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The beneficial impact of oregano essential oil supplementation on growth, physiological function, antioxidant
Shakera K Fudge1, Wesam H Marzouk2, Hanan A Ghetas1
1Department of Aquatic Animals Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
Insights
Oxytocin (OXT) modulated feeding behaviors in juvenile rats but did not accelerate developmental milestones. Further research is needed to explore OXT’s potential for treating dysphagia in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pediatric dysphagia is a significant complication in neurodevelopmental disorders like Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).
- Dysphagia in children raises risks for malnutrition, aspiration, and respiratory infections, underscoring the need for better management strategies.
- Understanding feeding and swallowing development is crucial for addressing dysphagia in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- This study investigated the therapeutic potential of oxytocin (OXT) for enhancing feeding and swallowing behaviors in developing rats.
- The research aimed to assess if early-life OXT administration could accelerate feeding and swallowing maturation, offering insights for conditions like PWS.
- A key objective was to adapt and validate the videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) protocol for use in younger rats.
Main Methods:
- An adapted videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) protocol was developed for juvenile (postnatal day 21-35) and peripubertal (postnatal day 36-42) rats.
- Custom JawTrack™ software was employed to objectively characterize feeding and swallowing maturation, with refined oral contrast formulations and optimized fluoroscopy settings.
- Body weight and key developmental milestones, including crawling, walking, and self-feeding, were monitored alongside feeding behavior analysis.
Main Results:
- Oxytocin (OXT) administration influenced specific feeding behaviors, such as lick rate and inter-lick interval, in juvenile rats.
- However, OXT did not significantly accelerate the achievement of developmental milestones in the studied rat population.
- The observed effects of OXT on feeding behaviors were not sustained into the peripubertal stage.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully adapted the VFSS protocol for evaluating feeding and swallowing in younger rats, providing a valuable tool for future research.
- While OXT showed some modulation of juvenile feeding behaviors, it did not broadly enhance developmental maturation.
- Future research should build upon the established methodology to further explore the therapeutic applications of OXT for dysphagia associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Background:
Adding oregano essential oil (OEO) as a supplement has great potential to improve fish production efficiency.
Aim:
Current research was executed to assess the prospective impact of OEO incorporation into tilapia diets on physiological response, growth performance, oxidative capacity, and immune status when subjected to Aeromonas hydrophila infection.
Methods:
Three different experimental diets were prepared by augmenting a 30% protein basal diet with OEO at concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1 g/kg feed. Each of the three treatment groups consisted of sixty fish (three copies of twenty fish each) and was randomly assigned out of 180 healthy Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) fingerlings. For 8 weeks, fish in nine separate glass tanks were given individualized diets containing 3% biomass. The survival rate (SR%) of the fish was measured after 15 days of observation following intraperitoneal injection of pathogenic A. hydrophila.
Results:
Physiological performance, antioxidant indicators, immunological function (phagocytic activity, lysozyme, and phagocytic index), and growth metrics were all enhanced in fish that were given OEO supplements. Antibiotics may be a new contender: oregano oil, when consumed orally, reduces pathogenic oxidative stress. The villus height, breadth, and depth were enhanced by oregano oil, which also improved intestinal morphology. On the other hand, animals infected with A. hydrophila exhibited signs of deterioration in the spleen, hepatopancreas, and intestinal tissues.
Conclusion:
For optimal development, immunity, performance in physiological tests, and gut health, Nile tilapia fingerlings are fed half a gram per kilogram of OEO.
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