Fiber Growth Research Articles

Whole process of fab antibody aggregation in intestinal environment and their aggregation regulation: An insight from static and concentration perturbation aggregations.

This work revealed the aggregation and aggregation inhibition mechanisms of Fab antibody in a simulated intestinal fluid via static and concentration perturbation aggregations to meet the challenges of oral antibody therapy. Results showed that Fab aggregation was highly concentration dependent, mainly determined by the β-sheet's stacking and amyloid fibers' extension at low (1 mg/mL) and the twine of β-strands' turn at high (20 mg/mL) concentrations. During the incubation of 0-240 min, Fab was continuously aggregating, but with some rearrangements on its spatial conformation: α-helix and β-sheet formation with β-turn and random coil unfolding, which expanded the aggregates' hydrophobic core and extended β-sheet structure through the π-π stacking of aromatic amino acids. The aggregation kinetics indicated that high Fab concentrations promoted high aggregates but the growth of amyloid fibers took a long time, while low to high concentration fluctuation promoted the formation of Fab aggregates. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that Arg, PEG 10000, and Poloxamer 188 reduced the potential energy; PEG 10000 and Tween 20 enhanced steric hindrance by spontaneously binding through competitive hydrogen bonding without disturbing Fab's conformation. This work can provide promising approaches for our daily health management by facilitating the materialization of Fab-based oral antibody therapy.

Gender-related Differences in Rat Sciatic Nerve Regeneration after Autoplasty and Intraoperative Electroneurostimulation

INTRODUCTION. According to the literature, intraoperative electrical neurostimulation (IES) after autoneuroplasty (AN) accelerates the regenerative growth of axons. It is unknown whether sexual dimorphism occurs in peripheral nerve regeneration after AN and with single-dose IES. AIM. To identify possible gender-related differences in the regeneration of the sciatic nerve (SN) after AN resection of the defect of its tibial portion and a single IES in mature rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 72 male (n = 39) and female (n = 33) rats underwent resection and AN of the tibial portion of the SN. Series 1 — non-stimulated control, series 2 — IES session 40 minutes. The tibial functional index (TFI) was calculated from the paw prints; Histomorphometric parameters of myelinated nerve fibers (MF) of the tibial nerve (TN) were determined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. In series 1, 2 months after surgery, males were found to have higher values of the numerical density of MVs of the WBN and axon diameters (DA) than in females. After 4 months, YES and MV diameters are larger in females. After 6 months, females have greater myelin sheath (MS) thickness. TFI in series 1 decreases towards the end of the experiment, especially in males. In series 2, 2 and 4 months after surgery, in females the DA, MS, and MF diameters were greater than the values in series 1; after 6 months, only MS and MF diameters were greater. In series 2 males, 2 and 4 months after surgery, the MS and MF diameter are greater than in series 1, and after 6 months, all dimensional parameters in series 2 males are higher than in series 1 males. TFI in series 2 is greater than the values in series 1 and increases towards the end of the experiment, especially in males. CONCLUSION. 2 months after AN, the growth and differentiation of nerve fibers in males is faster than in females, then the differences are inverted. Despite the increase in histomorphometric indicators of regeneration, in unstimulated animals, by the end of the experiment, TFI decreases, especially in males. In stimulated rats, compared to unstimulated ones, the morpho-functional indicators of regeneration at all periods of the experiment are better, to a greater extent in males.

Parents’ Value of their Children Learning about Agriculture in School

It is commonly held that parents have a profound impact on child development. Decades of research investigated the ways parents, the community, and school staff interact to foster student learning during kindergarten through twelfth grade education. Agriculture provides for daily needs through the growth, harvest, and processing of food, fiber, fuel, and forestry products. This research sought to understand the level of importance parents place on their children learning about agriculture in school. A 26-question survey was distributed to a nationally representative sample of parents having at least one child in K-12 education within the United States. Results of this study indicate parents found it important, even very important, for students to learn about many agricultural topics in school. Factors historically associated with parent perceptions and support of student learning proved to not significantly impact this indicated level of importance. Therefore, further research is needed to understand what impacts parents’ value of their students learning about agricultural topics in school. The conclusions of this study are of primary importance to entities conducting agricultural education outreach such as Agriculture in the Classroom programs, Extension, Career and Technical Education, agricultural industry organizations, and others interested in agricultural literacy.

Cotton metabolism regulatory network: Unraveling key genes and pathways in fiber development and growth regulation.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the world's most important commercial crops. However, the dynamics of metabolite abundance and potential regulatory networks throughout its life cycle remain poorly understood. In this study, we developed a cotton metabolism regulatory network (CMRN) that spans various developmental stages and encompasses 2138 metabolites and 90309 expressed genesin upland cotton. By integrating high-resolution spatiotemporal metabolome and transcriptome data, we identified 1958 differentially accumulated metabolites and 13597 co-expressed differentially expressed genes between the dwarf mutant pagoda1 and its wild-type counterpart Zhongmiansuo 24. These metabolites and genes were categorized into seven clusters based on tissue-specific accumulation patterns and gene expression profiles across different developmental stages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed significant differential enrichment in the fatty acid elongation pathway, particularly in fibers. The differential involvement of genes and metabolites in very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) synthesis led to the identification of GhKCS1b_Dt as a key gene. Overexpression of GhKCS1b_Dt significantly promoted fiber elongation, while its silencing markedly inhibited cotton fiber growth, affirming its positive regulatory role in fiber elongation. This dataset provides a valuable resource for further research into metabolic pathways and gene regulatory networks, offering novel insights for advancing cotton breeding strategies.

Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Explain the Crisping Mechanisms of Broad Bean-Based Crisping Diets on Nile Tilapia (Orechromis niloticus).

Background/Objectives: To investigate the crisping mechanism of broad bean-based crisping diets on Nile Tilapia. Methods: Four crisping diets were designed to feed 360 fish for 90 days, and multiomics analyses were employed. Results: Our results indicated that the designed crisping diets for Nile tilapia can effectively make tilapia muscle crispy. The ingestion of broad bean-based diets induced metabolic reprogramming dominated by glycolytic metabolism inhibition in fish, and metabolic reprogramming is the initiator of muscle structural remodeling. Among these, glucose is the main DAMP to be recognized by cellular PRRs, activating further immune response and oxidative stress and finally resulting in muscle change. Conclusions: Based on our results of multiomics, pck2, and ldh played main roles in crisping molecular mechanisms in driving the initial metabolic reprogram. Moreover, the addition of the crisping package further activated the ErbB signaling pathway and downstream MAPK signaling pathway to strengthen immune response, promoting muscle fiber development and growth. Our study delved into the effects of crisping formula diet on the liver of Nile tilapia at the molecular level, providing theoretical guidance for the nutritional regulation of crispy Nile tilapia.

Genetics of Wool and Cashmere Fibre: Progress, Challenges, and Future Research.

Wool (sheep) and cashmere (goat) fibres have unique biological, physical, and chemical properties and these fibres are becoming more important as the demand for natural products increases. However, these complex protein fibres are at times compromised by natural variability in their properties, and this can impact their use and value. Genetic improvement via selection and breeding can partly overcome this problem, enabling the farming of sheep and goats that produce more desirable fibre. This review explores the challenges in improving wool and cashmere fibre characteristics using genetics, with a focus on improving our understanding of the key protein components of fibres, wool keratins and keratin-associated proteins (KAPs). Despite progress in our knowledge of these proteins, gaining a better understanding of them and how they affect these fibres remains an ongoing challenge. This is not straight-forward, given the large number of similar yet unique genes that produce the proteins and the gaps that remain in their identification and characterisation. More research is required to clarify gene and protein sequence variability and the location and patterns of gene expression, which in turn limits our understanding of fibre growth and variation. Several aspects that currently hinder our progress in this quest include the incomplete identification of all the genes and weaknesses in the approaches used to characterise them, including newer omics technologies. We describe future research directions and challenges, including the need for ongoing gene identification, variation characterisation, and gene expression analysis and association studies to enable further improvement to these valuable natural fibres.

Effect of PRE-Herbicide Treatments on Weed Management, Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) Yield and Fiber Properties

ABSTRACT There are few registered pre-emergence herbicides in cotton and the growers usually apply the herbicides fluometuron, pendimethalin and s-metolachlor. However, other herbicides such as flurochloridone, flumioxazin and the premixture pendimethalin plus terbuthylazine are alternative pre-emergence options for weed control. A field experiment was conducted in northern Greece in 2021 and repeated in 2022 to study the effect of the preemergence mixtures fluometuron+ s-metolachlor at 1500 + 960 g a.i. ha−1, flumioxazin+ s-metolachlor at 50 + 960 g a.i. ha−1, flurochloridone+ s-metolachlor at 325 + 960 g a.i. ha−1 and pendimethalin+ terbuthylazine at 1125 + 562.5 g a.i. ha−1 on weed control, cotton yield and technological properties of cotton fiber. Amaranthus spp. Portulaca olearacea L. Solanum nigrum L. Chenopodium album L. were highly (>90%) controlled by all herbicides, Tribolus terrestris L. by flumioxazin+ s-metolachlor and pendimethalin+ terbuthylazine, whereas the perennial Sorghum halepense, Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers. and Convolvulus arvensis L. were not affected. The response of cotton to these herbicides regarding crop emergence, growth, seed yield and technological properties of fiber was similar. Transient phytotoxic herbicide injuries were detected only in the second year of the study. Although, the phytotoxic injuries did not affect cotton growth, appropriate management of irrigation after herbicide application may be considered to decrease the incidence of serious herbicide injury.

Hydrogen-induced O–H peak growth in Ge-doped optical fibers: Verification of empirical and theoretical models

Hydrogen-induced O–H peak growth in Ge-doped optical fibers: Verification of empirical and theoretical models

Fiber anatomy and histological characteristics of the innervation of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.

To evaluate the precise origin of sensory nerves through gross anatomical study of the TFCC, synthesized alongside imaging and histological techniques. Six cadaveric forearm specimens were obtained to map the course and branches of the ulnar nerve through macrodissection. Immunohistochemical staining targeting PGP 9.5 and type IV collagen was performed on frozen TFCC sections to visualize nerve fibers microscopically. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthrography findings were also reviewed. At the macroscopic level, the articular branches supplying the TFCC originated predominantly from the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve. Microscopic analysis revealed positive PGP 9.5 expression and discernible neural marker expression, signifying fine nerve fiber ingrowth within the TFCC. Imaging modalities aided the diagnosis of TFCC lesions. The dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve, medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm, and volar sensory branch of the ulnar nerve emerged as the principal nerves innervating the TFCC. This study provides anatomical evidence that the TFCC receives innervation from branches of the ulnar nerve and contains sensory nerve fibers. These findings enhance understanding of potential neuropathic pain mechanisms in TFCC injuries and offer insights to guide surgical interventions. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the clinical implications.

Talin and vinculin combine their activities to trigger actin assembly

Focal adhesions (FAs) strengthen their link with the actin cytoskeleton to resist force. Talin-vinculin association could reinforce actin anchoring to FAs by controlling actin polymerization. However, the actin polymerization activity of the talin-vinculin complex is not known because it requires the reconstitution of the mechanical and biochemical activation steps that control the association of talin and vinculin. By combining kinetic and binding assays with single actin filament observations in TIRF microscopy, we show that the association of talin and vinculin mutants, mimicking mechanically stretched talin and activated vinculin, triggers a sequential mechanism in which filaments are nucleated, capped and released to elongate. In agreement with these observations, FRAP experiments in cells co-expressing the same constitutive mutants of talin and vinculin revealed accelerated growth of stress fibers. Our findings suggest a versatile mechanism for the regulation of actin assembly in FAs subjected to various combinations of biochemical and mechanical cues.

Growth, spectroscopy properties, and laser operation of single crystal fiber: Nd3+-doped CNGG

Nd3+-doped calcium niobium gallium garnet single crystal fibers (Nd:CNGG SCFs) with varying Nd3+ concentrations were successfully grown using the laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) method. The study thoroughly examines the fundamental physical structure, optical properties, and laser characteristics of the as-grown Nd:CNGG SCFs. Results indicate that the Nd:CNGG SCF exhibits broader absorption and emission full width at half maximum (FWHM) compared to bulk single crystals. Moreover, pumped by a commercial 808 nm laser diode, continuous-wave laser operation at 1061 nm with a half-height width of 1.86 nm was achieved. The laser output power reached 1.04 W at an absorbed power of 7.46 W, with a slope efficiency of 25.4% relative to the absorbed pump power. These findings suggest that Nd:CNGG SCF holds promise as a practical and potent candidate for laser gain medium, offering significant research potential in the field of lasers.

Daily glycome and transcriptome profiling reveals polysaccharide structures and correlated glycosyltransferases critical for cotton fiber growth.

Cotton fiber is the most valuable naturally available material for the textile industry and the fiber length and strength are key determinants of its quality. Dynamic changes in the pectin, xyloglucan, xylan, and cellulose polysaccharide epitope content during fiber growth contribute to complex remodeling of fiber cell wall (CW) and quality. Detailed knowledge about polysaccharide compositional and structural alteration in the fiber during fiber elongation and strengthening is important to understand the molecular dynamics of fiber development and improve its quality. Here, large-scale glycome profiling coupled with fiber phenotype and transcriptome profiling was conducted on fiber collected daily covering the most critical window of fiber development. The profiling studies with high temporal resolution allowed us to identify specific polysaccharide epitopes associated with distinct fiber phenotypes that might contribute to fiber quality. This study revealed the critical role of highly branched RG-I pectin epitopes such as β-1,4-linked-galactans, β-1,6-linked-galactans, and arabinogalactans, in addition to earlier reported homogalacturonans and xyloglucans in the formation of cotton fiber middle lamella and contributing to fiber plasticity and elongation. We also propose the essential role of heteroxylans (Xyl-MeGlcA and Xyl-3Ar), as a guiding factor for secondary CW cellulose microfibril arrangement, thus contributing to fiber strength. Correlation analysis of profiles of polysaccharide epitopes from glycome data and expression profiles of glycosyltransferase-encoding genes from transcriptome data identified several key putative glycosyltransferases that are potentially involved in synthesizing the critical polysaccharide epitopes. The findings of this study provide a foundation to identify molecular factors that dictate important fiber traits.

Nanoparticle-mediated synergistic disruption of tumor innervation and redox homeostasis for potent antineoplastic therapy

Innervation is closely linked to several biological processes that promote tumor growth, making it an increasingly promising therapeutic target. In this study, biomimetic hollow MnO2 nanocarriers camouflaged with tumor cell membranes (HMLC) are developed to encapsulate lidocaine, an innervation inhibitor, for effective antineoplastic therapy. This approach aims to suppress nerve fiber growth and induce intracellular redox imbalance. Benefiting from the tumor-homing effect, HMLC accumulates in cancerous tissue during circulation and is endocytosed by tumor cells through homologous membrane fusion. Once inside the cells, MnO2 can be degraded by the overproduced glutathione and H2O2, leading to the tumor-specific release of Mn2+ and lidocaine. The Mn2+-mediated Fenton-like reaction promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and the resulting oxidative stress, combined with glutathione depletion, exacerbates redox imbalance. Simultaneously, the released lidocaine downregulates nerve growth factor and neuronatin. The reduction in nerve growth factor significantly inhibits nerve fiber formation and infiltration in tumor tissue, while the decrease in neuronatin reduces intracellular Ca2+, which helps prevent metastasis. Overall, this strategy highlights the potential of nanoparticle-based tumor innervation disruptors in antineoplastic therapy.

A comprehensive study on mechanisms of action of fibroin, aloe vera, and ginger extracts through histochemical, inflammation biomarkers, and matrix metalloproteinases analysis against diabetic wounds

Diabetes causes complications like delayed wound healing for a long time. Fibroin, aloe vera, and ginger extracts along with their combinations are used for diabetic wound healing. After induction of diabetes, The wound healing effects of fibroin (50mg/ml), aloe vera gel (50mg/ml), and ginger extract (30mg/ml), individually and in combination, were assessed. The pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor narcosis factor-α (TNF-α) interleukin (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 2, MMP7, MMP 9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) levels were analyzed in the serum. A combination of fibroin+aloe vera gel+ginger extract (Fi+Al+Gi) healed the wounds in 11 days via wound contraction of 98.5±0.9% as compared to diabetic control (58.2±0.7%) and positive control (73.3±0.6%) groups. However, the wounds of the Polyfax and the diabetic control groups were healed in 17 and 19 days, corresponding to a contraction of: 96.7±1.4% and 96.3±1.1%. The histological assay showed that the Fi+Al+Gi group indicated an increased growth of collagen fibers, fibroblasts, keratinocytes and blood vessels with lessened inflammation. The Fi+Al+Gi group alleviated the serum level of TNF-α (12.7±0.9pg/ml), IL-6 (9.6±0.9pg/ml), IL-8 (19.6±1.0pg/ml), MMP2 (217.0±9.2pg/ml), MMP7 (279.0±9.8pg/ml), and MMP9 (156.0±11.6pg/ml) significantly as compared to the diabetic control (P≤0.05). TIMP serum level (202.0±6.9pg/ml) was significantly elevated as compared to the diabetes control group. The present study concludes that the biomaterials in their combinations possess high regenerative and healing abilities.

From Organotypic Mouse Brain Slices to Human Alzheimer’s Plasma Biomarkers: A Focus on Nerve Fiber Outgrowth

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Being able to identify reliable biomarkers in easily available body fluids such as blood plasma is vital for the disease. To achieve this, we used a technique that applied human plasma to organotypic brain slice culture via microcontact printing. After a 2-week culture period, we performed immunolabeling for neurofilament and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) to visualize newly formed nerve fibers and oligodendrocytes. There was no significant change in the number of new nerve fibers in the AD plasma group compared to the healthy control group, while the length of the produced fibers significantly decreased. A significant increase in the number of MOG+ dots around these new fibers was detected in the patient group. According to our hypothesis, there are factors in the plasma of AD patients that affect the growth of new nerve fibers, which also affect the oligodendrocytes. Based on these findings, we selected the most promising plasma samples and conducted mass spectrometry using a differential approach and we identified three putative biomarkers: aldehyde-dehydrogenase 1A1, alpha-synuclein and protein S100-A4. Our method represents a novel and innovative approach for translating research findings from mouse models to human applications.

Discogenic Low Back Pain: Anatomic and Pathophysiologic Characterization, Clinical Evaluation, Biomarkers, AI, and Treatment Options.

Discogenic low back pain (LBP) is a significant clinical condition arising from degeneration of the intervertebral disc, a common yet complex cause of chronic pain, defined by fissuring in the annulus fibrosus resulting in vascularization of growing granulation tissue and growth of nociceptive nerve fibers along the laceration area. This paper delves into the anatomical and pathophysiological underpinnings of discogenic LBP, emphasizing the role of intervertebral disc degeneration in the onset of pain. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving processes like mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of advanced glycation end products, and pyroptosis, all contributing to disc degeneration and subsequent pain. Despite its prevalence, diagnosing discogenic LBP is challenging due to the overlapping symptoms with other forms of LBP and the absence of definitive diagnostic criteria. Current diagnostic approaches include clinical evaluations, imaging techniques, and the exploration of potential biomarkers. Treatment strategies range from conservative management, such as physical therapy and pharmacological interventions, to more invasive procedures such as spinal injections and surgery. Emerging therapies targeting molecular pathways involved in disc degeneration are under investigation and hold potential for future clinical application. This paper highlights the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical, imaging, and molecular data to enhance the accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment for discogenic LBP, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes.

Gelatinase MMP Expression Is Correlated with Muscle Fiber Growth in Maiwa Yak Gluteus Maximus.

Yak (Bos grunniens) is the only large mammal species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The most of the studies in yak remain confined for the main contributor of meat, which requires a good understanding of muscle growth. Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are widely expressed in mammal tissues they mainly degrade collagen in the extracellular matrix for muscle development. However, the influence of MMPs on yak muscle remains unclear. Hence, we assessed the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and related factors with ages in Maiwa yak for study the correlation between MMPs expression and yak muscle growth. The mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14, and collagen III increased with age, except collagen I by quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, muscle fiber diameter increased with age, whereas the density decreased, which showed that fiber grew thicker with age using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Interestingly, MMP and collagen expression significantly decreased with age using western blotting. Pearson correlation method showed that both mRNA and protein expression of MMP-14 and collagen were strongly correlated with muscle fiber growth, but MMP-2 protein and MMP-9 mRNA expression were moderately correlated with muscle fiber growth. Overall, the expression of MMPs and collagen significantly changed with age, which means that MMPs and their function related genes could correlate with Maiwa yak muscle fiber growth.

Puck 3D-based modeling and validation of progressive failure in instrumented glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene via the split-disk test

Puck 3D-based modeling and validation of progressive failure in instrumented glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene via the split-disk test

Unveils key proteins in Xinjiang goat muscle linked to post-mortem meat quality: A TMT-based proteomic analysis

An extensive proteomic analysis utilizing the tandem mass tag (TMT) method was conducted to investigate the changes in protein expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Xinjiang goats over various post-mortem intervals: immediately after death within 0h, 12h, 24h and 48h. The investigation carefully identified around 108 proteins that showed significant changes in expression during these intervals. Among these proteins, six were highlighted for their crucial roles in muscle growth and differentiation of muscle fibers post-mortem. These proteins, namely COL12A1, MRPL46, CTNNB1, MYH1, CAPZA1, and MYL9, have a direct effect on the meat's quality attributes, such as tenderness and color. Further discuss observed a progressive increase in the expression of proteins linked with oxidative metabolism (MSRB2, ENOX1, LOC102170282, GSTM1, and AOC3) as the post-mortem aging period extended, particularly between 24h to 48h. These proteins are instrumental in defining the color and flavor profiles of goat meat, underscoring the importance of precise processing and storage conditions to preserve meat quality during the critical aging phase. This enhanced understanding of protein expression dynamics offers significant implications for optimizing meat quality and provides a scientific basis for post-mortem handling practices in the goat meat industry.

FIBRE FRACTION UTILIZATION AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS FED BLACK PEPPER (PIPER NIGRUM) SEED MEAL SUPPLEMENTED DIETS

A seventy (70) day study aimed at investigating fibre fraction utilization and growth performance of West African Dwarf bucks fed black pepper supplemented diets was conducted. The study involved twelve (12) West African Dwarf bucks aged 1-1½ years with an average live weight of 5.02±0.23 kg. A basal diet was formulated and supplemented with varying levels of black pepper as A= 0mg, B= 250mg, C= 500mg, and D= 750mg. Parameters investigated were nutrient composition, nutrient intake, and performance characteristics of the bucks Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis and from the result, diet D had the highest crude protein (17.37%). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) increased with increased black pepper supplementation. Acid detergent lignin (ADL) ranged from 10.69% (diet B) to 13.28% (diet C). NDF and ADL intake were significantly (p<0.05) impacted by treatment. The NDF and ADL intake was significantly (p<0.05) impacted by treatment, ADF intake ranged from 133g/day (diet A) to 198.75g/day (diet C), ADL intake ranged from 33.71 g/day (diet D) to 60.24g/day (Diet A). Performance characteristics showed that daily weight gain of bucks fed diet D (63.48 g/day) was the highest and bucks fed diet C converted their feed to flesh (4.23) better than other goats however, any of the diets could be fed to enhance performance of the bucks since there was no significant (p>0.05) differences among the performance parameters. The study concluded that black pepper as additive could serve as affordable and sustainable way of improving protein quality of diet and fibre utilization by ruminants.