Hypothalamus and adipose tissue are essential central and peripheral sites regulating energy homeostasis. Disruption of energy homeostasis can lead to diseases like anorexia and obesity in humans and reduced productivity in animals. Therefore, integrating knowledge in hypothalamic appetite regulation and adipose tissue metabolism is essential to maintain homeostasis. The aim of this dissertation was to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of energy homeostasis in birds. We determined adipose tissue physiological changes during the first two weeks post-hatch in chickens from lines selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) body weight. LWS was more dependent on yolk and subcutaneous fat mobilization for growth from hatch to day 4 post-hatch, with hyperplasia-predominated replenishment of the reservoir. In contrast, HWS was more dependent on feed for growth and maintained depot mass through hyperplasia and hypertrophy. From day 4 to 14 post-hatch, compared to maintenance of depot weight and adipocyte size in LWS, HWS accumulated clavicular and abdominal fat with minimal lipolysis. There was greater expression of precursor and proliferation markers in LWS with more apoptotic cells in the abdominal stromal vascular fraction on day 14 post-hatch, suggesting that apoptosis contributed to lower adipogenic potential and lack of abdominal fat in LWS. Exposure to thermal and nutritional stressors at hatch impaired growth by reducing yolk utilization and lowering body weight, lean and fat masses in LWS. Stress exposure resulted in increased global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in LWS. Moreover, there was decreased binding to methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 in the promoter of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) because of hypomethylation in one CpG site at its core binding site in stressed LWS, which explains the increased CRF expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. We next determined effects of nutritional status on adipose tissue physiology in Japanese quail, a less-intensively selected avian species. Six-hour fasting promoted lipolysis and gene expression changes in 7-day old quail with some changes restored to original levels within 1 hour of refeeding. Overall, our results reveal novel cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating appetite and adiposity in birds early post-hatch. / Doctor of Philosophy / Hypothalamus and adipose tissue are essential for regulating energy homeostasis in central and peripheral body sites, respectively. Disruption of energy homeostasis can lead to diseases like anorexia and obesity in humans and reduced productivity in animals. Therefore, integrating knowledge in hypothalamic appetite regulation and adipose tissue metabolism is essential to maintain energy homeostasis in both humans and animals. The aim of this dissertation was to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms of energy homeostasis in birds. We first determined adipose tissue physiological changes in chickens during the first two weeks post-hatch from lines selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) body weight. These chickens have been selected for juvenile body weight for over 60 generations. The LWS are lean and anorexic, while HWS eat compulsively and develop obesity and metabolic syndrome. Such characteristics make the body weight line chickens good animal models to study physiological changes under anorexia and obesity. We found that LWS was more dependent on yolk reserves and subcutaneous fat mobilization for growth from hatch to day 4 post-hatch, with replenishment of the fat reservoir by increases in cell number. By contrast, HWS was more dependent on feed for growth and maintained depot mass through increased cell number and cell size. From day 4 to 14 post-hatch, HWS accumulated fat throughout the body, with less fat breakdown as compared to LWS. There was greater expression of cellular precursor and proliferation markers in LWS, with more dying cells in their abdominal fat on day 14 post-hatch, suggesting that programmed cell death is responsible for the lack of fat cell development in LWS. Exposure to thermal and nutritional stressors at hatch impaired growth by reducing yolk utilization and lowering body weight, lean and fat masses in LWS. There were many molecular changes in the hypothalamus, including changes in DNA that led to increased activation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a signaling molecule that is known to regulate the body's stress and appetite responses. Stress exposure increased global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus in LWS. Moreover, there was less methylation at the core binding site of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2), a protein that binds to methylated DNA to repress gene expression, in the CRF gene, in stressed LWS. In response to stress, there was decreased binding of MBD2 to the promoter region of CRF, which may explain increased expression of CRF in the paraventricular nucleus of LWS. These results demonstrate that early-life stressful events can cause epigenetic changes (like DNA methylation) that lead to alterations in physiology and behavior that persist to later in life. We next determined effects of nutritional status on adipose tissue physiology in Japanese quail, which have undergone less artificial selection than chickens and are more representative of a wilder-type bird. Six-hour fasting promoted lipolysis and gene expression changes in 7-day old quail with some changes restored to original levels within 1 hour of refeeding. Overall, our results provide novel perspectives on cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating appetite and adiposity in birds during early post-hatch development.

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização da levedura hidrolisada como fonte de nucleotídeos para frangos de corte. As aves foram suplementadas com diferentes níveis de inclusão nas dietas iniciais de 1 a 14 dias de idade. Foram utilizados um total de 576 pintos da linhagem Ross 708, os quais foram distribuídos em 6 tratamentos com 8 repetições (12 aves por box). Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10 kg de levedura hidrolisada/tonelada de ração. A levedura hidrolisada foi adicionada na dieta no lugar do material inerte da ração. A dieta inicial foi fornecida na forma triturada enquanto as dietas de crescimento, final e de retirada foram fornecidas na forma de pellets. Durante todo o experimento o acesso à água e ração foi ad libitum. Todas as dietas foram feitas à base de milho, farelo de soja e gordura de frango e foram formuladas para atender as exigências nutricionais recomendadas pelo manual de recomendações nutricionais Ross 708. Aos 42 dias, as aves alimentadas com 1% de levedura hidrolisada tiveram maior peso corporal e ganho de peso quando comparadas aos demais tratamentos (P<0,05). Não houveram diferenças estatísticas entre os tratamentos para as variáveis mortalidade e densidade de vilos. Contudo aves que não foram suplementadas com levedura hidrolisada (tratamento controle) apresentaram menor profundidade de cripta e a suplementação de 1% de levedura resultou em maior altura de vilos. Aves as quais receberam dietas com 0,2% de inclusão de levedura hidrolisada apresentaram menor rendimento de peito que as aves que receberam os demais níveis de levedura, mas foram iguais as aves do tratamento controle. Contudo, o rendimento de carcaça, sassami e gordura abdominal não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos experimentais. Estes resultados demostraram a eficácia da utilização de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de frangos de corte no período de 1 a 14 dias sobre as características de produção. / The objective of this work was to evaluate hydrolyzed yeast utilization as nucleotides source to broilers. Birds were supplemented with different inclusion levels on starter diets from 1 to 14 days of age. A total of five hundred seventy six Ross 708 chicks were allotted to 6 experimental treatments with 8 replications (12 broilers per pen). Birds were randomly distributed in following treatments: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kg hydrolyzed yeast/ton of feed. Hydrolyzed yeast was added to the test diet in place of filler. Starter diets were supplied in crumbled form while grower, finisher, and withdrawal were supplied in pellet form. Throughout experiment water and feed were supplied ad libitum. All diets were based on corn, soybean meal and poultry fat, and were formulated to achieve nutritional requirements from recommendations guide for Ross x Ross 708 broilers. At 42 d chicks fed 1% hydrolyzed yeast demonstrated higher body weight and body weight gain over birds fed other treatments (P<0.05). Mortality and villous density did not differ among treatments. However birds fed control treatment showed lower crypt depth and 1% hydrolyzed yeast supplementation promoted higher villous high. Birds fed 0.2% hydrolyzed yeast showed lower breast meat yield than birds received other yeast levels, but were equals to control treatment control. However, carcass and tender yield, and abdominal fat were not influenced by treatments. These results indicated efficacy of hydrolyzed yeast utilization on broiler diets from 1 to 14 on production characteristics.

Salmonella do grupo paratifóide é responsável por toxi-infecção alimentar no homem, veiculada por alimentos contaminados. Este estudo determinou o perfil genotípico de nove amostras de S. Typhimurium, a sua patogenicidade, assim como sua capacidade de colonização e invasão em aves SPF. Verificou-se pela análise dos genes: agfA, avrA, cdtB, fimA, fliC, invA, iroN, lpfC, mgtC, pefA, sefC, sifA, sipB, sipC, sitC, slyA, sopB, sopE1, sptP ou spvC em amostras de Salmonella Typhimurium que todas foram negativas para os genes sopE1 ou spvC. O gene cdtB estava presente em apenas uma amostra (11,11%) e o gene pefA em duas amostras (22,22%). O gene sefC foi encontrado em três amostras (33,33%). Em oito amostras (88,88%) os genes agfA, fimA, lpfC ou sptP estiveram presentes. Os genes avrA, fliC, invA, iroN, mgtC, sifA, sipB, sipC, sitC ou slyA ou sopB estiveram presentes em 100% das amostras analisadas. Determinou-se quatro perfis genotípicos. No ensaio de patogenicidade observou-se que as amostras inoculadas por via oral, não causaram mortalidade de pintinhos SPF de um dia de idade, com a exceção da amostra SA 633 e SA 006 que apresentaram 30 e 10%, respectivamente. No entanto, observou-se que a infecção por via subcutânea provocou uma maior mortalidade de pintinhos, sendo que as amostras SA 003, SA 004, SA 005 e a amostra vacinal mostraram somente 10% de mortalidade, a amostra SA 002 30%, as amostras SA 632 e SA 634 70% e a amostra SA 633 100%. A amostra SA 006 não provocou nenhuma mortalidade. A amostra mais patogênica pela via subcutânea foi a SA 633. O ensaio de colonização foi realizado em pintinhos SPF, com as amostras SA 002, SA 003, SA 004, SA 005, SA 006, SA 632, SA 633, SA 634 e amostra vacinal. Verificou-se ausência de invasão no fígado e baço 24 horas pós- infecção, exceto para as amostras SA 632 (30%) e amostra vacinal (20%). Após sete dias da infecção houve invasão em dois pintinhos com a amostra SA 002 e um pintinho com as amostras SA 004 e SA 005. Apenas na amostra SA 632 constatou-se colonização em ceco após 24 horas em 10% das amostras e após 7 dias em 70% pós-infecção. Concluiu-se que entre as amostras de Salmonella Typhimurium analisadas existiam diferentes perfis genotípicos baseando-se na presença ou ausência de genes de virulência, e que a amostra vacinal assemelha-se a amostras de S. Typhimurium estudadas quanto a presença dos genes. Os resultados do teste de patogenicidade das amostras de ST indicaram que a via de inoculação modifica a patogenicidade de uma mesma amostra e que a mortalidade após a inoculação pela via subcutânea é sempre superior que pela via oral. / Parathyphoid Salmonella are major food-borne pathogens spread by contaminated food products. This study determined the genotypic profile of nine samples of S. Typhimurium, pathogenicity, colonization and invasion in SPF chicks. It was found by analysis of genes: agfA, avrA, cdtB, fimA, fliC, invA, iroN, lpfC, mgtC, pefA, sefC, sifA, sipB, sipC, sitC, slyA, sopB, sopE1, sptP or spvC samples of S. Typhimurium all were negative to sopE1 or spvC. The cdtB gene was identified in one sample and pefA gene in two samples (22,22%). Sef C gene was detected in three samples (33,33%). In eight samples (88,88%) agfA, fimA, lpf or sptP were detected. AvrA, fliC, invA, iroN, mgtC, sifA, sipB, sipC, sitC, slyA and sopB were detected in all samples evaluated. Four genotypic profiles were established. Pathogenicity tests showed that samplesinoculated by oral gavage did not present mortality in one day old SPF chicks, except samples SA 633 and SA006 with 30 and 10%, respectively. However, it was observed that subcutaneous inoculation showed high mortality in SPF chicks than oral inoculation, and samples SA 003, SA004, SA005 and vaccinal strain showed 10% of mortality, 30% for sample SA002, 70% in the samples SA632 and SA 634 and 100% when the sample SA 633 was inoculated. No mortality was observed in sample SA006. Colonization test was performed in SPF chicks using the samples: SA002, SA 003, SA 004, SA005, SA006, SA 632, SA 633, SA 634 and vaccinal strain. The more pathogenic strain subcutaneously was the SA 633. There was not invasion in liver and spleen 24 hours p.i., except for sample SA 632 (30%) and vaccinal strain (20%). Seven days p.i. invasion was detected in two chicks inoculated with samples identified as SA 004 and SA 005. Sample SA 632 showed 10% of cecal colonization 24 hours p.i. and 70% after one week p.i. It was concluded that Salmonella Typhimurium strains including the vaccinal strain, showed different genotypical profiles, based on the presence or absence of genes of virulence genes. The results of the pathogenicity test indicated that inoculation route modify the pathogenicity of the same strain, and the mortality post-inoculation was always higher in chicks inoculated by subcutaneous route when compared to the oral route.

This test demonstration was intended to develop a modern management program to improve broiler production in Nigeria through extension teaching methodology. The management programs included animal health, nutrition, and general care. Some of the factors that limit broiler production in Nigeria are associated with the management strategy presently adopted by Nigerian subsistence farmers. This report considers the effect of different protein sources on broiler nutrition and the techniques necessary to get the farmers to practice the result of up-to-date research findings. The extension teaching demonstration reported here is based on 60 day-old chicks. Chicks were randomly assigned to two pens, Pen A and Pen B at the Utah State University poultry farm. Pen A had 40 chicks and Pen B had 20 chicks. Chicks in Pen A received Diet #1 (corn-cottonseed meal). Chicks were weighed weekly starting on July 2, 1983 which was the third week of the demonstration. The difference between the weekly weight gain was obvious. Birds fed corn-soybean diet were superior to those fed corn-cottonseed meal diet. The birds in Pen A were marketable at eight weeks whereas those in Pen B were not marketable at the same chronological age. A field day was conducted at the poultry farm to report the results of the demonstration.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Physiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

The principal objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of mycotoxin contaminated diets (deoxynivalenol (DON)), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and fumonisin (FUM)), with or without the use of a commercially available deactivating compound (DC), in young pullets and replacement laying hens on performance, reproductive, serological, and histopathological parameters. In trial 1, experimental treatments consisted of control, low toxin (1 µg DON/g + 1 µg AFB1/g), and high toxin (2 µg DON/g + 2 µg AFB1/g) diets. Pullets fed the high toxin diet had reduced (P<0.05) body weights compared to control and low toxin diets at d 14, 35, 49, 56, and 63. At d 21 and 28, there was a significant interaction observed between mycotoxin and DC inclusion in body weights. Following necropsies (d 35 and 65), relative liver weights and histopathological liver tissue damage were increased (P<0.05) in pullets fed high toxin diets when compared to control and low toxin diets. Relative kidney weights were increased (P<0.05) due to high toxin diet at d 65. Expected negative effects of toxin administration on titer development were not observed. The only interaction observed between mycotoxin administration and DC inclusion in trial 1 was on body weights. In trial 2, experimental treatments consisted of control, DON (9 µg/g) challenge, AFB1 (2 µg/g) + FUM (54 µg/g) challenge, and a mixed challenge (6 µg DON/g, 1 µg AFB1/g, and 27 µg FUM/g). All mycotoxin diets fed to hens negatively influenced (P<0.05) feed efficiency for the trial period spanning weeks 6 through 10 when compared to control diets. Egg production was not affected (P>0.05) by all mycotoxin diets weeks 6 through 10. Relative weights of the liver and kidney were increased (P<0.05) by AFB1+FUM challenge weeks 4 and 9 compared to control diet. The data reported in this study demonstrate that dietary DON and / or AFB1+FUM influence some performance, reproductive, histopathological, and egg quality traits, but by and large, replacement layer pullets seem to be relatively resistant to the mycotoxins evaluated in this trial at the described levels of administration.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1971. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.