BACKGROUND: The decreases in insulin sensitivity and extensive perinatal lipolysis are common causes of metabolic diseases related to energy metabolism in ewes. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to study the effect of organic zinc on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance indices in early lactating ewes. METHODS: 18 Ghezel ewes were divided into three groups based on organic zinc supplementation, including CTR: (basal diet without Zinc), LZn: (basal diet supplemented with 30 mg Zn/kgDM) and group 3, HZn: (basal diet supplemented with 300 mg Zn/kgDM). RESULTS: The results of this study showed no significant differences between the experimental groups in glucose, NEFAs, BHB, cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin concentrations. Furthermore, the effect of zinc on the insulin to glucose ratio was not significant among the experimental groups (p < /em>>0.05). Supplementation of zinc-methionine significantly increased serum zinc concentration in ewes (p < /em><0.001). The area under the curve (AUC60, AUC120) was the highest for the control group and LZn and the lowest for HZn group (p < /em><0.05). The rate of glucose clearance in zinc-methionine supplement recipients was higher compared to the control group. The time to reach half maximal glucose concentration in zinc treated ewes was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < /em><0.001), indicating an improvement in insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that Zinc is effective in improving the NEB and preventing insulin resistance in early lactation. It is possible that in sheep, the tissue responsiveness to insulin is enhanced with dietary Zn supplementation, and present findings suggest that dietary Zn-Met may improve energy balance and insulin resistance in lactating ewes.

BACKGROUND: Dietary nucleotide has been shown to improve growth indices, nutritional function and higher vertebrates in fish. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of different levels of dietary nucleotide on growth parameters, whole-body composition and fluctuations of cortisol and glucose due to acute stress in Snow trout (Schizothorax zarudnyi). METHODS: One-hundred-twenty Snow trout fingerlings with average weight 7.58±0.05g, were fed with four levels of dietary nucleotides including 0 (control), 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 percent for 8 weeks. Ten fingerlings were stocked into each 300l tank with triplicate in four treatments and fed three times daily at 3-5% body weight rate. At the end of feeding trial, weight gain, Weight gain rate, feed efficiency, Food efficiency ratio and survival were computed. Also, the numbers of fish that were exposed to acute stress (temperature and pH). RESULTS: The results showed that none of the nucleotide-supplemented diets had any significant effect on growth indices (p>0.05). None of the dietary treatments resulted in any significant changes to dry matter, ash and protein. The only significant difference was observed in the fat (p>0.05). The fish fed 0.25% nucleotide showed higher whole lipid compared to other dietary treatments. Stress test results showed no significant difference at the beginning of the experiment, whereas after, acute stress cortisol levels were significantly higher in trials. The lowest response was observed in trial with 0.50% nucleotide and the highest was in control groups. Glucose levels were not significantly different, neither before nor after acute stress. CONCLUSIONS: The nucleotide composition used in the present study failed to provide significant effects on growth of Snow trout juveniles but could improve response to acute stress.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress declines the performance through physiologic changes of the poultry. OBJECTIVES: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of L-carnitine on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters of broiler chickens fed with high fat diets under heat stress. METHODS: Two hundred one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design by four treatments and five replicates (pen) 10 birds in each replicate. The chickens of experimental treatments were fed with basal diet (control group) and the diets plus the different levels of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental diets were used during the finisher period (day 24 to 42 of age) and under heat stress (32±1ºC as cyclic from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM). RESULTS: The results showed that the chicks fed with the highest L-carnitine had the higher weight gain during the finisher period as compared to control and the lower L-carnitine fed chicks (p<0.05). Furthermore, the feed conversion ratio of birds fed with the medium and high L-carnitine levels (100 and 300 mg) was lower than that of control birds (p<0.05). In orthogonal contrasts, L-carnitine supplementation caused the improvement in weight gain and feed conversion ratio during both the finisher and whole experimental periods (p<0.05). The consumption of highest L-carnitine decreased the abdominal fat as compared to control (p<0.05). In orthogonal contrasts, L-carnitine consumption caused the higher glucose and lower abdominal fat in comparison to control (p<0.05). CONLUSIONS: Totally, the results of recent experiment show that consumption of 300 mg/kg L-carnitine improves the performance of broiler chickens through the increase in dietary fatty acids and energy.

Blood and urine chemical values at parturition in clinically normal Holstein cows (n = 12) were compared with the same values in Holstein cows developing udder edema (n = 12). There was no statistically significant mean difference between the 2 groups for the serum and urine chemical data. Furosemide (500 mg) given IV caused a significant increase in serum calcium and sodium, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretional ratio of chloride, potassium, and sodium. There was a significant mean decrease in the serum potassium, urine creatinine, osmolality, pH, and specific gravity. Hydrochlorothiazide (250 mg) given IV caused a significant mean increase in serum chloride, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of chloride, potassium, and sodium. There was a significant mean decrease in serum potassium and sodium, urine osmolality, pH, and specific gravity. Acetazolamide (500 mg) given IV caused a significant mean increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum chloride and glucose, urine sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of sodium, while causing a significant mean decrease in serum potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, and urine creatinine. Dextrose (500 g) given IV as a 50% solution caused a statistical mean increase in serum glucose, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of chloride and potassium. A statistical mean decrease occurred in the packed cell volume, blood urea nitrogen, serum calcium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, urine creatinine, osmolality, and pH.

Introduction: The transition period is the most challenging time for dairy cattle, which is characterised not only by negative energy balance but also by fatty tissue mobilisation.Material and Methods: The efficiency of energy pathways, β-oxidation in WBC and glycolysis in RBC (based on deoxyglucose transmembrane transport) were estimated. Insulin in blood plasma was determined using ELISA.Results: After calving and up to one month after delivery, a significant drop in blood plasma level was noticed, simultaneously with a rise in β-oxidation from 18.93 ±3.64 to 30.32 ±5.28 pmol/min/mg protein in WBC. A strong negative correlation between these two indices (r = −0.68) was found. During the period of transition to lactation an increase in glucose cross-membrane transportation from 41.44 ±4.92 to 50.49 ±6.41 μmol/h/g Hb was observed. A strong positive correlation between glucose transportation in RBC and β-oxidation in WBC (r = 0.71) was noticed. These data are in agreement with results of studies on dairy cows using liver slices from dairy cows in late pregnancy and different stages of lactation, in which changes in gene expression were analysed.Conclusion: It seems that measuring fatty acids oxidation and glycolysis using isolated blood cells may be an adequate and relatively simple method for energy state analysis to estimate the state of dairy cow metabolism and animal health.

Introduction: Clinical doses of anaesthetic agents were administered to rabbits and effects on the brain, heart, and liver were investigated biochemically and histopathologically. Material and Methods: The rabbits were randomly divided into three main groups (16 rabbits each) and each group into study (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. All study group rabbits received 3 mg/kg of midazolam (M) intramuscularly. Group 1.1 (M) received nothing further, group 2.1 (MK) also received 25 mg/kg of ketamine, and group 3.1 (MKI) besides ketamine was also given 2% isoflurane to induce anaesthesia for 30 min. NaCl solution in the same volume as midazolam and ketamine was injected into the controls. Results: In clinical evaluation significant differences were detected in respiratory and heart rates. In blood gas analysis the PO2 and PCO2 values showed statistical differences in anaesthesia intervals. Significant biochemical value changes were recorded in creatine kinase-Mb, glucose, and total protein. Histopathological liver examinations revealed higher total apoptotic and normal cell numbers in the MK than in the M and MKI groups. Apoptotic cell numbers were statistically significant in M and MK groups. Conclusion: Anaesthetic agents may increase programmed apoptosis. The MKI anaesthetics combination was found to cause less cell destruction in general than the other study groups. It was indicated that MKI was the safer anaesthetic combination in rabbits.

Introduction: The predictive value of selected parameters in the risk of ketosis and fatty liver in dairy cows was determined. Material and Methods: In total, 21 control and 17 ketotic Holstein Friesian cows with a β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration of 1.20 mmol/L as a cut-off point were selected. The risk prediction thresholds for ketosis were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: In the ketosis group, paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity and concentration of PON-1 and glucose (GLU) were decreased, and aminotransferase (AST) activity as well as BHBA and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) contents were increased. The plasma activity and concentration of PON-1 were significantly positively correlated with the level of plasma GLU. The plasma activity and concentration of PON-1 were significantly negatively correlated with the levels of AST and BHBA. According to ROC curve analysis, warning indexes of ketosis were: plasma PON-1 concentration of 46.79 nmol/L, GLU concentration of 3.04 mmol/L, AST concentration of 100 U/L, and NEFA concentration of 0.82 mmol/L. Conclusion: This study showed that the levels of PON-1, GLU, AST, and NEFA could be used as indicators to predict the risk of ketosis in dairy cows.