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We studied the effect of lighting during 19 days of incubation on embryonic bone characteristics, gene expression, thyroid hormones, and glucose in Cobb broiler hatchlings. Eggs (2160) were incubated under darkness (control) and green and white lighting (16D:8L and 12D:12L). On 19th day, tibiotarsal length increased under eight hours of white light, and femoral ossified length was longer under eight hours of white and green light. In femur, expression of Alp, Col10a1, and Spp1 increased by 12 h white and 8 h green lighting, and Bglap expression decreased under white. In tibiotarsus, expression of Alp decreased by 8 h lighting (green or white) while Bglap increased by 12 h lighting (green or white). Tibiotarsal expression of Col10a1 increased by 12 h lighting (white and green), and in 8 h green lighting, and Spp1 expression was higher under light illumination. The hatchling blood triiodothyronine concentration in 8 h green lighting was higher than that in control, whereas, thyroxine concentration was lower under 12 h white lighting compared with other treatments. Femoral organic matter to mineral (OM:M) ratio and calcium concentration were higher in the eight-hour white light group than in the control, but tibiotarsal OM:M ratio and calcium and phosphorus concentrations were higher under 12 h white light. The findings indicated that lighting during incubation may impact, both positively and negatively, bone morphology and gene expression. More studies are needed to find the most beneficial lighting system during incubation in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of WHAT with omega-3, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and the combination of both on semen quality, reproductive performance, and plasma variables in broiler breeder roosters. A total of 48 broiler breeder roosters (Hubbard F15, 49 weeks of age) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets: a control (Con; basal diet consisting of corn-soybean base), a Salomega (S; basal diet supplemented with 30 g of Salomega per kg of feed), a CoQ10 (Q; basal diet supplemented with 400 mg of CoQ10 per kg of feed), and a combination diet (CSQ; basal diet supplemented with 30 g of Salomega and 400 mg of CoQ10 per kg of feed). Salomega (Agritech Co. Ireland) contains 50% fat and about 10% total omega-3 fatty acids. Each treatment was replicated four times with three roosters in each. The results showed that dietary supplementation of CoQ10 increased sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm plasma membrane integrity, seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and blood testosterone (P<0.05) in comparison to the Con groups, and the synergistic effects were observed in the basal diet supplemented with 30 g of Salomega and 400 mg of CoQ10 per kg of feed (CSQ groups) compared to Con groups (P<0.05). In addition, the CSQ supplementation reduced plasma levels of glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity (P<0.05) in comparison to the Con groups. Roosters fed the CSQ supplementation had significantly higher fertility, hatchability of total eggs, and sperm penetration rates in comparison to the Con group (P<0.05). It can be concluded that the dietary combination of omega-3 and CoQ10 had a synergistic effect to improve the reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters in comparison to separately dietary supplementation with omega-3 or CoQ10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Decreased semen quality is an underlying contributor to age-related subfertility in broiler breeder roosters. This study investigated the effects of dietary curcumin (derived from turmeric) supplementation as an antioxidant source on semen quality and fertility in broiler breeder roosters. 2. Twenty-eight Ross 308 roosters were randomly allotted to four groups with seven birds in each and were fed a standard diet supplemented with different levels of curcumin at 0 (C0), 10 (C10), 20 (C20) and 30 (C30) mg/bird per day from 48 through to 61 weeks of age. Body weight and semen quality traits were evaluated on a weekly basis and seminal concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a measure of antioxidation status were quantified at one-week intervals during the first 11 weeks of the trial (48-59 weeks of age). Semen samples from last 2 weeks (60 and 61 weeks of age) were used to artificially inseminate to assess the sperm-egg penetration (SP) in perivitelline membrane and fertility rates. 3. Except for body weight and ejaculate volume, other characteristics, including semen concentration, total sperm production, progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity were linearly improved by the increasing levels of curcumin supplementation (P < 0.01). However, dietary curcumin levels were linearly and quadratically associated with decreased seminal concentration of MDA (P < 0.01 and P < 0.03), percentage of abnormal sperm (P < 0.01 and P < 0.07) and increased plasma membrane functionality (P < 0.01 and P < 0.04), respectively. The SP holes in perivitelline membrane were increased in a linear and quadratic manner in response to increasing levels of curcumin (P < 0.01). Moreover, fertility rate was linearly improved (P < 0.01) as the dosage of curcumin increased, and resulted in 8, 12 and 14% improvements in the birds fed C10, C20 and C30, compared to C0, respectively. 4. In conclusion, the results showed that increasing levels of dietary supplementation of curcumin was associated with beneficial effects on semen quality indices and fertility rate in aged broiler breeder roosters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After parturition, inflammation of the reproductive tract in cows is common because of bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen. To investigate the beneficial effects of dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) supplementation on health status mediated by change in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes expression, endometrial samples were collected from Holstein cows with similar parturition date and reproductive records. From day 21 before calving to day 42 after calving, cows were fed isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and isolipidic diets that differed only in the source of fats. Cows were fed diets supplemented with palm oil as control group (saturated FA; n= 8), and CLA for the treatments, and the rate of each fat in any diet was 75 g d-1. CLA-supplemented diet was provided with a mixture of trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomer. Rumen protected CLA provided 10 g d-1 each of trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomers. Uterine endometrial biopsies were collected at days 21 and 42 after calving and were prepared to determine pro-inflammatory [including Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα), InterLeukins (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8) and InterFeron-gamma (IFN-γ)] and antiinflammatory [interleukin 10 (IL-10)] cytokine genes expression. Results showed that dietary CLA supplementation decreased the expression of IL-1 and IL-8 at days 21 (respectively, 1.8 and 3.9 fold) and 42 (respectively, 4 and 104 fold) postpartum and increased expression of IL-10 at days 21 and 42 (respectively, 9.7 and 2.5 fold). The TNFα expression significantly decreased in day 21 in CLA groups compared with palm (2.5 fold). There was no difference between groups for IL-6 expression. IFN-γ expression decreased in day 21 (3.0 fold) and, conversely, increased in day 42 (2.5 fold) in CLA group compared to palm. Our results showed that, during transition period, dietary supplementation with CLA reduced inflammatory processes via inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines and stimulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in two steps to determine the effects of in ovo injection of zinc acetate (ZAC) on some gene expression associated with embryonic growth and development, and with growth and carcass characteristics of the resultant chicks. In the first step the effect of in ovo injection of ZAC on the expression of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs:IGF-I and IGF-I), myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) and metallothionein (MT) genes was examined, and in the step two, the associations between genes expression with fertility, embryonic mortality, hatchability, body weight (BW) and relative organ weight on day of hatch, and body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) a week after hatching were investigated. Seven hundred twenty fertile eggs (n=720) were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups consisted of: 1) noninjected (NI) group, 2) sham group (group injected with deionized water (DW)), and 3) and 4) groups injected with 3.64 and 5.23 M ZAC, respectively. On day 3 of incubation the eggs were injected with 50 µL of each treatment into the albumen. On day 5 of the incubation and on hatch day, liver and breast muscle of the chicks were removed and immediately stored at -80 °C until RNA extraction and real time-PCR analysis. In ovo ZAC injection increased myogenic differentiation factor both in embryo and breast muscle. MT mRNA expression was also increased by ZAC injection. Hatchability was lower in ZAC groups and early embryonic mortality was higher in sham control (SHC) and ZAC groups. Injection of ZAC improved both BW and FCR during the first week of rearing, and increased the relative weights of liver and breast muscle. In conclusion, in ovo injection of ZAC increased some of gene expressions of tissues and BW7 during the first week, but decreased hatchability. Hence, lower doses of ZAC are recommended to use in further experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective in this study was to consider the effect of service numbers on the percentage of lactating cows that responded to the resynchronization and fertility during warm season. Lactating dairy cows (n= 750) in five groups of 150 with different service numbers according to the last service (AI1= First service, AI2= 2nd, AI3= 3rd, AI4= 4th, AI≥ 5) were assigned to receive Ovsynch56 starting on day 28 after fixed time AI (TAI). Ultrasonography was done during Ovsynch56 injections and also for confirmation of pregnancy in all cows at 32 and 60±4 days after fixed timed AI. Results showed proportion of cows that ovulated in response to the first GnRH injection of Ovsynch was greatest (P= 0.01) in the first service cows compared with other services. In addition, cows that ovulated in response to the first GnRH of Ovsynch had greater response to PGF2α of Ovsynch (91.8 vs. 74.2%, respectively) and finally greater conception rate (CR) at 32 d after AI (32.1 vs. 24.6%, respectively) than those that did not ovulate. Conception rate at 32 and 60 days after AI was similar up to the third service (29.1 and 21.8% at days 32 and 60, respectively), but decreased after that (19.75 and 10.4% at days 32 and 60, respectively, P = 0.02). In conclusion, results of this study showed service numbersaffected the proportion of cows that responded to resynchronization protocol. Conception rate was reasonable up to the third service, but, after the third breeding, proportion of cows that responded to resynchronization decreased and CR dropped below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of the blood and milk biochemical parameters always is considered as effective key factor for animal health and dairy products. In order to assess the association of kappa-casein (K-CN) genetic variants with blood biochemical indicators, blood samples were randomly and individually collected from 126 Iranian Guilan native cattle. Blood plasma was used to measure blood glucose, urea, cholesterol, triglycerides and thyroxine concentrations. The genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood by the modified Salting Out method. The 350 bp fragment of kappa-casein gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and a pair of specific primers was digested by HinfI restriction enzyme. In general, two alleles of A and B with the frequencies of 0.726 and 0.274 and two genotypes of AA and AB with frequencies of 0.452 and 0.548 were detected, respectively. The chi-square test result showed that the studied population was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Results of statistical analysis revealed that there was significant difference between glucose, cholesterol and thyroxin levels in both sexes which are associated with the greater levels of testosterone and thyroid hormones in bulls than cows. However, there was no significant difference between males and females for urea and triglyceride levels (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between AA and AB genotypes of kappa-casein (KCN) gene in Guilan native cattle for the blood parameters measured (P>0.05). According to the current results, kappa casein gene singly cannot be an appropriate marker to study the blood parameters in native cattle of Guilan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published data on the probable involvement of avidin and avidin-related protein-2 (AVR2) in sustaining sperm viability in sperm storage tubules in 38-wk-old turkeys, and the high affinity of avidin or its analogs to biotin suggest that supplementary biotin may increase oviductal avidin and AVR2 expression, thereby attenuating the adverse effect of aging on hen reproductive performance. Broiler breeder hens (n = 120) were randomly assigned to receive 0 (To), 0.30 (T1), or 0.45 (T2) mg of biotin/L of drinking water from 30 to 33 (young) and 53 to 56 (old) wk of age, and artificially inseminated to determine their reproductive performance. At the end of each period of biotin administration, 8 hens from each treatment group were killed for RNA extraction from the uterovaginal junction. Egg production was lower in the old hens (44%) compared with the young ones (82%), and biotin supplementation increased egg production only in the latter. Administering supplementary biotin to young hens increased their oviductal expression of AVR2, which was much higher in the old hens (1.0 and 4.6 for young and old groups, respectively). Fertility rate was not different between young and old hens, and was increased (4.4%) at the higher level of biotin supplementation. Hatchability and hatchling quality were not affected by biotin supplementation. Embryonic mortality between 17 to 21 d of incubation was higher in young (5.2%) compared with old (1.4%) birds. Egg fertility rate showed a moderate correlation (P < 0.05) with avidin (r = 0.59) and AVR2 (r = 0.55) expression in the young-age group, and very low correlations in old-age group (0.04 and 0.17). Regardless of the hen's age, the correlation coefficient of hatchability with avidin or AVR2 expression was very low (--0.16 and 0.18). Overall, the effect of biotin supplementation on A VR2 expression, and the relationship between biotin administration and oviductal expression of avidin and AVR2 was dependent on the hen's age, being higher in the young hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperatures continuously higher and lower than the standard incubation temperature by 3°C from embryonic d 16 until embryonic d 18.5 result in differential effects on embryonic development, the hatching process, and embryonic metabolism. Embryos in the high-temperature group were forced into a state of malnutrition by the temperature treatment, as reflected by reduced embryo growth and yolk, consumption, resulting in a significantly lower chick weight at hatch. In addition, altered air cell and blood gases as well as a retarded hatching process further indicated reduced growth of embryos exposed to higher incubation temperatures during the latter part of incubation. In addition, hatchability was significantly reduced by the high-temperature treatment due to higher embryonic mortality during the treatment period and the hatching process. Levels of blood glucose, lactate, liver glycogen, plasma triglycerides, and nonesterified fatty acids indicated an altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism for the high-temperature group. Although the hatching process of embryos exposed to lower incubation temperatures was also significantly retarded, their embryonic development and growth were strikingly similar to those of the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increases the endometrial percentages of linoleic and arachidonic acids (AA), enhances the synthesis of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), and improves uterine health. In contrary, the n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid may play pivotal roles by suppressing the synthesis of uterine PGF2α, a component being centrally involved in the control of the bovine estrous cycle and in early embryo survival. The objectives of the present study were to determine the effect of feeding a diet enriched in either α-linolenic acid (n-3) or linolenic acid (n-6) on the uterine expression of genes related to prostaglandin cascade and uterine release of PGF2α (measured as 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2α [PGFM]). From calving to 60 days in milk, cows (n = 24) were fed isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and isolipidic diets that differed in the ratio of n-3/n-6 PUFA. Treatments including palm oil ([PLM]; saturated FA, n = 8), soybean whole roast ([SOY]; n-6, n = 8), and linseed extruded ([LIN]; n-3, n = 8). At 30 days in milk, the ovulatory cycles of cows were synchronized using 2 injections of PGF2α with a 14-day interval. On day 15 postovulation, cows were injected with oxytocin and blood samples were collected to monitor the uterine release of PGF2α (measured as PGFM) and uterine endometrial biopsies were prepared to evaluate the expression of genes related to prostaglandin cascade (prostaglandin F synthase [PGFS], prostaglandin E synthase [PGES], prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 [PGHS-2]), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors [PPAR]). Results showed that uterine endometrial PPAR-δ genes were higher in cows fed LIN (3.17-fold) compared with cows fed PLM or SOY (P < 0.05). The messenger RNA (mRNA) level of PGES in the LIN group was threefold as high as those found in SOY and PLM diets (P < 0.05). The mean relative gene expression of PLA2 and PGFS was increased in animals fed the SOY diet (2.4- and 1.7-fold, respectively) compared with LIN and PLM diets (P < 0.05). The expression of mRNA for the PGHS-2, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ was not influenced by the diet effect. Dietary inclusion of soy FAs was associated with an increase in the PGFM concentration, possibly through an increase in the expression of genes involved in prostaglandin cascade. The uterine concentration of PGFM, however, was decreased in cows fed diets containing n-3 FAs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A total of 120 dairy cows were assigned randomly to three diets to determine the effects of omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation on uterine diseases, ovarian responses, and blood concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and PGFM in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Diets contained either protected palm oil (C), extruded linseed (L), or roasted whole soybeans (S), and they were fed from calving to Day 70 postpartum. Estrous cycles were synchronized and ovarian follicular development was monitored daily for an entire cycle. There were no differences among diets in the incidence of lameness, mastitis, or metritis, but the incidence of clinical endometritis was lower (P < 0.05) in cows fed S (0%) compared with cows fed C (28.2%) and L (20.5%). Uterine involution in cows fed S occurred 3.77 and 2.78 days earlier, respectively, than in those fed C and L. The PGFM response 60 minutes after an oxytocin challenge was highest for cows fed S and lowest for cows fed L. Mean plasma progesterone concentration on Day 15 of the synchronized cycle was higher in cows fed S (14.5 ng/mL) and L (15.0 ng/mL) than in those fed C (12.0 ng/mL). The ovulatory follicle on Day 21 of the estrous cycle (estrous = Day 0) was larger in cows fed S (16.1 ± 0.9 mm) and L (15.7 ± 0.7 mm) compared with cows fed C (13.2 ± 0.87 mm; P = 0.02) but there were no significant differences between cows fed diets S and L. The mean number of small and medium follicles and diameter of subordinate follicle were similar among diets. In conclusion, feeding a source of omega-6 FA can be a strategy to improve uterine health after calving, although a source of omega-3 FA such as L should be fed after uterine involution to decrease PGF2α secretion., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)