The morphological structure and morphometrical features of the ampulla ductus deferens of the adult camels were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy to get better understand with its seasonal variations. The wall of ampulla was composed of mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa or adventitia. It was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium containing intraepithelial glands. The lamina propria and tunica submucosa formed together the thickest part of the ampullary wall. The ampullary glands were branched tubulo-alveolar, with diverticulae-like appearance and occupied mostly the lamina propria- submucosa. Each gland consisted of peripheral wide and central narrow alveoli that were lined by simple low columnar or cuboidal epithelium and mostly contained spermatozoa and secretory materials. The gland opened in the ampullary lumen by short tubule, which was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. Histochemically, the epithelial cells reacted positively to Alcian blue, PAS and sudan black stains and negatively to the Best's carmine stain, indicating the presence of the acid, neutral glycoprotein and fatty droplet, as well as absence of the glycogen. Morphometrically, the height of the luminal and glandular epithelia, thickness of the lamina propria- submucosa and ratio of the glandular to the connective tissue showed seasonal variations. The height of the luminal and glandular epithelia reached their maximum values in winter and decreased gradually throughout spring and recorded the lowest values in summer. Scanning electron microscopy revealed various shaped openings in the luminal surface of the ampulla. The cells apices were studded with short microvilli and many secretory granules or vesicles. The ampullary glands appeared as a network of diverticulae-like structure, which occupied mostly the lamina propria-submuosa. The cells apices of the glandular epithelium were stereo-ciliated, microvilliated cells or showed central bleb-like protrusion surrounded by thin long microvilli. The glandular alveoli contained spermatozoa and secretory materials. In conclusion, the camel ampulla ductus deferentis performs a storage function in addition to its secretory one, where both are subjecting to seasonal variations.

The elevation of ambient temperature beyond the thermoneutral zone leads to heat stress, which is a growing health and welfare issue for homeothermic animals aiming to maintain relatively constant reproducibility and survivability. Particularly, global warming over the past decades has resulted in more hot days with more intense, frequent, and long-lasting heat waves, resulting in a global surge in animals suffering from heat stress. Heat stress causes pathophysiological changes in animals, increasing stress sensitivity and immunosuppression, consequently leading to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and related neuroinflammation. Probiotics, as well as prebiotics and synbiotics, have been used to prevent or reduce stress-induced negative effects on physiological and behavioral homeostasis in humans and various animals. The current data indicate dietary supplementation with a Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic has similar functions in poultry. This review highlights the recent findings on the effects of the probiotic Bacillus subtilis on skeletal health of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress. It provides insights to aid in the development of practical strategies for improving health and performance in poultry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a synbiotic containing a probiotic (Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Lactobacillus reuteri) and a prebiotic (fructooligosaccharides) on fear response, memory assessment, and selected stress indicators in broilers subjected to heat stress. A total of 360 1-day-old Ross 708 chicks were evenly divided among three treatments: a basal diet mixed with a synbiotic at 0 (G-C), 0.5 (G-0.5X), and 1.0 (G-1.0X) g/kg. After 15 d, the broilers were exposed to 32 °C for 9 h daily until 42 d. The object memory test was conducted at 15 day; touch, novel object, and isolation tests were conducted at 35 day; tonic immobility (TI) took place at 41 day. At 42 day, plasma corticosterone and tryptophan concentrations and heterophile/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios were measured. Compared to controls, synbiotic-fed broilers, regardless of concentration, had a shorter latency to make the first vocalization, with higher vocalization rates during the isolation test (p = 0.001). the G-1.0 group had the lowest H/L ratio (p = 0.001), but higher plasma tryptophan concentrations and a greater number of birds could reach the observer during the touch test (p = 0.001 and 0.043, respectively). The current results indicate that the synbiotic can be used as a growth promoter to reduce the fear response and stress state of heat-stressed broilers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a dietary probiotic supplement on bone mass and meat quality of broiler chickens. Two hundred ten 1-day-old male Ross 708 broiler chicks were divided among 21 floor pens (10 chicks per pen). The pens were randomly distributed to 1 of 3 dietary treatments containing a probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, at 0 (control), 0.25 (0.25X), and 0.5 (0.5X) g/kg (n = 7). Gait score, footpad dermatitis (FPD), leg straightness, and hock burn (HB) were examined at day 33, and a latency-to-lie test was performed at day 34. At the end of the experiment (day 35), plasma, right leg, and litter samples were collected for mineral contents, meat quality, bone morphometric parameters, and litter quality assessments. The results indicated that probiotic-fed birds stood much longer during the latency-to-lie test with a greater tibial length, weight, and strength as well as higher plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus compared with the controls. In addition, probiotic-fed birds' leg muscle had higher color lightness at both 30 min and 5 h postmortem and greater water-holding capacity with a trend for less cooking loss (P = 0.056) and lower pH values (P < 0.05) at 5 h postmortem. Probiotic-fed birds' leg meat was tastier (P < 0.05) at 24 h after slaughter. These probiotic effects were greater in the 0.5X group than in the 0.25X group. There were no treatment effects on other measured parameters including gait score, HB, FPD, tibial lateral and medial wall thickness, diaphysis and medullary canal diameters, robusticity and tibiotarsal indexes, plasma magnesium concentrations, and litter moisture and pH values (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that the probiotic supplement could be a useful management tool for improving broiler production and welfare by enhanced bone mass and meat quality.

Scope: To evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of hesperidin (Hsd) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine
(DMH)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) and demonstrate its role in mothers against
decapentaplegic homolog 4(Smad4) and activin A signaling pathways.

Methods and results: A CRC rat model was established by DMH exposure, and the animals
were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, Hsd, DMH, DMHþHsd, and DMH
followed by Hsd. The resected colon was subjected to macroscopic, microscopic, molecular,
histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination. Activin A, Smad4, malondialdehyde
(MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)
levels in tissues were also measured. The DMH group exhibited a significant increase in the
gene and protein expression of activin A as well as MDA and NO levels in tissues. There
was a significant reduction in the gene and protein expression of Smad4 as well as GSH
and SOD levels in tissues. Administration of Hsd significantly upregulated Smad4 and activin
A gene expressions in both the DMHþHsd and DMH followed by Hsd groups. Moreover,
Hsd improved the antioxidant status of the former two groups.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the chemopreventive effect of Hsd against CRC by
modulating Smad4 and activin A signaling in vivo. Further studies are needed to demonstrate
its clinical value and explore its possible role in advanced malignancy.

Several studies have revealed that the combination of indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and vitamin D reduces the risk of common types of cancers. Nonetheless, research on the deal concentrations used to test the impact of vitamin D on colon cancer is defi-cient. Along these lines, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of indomethacin and vitamin D as a preventative as well as a therapeutic operator for colon cancer growth induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in male Albino rats. Fifty male albino rats were utilized in this examination; five groups were assigned from the animals (10 animals each): i) control group considered healthy animals; ii) carcinogen group that received DMH only; iii) prophylactic group; iv) vitamin D and indomethacin-treated group; and v) 5-fluro-uracil (5-FU) group. Western blot technique was used to determine the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Overexpression of CEA and PDGF was noted in the carcinogenic group, while expression of CEA and PDGF in the prophylactic, vitamin D and indomethacin and 5-FU groups were markedly reduced. There was a likewise decline in tissue caspase-3 activity and antioxidant parameters in the carcinogenic group, while, there was an increase in these markers in the 5-FU group as well as the prophylactic and vitamin D and indomethacin groups. The combination of vitamin D and indomethacin markedly reduced the incidence and severity of colon cancer. The molecular, biochemical and histopathological analysis related with the oral administration of vitamin D and indomethacin display its capacity to limit the frequency of colorectal cancer.

The natural co-occurrence of 42 mycotoxins was investigated in unprocessed oat grains grown in Ireland. The sample set included a total of 208 oat crops harvested during 2015–2016 and produced using conventional, organic, or gluten free farming systems. A range of different toxins was identified, including the major type A (neosolaniol, HT-2 and T-2 toxins, T-2 triol, and T-2-glucoside, co-occurring in 21 samples) and B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside), enniatins (B1, B, and A1, co-occurring in 12 samples), as well as beauvericin, alternariol, mycophenolic acid, and sterigmatocystin. The influences of sowing season, year, and production system were investigated, eventually indicating that the latter factor may have a higher impact than others on the production of certain mycotoxins in oats. The most frequently quantified compounds were HT-2 (51%) and T-2 (41%) toxins, with gluten free oats containing significantly lower concentrations of HT-2 compared to conventionally produced oats. Although the prevalence and concentrations of mycotoxin found in oat samples in this study should be substantially reduced by processing. However, as mycotoxin occurrence is clearly influenced by multiple factors, controlled field trials should be carried out to define optimal agronomic practices and mitigate mycotoxin production. Furthermore, this work highlights the need for regularly testing cereal-based foods with multi-residue analytical methods with wider specificities than the traditionally screened and regulated toxins, to generate knowledge on the occurrence of several mycotoxins that are, to date, rarely investigated.

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