Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
2
Department of Animal and Poultry Physiology, Desert Research Center,Egypt.
Abstract
This study set out to explore the impact of naturally occurring antioxidants present in microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata (NCO) and/or Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves on the blood constituents and productive performance of Hi-Plus growing rabbits in North Sinai. Sixty weaned Hi-Plus rabbits were categorized into four equal treatments at random. Every treatment was divided into three equal replicates at random. The first treatment was used as a control and did not include supplements. In addition to the basic diet, the second treatment rabbits were given 20 g of microalgae NCO / kg diet (2.0%). The rabbits in the third treatment were fed the basic diet plus 50 g of MO / kg diet (5.0%). The rabbits in the fourth treatment were fed the basal diet plus 20 g NCO and 50 g MO/ kg diet. The findings demonstrated that the rabbits receiving MO had higher body weights (BW) at 8 and 9 weeks (P<0.05) than the rabbits in the control group. When compared to the control group, the rabbits fed (NCO + MO) had the highest (P<0.05) BW at 10th to 12th weeks. At 7-8 weeks, the rabbits that received MO gained more body weight (P<0.05) than the rabbits in the control group, NCO, and NCO+MO. When compared to the rabbits in the control group, the rabbits fed NCO+MO showed the significantly highest body weight gain at 9–10, 10–11, and 11–12 weeks, in addition to the highest overall weight gain. The NCO+MO group demonstrated improvement (P<0.05) in feed conversion at 5–6, 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 and TFC compared to the control group. Plasma total protein and globulin concentrations were increased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO+MO compared to the control group. Cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT), and urea levels were decreased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO compared to the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSX) and total antioxidant capacity were increased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO as compared with the control group. However, malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO as compared to the control group. Insulin, growth, and triiodothyronine hormones were increased (P<0.05) in the rabbits fed NCO, MO, and NCO+MO compared to the control group. Examination of the liver tissue sections seven weeks post NCO, MO, and NCO+MO feeding showed well-developed liver architectures with a normal appearance of liver cells and blood sinusoids. In conclusion, marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata at 2% and Moringa oleifera at 5% added to the diets of Hi-Plus growing rabbits in North Sinai settings improved growth performance, certain hematological parameters, hormonal patterns, and oxidative status by shielding the tissues from oxidative damage without negatively affecting the health of the rabbits.
Keywords
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