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PubMed2003

Recombinant human albumin supports hamster in-vitro fertilization.

BACKGROUND: Serum albumin is normally required to support sperm capacitation and IVF, but its mechanism of action is not well understood. Commercial serum albumin preparations are contaminated with a variety of other proteins and compounds, and their biological activity is variable. Recombinant human albumin (rHA) might replace serum albumin for IVF. METHODS: rHA was examined for its ability to capacitate hamster spermatozoa and to support fertilization in vitro. A standardized hamster IVF system was used to compare the capacitation-supporting activities of rHA and two commercial preparations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a chemically defined culture medium. Epididymal spermatozoa were incubated for 4 h at 37 degrees C under 5% CO(2) in air in either the basic medium containing rHA, one of the two BSA preparations or no protein, and then cultured in the same medium with ovulated oocytes for another 4 h. The experiment was replicated five times. RESULTS: Spermatozoa incubated in protein-free medium fertilized only one oocyte (2% of total), significantly less than any of the other three treatment conditions (P < 0.01); spermatozoa incubated in medium containing rHA or BSA fertilized 86-93% of oocytes. There were no differences between the three albumin-containing treatment groups. CONCLUSION: rHA is equivalent to commercial serum albumin preparations in its ability to support sperm capacitation and fertilization in this test system. This finding has considerable practical implications for human IVF and may also help efforts to elucidate the mechanism of sperm capacitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Metabolic effects of infection by the stomach worm Obeliscoides cuniculi in rabbits fed diets varying in nutritive quality.

Rabbits parasitized by Obeliscoides cuniculi were used as models for stomach worm parasitism in ruminants. A 3 X 4 randomized complete block design containing three levels of of infection (NI, no infection; LI and HI, infections produced by 1,800 and 30,000 larvae, respectively) and four levels of diet (PC, high protein and carbohydrate; pc, low protein and carbohydrate; Pc, high protein, and low carbohydrate; pC, low protein and high carbohydrate) was replicated four times. Mean weight gains for rabbits on diets pc or PC were not influenced by infection level, whereas LI rabbits on diets Pc and pC gained as well as the NI animals and more than the HI ones. Only HI rabbits exhibited anorexia. NI and LI rabbits has positive feed conversion efficiencies, whereas those of HI rabbits were negative. The apparent digestibilities of organic matter, protein, and ash in rabbits with different infection levels varied with diet. Daily nitrogen balances were positive. The changes in concentrations of amino acids in the plasma typically associated with systemic, fever-producing infections or with starvation or protein-calorie malnutrition did not occur in infected rabbits. Only the high level infections produced adverse effects on productivity. These effects occurred on diets pc, Pc and pC and were mediated by anorexia.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2005

Systemic signalling of environmental cues in Arabidopsis leaves.

Light intensity and atmospheric CO2 partial pressure are two environmental signals known to regulate stomatal numbers. It has previously been shown that if a mature Arabidopsis leaf is supplied with either elevated CO2 (750 ppm instead of ambient at 370 ppm) or reduced light levels (50 micromol m-2 s-1 instead of 250 micromol m-2 s-1), the young, developing leaves that are not receiving the treatment grow with a stomatal density as if they were exposed to the treatment. But the signal(s) that it is believed is generated in the mature leaves and transmitted to developing leaves are largely unknown. Photosynthetic rates of treated, mature Arabidopsis leaves increased in elevated CO2 and decreased when shaded, as would be expected. Similarly, the levels of sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in the treated mature leaves increased in elevated CO2 and decreased with shade treatment. The levels of sugar in developing leaves were also measured and it was found that they mirrored this result even though they were not receiving the shade or elevated CO2 treatment. To investigate the effect of these treatments on global gene expression patterns, transcriptomics analysis was carried out using Affymetrix, 22K, and ATH1 arrays. Total RNA was extracted from the developing leaves after the mature leaves had received either the ambient control treatment, the elevated CO2 treatment, or the shade treatment, or both elevated CO2 and shade treatments for 2, 4, 12, 24, 48, or 96 h. The experiment was replicated four times. Two other experiments were also conducted, one to compare and contrast gene expression in response to plants grown at elevated CO2 and the other to look at the effect of these treatments on the mature leaf. The data were analysed and 915 genes from the untreated, signalled leaves were identified as having expression levels affected by the shade treatment. These genes were then compared with those whose transcript abundance was affected by the shade treatment in the mature treated leaves (1181 genes) and with 220 putative 'stomatal signalling' genes previously identified from studies of the yoda mutant. The results of these experiments and how they relate to environmental signalling are discussed, as well as possible mechanisms for systemic signalling.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2002

G-quartets assembly within a G-rich DNA flap. A possible event at the center of the HIV-1 genome.

Stretches of guanines can associate in vitro through Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding to form four-stranded structures. In the HIV-1 central DNA flap, generated by reverse transcriptase at the end of retrotranscription, both the two 99 nt-long overlapping (+) strands contain two adjacent tracts of guanines. This study demonstrates that oligonucleotides containing these G-clusters form highly stable G-quadruplexes of various structures in vitro, whose formation was controlled by an easy and reversible protocol using sodium hydroxide. Among these sequences, a G'2 hairpin dimer was the most stable structure adopted by the 5'-tail of the (+) downstream strand. Since the two (+) strands of the HIV-1 central DNA flap hold these G-clusters, and based on the properties of reverse branch migration in DNA flaps, constructions using HIV-1 sequences were assembled to mimic small DNA flaps where the G-clusters are neighbors. G-quartets were successfully probed in such flaps. They were induced by potassium and by a dibenzophenanthroline derivative already known to stabilize them. Such results suggest some function(s) for G-quartets associated with a DNA flap in the HIV-1 pre-integration steps, and argue for their transient formation during the processing of G-rich DNA flaps at the time of replication and/or repair.

DNA↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between age of commercial broiler chickens and response to photostimulation.

A study was conducted to determine the relationship between age of commercial broiler chickens and response to photostimulation. The chickens were brooded collectively for 1 wk and then separated into five light treatment groups with each group replicated three times using a completely randomized block design. After Week 1, the five light treatments applied were: 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 wk of continuous supplementary lighting, respectively. Chickens were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 22% CP and 3,300 kcal ME/ kg of feed from day old to 7 wk. At 7 wk of age, chickens in Group 5 treated with supplementary light during the last 2 wk of growth had the highest mean BW when the data on sexes were combined. When the data were separated by sex and analyzed, only male chickens showed a significant response to photostimulation and this was observed at 4 wk of age. Chickens in Group 5 had the best feed conversion with less mortality and no leg disorders. There were no significant differences among the relative organ weights among the treatment groups except for the pancreas. The pancreas taken from Group 5 had the smallest weight relative to BW. There were no significant differences in breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing weights when expressed as relative weight. However, there were significant differences when expressed as absolute weight. The breasts taken from birds in Group 5 were significantly heavier than the control breasts.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1999

The effect of dietary wheat middlings and enzyme supplementation. 1. Late egg production efficiency, egg yields, and egg composition in two strains of Leghorn hens.

A study was conducted to test the effects of wheat middlings (WM) with and without enzyme (xylanase and protease) supplementation on late egg production (EP), egg yields, and egg composition in two strains of Leghorn hens (DeKalb Delta and Hisex White). Six diets were randomly assigned to 300 birds (150 birds per strain) from 42 to 60 wk of age. Diet 1 was a corn-soybean meal control, Diets 2 and 3 had 8 and 16% WM, respectively, Diet 4 had 8% WM with 0.1% enzyme, and Diets 5 and 6 had 16% WM with 0.1 and 0.2% enzyme, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated five times per strain. Egg production, feed consumption (FC), feed efficiency (FE), percentage dirty eggs, specific gravity (SP), egg weight (EW), and egg mass (EM) were measured on a weekly basis. Egg components (EC) were measured biweekly and birds were weighed every 4 wk. Egg production was not significantly affected by diet, with averages of 83.7, 85.7, 84.1, 84.2, 82.3, and 84.0% for Diets, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Strain had a marked effect on FC, with Hisex having higher FC than DeKalb hens. Feed consumption also showed a significant diet by strain effect, being lower for Hisex hens fed diets with enzyme compared to diets without enzyme. DeKalb hens had better FE than Hisex hens, and addition of enzyme to 16% WM improved it further. Strain and diet had a significant effect on EC with higher percentages of albumen and yolk for diets with enzyme and for DeKalb hens. Percentage shell was lower for DeKalb hens than for Hisex hens but was not affected by diet. There was also a significant increase in EW for Diets 4 (63.1 g), 5 (63.8 g), and 6 (63.2 g) compared to Diets 1 (62.1 g), 2 (62.4 g), and 3 (63.0 g), with DeKalb hens showing an increase with Diet 5 compared to Hisex hens. Egg mass improved with the higher rate of enzyme in 16% WM diet compared to the lower enzyme level. Specific gravity declined with enzyme supplementation in WM diets. Eggs from DeKalb hens had lower SP than those from Hisex hens for all diets. Percentage dirty eggs did not differ significantly among treatments but was higher for the Hisex strain than for the DeKalb strain. There were no differences in BW between the two strains of hens or among diets. Adding protease and xylanase to diets rich in fiber can improve the egg output without affecting production parameters.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

The use of poultry litter as co-substrate and source of inorganic nutrients and microorganisms for the ex situ biodegradation of petroleum compounds.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the feasibility of utilizing poultry litter as a source of microorganisms, C co-substrate, N, and P to enhance the biodegradation of petroleum compounds in contaminated soil. An initial laboratory-scale study utilized soil contaminated with approximately 3,000 mg/kg (ppm) total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHC) as diesel fuel. Biotreatment units, each containing 10 L of contaminated soil, were supplemented (0, 1, 10, and 20%, total weight basis) with broiler litter containing 3.65% N and 1.89% P. Petroleum-degrading microorganisms previously enriched from broiler and turkey litter were also inoculated into the litter-treated units. A significant first order rate of TPHC biodegradation was measured for all treatment units containing broiler litter (P < 0.05). Based on these results, a subsequent study was conducted at the site of a commercial facility permitted to treat soil (ex situ) contaminated with hazardous compounds. Soil treatment plots, each containing approximately 1 ton of soil contaminated with approximately 1,200 to 1,600 mg/kg diesel fuel were established. Each plot was replicated four times and the experiment was conducted for 35 d. Treatments were as follows: control, soil only; soil + commercial blend of bioremediation nutrients; soil + commercial fertilizer; soil + poultry litter (1% by volume); soil + poultry litter (10% by volume); soil + pelleted poultry litter (10% by volume). The results showed that the remediation of soil contaminated with petroleum compounds is significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced when supplemented with poultry litter (pelleted or nonpelleted) in concentrations of 10% soil volume. These results demonstrate the potential for a specialized market for the use of poultry litter.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Effect of delayed placement on the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens.

An experiment was conducted with broiler chickens to evaluate the effect of delayed placement on reused litter and the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni. The experiment also assessed the presence of C. jejuni in the crop following feed withdrawal periods in cages vs floor environments. Trial 1 utilized 320 female broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery. The chicks were randomly placed into the following experimental groups that were replicated four times with 20 chicks per pen: 1) 0-h, 2) 24-h, 3) 48-h, and 4) 72-h delayed placement. Fecal samples were collected via the cloaca at 7, 14, 21, and 28 d of age; enriched in Bolton broth; and plated onto BBL agar. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated at 1 wk of age in the 48- and 72-h experimental groups but did not differ significantly from the others. Sampling results at 14 d of age showed that 63, 68, 73, and 80% of chicks were positive for the 0-, 24-, 48-, and 72-h treatments, respectively. At 28 d of age, 100% of all chicks sampled tested positive. In Trial 2, 60 market age broilers were evaluated for the presence of C. jejuni in the crop by subjecting them to 0-, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-h feed withdrawal times on litter or in wire cages. Crops were collected aseptically from the broilers, stomached, enriched in Bolton broth, and then plated on BBL agar. There were no significant (P < 0.05) differences between cage and floor withdrawal times for the presence of C. jejuni in the crop samples of broilers; however, there were significant differences in the length of withdrawal on the presence of C. jejuni. Collectively, these results suggested that the isolation of C. jejuni occurred earlier in broilers that were subjected to delayed placement on reused litter and that extended feed withdrawal times in cages or on litter may increase the possibility that the crop of broilers may contain a higher isolation rate of C. jejuni.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Studies on the metabolizable energy content of ground full-fat flaxseed fed in mash, pellet, and crumbled diets assayed with birds of different ages.

Four experiments were carried out to determine the AMEn of ground flaxseed in chickens of different ages and to study the effect of feeding flaxseed in pelleted or crumbled diets on flaxseed AMEn. A corn-soybean meal basal diet was prepared, in which the energy-yielding ingredients were substituted with ground flaxseed at 5, 10, 15, or 20%. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 consisted of these five dietary treatments replicated six times using 9-d-, 6-wk-, and 79-wk-old birds, respectively. A total collection procedure was used to measure diet AMEn, and linear regression analyses were used to calculate the AMEn value of flaxseed for birds at different ages. Experiment 4 involved birds fed either a basal or a 10% ground flaxseed diet prepared as mash, pellets, or crumbles. The flaxseed AMEn values obtained with 9-d- and 6-wk-old chickens were 2,118 and 2,055 kcal/kg, respectively. These values contrast with those of Experiments 3 and 4, in which mature roosters were fed mash diets with AMEn values of 3,560 and 3,654 kcal/kg, respectively. In Experiment 4, a significant improvement in flaxseed AMEn was observed when diets were pelleted or crumbled (4,578 and 4,277 kcal/kg, respectively). We concluded that the difference in AMEn of flaxseed observed in young birds vs. that found in mature birds was likely due to a greater tolerance of the latter to flaxseed, with less evidence of diarrhea. Feeding flaxseed in pellet or crumbled diets can significantly increase AMEn value.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Influence of source and percentage of fat added to diet on performance and fatty acid composition of egg yolks of two strains of laying hens.

We conducted a trial to study the influence of strain of hen (white vs. brown) and source and percentage of added fat to diet on productive performance and fatty acid (FA) profile of the egg yolk. There were nine dietary treatments: a control diet without added fat and eight diets arranged as a 2 x 4 factorial (5 vs. 10% added tallow, olive, soy, or linseed oil). Each treatment was replicated five times, and the trial lasted 12 wk. White hens produced yolks with more saturated FA (P < 0.001) and less monounsaturated FA (P < 0.001) and polyunsaturated FA (P < 0.05) than brown hens. Fat supplementation improved egg mass output (P < 0.05) and feed efficiency of hens (P < 0.001). Linseed and soy oil diets produced greater egg mass than diets based on tallow or olive oil (59.6, 59.4, 57.9, and 57.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). The proportion of saturated FA in the yolk decreased as the percentage of added fat increased (36.5, 32.3, and 31.0% for diets containing 0, 5, and 10% added fat, respectively; P < 0.001). When the alpha-linolenic acid content of the diets increased from 0 to 0.8%, the arachidonic, docosapentanoic, and docosahexanoic acids in the egg yolk increased. Increases in the alpha-linolenic acid content of the diet over 2.3% did not further augment the concentration of docosapentanoic or docosahexanoic acid of the yolk and, in fact, decreased that of arachidonic acid. Only diets supplemented with linseed oil produced eggs with measurable amounts of eicosapentanoic acid. Diets supplemented with soy oil, with moderate levels of alpha-linolenic acid and high levels of linoleic acid, increased arachidonic and docosahexanoic acids in the egg yolk but not eicosapentanoic acid.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Dietary effects of soy isoflavones on growth and carcass traits of commercial broilers.

Three experiments (EXP) were conducted to determine the effect of soy isoflavones (ISF) on growth and carcass traits of commercial broilers. The EXP were conducted simultaneously and a common control was used. In each EXP, treatments were replicated five times with five chicks each. Average initial and final BW were 102 and 2,890 g, 102 and 2,657 g, and 102 and 2,803 g for EXP 1,2, and 3, respectively, and the EXP were conducted from 9 to 52 d posthatching. In EXP 1, the effects of graded levels of supplemental ISF above those typically found in a corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diet were studied. The treatments were 1) C-SBM, 2) C-SBM + ISF levels two times those in C-SBM (2x), and 3) C-SBM + ISF levels five times those in C-SBM (5x). The 2x and 5x levels of ISF decreased gain:feed (linear, P < 0.04) but increased (P < 0.04) breast weight compared with the C-SBM diet. Other performance and carcass traits were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatment. In EXP 2, the effects of low ISF levels in a C-soy protein concentrate (C-SPC) diet were studied. The treatments were 1) C-SBM, 2) C-SPC (low ISF), and 3) C-SPC + ISF (ISF levels equal to those in C-SBM). Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were decreased (16 and 9%, respectively; P < 0.01) in chicks fed the C-SPC diets, regardless of ISF level. Gain:feed of chicks fed the C-SPC + ISF diet was decreased 9% (P < 0.02) compared with chicks fed the C-SBM diet, and gain:feed of chicks fed C-SPC was intermediate between the two. Carcass traits were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatment. In EXP 3, the effects of low ISF levels in a low CP diet were studied. The treatments were 1) C-SBM, 2) low CP (17,14, and 12% in the starter, growing, and finishing diets, respectively) with supplemental crystalline amino acids (low CP-AA), and 3) low CP-AA + ISF (ISF levels equal to C-SBM). Daily gain and gain:feed were decreased from 7 to 9% (P < 0.01) in chicks fed the low CP-AA and low CP-AA + ISF diet relative to those fed the C-SBM diet. Abdominal fat pad percentage was increased (P < 0.01) in chicks fed the low CP-AA diets compared with those fed the C-SBM diet. Dietary ISF can affect ADG and ADFI and may affect carcass traits in some instances.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2003

Influence of enzymes on performance and digestive parameters of broilers fed rye-based diets.

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of enzyme supplementation (ES) to rye-based diets on rate of food passage through the digestive tract, viscosity of jejunum content, volatile fatty acid concentration in ceca, and performance of broilers. There were seven treatments; six diets arranged factorially with three varieties of rye (Petkus, Prima, and Saratov V) and two levels of ES (0 or 500 ppm of an enzyme complex containing 858 IU of beta-glucanase and 864 IU of xylanase/g) and an additional control diet based on corn. Each treatment was replicated seven times (12 chicks caged together), and the trial lasted 25 d. Rye feeding increased intestinal viscosity and impaired bird performance at 25 d (P < 0.001). Among rye diets the greatest feed intake and weight gain were obtained with Petkus variety, which also produced the lowest intestinal viscosity. Enzyme addition reduced the time needed to recover 1% (0.78 vs. 0.98 h; P < 0.05) and 50% (4.2 vs. 6.5 h; P < 0.01) of the marker in feces and reduced the mean retention time of marker in the gastrointestinal tract (17.1 vs. 18.8 h; P < 0.05). Also, ES reduced intestinal viscosity (P < 0.001) and improved feed intake, daily gain, and feed conversion of birds from 4 to 25 d (P < 0.01) but did not modify volatile fatty acid concentration in ceca. We concluded that ES added to rye diets decreased intestinal viscosity and accelerated digestive transit, improving productive performance of broilers.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2004

Interrelationship between methionine and cystine of early Peking ducklings.

A 4 x 5 factorial experiment containing 4 cystine levels (0.325, 0.406, 0.487, or 0.568%) and 5 methionine levels (0.285, 0.385, 0.485, 0.585, or 0.685%) was conducted to evaluate the interrelationship between methionine and cystine in corn-peanut meal diet for Peking ducklings from hatch to 21 d of age. Eight hundred 1-d-old male white Peking ducklings were assigned to 20 experimental treatments. All treatments were replicated 4 times using 10 ducklings per pen. As dietary methionine level increased, weight gain and feed intake increased and then decreased; the quadratic response of weight gain was significant (P < 0.05). The methionine requirement for maximum efficiency of feed utilization (0.585%) was higher than for maximum weight gain (0.485%). According to the quadratic model, the optimal methionine requirement of Peking ducklings from hatch to 21 d of age was 0.481% (95% of the level at maximum response). The plasma uric acid concentration was very low (P < 0.05) when dietary methionine was 0.485%. When dietary methionine was excessive (0.685%), the plasma homocysteine concentration increased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the cystine requirement of ducklings from hatch to 21 d of age was not more than 0.325%. A high level of cystine (0.568%) depressed weight gain and feed intake (P < 0.05), but cystine supplementation in the diets lowered the plasma homocysteine concentration (P < 0.05). There were no significant interactions between methionine and cystine on growth performance, plasma uric acid, and plasma homocysteine.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

Feeding regimen and enzyme supplementation to rye-based diets for broilers.

A trial was conducted to study the influence of feeding regimen [ad libitum, (AL) vs. feed restriction, (FR)] and supplementation of the diet with a combination of xylanase and beta-glucanase on physiological parameters and performance of broilers fed rye-based diets. There were 4 dietary treatments arranged factorially with 2 feeding regimens (0 vs. 30% FR from 4 to 14 d), 2 enzyme doses (0 vs. 500 ppm), and an additional corn control diet. Each treatment was replicated 9 times from 4 to 25 d (15 chicks caged together) and 6 times from 25 to 46 d. From 4 to 46 d of age, FR did not affect weight gain and improved feed conversion of broilers (P < 0.05). Also, FR reduced the incidence of leg disorders, digesta viscosity, and pasted vents (P < 0.01) and increased relative weight of gizzard (P < 0.001). Enzyme supplementation (ES) improved average daily gain and feed conversion at all ages (P < 0.01), and the beneficial effects were greater for AL than for FR birds (P < 0.10). Also, ES reduced digesta viscosity (P < 0.001), relative weights of gizzard (P < 0.05) and crop (P < 0.01), and jejunum length (P < 0.05). Compared with feeding corn, feeding rye AL with or without ES impaired growth and feed conversion from 4 to 46 d (P < 0.01) and increased incidence of leg disorders (P < 0.05), viscosity of jejunum content (P < 0.01), and jejunum length (P < 0.05). We concluded that rye in feed impaired broiler performance and increased digesta viscosity and incidence of leg disorders and that FR and ES reduced the magnitude of the problem. The beneficial effects of ES on bird performance were more evident when birds were fed AL.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

The combined effects of dietary lysine and total sulfur amino acid level on egg production parameters and egg components in Dekalb Delta laying hens.

Dekalb Delta hens were randomly assigned to one of eight dietary treatment groups. Two intakes of lysine (860 and 959 mg/hen per day) and 4 intakes of TSAA (635, 689, 811, 877 mg/hen per day) were combined in a 2 x 4 factorial treatment arrangement and fed from 20 to 43 wks of age. A phase feeding regimen was implemented at 43 wk with lysine intake lowered to 715 or 816 mg/hen per day and TSAA to 578, 607, 699, or 779 mg/hen per day. Cage was the experimental unit (5 hens/cage), and dietary treatments were replicated 8 times. Egg production (EP) and feed consumption were not affected by dietary treatments. Feed efficiency improved linearly by increasing TSAA intake during phase I only. Hen weight gain was improved (P < or = 0.03) by increased dietary lysine (94.2 vs. 135.2 g weight gain/hen). During phase I, hen weight gain was affected quadratically (P < or = 0.02) by TSAA. Increasing TSAA intake up to 689 mg/hen per day increased hen weight gain, but gain decreased at the highest intake. Egg weights (EW) increased (P < or = 0.02) from 59.02 to 60.21 g with increased lysine intake. Increasing lysine intake increased wet and dry albumen percentage, whereas dry yolk percentage decreased with increasing lysine. Total sulfur amino acid intake affected wet yolk, dry yolk, and solids in a quadratic trend, with hens fed 811 and 699 mg/d producing eggs with the greatest yolk solids. Wet and dry shell percentages were not affected by lysine or TSAA, and specific gravity decreased linearly during phase II and overall, with increased dietary TSAA. In conclusion, the dietary lysine at 959 and 816 mg/hen per day for phases I and II, respectively, optimized EW and feed efficiency. Because EP was not affected by dietary lysine, the dietary level for optimizing EP is closer to 860 and 715 mg/hen per day for phases I and II, respectively. Dietary TSAA level for maximum EP and feed efficiency was near 811 and 699 mg/hen per day but for EW may be closer to 877 and 779 mg/hen per day for phases I and II, respectively.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗
PubMed2005

Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers.

This study was undertaken to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 396 1-d-old French guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet; each contained 21, 23, and 25% CP, respectively, from 0 to 4 wk of age (WOA). From 5 to 8 WOA, experimental diets had 3,100, 3,150, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet, and each contained 19, 21, and 23% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 3 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly, whereas carcass characteristics were evaluated at 8 WOA. For the most part, birds on 3,100 and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 WOA exhibited greater (P < 0.05) BW gain, greater carcass and breast weights (P < 0.05), and lower (P < 0.05) feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) than those on a diet with 3,050 kcal of ME/kg. Mean feed consumption of birds fed 25% CP diets was higher (P < 0.05) than those on other dietary CP concentrations. Mean BW gain, FCR, and carcass and breast weights of birds fed 25 and 23% CP diets from 0 to 4 WOA were not different (P > 0.05), but they were better (P < 0.05) than those of birds on 21% CP diets. Positive correlations (P < 0.01) were noted between live weight and weight of carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing of guinea broilers. Thus, diets with 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 23% CP or with 3,150 kcal of ME/kg and 21% CP at 0 to 4 WOA and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, were used more efficiently by French guinea broilers.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Effect of varying metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations in diets of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets 1. Growth performance.

This study was undertaken to assess dietary ME and CP concentrations for optimum growth performance of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 540 one-day-old Pearl Gray guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,900, 3,000, and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 20, 22, and 24% CP, respectively, from 0 to 8 wk of age (WOA). From 9 to 16 WOA, these diets were adjusted to contain 3,000, 3,100, and 3,200 kcal of ME/ kg, and each had 17, 19, and 21% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Overall, feed consumption was higher in birds on 2,900 and 3,000 kcal of ME/kg of feed and the 24 and 21% CP diets than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. When compared with other dietary treatments, cumulative BW gains were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,000 and 3,100, and 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 2 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Pullets receiving 24 and 21% CP diets also exhibited higher BW gains than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Feed conversion ratios were lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,100, and both 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 1 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, than other dietary treatments. Pullets fed 24% CP diets and either 17 or 19% CP diets exhibited lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratios than other dietary treatments at 1 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Thus, diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg were utilized more efficiently by the Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets at 0 to 5 and 5 to 16 WOA, respectively. Also, these birds more efficiently utilized diets containing 24 and 17% CP at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

The neuropathology of schizophrenia.

Insofar as schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome involving the brain, neuropathology is a promising, if not essential investigative approach. Although traditional neuropathology has yet to yield a pathognomonic lesion in schizophrenia, there have been no shortages of findings. Unfortunately, many of these findings have not only failed to be pathognomonic, but they have not been consistently replicated. Fortunately, newer neuropathological techniques, such as post-mortem neurochemistry, have resulted in findings among the most reproducible in schizophrenia research. Although one of these, increased dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia of schizophrenic patients, has been replicated many times, it suffers from doubts as to its clinical relevance. Are these increases in dopamine receptors primary to the illness or a side effect of the treatment? This article discusses the relevance of this finding, reviews other highlights of post-mortem neurochemistry and traditional neuropathology, and discusses new horizons such as autoradiography, immunocytochemistry, and neuronal morphometrics.

Brain↗