y. jafari ahangari

Heat stress is one of the most important effective factors on performance and health and exposure to heat stress is one of the major challenges in poultry industry. Therefore, consuming compounds with antioxidant properties such as herbs are recommended to reduce heat stress effects. A total of 300 one-day-old broiler chicks (Hubbard) were randomly divided to four treatments and five replicates due to the investigate of different levels Descurainia sophia on performance, immune system, T4 thyroid hormone and responses of HSP70 in broiler’s brain under acute heat stress condition. Treatments were included: control treatment (basal diet), basal diet with 0.5% Descurainia sophia, basal diet with 1% Descurainia sophia and basal diet with 2% Descurainia sophia. Heat stress were exposed on d 35 to 42 (34±1˚C) for 4 hours. In order to evaluate the hormone parameters, immune system and molecular experiments five chickens from each treatment were slaughtered and blood and brain sampling were performed on d 42 of experiment. The results of experiment showed that the treatments had no significant difference on performance parameters and lymphoid organs weight in poultry (P>0.05). The least ratio of heterophile and the maximum ratio of lymphocyte were observed in 1% and 2% Descurainia sophia treatments and increasing the expression of HSP70 and T4 hormone concentration were observed in 2% Descurainia sophia treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that 1% and 2% Descurainia sophia is considered as a reducing agent in heat stress injuries and could be used as supplement and feed additive in poultry nutrition.

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between concentration changes of metabolites and estrogen، progesterone، insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 hormones with ovarian follicular cyst formation in dairy Holstein cows. For this purpose، blood samples of 20 dairy cows (10 healthy and 10 suspicious cows to having ovarian follicular cyst) were collected before slaughtering. After slaughtering، ovarian follicular fluid of healthy and cystic follicles were aspirated. The blood and follicular fluid concentrations of glucose، urea، triglyceride، and total cholesterol and also the amounts of estrogen، progesterone، insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were determined، using related commercial kites. This study showed that unlike of follicular fluids، the amounts of metabolites were similar in blood serum of healthy and suspicious cows. Glucose concentration was around 148. 15 percent higher in cystic follicular fluid than large healthy follicle (P<0. 05). The amount of triglyceride in cystic follicle fluid was 142. 12 percent greater than healthy follicular fluid (P<0. 05). The amounts of urea and total cholesterol did not differ between cystic and health follicular fluids. Estrogen، progesterone، insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations did not differ significantly between blood serum of cystic and healthy cows. In comparison between estrogen and progesterone concentrations of follicular fluids، the levels of estrogen around 141. 83 percent and progesterone around 241. 44 percent were greater in healthy follicular fluid and cystic، respectively (P<0. 05). Although، the amounts of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 did not differ statistically between healthy and cystic follicular fluids، the levels of insulin were 184. 62 percent greater in healthy follicular fluid than cystic follicular fluid. Pierson’s correlation coefficients between estrogen and glucose، total cholesterol، progesterone، insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were positive، while these coefficients between estrogen with urea and triglyceride were negative. In addition، correlation coefficients between blood serum estrogen with triglyceride، total cholesterol، insulin-like growth factor-1 and progesterone were positive، but with glucose، urea and insulin were negative. In general، this study showed that the follicle fate is mainly dependent on the follicular fluid compositions، in particular glucose and triglyceride.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the monthly variations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), T3 to T4 ratio, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and testosterone in Dallagh rams during the breeding and non breeding seasons. Four healthy mature rams (3-4 years old) with an average body weight of 45±5 Kg were selected and kept in the same conditions. Blood samples were collected during June to November at three-week intervals. Serum was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes. T3, T4, TSH and testosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. During the experimental period, statistically significant changes occurred in the levels of serum T3 and TSH (P<0.05). The highest levels of T3 and TSH were observed in November and July, respectively; whereas, the lowest amount of T3 was observed in July. There were no significant differences in T4, T3 to T4 ratio and testosterone hormone during the experimental period (P>0.05). In conclusion, results showed that reproduction in Dallagh rams is not sensitive to day length and season. Therefore, they might be implemented in breeding and non-breeding seasons.

The effects of various levels of dietary L-carnitine supplements (125، 250 and 500 mg/kg) on quail sperm characteristics during liquid storage was investigated. This experiment was arranged on the basis of completely randomized design using 96 Japanese quails with 4 replicates in each treatment and 6 quails in each replicate. Semen samples were collected from male quails using abdominal massage and samples per replication mixed together. Sperm characteristics including percentage of motile، viable، abnormal، pH، volume and concentration were assessed. Results showed that the effect of L-carnitine on semen concentration was significant (p<0. 05). Quails were fed rations containing 125 mg/kg L-carnitine had higher semen concentration (603. 08 million/ml) compared with other groups. The lowest semen concentration was observed in control group (518. 76 million/ml). The effect of L-carnitine on semen pH and volume were not significant (p>0. 05). The effect of L-carnitine on motility and viability percentage of sperm in Tris extender was significant (p<0. 05). Quails were fed rations included 125 mg/kg L-carnitine had higher motile (86. 92 %) and viable (89. 55 %) sperms، after 0 and 4 hours compared to other groups. The lowest motile (80. 71 %) and viable (83. 77 %) sperms were observed for control group. The effect of L-carnitine on motility and viability percentage of sperm in Tris extender، 8، 12 and 24 hours after preservation were not significant (p>0. 05). The effect of L-carnitine on abnormal percentage of sperms 0، 4، 8، 12 and 24 hours of storage were not significant (p>0. 05). Lengths of storages had a significant effect on semen characteristics (p<0. 05). In conclusion، the use of L-carnitine supplement for improving quality of Japanese quail sperm for liquid storage is recommended.

The effect of dietary protein level and feed restriction on performance, body temperature and hematological values was evaluated, using Ross 308 broiler chicks under heat stress. For this purpose, three dietary treatments were fed to broilers during 21 to 42 days of age. Two treatments consisted of diets with protein levels recommended by NRC, 1994 and 85% of NRC recommendation and were fed ad-lib during the experiment. The third treatment was a feed restriction group that was fed diet with protein level recommended by NRC, but chicks were deprived of feed for 6 hours during heat stress challenge. Birds had free access to water. Results indicated that lowering protein content or feed restriction had no significant effect on body weight gain (P>0.05). Feed restriction resulted in significantly decreased feed intake, improved feed conversion and energy efficiency ratio, and decreased body temperature after heat stress challenge at 24 and 32 days (P<0.05). Lowering protein of diet and feed restriction resulted in significantly decreased protein intake, improved protein efficiency ratio and increased hematocrit and blood uric acid (P<0.05). Sex had no significant effect on body temperature and hematological values (P>0.05). Heat stress significantly increased body temperature, hematocrit and glucose and uric acid values.