علی مجتهدین

One of the environmental factors that lead to the reduction of poultry production is heat stress. Quince leaves are an agricultural waste that is a good source of flavonoid compounds and antioxidants. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of adding quince leaf in the diet on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood parameters in broilers under heat stress conditions. This research was conducted using 160 broilers of Ross 308 strain with four treatments in four replications and each replication including 10 birds for 42 days in a completely randomized design. Quince leaf powder was added to the rations at four levels of zero (control), 1.5, 3 and 4.5%. In order to establish heat stress, the temperature of the hall was increased to 33 °C for 8 hours in the middle of the. Every week, the feed intake was measured and the chickens were weighed. In the second week of rearing, a significant increase (P=0.006) in feed intake was observed linearly with the increase in the level of quince leaf added to the feed rations, so that the highest amount of intake was in the treatment containing 4.5% quince leaf. In the third week, the highest weight gain was observed in the treatment with 1.5% quince leaf. In the fourth and fifth weeks, feed intake and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly between treatments. In the sixth week, feed intake showed a significant decrease linearly (P=0.024) with the increase in the level of quince leaf added to the feed rations, but the feed conversion ratio linearly showed a significant improvement (P=0.017). In the entire rearing period, no significant difference was observed in terms of feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio, although with the increase in the amount of quince leaf added to the feed rations, a relative improvement was seen in the feed conversion ratio, so that this ratio of 2.68 in the control treatment decreased to 2.44 in the treatment with 4.5% leaves. The use of quince leaf in the diets of broiler chickens under heat stress, especially in the early stages of growth, can increase feed intake, weight gain and improve feed conversion ratio, although no significant difference in terms of performance was observed in the entire rearing period, but a relative improvement was observed in the feed conversion ratio.

Silymarin is the effective substance of thistle plant, which causes some physiological effects and improves nutritional behavior. This research was conducted to determine the central effects of silymarin on feeding behavior in broiler chickens and to find the mechanism of feed intake and to investigate its relationship with the serotonergic system.

In this research, 30 pieces of broiler chickens cannulated in the brain were used. In the first stage of the research (28 days old), silymarin was injected in the amount of 20 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. After injection, feed and water intake was measured in 30 to 180 minutes. In the second stage of the experiment (34 days), the relationship between silymarin and the serotonergic system was investigated. The treatments included 1- control, 2- methysergide, 3- ketanserin, 4- methysergide + silymarin, and 5- ketanserin + silymarin.

In the first stage, in 60 and 180 minutes, silimarin caused a significant decrease in feed intake (P<0.05). In the second stage, the central injection of the combination of silymarin with methysergide caused a significant decrease in feed consumption, while the central injection of the combination of silymarin with ketanserin had no significant effect on feed consumption. Central injection of silymarin had no effect on water intake in broilers.

The results showed that although central injection of silymarin decreased feed intake in broilers, it did not affect water consumption. Also, the central injection of the combination of silymarin with methysergide decreased feed intake in broilers.

According to an increasing interest for using artificial insemination by sheep producers, finding methods to maintain frozen semen fertility would be important and applicable. One of the freezing semen disadvantages is increasing of free radicals led to enhanced sperm membrane peroxidation then consequently causes lowered semen fertility after thawing. Some plants bearing high levels of plant antioxidants can help to decrease semen peroxidation. Cysteine, in addition, is a precursor of glutathione peroxidase being the most important antioxidant property in semen. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of adding different levels of ethanol extract of Mentha Longifolia (0, 100 and 200 microL/ml) and cysteine (0, 5 and 10 mmol/l) into ram semen on fertility features after freezing and thawing processes.

In the study, semen samples were collected from four mature, fertile Baluchi rams (> 2y-old) by artificial vagina and after initial evaluation were pooled together. Then, samples were extended in an extender based on Tris-egg yolk. Treatments were arranged as a 3×3 factorial experiment including nine treatments and six straws were assigned to each as replicate. After treating, the straws were filled by the equal amount of semen and after chilling in refrigerator (4 °C) for two hours were frozen in liquid nitrogen container. After thawing the straws at day 10, sperm motility parameters were assayed by CASA. Furthermore, the percentages of viability, plasma membrane integrity and normal morphology of sperms were evaluated by microscope. Data were analyzed by SAS software using GLM procedure and the means comparison was performed by Tukey-Kramer test at 5% error.

Results of the study showed that the effects of adding horsemint extract and cysteine into the extender and the interaction between them on the all motility and viability parameters of frozen ram sperm after thawing were significant (p<0.05), exempt for sperm morphology where only the effect of adding cysteine was significant. Means comparison showed that the greatest sperm total motility, plasma membrane integrity, linearity and curvilinear velocity were observed in cysteine10 treatment (without horsemint extract), while the greatest sperm viability, straight line velocity and average path velocity were seen in cysteine5 treatment (without horsemint extract). The greatest sperm progressive motility percentage was observed in horsemint200 group (without cysteine).

In general, considering to the beneficial effect of adding cysteine into the extender based on tris- egg yolk on the most of fertility parameters of ram frozen semen after thawing, using levels of 5 and 10 mmol cysteine per ml extender in order to maintain fertility of frozen ram semen is recommended.

Barberry fruit (Berberis vulgaris L.) has been introduced in Iranian traditional medicine as a pain reliever. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of the histaminergic system and aqueous extract of Barberry on formalin-induced pain in rats. In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats weighing 220-250 g, were divided into in 8 groups with 6 rats in each groups: control group (normal saline + 1% formalin intraplantar injection), 3 treatment group with aqueous extract of barberry (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg), treatment group with pyrilamine, H1 receptor antagonist (10 mg/kg) alone, pretreatment group with pyrilamine (10 mg/kg) + aqueous extract of barberry (300 mg/kg), Treatment group with famotidine, H2 receptor antagonist (20 mg/kg) alone, pretreatment group with famotidine (20 mg/kg) + aqueous extract of barberry (300 mg/kg). Pain was evaluated by formalin test. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and then Duncan's test. Intraperitoneal injection of aqueous extract of barberry significantly reduced the pain response in the second phase of formalin pain (p <0.05). Pre-treatment of pyrilamin and famotidine and then aqueous extract of barberry improved the analgesic response of the aqueous extract of barberry in the second phase of formalin pain (p <0.05). The results of this study indicated that the aqueous extract of barberry may have analgesic effects by potentiating the pain relief potentials by histamine antagonists, especially the H1 receptor antagonist.

Silymarin is an effective material of Milk thistle whose therapeutic effects have been mentioned in folk medicine. However, little research has been conducted on its antinociceptive effect and its mechanisms of action. Therefore, the aim of present study was to investigate the pain-relieving effects of silymarin using Formalin test with an emphasis on histaminergic system in rats.
In this experimental study, 42 male rats weighing approximately 200-250 g aged 12-14 weeks were divided into 7 groups with 6 rats in each group: control group (Saline Formalin 1% intraplantar), 4 treatment groups with silymarin (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), 1 treatment group with chlorpheniramine (20 mg/kg), 1 pretreatment group with chlorpheniramine (20 mg/kg) silymarin (200 mg/kg). Formalin test was used to assess somatic pain. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data.
Intraperitoneal injection of silymarin significantly reduced pain response in both the first and second phase of formalin pain (P Silymarin has analgesic effects and these effects are probably caused by using the histaminergic system.

One of the plants used in traditional medicine is lemon which has analgesic effect. However, little research has been performed on the analgesic effect of lemon and mechanisms of action with an emphasis on neurotransmitters systems. Therefore, the present study set to investigate the peripheral effects of lemon essential oil on somatic pain using formalin test with an emphasis on histaminergic system in male Wistar rats.
Materiala & Sixty male rats weighing approximately 200-250g and aged 14-16 wk were divided into 10 groups: sham (Salin Formalin 1% intraplantar), three treatment groups with lemon essential oil (EO) (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg), three treatment groups with Chlorpheniramine (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), 1 treatment group with Histamine (10 mg/kg), 1 pretreatment group with Chlorpheniramine (20 mg/kg) EO (50mg/kg), and 1 pretreatment group with Histamine (10 mg/kg) EO (50 mg/kg). Formalin test was used to assess somatic pain. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA.
Intraperitoneal injection of lemon essential oil reduced the pain response induced by formalin in both phases (P Lemon essential oil had analgesic effects, probably caused by the histaminergic system.

Inroduction & Anxiety is a common mental disorders among human populations is considered. Due to the side effects of chemical drugs used to treat them, this study aimed to investigate plantago major leaf extract on the level of anxiety in rats was performed.
Material and In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were divided in 6 groups: negative control group (normal saline), positive control group (diazepam 1 mg/kg) and 4 treatment groups with plantago major leaf extract (doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Elevated plus-maze test was used to assess anxiety. Data using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test and a significance level of P The results of this study showed that plantago major leaf extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg causes anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze test and 100 mg/kg significantly (P According to the results of this study, it seems that plantago major leaf extract due to containing the flavonoid compounds have anxiolytic effects and this effect may be made through the of GABAergic system.