Goji berries show health benefits, although the possible mechanisms of action, including compositional changes in the gut microbiome, are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Goji berry supplementation on microbiota composition and metabolites in the digestive tracts of rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were fed with a commercial feed (control group, C; n = 14) or the same diet supplemented with 3% of Goji berries (Goji group, G; n = 14), from weaning (35 days old) until slaughter (90 days old). At slaughter, samples from the content of the gastrointestinal tracts were collected and analyzed by Next Generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing to evaluate the microbial composition. Ammonia and lactic acid were also quantified in caecum. Results showed differences in microbiota composition between the groups for two phyla (Cyanobacteria and Euryarchaeota), two classes (Methanobacteria and Bacilli), five orders, fourteen families, and forty-five genera. Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.05) and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.01) were more abundant in G than in C group. Lactobacillaceae also showed differences between the two groups, with Lactobacillus as the predominant genus (p = 0.002). Finally, Goji berry supplementation stimulated lactic acid fermentation (p < 0.05). Thus, Goji berry supplementation could modulate gastrointestinal microbiota composition and caecal fermentation.

This study investigated the effects of Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) dietary supplementation during pregnancy on insulin sensitivity of rabbit does and their offspring. Starting from two months before the artificial insemination, 75 New Zealand White does were fed only commercial standard diet (C) or supplemented with 1% (G1) and 3% (G3) of Goji berries. Their offspring received a standard diet but kept the nomenclature of the mother’s group. Fasting and intravenous glucose tolerance test-derived indices were estimated at 21 days of pregnancy on rabbit does and at 90 days of age on the offspring. No difference was found in the fasting indices, while the diet modulated the response to glucose load of rabbit does. In particular, G3 group had the lowest glucose concentrations 5 min after the bolus administration (p < 0.05) and, as a result, differed in the parameters calculated during the elimination phase such as the elimination rate constant (Kel), the half-life of the exogenous glucose load (t1/2), and apparent volume of distribution (Vd; for all, p < 0.05). The high dose of Goji supplementation could thus enhance the first-phase glucose-induced insulin secretion. Findings on the offspring were inconsistent and therefore a long-term effect of Goji supplementation during pregnancy could not be demonstrated. Further study on the effect of Goji on the secretory pathway of insulin could clarify its hypoglycaemic action, while different protocols are needed to investigate its potential effects on foetal programming.

In the last three decades, we assisted in a shift in the dairy product preferences in developed countries, with an increase in goat-derived products consumption. As already seen in the bovine sector, the diffusion of goat milk consumption has led to an abandonment of the local breeds in favor of the more productive cosmopolitan breeds, with an intense reduction in the livestock biodiversity. However, in several studies, it has been shown that local breeds present unique features such as a robust behavior towards the local climate and a high quality of their dairy products. This study aims to assess the differences between the basic lactation variables (milk yield, fat %, protein %, lactose % and somatic cell count) in the Alpine goat and the local breed Verzasca goat from a Bayesian point of observation. Results indicate that the Nera di Verzasca goat has overall lactation characteristics similar toa cosmopolite breed such as the Alpine goat, except for the milk daily yield reduced with respect to Alpine goats (1.68 ± 0.84 and 2.14 ± 1.03, respectively). Moreover, the Verzasca goat showed a tendency to maintain a lower level of somatic cell count along with lactation (798 ± 1734 and 1216 ± 2828, respectively). These findings help to increase the knowledge about the Italian local goat breeds and are important in the optic of biodiversity conservation.

Lymphomas, leukemias and mast cell tumors belong to the most important group among all neoplasms affecting dog  species. Diagnosis, staging and determining the cell type involved in a specific tumor represent a challenge for researchers and clinicians, and plays a crucial role in treatment efficacy and prognostic purposes. Many different gold standard techniques such as cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and cytochemistry are used to routinely diagnose and stage these tumors. In the recent years flow cytometry is becoming more applicable in veterinary medicine since a wide number of health conditions can be analyzed in a short period of time with a high accuracy. Multiparametric analysis performed by flow cytometry is considered as one of the main advantages of this technique since cell populations can be analyzed for different superficial markers at the same time. Immunophenotyping and staging of tumor cell populations performed by flow cytometry can help in reaching a confirmatory diagnosis and appropriate prognosis of the disease. Moreover, many flow cytometric results have been linked to a high prognostic relevance especially in neoplastic disorders. However, flow cytometry results are compatible and should be interpreted in  compliance with data obtained by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and cytology. Key words: flow cytometry; antibodies; diagnosis; lymphoma; leukemia   UPORABNOST PRETOČNE CITOMETRIJE PRI PREPOZNAVANJU IN DOLOČANJU STADIJA LIMFOMA, LEVKEMIJE IN TUMORJEV MASTOCITOV PRI PSIH – PREGLED Izvleček: Limfomi, levkemije in tumorji mastocitov so najpomembnejše skupine neoplazem, ki prizadenejo pse. Diagnostika, določanje stopenj tumorja in tipa celic v določenem tumorju predstavljajo izziv za raziskovalce in klinike in igrajo ključno vlogo pri učinkovitosti zdravljenja in postavljanju prognoze. Za rutinsko diagnosticiranje in določanje stopenj teh tumorjev se uporablja veliko različnih temeljnih metod, kot so citologija, histopatologija, imunohistokemija in citokemija. V zadnjih letih je pretočna  citometrija vse bolj uporabljana metoda v veterinarski medicini, saj je mogoče v kratkem času in z visoko natančnostjo analizirati  veliko število zdravstvenih stanj. Ena izmed najpomembnejših prednosti te tehnike je multiparametrična analiza, s katero lahko v  populaciji celic istočasno analiziramo različne površinske označevalce. Določanje površinskih označevalcev in stopenj populacij tumorskih celic s pretočno citometrijo lahko pripomore k potrditvi diagnoze in postavitvi ustrezne prognoze bolezni. Številni  rezultati pretočne citometrije so imeli pomemben prognostični pomen zlasti pri neoplastičnih obolenjih. Vendar je rezultate pretočne citometrije potrebno združiti in razlagati v skladu s podatki, pridobljenimi s histopatologijo, imunohistokemijo in citologijo. Ključne besede: pretočna citometrija; protitelesa; diagnoza; limfom; levkemija

This study analyzes lead effects in gonadotropins, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone secretion. Lead was applied by intraperitoneal doses of 0.0036 mg/kg/day (TDI), 2,61 mg/kg/day (intermediate) and 4,95 mg/kg/day (LD 50 -5%) to male mature guinea pigs during 60 days. The hormones secretion profile and the lead accumulation were monitored weekly by analyzing the blood samples. Lead exposure does not seem to affect greatly estradiol, progesterone and LH secretion in blood but the correlations in some cases result significantly. Different doses of lead applied show different effects in testosterone secretion. Low dozes increase testosterone concentration in blood (r = 0.78, α = 0.05) while high dozes decrease it (intermediate dose r = -0.83, α = 0.05 and LD 50 -5%, r = -0.87, α = 0.05). The secretion of FSH increases quickly with the application of the highest dose (r = 0.93, α = 0.05). The high secretion of FSH while the testosterone secretion decreases is an indicator of Leydig cells failure confirmed by histological examination of testicules.