Plasma and tissue concentrations of total, (+)- and (-)-gossypol were determined in broilers fed cottonseed meals (CSM) from eight oil mills (five expander solvent, two expeller, and one direct solvent). Free gossypol in the meals ranged from 0.033 to 0.180%, and total gossypol ranged from 0.974 to 1.459%. The (+)-enantiomer of gossypol varied from 53.8 to 61.3% of total gossypol. Eight CSM diets containing 28% CSM and a soybean meal control diet were fed to 162 1-d-old male broiler chicks during a 3-wk starter period. Concentrations of free gossypol in the CSM diets ranged from 92 to 504 microg/g, and total gossypol ranged from 2,626 to 4,085 microg/g. All diets were formulated with the same concentrations of digestible lysine and methionine and were fed ad libitum. At 21 d of age, there were no significant differences in body weights, feed conversions, or mortality of birds fed the CSM diets when compared to birds fed the soybean meal diet. Concentrations of (+)- and (-)-gossypol in plasma, liver, kidney, and muscle increased linearly as the level of free gossypol increased in the diets. Liver had the highest concentration of total gossypol (71.4 to 313.6 microg/g DM) followed by kidney (9.2 to 36.3 microg/g DM), plasma (3.0 to 14.6 microg/mL), and muscle (2.1 to 9.8 microg/g DM). The proportion of (-)-gossypol was higher in plasma (26.7%) and kidney (25.6%) than in muscle (19.1%) and liver (16.0%). Performance data from this study indicate CSM can be used successfully in chick starter diets at levels up to 28% when diets are formulated on a digestible amino acid basis.

This experiment was designed to evaluate the use of expander cottonseed meal (CSM) in broiler diets formulated on a digestible amino acid basis and to determine the tissue distribution of gossypol enantiomers and their relationship to gossypol consumption. Gossypol is an antinutritional polyphenolic pigment found in cottonseed. A total of 800 1-d-old broilers (Arbor Acres) was randomly divided into 40 groups of 20 birds each and placed in a broiler house with wood shavings litter. The CSM was included in starter and grower diets at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28% of the diet. Diets were formulated to have similar levels of digestible methionine and lysine as the 0% CSM control diet. At 21 d of age, five birds per pen were randomly selected for the determination of gossypol enantiomers in plasma, liver, heart, and breast muscle. Tissues were again collected at 42 d of age. Results of this experiment indicated that at 21 d of age cumulative body weight and feed-to-BW ratios of birds fed CSM diets were not significantly different from the control. By 35 d of age, feed-to-BW ratios of experimental birds fed the 28% CSM diet were significantly greater than the control birds, and by 42 d, BW were lower than those of the control group. Tissue concentrations of total, (+) and (-) gossypol increased linearly as the level of CSM increased. At 42 d, liver had the most gossypol with a ratio of 87% (+) gossypol to 13% (-) gossypol. Plasma contained 73% (+) gossypol and 27% (-) gossypol. Heart contained 45% (+) gossypol and 55% (-) gossypol. Breast muscle had the least gossypol. Results of this experiment indicated that expander solvent CSM could be fed to broilers at up to 21% of the total diet if amino acid digestibility was considered.

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of follicles with more than one oocyte (polyovular follicles, POFs) in mouse lines selected for high fecundity. The ovaries of 18 mice, 6 each from 3 different lines, were examined to evaluate the number of POFs and the follicular histology. Polyovular follicles were observed in the two high fecundity breeds, FL1 and FL2, as well as in the unselected control line, DUKsi. The highest number of POFs per ovary (27.0 ± 7.2) was found in the FL1 line. The FL2 and DUKsi lines had 1.9 ± 0.7 and 0.6 ± 0.3 polyovular follicles per ovary, respectively. Most of the POFs contained 2 oocytes (>80%), but occasionally follicles containing up to 7 oocytes were observed. Follicles with more than 2 oocytes were observed in the FL1 line only. Key words: High fecundity, Mice, Polyovular follicles (POFs) (J. Reprod. Dev. 56: [449][450][451][452][453] 2010) n normal adult mouse ovaries, follicles contain a germ cell surrounded by one or more layers of granulosa cells, according to the follicle developmental stage. However, follicles with more than one oocyte are rarely found [1]. During initial development, multiple germ cells are present within the individualizing follicles, although in most cases, excess cells are eliminated and mammalian ovarian follicles contain only one germ cell per follicle. Follicles with more than one oocyte are referred to as multi oocyte follicles (MOFs) or polyovular follicles (POFs). They have been reported to occur in the ovaries of humans [2], primates [3], dogs [4,5], cats [6], goats [7] and mice [8]. In rats and mice, the incidence of POFs increases when the animals are exposed to estrogen analogs such as diethylstilbestrol, estradiol benzoate or genistein in a dose-dependent manner [9,10]. The POFs observed in mice and humans have been postulated to be remnants of oocyte clusters that did not separate, and which have become enclosed in follicles during neonatal primordial follicle assembly [2,10,11].Fecundity (the number of offspring per litter) can be related to an increase in the number of ova ovulated or in the efficiency of fertilization and embryo development. Booroola sheep have multiple offspring because of an increase in the number of follicles ovulated, which is related to the fecundity gene FecB, a mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB. The presence of FecB increases litter size by one or two extra lambs [12]. Polyovular follicles have been especially noted in bitches [13]. The presence of POFs could affect the number of oocytes recovered in assisted reproductive protocols and may also influence the ovulation rate and prolificity of these animals [5].Previous analysis of fecundity traits revealed that in high fecundity mouse lines (FL1, FL2), the number of ova ovulated is higher than the number of corpora lutea (CL) present. This is particularly evident in the FL1 line [14]. This observation suggests that individual follicles release more than one oocyte. The occurrence of polyovular follicles in specific strain...