Yan-Ming Horng

Performance, serum characteristics, carcase traits and lipid metabolism of broilers as affected by supplement of chromium picolinate.

1. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with chromium picolinate on the performance, serum and carcase traits and lipid metabolism of broilers. In trial 1, 120 1-day-old broilers with an equal number of males and females were assigned at random to 4 groups with 3 replicates. Four treatments with dietary supplements of 0 (control), 800, 1600 and 3200 microg/kg of chromium picolinate were used. In trial 2, 6-week-old broilers (20) were used to determine how supplements of 0, 200, 400 and 800 microg/kg chromium in an incubation medium influence their hepatocyte lipogenic capacity and adipocyte lipolysis, in vitro. 2. Dietary supplements of 1600 and 3200 microg/kg chromium in broiler diets significantly increased food consumption (P<0.05); 1600 microg/kg markedly improved weight gain (P<0.05); 1600 and 3200 microg/kg groups showed increased liver lipid content (P<0.05). However, the abdominal fat content tended to decrease in these 2 groups. 3. Dietary supplements of 1600 and 3200 microg/kg of chromium decreased serum glucose and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations while increasing serum phospholipid content (P<0.05). Insulin concentration decreased only in birds receiving 3200 ppb chromium (P<0.05). Serum triacylglycerol (TG) clearance rate in chromium-supplemented groups was markedly enhanced (P<0.05). 4. In addition, chromium supplemented groups had increased serum HDL contents and also reduced serum VLDL and LDL contents (P<0.05). 5. Trial 2 indicated that lipogenesis from [U-14C]glucose by isolated hepatocytes was significantly enhanced by 400 ppb chromium (P<0.05). 6. The results from this study demonstrate that a supplement of 1600 microg/kg of chromium picolinate in the ration influences the growth, carcase, serum traits and lipid metabolism of broilers.Abstract 1. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with chromium picolinate on the performance, serum and carcase traits and lipid metabolism of broilers. In trial 1, 120 1-day-old broilers with an equal number of males and females were assigned at random to 4 groups with 3 replicates. Four treatments with dietary supplements of 0 (control), 800, 1600 and 3200 mug/kg of chromium picolinate were used. In trial 2, 6-week-old broilers (20) were used to determine how supplements of 0, 200, 400 and 800 mug/kg chromium in an incubation medium influence their hepatocyte lipogenic capacity and adipocyte lipolysis, in vitro . 2. Dietary supplements of 1600 and 3200 mug/kg chromium in broiler diets significantly increased food consumption (P <0.05); 1600 mug/kg markedly improved weight gain (P <0.05); 1600 and 3200 mug/kg groups showed increased liver lipid content (P <0.05). However, the abdominal fat content tended to decrease in these 2 groups. 3. Dietary supplements of 1600 and 3200 mug/...

The effect of supplementary dietary L-carnitine on the growth performance, serum components, carcase traits and enzyme activities in relation to fatty acid β-oxidation of broiler chickens

1. This study investigated the effects of supplementary dietary L-carnitine on the performance, serum components, carcase traits and specific activities of hepatic enzymes related to β -oxidation of fatty acids in broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broilers were divided into 2 groups, each with 3 replicates, and given diets supplemented with 0 and 160 mg L-carnitine/kg for 6 weeks. 2. Experimental results indicated that supplementary carnitine did not significantly influence the performance and carcase characteristics of the broilers. 3. The serum triacylglycerol (TG) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in the carnitine supplemented group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). However, the effect on serum cholesterol, phospholipids concentrations and lipoprotein profiles were not significant (P>0.05). 4. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity in the carnitine-supplemented group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the control; however, carnitine supplementation did not significantly affect the activities of other fatty acid β -oxidation enzymes. 5. The results in this study demonstrated that supplementary carnitine facilitated fatty acid transportation and did not influence the performance or carcase characteristics of broilers.1. This study investigated the effects of supplementary dietary L-carnitine on the performance, serum components, carcase traits and specific activities of hepatic enzymes related to β -oxidation of fatty acids in broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broilers were divided into 2 groups, each with 3 replicates, and given diets supplemented with 0 and 160 mg L-carnitine/kg for 6 weeks. 2. Experimental results indicated that supplementary carnitine did not significantly influence the performance and carcase characteristics of the broilers. 3. The serum triacylglycerol (TG) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in the carnitine supplemented group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P 0.05). 4. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity in the carnitine-supplemented group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the control; however, carniti...

Female-specific DNA sequences in geese

1. The OPAE random primers (Operon Technologies, Inc., CA) were used for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting in Chinese, White Roman and Landaise geese. One of these primers, OPAE-06, produced a 938-bp sex-specific fragment in all females and in no males of Chinese geese only. 2. A novel female-specific DNA sequence in Chinese goose was cloned and sequenced. Two primers, CGSex-F and CGSex-R, were designed in order to amplify a 912-bp sex-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment on genomic DNA from female geese. 3. It was shown that a simple and effective PCR-based sexing technique could be used in the three goose breeds studied. 4. Nucleotide sequencing of the sex-specific fragments in White Roman and Landaise geese was performed and sequence differences were observed among these three breeds.

MicroRNA-145 regulates oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 for selective killing of human non-small cell lung cancer cells

BackgroundNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and novel treatment modalities to improve the prognosis of patients with advanced disease are highly desirable. Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising approach for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be a factor in the regulation of tumor-specific viral replication. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether miRNA-145 regulated oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) can selectively kill NSCLC cells with reduced collateral damage to normal cells.MethodsWe incorporated 4 copies of miRNA-145 target sequences into the 3′-untranslated region of an HSV-1 essential viral gene, ICP27, to create AP27i145 amplicon viruses and tested their target specificity and toxicity on normal cells and lung cancer cells in vitro.ResultsmiRNA-145 expression in normal cells was higher than that in NSCLC cells. AP27i145 replication was inversely correlated with the expression of miRNA-145 in infected cells. This oncolytic HSV-1 selectively reduced cell proliferation and prevented the colony formation of NSCLC cells. The combination of radiotherapy and AP27i145 infection was significantly more potent in killing cancer cells than each therapy alone.ConclusionsmiRNA-145-regulated oncolytic HSV-1 is a promising agent for the treatment of NSCLC.