The present study designed to evaluate the toxicity of Cerastes cerastes (Cc) venom on male albino rats and the possible ameliorative role of Alkanna orientalis (Ao) extract against venom toxicity. Forty-eight adult male albino rats (180 ± 200 g) divided into 6 groups. Group I injected intraperitonial with physiological saline (100μl). Group II injected intraperitonial with Ao extract (250 mg/kg/BW). Group III was injected with 1/10 LD50 of Cc venom (0.435 mg/kg/BW). Group IV injected intraperitonial with Cc venom (0.435 mg/kg/BW) then immediately injected with Ao extract (250 mg/kg/BW). Group V was given Ao extract orally (250 mg/kg/b.wt) then after 2 hours injected with Cc venom (0.435 mg/kg/BW) Group VI was injected with Cc venom (0.435 mg/kg/BW) then was injected immediately with immunoglobulin (300μl). Group III showed a significant increase in serum creatinin, urea, uric acid as well as a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, glucose level, calcium and cholinesterase when compared with control group. As well as, Ao extract when given intraperitonial immediately or orally 2 hours before Cc venom as antidote, it minimizes the changes of previous biochemical parameters. groups IV and V when compared with group VI, it showed that Ao extract considered more effective antidote than antivenom immunoglobulin for Cc venom renal, lipogram and cholinergic toxicity. In conclusion, Ao extract showed a new therapeutic and prophylaxis agents against Cc venom renal, lipogram and cholinergic toxicity.
This study was conducted in Hadraba Valley, Halaieb and Shalateen Research Station, Desert Research Center. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of providing shade and/ or feeding probiotics as means for alleviating heat stress on Hassani goats raised in the far south of the eastern desert of Egypt indicating by thermo-cardio-respiratory responses and changes in some hemato-biochemical parameters. Four groups of mature male Hassani goats (Five animals in each) were used; group one (G1); kept unshaded without probiotics, group two (G2); kept unshaded and fed probiotics. Group three (G3) shaded and had un-supplemented probiotics; while group four (G4); shaded and fed probiotics. Meteorological data in terms of radiant ambient temperature (RAT), ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) and thermocardio-respiratory responses (rectal; RT, skin; ST and coat temperatures; CT and respiration; RR and heart rates; HR) were recorded twice daily at 08.00 and 14.00 hr. Hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean of corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), plasma total cholesterol (TC), glucose (GLU), total proteins (TP), albumin (A), globulin (G), A/G ratio, alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were determined.The results revealed that providing probiotics relieved the burden of heat stress as indicated by reducing (P<0.01) the thermo-cardio-respiratory responses and increasing (P<0.05) TP and G. Moreover, probiotics caused a non-significant elevation of mean values of PCV, HB, MCHC, A, GLU and reduction of A/G ratio, TC and AST and ALT. on the other hand, Shading resulted in significant (P<0.01) reductions in RT, CT and RR and non-significant reductions in ST, HR, TP, A, G, AST, ALT. Furthermore, shading caused significant (P<0.05) increases in PCV and MCHC and non-significant increases in Hb, TC and GLU. The improvement in thermo-cardio-respiratory responses and hemobiochemical parameters due to probiotics were more pronounced than those of shading. However, the best benefits were obtained of the group provided the two treatments together.It could be concluded that providing shade and/ or probiotics for heat stressed animals in such remote region would improve their heat tolerance to the severe hot conditions prevailing in this region.
This study was carried out to determine the effect of season of birth on puberty in female and male Shami kids. Three groups of each sex born in winter, spring and autumn were observed. During these seasons, both males and females were weaned at 90 days old and offered ad libitum berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) hay plus 100 g/ head/ day of concentrate feed mixture (14 % protein). In female kids, the onset of ovarian activity was detected by plasma progesterone (P4) concentration determined once a week from 3 to 6 months of age then twice weekly until the onset of puberty. The results showed that, season of birth had significant (P< 0.01) effect on the age at first ovulation (puberty). Ovarian activity commenced at significant earlier age (201±23.1 days) in spring born female kids compared with either winter (264±56.9 days) or autumn (344±65.1 days) born female kids. However, there was no fluctuation in the level of P4 except a small rise (low peak) observed a few days before the onset of puberty. The P4 remained at the basal level of 0.24 ng/ml till the day of estrus and then increased gradually to the peak level of 6.4-8.7 ng/ml at day 10-11 of the cycle, which persisted for the next 4-5 days and then declined to the basal level at the end of the estrous cycle (day 20). Sings of estrous behaviour were observed on the day of estrus. In male kids, the onset of puberty was individually recorded by observing the ability of the male kids to mount and copulate the induced estrus goat does. The presence of immobile spermatozoa in the ejaculate was obtained by an artificial vagina after one week of the first mount. The results showed that, season of birth had significant (P< 0.01) effect on the age at the first mounting. The puberty age of male kids born in spring (111±3.0 days) and autumn (112±5.0 days) was attained significantly (P < 0.01) earlier than those born in winter (131±4.0 days). It could be concluded that, season of birth might modify the onset of puberty in both genders of kids, but this modification was more pronounced in female than in male kids of Shami goats.
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