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Biomedical subjects

J M Faure

Publications and source records attributed to J M Faure.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Fear and stress reactions in two species of duck and their hybrid.

Susceptibility to fear and stress has often been studied in birds using selection experiments. Crosses between different species of the same genus have also been used to study the type of transmission observed for "fixed action patterns." In this experiment we used a cross between two species (male muscovy and female pekin ducks) to study the genetic transmission of various characteristics of fear reactions and adrenal activity. Males of the three genetic types (two parental species and the hybrid) were submitted to tonic immobility and fear of man tests. Blood was collected for corticosterone assay before and after physiological stress or injection of 5 microg/kg of immediate synacthen (ACTH agonist). The muscovy duck showed lower levels of fear reactions than the pekin duck in the majority of behavioral tests (six of eight). Corticosterone levels were also nearly always the lowest in muscovy ducks (five of six). Generally speaking, the muscovy duck appeared to be less fearful and less susceptible to stress than the pekin duck. The mule duck was similar to one parent, midway between the two, or showed heterosis for fear of man at 10 weeks of age (more fearful than the two parents). Corticosterone levels were midway between the two parents in the mule duck with only one exception, i.e., where the pekin duck was dominant. The existence of heterosis for fear is surprising, as this character is classically considered to be submitted to stabilizing selection. The transmission of corticosterone levels and other fear characteristics is, however, compatible with stabilizing selection. The results are discussed in terms of adaptability.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2002

Sequential feeding can increase activity and improve gait score in meat-type chickens.

This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of sequential feeding by alternating low-and high-lysine diets during the day on growth, gait score (GS), and behavior in broilers. From Days 2 to 12, 6 pens of 10 birds were assigned to control treatment and fed a standard normal lysine diet (NL) (ME = 3,250 kcal/kg, CP = 23%, Lys = 1.19%) and six pens of 10 birds were assigned to the sequential treatment and fed a low-lysine diet (LL) (Lys = 0.85%) for half of the day and NL for the other half of the day. From Days 13 to 21, all groups were fed NL, and from Days 21 to 42, they were fed a grower diet. Sequential (S) chicks were lighter than Control chicks at Days 13 (304 +/- 6 vs. 378 +/- 7 g) and 42 (2,588 +/- 31 vs. 2,714 +/- 10 g) and had better leg condition at Day 42 (mean GS = 1.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.1, P < or = 0.05). During a day of S feeding, S birds ate less and wasted more LL than NL. Sequential birds spent less time standing and more time lying idle when fed LL than when fed NL. Sequential birds spent more time eating than Control birds, and they gradually increased the number of pecks in the litter during a sequential feeding day. The results suggest a major effect of food composition on behavior. Sequential feeding could be a means of decreasing leg problems in broilers.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Fearfulness and performance related traits in selected lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

Fearfulness and economic traits were studied in three lines of Japanese quail. Two of the lines were of the same genetic origin and were subjected to divergent selection for the duration of tonic immobility (TI), a measure of fearfulness. Birds were selected for long (LTI) or short (STI) duration of TI. The third line (DD) was of a different genetic origin and had been selected for early egg production. Fear, growth, residual feed intake, and measures of egg composition and production varied among lines. The distribution of TI in Line DD was closer to that from Line STI. Residual feed intake and shell content were lowest in the DD line. The DD birds laid more broken eggs than quail of the other lines. The STI line birds had higher BW and laid more, but smaller, eggs than LTI line birds. Eggs laid by LTI line birds had higher albumen content, but lower percentage shell, than those laid by STI line birds. When all traits were considered together, there was an overall tendency for STI line birds to out perform LTI birds with DD line birds showing intermediate performance. This finding supports the notion that there is a relationship between fearfulness and productivity. However, the skewed distribution of TI precluded estimation of correlation with production traits in the LTI and STI lines. No significant relationships among fear and production-related traits were found in the DD line, which contradicts the notion that fearfulness and production are related.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Influence of increased environmental complexity on leg condition, performance, and level of fearfulness in broilers.

We hypothesized that increased distance between resources and stimulation of foraging behavior, through altering the degree of environmental complexity by using moving lights and scattering whole wheat in the litter, would improve physical activity of broiler chickens. Increased activity may potentially improve leg condition and performance and decrease the level of fearfulness in broilers. To test this hypothesis, 1,800 1-d-old male broilers were divided into 40 groups of 45 birds each (10 birds/m2). Each group was assigned to one of four treatments (10 replicates) as follows: barrier treatment (B) contained three barriers placed between the drinker line and the feeder. The light treatment (L) consisted of brightly colored moving lights projected on the pen floor for four 1-h periods/d throughout rearing. For the wheat treatment (W) wheat was dispersed on the floor from Days 8 to 17. Control birds (C) were maintained under standard management. Body weights and consumption were obtained throughout the rearing period. Gait score (GS), tibia length and diameter, fluctuating asymmetry (FA), bone ash, tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), bone breaking strength, and tonic immobility (TI) were measured at slaughter age. Mortality, body weight, feed conversion, FA, bone ash, TD, bone breaking strength, and TI duration did not differ significantly among groups. L birds had a higher GS than C and B birds and W birds had a higher GS than C birds (P < 0.05). Provision of barriers significantly increased the diameter of the tibia diaphysis (P = 0.05), which is a promising result for further studies to improve leg condition.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed2001

The effects of mifepristone on uterine sensitivity to oxytocin and on fetal heart rate patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities in women treated by mifepristone plus prostaglandins (PGs), mifepristone alone or PGs alone for an unfavourable cervix. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, all women between 37 and 42 weeks were eligible for the study if they had undergone cervical ripening prior to labour induction. In group 1, the women were treated with mifepristone plus PGs (n=103). Group 2 women were treated with mifepristone alone (n=96) and group 3 women with PGs alone (n=100). Incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and FHR abnormalities were compared. RESULTS: During induction of labour, tachysystole and hypertonia occurred more frequently in women treated with mifepristone. Severe bradycardia and recurrent late decelerations were more frequent after the initiation of oxytocin in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, mifepristone increased the incidences of tachysystole, hypertonia and FHR abnormality.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Force-feeding procedure and physiological indicators of stress in male mule ducks.

1. The effects of the force-feeding procedure and its different components on various physiological indicators of acute and chronic stress were investigated in male mule ducks before and during a 12-d cramming period. 2. The highest concentration of corticosterone were measured after injection of ACTH agonist, during the pre-experimental period when the ducks were still housed in collective floor pens and at the time of transfer. 3. During the cramming period, corticosterone measured before and after force-feeding did not differ significantly though there was a non-significant trend towards an increase in certain cases. 4. The different components of force-feeding, including manipulation, intubation, force-feeding with a standard or a large amount of food had no significant effect upon corticosterone concentrations. 5. There was no indication from ACTH agonist challenge either of a change in adrenal sensitivity or a change in its responsiveness. 6. The heterocyte-lymphocyte ratio measured before and at the end of the cramming period did not differ significantly. 7. In conclusion, we observed no significant indication that force-feeding is perceived as an acute or chronic stress by male mule ducks, in our experimental conditions. Nevertheless, it remains to be shown that their adrenocorticotropic axis is responsive to acute stressors.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2000

Time structure of behavioral patterns related to feed pecking in chicks.

Nonrandom time patterns of pecking acts by 16 chicks were detected using the software Theme during three videotaped pecking sessions (M, C, and A). At 15 days of age pecking session, M (mash) was recorded when chicks ate a mash diet. Pecking session C (change) at 16 or 17 days of age was recorded immediately after the change of the diet to pellets presented either as regular cylinders (P) to eight chicks, or as semiovoid (Po) to eight other chicks. Pecking session A (adapted) was recorded 5 or 6 days after adaptation to P and Po. Successful (consumatory) pecks were 72%, 52%, and 61% of all pecks for sessions M, C, and A, respectively. The head of the chicks remained in a steady position between two consecutive pecks for a longer period during C (65% of the time) than M and A (54%). During C, the pecking rate was less for P (0.54 pecks/s) than for Po (0.79 pecks/s). Two consistent time patterns involving four acts frequently observed were: head rotation (or exploratory peck)-->head in steady position-->consumatory peck-->head in steady position with jaw movements. Time intervals within a pattern were stable throughout sessions. However, the proportion of synchronized (included in a pattern) vs. nonsynchronized (not included in a pattern) acts decreased immediately after the change of feed form (session C). These results suggest that pecking at feed is composed of two distinct sets of acts: consistently organized patterns little affected by the form of the pecked particles and nonsynchronized acts that may be involved in sensory information.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Multifetal reduction of triplets to twins: a prospective comparison of pregnancy outcome.

The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of triplets managed expectantly or by multifetal reduction to twins to assess the potential benefit of fetal reduction. The study design was prospective, comparative and monocentric and the study was conducted in a teaching hospital. Out of 148 women with triplets mostly obtained after infertility treatment, 83 were expectantly managed while 65 chose reduction to obtain twins. Main outcome measures were fetal loss before 24 weeks, premature deliveries before 28, 32 and 34 weeks, rate of low birthweight infants and neonatal and perinatal mortality rates. The fetal loss rate before 24 weeks did not differ between the ongoing group and the reduced group (6 versus 5.4%). Reducing triplets was associated with a significantly lower incidence of the following: prematurity before 28, 32 and 34 weeks (P < 0.001), low birthweight infants whose weights were under the third centile (P < 0.002) and infants whose weights were less than 1000, 1500 and 2000 g (P < 0.001). Neonatal (although apparently lower in the reduced group) and perinatal mortality did not significantly differ. Our results indicate that reduction of triplets to twins is effective to improve preterm birth and fetal growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Corticosterone plasma concentration in male mule ducks: effects of sampling sites, repeated samplings and ACTH injections.

1. Changes in plasma corticosterone concentrations according to puncture sites and various challenges including injections of an ACTH agonist (Immediate Synacthen) were investigated in male mule ducks. 2. Lower concentrations were measured in samples drawn by puncture from the occipital sinus than at a wing vein site. 3. Immobilisation and a single intramuscular injection of saline solution (1 ml, 0.9%) had no effect on plasma corticosterone after 15 min. 4. A single intramuscular injection of ACTH (5 microg/kg body weight) produced a rise (P<0.05) in corticosterone. Maximum concentrations were measured after 10 min and, in the absence of further sampling, a return to initial levels was observed by 1 h. 5. On the other hand, repeated bleedings following ACTH challenge maintained higher corticosterone concentrations. 6. A single intramuscular injection of ACTH at doses ranging between 0.625 to 20 microg/kg body weight increased corticosterone concentrations (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner, with the responses plateauing at doses of 1.25 microg/kg and higher.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1999

Ultrasound-assisted laparoscopic creation of a neovagina by modification of Vecchietti's operation.

BACKGROUND: In performing Vecchietti's operation laparoscopically, it is important to ensure bladder and rectum integrity. We report new techniques of ultrasonography and suture retrieval that simplify and improve the ease and speed of this operation. TECHNIQUE: The pneumoperitoneum is emptied and the bladder filled with 200 mL of sterile water. The ultrasound probe is placed on the suprapubic wall for a sagittal image. The needle progresses medially through the vesicorectal space, with ultrasound guidance, and its emergence into the pelvis is controlled with laparoscopy. The nylon sutures carrying the dilation ball are threaded through the needle and brought back through the abdominal wall. EXPERIENCE: Seven patients with vaginal aplasia had this procedure. There were no complications, and the mean operative time was 43 minutes (range 35-55). Mean vaginal length was 7 cm (range 6-10). Four women defined sexual intercourse as very satisfying and two as moderately satisfying. CONCLUSION: This original technique was used for easy, safe, and rapid creation of neovaginas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Cervical ripening with mifepristone before labor induction: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of mifepristone for cervical ripening in post-term pregnancies. METHODS: Women with post-term pregnancies and Bishop scores less than 6 were assigned randomly to mifepristone (41 patients) or placebo (42 patients). Mifepristone was given orally in a dose of 400 mg. Efficacy was assessed by change in the Bishop score within 48 hours after treatment; a score of 6 or greater was considered a "strict" success. An "extended" success rate was defined, including all patients with scores of at least 6 or those who delivered within 48 hours of treatment. Antenatal safety was assessed by fetal heart rate testing before and throughout labor. Neonatal safety was assessed by Apgar score, arterial or venous pH of cord blood, and blood glucose level during the first 48 hours. Analysis used Student t test for continuous variables, Kruskal-Wallis test for ordinal data, and chi2 for categoric variables. RESULTS: Strict success was achieved in 10 of 18 mifepristone patients (55%) evaluated for Bishop score on day 2 versus 8 of 29 placebo patients (27.5%) (P=.004). Extended success was achieved in 33 mifepristone patients (80.5%) and 21 placebo patients (50.0%) (P=.004). There were no statistical differences with regard to number of cesareans or fetal and neonatal safety. CONCLUSION: Mifepristone proved effective for cervical ripening and reduced the time to delivery compared with placebo, but it did not improve the rate of cesarean. Our study did not include enough pregnancies to reach conclusions about fetal or neonatal safety.

Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal↗
PubMed1998

Effect of cage area, cage height and perches on feather condition, bone breakage and mortality of laying hens.

1. The health of 2 flocks of 896 ISA Brown laying hens were studied successively over the years 1995 and 1996 under different caging conditions. Hens were kept in groups of 4 in a total of 224 cages. The treatments (7 different types of cages) differed in area per hen (450, 600 or 800 cm2) and height (40 or 60 cm). In the large (800 cm2/hen) and high (60 cm cage) treatment, half of the cages were equipped with perches (20 cm/hen). Each study lasted 48 weeks. 2. Feather condition was found to be independent of cage type. 3. No differences were apparent between the 7 treatments in tibia breaking strength (using the 3-point breakage technique). A significant increase in humerus breaking strength was observed in the high cages. The frequency of broken wings recorded after slaughter was lower in high cages (23%) than in low ones (36%). 4. Mortality was different between treatments. This was explained by a higher proportion of birds killed by 'body cannibalism' in the 60 cm high cages, and by a higher proportion of birds killed by 'vent cannibalism' in the cages with perches.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Self-selection of dietary protein and energy by broilers grown under a tropical climate: adaptation when exposed to choice feeding at different ages.

Three hundred broiler chicks (Hubbard) of both sexes were assigned to five feeding treatments: T0 received a complete diet (control), T1 was a choice feeding system with simultaneous access to an energy-rich feed (ground corn) and a protein concentrate (43.7% CP), and T2, T3, and T4 were introduced to choice feeding after 1, 3, and 5 wk, respectively, of consuming the complete diet. At 1-d-old, T1 chicks showed a marked preference for corn, with only 21.4% of their intake being the protein concentrate diet. Intake of the concentrate progressively increased to 40 to 45% after 3 d of adaptation, resulting in diets with 22.5 to 24.3% CP. When broilers fed the complete diet for 1 to 5 wk (T2, T3, T4) were changed to choice feeding, on the 1st d, their feed choice intake was similar to that of T1 chicks at the same age. Visual observation and tactile assessment of the feed particles during the initial period allowed the chicks to quickly evaluate the new feeds and to adapt their feeding behavior. Although total feed intake to 6 wk of age was not significantly affected by the feeding treatments, broilers on choice feeding selected diets with a lower percentage of CP and had lower live body weights at 6 wk than those fed the complete diet (T0).

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1998

[Creation of a neovagina using ultrasonography-assisted laparoscopy (modified Vecchietti technique].

Ultrasonography-assisted laparoscopic creation of a neavagina was performed on 6 patients suffering from vaginal aplasia. As the needle progress through the vesicorectal space, ultrasonography provided an accurate check of the bladder and rectal integrity, and improved the ease of the surgical procedure. Ultrasound can be considered an effective and reliable advance for laparoscopic management of vaginal aplasia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Feed pecking in young chickens: new techniques of evaluation.

Three techniques were compared: automated recording (A) of 2 h of feeding activities conveyed to a computer by constantly connected electronic balances, videotaping (V) of a closeup of the head of a chick during a feed-pecking session analyzed by focal sampling at reduced speed (16 times slower), strength of pecking (S) at feed particles recorded from a feeder-weight signal conveyed to a computer by a customized electronic balance at rapid speed (24 times/s). These techniques were applied to 16-18-day-old chicks fed either a complete feed or a split diet (whole grain wheat + a complementary feed). The two feeds had similar pellet forms. The complementary feed particles were eaten at a slower rate than the complete feed particles (A and V techniques). Wheat grains were pecked with a weaker measured strength than the pellets (technique S). Two pecks of three did not result in prehension of a feed particle and were categorized as "exploratory" pecks. For 75% of the time during a continuous pecking session the head of the chick was in a static position, suggesting a long period of observation of the feed between 2 consecutive pecks. Videotaping with slow-motion focal sampling (V) offers potential development for the study of food intake behavior of chickens.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The behavior of the Japanese or domestic quail Coturnix japonica.

This paper reviews the literature pertaining to the behavior of the Japanese or domestic quail Coturnix japonica. Details are given of the classification, characteristics, domestication and the economic and research potential of the species. Further sections deal with sensation and perception (including taste and smell, vision and hearing), maintenance behavior (including feeding and drinking, dust bathing and thermoregulation), development and aging (including vocalization, filial imprinting, sexual imprinting, fear and avoidance responses, sexual maturation and aging), adult learning (including habituation, instrumental conditioning, Pavlovian conditioning and observational learning), photoperiodism, reproductive behavior (including courtship and mating, hormonal control and ontogeny of sexual differentiation, and male and female sexual behavior), parental behavior (including nest-site selection and nest building, incubation behavior and its hormonal control, and hen-chick relationships), and aggressive behavior and dominance (including agonistic behavior and the hormonal control of aggressive behavior).

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Behavioural adaptation of laying hens to dilution of diets under mash and pellet form.

1. Two laying diets, control (A) and a low-energy (B) diet diluted by adding 450 g/kg wheat bran, were fed to semi-heavy hens in three different forms: mash, small pellets and large pellets. The behavioural adaptations and the production characteristics for these six regimens were studied on 72 individually caged hens, between 19 and 29 weeks of age, subjected to a lighting pattern of 14 h light/24 h. 2. Diet B, as mash, showed a lower apparent physical density than the others. The hardness and durability of the pelleted diets were similar. 3. Hens fed the mash diet B could not completely adjust their food intake to compensate for the dilution and showed reduced egg output and body weight gain compared to the other groups. 4. Video observation of each hen for 14 consecutive hours showed that mash-fed hens ate for longer periods than pellet-fed hens during the first 11 h (proportion of time spent eating: 41.3% mash B, 32.5% mash A and 20% to 25% for all the pelleted diets). These differences were less pronounced during the last 3 h of the photoperiod. 5. Trough-oriented stereotypies were noted in 14 out of 22 mash-fed hens and in 12 out of 47 pellet-fed hens. Dilution of the diet did not appear to exacerbate stereotyped behaviours under the conditions of the study. 6. This experiment demonstrates that the feeding behaviour of laying hens is affected by the physical characteristics of the diet and that this may lower their productivity. 7. Low-energy pelleted diets might be used to feed hens efficiently in tropical countries where cereal by-products are abundant.

Adaptation, Physiological↗