z. ansari pirsaraei

The objective of this was to consider relationship between heat shock proteins (HSP) with early embryo loss and pregnancy loss in Holstein dairy cows during summer season. Thirsty-two Holstein cows (with milk production> 30 Kg/d and 3.3±1.7 in parity) were selected. All cows were synchronized by G7G heat synchronization protocol. Blood samples were collected from all cows at d 16 after timed artificial insemination (TAI) to measure ISG15 gene expression. According to ISG15 results, 16 cows showed early embryo loss, then HSP gene family (HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP 90) were compared between healthy cows and those with early embryo loss using t-test. Beta-actin gene was used as a housekeeping gene to compare results. Results showed ISG15 gene expression were greater in pregnant cows compared to early embryo loss (6.6 fold). Among HSP family gene considered in present study, HSP27 and HSP60 gene expression were similar between groups (p < 0.05). HSP40, HSP70 and HSP 90 genes expression were lower in pregnant cows compared to early embryo loss (4.7, 3.6 and 5.2 fold, respectively). In conclusion present study results showed among HSP family, there was an association among HSP40, HSP70 and HSP 90 genes expression and early embryo loss.

This experiment was conducted to compare the effect of natural mating (NM) and artificial insemination (AI) on reproductive performance in Chukar partridges. A total number of 96 female partridges were randomly assigned to two equal groups (four replicates of 12 birds each) to produce hatching eggs by either NM or AI. In addition to female partridges, one hundred forty-four male partridges were randomly selected where 48 and 96 numbers of those assigned to NM and AI treatment groups, respectively. The female partridges in both treatment groups were kept individually in cages for two weeks. Afterwards, one male partridge was randomly allotted to each female (a total of 48 male partridges) in the NM group. However, the female partridges in the AI group were inseminated by semen collected from 96 male partridges. During 10 days, 184 and 188 hatching eggs were collected for the NM and AI groups, respectively. The hatching eggs were then incubated. No significant differences were found between the NM and AI treatment groups in fertility rate (91.3 and 88.8%, respectively), hatchability of set eggs (58.1 and 53.2%, respectively) and hatchability of fertile eggs (63.7 and 59.9%, respectively). A high embryonic mortality rate was observed during the first 48 h of incubation (i.e. early mortality) in both NM (32.1%) and AI (31.7%) treatment groups; however, there were no significant differences between the treatment groups in embryonic mortality. In general, the efficiency of AI technique in Chukar partridges is comparable to that of natural mating.

After parturition, inflammation of the reproductive tract in cows is common because of bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen. To investigate the beneficial effects of dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) supplementation on health status mediated by change in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes expression, endometrial samples were collected from Holstein cows with similar parturition date and reproductive records. From day 21 before calving to day 42 after calving, cows were fed isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and isolipidic diets that differed only in the source of fats. Cows were fed diets supplemented with palm oil as control group (saturated FA; n= 8), and CLA for the treatments, and the rate of each fat in any diet was 75 g d-1</sup>. CLA-supplemented diet was provided with a mixture of trans</em>-10, cis</em>-12 CLA and cis</em>-9, trans</em>-11 CLA isomer. Rumen protected CLA provided 10 g d-1 </sup>each of trans</em>-10, cis</em>-12 CLA and cis</em>-9, trans</em>-11 CLA isomers. Uterine endometrial biopsies were collected at days 21 and 42 after calving and were prepared to determine pro-inflammatory [including Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα), InterLeukins (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8) and InterFeron-gamma (IFN-γ)] and anti-inflammatory [interleukin 10 (IL-10)] cytokine genes expression. Results showed that dietary CLA supplementation decreased the expression of IL-1 and IL-8 at days 21 (respectively, 1.8 and 3.9 fold) and 42 (respectively, 4 and 104 fold) postpartum and increased expression of IL-10 at days 21 and 42 (respectively, 9.7 and 2.5 fold). The TNFα expression significantly decreased in day 21 in CLA groups compared with palm (2.5 fold). There was no difference between groups for IL-6 expression. IFN-γ expression decreased in day 21 (3.0 fold) and, conversely, increased in day 42 (2.5 fold) in CLA group compared to palm. Our results showed that, during transition period, dietary supplementation with CLA reduced inflammatory processes via inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulating anti-inflammatory cytokines.

To study the effects of terbutaline (a beta adrenergic agonist) on performance of broiler chickens, 21 d-old male and female Cobb broiler chicks (n=300) were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg terbutaline per kg diet. The feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed intake and body weight gain were measuered after 3 weeks. At 42-d age, six males and six females were randomly selected from each treatment and their live weight and weights of carcass, breast, breast muscle, drumsticks, drumstick muscle and abdominal fat were determined. Terbutaline didn’t affect daily weight gain, but FCR of male chicks was reduced for 5 and 10 mg/kg terbutaline treatments comapared with the control group (p<0.05). Carcass weight and weight of drumsticks, drumstick muscle, breast, breast muscle and ratio of breast to live weight of female chicks reciving 5 mg/kg terbutaline were higher than for other treatments (p<0.05). In male chicks, the live weight and weight of carcass, ratio of carcass to live weight, drumsticks and drumstick muscle at 5 mg/kg terbutaline treatment were higher than for other treatments (p<0.05). This experiment also showed that the addition of 5 mg terbotaline per kg diet during growing period improved FCR and ratio of carcass to live weight of male chicks, increased the ratio of breast to live weight of female chicks, and increased the carcass weight of male and female Cobb chicks.