http://http://dspace.unitus.it:80 The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. 2013-05-22T23:46:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1332 Title: Aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 affect the oxidative status of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells Authors: Bernabucci, Umberto; Colavecchia, Luciana; Danieli, Pier Paolo; Basiricò, Loredana; Lacetera, Nicola; Nardone, Alessandro; Ronchi, Bruno Abstract: This in vitro study was focused on the effect of two widely occurring mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1), on the oxidative status of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) incubated for 2 and 7 days at different levels of AFB1 (0, 5 and 20 lg/ml) and FB1 (0, 35 and 70 lg/ml). Results of the present study demonstrate that, even though by different mechanisms, AFB1 and FB1 may induce cytotoxicity through an impairment of the oxidative status of PBMC. Lo studio in vitro ha lo scopo di verificare l’effetto della esposizione ad aflatossina B1 (AFB1) e fumonisina B1 (FB1) di sullo stato ossidativo di linfociti bovini incubati per 2 o 7 giorni con differenti concentrazioni di tossine (AFB1: 0, 5 and 20 mcg/ml and FB1: 0, 35 and 70 mcg/ml). I risultati del presente studio hanno dimostrato, anche se attraverso meccanismi differenti, che entrambe le tossine inducono citotossicità attraverso il peggioramento dello stato ossidativo. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1801 Title: Aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 affect the oxidative status of bovine peripheralblood mononuclear cells Authors: Bernabucci, Umberto; Colavecchia, Luciana; Danieli, Pier Paolo; Basiricò, Loredana; Lacetera, Nicola; Nardone, Alessandro; Ronchi, Bruno Abstract: Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites having a high cytotoxic potential. They are produced by molds and released in food and feed. To date, the mechanisms underlying the mycotoxin-induced cytotoxicity have not been fully clarified. The induction of oxidative stress, as a possible mechanism, has been postulated. This in vitro study was focused on the effect of two widely occurring mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1), on the oxidative status of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) incubated for 2 and 7 days at different levels of AFB1 (0, 5 and 20 lg/ml) and FB1 (0, 35 and 70 lg/ml). Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), intracellular thiols (SH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and gene expression of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX-1) were measured on PBMC after incubation. The highest concentration of AFB1 and all concentrations of FB1 caused an increase (p < 0.05) of intracellular ROM without any time dependent effect. Intracellular SH decreased with 20 lgAFB1/ml (p < 0.05) and the effect was particularly marked after 7 days of exposure. Intracellular SH were not affected by FB1 even though a lower (p < 0.05) SH level after 2 days exposure than after 7 days was observed. MDA increased (p < 0.05) in AFB1 or FB1 treated PBMC. The exposure to FB1 for 7 days increased MDA (p < 0.05) only in cells treated with 70 lg/ml. Exposure of PBMC to AFB1 reduced SOD mRNA while FB1 decreased both SOD and GSHPX-1 mRNA abundance. These results demonstrate that, even though by different mechanisms, AFB1 and FB1 may induce cytotoxicity through an impairment of the oxidative status of PBMC. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2209 Title: Alternative animal protein sources for aquaculture: a preliminary study on nutritional traits of Mediterranean brocade (Spodoptera littoralis, Boisduval) larvae Authors: Danieli, Pier Paolo; Ronchi, Bruno; Speranza, Stefano Abstract: In formulating diets for farmed aquatic species, the main ingredi- ent used is fish meal (FM). Due to the growth that aquaculture is experiencing throughout the world, the increasing demand of feeds is resulting in a FM price increase that represents an eco- nomic limit for fish farming. The need to seek protein sources alternative to FM is a matter of great interest. Among others, the use of insect larvae as feed for fish represents an interesting alter- native. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional traits of mediterranean brocade larvae (Spodoptera littoralis Bois.) in view of their possible use as feedstuffs for rainbow trout. A sample of mediterranean brocade larvae (MBL) (VI instar) and one of pupae (MBP) were assayed for fat (EE), ash (ASH) and crude pro- tein (CP) contents by conventional methods. Amino-acidic profile was obtained by HPLC on sample hydrolysates. Relative digestibil- ity of protein (RDP) was estimated by the Lazo (1988) method. Data, expressed on DM basis, were compared with those of a com- mercial feed (CF). The fat content of MBL was lower than that recorded for CF (9.4% vs 13.6%) while MBP showed a very high value (30.3% DM). Ashes in MBL (7.7%) and MBP (6.7%) were lower than in the CF (10.9%). The CP content of MBL (44.3%) was slightly higher than the CF (40.0%) but lower than in MBP (59.1%). The RDP of MBL and MBP were about a half of the value observed in CF (27.2%). Both MBL and MBP showed a lower per- centage of essential amino acids (AA) (35.8%, 36.8%) compared to CF (39.4%) even if the AA profiles were in line with the require- ments found in literature for rainbow trout. In conclusion, these preliminary results suggest that preimaginal stages of S. littoralis may be of interest in fish feeding, though more exhaustive studies have to be performed to fully assess their use as alternative for fish meal. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1871 Title: Influence of different periods of exposure to hot environment on rumen function and diet digestibility in sheep Authors: Bernabucci, Umberto; Lacetera, Nicola; Danieli, Pier Paolo; Bani, Paolo; Nardone, Alessandro; Ronchi, Bruno Abstract: Effects of different periods of exposure to hot environments on rumen function, diet digestibility and digesta passage rate were studied in four adult notpregnant Sardinian ewes housed in a climatic chamber. The ewes were kept in individual metabolic cages. The trial lasted 83 days; 17 days were spent under thermal comfort conditions (TC) [temperature-humidity index (THI)=65.0±2.0], followed by 49 days under elevated THI (ETHI: THI=82.0±2.5) and 17 days under thermal comfort (TC; THI=65.0±1.0). Five digestibility and passage rate trials were carried out during the 83 days. Trials 1 and 5 were carried out under TC; trials 2, 3 and 4 were carried out under ETHI. Values of rectal temperatures (39.7±0.3°C) and respiratory rate (118.4±31.8 breaths/min) indicated that sheep under ETHI were heat-stressed. Heat stress caused an increase (P<0.01) in water intake, and reductions (P<0.05) in dry matter intake, rumen pH, rumen cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria count, rumen osmolarity, organic matter, dry matter, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and non-structural carbohydrates digestibility coefficients, and a reduction of digesta passage rates. Under ETHI, diet digestibility and passage rate of digesta were reduced in a time-dependent fashion. Variation of diet digestibility underETHI was not related to passage rate of digesta and feed intake. Reduction of cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria and the adaptive response to hot environment seem to be related to alteration of digestibility observed in ewes chronically exposed to hot environment. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1850 Title: The potential role of spineless safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. var. inermis) as fodder crop in central Italy Authors: Danieli, Pier Paolo; Primi, Riccardo; Ronchi, Bruno; Ruggeri, Roberto; Rossini, Francesco; Del Puglia, Salvatore; Cereti, Carlo Fausto Abstract: The present study aimed at assessing how nitrogen (N) fertilization affects nutritional characteristics of spineless safflower grown under Mediterranean conditions and evaluating a 2-days wilting treatment on moisture reduction and pH before ensiling. Spineless safflower, sown in November 2008, was grown in 3 m x 18 m plot (45 plants m–2). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) one cultivar x four N-fertilization levels (N0=0 kg/ha, land allocation, N1=35 kg/ha, N2=70 kg/ha, N3=105 kg ha–1) (3 replicates each level) was adopted. At mowing (May 2009, before blooming) the crop biomass production was recorded. Wilted plant material for each plot was collected and pH was measured. Dried and ground samples (1 mm mesh) were analyzed for crude protein (CP), lipids (EE), crude fibre (CFom), neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom), acid detergent fibre (ADF), lignin (ADL) and ash (ASH) content. All data were analyzed by ANOVA and differences among means were declared significant at P<0.05. Biomass production showed a N dose-dependent relationship [from N0=1.80±0.29 to N3=2.71±0.20 t ha–1 dry matter (DM), P<0.01]. N-fertilization significantly affected the CP content, with the highest values (17.52±0.26% DM) observed for the N3 fertilization level. The other nutritional characteristics (EE: 1.36±0.23% DM; CFom: 41.70±3.65% DM; aNDFom: 44.6±2.71% DM; ASH: 12.74±0.74% DM) were not or only slightly affected (ADF: 34.15±2.14%; ADL: 9.53±2.35) (P<0.05) by the N-fertilization. After the 2-day wilting treatment, the highest pH (5.99±0.08) was found for N2 treatment, while the lowest one (5.85±0.06) was recorded for the N0 level (P<0.01). The wilting treatment gave a sufficient moisture reduction, allowing satisfactory preservation of safflower by ensiling. Spineless safflower shows an interesting potential to be grown for ruminants feeding in Mediterranean area. N-fertilization plays an important role as far as productivity of safflower and its CP content are concerned. Further studies are in progress to fully characterize safflower as fresh and preserved forage resource for crop-livestock production systems in central Italy. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z