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Experiments were performed to determine the effects of ergothioneine (ERG) on behavioural responses of stallions to exercise during hot-dry and rainy seasons. Eighteen healthy stallions were divided into three groups of six horses each. Group I (ERG + Exercise) was treated with ERG before exercise, group II was treated after exercise (Exercise + ERG), and group III (Exercise only) was not treated but subject to exercise. The stallions were subjected to a race of 2,000 m at maximum speed. The time spent standing by the horses in the ERG + Exercise and Exercise + ERG groups (1430.31 ± 30.73 s/30 min and 1403.32 ± 32.43 s/30 min, respectively) were higher (P < 0.0001) than the time spent standing in the Exercise-only group (1033.26 ± 21.19 s/30 min). The number of times the stallions bit their cribs per 30 min in the ERG + Exercise (0.38 ± 0.02/30 min) and Exercise + ERG (0.67 ± 0.0530 min) groups was lower (P < 0.0001) than that recorded in the Exercise-only group (3.51 ± 1.7730 min). It was concluded that ERG modulates behavioural responses to exercise in stallions, and the agent may be beneficial in alleviating exercise-induced stress responses and improving the welfare of horses post-exercise.

The increasing demand of the feed market for protein has necessitated the need to look for and use other sources of this nutrient. Cottonseed cake and palm kernel cakes are used extensively for supplementing ruminant rations to increase their productivity. The efficiency of sperm production, libido and quality of spermatozoa tend to remain uniform throughout the reproductive life of an animal but may be significantly altered by nutrition. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of graded levels of protein on semen characteristics, and serum testosterone profile in Yankasa rams. Fifteen rams aged between 18–24 months and weighing 15–25 kg with good body condition scores (3.5) were used in this study. They were divided into three treatment groups (A, B and C) according to the dietary protein level. Group A (n = 5) received 10 %, group B (n = 5) received 15 % while group C (n = 5) received 20 % combined crude protein of cotton seed and palm kernel cakes, respectively. Semen samples were collected weekly using battery-controlled electro ejaculator. Serum samples were harvested using a Pasteur pipette into serum vials and stored at −20 °C for analysis. These samples were from a representative animal in each group for determination of testosterone profiles using ELISA technique at weeks 1, 6 and 12. Data collected were expressed as means and standard error of the mean (± SEM). Significance of differences between treatments means were estimated at P ≤ 0.05 with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test of repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). From this study, it was concluded that rams fed concentrate of 15 % crude protein using cotton seed and palm kernel cakes combined had improved semen characteristics in terms of semen concentration, motility, live sperm cells and morphology, but the crude protein levels had no effects on testosterone concentrations.

The present work evaluated the effects of feeding graded levels of whole cottonseed on reproductive parameters of Red Sokoto bucks. Twenty Red Sokoto bucks were used for the experiment. After a 14-day pre-treatment period, bucks were assigned for 90 days to one of four isonitrogeneous treatments: control (diet A); 0 mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet B); 15% mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet C); 30% mg kg-1 of total gossypol and (diet D); 45% mg kg-1 of total gossypol. The mean percentage sperm gross motility was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) compared to groups C (30% WCS) and A (control) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen pH and reaction time were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatment groups. Semen colour of the bucks in the control group was majorly creamy, in group C (30% WCS) and B (15% WCS) creamy to milky and group D (45% WCS) colourless. The mean semen volume was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups C and A compared to group D (45% WCS) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) when compared to group A (control) at days 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90. Group A (control) bucks had significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage live sperm compared to those in group D (45% WCS) at days 45, 60, 75 and 90. Mean Sperm morphological abnormalities including detached head, free tail curved tail and midpiece droplets were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group D (45%) than in group A (Control) at day 15 (for free tails) and day 90 (for all). Testicular and epididymal sperm reserves were higher in animals supplemented with up to 30% whole cottonseed. In conclusion, feeding bucks above 30% WCS resulted in more deleterious effects on the semen characteristics and testicular profile.

Objectives: The maximum purification of the extracts of antidiabetic Anogeissus leiocarpus stem bark led to a quest for its lethal dose (LD50) and effects on pregnancy, gestation, pups (kitten) and reproductive performance of Wistar rats. Design: Extracts of A. leiocarpus were subjected to column and thin layer chromatography until final purification. Five (5) each of adult male and female rats were used for the study. The revised limit test dose of 2000mg/kg.bd.wt. was used to evaluate the acute oral toxicity and effects on reproductive characteristics of the purified extracts on Wistar rats. The rats were monitored for instant death and 24hours later, 3 each of male and female rats were humanely sacrificed. On day 0 and 24hours later biomarkers of liver damage, AST, ALT, and ALP and that of kidney, urea, were assayed. The remaining 4 rats (2 males and 2 females) were monitored for additional 14days and thereafter for any effect of the limit dose on reproductive activities. Results: The limit dose caused no death within the first 24hours and no hepato-renal damages. Pregnancy, gestation, parturition, pups (kitten) and reproductive performance were normal. The median lethal Dose (LD50) is > 2000mg/kg./bd.wt. Conclusion: Animal experimentation, using Wistar rats showed that purified extracts of A. leiocarpus stem bark as a non-conventional drug for diabetes mellitus, has no effects on pregnancy and reproductive performance. There was no teratogenic effect on pups. The compound has a wide range of safety value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of ergothioneine on rectal temperature and the serum concentrations of heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) in stallions following a race of 2000 m in a hot-dry environment. Eighteen stallions weighing approximately 400 kg each were used for the experiment. They were divided into three groups of six stallions each. Group I (EEX) was the experimental group that was administered ergothioneine (0.5 mg/kg per os), while group II (EEC) did not receive ergothioneine before exercise. The third group (EEN) was neither administered ergothioneine nor exercised. The dry-bulb temperature and the relative humidity of the experiment were determined for six days and on the day of the experiment. The temperature-humidity index was also calculated. Rectal temperature, serum HSP-70, and TNF-a concentrations of all horses were measured before commencement, immediately after, and 2 h after the exercise. The dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity which showed diurnal fluctuations increased significantly (p < 0.05) between 06.00 h and 12.00 h (22.6 ± 1.23 and 38.6 ± 6.5, respectively). Serum TNF-a and HSP-70 levels of the stallions in the EEX group were higher than the values obtained in the EEC and EEN groups (p < 0.05). The values of rectal temperature obtained were lower (p < 0.05) in the EEX group than in the other groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that ergothioneine modulated rectal temperature, as well as TNF-a and HSP-70 concentrations in the stallions, and might be beneficial to horses during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overworking and overloading of donkeys may cause fatigue. The experiment aims to determine the effects of epicatechin-(4β-8)-catechin (EEC) on some fatigue biomarkers in packed donkeys during the dry season. 10 jacks, aged between four and five years were used for the study. Five were given EEC in feed seven days before packing (test), while another five were given feed only (control). Blood samples collected for biochemical analyses were analyzed for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The SOD activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the test group during the cold-dry season after packing. The values of TAC during the packing period were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in test group during the hot-dry season. The TNF-α concentration was higher (P > 0.05) in the control group especially one-hour on route. The CK activity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the control donkeys during the hot-dry season. In conclusion, packing donkeys during the dry season resulted in fatigue, but EEC served as an anti-fatigue agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress and behavioural responses of donkeys during the cold-dry and hot-dry seasons. Thirty donkeys divided into three groups of ten donkeys each according to their age served as experimental subjects. During each season, behavioural and blood parameters of the donkeys were evaluated three times with an interval of one week at 06:00 h, 12:00 h and 18:00 h (GMT+1). During the hot-dry season, the peak dry-bulb temperature (DBT) value of 36.00 ± 1.00°C was recorded at 12:00 h, indicating that the season induced heat stress. The time spent feeding demonstrated diurnal fluctuations in adult, yearling and foal donkeys, with the highest time occurring at 12:00 h in both seasons. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in adults (2.34 ± 0.14 nMol/L), yearlings (2.28 ± 0.19 nMol/L) and foals (3.48 ± 0.17 nMol/L) during the hot-dry season were significantly (P < 0.05) higher, when compared to the corresponding values (0.96 ± 0.09, 1.18 ± 0.10 and 1.82 ± 0.10 nMol/L, respectively) recorded during the cold-dry season. At 0.3% NaCl-concentration, the percentage haemolysis obtained during the hot-dry season in adult (90.33 ± 0.49%), yearling (91.24 ± 0.88%) and foal (97.44 ± 0.24%) donkeys were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the corresponding values (78.53 ± 0.98, 78.67 ± 0.58 and 88.23 ± 0.47%, respectively), recorded during the cold-dry season. In conclusion, the hot-dry season induced heat stress in the donkeys, resulting in a decrease in time spent on feeding and oxidative stress, as evidenced by high erythrocyte MDA concentration and percentage haemolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work evaluated the effects of feeding graded levels of whole cottonseed on reproductive parameters of Red Sokoto bucks. Twenty Red Sokoto bucks were used for the experiment. After a 14-day pre-treatment period, bucks were assigned for 90 days to one of four isonitrogeneous treatments: control (diet A); 0 mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet B); 15% mg kg-1 of total gossypol, (diet C); 30% mg kg-1 of total gossypol and (diet D); 45% mg kg-1 of total gossypol. The mean percentage sperm gross motility was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) compared to groups C (30% WCS) and A (control) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen pH and reaction time were not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatment groups. Semen colour of the bucks in the control group was majorly creamy, in group C (30% WCS) and B (15% WCS) creamy to milky and group D (45% WCS) colourless. The mean semen volume was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups C and A compared to group D (45% WCS) at days 60, 75 and 90. The mean semen concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group D (45% WCS) when compared to group A (control) at days 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90. Group A (control) bucks had significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage live sperm compared to those in group D (45% WCS) at days 45, 60, 75 and 90. Mean Sperm morphological abnormalities including detached head, free tail curved tail and midpiece droplets were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group D (45%) than in group A (Control) at day 15 (for free tails) and day 90 (for all). Testicular and epididymal sperm reserves were higher in animals supplemented with up to 30% whole cottonseed. In conclusion, feeding bucks above 30% WCS resulted in more deleterious effects on the semen characteristics and testicular profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]