Effects Of Dietary Ascorbic Acid Research Articles

Biological and histological changes and DNA damage in Oreochromis niloticus exposed to oxytetracycline: a potential amelioratory role of ascorbic acid

Antibiotics are crucial in the control of bacterial infections on fish farms. However, the influence of licensed antibiotics on DNA damage, histological changes, and protein differentiation in some farmed fish species is unidentified. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of therapeutic (80 mg/kg body weight/day) and high doses (160 mg/kg body weight/day) of oxytetracycline (OTC) on some biological indices, protein differentiation, histological changes, and DNA damage in Oreochromis niloticus (n = 360; 40 ± 3.5 g) and the potential positive effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) and whether it is capable of reducing the deleterious impacts of OTC and working synergistically to increase fish disease resistance and decrease morbidity and mortality rates. In the current study, fish were fed diets with or without OTC (80 or 160 mg/kg body weight/day) and AA (100 mg/kg diet/day) for 28 days, followed by a bacterial stress test with two different virulent strains for 14 days. Treatments include CTR (control; without additives), AA, OTC80, OTC160, OTC80 + AA, and OTC160 + AA. The results revealed that the AA group had the best antioxidative (significant increase in SOD, CAT, and GPx) and immunomodulatory effects (an increase in IgM, nitroblue tetrazolium, and total leucocytic count). Furthermore, the hematological parameters, immune indices (NBT), and antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced by OTC160 (p ≤ 0.05). The results also showed that OTC160 notably augmented the activity of liver (ALT, AST, and LDH) and kidney (creatinine and urea) damage markers (p ≤ 0.05). OTC160 revealed considerable hepatic and renal tissue damage and significantly higher hepatocyte DNA damage. Pathological changes and DNA damage were directly correlated to the dosage of OTC exposure, where they were more severe in OTC160. OTC80 showed insignificant changes in most parameters. Compared to CTR, the inclusion of AA in the O. niloticus diet significantly restored the biological indices, histological changes, and DNA damage in OTC-treated groups. The morbidity and mortality percentages after bacterial challenge were significantly lower in the OTC80 + AA group, followed by the OTC160 + AA group than in the CTR. These results corroborate the use of AA as a potent antioxidant and immune stimulant and a potential co-adjuvant to OTC in the diet of O. niloticus to reach optimal resistance to disease.

Efficacy of ascorbic acid and different sources of orange peel on growth performance, gene expression, anti-oxidant status and microbial activity of growing rabbits under hot conditions

Orange peel and its extract are good sources of phenols and vitamin C that can be used as powerful antioxidants and antibacterial. The effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA), orange peel powder (OPP) and orange peel extract (OPE) supplementations on growth performance, blood biochemicals, gene expression and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under hot conditions were investigated. A total of 80 weaned Giant Flander male rabbits, five weeks old (606.25 ± 10.08 g), were randomly assigned to four groups. The first group received untreated diet (control group). The other groups received diets supplemented with 0.5 g AA/kg diet, 2% OPP and 500 mg OPE/kg diet. The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded by rabbits consumed diet supplemented with AA. Supplementations of OPP and OPE reduced blood plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very-low density lipoprotein concentrations. The tested diets reduced triglycerides, total lipids, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde levels, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli of the rabbits cecum. Supplementation of OPE improved activities of superoxide dismutase gene (6.1475) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (9.2108). Conclusively, dietary supplementation of OPE improved rabbit performance through improving antioxidant enzyme activities as well as upregulation of insulin-like growth gene. Additionally, OPP and OPE (2% and 500 mg/kg diet, respectively) had antibacterial effects for growing rabbits under hot conditions.

The ameliorative role of ascorbic acid against blood disorder, immunosuppression, and oxidative damage of oxytetracycline in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This experiment was aimed to determine the possible beneficial effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on hematological indices, immune responses, and antioxidative capacity of Oncorhynchus mykiss treated with antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC). A total of 150 fish were divided evenly among five experimental groups (30 fish of each, in 3 replicates) receiving diets containing OTC (0 and 100mg per kg fish weight) and AA (100, 200, 400, and 800mg per kg fish diet) for 28days. Treatments include group A or control (100mg AA without OTC), group B (100mg AA with OTC), group C (200mg AA with OTC), group D (400mg AA with OTC), and group E (800mg AA with OTC). The results obtained showed that the hematological indices (red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and neutrophils), immunological parameters (plasma lysozyme, plasma complement, and skin mucus alkaline phosphatase activities), and antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were significantly decreased by OTC in O. mykiss fed control diet (P < 0.05). The results also revealed that OTC significantly increased the activity of biochemical enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) in the plasma of O. mykiss fed control diet (P < 0.05). However, in comparison to the control diet, feeding fish with higher amounts of AA (400 and 800mg/kg diet) significantly restored the hematological, immunological, and antioxidative responses in OTC-treated groups (p < 0.05). These findings show that the dietary supplementation of AA at 400 or 800mg/kg diet is beneficial in relieving O. mykiss from OTC-induced oxidative stress and immunosuppression.

Prophylactic effects of dietary ascorbic acid on oxidative stress indices, physiological and behavioural responses of domestic pigeons exposed to road transport stress.

Transport disturbs birds’ welfare and health status which lead to oxidative stress and dietary ascorbic acid mitigates the adverse effects of transport stress. The present study was aimed to evaluate the impacts of ascorbic acid administration on oxidative stress indices, cortisol, H/L ratio, tonic immobility reaction and rectal temperature of pigeons exposed to road transport. A total of 80 clinically healthy pigeons were selected and randomly divided to eight equal groups as follow: (1) Ctrl–: fed by basal diet and no subjected to transport stress; (2) Ctrl+: fed by the basal diet and subjected to transport stress; (3, 4) 1DBS10 and 1DBS16: received ascorbic acid from 1 day before transport stress at doses of 10 g/100 L and 16 g/100 L of drinking water, respectively; (5, 6) 3DBS10 and 3DBS16: treated with ascorbic acid from 3 consecutive days before transport stress at doses of 10 g/100 L and 16 g/100 L, respectively and (7, 8) 7DBS10 and 7DBS16: received ascorbic acid from 7 consecutive days before the transport at doses 10 g/100 L and 16 g/100 L, respectively. Birds were transported for 3 h over a distance of about 200 km. The total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde and cortisol were measured before transport and at 6, 24 and 72 h post‐transportation. The rectal temperature and tunic immobility reactions were recorded. Dietary ascorbic acid led to a decrease in tonic immobility response, hetrophil to lymphocyte ratio, circulating cortisol and total antioxidant capacity, and an increase in circulating malondialdehyde in pigeons exposed to transport stress compare to Ctrl+ group. In conclusion, ascorbic acid administration at dose 16 g/100 L of drinking water from 3 and 7 days before exposure to stress helps attenuate undesirable effects of oxidative stress in pigeons.

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL ASCORBIC ACID AND DISTURBANCE STRESS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

The study was conducted with four hundred day-old Anak broilers to determine the effects of dietary Ascorbic acid (AA) and disturbance (D) stress on the performance of broiler chickens in a tropical environment. There were four treatments consisting of two levels of disturbance (ID) and (4D) and two levels of dietary AA (0 and 250mgAA/kg feed). Each treatment was replicated four times with 25 chicks per replicate. The starter and finisher diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Results showed that there were no significant interactions between dietary ascorbic acid supplementation and disturbance stress levels on any of the performance data considered. The disturbance stress had no significant effects on most of the measured parameters. However, there was # 35% increase in mortality rate as disturbance stress level increased from D to 4D. The dietary ascorbic acid supplementation level had no significant effect on feed intake and weight gain. Feed conversion ratios were significantly improved with AA supplementation during the starter phase only. Dietary AA supplementation also had a 90% reduction in mortality of chicks compared with the supplemented group. Likewise AA inclusion in diets had a feed cost advantage. It may be concluded that disturbance induced stress increased mortality and lowered performance. However these effects were relieved by dietary AA supplementation.

Dietary ascorbic acid and betaine improve stress responses, testosterone levels and some sexual traits in male Japanese quails during the dry season

Abstract The experiment investigated the effects of dietary ascorbic acid and betaine stress responses, serum testosterone levels, and some sexual traits in male Japanese quails during the dry season. A total of 240 male Japanese quails (14 days old) were used and randomly assigned to four groups, each group has three replicates (n = 20). Birds in treatment groups were fed ascorbic acid (AA); betaine (BET); and AA + BET in their diets, whereas the control birds were fed only basal diet. Environmental conditions were predominantly outside thermoneutral zone for Japanese quails. Dietary AA ± BET increased (p &lt; .05) serum catalase, reduced glutathione and testosterone, but lowered (p &lt; .05) cortisol levels when compared with control group. Supplemental AA, BET, or AA + BET enhanced (p &lt; .05) cloacal gland size and sexual traits. In conclusion, dietary AA and BET improved stress responses, serum testosterone levels, and some sexual traits in male Japanese quails during the dry season.

Effects of dietary ascorbic acid levels on cholesterol metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

An 80‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation at different levels (0, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg l‐ascorbate‐2‐polyphosphate; 7.6, 77.2 and 146.7 mg/kg AA, respectively) on cholesterol metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Dietary AA supplementation regardless of inclusion level increased the serum total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. No significant differences were observed in the serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels, faecal cholesterol content, hepatic activity and mRNA expression of acyl‐coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase among the dietary treatments. Dietary AA inclusion increased the faecal bile acid content, hepatic activity and mRNA expression of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase mRNA expression, but decreased the hepatic LDL receptor content. High level of AA supplementation (0.4 g/kg) depressed the serum cortisol levels. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with 0.2‒0.4 g/kg l‐ascorbate‐2‐polyphosphate may increase the serum total cholesterol level in rainbow trout. The cholesterol‐raising effect of AA may be due to the increased hepatic cholesterol production and the depressed cholesterol clearance from serum. In addition, dietary AA inclusion also facilitates the hepatic conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.

Dietary ascorbic acid reduced micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) exposed to hospital effluent.

Hospital effluents contain myriad of mutagens and genotoxins capable of increasing DNA damage in aquatic biota. African mudfish, Clarias gariepinus, are exposed to genotoxins when cultured in swamps and derelict water bodies often contaminated by effluents. Moreover, its DNA is susceptible to xenobiotic-induced lesions since it lacks L-gulonolactone oxidase and hence cannot synthesize L-ascorbic acid. This study investigated 96-h acute toxicity and protective effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) against micronucleus (MN) and abnormal nuclear (NAs) formation in C. gariepinus exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of hospital effluent. Six concentrations (0.5-3.0%) of the effluent were selected to determine the 96-h acute toxicity of the effluent in C. gariepinus, after range finding test. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (0.08-1.30%) of the 96h LC50. Two other groups were exposed to the 96h LC50 (1.30%) of the effluent +50 and +100mg/kg of dietary ascorbic for 7days, and MN and NAs assessed in peripheral erythrocytes. The 96h LC50 (1.30%) was 1.18 times more toxic than the 24h LC50 (1.54%), indicating that the toxicity of the effluent increased with exposure duration. MN, nuclear bud, enucleated, fragmented nucleus (apoptosis), and necrotic erythrocytes significantly increase in effluent treated fish. Dietary AA reduced MN from 6.35-fold (1.30% treated group) to 3.72-fold (1.30%+50mg AA) and 3.54-fold (1.30%+100mg AA). Also, AA reduced total NAs from 2.26-fold (1.30%) to 1.40-fold (1.30%+50mg AA) and 1.06-fold (1.30%+100mg AA) compared to the control. Heavy metals and physicochemical parameters analyzed in the tested effluent possibly induced the mortality and cytogenotoxicity in C. gariepinus, and this was ameliorated by dietary AA.

Haematological and immune upshots in Clarias batrachus exposed to dimethoate and defying response of dietary ascorbic acid

Dimethoate (DM) is an organophosphate insecticide used worldwide in agriculture, household practices. It has resulted in a series of environmental and toxicological impacts on non-target aquatic organisms. The present study investigated the potential ameliorative effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) against dimethoate toxicity in the haematological and immune parameters in Clarias batrachus. The experiment included group A (basal diet), group B (basal diet with 1.245 mg L−1 DM) and group C (200 mg kg−1 AA with 1.245 mg L−1 DM) were fed for 8 weeks. Samples were collected at the end of every week in each group and estimated haematological profile (red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit %, albumin and globulin levels), erythrocyte indices (mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration), biochemical parameters (AA levels in blood and liver, total proteins, glucose, serum triglycerides, creatinine levels and glutamic oxaloacetate, glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GOT, GPT)) and immune responses (white blood cell count, serum IgM levels and activities of nitroblue tetrazolium, lysozyme and peroxidase) of the fish. Fish fed with ascorbic acid, showed red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte indices, albumin, globulin and serum triglycerides, creatinine, plasma total proteins, glucose levels are not differed (≤10%) from control. Likewise, ascorbic acid maintains optimal levels in activities of GOT, GPT, nitroblue tetrazolium, lysozyme and peroxidase, white blood cells and serum IgM levels. Further studies are needed to ascertain how ascorbic acid improves the innate and humoral immune system of the fish and the mechanisms involved.

Effects of Dietary Ascorbic Acid on Growth Performance, Body Composition, and Some Immunological Parameters of Caspian Brown Trout, Salmo trutta caspius

AbstractA 9‐wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on growth performance and tissue compositions of Caspian brown trout. The fish (9.64 ± 0.62 g) were held in tanks at a density of 40 fish per tank. Five experimental diets were prepared by providing of 9.8, 43.8, 89.4, 188.5, and 384.2 mg AA equivalent/kg diet, respectively. At the end of the trial, an increasing trend was found on growth performance with the increase of AA supplementation. Fish fed diet supplemented with more than 188.5 mg/kg AA also had significantly higher bone collagen than fish fed diets containing 9.8 mg/kg AA (P &lt; 0.05). According to the broken line, the dietary AA requirement of Caspian brown trout fingerlings was 177.24 mg AA/kg diet based on the weight gain, 186.97 mg AA/kg diet based on the protein tissue, and 163.95 mg AA/kg diet based on the bone collagen. Serum lysozyme and alternative complement pathway activities were also influenced by graded level of AA supplementation to the diet. The present research clearly indicated that AA is required for normal growth and enhancement of immune response in Caspian brown trout fingerlings.

Dietary ascorbic acid modulates the expression profile of stress protein genes in hepatopancreas of adult Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on transcriptional expression patterns of antioxidant proteins, heat shock proteins (HSP) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the hepatopancreas of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino (initial average length: 84.36 ± 0.24 mm) using real-time quantitative PCR assays. L-ascorbyl-2-molyphosphate (LAMP) was added to the basal diet to formulate four experimental diets containing 0.0, 70.3, 829.8 and 4967.5 mg AA equivalent kg−1 diets, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of adult abalone in acrylic tanks (200 L) in a flow-through seawater system. Each tank was stocked with 15 abalone. Animals were fed once daily (17:00) to apparent satiation for 24 weeks. The results showed that the dietary AA (70.3 mg kg−1) could significantly up-regulate the expression levels of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), feritin (FT) and heat shock protein 26 (HSP26) in the hepatopancreas of abalone in this treatment compared to the controls. However, the expression levels of Mn-SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx), selenium-binding protein (SEBP), HSP70 and HSP90 were significantly down-regulated. Compared with those in the group with 70.3 mg kg−1 dietary AA, the expression levels of CAT, GST and HSP26 were decreased in abalone fed with very high dietary AA (4967.5 mg kg−1). In addition, significant up-regulations of expression levels of Mn-SOD, GPX, TPx, SEBP, FT, HSP70, HSP90 and NF-κB were observed in abalone fed with apparently excessive dietary AA (829.8 and 4967.5 mg kg−1) as compared to those fed 70.3 mg kg−1 dietary AA. These findings showed that dietary AA influenced the expression levels of antioxidant proteins, heat shock proteins and NF-κB in the hepatopancreas of abalone at transcriptional level. Levels of dietary AA that appeared adequate (70.3 mg kg−1) reduced the oxidative stress by influencing gene expression of antioxidant proteins, but excessive dietary AA (829.8 and 4967.5 mg kg−1) induced oxidative stress in Pacific abalone H. discus hannai.

The role of dietary L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate on the growth and physiological functions of beluga,Huso huso(Linnaeus, 1758)

Effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation were carried out on growth performance and physiological indices in juvenile beluga Huso huso fed different levels of dietary L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate as AA source consisting of 0 (control), 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg AA kg−1 diet for 16 weeks. No significant differences were found in growth performances between treated groups except for condition factor. Using AA caused significant differences in haemoglobin, number of red blood cells, white blood cells, aspartate aminotranspherase and lactate dehydrogenase, while no significant difference was found in haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, differential white blood cells count and alkaline phosphatase activity at the end of the experiment. Lysozyme activity after 8 weeks was significantly affected by dietary treatments with the lowest value in fish fed control diet, but not at completion of 16-week feeding trial. Liver AA concentration showed a significant increase in correlation with dietary AA increase. Air exposure stress test showed significant differences among the treatments in case of cortisol and glucose concentrations. Also between pre- and post stress, significant changes were observed in some of treatments. The lowest and highest levels of cortisol were 9.2 ± 3 (in 200 mg kg−1) and 16.8 ± 5.1 ng mL−1 (in control), 6 h post stress (P < 0.05) respectively. Also, the lowest and highest levels of glucose were measured in fish fed 200 and 800 mg AA kg−1 respectively. The obtained results showed that most growth parameters were not affected by dietary AA, but some physiological and immunological parameters of this species were influenced by this vitamin. We suggest that under rearing conditions, AA should be added to the diet especially during early life stages for improving health status and resistance to stressors.

Dietary Ascorbic Acid-Mediated Augmentation of Antitumor Activity and Protection Against Toxicities Induced by Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum-(II) in Daltons Lymphoma-Bearing Mice -

Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum-(II) (CDDP) commonly known as cisplatin is considered as a major anticancer drug against a broad spectrum of malignancies. This study evaluates the modulatory effect of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on the therapeutic efficacy of CDDP against murine ascites Daltons lymphoma (DL) and some tissue toxicities in tumor-bearing mice. As compared to CDDP alone, the combination treatment with ascorbic acid (AA) plus CDDP showed better therapeutic efficacy against murine ascites Daltons lymphoma. DL cells treated with CDDP showed the appearance of apoptotic features involving fragmentation of nucleus into discrete masses and plasma membrane blebbing. As compared to CDDP alone, combination treatment caused an increase in the number of apoptotic DL cells. Reduced glutathione (GSH) level was noted to decrease in DL cells while it increased in kidney after combination treatment. Blood haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (eosinophils, basophils and lymphocytes) were also decreased after CDDP treatment while overall betterment in hematological parameters was noted after combination treatment. The analysis of renal function tests (RFT) and liver function tests (LFT) suggest an improvement against CDDP-induced liver and kidney toxicities after combination treatment. The decrease in GSH levels particularly in DL cells and an increase in kidney and liver after combination treatment may have a role in the antitumor activity and decrease in CDDP-induced toxicity in the tumor-bearing host. Improvement in the LFT, RFT and hematological toxicities after combination treatment may have a beneficial effect in the improved survival of tumor-bearing mice.

Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid on Performance and Immune Response of Heat Stressed Broiler Chicks

A total of 112, day-old broiler chicks were reared under summer temperature of the Sudan (35- 45°C) to study the effect of supplementati on of ascorbic acid on the feed intake, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), weight gain, immune status and ratio of weight of bursa, thymus and spleen to body weight. Four level of ascorbic acid 0 (control), 150 (low level), 350 (moderate level) and 550 (high level) mg/kg were used from day 14-42 day. Birds fed low and moderate levels of ascorbic acid (150, 350 mg/kg) show high feed intake compared to those fed high level (550 mg/kg), which resulted in improvement in body weight and feed conversion ratio of the moderate and low levels. Dressing percentage was not affected by different level of ascorbic acid. Total white blood cells were reduced as the level of ascorbic acid was increased. Lymphocytes increased in birds fed moderate or high levels of ascorbic acid. Heterophils were decreased in the group fed the moderate level and high levels of ascorbic acid. Monocytes decreased in the groups fed the high level, However, basophils and esinophils were not affected by the different levels of ascorbic acid. The mean weight of lymphoid organs or the ratio of lymphoid organs to body weight was not affected by the different treatments. Antibody titer against Newcastle virus was increased in birds fed diets supplemented with different levels of ascorbic acid.

Protective Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid in Young Male ODS Rats against Oxidative Damage Caused by Electromagnetic Fields Emitted From Mobile Phones

Protective Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid in Young Male ODS Rats against Oxidative Damage Caused by Electromagnetic Fields Emitted From Mobile Phones

Interactive effects of dietary vitamin C and phospholipid in micro-bound diet for growth, survival, and stress resistance of larval red sea bream, Pagrus major

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AsA) and phospholipid (PL) and their interaction on growth, survival, and stress resistance in red sea bream larvae. Twenty-six days old red sea bream were fed nine micro-bound diets supplemented three levels of AsA (0, 800 and 1600 mg kg−1 diet) and PL (0, 20 and 40 g kg−1 diet) for 15 days. Dietary AsA and PL were both significant factors on survival rates. There was also an interaction between dietary AsA and PL on survival rate (P < 0.05). The larvae fed 800 or 1600 mg kg−1 AsA with 40 g kg−1 PL diets showed the highest survival rate, with values similar to those of the live-food supplemented group. Stress resistance against low salinity exposure significantly increased with increased dietary level of AsA and PL. However, significant interaction of AsA and PL was not detected. The larvae fed 1600 mg kg−1 AsA with 40 g kg−1 PL diet showed the highest stress resistance among all diets, but it was not significantly different than that of larvae fed 800 mg kg−1 AsA with 40 g kg−1 PL diet. This study clearly demonstrated that combined use of AsA and PL can improve survival of 26–40 days posthatching red sea bream larvae. Moreover, the present study suggested that 800 mg kg−1 AsA with 40 g kg−1 PL in diet was needed for producing high quality seedling under the stressful conditions.

Effect of Dietary Ascorbic Acid on Performance of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Different Lighting Regime

A 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the performance of 400 Anak broiler chicks exposed to two lighting regimes viz. 12 h light:12 h darkness and 24 h light:0 h darkness and fed diets containing two levels of ascorbic acid (0 and 250 mg AA/kg of feed). Each treatment was replicated four times with 25 birds per replicate. Results showed that at the starter phase of growth, chicks on continuous lighting regime recorded significantly (p 0.05) effect on weight gain but addition of ascorbic acid in the diet significantly (p 0.05) between continuous and limited lighting on feed: gain ratio. However, chicks with ascorbic in their diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) better feed: gain ratio than those without ascorbic acid. Inclusion of ascorbic acid in the diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced feed cost per kilogram weight gain. Ascorbic acid inclusion significantly (p<0.05) increased femur weight but not femur ash and tibia length. Continuous lighting and inclusion of ascorbic acid from diets increased incidence of leg abnormality significantly. Inclusion of ascorbic acid significantly (p<0.05) reduced the severity of leg abnormality. In conclusion continuous lighting and ascorbic acid in the diet may improve weight gain, feed: gain ratio, reduced feed cost per kilogram weight gain and reduction in the severity of leg abnormality. It may be recommended that under continuous lighting, inclusion of ascorbic acid in the diet may be recommended for balanced growth of the chicks.

The Effects of Dietary Ascorbic Acid Treatment on Mesenteric Artery Reactivity in Pregnant Rats with Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure

Preeclampsia is a multifaceted disease of pregnancy mediated by poor placental perfusion. The symptoms of the disease include hypertension, hyperuricemia, and proteinuria. Pregnant rats with reduced uteroplacental perfusion (RUPP) have been used as an animal model of preeclampsia. In these animals plasma ascorbate levels are decreased along with increased vascular reactivity similar to what is seen in patients with preeclampsia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) treatment to animals with RUPP and to see if detrimental changes in mesenteric vascular reactivity seen in RUPP rats can be ameliorated. Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to RUPP or Sham surgery on Day 14 of gestation. Animals were then given regular water or ascorbic acid water (1 mg/mL) ad libitum post surgery. At gestational Day 21, resistance‐sized mesenteric arteries were harvested and mounted in a pressurized arteriograph. Myogenic reactivity was significantly decreased in AA treated RUPP animals compared to RUPP (p&lt;0.05). AA also reversed RUPP induced decreases in methacholine relaxation seen in RUPP (p&lt;0.05). These results suggest that antioxidant treatment can partially reverse the increased myogenic reactivity and decreased endothelium‐dependent relaxation seen in animals with reductions in uterine perfusion and may provide new insights into the treatment of human preeclampsia.

Effects of Dietary Ascorbic Acid on Blood Haematological Profile, Serum Biochemical Components and Tonic Immobility Reaction of Male Turkeys under Summer Condition

This experiment was performed to determine the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (ASA) supplementation on blood components, leukocyte and tonic immobility of male turkeys under summer conditions. A total of 120 one-day-old male turkeys were fed with three different diets. The experimental diets were: control without ASA (ASA-0), 150mg of ASA/kg (ASA-150) and 300mg of ASA/kg (ASA-300) of diet. The turkeys received the experimental diets for 18 weeks. Diets in mash form and water were provided ad libitum. In the ASA-150 and ASA-300 groups, the eosinophile and basophile ratios were higher than those of the ASA-0 group at 12 weeks of age (P 0.05). Both dietary ASA levels caused a quadratic decrease in serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (P 0.05). As a conclusion, blood haematological profile, serum biochemical components and tonic immobility of turkeys were not significantly affected by dietary ASA levels at chronic high summer temperatures in general, and, therefore, there is no need for ASA supplementation in turkeys' diets under summer temperatures that do not exceed 31.7°C.

Effect of dietary ascorbic acid on growth and non-specific immune responses of tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes

We report nutritional physiology and non-specific immune responses of ascorbic acid (AA) in puffer fish for the first time. This study aimed to examine the essentiality and requirements of AA in diets for the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes based on growth performance, liver AA and bone collagen concentration, and non-specific immune responses. Five casein-gelatin based semi-purified diets were formulated to contain five graded levels of l-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate at 0, 40, 80, 160 and 700 mg/kg (designated as AMP0, AMP40, AMP80, AMP160 and AMP700, respectively) and fed to triplicate groups of fish. After 10 weeks of feeding trial, growth performances of fish (initial body weight, 35 g) fed the AMP0 were significantly lower compared to that of fish fed diets supplemented with AMP. The fish fed the AMP0 diet also exhibited significantly lower hematocrit, condition factor and hepatosomatic index compared to the fish fed diets supplemented with AMP. Phagocytic activity (NBT assay) was significantly lower in fish fed the AMP0 diet than in fish fed the AMP containing diets. Plasma lysozyme activity of fish fed the AMP80 and AMP160 was significantly higher than that of fish fed the AMP0. Dietary supplementation of AMP significantly increased the liver superoxide dismutase in the fish. Myeloperoxidase activity of fish fed the AMP0 was significantly lower compared to that of fish fed the AMP containing diets. Bone collagen level tended to increase numerically and total AA concentration in liver of fish was significantly increased in a dose dependent manner by the supplementation of AMP. Therefore, tiger puffer requires exogenous ascorbic acid and the optimum dietary level could be 29 mg AA/kg diet for normal growth and physiology. Dietary AA concentration over 82 mg/kg could be required to enhance non-specific immune responses of the fish. However, it does not seem that the fish needs an overdose of dietary AA (>160 mg/kg) for better non-specific immune responses.