Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of dietary Spirogyra jaoensis in starter feed on growth performance, pectoralis muscle (PM) growth, and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty one-day-old Cobb-500 broilers (body weight 46±2.6 g) were divided into four equal groups with 3 replicates in each group and given basal feed supplemented with dried S. jaoensis at doses of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, or 2%. The treatment was carried out until the chickens were 18 days old to examine growth of broiler chicks at starter period (8-21 days old). Results: Supplementation with S. jaoensis at doses of 0.5% and 1% resulted in increased weight and improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. At the end of treatment, chickens fed with 0.5% and 1% S. jaoensis weighed 428.3±47.8 g and 426.9±31.8 g, respectively, and were significantly heavier than the control group (373.1±44.1 g). Furthermore, parameters related to PM growth and small intestine morphology of chickens supplemented with 0.5% S. jaoensis in basal feed were improved compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this research indicate that S. jaoensis at a dose of 0.5% improves growth performance, PM growth, and small intestine morphology in broiler chickens. Keywords: broiler chicken, feed supplement, pectoralis muscle growth, small intestine, Spirogyra jaoensis.

Aim:This research aimed to study the effect of leaf extract of cashew as a bioactive compound in feed on the morphology of the small intestine in Jawa Super chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus).Materials and Methods:This study used 72 1-day-old Jawa Super chicks reared for a further 16 days. We used a randomized complete design, in which basal feed was supplemented with ethanolic extract of cashew leaves at 0 g/kg feed (control), 1.25 g/kg feed (P1), 2.5 g/kg feed (P2), 5 g/kg feed (P3), 10 g/kg feed (P4), and 20 g/kg feed (P5). Parameters observed included growth performance, chicken morphometry, and morphology of the small intestine, comprising the length and width of the villi, the depth of the crypt, and the number and size of goblet cells in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test, with significance defined as p<0.05.Results:Ethanolic extract of cashew leaf significantly increased body weight, feed efficiency, body morphometry, villus length, crypt depth, number of goblet cells, and extent of goblet cell area of the small intestine at 16 days. The morphological results from the small intestine showed that P4 and P5 were significantly better than control.Conclusions:Cashew leaf ethanolic extract mixed with 10 g/kg basal feed is effective as a natural feed supplement for Jawa Super chickens.

Background and Aim: Pelung chickens make unique, pleasant, and rhythmic sounds in addition to having strong muscle mass. Performance is controlled by testosterone. A natural aromatase blocker is an agent capable of blocking the aromatase enzyme, which consequently prevents testosterone from being changed into estradiol. Such a condition results in consistently high testosterone levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the administration of the shell powder of Anadara granosa on the testosterone level, frequency and quality of sounds, and metabolism of Pelung chickens within set parameters of thyroid hormone levels, the triiodothyronine (T3)/thyroxine (T4) ratio, and weight gain. Materials and Methods: This study used four Pelung chickens aged 14 months. Control data consisted of data before treatment (day 0). Shell powder of A. granosa was administered for 56 days. Body weight (BW) was measured, and blood samples were drawn. In addition, the sounds from Pelung chickens were recorded once every 2 weeks on days 14, 28, 42, and 56. The blood samples were analyzed using the enzyme immunoassay method to determine testosterone, T3, and T4 levels. The sounds of Pelung chickens were recorded using the Hagemon touch method and analyzed using the Audacity application. Results: The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the levels of testosterone, BW, and sound frequency after the administration of A. granosa shell powder, but the administration did not have a significant effect on the levels of T4 and T3 hormones (thyroid hormone), T3/T4 ratio, or sound duration. The testosterone content and BW of Pelung chickens increased from day 14 to day 56, whereas T3 was indicative of the same profile as the T4 hormone. However, T3 and T4 levels and the T3/T4 ratio decreased and increased, respectively. The sound frequency of Pelung chickens increased from day 0 to day 14, although sound duration decreased. Conclusion: The administration of A. granosa shell powder at 0.9 mg/kg BW orally could improve the metabolism, testosterone level, BW, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens.

Background and Aim: Antibiotic, improves the growth performance of laying hens when used as a feed additive; however, it has been banned in Europe. Furthermore, secondary metabolites used as a substitute for antibiotics are compounds produced by plants. Therefore, this aims to determine the effect of dates water extract (DWE) on the performance of laying hens. This study used dates containing secondary metabolites as a feed additive and substitute for antibiotics. Materials and Methods: A completely randomized design was used, dividing 400 Lohmann brown day old chick into five groups (each group has five replications and each replication consisted of 16 laying hens). Furthermore, there were two control groups such as mineral water control group and antibiotic growth promoters (basal feed+50 mg/kg of bacitracin), and three DWE groups such as 5% DWE (50 mg/mL), 10% DWE (100 mg/mL), and 20% DWE (200 mg/mL). Dates extract treatment was administered through drinking water for 54 days, whereby three laying hens from each replication were taken randomly and decapitated on the neck. Afterwards, a necropsy was performed for histological preparations of the small intestine, ovary, and lymphoid organs. The structure and morphology of the small intestine, and ovaries were observed through histological preparations, while lymphoid organs were observed through histological preparation and morphometry, and body morphometry, body weight, feed intake and weight gain were observed by measurements and weighing. Results: Small intestine morphology, ovarian follicle, and growth performance of the DWE2 group increased significantly compared to the control group, but the lymphoid organs index was influenced by DWE1. Conclusion: The administration of 10% dates extract (100 mg/mL) in drinking water improves the morphology of the small intestine, ovarian follicles, lymphoid organs, and growth performance.

Aromatase blockers are agents that can inhibit the action of the aromatase enzyme so that testosterone will not be converted to estradiol. Thus, the level of testosterone in the blood is maintained high. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of natural aromatase blocker (NAB) on the level of testosterone in serum and evaluate the effectiveness of chemical testosterone. This study used 100 days old chick (DOC) of Layer chicken that divided randomly into 4 treatment groups namely P0 (control), P1 (zinc sulfate 0.018 mg / 40 g BW), P2 (blood clamshell powder (Anadara granosa) 0.036 mg / 40 g BW as NAB), and P3 (testosterone 0.1 mL). Before doing the experiments, comb measurements were done, blood sampling was carried out through the brachial vein to analyze testosterone levels, and testicular weight was done after necropsy. The study design used the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and the data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS software version 15. The results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) on the variable testosterone level, testicular weight, and the length and height of comb. It can conclude that NAB's administration during the initial growth period can increase testosterone levels, and the provision of chemical testosterone continuously can increase testosterone levels but significantly reduce the testicular weight.

Abstract. Tanjung A, Saragih HTSSG, Trijoko, Soenarwan HP, Widianto S, Mahardhika IWS, Daryono BS. 2019. Polymorphism of myostatin gene and its association with body weight traits in a hybrid of GAMA chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus Linn. 1758). Biodiversitas 20: 3207-3212. An experiment was conducted to detect SNP of the myostatin gene and its association with the body weight of hybrid chicken crossbreed from F1 Kamper and BC1 Broiler. Four F1 Kamper hens were crossbred with BC1 Broiler rooster. Day old chick (DOC) hatched were maintained for 49 days with body weight measurement every seven days. The blood samples from 49 days old chicken were taken for DNA isolation by Chelex 5% method and then amplification of the myostatin gene. PCR products were sequenced, and sequence alignment was performed using Clustal Omega to obtain SNP. The SNP obtained was analyzed by the Pearson correlation test with the body weight of forty nine-days-old chickens. The body weight of the hybrid chicken is higher than of Pelung chicken but lower than the Broiler. There are 7 SNPs in myostatin gene exons included 2 Adenine insertions, 1 Guanine deletion, and four substitutions (C2244G, G2283A, T4842G, G7378T) that yield nine haplotypes. Six haplotypes had different protein sequences with Myostatin protein, while three haplotypes were identical to Myostatin protein. The correlation analysis showed that there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.736) between normal Myostatin protein and mutant to chicken body weight at 49-days-old. Adenine insertion to nucleotide 2099-2100 of myostatin gene had a very strong positive correlation (r = 0.800) to 49-days-old chicken body weight, although T4842G substitution had a strong negative relationship (r = -0.773) to 49-days-old chicken body weight. Adenine insertion to nucleotide 2099-2100 of myostatin gene could be a genetic marker of heavier body weight of the hybrid chicken.

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The antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase (HO)-1, which catalyses the first and rate-limiting step of heme degradation, has major anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects via its cell-type-specific functions in the endothelium. In the current study, we investigated whether the key endothelial adhesion and signalling receptor PECAM-1 (CD31) might be involved in the regulation of HO-1 gene expression in human endothelial cells (ECs). To this end PECAM-1 expression was down-regulated in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) by an adenoviral vector-based knockdown approach. PECAM-1 knockdown markedly induced HO-1, but not the constitutive HO isoform HO-2. Nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), which is a master regulator of the inducible antioxidant cell response, and intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in PECAM-1-deficient HUVECs, respectively. PECAM-1-dependent HO-1 regulation was also examined in PECAM-1 over-expressing Chinese hamster ovary and murine L-cells. Endogenous HO-1 gene expression and reporter gene activity of transiently transfected luciferase HO-1 promoter constructs with Nrf2 target sequences were decreased in PECAM-1 over-expressing cells. Moreover, a regulatory role of ROS for HO-1 regulation in these cells is demonstrated by studies with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and exogenous hydrogenperoxide. Finally, direct interaction of PECAM-1 with a native complex of its binding partner NB1 (CD177) and serine proteinase 3 (PR3) from human neutrophils, markedly induced HO-1 expression in HUVECs. Taken together, we demonstrate a functional link between HO-1 gene expression and PECAM-1 in human ECs, which might play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation.