The aim of the present study was to evaluate growth performance parameters, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and hepatic and renal functions of APRI growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc-oxide (ZnO) or nano-zinc oxide (ZnO-NP). A number of 60 weaned rabbits (5 wk of age) were divided into three experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (G1), 50 mg ZnO (G2), and 30 mg ZnO-NP (G3) per kg during the growing period (5 to 13 wk of age). Live body weight, feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index and mortality rate were recorded. Biochemical parameters, antioxidant and immunity status were determined at 13 wk of age. Results show that dietary ZnO or ZnO-NP addition increased (P<0.05) growth performance parameters, serum high-density lipoproteins, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, immunoglobulins. Concentrations of triglycerides and MDA in blood serum reduced (P<0.05) in treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ZnO or ZnO-NP can enhance growth performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under heat stress conditions.
Application of assisted reproductive technology in camelidea, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer, has been slow in comparison to that for other livestock species. In Egypt, there are few attempts to establish in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) techniques in dromedary camel. The present study was carried out to produce Sudanese camel embryos using in vitro matured oocytes and epididymal spermatozoa. Dromedary camel ovaries were collected from abattoirs and then, the oocytes were aspirated from all the visible follicles on the ovarian surface (~2-8 mm in a diameter). Meanwhile, Fetal Dromedary Camel Serum (FDCS) was obtained from camel fetuses after slaughtering. Thereafter, only Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in the Tissue Culture Medium (TCM-199) complemented with 10% FDCS. Spermatozoa required for in vitro fertilization were collected from testes (epididymal cauda) of the slaughtered camel bulls. The results clearly showed that the maturation rate of oocytes at metaphase II was about 59.5% while the fertilization rate was around 70.4%. Intriguingly, the embryo rates determined were 13.1%, in 2-cell; 0.0%, in 4-cell; 34.7%, in 8-16% cell; 39.1%, in morula and 13.1% in a blastocyst stage. This study represented a successful in vitro production of Sudanese dromedary camel embryos from epididymal sperm cells and in vitro matured oocytes recovered from slaughtered camels.
Buffaloes ovaries obtained from slaughterhouses were used to study the influence of the oocyte collection techniques (dissection, aspiration, slicing, and aspiration plus slicing) on the availability of oocytes quantity and quality of buffalo oocytes. The oocytes were collected aseptically from the ovaries by the four methods. In all methods, oocytes were classified into 5 classes on the basis of the morphology of compact, denuded, degenerated, expanded and partial denuded oocytes. Results showed that the oocyte recovery rate from ovaries was higher (P<0.05) by aspiration plus slicing (84.67%) and slicing (83.30%) than aspiration (72.68%), while dissection technique showed the lowest (P<0.05) oocyte recovery rate (52.04%). Percentage of cumulus oocyte complexes collected by slicing (63.17%) was higher (P<0.05) than aspiration (51.34 %), aspiration plus slicing (51.24%) and dissection (42.03%). The corresponding percentages of expanded cumulus oocytes were 29.93, 30.31, 27.55 and 32.68%, respectively (P<0.05). Such results may indicate efficacy of slicing technique as a collection method on quantity and quality of buffalo oocytes.
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