Young-Hyun Ko

Effects of Vitamin C or E on the Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Heat Shock Protein 70 and Antioxidant Status in Broiler Chicks under Summer Conditions

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary antioxidants on pro-inflammatory cytokines, heat shock protein (HSP) and antioxidant status in broiler chicks under summer conditions. A total of 162, 3-d-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a basal diet (CON) and the basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (200 mg/kg diet, VCD) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg, VED) until 35 day of age. All birds were exposed to summer diurnal heat stress at average daily fluctuations of temperature between 32°C to 34°C at day to 27°C to 29°C at night for the entire feeding periods. There was no significant difference in body weight, feed to gain ratio and the relative organ weight except the thymus in response to dietary vitamin C or E supplementation. However, the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, Toll like receptor (TLR)-4 and HSP70 in the liver of birds fed diet containing vitamin C significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with those in birds fed basal diet. Dietary vitamin E also showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the mRNA expression of IL-6 and HSP70 compared with a basal diet. Total antioxidant status (TAS) in serum of birds fed vitamin C supplemented diet was significantly (p<0.05) higher with than that in birds a basal diet. Lipid peroxidation in serum and liver resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in response to dietary vitamin C or E supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with antioxidant vitamins, especially vitamin C resulted in a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and HSP70, and higher antioxidant parameters than that of birds on the basal diet under summer conditions.

Intestinal Growth and Development of Weanling Pigs in Response to Dietary Supplementation of Antibiotics, Phytogenic Products and Brewer's Yeast plus Bacillus Spores

A total of 96 crossbred weanling barrows aged 21 days were randomly allocated to 32 pens of a new nursery to investigate the effects of antibiotics, phytogenics, and probiotics on intestinal growth and development. The animals were fed a set of three-phase basal diets containing 0.3% zinc oxide (CON) or the basal diets supplemented with 353 ppm of a combination of tiamulin, neomycin, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline (ANTI), 75 ppm triterpenoid saponin plus 150 ppm mixed saccharides (HERB; Sacchapin ® ), or 1 × 10 7 brewers yeasts plus 8 × 10 7 spores of each of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis per kilogram feed (PROBIO; Yeasture Plus 2B ® ) for five weeks. Thirty-two pigs representing as many pens were slaughtered at the end of the feeding trial, after which morphological measures and digestive enzyme activities of intestinal mucosa were determined. Weight gain and gain:feed of the pigs were not affected by the dietary treatments (TRT) during the overall feeding trial. Total intestinal length was greater in PROBIO than in ANTI (P<0.05). Wet mucosa weight of the duodenum was not affected by TRT. However, jejunal mucosa weight was greater in PROBIO than in any other group sum of mucosa weights of the duodenum and jejunum was greater (P<0.05) in PROBIO than in ANTI and HERB. The height and width of duodenal villus were not affected by TRT, but crypt depth decreased (P<0.05) in response to HERB and PROBIO vs CON. Specific activities of alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, maltase, lactase, and leucine aminopeptidase in the duodenum and jejunum were not changed by TRT. In conclusion, results suggest that the present dietary treatments have no effects on growth performance of weanling pigs and that of PROBIO enhances intestinal growth and development under a clean experimental setting. (Key words : Weanling pig, Antibiotic, Herb extract, Probiotic, Intestine)

Effects of a Blend of Prunus Mume Extract as an Alternative to Antibiotics on Growth Performance, Activity of Digestive Enzymes and Microflora Population in Broiler Chickens

The current study was designed to define whether a blend of prunus mume extract (25%) containing lactic acid (75%) and grape seed extract (10 ppm) could affect in vitro antimicrobial activity and growth performance, intestinal microflora, plasma biochemical profiles and digestive enzymes activities in broiler chickens. In paper disc agar diffusion test, we clearly observed antimicrobial activity against E. coli in response to prunus mume extract or a blend of prunus mume extract. For in vivo test, a total of ninety six 3-d-old male broiler chicks were assigned to basal diet (CON), basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (ANTI) and 0.5% a blend of prunus mume extract (PRNUS) until 35 days of age. Throughout the entire experimental period (3-35 days), there were no differences in BW and FCR between the birds fed the basal diet with antibiotics and the diet supplemented with a blend of prunus mume. However, ANTI group showed a significant increase in BW and total gain compared to CON group. The weights of digestive organs such as the pancreas and mucosal tissues were not affected by dietary treatments. There was no difference in plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, AST and ALT activity. However, triglyceride in plasma increased (P<0.05) in the birds fed the diet supplemented with 0.5% a blend of prunus mume extract compared to those fed antibiotics supplemented diet. The activities of pancreatic trypsin and amylase, and intestinal hydrolase including disaccharidase were not affected by dietary treatment. The colony forming units (CFU) of lactobacillus in the lower ileal-cecum of the birds fed the diet supplemented with a blend of prunus mume extract was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of birds fed antibiotic supplemented diet without affecting the CFU of E. coli. In conclusion, the birds fed the diet supplemented a blend of prunus mume as an alternative to antibiotics showed a similar growth performance and an significant increase in lactobacillus population compared with the birds fed basal and antibiotics supplemented diets.

Effects of dietary supplementation of ginkgo leaf and pumpkin on the growth performance, intestinal microflora, blood biochemical profile and antioxidant status in broiler chickens.

Department of Animal Bioscience, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, KoreaABSTRACT The current study was performed to develop natural bio-active substances as additives for the production of high quality broiler chickens. A total of 120 male 3 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to CON (control), GK2.5 (ginkgo leaf 2.5%), GK5.0 (ginkgo leaf 5.0%), PK2.5 (pumpkin 2.5%) and PK5.0 (pumpkin 5.0%) of five groups in cages (24 birds per group). All birds were fed corresponding diets from 3 to 35 d of age and determined growth performance and biological parameters including blood biochemical profiles, antioxidant status and intestinal microflora. During the entire feeding trial, GK5.0 and PK5.0 groups resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) higher FCR than GK2.5 and PK2.5 groups. Plasma triglyceride significantly (P<0.05) increased in GK5.0 group compared with the other groups, and the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) increased (P<0.05) in GK5.0 and PK5.0 groups compared with that in PK2.5 group. Dietary addition of ginkgo leaf and pumpkin significantly (P<0.05) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the small intestine. Also, the addition of 2.5% ginkgo leaf significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver. Futhermore, muscle GST activity significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by dietary addition of ginko leaf and pumpkin. However, the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the small intestine and muscle turned to be higher (P<0.05) in PK5.0 group. The colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli in intestinal digesta significantly (P<0.05) decreased in both ginko leaf and pumpkin supplemented groups compared with CON group. In conclusion, dietary addition of 2.5% ginko leaf and pumpkin as dietary sources can be applicable for the production of high quality broiler chickens.(Key words : ginkgo leaf, pumpkin, growth performance, antioxidant status, broiler)To whom correspondence should be addressed : isjang@jinju.ac.kr

The Effect of Stocking Density and Strain on the Performance and Physiological Adaptive Responses in Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of stocking density and strain on the performance and physiological adaptive responses including the plasma corticosterone content and the level of mRNA expression of pro- inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzymes in broiler chicks. A total of 300 birds of two strains (150 Ross strain vs. 150 Cobb strain) aged 3-d old were allotted into two stocking densities (standard stocking density, 0.046 m 2 /bird vs. high stocking density, 0.023 m 2 /bird) in battery cages by 2×2 factorial designs with ten replicates until 35 d of age. There was no significant strain effect on body weight, feed intakes and feed to gain ratio and the relative organ weights. However body weight, feed intakes and relative organ weight were found to be significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effect of stocking density. Plasma corticosterone level was not affected by both stocking density and strain effects. Hepatic mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was not significantly changed by the effects of strain and stocking density. However, the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was affected by strain, showing that Ross strain decreased (P<0.05) the GPX expression. With respect to the effect of stocking density, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and GPX mRNA expression in the liver from high stocking density group. Splenic pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was not also affected by stocking density and strain, except that IL-18 mRNA significantly (P<0.05) decreased in Cobb strain under high stocking density. The mRNA expression of SOD and CAT was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effects of stocking density and strain. In conclusion, growth performance was not affected by strain but stocking density. Although mRNA expression of major pro-inflammatory cytokines was not changed by stocking density and strain, antioxidant enzyme was significantly affected by stocking density, strain or even organ in birds under summer conditions. More detailed studies still needed to be explored to elucidate the effects of environmental conditions and genetic background on physiological responses in birds.

Effects of Housing Systems on Physiological and Immunological Parameters in Laying Hens

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the effects of housing systems on physiological and immunological responses as stress indicators in laying hens. A total of 500 White Leghorn aged 16 weeks were allotted into ten conventional cages (10 birds/cage and 810 cm 2 /bird) and four floor pens (100 birds/pen and 2,800 cm 2 /bird) for 24 weeks. The hens housed in conventional cages with higher stocking density resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) lower BW compared with those housed in floor pens with lower stocking density without affecting the relative weights of immune organs between housing conditions. In plasma biochemical values, cholesterol and corticosterone were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the hens housed in floor pens compared with those housed in conventional cages. In pro-inflammatory cytokines, hepatic interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the hens housed in conventional cages compared with those kept in floor pens. Splenic and thymic IFN-γ expression was significantly (P<0.05) up-regulated in the hens kept in conventional cages compared with those kept in floor pens without affecting IL-1, IL-10, lipopolysaccharide- induced tumor necrosis factor-α factor (LITAF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In the bursa of Fabricius, IL-10 and iNOS expression of the hens housed in conventional cages were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with those of the hens housed in floor pens. In conclusion, layers housed in conventional cages enhanced plasma cholesterol, corticosterone and some pro-inflammatory cytokines in the immune organs compared with those in floor pens.(

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus and Eucommia ulmoides on Antioxidant Defense System in Laying Hens

To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) and Eucommia ulmoides (EU) on antioxidant defense system in laying hens, a total of three hundreds sixty 20-wk old Hyline brown commercial laying hens were assigned to five dietary groups for 10-wk: (1) control diet, (2) control diet supplemented with AS at 0.5%, (3) control diet supple- mented with AS at 1.0%, (4) control diet supplemented with EU at 0.5% and (5) control diet supplemented with EU at 1.0%. Total antioxidant status (TAS) in blood and antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), gluthathione -S- transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and lipid peroxidation in the small intestine and liver were measured. There were no changes in body weight for 10-wk dietary treatment. TAS in blood significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diet supplemented with 1% AS and 0.5 and 1.0% EU compared with those fed control diet. Especially, dietary EU showed much higher (P<0.05) TAS compared with AS. In the antioxidant defense enzymes, GST activity of the small intestine was shown to be significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diets supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0% EU compared with those fed the control diet. In addition, intestinal SOD activity significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diets supplemented with 0.5% of AS and EU. However, we could not observe any significant dietary treatment effect of those antioxidant parameters in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supple- mentation of 0.5% AS and EU in a laying hen diet could be applied as a potential antioxidant source to improves bio-activity of antioxidant and economical aspect in laying hens.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Coffee Meal on Intestinal Enzyme Activity, Biochemical Profiles and Microbial Population in Broiler Chicks

Animal Products Research and Developmental Division, National Institute of Science, Suwon 441-706, KoreaABSTRACT The current study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of dried coffee meal (CM) on growth performance, intestinal and blood biochemical index, intestinal enzymes, and cecal microbial populations. A total of 162, 3-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated into three dietary groups: control group (CON), basal diet added with 0.5% CM (CM I), and basal diet added with 1.0% CM (CM II). Dietary supplementation of CM did not change bird performance and the relative weight of intestinal mucosal tissues. The birds fed the diet supplemented with CM (0.5 and 1.0%) significantly decreased mucosal glucose concentration (P<0.05) without affecting blood glucose level compared with those fed control diet. The level of blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST) significantly increased in CM II group (P<0.05) without affecting γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) compared with that in the CON group. The specific activity of intestinal maltase, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were not affected by dietary supplementation of CM, whereas sucrase activity in birds fed the diet supplemented with CM was decreased (P<0.05) compared to that in the control birds. The colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli in the cecum of CM-fed birds was significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with that of control birds without changing the CFU of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of lower level of CM (0.5%) can be used as a beneficial feed resource without liver toxicity in broiler chicks.(Key words: coffee meal, broiler, biochemical profiles, intestinal enzymes, antimicrobial activity)

Effects of Extruded and Extruded-Pelleted Corn Products Partially Substituted for Unprocessed Corn of the Starter Diet on Growth Performance and Incidence of Diarrhea in Weanling Pigs

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of partial substitution of an extruded or extruded-pelleted corn product for unprocessed corn of the starter diet on growth performance and incidence of diarrhea in weanling pigs. Seventy-two 21-day-old weanling pigs were allotted to 24 pens and provided ad libitum with one of the four experimental diets for 3 wk in two serial feeding trials during summer beginning from late June. The treatments were a milk product-soy-corn-based control diet containing 25% unprocessed corn and the other three diets only substituted with 12.5% extruded corn Suprex ® , Optigrain ® , an extruded mixture of wheat, rye and durum, or extruded-pelleted corn for an equal percentage of unprocessed corn of the control diet. All diets were supplemented with 100 ppm sulfathiazone, 50 ppm penicillin, and 100 ppm chlortetracycline for preventive medication. The initial and final weights as well as gain : feed were less in the second trial than in the first one (P<0.05). However, effects of the dietary treatments were not detected in any of the performance variables including final weight, ADG, ADFI, and gain : feed, nor were there any interactions between the trial and dietary treatment. In addition, almost all pigs exhibited normal firm feces in both trials and therefore there was no main effect in the fecal consistency score. Results suggest that partial substitution of the thermally processed corn for unprocessed corn of the milk product-corn-soy-based and medicated starter diet has no effect on growth performance or incidence of diarrhea in weanling pigs.(