Search

Objective Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare mill) from the Apiaceae family is one of the most important medicinal plants that has strong antimicrobial, liver protective and antioxidant properties and has been used by humans since ancient times. The results of various studies on domestic animals have proven that adding the fennel in the diet of animals, increases digestion and growth efficiency, improves the oxidative quality of meat, increases the volume of cell packing, increases the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin. It improves carcass efficiency and small intestine weight and length and reduces total bacterial counts, improves performance and health status, and improves feed conversion and body weight. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fennel feeding (Foeniculum vulgare) on IGF1 gene expression in the rumen tissue of Kermani lambs. Materials and methods In this research, 30 Kermani male lambs weighing 27.5 ± 0.45 kg (eight months old) were used. Diets were grouped into three fennel levels based on g/kg dry matter (0, 10 or 1% and 20 or 2% fennel g/kg dry matter). After the end of the study period, the investigated animals were slaughtered for sampling and the rumen weight was recorded. Total RNA was extracted from the rumen tissue and then cDNA was synthesized. The quality of RNA and cDNA was measured using electrophoresis on agarose gel. The Pfaffl et al. (2002) method was used to analyze the real time PCR data. Results Empty rumen weight in animals fed with fennel (780 g) was lower than animals fed with diet without fennel (890 g) (P < 0.05). The extracted total RNA was of good quality, complete, and healthy, and had two bands with sizes of S28 and S18. Electrophoresis of the amplification results of target (IGF1) and reference (GAPDH) genes in rumen tissue on agarose gel showed that the band size for the target gene is 265 bp and for the reference gene is 76 bp. By increasing the level of feeding with fennel, there was a significant increase in IGF1 gene proliferation in rumen tissue (p<0.05). The maximum expression of IGF1 gene was when the animals were fed with a diet containing 2% fennel. Conclusions The findings of the present study show that fennel can be used with a beneficial effect on IGF1 gene expression in the rumen in the diet of sheep to improve functions of this tissue. Although according to the findings of the current research and other studies, it can be confirmed that fennel can be used for productive and reproductive purposes in sheep breeding, but in future research, in order to reach a definite result, it is better to consider diverse and more complex physiological and epigenetic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It has been shown that mutation in DNAH1 (Dynein Axonemal Heavy Chain 1) gene is associated with MMAF (multiple morphological anomalies of the flagella) and PCD (primary ciliary dyskinesia) phenotypes. MMAF has been widely studied in male reproductive traits and is often associated with abnormal sperm, which seriously affects male reproductive traits and even leads to infertility. Indeed, as a MMAF-dependent gene, many studies have identified the DNAH1 gene as a key and essential player in male and female gonadal development and have investigated the clinical applications of the DNAH1 gene. PCD is often associated with ciliary motility disorder, which is also an autosomal recessive genetic disease. Animals with severe PCD show infertility. This study aimed to study the expression pattern of the DNAH1 gene in the testicular tissue of Raini Cashmere goat using Real-Time PCR. Materials and Methods: Sampling was done from the testicular tissue of three heads (3 replicates from each head) of Raini Cashmere goats in the slaughterhouse. The isolated samples were placed in 1.5 mL microtubes. Total RNA was extracted from testicular tissue. Agarose gel electrophoresis and UV spectrophotometry were used to evaluate the quality and quantity of extracted RNA. Then cDNA was made and Real-Time PCR was performed. Also, the GAPDH housekeeping gene was used as a control. Melting curves were analyzed and data obtained from Real-Time PCR were performed. Results: The results of Real-Time PCR curves and observing the results of electrophoresis of PCR products on 2% agarose gel showed that the DNAH1 gene is expressed in testicular tissue. For the DNAH1 gene, a band of 140 bp was observed and for the GAPDH gene, a band of 143 bp was observed, and the accuracy of the amplification test was confirmed. Conclusions; According to the results of the present study and the results of other researchers, it can be concluded that the DNAH1 gene plays an important role in fertility. In the present study, it was found that the DNAH1 gene is expressed in testicular tissue. Therefore, the DNAH1 gene is most likely essential for male fertility, and the results of this research have provided a way for future studies to describe the role of the DNAH1 gene as a candidate gene for better fertility and normal physiology in domestic animals, especially goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]