Glandular Stomach Research Articles

Arsenic trioxide or/and copper sulfate co-exposure induce glandular stomach of chicken injury via destruction of the mitochondrial dynamics and activation of apoptosis as well as autophagy

Arsenic and copper are naturally occurring element. Contamination from natural processes and anthropogenic activities can be discovered all over the world and their unique interactions with the environment lead to widespread toxicity. When the content was excessive, the organism would be hurt seriously. The glandular stomach is an important organ of the poultry gastrointestinal tract. This study was aimed to investigate the toxicity of arsenic trioxide or/and copper sulfate (As or/and Cu) on chicken glandular stomach. Seventy-two 1-day-old Hy-Line chickens were randomly divided into control (C) group, arsenic trioxide (As) group, copper sulfate (Cu) group and arsenic trioxide and copper sulfate (AsCu) group, and exposed to 30 mg/kg arsenic trioxide or/and 300 mg/kg copper sulphates for 12 weeks. The indicators of mitochondrial dynamics, apoptosis and autophagy were tested in the glandular stomach. The results showed that exposure to As or/and Cu caused mitochondrial dynamic imbalance. Additionally, the levels of pro-apoptosis and autophagy indicators were increased and the levels of anti-apoptosis indicators were decreased in the treatment groups. Beyond that, in the treatment groups, we could clearly see karyopyknosis and chromatin condensation were associated with increased apoptosis rate, as well as the disappearance of the nuclear membrane, the swelling of mitochondria and the accumulation of autophagosomes were involved in the death of cells. It was worth noting that the glandular stomach lesions were time-dependent, and the combination of As and Cu were worse than the As and Cu alone. Collectively, our results suggest that As or/and Cu aggravate mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and autophagy in a time-dependent manner, and the combined toxicity of As and Cu was higher.

A novel 86-bp indel of the motilin receptor gene is significantly associated with growth and carcass traits in Gushi-Anka F2 reciprocal cross chickens

ABSTRACT 1. A previous whole-genome association analysis has identified the motilin receptor gene (MLNR), which regulates gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying, as a candidate gene related to chicken growth. 2. MLNR mRNA was expressed in all tissues tested, and the expression level in digestive tissues was greater than in other tissues. Expression levels in the pancreas, duodenum and glandular stomach at day old and one, two and three weeks of age indicated a possible correlation with the digestive system. This suggested that the MLNR gene plays a central role in gastrointestinal tract function and affects the growth and development of chickens. Moreover, there was a significant difference in expression in the glandular stomach tissue between Ross 308 and Gushi chickens at six weeks of age. 3. Re-sequencing revealed an 86-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the downstream region of the MLNR gene. The mutation locus was genotyped in 2,261 individuals from nine different chicken breeds. MLNR expression levels in the glandular stomach of chickens with DD genotypes were greater than those in chickens with the ID and II genotypes. The DD genotype was the most dominant genotype in commercial broiler's (Ross 308 and Arbor Acres broilers), and the D allele frequency in these breeds exceeded 91%. The deletion mutation tended towards fixation in commercial broilers. 4. Association with growth and carcass traits analysed in a Gushi-Anka F2 intercrossed population, showed that the DD genotype was significantly associated with the greatest growth and carcass trait values, whereas values associated with the II genotype were the lowest in the F2 reciprocal cross chickens. 5. The results suggest that the mutation is strongly associated with growth related traits and it is likely to be useful for marker-assisted selection of chickens.

In Vivo Layer-Specific Mechanical Characterization of Porcine Stomach Tissue Using a Customized Ultrasound Elastography System.

This paper presents in vivo mechanical characterization of the muscularis, submucosa, and mucosa of the porcine stomach wall under large deformation loading. This is particularly important for the development of gastrointestinal pathology-specific surgical intervention techniques. The study is based on testing the cardiac and fundic glandular stomach regions using a custom-developed compression ultrasound elastography system. Particular attention has been paid to elucidate the heterogeneity and anisotropy of tissue response. A Fung hyperelastic material model has been used to model the mechanical response of each tissue layer. A univariate analysis comparing the initial shear moduli of the three layers indicates that the muscularis (5.69 ± 4.06 kPa) is the stiffest followed by the submucosa (3.04 ± 3.32 kPa) and the mucosa (0.56 ± 0.28 kPa). The muscularis is found to be strongly distinguishable from the mucosa tissue in the cardiac and fundic regions based on a multivariate discriminant analysis. The cardiac muscularis is observed to be stiffer than the fundic muscularis tissue (shear moduli of 7.96 ± 3.82 kPa versus 3.42 ± 2.96 kPa), more anisotropic (anisotropic parameter of 2.21 ± 0.77 versus 1.41 ± 0.38), and strongly distinguishable from its fundic counterpart. The results are consistent with the tissue morphology and are in accordance with our previous ex vivo tissue study. Finally, a univariate comparison of the in vivo and ex vivo initial shear moduli for each layer shows that the muscularis and submucosa tissues are softer while in vivo, but the mucosa tissue is stiffer while in vivo. The results concerning the mechanical properties highlight the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of multilayer stomach tissue.

The response of glandular gastric transcriptome to T-2 toxin in chicks

This study was conducted to determine the effect of T-2 toxin on the transcriptome of the glandular stomach in chicks using RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Four groups of 1-day-old Cobb male broilers (n = 4 cages/group, 6 chicks/cage) were fed a corn-soybean-based diet (control) and control supplemented with T-2 toxin at 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/kg, respectively, for 2 weeks. The histological results showed that dietary supplementation of T-2 toxin at 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg induced glandular gastric injury including serious inflammation, increased inflammatory cells, mucosal edema, and necrosis and desquamation of the epithelial cells in the glandular stomach of chicks. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that there were 671, 1393, and 1394 genes displayed ≥2 (P < 0.05) differential expression in the dietary supplemental T-2 toxin at 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/kg, respectively, compared with the control group. Notably, 204 differently expressed genes had shared similar changes among these three doses of T-2 toxin. GO and KEGG pathway analysis results showed that many genes involved in oxidation-reduction process, inflammation, wound healing/bleeding, and apoptosis/carcinogenesis were affected by T-2 toxin exposure. In conclusion, this study systematically elucidated toxic mechanisms of T-2 toxin on the glandular stomach, which might provide novel ideas to prevent adverse effects of T-2 toxin in chicks.

Downregulation of Notch Signaling in Kras-Induced Gastric Metaplasia

Activating mutations and amplification of Kras and, more frequently, signatures for Kras activation are noted in stomach cancer. Expression of mutant KrasG12D in the mouse gastric mucosa has been shown to induce hyperplasia and metaplasia. However, the mechanisms by which Kras activation leads to gastric metaplasia are not fully understood. Here we report that KrasLSL-G12D/+;Pdx1-cre, a mouse model known for pancreatic cancer, also mediates KrasG12D expression in the stomach, causing gastric hyperplasia and metaplasia prior to the pathologic changes in the pancreas. These mice exhibit ectopic cell proliferation at the base of gastric glands, whereas wild-type mice contain proliferating cells primarily at the isthmus/neck of the gastric glands. Notch signaling is decreased in the KrasLSL-G12D/+;Pdx1-cre gastric mucosa, as shown by lower levels of cleaved Notch intracellular domains and downregulation of Notch downstream target genes. Expression of a Notch ligand Jagged1 is downregulated at the base of the mutant gland, accompanied by loss of chief cell marker Mist1. We demonstrate that exogenous Jagged1 or overexpression of Notch intracellular domain stimulates Mist1 expression in gastric cancer cell lines, suggesting positive regulation of Mist1 by Notch signaling. Finally, deletion of Jagged1 or Notch3 in KrasLSL-G12D/+;Pdx1-cre mice promoted development of squamous cell carcinoma in the forestomach, albeit short of invasive adenocarcinoma in the glandular stomach. Taken together, these results reveal downregulation of Notch signaling and Mist1 expression during the initiation of Kras-driven gastric tumorigenesis and suggest a tumor-suppressive role for Notch in this context.

The mutagenic activity of select azo compounds in MutaMouse target tissues in vivo and primary hepatocytes in vitro

The mutagenicity of Direct Black 38, Sudan I, and Para Red were evaluated in the in vivo MutaMouse assay and the in vitro MutaMouse primary hepatocyte (PH) assay. Direct Black 38 is an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Group 1 carcinogen and a prototypical benzidine-based azo compound that requires azo-reduction to yield a DNA-reactive metabolite. Sudan I and Para Red are structurally related azo compounds that have been detected as illegal contaminants in foods. Sudan I is an in vivo mutagen, and both it and Para Red are known to be mutagenic in vitro. Sudan I is oxidized by hepatic and/or bladder enzymes to yield a mutagenic metabolite, but little is known about Para Red. In the present study, Direct Black 38 elicited a significant mutagenic response in the bone marrow, glandular stomach, small intestine and colon in vivo, and in PHs in vitro. Sudan I elicited a weak positive response in the bone marrow and a marginally significant treatment effect in the bladder (p = 0.059); it did not elicit a significant response in PHs in vitro. Para Red elicited a positive response in the colon, as well as in PHs in vitro, albeit at a cytotoxic concentration. The findings are well aligned with the known mechanisms of action of Direct Black 38 and Sudan I; they suggest that intestinal azo-reduction plays an important role in the activation of Para Red. The MutaMouse pH results illustrate the ability of this assay to detect chemicals requiring azo-reduction; however, they also demonstrate a gap in applicability domain, as MutaMouse PHs elicit a negative response following exposure to Sudan I. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying this gap will require further study.

Effect of tartrazine on gastric mucosa and the possible role of recovery with or without riboflavin in adult male albino rat

Background: Tartrazine is one of the azo dyes that are the most common artificial food colors widely used in many food products. Tartrazine is used in many developing countries without strict regulations.Aim of the study: to investigate the effect of tartrazine on the gastric mucosa and to evaluate the possible role of recovery after its withdrawal with or without riboflavin in rat.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were equally divided into 4 groups; Control, riboflavin, tartrazine-treated group (orally administered 200 mg/kg/day tartrazine for 60 days), tartrazine-recovery group (orally administered 200 mg/kg/day tartrazine for 60 days then left without treatment for another 60 days) and tartrazine-recovery and riboflavin group (that were orally administered tartrazine for 60 days then stopped and followed with riboflavin for another 60 days). Glandular stomach specimens were processed for histological and immunohistochemical techniques.Results: Tartrazine-treated group depicted variable degrees of mucosal lesions with significant decrease in its thickness. Parietal cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and irregular nuclei, and vacuolated chief cells with pyknotic nuclei were detected. Dilated congested blood vessels and aggregated mononuclear cells were observed. Ultrastructural examination showed parietal and chief cells with condensed nuclei and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Tartrazine-recovery group showed almost intact gastric mucosa. Tartrazine-recovery with riboflavin group showed a near normal gastric mucosa. Both Ki67 and iNOS-immunohistochemical expression showed a statistically significant increase upon tartrazine administration coupling to a significant decrease in Periodic-Acid-Schiff expression. Tartrazine-recovery group still revealed significant differences in these parameters compared to the control, while tartrazine-recovery with riboflavin showed non-significant differences from the control.Conclusion: Tartrazine affected the stomach and was alleviated by stopping it. Combined recovery along with riboflavin was more efficient on the recovery of gastric mucosa.

Evaluation of a 28-day repeated-dose micronucleus test in rat glandular stomach, colon, and liver using gastrointestinal tract-targeted genotoxic-carcinogens and non-carcinogens

The usefulness of the rat repeated-dose liver and gastrointestinal (GI) tract micronucleus (MN) tests to detect site-specific carcinogens has been shown previously using 22 chemicals in a study conducted by the Mammalian Mutagenicity Study group in the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society. However, in the 6th International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing, the need for further data to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the GI tract MN test and the specificity of the liver MN test, for the purpose of regulatory use, was mentioned. In the present study, we conducted additional studies to validate the performance of the 28-day repeated-dose GI tract and liver MN tests using genotoxic stomach carcinogens, N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane (NMUT); genotoxic colon carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine hydrochloride (PhIP), and non-carcinogens, sodium chloride, sucrose, and amaranth. Male Crl:CD (SD) rats were administered with each chemical by oral gavage for 28 days and the micronucleated cell frequencies in the glandular stomach, colon, and liver were monitored. MNU and NMUT showed positive results in the glandular stomach, and PhIP did so in the colon. These carcinogens showed negative results in the liver, which is not a target organ for these chemicals. Negative results were obtained for all three non-carcinogens in the glandular stomach, colon, and liver. Therefore, it was shown that the glandular stomach and colon MN tests with 28-day repeated-dose regimen have a good sensitivity for detecting genotoxic GI tract carcinogens as positive and have a good specificity to determined non-carcinogens as negative. The negative results with these six chemicals in the liver provide additional evidence supporting the good specificity of the 28-day repeated-dose liver MN test.

Micropicture of glandular part of the stomach of 6 months aged ducks (Mulard breed) in norm and after feed affected with mycotoxins

This article discusses the histological structure of the glandular stomach of 6 months aged ducks (Mulard breed) in the norm and after combined effects of mycotoxins DON and fumonisin. Their value exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) in feed. We studied pieces of different parts of the glandular stomach – top, bodies and isthmus. It has been revealed that with the combined effect of mycotoxins in the mucous membrane of the glandular part of the stomach there is an infiltration of the mucous layer i by round-cell elements, mainly lymphocytes, desquamation of the epithelium lining the cavity of the internal glands and fragmentary lysis of cells forming the wall of the internal glands, vasculitis. There is myocyte lysis in the muscle membrane.

Serum protein expression in Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) induced by phenylbutazone.

Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) is a common disease in sport horses. This disease might be associated with usage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating inflammatory diseases. Although gastroscopy has been an effective method for diagnosis, but a less invasive, and inexpensive method is preferred. This study used proteomic technology to identify candidate serum proteins that might be used as markers of NSAIDs induced EGGD. Five Thoroughbred horses were given high doses of NSAID, phenylbutazone to treat lameness. The experiment was divided into three periods: (i) Pre-EGGD period, (ii) during EGGD period, and (iii) Post-EGGD period. Gastroscopy were used to diagnose EGGD, serum was collected to perform gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in order to identify serum proteins in each group. The candidate serum proteins were computationally predicted for the interaction between phenylbutazone and proteins, tissue specific expression, and association to gastric ulceration. After EGGD induction, all horses showed clinical signs of colic with marked congestion and erosion appearing in the mucosa of the glandular stomach whereas no change was observed in the mucosa of non-glandular stomach. Our proteomic results identified 14 proteins that might be used as EGGD markers. These proteins were highly expressed in the glandular stomach and some proteins were associated with phenylbutazone or ulcer development. However, confirmation of these candidate marker proteins is required with specific antibodies in the larger horse population before they can be considered for application in the field.

Gastrointestinal Amebiasis Due to Entamoeba Histolytica in a Captive Male Zebra (Equus quagga)

A 16 year-old captive male zebra (Equus quagga) at Bannerghatta Biological Park, died after seven days of initial symptoms. Symptoms included complete anorexia, severe watery diarrhoea, dehydration and colic. Faecal sample examination by direct smear method revealed the presence of Entamoeba oocysts. On post-mortem examination, petechial haemorrhages were found on serosa along with streaks and diffused haemorrhages in the mucosa of intestine, cecum and colon. The characteristic sub-mucosal haemorrhages in the glandular portion of the stomach resembling button-shaped ulcers were found embedded deep into the mucosa and no lesions in the fibrous part of the stomach. Impression smears from the glandular stomach mucosa revealed numerous trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica.E. histolytica most commonly causes necrotising and ulcerative colitis in humans and captive non-human primates. Rare cases of gastric amebiasis also have been reported in captive horses. To the best of our knowledge, this appears to be the first report confirming E. histolytica as the cause of gastrointestinal amebiasis in a captive male zebra.

Protective effect of curcumin decreases incidence of gastric cancer induced by Helicobacter pylori and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in rats

Aim: To study the effects of curcumin on Helicobacter pylori and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced gastric cancer in rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (CO), H. pylori inoculation and 30 ppm MNU in drinking water for 20 weeks (Hp + MNU), and H. pylori and MNU supplemented with 60 mg/kg curcumin for 30 weeks (Hp + MNU + Cur). The stomach was removed to examine nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), cyclin D1, and Ki-67 in gastric epithelial cells by immunohistochemistry. The expression of apoptotic cells was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling reaction and gastric histopathology. Results: Two rats in Hp + MNU developed adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the glandular stomach (40% incidence, n = 5), while in Hp + MNU + Cur, no gastric ADC was found. Histopathology of gastric ADC showed the invasion of malignant cuboidal epithelial cells to submucosal layer. The percentages of NF-κB p65, 8-OHdG, cyclin D1, and Ki-67 immunoreactive cells in Hp + MNU compared with CO were 12.20% ± 1.10% versus 1.86% ± 1.49%, 13.21% ± 0.90% versus 2.84% ± 1.29%, 66.96% ± 5.91% versus 6.06% ± 6.48%, and 42.29% ± 0.08% versus 14.95% ± 0.12%, P

Fosfomycin (Veterinary Medicinal Products): Summary.

The Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) conducted a risk assessment of fosfomycin (CAS No. 23155-02-4), using documents submitted for the ‟re-examination” of veterinary medicinal products. The data used for the assessment include ADME of fosfomycin Ca, residue of fosfomycin Ca and of fosfomycin Na, acute toxicity of fosfomycin Ca and fosfomycin Na. Data on subacute toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, genotoxicity and microbiological effect are also included. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) in these toxicity studies was 175 mg (titer)/kg body weight (bw) per day based on adverse effects including diarrhea, autopsy findings such as erosion, hyperplasia, and exfoliation of glandular stomach mucosa, and histopathological findings such as erosion of the stomach and ileum mucosa observed as adverse effects in the 35-day subacute toxicity study in rats. Fosfomycin was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits. FSCJ considered that fosfomycin is not a genotoxic carcinogen. The toxicological ADI of fosfomycin was established to be 0.175 mg/kg bw per day by applying a safety factor of 1000 based on the LOAEL of 175 mg (titer)/kg bw per day. On the other hand, the microbiological ADI was calculated to be 0.019 mg/kg bw per day, which is lower than the toxicological ADI. Thus, FSCJ established the ADI for fosfomycin as 0.019 mg/kg bw per day.

Stabilization of enzyme prepareition protosubtilin G3X for use it on poultry farming

Stabilization of enzyme prepareition protosubtilin G3X for use it on poultry farming

Comparative anatomical studies on the glandular stomach of the rock pigeon (Columba livia targia) and the Egyptian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis aegyptiaca).

The rock pigeon (RP) and the laughing dove (LD) are common and widely distributed species in African countries, including Egypt. The present work was carried out to characterize the comparative features of the glandular stomach (proventriculus) in these two birds, which share diets and habitats. In both species, the proventriculus is an elongated spindle obliquely situated in the cranial two-thirds of the body cavity. The length and weight of the proventriculus in the RP were about one and half times greater than that of the LD. Histologically, the proventricular wall generally consisted of the mucosa (thickest), submucosa, muscular and serosa layers. The proventricular glands occupied most of the wall of the proventriculus within the lamina propria of the mucosa. The glands are tubuloalveolar in type, consist of variable shaped lobules and are more condensed in LD than in RP. At the proventricular-gizzard junction (PGJ), the proventricular glands were observed external to the tubular glands of the gizzard in the RP, whereas in LD, these glands end abruptly and are separated from the tubular glands of the gizzard by a short distance. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the proventricular lumen in RP revealed that the openings of the proventricular glands have an irregular outline surrounded by concentrically arranged mucosal folds that resemble a rosette shape. In the LD, these openings have a regular outline surrounded by thinner, widely spaced mucosal folds. To our knowledge, these results identified the structure of the proventriculus in RP and LD for the first time.

RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF TURKEYS WITH A/DUCK/ALTAI/469/14 H5N1 STRAIN OF AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS

The data on experimental infection of 6-week-old Big-6 cross turkeys with an epidemic A/duck/Altai/469/14 H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1c strain of avian influenza virus are presented. The characteristics of the infection process in birds inoculated intranasally at a dose of 5.0 lg EID50/0.5 cm3 are described with an indication of the incubation period and the mean time of death. The pathomorphological changes at the tissue and cellular level are shown based on histological and immunohistochemical studies of fragments of respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, nervous, excretory, lymphoid and muscular systems of experimental birds. The testing was carried out using paired preparations of paraffin-embedded tissue sections from experimentally infected and healthy turkeys. One sample was subjected to histological staining using hematoxylin and eosin dyes, and its duplicate was subjected to immunohistochemical assay using a preparation of polyclonal antibodies as primary antibodies against the ribonucleoprotein of avian influenza virus. The results of histological and immunohistochemical studies are photodocumented and presented in the paper. Inflammatory and necrotic lesions of varying severity are detected in the preparations of the trachea, lung, muscular stomach, glandular stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, brain, cerebellum, heart, kidneys, liver and spleen of turkeys. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the greatest distribution of the influenza virus antigen in the cerebral endothelium, cerebellar Purkinje neurons, acinar cells of the pancreas and in myocardiocytes of the heart. In the course of the experiment it was established that A/duck/Altai/469/14 H5N1 caused a generalized form of infection in turkeys with clinical and pathologic lesions characteristic of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 201 Revision 2 (FGE.201Rev2): 2-alkylated, aliphatic, acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and precursors, with or without additional double-bonds, from chemical subgroup 1.1.2 of FGE.19.

The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to consider in this revision 2 of Flavouring Group Evaluation 201, the additional data on genotoxicity submitted by the Industry on two substances, 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal [FL‐no: 05.090] and 2 methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095], from subgroup 1.1.2 of FGE.19. In FGE.201Rev1, the Panel concluded that further data were required in order to clarify the genotoxic potential of this subgroup and considered the testing of 2‐methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095] in a comet assay in liver and duodenum, the first site of contact, as a preferred option to further investigate the genotoxicity in vivo. New genotoxicity studies have been submitted for both 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal [FL‐no: 05.090] and 2‐methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095]. 2‐Methylpent‐2‐enal [FL‐no: 05.090] tested in a combined micronucleus/comet assay did not induce DNA damage, overruling the weak gene mutation effect observed in bacteria and confirming the negative results observed in the in vitro micronucleus assay. 2‐Methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095] did not induce gene mutations in liver and glandular stomach of transgenic rats. In addition, 2‐methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095] tested in an in vivo comet assay in liver and duodenum, it did not induce DNA damage. Overall, the Panel concluded that the genotoxic evidence observed in vitro, was not confirmed in vivo for the representative substances 2‐methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095] and 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal [FL‐no: 05.090], therefore all the 10 substances in this subgroup [FL‐no: 02.174, 05.033, 05.090, 05.095, 05.105, 05.107, 05.126, 07.261, 12.065 and 12.079] can be evaluated through the Procedure for the evaluation of flavouring substances.

Age-related histomorphological studies on the spleen of Chinese yellow quail

This study was aimed to investigate the morphology, growth, histological structure and development of the spleen of the Chinese yellow quail at different ages(from 0 to 38 weeks). The yellow Quail spleen was spherical, brownish red, located at the right dorsal of the junction of the muscle stomach and glandular stomach. The absolute quality, length and width of the spleen gradually increased with age, reaching a maximum for each of these measurements at the age of 6 weeks and then remainied unchanged between 10 and 26 weeks of age. Finally, these measurements of the spleen were no significant difference at 30 weeks of age compared to at 34 to 38 weeks (P&gt;0.05). Although, these measurements were found to gradually decrease during 30-38 weeks of age, the decrease was not obvious. The basic structure of the spleen included red pulp, white pulp and the edge area. In addition, the average area and diameter of the splenic nodules, the white pulp ellipsoid and the periarterial lymphatic sheath gradually increased, reaching maximum sizes at the age of 26 weeks. It was seen that a sustained developmental period occurred at 0-6 weeks of age and a maturation period occurred at 10-38 weeks during the development of quail spleen.

Molybdenum and Cadmium exposure influences the concentration of trace elements in the digestive organs of Shaoxing duck (Anas platyrhyncha)

To investigate the toxic effects of Molybdenum (Mo) and Cadmium (Cd) on trace elements in digestive organs of Shaoxing duck (Anas platyrhyncha), 120 Shaoxing ducks were randomly divided into control group and 5 treatment groups which were treated with a commercial diet containing different dosages of Mo and Cd. On the 60th and 120th days, the beak, esophagus, glandular stomach, muscular stomach, small intestine, large intestine and feces were collected to determine contents of Mo, Cd, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), then correlation analysis was performed. The results showed that Cd content in digestive organs significantly increased in co-treated groups compared to single treated groups and Mo concentration increased in Mo-treated groups compared to control group, whereas Cu, Fe, Zn and Se concentrations in digestive organs decreased in co-treated groups. Furthermore, Cd and Mo were mainly accumulated in the small intestine and esophagus, respectively. There was a strongly positive correlation between Cd and Mo while they had negative correlation with Cu, Fe, Zn and Se, respectively. In feces, Mo and Fe contents in high dose of Mo group and high Mo combined with Cd group were significantly higher than those in control group, and Cu content in all treated groups significantly increased and Cd, Zn and Se concentrations had no difference. The results indicated that dietary Mo or/and Cd might disturb homeostasis of trace elements in digestive organs of Shaoxing duck. Moreover, the two elements presented a synergistic relationship.

Development and application of a SYBR green real-time PCR for detection of the emerging avian leukosis virus subgroup K

ABSTRACTAvian leukosis virus subgroup K (ALV-K) is an emerging ALV tumor virus of chickens. We developed a SYBR green-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid and economical detection of ALV-K in chicken flocks. The assay was specific for ALV-K and did not cross-react with other ALV subgroup or avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, or Marek's Disease virus. The method was 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR and 10 times more sensitive than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the P27 antigen. The assay was also more sensitive than conventional PCR in tests of 86 clinical plasma samples. DF-1 tissue culture cells infected with 1 TCID50 ALV-K particle were identified as negative using ELISA but tested positive with the real-time PCR method. The viral loads in organs and tissues in infected chickens were highest in kidney, lungs, and glandular stomach, and these results matched ELISA findings.