Effect of Uygur medicine maturants on related factors of liver energy metabolism in rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of five Uygur medicine maturants on the related factors of liver energy metabolism in rats. Methods: After 30 days of preparation and intragastric administration, the weight changes of rats were observed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect Na[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text] ATPase, Ca2[Formula: see text] Mg2[Formula: see text] ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities; hepatic glycogen (HG) and muscle glycogen (MG) content, plasma triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), and thyrotropin (TSH) content were detected. Results: The Kan (blood) quality regulator reduced the weight of rats, the Sapra regulator increased the weight of rats, the Savda maturant group, and the Balham maturant group increased the Na[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text] ATPase, Ca2[Formula: see text] Mg2[Formula: see text] ATP, SDH activity, HG, MG, T3, T4, and TSH content of rats significantly, while the other groups had no significant effect on the energy metabolism-related factors. Conclusion: Five kinds of Uygur medicine maturants have effects on the related factors of energy metabolism in the liver of normal rats, and their elevation of serum thyroxine level is related, among which the effects of the Savda maturant group and the Balham maturant group are more significant.

Growth performance and physiological responses of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) to different stocking densities in humid tropical environment

Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking density of the birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the physiological responses and performance of guinea fowl. A total of 240 indigenous guinea fowl were used for this study. The birds were weighed and assigned to different stocking densities of 14, 16, 18 and 20 birds/m2 (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4, respectively) at four weeks of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data were collected on growth performance, haematochemical profile and plasma triiodothyronine of the birds. The results showed that from the 7th to the 13th week, birds stocked at 14 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than birds stocked at 18 and 20 birds/m2, while at weeks 14 and 15, body weight of the birds was in the order 14 birds / m2 > 16 birds / m2 > 18 birds/m2 > 20 birds/m2. Feed conversion ratios of the birds increased with stocking densities. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio significantly increased with stocking density. It was concluded that stocking density of helmeted guinea fowl higher than 16 birds/m2 adversely affected growth performance and welfare of the birds.

Supplementary prenatal copper increases plasma triiodothyronine and brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein-1 gene expression but depresses thermogenesis in newborn lambs

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that increasing dietary copper (Cu) to gravid ewes would enhance brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in their offspring.Methods: Twin-bearing ewes were assigned on d 70 of gestation to diets containing 3, 10, or 20 ppm dietary Cu (n = 8 per group). Twin lambs were assigned at birth to a cold (6°C) or warm (28°C) environmental chamber for 48 h. Blood was collected from ewes and from lambs and perirenal BAT was collected after 48 h in the environmental chambers.Results: Prenatal Cu exposure increased ewe plasma triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine concentration (T₄) (p<0.01) but prenatal Cu exposure had no effect on lamb plasma concentrations of T₃, T₄, glucose, or nonesterified fatty acid concentration (p≥0.08). The high level of prenatal Cu exposure depressed 48-h rectal temperature (p = 0.03). Cold exposure decreased BAT norepinephrine (NE) and increased BAT dopamine (p≤0.01), but prenatal Cu exposure had no effect on BAT cytochrome C oxidase activity or BAT NE or dopamine (p≥0.07). However, BAT of lambs from high-Cu ewes maintained higher uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) gene expression than BAT of lambs from low- and medium-Cu ewes following warm or cold exposure in environmental chambers (p = 0.02). Cold exposure caused near depletion of BAT lipid by 48 h (p<0.001), increased BAT cytochrome c oxidase activity (p< 0.01), and depressed plasma fatty acid concentrations (p<0.001).Conclusion: Although prenatal Cu exposure increased BAT UCP1 expression during warm and cold exposure, prenatal cold Cu exposure depressed 48-h rectal temperature. Cold exposure decreased BAT lipid content by over 80% and decreased lamb plasma fatty acid concentration by over 40%, indicating that fuel reserves for thermogenesis were nearly depleted by 48 h of cold exposure.

Age-related changes in testicular parameters and their relationship to thyroid hormones and testosterone in male Murrah buffaloes

The present study aims to investigate the age-related changes in testicular parameters and their association with plasma triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and testosterone in male Murrah buffaloes. Testicular measurements and single blood samples were collected from male Murrah buffaloes (n= 103) aged between 6 months and 8 years. The correlation coefficients of average testicular length (ATL), paired testis width (PTW), and scrotal circumference (SC) in relation to age were 0.88, 0.91, and 0.90, respectively. The regression equation between testicular weight (TW) and age was Y=1.48×x0.005 (r= 0.90; R2= 0.79). Plasma T4 and testosterone increased significantly (p< 0.001) with age and their levels ranged between 12.9 and 41.8 and 0.05 and 1.48 ng mL−1, respectively. With respect to associations between testicular parameters and plasma hormone levels, we observed significant (p< 0.01) correlations between ATL, PTW, SC, TW, and plasma T4. A significant correlation (r= 0.31; p< 0.01) between plasma T4 and testosterone levels was also observed. However, the correlations between plasma T3 and testicular parameters and plasma T3 and testosterone were non-significant. From the present study, we conclude that plasma T4 is positively correlated with testicular parameters and plasma testosterone, indicating its role in testis development and steroidogenesis.

Effect of hypothyroidism on growth performance, carcass composition and meat quality of fat-tailed Lori-Bakhtiari lambs

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of induction hypothyroidism by propylthiouracil (PTU) on the growth performance and meat quality of fat-tailed Lori-Bakhtiari lambs. Eighteen Lori-Bakhtiari male lambs were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 6) and received daily treatments (gavage) consisting of 0 (Control: C), 10 (Low: L) or 20 (High: H) mg PTU/kg bodyweight/day for 60 days. PTU decreased plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentration in both L and H (P < 0.0001). Lambs treated with PTU (L and H) had lower feed intake (P < 0.004), feed conversion efficiency (P < 0.003), and greater intramuscular fat than C lambs (P < 0.035). Meat from the L and H lambs had lower cooking loss and shear force, and also higher L* (lightness) than C lambs (P < 0.004, P < 0.015 and P < 0.025, respectively). The meat of H and L lambs was more tender than C lambs (P < 0.032). However, the meat of H lambs required fewer chews before swallowing than C lambs (P < 0.041). Generally, induction of mild hypothyroidism appeared to improve feed conversion efficiency and meat quality of lambs.

Low plasma triiodothyronine levels in heart failure are associated with a reduced anabolic state and membrane damage

BackgroundLow plasma triiodothyronine (T3) levels are considered a prognostic predictor of death in heart failure (HF) patients.AimTo study an association between plasma T3 levels and several cardiac, neurohormonal, and metabolic markers of HF.MethodsA total of 133 ambulatory HF patients (114 males; mean age 63.2 years) with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% were enrolled. TSH, total tetraiodothyronine (T4) and T3, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and other cardiac and metabolic parameters were measured. The lowest tertile of T3 (group 1) was compared against the two upper ones (group 2).ResultsIn simple logistic regression, the lowest T3 tertile was associated with more advanced HF disease status: older (age: odds ratio (OR)=1.05; confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.01–1.09, P=0.004), lower functional capacity (walking test: OR=0.996; CI 95% 0.993–0.999, P=0.008), higher NT-proBNP (OR=1.64; CI 95% 1.19–2.27, P=0.003) and adiponectin levels (OR=1.07; CI 95% 1.02–1.11, P=0.004), lower DHEAS log-transformed (OR=0.50; CI 95% 0.31–0.80, P=0.004), and the presence of lower phase angle values as measured by body bioelectrical impedance analysis (OR=3.18; CI 95% 1.50–6.71, P=0.04) and worse renal function (OR=0.96; CI 95% 0.94–0.98, P=0.003). T3 levels in the lowest tertile were independently associated with low phase angle values (OR=2.95, CI 95% 1.16–7.50, P=0.02) and the log transformation of DHEAS (OR=0.56; CI 95% 0.32–0.97, P=0.04).ConclusionWe have demonstrated an association between plasma T3 levels in the lower range and other deranged hormonal and metabolic parameters in HF patients.