Immunohistochemical localization and morphometry of somatotrophs and lactotrophs in protein, probiotic and symbiotic supplemented molted layers

Abstract

Two hundred Single Comb White Leg-Horn spent hens at the age of 70 weeks were purchased from a commercial layer farm. The birds were shifted to the Poultry Research Station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. High dietary zinc (3 g/kg feed/day) was used to induce molting in all the birds after one week of acclimatization. Thereafter, birds were divided in groups of 50 birds each, with the following treatments: G1 [control; crude protein (CP)16%, no other supplement], G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, Symbiotic, 85 mg/L drinking water) and G4 (CP16%, Probiotic, 85 mg/L in drinking water). Fifteen birds were slaughtered at 5% of peak of production for each group to collect their pituitary glands. Better egg production was seen in all the supplemented groups as compared to the control. Especially an earlier post molt production recovery and delayed decline was seen in G2 as compared to all other groups. The immunohistochemistry of the pituitary gland reveals the decrease (P≤0.01) in the cell and nucleus size as well as area of somatotrophs in G2 and G4 as compared to G1. The cell and nucleus size as well as area of lactotrophs decreased (P≤0.01) in G2, G3 and G4 as compared to G1. The better and earlier post molt production in G2 highlights the potential role of protein supplementation in connection with the decreased lactotroph size and area in molted birds.

Dynamics of anterior pituitary immunoreactive gonadotrophs in moulted hens supplemented with protein, symbiotic and probiotics

“…The primary antibody was removed or replaced with PBS/1% normal rabbit serum, or secondary antibody was raised in inappropriate specie (other than rabbit) in negative control slides (Photomicrograph 1 Pituitary gland immunoreactive FSH‐gonadotrophs in moulted White Leg‐Horn.). The absence of immune reaction in these slides confirms the specificity of immunoreactive cells (Anwar et al., ).

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“…Birds on the comparatively high protein diet (18%) in their post‐moult phase recovered earlier from the moulting stress (Anwar et al., ). The protein and probiotic supplementation in the diet of the post‐moult birds have shown the impact on increasing the diameter of growth hormone‐producing cells and decreasing the diameter of lactotrophs (Anwar et al., ). Similarly, Haddadin et al.…”

Dynamics of endocrine markers and liver enzymes in laying hens after protein and probiotics supplementation in the post-moult phase

“…results in reducing the high level of cortisol in neonatal rat pups (Gareau et al 2007). Anwar et al (2012b) have reported the efficacy supplementation with probiotic and protein on the morphological dynamics of anterior pituitary growth hormone-producing cells in the moulted laying hens, which was responsible for better growth and production potential of the supplemented group. More recently Anwar et al (2015) have reported an increase in the gonadotrophs cell and nuclear size and area which are ultimately responsible for the change in hormonal dynamics of metabolic hormones as well in the supplemented moulted birds in the current study.…”

“…Metabolic hormones and corticosterone are imperative markers in the moulted birds as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the principal metabolic hormones involved in the growth, egg production and particularly in the process of moulting in the layers (Renden et al 1994). The supplementation with protein, probiotic and symbiotic shows a dynamic impact on the cellular morphology of endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary including growth and prolactin hormone-producing cells (Anwar et al 2012b). The increase in serum cortisol level was observed in the post-moulted layers as compared to pre-moulting cortisol level, which was attributed to the stress of the moulting process (Sandhu et al 2007).…”

On the future contents of a small journal of histochemistry

“…49,82–86 It is worth noting that several articles were especially focussed on neurobiology and endocrinology during embryogenesis, 87–89 post-natal development 90–92 or aging. 93 Most of the papers on stem cell biology concerned precursors of mesenchymal origin from the adipose tissue, 30,32 cartilage 86,94 or bone; 95,96 the attempts to elucidate some of the mechanisms responsible for their commitment and differentiation in vitro were often aimed at designing suitable strategies for their application in tissue engineering or plastic and reconstructive medicine.…”