Time course evaluation of collagen type IV in Pectoralis major muscles of broiler chickens selected for different growth-rates.

Collagen type IV (COL4) is one of the major components of animals' and humans' basement membranes of several tissues, such as skeletal muscles and vascular endothelia. Alterations in COL4 assembly and secretion are associated to muscular disorders in humans and animals among which growth-related abnormalities such as white striping and wooden breast affecting Pectoralis major muscles (PMs) in modern fast-growing (FG) chickens. Considering the high prevalence of these myopathies in FG broilers and that a worsening is observed as the bird slaughter age is increased, the present study was intended to evaluate the distribution and the expression level of COL4 protein and its coding genes in PMs of FG broilers at different stages of muscle development (i.

The evolution of vimentin and desmin in muscles of broiler chickens supports their essential role in muscle regeneration.

Vimentin (VIM) and desmin (DES) are muscle-specific proteins having crucial roles in maintaining the lateral organization and alignment of the sarcomeric structure during myofibrils' regeneration. The present experiment was designed to ascertain the evolution of VIM and DES in muscles (PM) of fast-growing (FG) and medium-growing (MG) meat-type chickens both at the protein and gene levels. MG broilers were considered as a control group whereas the evolution of VIM and DES over the growth period was evaluated in FG by collecting samples at different developmental stages (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days).

Molecular Pathways and Key Genes Associated With Breast Width and Protein Content in White Striping and Wooden Breast Chicken Pectoral Muscle.

Growth-related abnormalities affecting modern chickens, known as White Striping (WS) and Wooden Breast (WB), have been deeply investigated in the last decade. Nevertheless, their precise etiology remains unclear. The present study aimed at providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in their onset by identifying clusters of co-expressed genes (i.

The role of histidine dipeptides on postmortem acidification of broiler muscles with different energy metabolism.

It is generally held that the content of several free amino acids and dipeptides is closely related to the energy-supplying metabolism of skeletal muscles. Metabolic characteristics of muscles are involved in the variability of meat quality due to their ability to influence the patterns of energy metabolism not only in living animal but also during postmortem time. Within this context, this study aimed at establishing whether the concentration of histidine dipeptides can affect muscle postmortem metabolism, examining the glycolytic pathway of 3 chicken muscles (pectoralis major, extensor iliotibialis lateralis, and gastrocnemius internus as glycolytic, intermediate, and oxidative-type, respectively) selected based on their histidine dipeptides content and ultimate pH.

Impact of galactooligosaccharides delivered in ovo on mitigating negative effects of heat stress on performance and welfare of broilers.

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) delivered in ovo improve intestinal health of broiler chickens. This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of in ovo stimulation with GOS prebiotic on day 12 of egg incubation on performance and welfare traits in broiler chickens. The incubating eggs were divided into 3 groups, based on the substance injected in ovo: 3.

Splenic Gene Expression Signatures in Slow-Growing Chickens Stimulated in Ovo with Galactooligosaccharides and Challenged with Heat.

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) that are delivered in ovo improve intestinal microbiota composition and mitigate the negative effects of heat stress in broiler chickens. Hubbard hybrids are slow-growing chickens with a high resistance to heat. In this paper, we determined the impact of GOS delivered in ovo on slow-growing chickens that are challenged with heat.

Occurrence of Breast Meat Abnormalities and Foot Pad Dermatitis in Light-Size Broiler Chicken Hybrids.

Only limited information regarding the occurrence of breast meat abnormalities and foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in current broiler genotypes is available. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the incidence and severity of breast myopathies (white striping, WS; wooden breast, WB; spaghetti meat, SM) and FPD in two fast-growing chicken hybrids, while simultaneously recording their growth performance. A total of 1560 one-day-old female chicks (780 for each hybrid, A and B; 12 replicates/genotype) were raised in the same environmental conditions and fed the same diet.

Comparison of 2 commercial turkey hybrids: productivity, occurrence of breast myopathies, and meat quality properties.

This study was undertaken to compare productive performance, occurrence of breast myopathies, chemical composition, and technological properties of the meat in 2 dominant commercial turkey hybrids. A total of 972 1-day-old male turkey poults (equally divided in hybrid A and B) were randomly distributed in 18 floor pens. Overall, productive performance resulted similar between the genotypes, although they showed different growth profile (turkeys from group B grew up faster up to 84 d).

Effect of different arginine-to-lysine ratios in broiler chicken diets on the occurrence of breast myopathies and meat quality attributes.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different digestible arginine-to-lysine (dig Arg:Lys) ratio in broiler diets on the occurrence of breast myopathies, productivity, and meat quality traits. A total of 1,755 1-day-old Ross 308 male chicks was randomly divided in 3 experimental groups (9 replications/group): CON, fed a 4 feeding-phases commercial diet (dig Arg:Lys ratio = 1.05, 1.

Avian model to mitigate gut-derived immune response and oxidative stress during heat.

The tissue injury at the early stages of the heat stress response triggers release of inflammatory and oxidative agents from intestinal content into the milieu of the body. Intestinal homeostasis (i.e.

Effect of dietary arginine to lysine ratios on productive performance, meat quality, plasma and muscle metabolomics profile in fast-growing broiler chickens.

Background: Due to the important functions of arginine in poultry, it should be questioned whether the currently adopted dietary Arg:Lys ratios are sufficient to meet the modern broiler requirement in arginine. The present study aimed, therefore, to evaluate the effects of the dietary supplementation of -arginine in a commercial broiler diet on productive performance, breast meat quality attributes, incidence and severity of breast muscle myopathies and foot pad dermatitis (FPD), and plasma and muscle metabolomics profile in fast-growing broilers.

Results: A total of 1,170 1-day-old Ross 308 male chicks was divided into two experimental groups of 9 replicates each fed either a commercial basal diet (CON, digestible Arg:Lys ratio of 1.

Differences in productive performance and intestinal transcriptomic profile in two modern fast-growing chicken hybrids.

This study aimed to characterize growth performance and ileum transcriptomic profile of two fast-growing chicken hybrids (HA and HB). A total of 1,170 one-day-old female chicks (n = 585 per genotype) were weighed and randomly divided into 18 pens (9 replications/group). Both the groups received the same commercial diet (starter, 0-9 days; grower I, 10-21 days; grower II, 22-34 days; and finisher, 35-43 days).

Application of omics technologies for a deeper insight into quali-quantitative production traits in broiler chickens: A review.

The poultry industry is continuously facing substantial and different challenges such as the increasing cost of feed ingredients, the European Union's ban of antibiotic as growth promoters, the antimicrobial resistance and the high incidence of muscle myopathies and breast meat abnormalities. In the last decade, there has been an extraordinary development of many genomic techniques able to describe global variation of genes, proteins and metabolites expression level. Proper application of these cutting-edge omics technologies (mainly transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) paves the possibility to understand much useful information about the biological processes and pathways behind different complex traits of chickens.

Quality characterization of eggs from Romagnola hens, an Italian local breed.

In the past years, consumers' concerns about sustainability and animal welfare have increased, strengthening the demand for eggs and meat produced through alternative and extensive farming methods. In addition, producers have also become increasingly interested in the recovery and exploitation of local breeds due to their adaptability to local environmental conditions, to valorize the biodiversity and to provide added value to typical products. Among the Italian local breeds, Romagnola has almost risked extinction and currently is reared in small-scale farms for eggs and meat production.

Variability and interaction of some egg physical and eggshell quality attributes during the entire laying hen cycle.

The aim of this study was to investigate the variability and relationships between some egg physical (egg weight, width, length, shape index, and surface area) and eggshell parameters (weight and percentage, thickness, breaking strength, and L*, a*, and b* values) during the entire laying hen cycle. A total of 8,000 eggs was collected every 5 wk, from 30 to 81 wk of hen age (10 samplings of 400 eggs/house), in 2 identical poultry houses equipped with enriched cages. For the statistical analysis, ANOVA, Bivariate Correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis were used.

Impact of Cooking Procedures and Storage Practices at Home on Consumer Exposure to Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella Due to the Consumption of Pork Meat.

The objective of this research was to analyze the impact of different cooking procedures (i.e., gas hob and traditional static oven) and levels of cooking (i.

Effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) on caecum microbioma and productive performance in broiler chickens.

This study examines the effects of the dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (CECT 4529) (LA) on productive performances, incidence of foot pad dermatitis and caecum microbioma in broiler chickens. A total of 1,100 one-day old male Ross 308 chicks were divided into 2 groups of 16 replicates with 25 birds each and reared from 1-41 d. One group was fed a basal diet (CON) and the other group the same diet supplemented with LA.

Effect of EU electrical stunning conditions on breast meat quality of broiler chickens.

Electrical stunning is still the main stunning method used worldwide in commercial poultry plants. The stunning procedures in water bath stunners affect both bird welfare and meat quality attributes. The European Union (EU) Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of the animal at the time of killing established the minimum current flow through an individual bird at a specified frequency to assure an effective stun that must last until the bird's death.

Coumarin derivatives as potential antitumor agents: Growth inhibition, apoptosis induction and multidrug resistance reverting activity.

A small library of coumarins, carrying butynyl-amino chains, was synthesized continuing our studies in the field of MDR reverting ageEnts and in order to obtain multipotent agents to combat malignancies. In particular, the reported anticancer and chemopreventive natural product 7-isopentenyloxycoumarin was linked to different terminal amines, selected on the basis of our previously reported results. The anticancer behaviour and the MDR reverting ability of the new compounds were evaluated on human colon cancer cells, particularly prone to develop the MDR phenotype.

Stress and Humoral Innate Immune Response of Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata Cultured in Sea Cages.

Innate and acquired immune responses of Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata was studied under normal culture and short-term stressful conditions for 18 months in offshore sea cages in Alghero Bay, Italy. Every 45 d, 50 fish were sampled and divided into two groups: fish in the first group (normal culture conditions) were bled after harvesting; fish in the second group were put into a tank under stressful conditions (crowding and confinement) and bled after 2 h. Innate humoral immunity, such as complement-like, hemagglutination, and lysozyme activities, was determined in the sera of both groups.

Effect of different levels of dietary zinc, manganese, and copper from organic or inorganic sources on performance, bacterial chondronecrosis, intramuscular collagen characteristics, and occurrence of meat quality defects of broiler chickens.

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effects of 2 dietary levels of trace minerals (TM) zinc, manganese, and copper either from organic (OTM) or inorganic (ITM) sources on broiler performance, carcass traits, intramuscular collagen (IMC) properties, occurrence of hock burns (HB), foot pad dermatitis (FPD), femoral and tibia head necrosis, and breast muscle abnormalities (white striping, WS; wooden breast, WB; poor cohesion, PC). A total of 3,600 one-day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to one of 4 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (9 replicates of 100 birds/dietary treatment). Birds were slaughtered at 31 (thinning) and 51 d of age.

Fatty acid composition of chicken breast meat is dependent on genotype-related variation of FADS1 and FADS2 gene expression and desaturating activity.

In Western countries the dietary guidance emphasizes the need to decrease the intake of saturated fatty acids and to replace them with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly long chain n-3 PUFA (LC-PUFA). The production of poultry meat having a lower fat content and healthier fatty acid (FA) profile is a hot topic for the poultry industry, and the possibility to identify genotypes able to produce meat with a higher LC-PUFA content deserves attention. The aims of the present study were to evidence in chicken (i) a genotype-related different expression of the desaturating enzymes delta-6 (Δ6, EC 1.

Relationship between pectoralis major muscle histology and quality traits of chicken meat.

A trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of myodegeneration of pectoralis major muscle on quality traits and chemical composition of breast meat of heavy-size male broilers. For this purpose, a total of 72 pectoralis major muscles were randomly collected from broilers farmed under homogeneous conditions and graded into three categories (mild, n=22; moderate, n=33; and severe, n=17) based on the presence of abnormal fibers (giant fibers, fibers with hyaline degeneration, and damaged and/or necrotic fibers) evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Color, pH, drip loss, Allo-Kramer shear values, and chemical composition (moisture, proteins, total lipids, ashes, and collagen) were determined on nonmarinated breast meat.

New technologies to enhance quality and safety of table eggs: ultra-violet treatment and modified atmosphere packaging.

In the present study the effect of ultra-violet (UV) treatment alone and in combination with 100% CO modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was evaluated both on the survival of naturally occurring bacteria, as well as on quality parameters of table eggs during 28 days of storage at 21°C. Table eggs were collected from the conveyor belt after the UV module, and placed on carton trays. A representative number of carton trays were packed in a high barrier multilayer pouch filled with 100% CO.

Quality of life in adult intradural primary spinal tumors: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey correlation with McCormick and Aminoff-Logue scales.

Object: The most appropriate method to determine the quality of life of patients with intradural primary spinal tumors (IPSTs) is not still well established.

Methods: Clinical data in 234 patients who underwent surgery for intradural spinal disease were collected prospectively. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), a generic score scale, was administered to 148 patients with IPSTs to demonstrate if the survey can be used to effectively evaluate these patients.