Development Of Internal Organs Research Articles

Modulatory Effects of Regulated Cell Death: An Innovative Preventive Approach for the Control of Mastitis.

Mastitis is a common disease worldwide that affects the development of the dairy industry due to its high incidence and complex etiology. Precise regulation of cell death and survival plays a critical role in maintaining internal homeostasis, organ development, and immune function in organisms, and regulatory abnormalities are a common mechanism of various pathological changes. Recent research has shown that regulated cell death (RCD) plays a crucial role in mastitis. The development of drugs to treat cell death and survival abnormalities that can be widely used in mastitis treatment has important clinical significance. This paper will review the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis and their regulatory roles in mastitis to provide a new perspective for the targeted treatment of mastitis.

Drosophila anterior midgut internalization via collective epithelial-mesenchymal transition at the embryo surface and enclosure by surrounding tissues

Internal organ development requires cell internalization, which can occur individually or collectively. The best characterized mode of collective internalization is epithelial invagination. Alternate modes involving collective mesenchymal behaviours at the embryo surface have been documented, but their prevalence is unclear. The Drosophila embryo has been a major model for the study of epithelial invaginations. However, internalization of the Drosophila anterior midgut primordium is incompletely understood. Here, we report that an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs across the internalizing primordium when it is still at the embryo surface. At the earliest internalization stage, the primordium displays less junctional DE-cadherin than surrounding tissues but still exhibits coordinated epithelial structure as it invaginates with the ventral furrow. This initial invagination is transient, and its loss correlates with the activation of an associated mitotic domain. Activation of a subsequent mitotic domain across the broader primordium results in cell divisions with mixed orientations that deposit some cells within the embryo. However, cell division is non-essential for primordium internalization. Post-mitotically, the surface primordium displays hallmarks of EMT: loss of adherens junctions, loss of epithelial cell polarity, and gain of cell protrusions. Primordium cells extend over each other as they internalize asynchronously as individuals or small groups, and the primordium becomes enclosed by the reorganizations of surrounding epithelial tissues. We propose that collective EMT at the embryo surface promotes anterior midgut internalization through both inwardly-directed divisions and movements of its cells, and that the latter process is facilitated by surrounding tissue remodeling.

Effect of breeder age and early hypoxic stimulation of the chorioallantoic membrane on vascularization, internal organ development, blood profile and chick organ histology

Effect of breeder age and early hypoxic stimulation of the chorioallantoic membrane on vascularization, internal organ development, blood profile and chick organ histology

Tracking gonadal development in fish: An in vivo MRI study on polar cod, Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to determine the sex of polar cod (Boreogadus saida Lepechin, 1774) (Actinopterygii: Gadidae) and to follow the gonadal development in individual animals over time. Individual unanaesthetised fish were transferred to a measurement chamber inside a preclinical 9.4T MRI scanner and continuously perfused with aerated seawater. A screening procedure at an average of 3.5h, consisting of a set of MRI scans of different orientations, was repeated every 4 weeks on the same set of reproducing B.saida (n= 10) with a body length of about 20 cm. Adapted multi-slice flow-compensated fast low-angle shot (FcFLASH) and rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) protocols with an in-plane resolution of 313 μm and an acquisition time of 2.5min were used to visualise the morphology of various organs, including the gonads within the field of view (FOV). The MR images provided high resolution, enabling specific sex determination, calculation of gonad volumes, and determination of oocyte sizes. Gonad maturation was followed over 4 months from November 2021 until shortly before spawning in February 2022. The gonad volume increased by 2.3-25.5% for males and by 11.5-760.7% for females during the observation period. From October to February, the oocyte diameter increased from 427 μm (n= 1) to 1346 ± 27 μm (n= 4). Interestingly, individual oocytes showed changes in MR contrast over time that can be attributed to the morphological development of the oocytes. The results fit well with previous literature data from classical invasive studies. The presented approach has great potential for various ecophysiological applications such as monitoring natural or delayed development of internal organs or sex determination under different environmental conditions.

The use of targeted premixes in the feeding of replacement heifers

Making optimal conditions for feeding and housing of young animals ensures the correct and timely development of internal organs, including reproductive function, which has a positive impact on the realization of the high genetic potential of animals in adulthood. This can only be achieved by using balancing additives such as premixes developed on the basis of an actual analysis of feeding conditions. The purpose of this work was to study the feasibility of using premixes developed taking into account feeding characteristics (targeted) in the rations of replacement heifers up to 12 months of age. The experiment was carried out at the Staraya Chigla livestock complex of EkoNivaAgro-Severnoye LLC, geographically located in the Anninsky district of the Voronezh region from 2020 to 2023. The heifers were selected by using the analogue pair method and distributed into groups of 12 heads in each (control and experimental groups). It was established as a result of the studies that the use of a targeted premix contributed to the intensity of growth of young animals, which was confi rmed by an increase in the live weight of heifers by the end of the experiment by 5,04 %, an average daily gain by 5,74 %, and a relative gain by 1,91 %. Analysis of the reproductive function of heifers showed that the age of fi rst heat occurred 5,5 days earlier in animals of the experimental group, and the age of fi rst eff ective insemination was 18,09 days earlier. Fertility from the fi rst insemination was higher in heifers that were fed the targeted premix by 8,34 %. The insemination index was also better in the experimental group. Thus, the research has proven the feasibility of developing and using targeted premixes.

Using <i>Origanum vulgare</i> L. in the floor management of chickens as an element of organic poultry farming

The article provides the results of the use of dried Origanum vulgare mass as an additional component of bedding material in chickens of the Hubbard Redbro M meat-and-egg cross. Origanum vulgare dried mass was added at the rate of 0.5 kg per experimental group daily from the age of 45 days after the transfer of chickens to floor management. The number of heads for each group was 35. The live weight advantage at the age of 2 months of the experimental group of chickens over the control group is 102.5 g, at 75 days of age is 216.5 g, at 90 days of age is 326.0 g and at the age of 105 days is 403.0 g. The SBA increased at the background of the S. aureus test culture: there was a significant suppression of colonies in the first five hours of exposure, and at the background of the E. coli test culture there was a suppression throughout the entire study period. The intensification of metabolic processes was noted in chickens of the experimental group, due to increased protein metabolism, liver and kidney enzymes of blood serum, which was also associated with an increased concentration of thyroid hormones. All these factors made it possible to raise significantly the gain in live weight by an average of 0.11 kg, which increased the slaughter weight by 8.4 %. Almost all indicators of the development of internal organs in chickens of group II are within significant limits of the difference compared with the control group.

Evaluation of dietary lignin on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations, gut morphometry, and lipid oxidation

Two trials were performed in order to evaluate the effects of dietary Kraft lignin inclusion on broiler performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, blood lipid profile, intestinal morphometry, and lipid oxidation of meat. Trial 1 was conducted in order to evaluate performance and ileal digestibility for the period of 1 to 21 d of age, randomly distributing 490 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 14 replicates containing 7 birds each in metabolic cages, while trial 2 was executed in order to evaluate performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphometry, carcass yield and abdominal fat, and lipid oxidation for the period of 1 to 42 d of age, randomly distributing 900 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 15 replicates of 12 birds each in floor pens, being each bird in trial 2 challenged with coccidiosis vaccine at 10 d of age. The treatments used in both trials were: positive control (PC): basal diet + antimicrobial; negative control (NC): Basal diet; NC1: NC + 1% lignin; NC2: NC + 2% lignin; NC3: NC + 3% lignin. For trial 1, it was observed that birds fed diets containing 1% lignin had a significant positive effect for BW, feed intake (FI), average daily weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR), similar to the PC, but also showing better EE, CP and AAs ileal digestibility percentages when compared to other treatments. For trial 2, it was observed that during the period of 21 to 35 d, the inclusion of lignin in the diet provided better results in animal performance, similar to the PC group, but at 42 d, animals fed with dietary lignin showed results lower than animals fed the PC diet (P < 0.05). Animals fed with increasing lignin concentrations showed decreasing levels of HDL (P < 0.05). As of intestinal morphometry, animals fed with 1% and 3% lignin showed longer intestinal length (P < 0.05). At 14 d of age, it was observed that animals fed with lignin showed oxidation levels similar to the control treatments. The inclusion of up to 1% lignin in the diet provides beneficial effects on productive performance and nutrient digestibility, while the inclusion of 2% lignin provided lower cholesterol levels, lower villus/crypt ratio, and better internal organ development, therefore, it can be considered an alternative to performance-enhancing antimicrobials in broiler chicken diets.

The influence of the water-salt extract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 on the general course of embryogenesis in rats after intraperitoneal administration

Background. The increase in infectious and non-infectious diseases occurrence during pregnancy prompts scientists to search for substances that can fight these ailments. This especially applies to natural substances that have virtually no side effects. These include substances obtained from medicinal leeches. These substances have a wide range of therapeutic effects; as to their practical use, all preclinical studies must be completed. This particularly refers to the presence of an embryotoxic effect. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the water-salt extract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 on the general course of embryogenesis in rats when administered intraperitoneally. Materials and Methods. The work was performed on female non-linear white rats. Two experimental groups of animals were injected intraperitoneally with a water-salt extract of the medicinal leech at a concentration of 5 μg/g of the animal, in a volume of 0.5 mL, three times before mating and three times during pregnancy every 3 days. Two control groups were injected intraperitoneally with physiological saline according to the same scheme as the experimental groups. Subsequently, one of the control and experimental groups underwent euthanasia, dissection of the abdominal cavity and uterine horns on the 20th day of pregnancy. We analyzed the total number of corpora lutea of pregnancy, the number of live and dead fetuses. Fetuses were weighed, examined for the presence of skin hematomas, mutilations, and external abnormalities in the develop­ment of internal organs. The other two groups of control and experimental animals were left until the offspring were born. Then the females of both groups were weighed, and their general condition was assessed. Newborn rats were examined, weight and body length were determined, mortality was recorded from the beginning of birth to 15 days, the presence of skin hematomas, mutilations, and external anomalies of the development of internal organs were checked. Results and discussion. The study established that the intraperitoneal injection of a water-salt extract of a medicinal leech before and during pregnancy in female rats does not cause any toxic effect during embryogenesis and at the early stages of post-embryonic ontogenesis. During the external examination of fetuses and offspring in both groups, no developmental anomalies were noted, all organs in both groups were of normal topography and size. The number of subcutaneous hematomas in the experimental group of fetuses compared to the control group decreased by an average of 50%, postnatal mortality decreased by an average of more than 3 times, as well as an increase in body weight in females, an increase in body weight and body length in the fetus and offspring in the early post-embryonic period ontogenesis (p &lt;0.05). Conclusion. Intraperitoneal administration of a therapeutic dose of a water-salt extract of the medicinal leech to female rats before and during pregnancy, after every three days, does not have any toxic effect on the course of embryogenesis and later in early post-embryonic ontogenesis.

The effects of probiotic and threonine application on the carcass yield, internal organ development, intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota of broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of probiotics (Ecobiol®) and threonine supplements on broiler internal organs and intestinal health under Clostridium perfringens challenge. A total of 1600 male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight treatments with eight replicates each of 25 birds. Dietary treatments consisted of two levels of supplemented threonine (without and with threonine supplementation), two levels of probiotics (Ecobiol®) supplement (0 and 0. 1% of diet), and two levels of challenge (without and with 1 ml of the C. perfringens inoculum (∼108 cfu/ml) on d 14, 15, and 16 of the experiment), which fed to the birds during a 42 d feeding trial. The results showed that adding threonine and probiotic supplements to the diets of C. perfringens-infected birds reduced the relative gizzard weight by 22.9% compared to those fed un-supplemented diet (P ≤ 0.024). As compared to the non-challenged group, the C. perfringens challenge significantly reduced the carcass yield of broilers by 1.18% (P < 0.0004). The groups receiving threonine and probiotic supplementation had higher carcass yield, and the inclusion of probiotics in the diet decreased abdominal fat by 16.18% compared with the control treatment (P ≤ 0.001). Adding threonine and probiotic supplements to the diets of broilers challenged with C. perfringens increased the jejunum villus height in comparison with C. perfringens-infected group fed an unsupplemented diet on day 18 (P ≤ 0.019). The number of cecal E. coli increased in birds under C. perfringens challenge in comparison with the negative group. Based on the findings, dietary inclusion of threonine and probiotic supplement could beneficially affect intestine health and carcass weight during the C. perfringens challenge.

The absolute mass of the internal organs of the Landras pigs grown in Western Siberia

Several factors determine the development of internal organs. They characterise the intensity of animals’ growth, physique, constitutional strength, resistance to diseases of various genesis and, in general, the adaptive ability of animals. The authors assessed the absolute mass of such parenchymal abdominal organs as the liver, kidneys, and spleen of Landrace pigs. A group of representatively selected pigs, taking into account their origin, sex, age, and live weight, was formed at the early stages of the technological cycle. The total number of animal units was 12. The fattening of the animals took place on a large pig farm in the Altai Territory. The conditions of keeping the animals corresponded to the regular feeding for meat fattening. In addition, a preventive plan for vaccinated animals and systematic veterinary control was provided. Based on the current technical instructions and other regulatory documents, Slaughter was carried out at the end of the technological cycle when the live weight reached 100 kg. The absolute mass of organs without surrounding structures was determined by weighing on a balance with a high accuracy class. The obtained data were evaluated using Microsoft Office Excel and the R programming language in the data analysis environment RStudio version 2022.07.2+576 (RStudio, PBC). The visual assessment showed the absence of pathological and anatomical changes in organs. Based on the ShapiroWilk test, a normal distribution was established in all cases. For the liver, the W-criterion is 0.93, the kidneys - 0.90 and the spleen - 0.98; the significance level is more significant than 0.05. In pigs, the median absolute weight of the liver was 1542.0 g; for the kidneys - 303.0, and the spleen - 164.0 g; The 95% confidence interval for kidneys is 133.0–195.0 g; for the spleen - 120.0–197.0; for the liver - 1310.0–1792.0 g. The article presents the indicators of the variability of the trait under consideration. The authors established interbreed differentiation of pigs by the mass of parenchymal organs.

Development of fetal Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber)

Mammals are categorized along an altricial-precocial spectrum based on degrees of neonatal development. Altricial neonates are immature at birth and dependent on care, whereas precocial neonates are relatively well developed and independent post-partum. The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a large, semiaquatic, relatively precocial mammal in the order Rodentia. However, the extended care of kits in burrows begs the question of why beavers have precocial characteristics. A study of fetal development might enable understanding of the traits that are significant for neonatal survival. The present study examined external morphological characteristics, external biometry and the development of internal organs in 80 Eurasian beaver fetuses (crown-rump length [CRL], 2.5–19.3 cm) derived from 33 wild pregnant females hunted in Norway (33 gestational age). We also created equations to predict fetal ages from biometric parameters based on a linear relationship between biometric parameters and fetal ages estimated from fetal weight. Fetal features appeared in the following chronological order; eyelid bulbs and tactile hairs (CRL ≥ 7.3 cm), outer ears, claws, skin differentiation (CRL ≥ 8.9 cm), and hair coverage and tooth eruption (CRL ≥ 9.4 cm). All biometric parameters increased linearly and positively as the CRL increased and did not tend to stabilize. Notably, slopes of hindfoot parameters were higher than those of forefeet, suggesting that the hindfeet of beavers grow faster than forefeet, as they do in other semi-aquatic mammals. Our calculations revealed that dorsal length, CRL, thoracic and abdominal circumferences were candidate predictors of fetal age due to a high coefficient of determination (≥ 0.95) and broad range (≥ 10 cm). Our findings revealed that beaver growth was precocial in terms of differentiated skin, hair coverage, and tooth eruption, but not fully completed, as none of the fetuses had open eyes. The rapid growth of the hindfoot and some precocial traits (skin and hair differentiation) may be involved with the ability of neonatal beavers to move in water.

Inka2 expression in smooth muscle cells and its involvement in cell migration

The cell motility of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is essential for vascular and internal organ development and tissue regeneration in response to damage. Cell migration requires dynamic changes in the actin-cytoskeleton via the p-21 activated kinase (Pak)-Cofilin signaling cascade, which is the central axis of the actin filaments. We previously identified that the Inka2 gene was preferentially expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and revealed that Inka2 directly binds Pak4 to suppress its kinase activity, thereby regulating actin de-polymerization in dendritic spine formation of the forebrain neurons. However, its physiological significance outside the CNS remains unclear. Here we determined the Inka2 expression profile in various organs using in situ hybridization analysis and lacZ staining on Inka2flox/+ mice. Robust Inka2 expression was consistently detected in the SMCs of many peripheral organs, including the arteries, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and bladder. The scratch assay was used on primary cultured SMCs and revealed that Inka2−/− SMC exhibits accelerated cell migration ability without a change in the cell proliferation rate. Inka2−/− SMCs displayed Cofilin activation/phosphorylation, a downstream molecule of Pak4 signal cascade. These results suggest that Inka2 regulates SMC motility through modulating actin reorganization as the endogenous inhibitor of Pak4.

Wolf–Hirshhorn syndrome

Wolff–Hirschhorn syndrome is a rare genetic disease associated with a chromosomal aberration of chromosome 4. A feature of the disease is the characteristic appearance of the face, anomalies in the development of internal organs and the skeleton, disorders in the motor, cognitive and psychospeech sphere, convulsive syndrome. Clinical observation presents a description of a 5-year-old 11-month-old child with a rare hereditary pathology — Wolff–Hirschhorn syndrome, who was treated in the neurological department of the Children’s Center for Psychoneurology and Epileptology of the Republican Children’s Clinical Hospital in Ufa. The disease was manifested by epilepsy, psychomotor retardation, and alalia. Multiple stigmas of dysembryogenesis were determined.

Effects of Pre-Starter Feeds Prepared Using Different Sugar Sources on Performance, Carcass Parameters, Internal Organ Development, Intestinal Development and Microbial Load in Broilers

The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of pre-starter feed prepared using different sugar sources on the performance, carcass parameters, internal organs and intestinal development, microbial load in broilers. In total, 360 newly hatched chicks divided into 4 treatment groups with 5 replicates. 18 chicks with similar live weights (9 male, 9 female) were used for each replicate. Control or pre-starter feeds (containing %14 saccharose, %14 dextrose, or %7 saccharose+ %7 dextrose) were used for the feeding of the groups. For the feeding of the control group, standard chick starter feed was used for the first 5 days; for the treatment groups, the pre-starter feeds prepared were used. For the rest of the trial period, all groups were subjected to standard feeding. A significant difference was observed among groups with regards to live weight gain and feed conversion rate during the first four weeks of the study; however, this effect disappeared over the last week. In addition, it was determined that any differences observed with regards to carcass parameters other than hot and cold carcass weights, internal organ development aside from proventriculus, intestinal development and microbial load were not significant. It was concluded that the pre-starter feed prepared with saccharose and/or dextrose did not show the expected effect

Internal organ and skeletal muscle development in commercial broilers with woody breast myopathy

Increasing growth rate, body weight, and breast muscle yield have been linked to broiler muscle problems such as woody breast (WB). The aim of this study was to investigate the internal organ and skeletal muscle development of broilers with WB myopathy under dietary and Eimeria challenge treatments. A 3 diet (control, antibiotic, or probiotic) × 2 challenge (control or Eimeria) × 2 sex factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a randomized complete block design. Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to 96 floor pens with 12 treatment combinations (8 replicates per treatment). Internal organs were sampled on d 13 and 41. Skeletal muscles were sampled on d 41. Internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Relationships between WB and internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using one-way ANOVA as all treatments were pooled together and regrouped according to WB scores. On d 41, absolute and relative heart weights were greater in males when they were averaged over diet and challenge treatments (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively). The birds with WB score 3 had greater absolute heart (P = 0.0002) and spleen weights (P = 0.016), but there was no difference in relative spleen weight (P > 0.05). When averaged over diet and challenge treatments, males have greater absolute duodenum, jejunum, and ileum weights (for all P < 0.0001). Compared with birds with normal breasts, the birds with WB scores 1, 2, and 3 had a greater live weight (for all P < 0.0001) and absolute and relative breast weights (for all P < 0.0001). The birds with WB score 1, 2, and 3 had greater (P < 0.0001) absolute but lower (P < 0.0001) relative drumstick, thigh, and wing weights. Results indicated that broilers with WB had lower relative proventriculus and gizzard weights and greater relative breast meat weight with lower relative drumstick, thigh, and wing muscle weights.

Effect of fodder ingredient on meat productivity and development of internal organs of broilers

Annually, there is an increase in the cost of soybean components of feedstuffs, which negatively affects the profitability of poultry farming. The use of cheaper alternative feeds in poultry diets such as rapeseed flour, as well as sunflower kernels and seeds, brings novelty to fodder production and broiler feeding. The purpose of these studies was to determine the impact of unconventional fodder ingredients on meat productivity and the development of internal organs of broilers. The results of the experiment on the use of rapeseed flour in the diets of turkeys show that its introduction into the diets reduces their pre-slaughter living weight and the weight of the ripped carcass. Development of the internal organs of the experimental groups was comparable to those of the control group. The inclusion of sunflower kernel and seeds in the diet contributed to increased meat productivity and better development of internal organs in broiler chickens. Compared to the sunflower core, broilers receiving sunflower seeds and the enzyme preparation Ronozim tended to increase the weight of internal organs, while the greatest differences were established by the relative weight of the gizzard (when using 5% of fodder ingredients - by 0.05%, and when using 7.5% - by 0.03%).

A high-throughput study of visceral organs in CT-scanned pigs

It has been debated whether intensive selection for growth and carcass yield in pig breeding programmes can affect the size of internal organs, and thereby reduce the animal’s ability to handle stress and increase the risk of sudden deaths. To explore the respiratory and circulatory system in pigs, a deep learning based computational pipeline was built to extract the size of lungs and hearts from CT-scan images. This pipeline was applied on CT images from 11,000 boar selection candidates acquired during the last decade. Further, heart and lung volumes were analysed genetically and correlated with production traits. Both heart and lung volumes were heritable, with h2 estimated to 0.35 and 0.34, respectively, in Landrace, and 0.28 and 0.4 in Duroc. Both volumes were positively correlated with lean meat percentage, and lung volume was negatively genetically correlated with growth (rg = − 0.48 ± 0.07 for Landrace and rg = − 0.44 ± 0.07 for Duroc). The main findings suggest that the current pig breeding programs could, as an indirect response to selection, affect the size of hearts- and lungs. The presented methods can be used to monitor the development of internal organs in the future.

MEAT PRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF INTERNAL ORGANS AND ADIPOSE TISSUE IN BULLS, OBTAINED FROM THE SELECTION OF THEIR PARENTS ACCORDING TO THE INDEX OF SIMILARITY OF SYSTEM B ANTIGENS OF BLOOD GROUPS

During reproductive crossing, the genetic diversity of animals increases and the problem of consolidating livestock by type and productivity arises. Blood group antigens are one of the factors that indicate genetic variability, so they can be used as markers when selecting parent pairs. The purpose of this study was to analyse the meat productivity, development of internal organs and accumulation of adipose tissue in 18-month-old bulls derived from different selection of their parents according to the index of antigenic similarity (ras) of the B system of blood groups at the first stages of a complex reproductive cross between Simmental and grey Ukrainian cattle with breeders of Charolais and Kian breeds. According to the value of ras, the bulls were divided into two groups. In the first – from a homogeneous selection of parents (over 0.268; n=9); in the second – from heterogeneous (ras up to 0.267; n=7). After slaughtering the bulls, the meat productivity, mass, and output of the head, liver, lungs, and other organs and glands of internal secretion were determined. Intermuscular, interstitial, perirenal, pregastric, intestinal, and pericardial fat were separated and weighed. With homogeneous selection of parents, their sons, in comparison with their peers from heterogeneous mating, show a tendency to increase the content of muscles (by 4.2%), fat tissue in carcasses (by 12.4%), including between muscles (by 1.1 points). There is 11.6% less pulp per kilogram of bones, 17.2% worse muscle tissue index, 7.8% less absolute weight of liver, 10.0% of kidney, 27.8% of heart, head – by 2.0% and lungs – by 11.6%. In bulls, from the heterogeneous selection of parents with ras to 0.267, there is 7.2% more fat tissue in the body, including internal fat tissue by 7.8%, the relative mass of bones is 0.8 points higher. The practical use of homogeneous selection according to antigens of blood groups of crossbreed parents allows improving the morphological composition of the carcasses of their offspring. Heterogeneous selection promotes better development of internal organs, which are less valuable slaughter products

Genetic parameters estimation and genome-wide association studies for internal organ traits in an F2 chicken population.

Chicken internal organs are indispensable parts of the body, but their genetic architectures have not been commonly understood. Herein, we estimated the genetic parameters for heart weight (HW), liver weight (LW), spleen weight (SpW), testis weight (TW), glandular stomach weight (GSW), muscular stomach weight (MSW) and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and potential candidate genes associated with internal organ weights in an F2 population constructed by crossing broiler cocks derived from Arbor Acres with high abdominal fat content and Baier layer dams (a Chinese native breed). The restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method was applied for genetic parameters estimation of internal organ weights using GCTA software. The results showed that heritabilities of internal organ traits ranged from 0.336 to 0.673 and most of the genetic and phenotypic correlations amongst internal organs weights were positive. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed based on a mixed linear model (MLM) in GEMMA software. Genotypic data were produced from the whole genome re-sequenced (26 F0 individuals were re-sequenced at 10 × coverage; 519 F2 individuals were re-sequenced at 3 × coverage). A total of 7,890,258 SNPs remained to be analysed after quality control and genotype imputation. The GWAS results indicated that significant SNPs responsible for internal organ traits were scattered on the different chicken chromosomes 1-5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 27. Amongst the annotated genes, fibronectin type III domain containing 3A (FNDC3A), LOC101748122, membrane palmitoylated protein 6 (MPP6), LOC107049584 and KAT8 regulatory NSL complex subunit 1 (KANSL1) were the most promising candidates for internal organ traits. The findings will provide instrumental information for understanding the genetic basis of internal organ development.

Coated Zinc Oxide Improves Growth Performance of Weaned Piglets via Gut Microbiota.

Weaned piglets stayed in transitional stages of internal organ development and external environment change. The dual stresses commonly caused intestinal disorders followed by damaged growth performance and severe diarrhea. High dose of zinc oxide could improve production efficiency and alleviate disease status whereas caused serious environmental pollution. This research investigated if coated ZnO (C_ZnO) in low dose could replace the traditional dose of ZnO to improve the growth performance, intestinal function, and gut microbiota structures in the weaned piglets. A total of 126 cross-bred piglets (7.0 ± 0.5 kg body weight) were randomly allocated into three groups and fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with ZnO (2,000 mg Zn/kg) or C_ZnO (500 mg Zn/kg), respectively. The test lasted for 6 weeks. C_ZnO improved average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency, alleviated diarrhea, decreased the lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M) in the urine, increased the ileal villus height, and upregulated the expression of Occludin in the ileal tissue and the effect was even better than a high concentration of ZnO. Importantly, C_ZnO also regulated the intestinal flora, enriching Streptococcus and Lactobacillus and removing Bacillus and intestinal disease-associated pathogens, including Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Cronobacter in the ileal lumen. Although, colonic microbiota remained relatively stable, the marked rise of Blautia, a potential probiotic related to body health, could still be found. In addition, C_ZnO also led to a significant increase of acetate and propionate in both foregut and hindgut. Collectively, a low concentration of C_ZnO could effectively promote growth performance and reduce diarrhea through improving small intestinal morphology and permeability, enhancing the barrier function, adjusting the structure of gut microbiota, and raising the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the weaned piglets.