Abstract: Immune response and yolk cholesterol are crucial factors for commercial chicken producers. The objectives of this
study were to investigate the effect of selenium-enriched Japanese radish sprouts (Se-enriched JRS) and R. capsulatus synergistically on
immune response and cholesterol in laying hens. A total of 50 laying hens (20-wk old) were assigned to 5 dietary treatment groups, and
fed diets supplemented with 2.5 μg/kg, 5 μg/kg, 10 μg/kg Se-enriched JRS and 5 μg/kg Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus (0.02%). Egg
production and yolk color were significantly improved by the supplementation of Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus in the layer diet
(p<0.05). Compared to the control, serum cholesterol concentration and triglyceride levels were decreased by all the treatments
(p<0.05). After 8-wk of the experiment, supplementation of 5 μg/kg, 10 μg/kg and Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus significantly reduced
yolk cholesterol and triglycerides, while the greatest reduction was observed when R. capsulatus was incorporated with Se-enriched
JRS. Spleen, bursa and thymus weight were significantly increased by both the 5 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg Se-enriched JRS. Compared to the
control, supplementation of 5 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg Se-enriched JRS significantly increased serum IgG and yolk IgY concentration and
foot web index activity by Newcastle Disease Virus (p<0.05). After 4-wk and 8-wk of supplementation, the highest number of
leukocytes was observed with Se-enriched JRS+R. capsulatus (p<0.05). The highest concentration of serum and yolk Se was found in Se-enriched JRS plus R. capsulatus treatment. Combined dietary supplementation of Se-enriched JRS and R. capsulatus might be
beneficial for better health, disease protection and overall production performance.
Abstract: Purpose For understanding the roles of fatty acids on the
induction of acrosome reaction which occurs under association
of cholesterol efflux and PKA or PKC pathways in
boar spermatozoa, metabolic fate of alone and combined
radiolabeled 14C-oleic acid and 3H-linoleic acid incorporated
in the sperm was compared, and behavior of cholesterol
and effects of PKA and PKC inhibitors upon fatty
acid-induced acrosome reaction were examined.
Methods Semen was collected from a Duroc boar, and the
metabolic activities of fatty acids in the spermatozoa were
measured using radioactive compounds and thin layer
chromatography. Cholesterol efflux was measured with a
cholesterol determination assay kit. Participation of fatty
acids on the AR through PKA and PKC pathways was
evaluated using a specific inhibitor of these enzymes.
Results Incorporation rate of 14C-oleic acid into the
sperm lipids was significantly higher than that of 3H-linoleic
acid (P\0.05). The oxidation of 14C-oleic acid was
higher in combined radiolabeling rather than in one. The
highest amounts of 3H-linoleic acid and 14C-oleic acid
were recovered mainly in the triglycerides and phospholipids
fraction, and 14C-oleic acid distribution was higher
than the 3H-linoleic acid in both labeled (P\0.05) sperm
lipids. In the 3H-linoleic and 14C-oleic acid combined
radiolabeling, the incorporation rate of the radioactive fatty
acids in all the lipid fractions increased 15 times more than
the alone radiolabeling. Boar sperm utilize oleic acid to
generate energy for hyperactivation (P\0.05). Supplementation
of arachidonic acid significantly increased
(P\0.05) cholesterol efflux in sperm. When spermatozoa
were incubated with PKA or PKC inhibitors, there was a
significant reduction of arachidonic acid-induced acrosome
reaction (AR) (P\0.05), and inhibition by PKA inhibitor
is stronger than that by PKC inhibitor.
Conclusions Incorporation of unsaturated fatty acids,
especially oleic acid, into triglycerides and phospholipids
provides prerequisite energy for AR. Cholesterol efflux by
arachidonic acid triggers AR. Arachidonic acid activated
PKA and PKC pathway participate in induction of the AR.
Abstract: Purpose The fatty acid composition of rabbit blastocysts,
blood serum and uterine fluids were analyzed to study
embryonic lipid metabolism.
Methods Embryos were collected from Japanese white
rabbits and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatograph.
Results Total amount of fatty acids in blastocysts was
higher than that in serum and uterine fluid. The amount of
fatty acids in blastocysts markedly decreased during days
7–13 of pregnancy, and in serum had hovered, but in
uterine fluid on day 13 was nine times higher than that on
day 7 of pregnancy. Palmitic acid predominates in blastocysts,
serum and uterine fluid during this period.
Conclusion Palmitic acid is the most abundant fatty acid
in the blastocysts, serum and uterine fluids of rabbit during
days 7–13 of pregnancy.
Abstract: Different sources of saponins are known to have hypocholesterolemic activity with varying degrees of efficacy. We hypothesize that karaya root saponin would efficiently reduce cholesterol. The aim of this study is to examine the comparative hypocholesterolemic effect of karaya root saponin in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Sixty male Wister-Imamichi rats were divided into 5 groups of 12 rats each constituting of the following: control group, soybean saponin-supplemented group, karaya root saponin-supplemented group, quillaja saponin-supplemented group, and tea saponin-supplemented group. Compared with the control diet, both the karaya root- and quillaja saponin-supplemented diets significantly reduced (P < .05) serum cholesterol and atherogenic index. Karaya root saponin significantly increased the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol/cholesterol ratio, and fecal cholesterol concentrations (P < .05). The triacylglycerol concentration was significantly reduced only in the quillaja saponin-supplemented rats (P < .05). All the tea, soybean, karaya root, and quillaja saponins significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the greatest reduction was observed with karaya root saponin. Highest fecal bile acid concentration was found with quillaja saponin, whereas highest liver bile acid concentration was observed with karaya root saponin-supplemented rats (P < .05). These results collectively suggest that karaya root saponin can efficiently reduce serum cholesterol concentration in rats.
