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G F Barbato

Publications and source records attributed to G F Barbato.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Sex-linked and maternal effects on growth in chickens.

A study was designed to estimate the contribution of various types of genetic variation in growth of chickens using populations that widely differed in growth rate. Populations tested included a commercially developed sire line (CM), a fertility-selected, broiler-type line (FS), and the pureline Jersey Giant (JG). A full set of F1 crosses and purelines of both sexes was used to estimate the following genetic effects: heterosis due to the autosomes, heterosis due to the sex chromosomes, average line effects, maternal effects, and additive sex linkage. Average line effects were highly significant beyond hatching for both body weight and shank length, with rank-order CM greater than FS, which was greater than JG. Significant differences between the sexes within a line were observed for CM and JG line effects, confirming the existence of sex-linked factors. There was no average heterosis or sex-by-heterosis interaction for growth-related traits, but specific heterosis was frequently significant. Maternal effects were sporadic and generally of little importance beyond hatching. Additive sex linkage, however, was highly significant and influenced body weight beyond hatching. These data indicate that the primary advantages in increasing growth via cross-breeding in chickens comes from average line effects and additive sex linkage. Heterosis and maternal effects can influence performance, especially in specific crosses, but these effects appear to be sporadic and of less importance than sex linkage.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Chicken hypotensive peptide: purification and characterization.

We have purified and isolated a novel, hypotensive peptide from avian ventricular tissue. Ventricular homogenates have been shown to exhibit potent hypotensive activity in the avian and mammalian species, with little natriuresis or diuresis. Using avian mean arterial pressure (MAP) as a bioassay, we were able to purify a peptide which decreased MAP 30% in adult, female chickens. Amino acid analysis indicated that it contained 20 amino acids (including two cysteine residues), and was not similar to the amino acid composition of mammalian atrial natriuretic factors, or other known hypotensive peptides.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1989

The effects of dietary sucrose on opiate receptor binding in genetically obese (ob/ob) and lean mice.

Weanling genetically obese (C57BL/6J-ob/ob) and lean (+/?) mice were given access to either a standard laboratory diet or the standard diet plus a 32% sucrose solution. At the end of a 4-week period, animals were sacrificed and opiate receptor binding determined. Both obese and lean mice given access to sucrose consumed approximately 30% more calories per day than animals given access to the standard diet alone. Obese animals consumed significantly more calories from the sucrose solution than the lean animals. Genetically obese animals weighed more than lean littermates throughout the course of the study. Differences in body weight due to sucrose supplementation in both genetically obese and lean mice were significant by day 10 and increased in magnitude until the termination of the study. Whereas there were no significant differences in specific opiate receptor binding (pmol 3H-naloxone bound/mg brain protein) between the genetically obese and lean animals, opiate receptor binding was significantly greater in genetically obese animals given access to sucrose than in obese animals which had access only to the standard diet. These data demonstrate that the sucrose-induced model of obesity functions in mice and that giving ob/ob mice access to sucrose in addition to a standard laboratory diet results in increased opiate receptor binding.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Selection for body weight at eight weeks of age. 17. Overfeeding.

Female chicks from lines selected for high and low body weight and their reciprocal F1 crosses were overfed via force feeding to crop capacity from hatching to 21 days of age. Low-weight line chicks could be overfed at an earlier age to a greater extent than those from the high-weight line and F1 progeny. The degree of overfeeding appeared to be associated with the relative size of certain gastrointestinal components. Differences among lines in their capacity to be overfed were reflected in concomitant changes in body weight and carcass fat. Relationships among feed consumption and growth are discussed within the context of selection for body weight and heterosis under various feeding regimens.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Selection for body weight at eight weeks of age. 16. Restriction of feed and water.

The consumption of feed or water of chickens selected for high body weight was restricted to that of a line selected for low body weight. In addition, reciprocal crosses of the two lines underwent feed or water restriction to that of the low body weight parental line. Restriction of water depressed feed intake to a greater degree in the high line than in the crosses but depressed body weight by approximately 10% in all groups through 28 days of age. Feed restriction caused a greater depression in body weight in the high line than in the crosses at 28 days of age. The effect of feed or water restriction on the feed:water ratio was dependent upon mating type, suggesting the absence of a simple relationship among growth, body composition, and feed efficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Genetic analyses of gustation in the fowl.

Preferences towards quinine sulfate (QS) and dextrose (DEX) were tested in purelines and reciprocal crosses of two lines of chickens that had undergone 22 generations of selection for high and low juvenile body weight. Parental line-F1 comparisons provided evidence for non-additive genetic variation for hedonic sensitivity towards QS and DEX, though in opposite directions. Additive genetic variation appeared to influence the preference ratios for both stimuli at super-threshold concentrations. These results are discussed with regard to their evolutionary implications.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Repeatabilities of feed and water consumption of growing chickens.

Daily feed and water consumptions were obtained within 7-day periods for dwarf and normal males from lines selected for high and low juvenile body weight from 21 to 90 days of age. No significant differences were found among populations for the repeatabilities, and three measurements per week were sufficient to obtain an accurate estimate of feed and water consumption of growing chickens.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A fragment of prosaposin (SGP-1) from rooster sperm promotes sperm-egg binding and improves fertility in chickens.

A protein isolated from the supernatant of cryopreserved rooster sperm was found to increase the capability of cryopreserved rooster sperm to bind in vitro to the perivitelline membrane of a chicken egg and substantially raise fertility after artificial insemination (AI). That activity was partially purified and termed universal primary sperm-egg binding protein (UPSEBP). Insufficient protein remained from 6 x 10(11) sperm, despite retention of bioactivity, to allow sequencing. We deduced that the protein may be related to prosaposin (also termed SGP-1, for sulfated glycoprotein-1), and we used published amino acid sequences of prosaposin as a guide for synthesis of peptides. Certain peptides were found to increase in vitro sperm-egg binding and increase fertility of frozen-thawed or fresh rooster sperm, in a manner similar to semipurified UPSEBP. Active epitopes were in a 60 amino acid sequence, reflecting the intervening sequence between saposins A and B, plus short extensions into saposins A and B. Highest activity was found when this synthetic peptide was oxidized to form a disulfide bond between terminal cysteines. Antibody against a synthetic peptide consisting of 58 of these 60 amino acids bound to a 7-9 kilodalton protein in UPSEBP. Collectively, the data support the conclusion that UPSEBP is a fragment of prosaposin. Because prosaposin is in semen in humans and animals, these observations have broad implications for possible cause and therapy of one type of subfertility.

Animals↗