Haseeb Anwar

Immunohistochemical localization and morphometry of somatotrophs and lactotrophs in protein, probiotic and symbiotic supplemented molted layers

Two hundred Single Comb White Leg-Horn spent hens at the age of 70 weeks were purchased from a commercial layer farm. The birds were shifted to the Poultry Research Station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. High dietary zinc (3 g/kg feed/day) was used to induce molting in all the birds after one week of acclimatization. Thereafter, birds were divided in groups of 50 birds each, with the following treatments: G1 [control; crude protein (CP)16%, no other supplement], G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, Symbiotic, 85 mg/L drinking water) and G4 (CP16%, Probiotic, 85 mg/L in drinking water). Fifteen birds were slaughtered at 5% of peak of production for each group to collect their pituitary glands. Better egg production was seen in all the supplemented groups as compared to the control. Especially an earlier post molt production recovery and delayed decline was seen in G2 as compared to all other groups. The immunohistochemistry of the pituitary gland reveals the decrease (P≤0.01) in the cell and nucleus size as well as area of somatotrophs in G2 and G4 as compared to G1. The cell and nucleus size as well as area of lactotrophs decreased (P≤0.01) in G2, G3 and G4 as compared to G1. The better and earlier post molt production in G2 highlights the potential role of protein supplementation in connection with the decreased lactotroph size and area in molted birds.

Immune potentiating role of protein, probiotic and symbiotic supplementation in moulted White Leghorn hens

This study investigated the effects of high protein, probiotic and symbiotic supplementation on the immunity of culled moulted White Leghorn hens. Cage-housed hens (n = 240) aged about 70 weeks were moulted by including zinc in the diet. The moulted hens were randomly divided in four treatment groups: control group (G1; CP 16% in basal diet), high protein group (G2; CP 18% in basal diet), probiotic supplemented group (G3; symbiotic at a dose rate of 85 mg L−1 in drinking water + CP 16% in basal diet), and symbiotic group (G4; probiotic at a dose rate of 85 mg L−1 in drinking water + CP 16% in basal diet). Ten birds from each group were euthanised at 5% peak (5P), full peak (FP), and end of production (EP). Blood samples were taken for serum to estimate geometric mean antibody titre (GMT) against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and egg drop syndrome (EDS) virus. Macrophages were isolated from abdominal exudates (AE) to observe their engulfment response and their nitric oxide (NO) production. 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was inoculated on the skin of five birds in each group to evaluate the delayed type hypersensitivity response by determining the skin thickness. The overall humoral antibody GMT against NDV in the groups was higher in G2, G3 and G3 compared to G1. GMT value against EDS was higher in G2 compared to G1. A significant increase (P ≤ 0.01) in macrophage engulfment and NO production was seen in G2 and G4 compared to the G1. The DNCB inoculated skin thickness response remained higher (P ≤ 0.01) in G2 until FP than the other groups. A diet rich in protein or supplemented with a probiotic or a symbiotic enhances the body immunity of moulted hens.

Role of the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiome in the Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus.

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing throughout the world. Although the exact cause of the disease is not fully clear, perhaps, genetics, ethnic origin, obesity, age, and lifestyle are considered as few of many contributory factors for the disease pathogenesis. In recent years, the disease progression is particularly linked with functional and taxonomic alterations in the gastrointestinal tract microbiome. A change in microbial diversity, referred as microbial dysbiosis, alters the gut fermentation profile and intestinal wall integrity and causes metabolic endotoxemia, low-grade inflammation, autoimmunity, and other affiliated metabolic disorders. This article aims to summarize the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Additionally, we summarize gut microbial dysbiosis in preclinical and clinical diabetes cases reported in literature in the recent years.

Dynamics of anterior pituitary immunoreactive gonadotrophs in moulted hens supplemented with protein, symbiotic and probiotics.

The present work delineates redistribution patterns of the hormone-producing cells of the anterior pituitary, after the phase of moulting. Two hundred single comb White Leghorn hens at the end of their first production cycle (Agexa0=xa070xa0week) were purchased from the commercial poultry farm and were induced to moult by high-dietary zinc (3xa0g/kg feed/day) after 1xa0week of acclimatization, at the experimental research station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The moulted birds were equally (nxa0=xa050) and randomly allocated to their respective groups as G1 (control; CP (Crude protein) 16%, no supplement), G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, symbiotic at does rate of 85xa0mg/l in drinking water daily) and G4 (CP16%, probiotic at dose rate of 85xa0mg/l in drinking water daily). Ten birds were slaughtered in each group at 5% and at peak of post-moult production stage to collect their pituitary glands. An earlier post-moult production recovery, sustained and lengthier production span was seen in the G2 as compared to all other groups. The lowest production and an earlier production decline were seen in G1. The cell diameter and area of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) gonadotroph increased (pxa0≤xa00.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The FSH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area did increase (pxa0≤xa00.01) in G2 and G3, while LH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area decreased (pxa0≤xa00.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The increased FSH and LH gonadotroph diameter in protein and symbiotic supplemented birds is accountable for the increased egg production in these groups.

Role of Plant Derived Alkaloids and Their Mechanism in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases are conventionally demarcated as disorders with selective loss of neurons. Conventional as well as newer molecules have been tested but they offer just symptomatic advantages along with abundant side effects. The discovery of more compelling molecules that can halt the pathology of these diseases will be considered as a miracle of present time. Several synthetic compounds are available but they may cause several other health issues. Therefore, natural molecules from the plants and other sources are being discovered to replace available medicines. In conventional medicational therapies, several plants have been reported to bestow remedial effects. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants can provide a better and safer alternative to synthetic molecules. Many phytochemicals have been identified that cure the human body from a number of diseases. The present article reviews the potential efficacy of plant-derived alkaloids, which possess potential therapeutic effects against several NDDs including Alzheimers disease (AD), Huntington disease (HD), Parkinsons disease (PD), Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, and stroke. Alkaloids include isoquinoline, indole, pyrroloindole, oxindole, piperidine, pyridine, aporphine, vinca, β-carboline, methylxanthene, lycopodium, and erythrine byproducts. Alkaloids constitute positive roles in ameliorating pathophysiology of these illnesses by functioning as muscarinic and adenosine receptors agonists, anti-oxidant, anti-amyloid and MAO inhibitors, acetylcholinestrase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor, inhibitor of α-synuclein aggregation, dopaminergic and nicotine agonist, and NMDA antagonist.

Molecular analysis of the gut microbiome of diabetic rats supplemented with prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic foods

Beneficial symbionts residing in our gut have positive therapeutic effects on several metabolic disorders including diabetes. Oral administration of probiotic and prebiotic foods strengthens the beneficial symbiont populations in the gut and may prevent immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells. The present study was designed to elucidate the gut microbiome of diabetic rats supplemented with a Lactobacillus probiotic and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) cell wall prebiotic. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Wistar rats with allaxon monohydrate (150xa0mg/kg). The rats were fed chow maintenance diet (control and diabetic control groups) or the same diet supplemented with a SC prebiotic (1xa0%), probiotic (multispecies Lactobacillus @108xa0CFU), or synbiotic. On d30, DNA was extracted from colon digesta for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Serum was obtained to estimate total oxidant and anti-oxidant concentrations. A distinct clustering pattern (Unifrac distances, analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) Pu2009=u20090.0361) was observed for the different treatment groups, with the main distinction consisting of the separation between the control and the diabetic control groups. Distinct bacterial clades dominated different treatment groups, particularly for the control and the diabetic control groups, though several bacterial groups overlapped, demonstrating a core microbiota dominated mainly by Firmicutes and Bacteroides. A trend of dysbiosis, characterized by low species richness, was observed in the diabetic rats, albeit not statistically significant. Serum oxidant and anti-oxidant concentrations were not different (Pu2009>u20090.05) among different treatment groups. No significant effects of supplementations of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic were observed on species richness or clustering pattern of the microbiome.

Role of Plant-Derived Flavonoids and Their Mechanism in Attenuation of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases: An Update of Recent Data

Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neuronal cells in certain regions of the brain. Most of the neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) share the communal characteristic such as damage or reduction of various cell types typically including astrocytes and microglial activity. Several compounds are being trialed to treat NDDs but they possess solitary symptomatic advantages along with copious side effects. The finding of more enthralling and captivating compounds to suspend and standstill the pathology of NDDs will be considered as a hallmark of present times. Phytochemicals possess the potential to alternate the synthetic line of therapy against NDDs. The present review explores the potential efficacy of plant-derived flavonoids against most common NDDs including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Flavonoids are biologically active phytochemicals which possess potential pharmacological effects, including antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant effects and are able to attenuate the pathology of various NDDs through down-regulating the nitric oxide (NO) production, by reducing the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), by reducing the excitotoxicity of superoxide as well as acting as tyrosine kinase (TK) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibiting enzyme.

Efficacy of protein, symbiotic and probiotic supplementation on production performance and egg quality characteristics in molted layers.

Two hundred white leg horn layers at 70xa0weeks of age were induced to molt with high dietary zinc (3xa0g/kg of feed); thereafter, birds were equally and randomly divided (nu2009=u200950 each) into four groups keeping G1 as control (CP 16xa0% diet, no other supplement), G2 (CP 18xa0% diet), G3 (CP 16xa0% diet + symbiotic; Perfectin® at 85xa0mg/L in drinking water daily), and G4 (CP 16xa0% diet + probiotic; Protexin® at 85xa0mg/L in drinking water daily). The egg production record was maintained throughout the experiment period, and egg quality parameters were performed at 5xa0%, peak, and end of post molt production stage. The overall egg production was highest in G2 (74.51xa0%) followed by G3 (64.95xa0%) and G4 (65.03xa0%) and lowest in G1 (58.51xa0%). The overall egg weight, length, diameter, weight and diameter of albumin and yolk, egg shell thickness as well as egg shell breaking strength increased (Pu2009≤u20090.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The albumin height, yolk height, yolk index, and haugh unit score decreased (Pu2009≤u20090.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. FCR/12 eggs improved in all the supplemented groups as compared to control (G1). The bacterial contamination of eggs was seen in G1. Conclusively, it was observed in the current experiment that the supplementation with protein, probiotic, and symbiotic did improve the production quality and potential in molted layers.