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Exposure of growing rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their performance leading to major production losses. A total number of 48 rabbits, unsexed V-line weaned rabbits, were randomly divided into four experimental groups, temperature ranged from high at 328C to low at 238C. Animals of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th group were individually orally given 200, 400 or 800 mg royal jelly (RJ)/kg BW once a week, respectively, to evaluate RJ ability to reduce physiological strain resulted from heat stress. Weekly BW gain increased by 10.4, 11.8 and 10.8%, and feed conversion ratio was significantly improved by 20, 24 and 18% with RJ treatments. Serum total protein, albumin and globulin increased, whereas serum total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased with RJ treatments. Creatinine was reduced by 21, 30 and 18% and uric acid by 14, 25 and 18% compared with the heat stressed control with the three doses of RJ. Glucose level increased significantly to reach 116, 125, and 120% of heat stressed control. Calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly with RJ treatments indicating the occurrence of active bone deposition. Thyroid hormone levels increased significantly to reach 108, 111, and 112% of heat stressed control rabbits with the three doses of RJ, counteracting the hypothyroid state resulted from heat stress. It can be concluded that RJ administration to heat stressed growing rabbits can reduce physiological strain resulted from heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) effects on reproductive and thyroid hormones have been well documented; however, mechanisms of action are not well understood. Two studies were conducted to determine whether HS-induced and hypothyroid-induced effects are similar in the laying hen, with regard to reproductive hormones and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive cells in the hypothalamus. In study 1, thirty 32-wk-old Hy-Line W-36 laying hens, housed at 22 degrees C, were cannulated. On d 0 and then on d 1 to 5 of HS (35 degrees C, 50% RH), a daily blood sample was obtained and assayed for triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxine (T(4)), 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P(4)), prolactin (PRL), and VIP, and T(3):T(4)was calculated. On d 0, 1, 3, and 5, livers were obtained for hepatic type I deiodinase mRNA (cDI-1) determination. In study 2, eighty 32-wk-old hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments of 20 birds each: 1) HS (36.5 degrees C, 50% RH), 2) thiouracil-induced hypothyroidism (HY), 3) HY + T(4) administration, and 4) control (22 degrees C). Beginning on d 1 of the 5-d study, daily blood samples (3.0 mL) were removed and assayed as in study 1. On d 5, brains were removed from 3 hens/treatment and immunoreactivity of VIP cells was determined. In study 1, HS reduced E(2), P(4), T(3) (P = 0.0001), T(3):T(4) ratio (P = 0.0078), and hepatic type I deiodinase mRNA (P = 0.0204) and increased T(4) (P = 0.0013); there was no effect on VIP or PRL. In study 2, HS and HY reduced T(3), T(3):T(4) ratio, and E(2) (P = 0.0001) and increased PRL (P = 0.0045); HS alone decreased P(4) (P = 0.0001). In HY + T(4), plasma E(2) and PRL were similar to control. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide increased in plasma of HY birds, but there was no effect of HS or HY + T(4). Immunoreactive VIP cells increased (P = 0.0036) in nucleus inferior hypothalami of HS and HY brains. In HY + T(4), VIP immunoreactive cell numbers were similar to control. It appears that HY induced chemically or by HS exerts similar effects on reproductive hormones in the hen; the results suggest involvement of the VIP-PRL pathway even though peripheral blood concentrations were not consistent between studies.

Exposure of male rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their fertility, leading to major production losses. A total of 16 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups exposed to temperatures ranging from a high of 30.3 to a low of 27.3 °C. Animals from first to fourth groups were fed diets containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5% pomegranate peel (PP) to evaluate the ability of PP feeding to enhance bucks' reproductive status. Pomegranate peel treatments significantly increased ejaculate volume by 19, 18 and 12%, increased seminal plasma fructose by 7, 18, and 24%, improved sperm motility by 28, 34 and 49%, increased sperm total output by 37, 69 and 102% and reduced dead sperm by 24, 32 and 64% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP compared to the heat stressed control animals. Seminal plasma total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides increased while alkaline phosphatase decreased with PP treatments. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity increased to reach 126, 143 and 191% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP, while lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) levels decreased significantly to reach around 54% of the heat stressed bucks' value with the three PP dietary doses used. It was concluded that supplementations of PP in the diet of bucks during summer season in Egypt can improve their semen characteristics, probably due to their antioxidant actions.

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Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on blood hematology, lipid profile and immunity status of growing rabbits. Methods: A total of 120, unsexed Alexandria line weaned rabbits, at 4 weeks of age were randomly divided into four groups (30 rabbits each). The first group was fed the control diet and the other groups (2-4) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 10, 20 or 30% MOL for 5 weeks of experimental period. Results: Data revealed that dietary supplementation with 20% MOL recorded the highest live body weight and increased hemoglobin and packed cell volume significantly at 9 weeks of age compared to other groups. Increasing Moringa levels resulted in a significant increase in white blood cells, lymphocytes, globulin and high density lipoprotein, total antioxidant capacity, Immunoglobulin G and M levels compared to control, but, total lipids, cholesterol, malondialdehyde and liver glycogen values decreased significantly. With 20% MOL thymus histology showed an outer cortex of small lymphocytes, heavily-stained densely-packed lymphocytes surrounding the inner marrow clear pale medulla in contrast with other groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that 20% Moringa leaves may exert beneficial effects on lipid, antioxidant and immunity statuses properties of growing rabbits.

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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different forms of Zinc oxide as bulk and nano particles supplemented diet on hematological profile, antioxidant status, liver and kidney functions of Alexandria chickens. A total of 150 females and 25 males of Alexandria chickens at an age of 32 weeks were randomly divided into five groups in each group 30 female and 5 male for 12 weeks. The first group served as control group. Birds of the 2 nd and 3 rd groups were fed basal diet containing 40 and 80 mg zinc oxide (Bulk shape, ZnO) per kg diet and the 4 th and 5 th groups were fed basal diet containing 40 and 80 mg zinc oxide (Nano shape, ZnO-NPs) per kg diet, respectively. The results indicated that Hb and MCHC were significantly increased with the dose of 40 mg/kg ZnO. Data obtained revealed that there is a significant effect of zinc oxide forms on antioxidant status. While, 80 mg/kg ZnO-NPs caused a significant increase on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was the lowest with the dose of 80 mg/kg ZnO-NPs. Total protein and albumin were affected by zinc oxide forms, sex and the interaction between them, but globulin was not significantly affected. Also, zinc oxide forms supplementation had no significant effect on liver and kidney functions. Generally, it can be considered that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) at a dose of 80 mg/kg addition to Alexandria chickens' diet can enhance physiological and antioxidant statuses.