Ummay Salma

Dietary Karaya Saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus Exert Hypocholesterolemic Effects by Suppression of Hepatic Cholesterol Synthesis and Promotion of Bile Acid Synthesis in Laying Hens.

This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism underlying the hypolipidemic action of karaya saponin or Rhodobacter (R.) capsulatus. A total of 40 laying hens (20-week-old) were assigned into four dietary treatment groups and fed a basal diet (as a control) or basal diets supplemented with either karaya saponin, R. capsulatus, or both for 60 days. The level of serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum, liver, and egg yolk were reduced by all the supplementations (P < .05). Liver bile acid concentration and fecal concentrations of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and bile acid were simultaneously increased by the supplementation of karaya saponin, R. capsulatus, and the combination of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus (P < .05). The supplementation of karaya saponin, R. capsulatus, and the combination of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus suppressed the incorporation of 14C from 1-14C-palmitic acid into the fractions of total lipids, phospholipids, triacylglycerol, and cholesterol in the liver in vitro (P < .05). These findings suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effects of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus are caused by the suppression of the cholesterol synthesis and the promotion of cholesterol catabolism in the liver.

Effect of amino acids and dipeptides on accumulation of ammonia in the medium during in vitro maturation and fertilization of porcine oocytes

AimThe present study was designed to investigate the effect of amino acids and their dipeptides on the accumulation of ammonia in the medium during in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes.MethodsThe IVM and IVF media were modified North Carolina State University-37 solution and modified Tyrode’s albumin lactate pyruvate, respectively. Porcine oocytes were matured in IVM medium containing 75–2400 μmol ammonia. Amino acids (1.0 mmol) or their dipeptides (2.0 mmol) related to the urea cycle were added individually to the IVM and IVF media containing 300 μmol ammonia. Oocyte maturation and fertilization were assessed using acetic-orcein staining, and the accumulation of ammonia in the media was measured using the indophenol method.ResultsPercentages of metaphase II (MII) were adversely affected (P < 0.05) by ≥300 μmol concentrations of ammonia in the IVM medium. In the presence of 300 μmol ammonia in the IVM and IVF media, glutamic acid, L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AlaGln), L-glycyl-L-glutamine (GlyGln) and AlaGln + GlyGln showed the highest rate (P < 0.05) of MII, monospermic fertilization, and the lowest rate (P < 0.05) of ammonia accumulation in the media.ConclusionAlaGln and GlyGln in IVM and IVF media were more stable and effective than the individual amino acids in reducing the accumulation of ammonia, and increased the rate of porcine oocyte MII and monospermic fertilization in vitro.

Effects of relaxin and IGF-I on capacitation, acrosome reaction, cholesterol efflux and utilization of labeled and unlabeled glucose in porcine spermatozoa

AimRelaxin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I have pronounced effects on the male and female reproductive tracts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of relaxin and IGF-I on the motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, cholesterol efflux and utilization of glucose in porcine spermatozoa.MethodsSwim-up separated spermatozoa that had been washed twice were incubated at 37°C for 1 or 4 h in modified Tyrode’s albumin lactate pyruvate (mTALP) medium supplemented without (control) or with relaxin (20 ng/mL) or IGF-I (20 ng/mL) or both (10 + 10 ng/mL).ResultsProgressive motility and the induction rate of capacitation and acrosome reaction were increased (P < 0.05) by relaxin and IGF-I alone or in combination, especially after 4 h of incubation. Relaxin alone or combined with IGF-I enhanced (P < 0.05) the cholesterol efflux after 4 h, whereas IGF-I alone did not show any significant effect on the cholesterol efflux compared with the control at any time point. The utilization rates of labeled and unlabeled glucose increased (P < 0.05) in spermatozoa incubated with relaxin or IGF-I alone or in combination compared with the control.ConclusionThus, supplementation of relaxin alone or combined with IGF-I into the medium possibly plays a beneficial role in porcine spermatozoal prefertilization events in vitro.

Effect of relaxin on motility, acrosome reaction and viability of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa

Background and AimsRelaxin has an important role in stimulating motility and the acrosome reaction (AR) of fresh boar spermatozoa. The objective of the present study was to determine whether relaxin can improve the motility, AR and viability of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa.MethodsCryopreserved boar spermatozoa were thawed, washed and incubated at 37°C for 4 h in modified Beltsville thawing solution supplemented with 0, 20 or 40 ng/mL relaxin. Sperm motility, AR, viability, and incorporation and oxidation of 14C-glucose were evaluated during 0–04 h of incubation.ResultsThe results show that the supplementation of relaxin (especially at 20 ng/mL) in the thawing solution improved sperm motility significantly (P < 0.05) at 1–3 h of incubation. The percentage of acrosome reacted live spermatozoa was improved significantly (P < 0.05) when the spermatozoa were treated with 20 ng/mL relaxin. Viability was not significantly (P > 0.05) improved by supplementation with relaxin. The rates of incorporation and oxidation of 14C-glucose were increased in correlation with AR up to 4 h of incubation.ConclusionWe conclude that relaxin can improve the sperm motility and AR, and enhance the glucose metabolism of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa.

Effect of fructose on motility, acrosome reaction and in vitro fertilization capability of boar spermatozoa

AimThe present study was carried out to investigate the effects of fructose supplementation in glucose containing mTALP medium on motility, acrosome reaction and in vitro fertilization capability of boar spermatozoa.MethodsBoar spermatozoa were preincubated, swum-up, resuspended and then incubated for 6 h in mTALP medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, or 1.0 mmol fructose in the presence of 5.0 mmol glucose. After completion of the specified incubation period, motility was determined subjectively on the basis of speed of progression and on the type of forward movement of spermatozoa; acrosome status was evaluated by applying a triple staining technique; and in vitro fertilization capability was assessed by acetic-orcein staining.ResultsThe combination of fructose and glucose (0.5 + 5.0 mmol) supplements in mTALP medium improved sperm motility significantly (P < 0.05), more than glucose alone (5.0 mmol) at 2–6 h of incubation. Acrosome reaction (live spermatozoa) and the sperm penetration rate was increased significantly (P < 0.05) when the spermatozoa were treated with the combination of fructose and glucose compared with glucose alone, but the incidence of polyspermy was not significantly different between the treatments.ConclusionThese results suggest that the combination of glucose and fructose as supplements in mTALP medium improve the progressive motility, acrosome reaction and fertilization capability of boar spermatozoa.

Effect of Dietary Urea Molasses Multi-Nutrient Cake (UMMC) on Productive and Reproductive Performance of Rabbit

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supple-mentation of urea molasses multi-nutrient cake (UMMC) on productive and reproductive performances of rabbit. In Experiment-I, 80 rabbit does (age 24 weeks) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatment groups (T0, T1, T2 and T3) to investigate the effect of UMMC on the reproductive performances whereas in Experiment-II, 112 young rabbits (age 5 weeks) were also randomly assigned into another four dietary treatment groups to investigate the effect of UMMC on the productive performance. The rabbits of four dietary treatment groups (T0, T1, T2 and T3) in both experiments were fed 0%, 4%, 6% and 8% urea containing UMMC, respectively. The results revealed that the dietary supplementation of UMMC increased (P < 0.05) live weight of pregnant does, conception rate, litter size, and litter weight and individual kit weight at weaning. On the other hand, UMMC supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) the kit mortality, though it did not affect the gestation period, litter size, litter weight and individual kit weight at birth. Dietary UMMC supplementation also improved (P < 0.05) the productive performances of growing rabbits in terms of live weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index by almost same amount of feed intake. On the contrary, blood parameters (Hb, PCV and ESR) were not affected by the UMMC except for red blood cell and white blood cell counts, but were within their normal range indicating the safe use of UMMC. UMMC also increased (P < 0.05) the fecal bacterial population. Production cost of UMMC was around 0.19 USD less in each kg of feed than the commercial pellet. In both of the experiments rabbits fed 6% urea containing UMMC showed best result than control and other treatment groups as well.

Problems and prospects of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) production in Bangladesh

The study investigated the production status, problems and prospects of turkey production in Bangladesh following survey and multistage sampling procedure. Average flock size, weight of a tom and hen were 15.34±2.38, 6.58±0.15 and 2.39±0.06 kg, respectively. Commercial, homemade, and both homemade and commercial feed were used by 21.74, 30.43 and 47.83% farmers, respectively. Both tom and hen attained puberty at 7.22±0.06 months, a hen laid 69.46±0.78 eggs per annum and weight of each egg was 66.13±0.63 g. Fertility and hatchability of eggs were 50±3 and 32±1%, respectively. Male and female ratio maintained 1:4.60±0.17. Main reasons of lower hatchability were low egg fertility, faulty incubation, and both low egg fertility and faulty incubation as per 50.0, 21.7 and 28.3% farmers, respectively. None of the farmers used artificial insemination (AI) except natural breeding. Main advantages of turkey rearing over other poultry species were low disease, high market price, low feeding cost and low mortality according to 41.3, 28.3, 17.4 and 13.1% farmers, respectively. While 36.9% farmers had encountered disease, 80.4% had not used vaccine. An egg, a poult and an adult turkey were sold at BDT 76.2±1.79, 838.5±22.8 and 2587.2±74.8, respectively. In fact, turkey production is still at primitive stage which is characterized by poor housing, feeding, breeding and healthcare practices, so vigorous public extension service, training, research and marketing strategies are immediately needed to improve this sector in Bangladesh.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.4(2): 77-90, August 2017