Gordana Uscebrka

THE INFLUENCE OF LONG TERM SOUND STRESS ON HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF BROILER'S ADRENAL GLANDS

The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of different sound stress duration on adrenal gland of broiler chickens of different age. The experiments were conducted on 90 HYBRO broiler chickens, divided into nine groups (each group consisting of 10 birds) by different age and lenght of sound stress duration. The chickens were exposed to sound stress in sound attenuated building using a fire alarm bell (95 dB) for stress sessions lasted 120 min every day. The histological structure of adrenal gland was analyzed by light microscopy. The results indicate that adrenal gland is sensitive on this kind of stress and sound as stressor could introduce organism in stress reaction. Adrenal glands of broilers exposed to sound stress characterized by marked hyperemia, hypertrophy of interrenal cells, smaller affinity for staining of chromaffin cells compared with control groups. According to our results, degree of histological changes of adrenal gland under the influence of sound stress depends on the length of exposure and age of chickens.

Electromagnetic Field Effects on the Morphology of Rat Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland, whose hormones are involved in a broad range of functions is one of the most sensitive organs to ionizing radiation, but the effects of non-ionizing radiation such as an electromagnetic field (EMF) on this gland has been suggested1,2 even if not supported with sufficient data.

Morphodynamics of embryonic development of skeletal musculature of broiler and layer chickens.

Eggs of broiler (Ross 308) and layer (Hy-Line Brown) chicken hybrids were incubated and tissue samples from the leg muscle (m. biceps femoris) and breast muscle (m. pectoralis profundus) were taken on embryonic days 9, 12, 15, 18 and 20, as well as on the first day post hatching. Histological preparations were made from the samples and the diameter of muscle cells, the volume density of connective tissue of muscles, and the nucleocytoplasmic ratio of muscle cells were recorded. Comparison of the diameter of muscle cells of leg muscle and the breast muscle between broiler and layer chicken during the period of late incubation and day 1 post hatching showed the diameter of the examined muscle cells was greater in layers, while the nucleocytoplasmic ratio of muscle cells was higher in broilers. No differences were established between these two strains in the volume density of connective tissue in both muscles examined. Such results are explained by the prolonged proliferation of myoblasts and delayed differentiation of muscle cells in broilers, which leads to a greater development of the skeletal musculature during the postnatal period. These processes in the embryonic period of development are the cause of differences in the morphodynamics of embryonic development of the skeletal musculature between broilers and layers presented in this paper.

Electromagnetic Field Effects on the Morphometrical Characteristics of Rat Adrenal Glands

Effect of the magnetic field on the biological mechanisms is still poorly known. It was considered for a long time that the effect of magnetic field was identical to the effects produced by high and low temperatures, ultraviolet rays and noise (Nakagawa, 1984). Long-term exposure to LF-EMF induced morphological and morphometrical changes on thyroid gland (Matavulj et al, 1996) and adrenal glands (Uscebrka et al, 1996). Magnetic fields have been shown to influence the release and levels of a number of neurotransmitters (Kavaliers and Ossenkopp, 1987; Zecca et al, 1997) and opioid molecules (Prato and Kavaliers, 1997), with these actions being proposed to involve alterations in neuronal calcium levels and fluxes (and possibly other divalent ions) and in the stability of calcium binding to neuronal membranes (Blackman et al., 1985, Kavaliers and Ossenkopp, 1986).

Skeletal muscle characteristics of broiler chickens under modified incubation factors

Four groups of broiler chicken hybrid (Ross 308) eggs were incubated under different temperature and light conditions to assess the effects of both variables on musculature development. During the incubation, the first group was the control and the eggs were incubated at a temperature of 37.8 °C without light, the second group was exposed to increased temperature, while the third group was exposed to monochromatic green light. The fourth group of eggs was incubated under simultaneously changed temperature (according to the regime of the second group) and light (according to the regime of the third group) conditions. Tissue samples from the breast muscle (M. pectoralis superficialis) were taken on embryonic days 9, 12, 15, 19 and 20, as well as on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 42 after hatching. Histological preparations were used to assess muscle cell diameter, connective tissue volume density, and the nucleocytoplasmic ratio of muscle cells. Our findings indicate that thermal and light manipulations during incubation increase diameter and decrease nucleocytoplasmic ratio in postnatal skeletal muscle cells. No differences were found among groups with regard to connective tissue volume density. These results can be explained by the influence of thermal and light manipulations during incubation on prolonged myoblast proliferation, as well as on the greater postnatal development of skeletal muscle cells.

İlave Koenzim Q10 ile Beslenerek Derin Pektoral Myopati Oluşturulan Etlik Piliçlerde Miyopatinin Devrelerinin Belirlenmesi

The aim of this study was to examine the structural characteristics and incidence of different stages of deep pectoral myopathy (DPM) that was induced in broilers fed a coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplemented diet. A total of 288 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were equally divided among 8 pens (pens 1 to 8). The diet was the same for all chicks until day 35 post-hatching. Subsequently, broilers in pens 5 to 8 were fed the 20 mg of CoQ10/kg finisher diet until the end of the experiment (day 42 post-hatching). To induce DPM, 5 male birds from each of the pens 1 to 8 were subjected to encouraged wing flapping (EWF) at the end of their 37th day. At the end of the trial, the incidence of DPM stages in broilers was determined and an analysis of the histological parameters of deep pectoral muscles was performed. Results showed that, in the groups subjected to EWF, broilers with the CoQ10 supplement had a lower average DPM stage and volume density of necrotic muscle cells, as well as a higher volume density of non-necrotic muscle cells. These results can be related to the antioxidant properties of CoQ10, which, in chickens subjected to EWF, reduced the effects of DPM on cell necrosis and muscle tissue damage.

Circulation Index as a Quantitative Indicator of Angiogenesis in Chorioallantoic Membrane of Chicken Broilers

Summary Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is an extraembryonic membrane very frequently used for in vivo studies in various researches. Since researches require a fast method for quantifying the CAM angiogenic response, there is a need to develop a new precise and unbiased method of quantification of angiogenesis in CAM, which would be easy to perform and suitable for analysis of a large number of samples. The objective of this paper is to apply a new method of quantification of angiogenesis in investigation of the development of blood vessels in the CAM, in particular days of embryonic life considered essential for CAM development. The present research included 75 fertilized eggs of heavy hybrid Ross 308. CAM sampling for stereological analyses was in key phases of embryonic development, namely on the 12th, 15th and 19th day. The results of the present investigation show that the increase in embryonic age results in increase in circulation index, which is also an indicator of angiogenic processes developing in CAM. The lowest value of circulation index (0.1952) was recorded on the first sampling day (E12), while the highest value (0.2666) was recorded on the last sampling day (E19). This method may be applied in researching different factors which affect angiogenesis in CAM.

Anatomical and histological characteristics of the lungs in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus)

The aim of this work was to study the topography, morphology, vascularisation, histology and innervation of the lungs in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) and compare these data with those concerning the rat, mole rat, rabbit and mouse. The research was carried out on 15 animals. It was revealed that the right lung has four lobes (cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes), while the left lung is not divided into segments. The functional vessels are a. pulmonalis dextra et sinistra and vv. pulmonales (5-6), while the nutritive vessels of the lungs are a. bronchoesophagea dextra and v. bronchoesophagea dextra. Histological tissue sections of the lungs revealed that the wall of terminal bronchioles contains no cartilage and the mucosal epithelium is pseudostratified, cubic and ciliated. Clara cells (club cells, bronchiolar exocrine cells) are present but have no cilia. The lung alveolar diameter is 37 μm on average, and the thickness of the alveolar wall and the interalveolar septa is 1.38 μm. Destruction of the alveolar walls, accumulation of erythrocytes in the capillaries of alveolar septa and destruction of the cytolemma of the capillary endothelium were detected. In addition, connective tissue fibres and peripheral nerves were detected by silver impregnation.

The Effect of Thermal Conditioning on Thyroid Hormones, Hatchability and Embrionic Mortality of Broilers during the Incubation Period

Summary The aim of this study was to examine the effect of thermal conditioning on the embryonic mortality, on the time of embryonic mortality, as well as to examine the effect of this temperature regime on hatching and on thyroid gland hormone levels. 400 fertile eggs, randomly divided into two groups with two repetitions, were used in this research. The control group was exposed to the standard temperature (37.8°C) through the whole embryonic development. The second group was incubated under the standard conditions as the control group, up to 15th day of embryonic development. During 16th, 17th and 18th day of embryonic development, the incubation temperature was increased to 39°C for 3 hours. From 19th day up to the end of the incubation period the conditions of incubation were identical to those of the control group. Results of this study show that the applied treatment leads to an increase of concentration of free T3 hormone on the day 19 of embryonic development, as opposed to a decrease of free T4 hormone in the embryo’s blood compared to the control group. The percentage of hatchability was 82.2% in the control group and 83.3% in the second group. The result shows that this way of thermal manipulation did not affect the embryonic mortality, which was 9.5% in the control group and 8.9% in the experimental group. It can be concluded that in this manner thermal conditioning may manifest the positive effect on the thyroid gland hormone levels without increasing embryonic mortality or disturbing the hatching percentage.

Effect of Litter on Development and Severity of Foot-Pad Dermatitis and Behavior of Broiler Chickens

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of litter type and litter treatment with enzymatic-bacterial production incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis and consequently on behavior of broiler chickens. A total of 1,200 one day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 4 replicates in 2 x 2 factorial design. The first factor was the physical form of the straw (chopped on approximately 2 cm or un-chopped) and the second factor was addition of enzymatic-bacterial product applied directly on the straw. Each replicate consisted of 75 as-hatched birds per pen. Occurrence and severity of the footpad dermatitis and histological evaluation of the scores was done at the end of the trial (42 days of age). During the trial, at 3 and 6 weeks of age, broiler behavior was observed by Scan Sampling Method. The results showed that chopped straw significantly lowered the incidence of footpad dermatitis. Chopped straw in combination with enzymatic-bacterial product showed the lowest footpad dermatitis score in broilers. Histological procedures confirmed the macroscopic evaluation of the footpad dermatitis severity. The chopped straw had a significant effect on some behavioral patterns of broiler chickens. Differences were observed for dust bathing and scratching. Correlation between footpad dermatitis and birds locomotor activity was not confirmed.