Daiane de Oliveira Grieser

Effects of methionine supplementation on the redox state of acute heat stress-exposed quails.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the possible effects of heat stress (HS) on H2O2 production and to evaluate whether methionine supplementation (MS) could mitigate the deleterious effects on cell metabolism and the redox state induced by oxidative stress. Meat quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) were fed a diet that either met the nutritional demands for methionine or did not meet this demand (methionine deficient [MD] diet) for 7 d. The animals were either kept at a thermal comfort temperature (25°C) or exposed to HS (38°C for 24 h, starting on the sixth day). Heat stress induced decreased food intake (P = 0.0140), decreased daily weight gain (P < 0.0001), and increased water intake (P = 0.0211). A higher rate of H2O2 production was observed in HS animals (0.0802 vs. 0.0692 nmol of reactive oxygen species [ROS] produced per minute per milligram of protein; P = 0.0042) and in animals fed with the MD diet (0.0808 vs. 0.0686 nmol of ROS produced per minute per milligram of protein; P = 0.0020). We observed effects of the interaction between diet and the environment on the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GP-x) and catalase (P = 0.0392 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Heat stress induced higher levels of GP-x activity in animals on the MS diet and higher catalase activity in animals on the MD diet. Glutathione (GSH) levels were higher in animals on the MS diet (P = 0.0273) and in animals that were kept in thermal comfort (P = 0.0018). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level was higher in HS animals fed with the MD diet (P = 0.0386). Significant effects of the interaction between supplementation and environment were observed on uric acid concentration levels, which were higher in HS animals fed the MS diet (P = 0.008), and on creatine kinase activity levels, which were lower in HS animals fed the MD diet (1,620.33 units/L; P = 0.0442). Our results suggest that under HS conditions, in which H2O2 production is increased, MS was able to mitigate ROS-induced damage, possibly by increasing the activities of antioxidant elements such as GSH, GPx activity, and uric acid concentration, which were present in higher levels in animals that were subjected to HS and fed the MS diet.

Effects of Methionine Supplementation on the Expression of Protein Deposition-Related Genes in Acute Heat Stress-Exposed Broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of heat stress and methionine supplementation on the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone receptor (GHR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and regulatory 1 (PI3KR1) in the liver, as well as the expression of the atrogin 1 and cathepsin L2 (CTSL2) genes in the breast muscle of broilers. Broilers from 1–21 and 22–42 days of age were divided into three treatments related to methionine supplementation as follows: without methionine supplementation (MD), recommended level of methionine (DL1), and excess supplementation of methionine (DL2). The animals were either maintained at a thermal comfort temperature or exposed to heat stress (HS) (38°C for 24 hours, starting on day 20 or day 41 for experiments 1 and 2, respectively). The heat stress increased the body temperature at both ages. Starter period: The HS animals presented increased plasma creatinine content (P<0.0001) and the highest CTSL2 gene expression (P<0.0001). The methionine supplementation increased the IGF-I (P = 0.0144) and GHR (P = 0.0011) gene expression and decreased the CTSL2 (P = 0.0004) and atrogin 1 (P = 0.0012) gene expression. Grower period: Significant effects for the interaction between supplementation and environment were observed for GHR (P = 0.0252) and CTSL2 (P = 0.0011) gene expression. The highest GHR expression was observed in animals that remained in thermal comfort on the DL2 diet, and the lowest expression occurred in the HS animals fed the MD diet. For CTSL2, the HS animals fed the MD diet presented the highest CTSL2 gene expression, and the lowest expression was observed in the animals maintained at thermal comfort on DL1 and DL2 diets. Only methionine supplementation had effect on atrogin-1 gene expression (P<0.0001), with higher methionine content in the diet lower atrogin-1 gene expression was observed. Our results suggest that heat stress induces greater protein degradation and that methionine supplementation could induce protein deposition because methionine increased the expression of genes related to protein synthesis and decreased the expression of genes related to protein breakdown.

Glicerina bruta para codornas de corte, de um a 14 e de 15 a 35 dias de idade

Three experiments were carried out aiming to determine the nutritive value and verify the performance of meat quails feed with crude glycerin (CG). In the first trial 75 quails were used, allocated in a completely randomized design, consisting in three treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted of one reference diet (RD) and two test diets (TD), in which the CG replaced the RD at levels of eight and 12%. The estimated value of metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance was 4,893kcal/kg. In experiment two o, from d 1 to 14, 1,320 not sexed quails were used, allotted in a completely randomized design, with six treatments and 4 four replications. The treatments consisted of six diets with increased levels of CG (0; 3; 6; 9; 12 and 15%). The live weight (LW), weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), biomass accumulated body (BAB) and litter moisture (LM) increased linearly with the inclusion of CG. Considering the performance data, it can be concluded that CG can be included in the diets up to15%. In experiment three, d 15 to 35, 1,032 quails were used, allocated under the same conditions of experiment two. The WG, FI, BAB, LM, breast weight (BW) and breast yield (BY) increased linearly with the inclusion of CG. Considering the performance data, it can be concluded that the CG can be included in the diets up to the level of 15%.

Comparison of growth curve parameters of organs and body components in meat- (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and laying-type (Coturnix coturnix japonica) quail show interactions between gender and genotype

Abstract The objective of this study was to estimate growth parameters of carcass components (wing, thighs and drumsticks, back and breast) and organs (heart, liver, gizzard and gut) in males and females of one meat-type quail strain (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and two laying strains (Coturnix coturnix japonica) designated either yellow or red. A total of 1350 quail from 1 to 42 d old were distributed in a completely randomised design, with 5 replicates of each strain. The carcass component weights and body organs were analysed weekly and evaluated using the Gompertz function; growth rates were evaluated through derivative equations. The meat-type strain presented the highest growth rates in carcass components and organs. Across strains, females showed the highest weight of internal organs at maturity compared to males. Females had greater growth potential in breast, wings and back than males for both yellow and red laying quail.

The effect of heat stress on GHR, IGF-I, ANT, UCP and COXIII mRNA expression in the liver and muscle of high and low feed efficiency female quail

Abstract 1. A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that feed efficiency (FE) correlated with the expression of genes from the somatotropic axis and mitochondrial genes involved in energy production, and that the environment to which the birds are exposed influenced the expression of such genes. 2. Quails were divided into High-FE and low-FE groups and maintained in a comfortable or heat stress (HS) (38°C for 24 h) environment to evaluate changes in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), growth hormone receptor (GHR), adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), uncoupling protein (UCP) and cytochrome oxidase subunit III (COX III) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in liver and muscle tissues. 3. High-FE quails (0.28 g/g) presented a higher final body weight, greater weight gain and a better feed conversion ratio than low-FE birds (0.18 g/g). High-FE birds showed greater IGF-I mRNA expression in the liver and muscle and greater GHR mRNA expression in the muscle. 4. Environmental effects only affected GHR expression in the liver, with quails under comfortable conditions exhibiting greater GHR expression than quails subjected to HS. 5. There was a significant interaction between FE and environmental temperature on ANT mRNA expression in the liver. The greatest ANT mRNA expression was observed for high FE-birds that remained under comfortable conditions. 6. In the liver, UCP mRNA expression did not differ among the quails and was not affected by environment or efficiency. However, comparisons of the low- and high-FE birds revealed higher levels of UCP mRNA in the muscle of low-FE birds. 7. COX III mRNA expression in the liver was dependent on environmental temperature and FE. Higher COX III mRNA expression was observed in animals that remained under comfortable conditions, and high-FE birds exhibited higher expression levels compared to low-FE birds. 8. These results suggest a correlation between IGF-I, GHR, ANT, UCP and COX III gene expression and FE and that environmental temperature could affect the expression of some of these genes.

Exigência de valina e isoleucina para codornas de corte no período de um a 14 dias e de 15 a 35 dias de idade

Two experiments were carried out in order to estimate the requirements of digestible valine and isoleucine for growing meat quails. In experiment 1, 2160 meat quails with 1 day of age, not sexed, were used, distributed in a completely randomized design with a 4x4 factorial arrangement, with four levels of digestible valine (0.90, 1.10, 1.30, and 1.50%) and four levels of digestible isoleucine (0.80, 1.00, 1.20, and 1.40 %), totaling 16 treatments with three replications and 45 quails per experimental unit. The body weight, the weight gain, and the accumulated body biomass linearly increased in function of digestible valine levels and were influenced in a quadratic way estimating 1.38% of digestible isoleucine. In experiment 2, 1440 meat quails, not sexed, were used, distributed in a completely randomized design with a 4x4 factorial arrangement, with four levels of digestible valine (0.82, 1.02, 1.22, and 1.42%) and four levels of digestible isoleucine (0.73, 0.93, 1.13, and 1.33%), totaling 16 treatments with three replications and 30 quails per experimental unit. The performance of meat quails from 15 to 35 days of age was not affected by increased levels of digestible valine and digestible isoleucine in the experimental diets. It was concluded that the requirements of digestible valine and digestible isoleucine for maximum performance of meat quail from one to 14 days of age were 1.50% and 1.38%, respectively, corresponding to relations: valine: lysine of 95% and isoleucine: lysine of 88%. The lower levels evaluated, in the period of 15 to 35 days old, 0.82% digestible valine and 0.73% of digestible isoleucine, corresponding to relations valine: lysine of 52% and isoleucine: lysine of 46% were sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of meat quails without compromising performance.

Comparison of the Quality Adjusting of Nonlinear Models for Organs, Carcass and Body Components in Meat-Type (Coturnix Coturnix Coturnix) and Laying- Type (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) Quail

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adjustment quality of nonlinear models to data organs growth, carcass and body components of meat-type (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) and japanese laying-type (Coturnix coturnix japonica) quail. A total of 1350 quails from one to 42 d old were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five replicates each. To determine the organs growth (gut, heart, liver and gizzard), carcass and body components (wing, thigh and drumstick, back and breast), two quails per repetition were slaughtered weekly. The data were evaluated in function of different nonlinear models (Logistical, Brody, Richards, Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz). All models studied adjusted the data, differing in adjustment quality. Brody model showed the best description of gut length to all treatments. For the data gizzard weight, heart, liver and gut, the models that best adjusted, presenting smaller residual mean square and numbers iterations were Gompertz and Logistical. The Gompertz, Logistic and Von Bertalanffy models were the most adequate to describe the thigh and drumstick growth, back and breast, and Gompertz models and Logistic to describe the wing growth and carcass, showing lesser number of iterations to achieve the convergence of date, as well as low residual mean square and squares sums of the regression residuals. The Gompertz model was the most appropriate to describe the organs growth and body components in meatand laying-type quail when evaluated in growth phase.