Research News, Initiatives & External aided projects

Veterinary Anatomy & Histology

Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Research Facilities
Research facilities include rotary microtomes, a high resolution electronic camera suitable for taking photomicrographs and a well equipped PG research lab with facilities for routine and special histological and histochemical staining techniques.

Research news and Events

Comparative study was made on the gross as well as the histomorphology of ruminant stomach of goat (Capra hircus) which is still helpful for the species identification, especially in the field of meat inspection. It has enlightened the comparative digestive physiology of goat
Another extensive study was conducted on the comparative anatomy of corpus leutum and placenta of goat. This study anatomically proved that goat is a corpus leutum dependent animal throughout its pregnancy and the goat placenta has less endocrine function compared to other domestic animals. This correlative gross anatomical, histomorphologicaI and histochemical studies have great value in the basic science particularly in the field of Anatomy, endocrine and parturition physiology as well as in the field of clinical obstretics and species identification
Studies on the postnatal development of bursa of Fabricius (lymphoid organ) of duck. This study especially immuno-histochemistry revealed the development of immune system in duck. It can provide very important information in immunizing programmes of ducks in our state.
Studies on the prematerial development of brain and spinal cord in goat revealed the gross as well as histomorphological changes of nervous tissue in goat which help to interpret the developmental anomalies.
Regression equations were derived from significantly correlated brain and body parameters to predict brain parameters during gestation from known body parameters of the goat foetus.
Histomorphological studies were conducted on the skin of Large White Yorkshire pigs and found that the skin of male animals were thicker than that of females. Maximum thickness of the skin was noticed in the snout and minimum in the ventral abdomen. Grouping of hairs were evident and the sweat glands were of apocrine type except in the snout and dorsal nasal regions. Maximum subcutaneous fat thickness was noticed in the neck dorsal region.
A study was conducted on the postnatal development of oviduct in Japanese quail from day-old to 60 days of age. The isthmus region was relatively longer, which contributed to the thicker shell membranes of the quail eggs.
In Kuttanad ducks, a well developed vaginal sphincter and abundant diffuse lymphatic tissue in the oviduct reflects increased immunocompetancy during egg production in the species as an adaptationto its habitat.
Prenatal development of major lymphocentres and lymphatics in goats revealed that all lymph nodes presented aggregation of lymphocytes in the cortex by the 5th month, thereby attaining a structural similarity to that in the adults towards the term except for the absence of macrophages and germinal centres.

External Aided Projects

SI.No.	Name of the Project	Funding Agency
1	“Histomorphological comparison of skin in different breeds of rabbits” P I :- Dr K M Lucy Technology Transfer:- Present study confirms the occurrence of breed-specific characteristics in the skin of rabbits. High hydroxyproline and collagen contents and comparatively thick dermis in the skin of crossbred, Angora and Grey Giant are beneficial for endo-epidermal growth to promote healing which is a beneficial factor in farmer’s point of view.	AHD -2.04 lakh
2	“Morphohistological differentiation of skin & hair in wild and domestic small ruminants” PI :- Dr S Maya Technology Transfer:- In DNA barcoding, where Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit (COI) sequence of mitochondria was used as the barcode marker ideal for species identification of Cervus unicolor, Rusa timorensis and Capra hircus suggesting that unrecognizable wildlife specimens can be identified efficiently using DNA sequence-based analysis. Comparative morpho-histology of muzzle in deer and goat, size of elevations was smaller in goat than in Sambar deer with narrow intermediate spaces and resembled pattern in spotted deer.	AHD -2.2 lakh
3	“Studies on anomalies of embryos causing low hatchability in chicken” PI :- Dr S Maya Technology Transfer: - Nucleotide sequence variation of ovomucoid gene observed in unhatched chick embryos with structural anomalies eventhough, a TAT deletion between nt 575 and nt 579 as noted in ovomucoid gene in ducks of low-hatchability group was not detected.	KSCSTE 6.699 lakh
4	“Anatomical causes of infertility in crossbred dairy cows: structural and molecular studies on reproductive system” PI :- Dr K M Lucy On-going project	AHD- 10.8 lakhs

Research News, Initiatives & External aided projects

Major Thrust Area
The department has done pioneering work on the Physiology of Asian elephants and different aspects of avian -physiology (Digestive system, Stress physiology, Reproduction, Avian Nutrition, etc). Besides, elaborate studies on stress, antistress agents, immune responses, climatic effects and growth were conducted in both domestic animals and birds. Department had completed 7 external aided projects (ICAR, NATP and Govt. of Kerala), 31 research projects (Masters) and 8 doctorate projects. (PhD)

Research Projects (in the last 10 years)

· Assessment of mineral status during pregnancy in crossbred cattle.(2000)

· Stress related physiological changes in cattle brought for slaughter (2002).

· Evaluation of certain metabolic and haematological parameters in crossbred calves fed with rumen undegradable Soya bean meal ( 2002)

· Haematological studies of Alpine crossbred (Capra hircus) from birth to puberty (2003).

· Effect of induced stress and antistress agents on the physiological parameters in broiler chicken (2003).

· Effect of blue green alga (Spirulina platensis) on haematological, biochemical and Fertility Parameters of egg type male chicken. (2003).

· Metabolic and endocrine profile of crossbred pre-ruminant calf under extended colostrum feeding.(2003)

· Hypoglycemic efficacy of Scopariadulcus and Costus species in albino rats (2005)

· Effect of season and anti stress agents on physiological and biochemical parameters of broiler chicken under stress. (2007)

· Dietary supplementation of spirulina platensis on growth and immune response of broiler chicken.( 2008)

· Cell mediated immune response in cockerels under temperature stress. (2008)

· Physio-biochemical evaluation of broiler chicken fed with processed fish wastes (2008)

· Anti oxidant potential of Malphigiaglabra (acerola) berries in rats.(2009)

· Study of expressionof Prolificacy genescontrolling folliculardevelopment inMalabari goats (2013)

· Isolation and characterization of major fertility-associated proteins from seminal fluid of Vechur and crossbred bulls. (2013)

· Adaptability profile of male cattle and buffalo calves to varying temperature humidity index (THI) in Kerala (2014)

· Proteome analysis ofgoat ovarian folliclesduring differentdevelopmentalstages.(2014)

· Immuno-histochemicallocalization ofTransforming growthfactorβ (TGF-β)superfamilymembers indeveloping folliclesof Malabari goats.(2015)

· Influence of anti-oxidants in alleviating pregnancy stress in transition dairy cattle(2015)

· Isolation, culture and characterizationof caprine mammary gland stem/progenitor cells (2016)

· Molecular characterization of HIF-1α gene of indigenous and crossbred cattle of Kerala (2016)

Externally Aided Projects

· Studies on the effect of feeding antibiotics on physiological norms of poultry (Govt. of Kerala) 1962-1964

· Studies on the chemical composition and nutritive value of duck eggs. (ICAR) 1962-1966.

· Studies on some physiological aspects of Indian elephants (ICAR) 1981-1983.

· Utilization of elephant energy with enhanced system efficiency (ICAR) 1991-1994.

· Enzyme – Kinetic studies on Indian elephants (ICAR) 1991-1994.

· Physiological evaluation of stress on meat quality induced by growth promoters and its amelioration in broiler (NATP) chicken. 2002-2004.
PI: Dr. P. T. Philomina.

· Immune response of the chicken to environmental stress (ICAR) 2004-2007. PI: Dr.V. Ramnath

Research News and Events

· The data gathered from the research works provided the scientific ground in defining and discriminating the growth promoting actions of certain feed additives, vitamin C and Alpha tocopherol in broiler chicken. Physiological Evaluation of dietary supplementation of steroid hormones in broiler chicken was also analyzed.

· An environmental/ climatic chamber for birds, probably, the first of its kind in the Country, was designed, fabricated and put in operation.

· Antistress and adaptogenic agents like, Probiotics, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Antibiotics and herbal extracts of Terminalia chebula ( Indian gallnut) , gooseberry ( Emblica officianlis), Ashwgantha (Withania somnifera) were found to be quite effective in reducing stress and promoting immune status, growth and production in both layer and broiler chicken.

· Metabolic and endocrine profiles of crossbred pre-ruminants (calves) under extended colostrum feeding revealed the economical feasibility of this managemental practice.

· Established the hypoglycemic efficacy of Scopariadulcus and Costus species in albino rats that can be a basis of ethanopharmocological significance of these abstracts in veterinary medicine.

· Processed fish waste can be used for complete replacement of animal protein in broiler chicken feed.

· Dietary supplementation of selenium and iodine in crossbred female calves improved the growth and thyroid function.

· Designed portable methane gas detecting system to evaluate methanogenesis in Ruminants.

· Established Physio-Biochemical parameters of indigenous cattle and goat of Kerala.

· Polymorphism and expression studies of prolificacy controlling genes in native breeds of goats has been studied.

· Screened for anti-cancer and nematocidal properties of crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringensis.

· Physiological, biochemical and endocrine response in all the seasons in cross bred female calves and the effect of Vitamin E to ameliorate the stress is being currently studied

· Isolation of BSP protein (Major Fertility Associated proteins) from seminal plasma of crossbred and Vechur bulls by gelatin agarose affinity chromatography and characterization of the same by 2-dimensional electrophoresis is being currently studied.

· Studied the immune status of cockerels exposed to cold and heat stress supplemented with ‘Brahma rasayana’ at the rate of 2g/Kg BWt.

· Studied the anti oxidant potential of Malphigia glabra (Acerola) in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

· Evaluated the anti stress and growth promoting effect of ‘Aswagandha’ in broiler chicken.

· Assessed the transportation stress in broiler chicken and compared the potential of Malphigia glabra (Acerola) and Vitamin C in alleviating the transportation stress.

· Studied the efficacy of Ascorbic acid and chromium to alleviate oxidative stress in peripartum goats.

· Studied the effect of feeding Onion (Allium cepaaggregatum) and Garlic (Allium sativum) on lipid profile in Japanese quail

Articles (last 2 years)

Effect of antioxidant supplementation on haematological parameters of transition dairy cattle; Ambily T.R, Beena V*, Karthiayini K, Uma R, Ramnath V and Sunanda C(2017) International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology, Vol. 6, No 5, 2017, 2785 – 2791

Evaluation of persistence and distribution of intra-dermally administered PKH26 labelled goat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in cutaneous wound healing model; M. D. Pratheesh . Nitin E. Gade . Amar Nath . Pawan K. Dubey . T. B. Sivanarayanan . D. N. Madhu . T. R. Sreekumar . Amarpal . G. Saikumar . G. Taru Sharma (2017); Cytotechnology DOI 10.1007/s10616-017-0097-0

Comparative study on characterization and wound healing potential of goat (Capra hircus) mesenchymal stem cells derived from fetal origin amniotic fluid and adult bone marrow; M.D. Pratheesh, Pawan K. Dubey, Nitin E. Gade, Amar Nath, T.B. Sivanarayanan, D.N. Madhu, Anjali Somal, Indu Baiju, T.R. Sreekumar, V.L. Gleeja, Irfan A. Bhatt, Vikash Chandra, Amarpal, Bhaskar Sharma, G. Saikumar, G. Taru Sharma (2017) Research in Veterinary Science, Volume 112, 2017.

The effect of dietary organic selenium and iodine supplemntations on glutathione peroxidase activity in cross bred female calves. A.S. Siddaramesh and V. Beena (2016). Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences; 4,1-10

Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Research news

1. Corrosion casts of various visceral organs of domestic animals were prepared and exhibited.

2. Comparative studies of pectoral and pelvic bones of different domestic birds were studied.

3. Pre-hatch development of Lower digestive tract in turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) was studied.

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Research News, Initiatives & External aided projects

Veterinary Anatomy & Histology

Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Veterinary & Animal Sciences

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