in Asinara white donkeys can reflect the need to cope with seasonal exposure to daylight at Mediterranean latitudes, as an alternative to the lack of melanin. These results may suggest that a pulsed mobilization of retinol from body stores occurs to increase circulating levels during positive photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this feeding trial, a total of 500 Cobb-500 broiler (day-old) chickens were randomly assigned to a control dietary treatment (basal diet only) or supplemented with crushed seeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), black cumin (Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch) and ajwain (Carum copticum L.) (at 10 mg/kg each) and exogenous protease (30,000 IU/kg), respectively, in order to assess the effect of the diets on nutrient digestibility, bone strength and gut morphology. The results indicated that the digestibility coefficients of crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extract, calcium and phosphorous were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in protease-treated birds compared to the control. The tibia bone weight was improved (p = 0.03) in Carum copticum, Coriandrum sativum and protease-supplemented birds. Bone length increased (p < 0.05) in protease and Carum copticum fed broilers, while the robusticity index decreased (p < 0.05) in all treatments. Villus length and width decreased (p < 0.05) in Carum copticum and Bunium persicum fed broilers. From findings, it was demonstrated that exogenous protease shows comparatively better results in improving bone quality, ileal digestibility and villus morphology in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study was carried out on growing pigs fed with different dietary treatments based on different grinding intensities and compactions of the same diet. Chewing acts are associated with salivary production and different extents of saliva fluidity also depend on the specific glycoconjugate content. Therefore, in order to have information about the modifications induced by different feed physical forms in the pig mandibular gland, the glycohistochemical profile and the presence of aquaporin 5, a channel protein modulating the saliva fluidity, were investigated. In addition, to have wider information about the apelinergic system function, presence and localization of both apelin and its receptor were studied. Findings suggest that the different mechanical stimuli in the mouth linked to different feed physical forms likely allow one to diverse physiological behavior of the pig mandibular gland. The intense chewing activity linked to the highest feed compaction and hardness promotes an increase in pig mandibular gland secretion. In addition, saliva becomes more fluid and richer in acid glycoconjugates in order to better lubricate the bolus and protect the mouth mucosae. The apelinergic system is likely involved in the above modifications enhancing both the fluidity and the quantity of serous saliva by the pig mandibular gland. A study was performed on the mandibular gland obtained from growing pigs enrolled in a wide research project aiming to test the effects of different feed physical forms on animal health, production and welfare. We used 48 pigs fed for four weeks with different dietary treatments based on different grinding intensities and compactions of the same diet, namely coarsely ground meal (CM), finely ground pelleted (FP) and coarsely ground pelleted (CP) diets. Samples were analyzed by conventional histochemistry to identify the glycohistochemical profile and by immunohistochemistry to localize aquaporin 5, apelin and apelin receptor. Statistical elaborations were performed using the Stats R-package, version 3.5.3. Pig mandibular gland adenomere increased both the quantity and acidity of produced glycoconjugates from CM to FP and CP diets. This probably calls forth higher watery saliva, thus promoting a better feed softening facilitating the amalgamation of the bolus. Mandibular gland increased aquaporin 5 positivity in the CP diet, supporting the hypothesis of an augmented demand for water. Based on apelin/receptor localization, it was hypothesized that in pig mandibular gland the apelinergic system likely performs an endocrine control on the demilunes activity and a paracrine control on ducts, facilitating the production of a more fluid saliva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]