An-Najah Alumni Discusses Thesis in Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Abdul Hafeez Dalab, An-Najah Graduate from the Faculty of Agriculture Veterinary Medicine, and Research Assistant at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, recently discussed his PhD thesis in veterinary medicine, which is the first of its kind to be discussed in the Arabian Gulf Region.
The thesis titled: " Molecular and Morphological Investigations of the Effect of Thermal Manipulation During Embryogenesis on Thermo-Tolerance and Muscle Structure in Broilers" indicates that TM1 during embryogenesis improve hatchability, muscle growth, body performance and thermotolerance in broiler and may be applied by commercial breeders to produce more enhanced broiler chickens.
The thesis aimed to determine the optimum timing of thermal manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis that may result in improvement of body performance and myofiber development (fiber diameter and thickness of perimysium) of pectoral and thigh muscles by a comparative morphometrical and ultrastructural investigation at post-hatch day 35 of age.
Moreover, it aimed to investigate any possible effect of thermal manipulation on genetic polymorphisms of Hsp70 during embryogenesis in broiler chicken and mRNA levels of expression of Heat stress genes (Hsp70, CK, LDH,), Myogenic regulation factors (MyF-5, IGF-1, GH, MyoD, Myogenin, and Myostatin) and Myogenic upstream activation factors (Wnt, Shh, Pax-7, Atrogein-1 and PCNA) in muscle during embryogenesis and during subsequent thermal challenge (TC) at post- hatch day 35.
Dr. Dalab joined the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at An-Najah University in 2004 and graduated in 2009 and was in high academic standing.
