This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary yeast autolysate (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics, as well as blood parameters, in Japanese quail of both genders. A total of 1000 (500 males and 500 females) one-day-old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly allocated to one control group and four dietary groups (supplemented with 1, 2, 3, and 4% yeast autolysate) per gender, each containing 100 quail. Each dietary group was then divided into five replicate groups of 20 chicks. During the study (from 1 st to 42 nd day), quails fed dietary treatments supplemented with yeast autolysate had higher live bodyweight (LBW) and average daily live weight gain (ADG) than the control group, and the dietary supplementation of 2% yeast autolysate reduced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) for both genders. The highest carcass yield was observed in trial 1% in male quail (P <0.01), and the control of female (P <0.05). The lowest abdominal fat percentage was observed in trial 1% and 2% of male (P <0.05), and trials 2% and 3% in female quail (P <0.01). The highest breast percentage was observed in the trial 2% of female quail. Cholesterol was significantly lower in trial 2% of male (P <0.001) on day 42. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P <0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P <0.001) and albumin (ALB) (P <0.05) concentrations in male quail were statistically different among the groups on day 42. In general, good performance and reduced abdominal fat percentage and cholesterol level were observed in the group supplemented with 2% yeast autolysate. In this study, it was concluded that the addition of 2% yeast autolysate to diet could be used as a performance enhancer for quail in the first 42 days of life. ______________________________________________________________________________________

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In this study, serum amylase activity and structural changes of the pancreatic tissue in rats under the effects of grape seed extract were investigated. Thirty-two female Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups. First one was the control group. The second group was the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) group (45 mg/kg), while the third group was the grape seed extract (GSE) group, where the GSE was administrated intragastrically for 20 days (at 0.6 ml/rat). Lastly, the fourth group was the diabetes mellitus+GSE (DM+GSE) group. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for amylase activity. Caspase 3 expressions were inspected with immunohistochemistry. Amylase levels in the diabetic group were found to be the lowest (794.00±44.85 U/L, p<0.001), while the GSE group had the highest value (1623.63±80.04 U/L, p<0.001) Number of apoptotic cells was increased in Langerhans islets of the diabetic group. In the control and GSE groups, the apoptotic cells were found to be almost entirely absent. Increased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM group, while decreased number of apoptotic cells was found in the DM+GSE group. Furthermore, atrophy in Langerhans islets, hyperemia in capillary veins, hydropic degeneration and necrosis in islet cells were determined in the diabetic group. Only mild hydropic degeneration in islet cells of Langerhans was observed in the DM+GSE group. Histopathologically beneficial changes in the pancreases were detected when grape seed extract was given to diabetic rats. As a conclusion, GSE was determined to have positive effects on the function and structure of the pancreas, improving enzyme activities and the structure of the Langerhans islets.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of the date extract (Phoenix dactylifera) on certain biochemical parameters and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index in nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin. The rats used in the study were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 8 rats: control group, date extract (DE) group, gentamicin (GEN) group, gentamicin+date extract (GEN+DE) group.Blood samples and kidney tissues were taken 24 hours after eight days of trial. Urea, Creatinine, BUN, Na, Cl and K analyzes on the serum samples were carried out in auto analyzer. One of the kidney tissues was examined histopathologically. The supernatant, which was obtained by homogenizing the other kidney tissue was used in TAS and TOS analyzes. OSI was calculated using the formula. Urea, Creatinine, and BUN levels were higher in the GEN group, when compared to the other groups (p<0.001), while Na (p<0.05), Cl and K levels (p<0.001) were lower than those of the other groups. When the control group and the GEN group were compared, it was observed that the level of TAS decreased in the renal tissue and the level of TAS increased in the GEN+DE group. It was determined that TOS (p<0.01) and OSI (p<0.001) levels increased in the GEN group and renal TOS and OSI levels decreased in the GEN+DE group when compared to the GEN group. In conclusion, when the histopathological changes in kidney tissue with antioxidant and oxidant status in nephrotoxicity with gentamicin are examined, it can be said that date extract with gentamicin attenuates nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin and date extract protects the kidney.