Royal jelly: can it reduce physiological strain of growing rabbits under Egyptian summer conditions?

Abstract

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.

Impact of royal jelly to improve reproductive performance of male rabbits under hot summer conditions

“…The medium dose (150 mg RJ/kg BW) had the highest beneficial effect compared to the lower and higher RJ doses. This indicates an improved kidney function The present results conform to those reported by Elnagar et al, (2010) in growing rabbits and Elnagar, (2010) in heat stressed male rabbits, which were treated with 200, 400 and 800 mg RJ/kg BW.…”

“…Our results are comparable to the results of Elnagar et al (2010) who reported that in stressed male rabbits, RJ led to a significantly increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin. In contrast, RJ did not influence serum total protein, albumin and globulin in growing rabbits .…”

“…Similarly, Elnagar et al (2010) found that RJ treatments increased IgG and IgM levels in heat-stressed growing rabbits. Yamada et al (1990) stated that when substances known to have Ig production stimulating factor activity, such as RJ, were tested on lymph node lymphocytes from breast cancer patients, IgM concentration was increased by 2.25 folds.…”

“…From the literature, RJ had a dosedependent improvement on serum renal and hepatic parameters (El-Nekeety et al, 2007) and increased the oxygen flow to the liver (Vittek, 1995). Likewise, Elnagar et al (2010) observed a non-significant reduction in both AST and ALT enzyme activities.…”

Morfometria do aparelho genital e resposta superovulatória de coelhas suplementadas com geleia real

“…A maioria dos estudos que exploraram os efeitos biológicos da geleia real, em outros organismos além das abelhas, foi desenvolvida com animais experimentais. Alguns foram utilizados em experimentos visando posterior aplicação em seres humanos, entre estes estão os coelhos (Elnagar et al, 2010). De maneira benéfica, a comprovação científica dos efeitos da geleia real na reprodução de animais experimentais pode ampliar as possibilidades de estudos referentes aos seus efeitos em seres humanos, em animais elites de produção, bem como para conservação de espécimes silvestres em extinção ou com problemas de reprodução em cativeiro.…”