The effect of plant extracts (PE; artichoke, celery, beet, onion, garlic, spinach, avocado, oats, and parsley) in the diet of growing pigs under heat stress was investigated. Parameters included growth performance, blood constituents, carcass characteristics, organ percentage, quality and sensory appraisal of the pork. The study was performed during the Mexican summer, using 60 pigs. Treatments included the control, to which 0.1% PE, and 0.15% PE were added. The use of PE (0.1 and 0.15%) generated an increase in the average daily gain (ADG, by 10.0% for both treatments), and final live weight (LW, by 6.3% and 6.8%) (p < 0.05). The level of blood albumin at 95 kg was higher when supplementing with 0.1% PE (p < 0.05). At 120 kg LW, creatine kinase values showed a tendency to be different (p = 0.07). Carcass weight increased (p < 0.05) when adding PE. Supplementation with 0.1% PE decreased (p < 0.05) the red/green (a *) hue of the meat, whereas supplementation with 0.1% and 0.15% PE increased the yellow/blue (b *) hue (p < 0.05). The addition of PE improves pig growth performance, and carcass weight by reducing the negative effects of heat stress, without markedly modifying blood constituents, meat quality, and sensory attributes of the pork.
Sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) is based on the capacity of sperm to bind exogenous DNA and transfer it into the oocyte during fertilization. In bovines, the progress of this technology has been slow due to the poor reproducibility and efficiency of the production of transgenic embryos. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different sperm transfection systems on the quality and functional parameters of sperm. Additionally, the ability of sperm to bind and incorporate exogenous DNA was assessed. These analyses were carried out by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy, and motility parameters were also evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Transfection was carried out using complexes of plasmid DNA with Lipofectamine, SuperFect and TurboFect for 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 h. The results showed that all of the transfection treatments promoted sperm binding and incorporation of exogenous DNA, similar to sperm incorporation of DNA alone, without affecting the viability. Nevertheless, the treatments and incubation times significantly affected the motility parameters, although no effect on the integrity of DNA or the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed. Additionally, we observed that transfection using SuperFect and TurboFect negatively affected the acrosome integrity, and TurboFect affected the mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm. In conclusion, we demonstrated binding and incorporation of exogenous DNA by sperm after transfection and confirmed the capacity of sperm to spontaneously incorporate exogenous DNA. These findings will allow the establishment of the most appropriate method [intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)] of generating transgenic embryos via SMGT based on the fertilization capacity of transfected sperm.
Introduction: The Sonoran desert shows degradation, risk of desertification and loss of biodiversity. A typical plant of the area is the Mexican ironwood (Olneya tesota), with ecological, economic and social importance.Objectives: To evaluate germination, survival and growth of Mexican ironwood seeds sown in degraded soil, conserved soil, agricultural soil and nursery in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.Methodology: Annual experiments were carried out from 2017 to 2019, with 1 450 Mexican ironwood seeds sown directly in degraded and conserved arid soils, and in soil patches (bare, with grasses, undertree, in accumulation zones and with herbivory protections). The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions of humidity, nursery and irrigated agricultural soil.Results: Seed germination was 0 to 20 % in degraded soils, with zero annual survival. The application of irrigation and herbivory protection led higher germination (16 to 78 %) and annual survival (0 to 50 %). Annual survival in patches of conserved soil ranged from 0 to 30. The highest germination (84 %), annual survival (74 %) and annual growth (84.7 cm) were observed in agricultural soil and drip irrigation.Limitations of the study: The results correspond to three years of evaluations.Originality: There are no detailed studies on the limitations of establishing ironwood plants.Conclusions: Netting protection increases germination, survival and height of ironwood plants in degraded soils. It is possible to initiate ironwood forest plantations on agricultural land with drip irrigation.
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