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The Apolipoprotein (Apo) family is implicated in lipid metabolism. There are five types of Apo: Apoa, Apob, Apoc, Apod, and Apoe. Apoe has been demonstrated to play a central role in lipoprotein metabolism and to be essential for efficient receptor-mediated plasma clearance of chylomicron remnants and VLDL remnant particles by the liver. Apoe-deficient (Apoe K/K ) mice develop atherosclerotic plaques spontaneously, followed by obesity. In this study, we investigated whether lipid deposition caused by Apoe knockout affects reproduction in female mice. The results demonstrated that Apoe K/K mice were severely hypercholesterolemic, with their cholesterol metabolism disordered, and lipid accumulating in the ovaries causing the ovaries to be heavier compared with the WT counterparts. In addition, estrogen and progesterone decreased significantly at D 100. Quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that at D 100 the expression of cytochromeP450 aromatase (Cyp19a1), 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd3b), mechanistic target of rapamycin (Mtor), and nuclear factor-kB (Nfkb) decreased significantly, while that of BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (Bad) and tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2) increased significantly in the Apoe K/K mice. However, there was no difference in the fertility rates of the Apoe K/K and WT mice; that is, obesity induced by Apoe knockout has no significant effect on reproduction. However, the deletion of Apoe increased the number of ovarian follicles and the ratio of ovarian follicle atresia and apoptosis. We believe that this work will augment our understanding of the role of Apoe in reproduction.

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High concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3) in poultry houses have adverse effects on the health of workers and animals. The present study investigated the distribution of the PM in different size fractions and NH3, as well as analyzing the physicochemical properties of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in an enclosed layer house. The detection was taken from 5:00 to 21:00 in every 2 h for a 7-d continuous monitoring using a DustTrak II model 8532 aerosol monitor for PM concentrations and a JK40-IV portable gas detector for NH3 concentrations. The concentrations of inhalable particulate matter (PM10), total suspended particles (TSP), and NH3 were significantly higher in the rear of the chicken house compared to the front (P < 0.05). The PM10, TSP, and NH3 concentrations inside the layer house were significantly higher than outside (P < 0.001). The concentrations of PM10 and TSP were both highest at the first feeding time at 7:00. The PM2.5/PM10, PM2.5/TSP, and PM10/TSP concentration ratios at 5:00 were highest with 0.84, 0.62, and 0.74, respectively. Airflow speed showed a significant correlation with other measured microclimatic variables. Organic carbon was the primary constituent of PM2.5 collected from the layer house. It was also observed that mass percentage of elements C and O were both the highest by energy spectrum diagrams of PM2.5. The ultrastructure of PM2.5 revealed that there were mineral particles derived from feed, feces, or the ground and that smoke polymers came from ambient air. In conclusion, air quality was better at the front than at the middle and rear of the layer house. Air quality outside was better than that inside the house. Chicken activities primarily caused the PM10 and TSP concentrations to increase in the chicken house. The main components of PM2.5 in the layer house were organic matter and minerals, which were mostly derived from feed, feces, and ground dust.

This study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of pure glyphosate or Roundup® on hatchability, serum biochemistry and histopathological observation of the liver and kidney of newly hatched chicks. On day six, a total of 225 fertile eggs were obtained from Huafeng breeder hens. The eggs were randomly divided into three treatments: (a) the control group injected with deionized water, (b) the glyphosate group injected 10 mg pure glyphosate/Kg egg mass and (c) the Roundup group injected 10 mg the active ingredient glyphosate in Roundup®/Kg egg. The results showed a decrease of hatchability rate in chicks treated with Roundup® (66%). In addition, no significant change was observed in body weights, yolk sac weight and relative weight organs except the liver and kidney were significantly increased with groups treated with glyphosate and Roundup® compared to the control group. The results showed that serum protein profiles were linearly significantly increased of serum phosphor, uric acid, aspirate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in groups treated with Roundup®, as well as the serum concentrations of triglyceride altered after treatment with glyphosate. Furthermore, oxidative stress was observed in the treated chicks, the glyphosate and Roundup® induced changes of the content of malondialdehyde in both the liver and kidney, moreover decrease of glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the kidney tissue and serum. Additionally, changes also happened in the histomorphology of the liver and kidney tissue of the treated chicks. It can be concluded that Roundup® as a probable decrease of hatchability. Exposure to glyphosate alone or Roundup® caused liver and kidney histopathological alterations, serum parameters imbalances and oxidative stress, also induced a variety of liver and kidney biochemical alterations that might impair normal organ functioning in newly hatched chicks.

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