• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2015

Fermented Chlorella vulgaris was examined for its effects on growth performance, cecal microflora, tibia bone strength, and meat qualities in commercial Pekin ducks. A total of three hundred, day-old male Pekin ducks were divided into three groups with five replicates (n = 20 ducklings per replicate) and offered diets supplemented with commercial fermented C. vulgaris (CBT$^{(R)}$) at the level of 0, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg, respectively for 6 wks. The final body weight was linearly (p = 0.001) increased as the addition of fermented C. vulgaris into diets increased. Similarly, dietary C. vulgaris linearly increased body weight gain (p = 0.001) and feed intake (p = 0.001) especially at the later days of the feeding trial. However, there was no C. vulgaris effect on feed efficiency. Relative weights of liver were significantly lowered by dietary fermented C. vulgaris (linear effect at p = 0.044). Dietary fermented C. vulgaris did not affect total microbes, lactic acid bacteria, and coliforms in cecal contents. Finally, meat quality parameters such as meat color (i.e., yellowness), shear force, pH, or water holding capacity were altered by adding fermented C. vulgaris into the diet. In our knowledge, this is the first report to show that dietary fermented C. vulgaris enhanced meat qualities of duck meats. In conclusion, our study indicates that dietary fermented C. vulgaris exerted benefits on productivity and can be employed as a novel, nutrition-based strategy to produce value-added duck meats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1654-1659
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented and non-fermented brown algae by-products on the laying performance, egg quality, relative organ weight, and blood profile of laying hens. Methods: Hy-Line Brown chickens (n = 180; 70-week-old) were randomly divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates per group (3 hens per cage, 4 cages per replicate), and fed with 5 experimental diets, namely the basal control diet (CON) or the control diet supplemented with 0.5% brown seaweed (BS), 0.5% seaweed fusiforme (SF), 0.5% fermented brown seaweed (FBS), or 0.5% fermented seaweed fusiforme (FSF), for 4 weeks. Results: Egg production rate and egg mass were greater in the BS group than in the other groups (p<0.05), and the SF and FSF groups had greater egg production than the control group (p<0.05). Egg weight was higher in the BS group than in the other groups (p<0.05). There were no differences in eggshell color, egg yolk color, eggshell strength, or eggshell thickness among the groups. There was no difference in Haugh units among the treatment groups, except for the FSF group, which had a significantly lower value (p<0.05). The non-fermented groups had greater relative organ weights, particularly the liver and cecum, than the other groups (p<0.05). Regarding blood profile, the supplemented-diet groups had higher albumin levels than the control group (p<0.05). The FBS group had higher total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the other groups (p<0.05). The BS and FBS groups had higher glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels than the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that dietary brown algae supplementation can improve egg-laying performance; however, supplementation with fermented seaweeds had no positive effect on the egg-laying performance of hens.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.94-96
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• 2000

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of enzyme(Endopower) into corn-soybean meal diet on the performance of broiler chicks. Three hundred sixty 3 day-old male broiler chicks(Ross) were divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates of 30 birds per replicate and assigned at random to each of four treatment groups for two energy levels(3100 and 2980 kcal TMEn/kg) with 0 or 0.1% Endopower in the diet. The body weight gain of birds fed the low energy diet with 0% Endopower was lower significantly than the other groups(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in feed intake and feed conversion rate among the treatments. The relative sizes(% B. wt) of the liver and leg muscle were not different significantly among the treatments. The breast muscle weights of the low energy diet birds were higher than those of the high ones, and those of the lower energy group with 0.1% Endopower were highest. The intesinal lengths(cm/B.wt) of low energy diet group without Endopower were lower than those of the others. No significant differences in the relative jejunum and ileum weights were found, but % duodenum weights of high energy group were higher than those of the low energy group. The villi of the ileum of birds fed corn-soybean diet without Endopower were shortened and thickened compared to those of the birds fed with Endopower diet regardless of energy level. The results demonstrated that dietary Endopower improved body weight gain reduced abdominal fats and developed intestinal villi. Therefore it can be concluded that dietary supplementation of Endopower improves nutritive value of corn-soybean diet in broiler chicks.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.56.1-56.17
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• 2022

Background: At the therapeutic doses, diclofenac sodium (DFS) has few toxic side effects on mammals. On the other hand, DFS exhibits potent toxicity against birds and the mechanisms remain ambiguous. Objectives: This paper was designed to probe the toxicity of DFS exposure on the hepatic proteome of broiler chickens. Methods: Twenty 30-day-old broiler chickens were randomized evenly into two groups (n = 10). DFS was administered orally at 10mg/kg body weight in group A, while the chickens in group B were perfused with saline as a control. Histopathological observations, serum biochemical examinations, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the liver injury induced by DFS. Proteomics analysis of the liver samples was conducted using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology. Results: Ultimately, 201 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained, of which 47 were up regulated, and 154 were down regulated. The Gene Ontology classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to screen target DEPs associated with DFS hepatotoxicity. The regulatory relationships between DEPs and signaling pathways were embodied via a protein-protein interaction network. The results showed that the DEPs enriched in multiple pathways, which might be related to the hepatotoxicity of DFS, were "protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum," "retinol metabolism," and "glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism." Conclusions: The hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens might be achieved by inducing the apoptosis of hepatocytes and affecting the metabolism of retinol and purine. The present study could provide molecular insights into the hepatotoxicity of DFS on broiler chickens.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2024

Cordyceps militaris L. (C. militaris) has been traditionally used as tonic medicine for metabolic syndrome. Cordycepin, has been reported with immunomodulatory, antitumor, and hepatoprotective effect, is the main extract from C. militaris. This study was conducted to evaluate the alcohol degradation and hepatoprotective effect of cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract (CM) powder in chronic and binge ethanol (ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet)-fed male C57BL/6 Mice. Cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract powder was orally administered once daily at dose levels of 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg·kg^-1·day^-1 for 16 days. For evaluating alcohol degradation, ethanol concentration and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were measured in serum. Serum ethanol (EtOH) concentration was decreased at CM treated groups, and the activities of ADH and ALDH were increased dose-dependently at CM treated groups compare to EtOH model group. In clinical chemistry, the values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were lower in CM treated groups than those in EtOH model group. Additionally, absolute and relative (to body weight) liver weights were statistically decreased in the CM treated groups compared to the EtOH model group. In conclusion, our study showed that cordycepin-enriched C. militaris extract powder exhibits hepatoprotective effect by upregulating the ADH and ALDH enzyme in an alcoholic liver disease model.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2017

The inhibitory effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis against inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), substance P and phthalic anhydride (PA) treatment were recently reported for some cell lines and animal models. To evaluate the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of A. cochinchinensis toward the livers and kidneys of ICR mice, alterations in related markers including body weight, organ weight, urine composition, liver pathology and kidney pathology were analyzed in male and female ICR mice after oral administration of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight/day saponin-enriched extract of A. cochinchinensis (SEAC) for 14 days. The saponin, total flavonoid and total phenol levels were found to be 57.2, 88.5 and 102.1 mg/g in SEAC, respectively, and the scavenging activity of SEAC gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, body and organ weight, clinical phenotypes, urine parameters and mice mortality did not differ between the vehicle and SEAC treated group. Furthermore, no significant alterations were measured in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the serum creatinine (Cr) in the SEAC treated group relative to the vehicle treated group. Moreover, the specific pathological features induced by most toxic compounds were not observed upon liver and kidney histological analysis. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that SEAC does not induce any specific toxicity in the livers and kidneys of male and female ICR mice at doses of 600 mg/kg body weight/day.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.95-106
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• 2013

Objectives : The researcher investigated the anti-obesity effect of Alismatis Orientale Rhizoma(AP) water extract in mice fed a high fat diet and focused on the analysis of local area adipose tissue. Methods : Male ICR mice were divided into three groups, which were fed either a normal AIN diet, a 45% high fat diet (CT group), or a high fat diet and orally administration with a concentrations of 100 mg/kg (AP100 group) and 300 mg/kg body weight (AP300 group) for eight weeks. Results : As compared with CT group, AP100 group showed significant reductions in absolute weight of liver. As compared with CT group, AP100 group and AP300 group showed significant reductions in weight gain and relative weight of total fat. AST, triglyceride, total-cholesterol levels from the AP 100 group and 300 group were significantly lower than those of the CT, and ALT, LDL-cholesterol levels from the AP 100 group was significantly lower than those of the CT. But serum HDL-cholesterol levels from the AP 100 group and 300 group were significantly higher than those of the CT. And serum adiponectin levels from the AP 100 group was significantly higher than those of the CT. In result of real time PCR, all mRNA expression(PEPCK, G6Pase, PGC-$1{\alpha}$ and $ERR{\gamma}$) of two experimental groups were significantly decreased compared to those of CT group. The treatment with AP on local abdominal area made a fat cell size lessen on the fat tissue in the abdominal cavity and subcutaneous area. Conclusions : These results suggest that AP has an anti-obesity effect and the effect is mediated by inhibition of fat gain.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2006

This study was designed to evaluate the possible DNA damaging effects of T-2 toxin using an alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay and also to investigate toxic effects in chickens. A total of 20 chickens were used in these experiments. Graded concentrations of dietary T-2 toxin (0, 4, 8, and $16{\mu}g/g$ of diet) were given to groups of 5 broiler chickens. In comet assay, The DNA damage was analysed by the tail extent moment (TEM) and tail length (TL), which were used as markers of DNA strand breaks in SCGE. A significant dose-dependent increase in the extent of DNA migration as well as in the percentage of cells with tails was observed after treatment with T-2 toxin (P<0.05). Treatment with the low T-2 toxin ($4{\mu}/g$ of diet) induced a relatively low level of DNA damage in comparison with the high T-2 toxin ($16{\mu}/g$ of diet) group. The growth rate was significantly reduced by concentrations of 8, and $16{\mu}/g$ of diet (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio were significantly affected by any concentrations (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the spleen, and lung was decreased by the growth inhibitory concentrations. The bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and kid- ney were decreased in relative weight by concentrations of $16{\mu}/g$ of diet. The relative weight of the liver and heart were unaffected. The hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were decreased at concentration of $16{\mu}/g$ of diet. As compared with control chickens, there was no marked change in serum components except uric acid in T-2 treated chickens. All lymphoid tissues retained atrophic and lymphoid cell depletion throughout the three weeks trial.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-84
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• 1988

This study was carried out to investigate the teratological potential of azinphos-methyl in the rat fetuses and to establish the nature of the effects on organogenesis and intrauterine development. The Sprague-Dawley female rats (180-210g) without previous litter were used in this study. Azinphos-methyl dosages of 0.094mg/kg, 0.4mg/kg, 1.5mg/kg were selected based on the acute intragastric $LD_{50}$ of 15mg/kg in the rat. Azinphos-methyl in water (Treatment Group), non-treatment control (Negative Control), water control (Sham Control), were administered by oral route and aqueous solution of acetyl salicylic acid (Positive Control) was administered by gavage at rate of 10 ml/kg of body weight from day 6 through 15. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Decreased body weight of dams was observed in animals treated with aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg from day 7 through 14. (P<0.01) 2. There was an apparent decrement in the absolute liver weight in the azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg treated group (P<0.05). However, the absolute and relative kidney weight in aspirin group (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the absolute and relative ovary weight in aspirin, azinphos-methyl treatment groups (P<0.01, P<0.05) were increased. 3. Decreased protein contents of dam's liver was observed in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl treated group of animals (P<0.01). 4. The number of male-female ratio per dam increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5 mg/kg group but there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses in aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Total immature and resorbed fetuses were increased in aspirin group and the number of dead fetuses were also increased in azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group of animals. (P<0.01, P<0.05). 5. In soft tissue defects, diaphragmatic hernia in diaphragm, anophthalmia, enlarged olfactory bulb, hydrocephalus, absence of third and lateral ventricle in skull, hydronephrosis in kidney, atrophy of left ventricle wall, enlarged apex in heart were observed. Especially, defects of diaphragm, heart and eye ball showed peak incidences in the high dose azinphosmethyl and aspirin group. (P<0.01). 6. Variations in the ossification patterns of skull, sternebrae, tail, forelimbs and hindlimbs showed peak incidences in the aspirin and high dose azinphos-methyl group. (P<0.01). 7. In the developmental indices of offspring, the mortality of aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg treated group was higher than that of negative control. And, there was an apparent decrement in the body weight of fetuses (P<0.01) and considerable differences were obtained in pivoting, development of fur, auditory function, vision, quadrupled muscle development and testes descent in aspirin and azinphos-methyl 1.5mg/kg group. (P<0.01).

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.218-225
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• 2006

Purpose: With a remarkable increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is assumed to be increasing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and glucose intolerance in normal and obese children. Methods: A total of 2,206 elementary students (boys: 1340, girls: 866) were grouped according to obesity index; normal group and obesity group (mild, moderate, severe). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT) were measured with total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose. Results: Compared with the 4.6% of elevated aminotransferases in normal group, obese groups showed significantly higher prevalence; 12.1% in mild obesity group, 19.4% in moderate group, and 21.6% in severe group (p<0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was 16.9% in normal weight group, which was significantly lower than obesity group (mild obesity group 30.3%, moderate and severe 37.6%, 38.2% each). In boys, the prevalences of elevated aminotransferases in normal weight and obese groups (mild, moderate, severe) were 6.8%, 18.0%, 23.0%, and 26.0%, respectively (p<0.0001). In girls, those were 2.1%, 5.1%, 12.0%, and 12.6%, respectively (p< 0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was relative to severity of obesity in boys and girls (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of elevated serum liver enzymes increased with severity of obesity. For the prevention and treatment of fatty liver and hypertriglycemia, it is important to lower the obesity degree and enforce the education for a weight loss in the student and the parents.