This experiment was conducted in Inshas Poultry Research Station, Ministry of Agricultural, Egypt, A total number of 420 hens and 105 cocks from Silver Montazah chickens (SM) (Egyptian local strain) flock were used to investigate the effect of dietary supplemental of arginine (Arg) levels on plasma nitric oxide (NO) and Insulinlike growth factor (IGF-I), testosterone (Testo) and luteinizing (LH) hormones concentrations, and their relation to productive and reproductive performance during laying period (28-40 wks of age). Birds were randomly divided into 7 experimental groups (each of 3 replicates). Each replicates consisted of 20 hens and 5 cocks. The 1 st group (T1) was fed the basal diet and served as the control group with no additional Arg (15, 12.5 and 12.8 g Ar /kg diet) for the starter, grower and finisher diet, respectively. The 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2, 2.5 and 3 g Arg/kg diet, respectively, from one-day old to 40 wks of age (17, 17.5 and 18 g Arg /kg diet) for the starter, (14.5, 15 and 15.5 g Arg /kg diet) for the grower and (14.8, 15.3 and 15.8 g Arg /kg diet) for the finisher diet was used. However, the 5 th , 6 th and 7 th groups were fed the basal diet (15 g and12.5 Arg/kg diet) for the starter, grower diet and the basal diet supplemented with 2, 2.5 and 3 g Arg/kg diet (14.8, 15.3 and 15.8 g Arg/kg diet) for the finisher diets, respectively, only from 28 to 40 wks of age. Results indicated that hens fed Arg supplementation significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) for all treatments except T2 and T3 groups in compared with control group. Egg production, egg mass and total leucocytes count was higher in treated hens from 28 to 40 wks of age than in control ones. Most semen quality parameters, fertility, hatchability and lymphocyte (L) ratio were improved by dietary treatments. However, hetrophils (H) and H/L ratio were decreased by Arg supplementation. Significant increase (P≤0.05) appear in NO trait, IGF-I, LH and Testo hormones concentrations for hens in T6 and T7 from 28 to 40 wks of age in compared with treated hens from one-day old to 40 wks of age (T2, T3 and T4) and the control group. While, there were no significant differences in live body weight, feed consumption, egg weight and egg quality traits among all treatments in compared with control group at 40 wks of age. It could be concluded that dietary Arg supplementation to SM hens from 28 to 40 might improve the egg production, reproductive performance and some semen quality parameters. Also, it might have a mediated effects on NO, IGF-I, LH and testosterone hormones levels.

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. Artibus Asiae Publishers is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Artibus Asiae. Tongue."I Since then two objects with considerable bearing on the subject have come to light, one as the result of a recent excavation in China and the other, previously known only through a line drawing, by entering an American collection. From the beginning I knew that my theories concerning origin and implications of the two symbols would be controversial and in need of corrections. These have been formulated in the reviews which appeared in Western periodicals and through references in a Chinese publication. Thus, the time has come, I believe, to complete the record of the twin symbols, at least for the Far East, to list the criticisms of my book, and to express my gratitude for the friendly reception which has been given to my modest excursion into the field of iconography.It will be remembered that A & T dealt with several wooden sculptures dating from the 5th to the 3rd century B. C. Their provenance was more or less reliably reported as being Ch'ang sha in Hunan, one of the capitals of the semi-barbaric state of Ch'u. The year I956 brought an addition to the group when the grave of a Ch'u nobleman was discovered near Hsin yang in Southern Honan. It contained an exceptionally well-preserved animal-guardian with antler and tongue, beautifully reproduced in color (Wen Wu Ts'an K'ao Tzu Liao I957, No. 9, Plate I a-b). Up until then this still unnamed beast was known only through three protomes (A & T, figs. 9-I4). Now one sees a complete body kneeling on short hind legs, each terminating in a single sickle-shaped claw (fig. i). Its long, doubly curved tongue has a central ridge, like A & T, fig. 5, but lacks the all-over design of rain drops. They are replaced by closely set and slightly curved horizontal lines. The pattern "liquid from the sky", observed already on head and forearms of A & T, fig. I4, covers the entire front and sides of the body. Deeply carved gilded spirals occur on the back, on the buttocks as addorsed single units, above in two double-T combinations and as a C-shaped pair on the crown of the head. Although fragmentary, the head-gear can be identified as the lower beams of stag-antlers. The figure contributes to the known repertory by a slender stem between the teeth of the upper and behind the corner-tusks of both jaws, held by the claws of the forefeet and then broken off. The excavation report by Chen Tsung Wen and others explains this stem as the center part of a snake body.

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