Background Although several cell culture systems have been developed to investigate the function of the mam-mary gland in dairy livestock,they have potential limitations,such as the loss of alveolar structure or genet...Background Although several cell culture systems have been developed to investigate the function of the mam-mary gland in dairy livestock,they have potential limitations,such as the loss of alveolar structure or genetic and phe-notypic differences from their native counterparts.Overcoming these challenges is crucial for lactation research.Development of protocols to establish lactating organoid of livestock represents a promising goal for the future.In this study,we developed a protocol to establish a culture system for mammary organoids in dairy goats to model the mammary gland development and lactation process.Results The organoids cultured within an extracellular matrix gel maintained a bilayer structure that closely resem-bled the native architecture of mammary tissue.The expansion of mammary organoids was significantly promoted by growth factors containing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2 whereas the proliferative index of the organoids was significantly inhibited by the treatment with WNT inhibitors.Upon stimulation with a lactogenic medium containing prolactin,the mammary organoids exhibited efficient lactation,characterized by the accumu-lation of lipid droplets in the lumen space.The lactation could be sustained for more than 3 weeks.Importantly,the expression patterns of genes related to fatty acid synthesis and milk proteins in lactating organoids closely mirrored those observed in mammary tissues.These observations were confirmed by data from proteomic analysis that the bulk of milk proteins was produced in the lactating organoids.Conclusion This study is the first to establish a mammary organoid culture system modeling the mammary gland development and lactation process in ruminants.The efficient induction of lactation in ruminant mammary organoids holds promises for advancing the field of cell-based milk bio-manufacture in the food industry.展开更多
Arginine （ARG） exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen （N） metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth...Arginine （ARG） exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen （N） metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth. Unfortunately, unprotected ARG will be degraded in the rumen and its price is high, thus feeding rumen-protected ARG seems to be uneconomical. Alternatively, N-carbamoyl glutamate （NCG） is structural analogue of N-acetyl glutamate, cofactor of cabamoyl phosphate synthetasel, is lower in rumen degradation compared to ARG. Additionally, rumen epithelial and duodenal cells have potentially utilized the NCG for ureagenesis. Supplementation of NCG to high yielding dairy cows increased plasma concentration of ARG and nitric oxide, decreased the plasma ammonia N and improved lactation performance and N utilization. Supplementation of NCG enhanced pregnancy rates in rats, improved litter size and fetal survival rate, thereby improved the reproductive performance of sows. Oral NCG supplementation increases plasma ARG and somatotropin levels, and increased growth rate and muscle protein synthesis in nursing piglets. The NCG is potential a relatively cheaper source of feed additive to offer vital compensation over oral administration of ARG, resulting in improved ruminant animal health and production. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of AfiG biosynthesis by NCG and their significance in growth, reproduction, milk production and N utilization in ruminant animals.展开更多
Gut homeostasis is of importance to host health and imbalance of the gut usually leads to disorders or diseases for both human and animal.Postbiotics have been applied in manipulating of gut health,and utilization of ...Gut homeostasis is of importance to host health and imbalance of the gut usually leads to disorders or diseases for both human and animal.Postbiotics have been applied in manipulating of gut health,and utilization of postbiotics threads new lights into the host health.Compared with the application of probiotics,the characteristics such as stability and safety of postbiotics make it a potential alternative to probiotics.Studies have reported the beneficial effects of components derived from postbiotics,mainly through the mechanisms including inhibition of pathogens,strengthen gut barrier,and/or regulation of immunity of the host.In this review,we summarized the characteristics of postbiotics,main compounds of postbiotics,potential mechanisms in gut health,and their application in animal production.展开更多
Understanding biological mechanisms is fundamental for improving animal production and health to meet the growing demand for high-quality p rotein.As an emerging biotechnology,single-cell transcriptomics has been grad...Understanding biological mechanisms is fundamental for improving animal production and health to meet the growing demand for high-quality p rotein.As an emerging biotechnology,single-cell transcriptomics has been gradually applied in diverse aspects of animal research,offering an effective method to study the gene expression of highthroughput single cells of different tissues/organs in animals.In an unprecedented manner,researchers have identified cell type s/subtypes and their marker genes,infe rred cellular fate trajectories,and revealed cell-cell in teractions in animals using single-cell transcriptomics.In this paper,we introduce the development of single-cell technology and review the processes,advancements,and applications of single-cell transcriptomics in animal research.We summarize recent efforts using single-cell transcriptomics to obtain a more profound understanding of animal nutrition and healthe reproductive performance,genetics,and disease models in different livestock species.Moreover,the practical experience accumulated based on a large number of cases is highlighted to provide a reference for determining key factors(e.g.,sample size,cell clustering,and cell type annotation)in single-cell transcriptomics analysis.We also discuss the limitations and outlook of single-cell transcriptomics in the current stage.This paper describes the comprehensive progress of single-cell transcriptomics in animal research,offering novel insights and sustainable advancements in agricultural productivity and animal health.展开更多
Colonization and development of the gut microbiome are crucial for the growth and health of calves.In this review,we summarized the colonization,beneficial nutrition,immune function of gut microbiota,function of the g...Colonization and development of the gut microbiome are crucial for the growth and health of calves.In this review,we summarized the colonization,beneficial nutrition,immune function of gut microbiota,function of the gut barrier,and the evolution of core microbiota in the gut of calves of different ages.Homeostasis of gut microbiome is beneficial for nutritional and immune system development of calves.Disruption of the gut microbiome leads to digestive diseases in calves,such as diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.Microbiota already exists in the gut of calf fetuses,and the colonization of microbiota continues to change dynamically under the influence of various factors,which include probiotics,diet,age,and genotype.Colonization depends on the interaction between the gut microbiota and the immune system of calves.The abundance and diversity of these commensal microbiota stabilize and play a critical role in the health of calves.展开更多
Background: Corn stover(CS) is an abundant source of feed for livestock in China. However, it is low in nutritional value that we have been seeking technologies to improve. Previous studies show that non-fiber carbohy...Background: Corn stover(CS) is an abundant source of feed for livestock in China. However, it is low in nutritional value that we have been seeking technologies to improve. Previous studies show that non-fiber carbohydrate(NFC)might limit the utilization of a CS diet by lactating dairy cows. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the lactation performance and rumen fermentation characteristics in lactating cows consuming CS with two contents of NFC compared to an alfalfa hay-containing diet. Twelve Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary treatments:(1) low-NFC diet(NFC = 35.6%, L-NFC),(2) high-NFC diet(NFC = 40.1%,H-NFC), and(3) alfalfa hay diet(NFC = 38.9%, AH).Results: Intake of DM was lower for cows fed H-NFC compared to L-NFC and AH, while the milk yield was higher in AH than in H-NFC and L-NFC(P < 0.01). The feed efficiency(milk yield/DM intake, 1.15 vs. 1.08, P < 0.01) were greater for cows fed H-NFC than L-NFC. The contents of milk protein and lactose were not different among the groups(P > 0.11), but milk fat content was higher for cows fed H-NFC and L-NFC compared to AH(P < 0.01). The rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration and the concentrations of urea nitrogen in blood and milk were lower for cows fed H-NFC and AH compared to L-NFC(P < 0.05). The concentrations of rumen propionate and total volatile fatty acids were different among groups(P < 0.05) with higher concentration for cows fed AH compared to H-NFC and L-NFC, and acetate concentration tended to be different among groups(P = 0.06).Conclusions: From the results obtained in this study, it was inferred that the increased NFC content in a diet containing corn stover can improve the feed efficiency and benefit the nitrogen conversion.展开更多
Background:The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of dietary tributyrin on intestinal mucosa development,oxidative stress,mitochondrial function and AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.Methods:Seven...Background:The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of dietary tributyrin on intestinal mucosa development,oxidative stress,mitochondrial function and AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy-two pigs were divided into two treatments and received either a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 750 mg/kg tributyrin.Each treatment has six replicates of six pigs.After 14 days,6 pigs from each treatment were selected and the jejunal samples were collected.Results:Results showed that supplemental tributyrin increased(P<0.05)villus height and villus height:crypt depth of weaned pigs.Pigs fed tributyrin had greater(P<0.05)RNA/DNA and protein/DNA ratios than pigs on the control group.The mRNA levels of sodium glucose transport protein-1 and glucose transporter-2 in the jejunum were upregulated(P<0.05)in pigs fed the tributyrin diet.Dietary tributyrin supplementation lowered(P<0.05)the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)content in jejunum,enhanced(P<0.05)the mitochondrial function,as demonstrated by decreased(P<0.05)reactive oxygen species level and increased(P<0.05)mitochondrial membrane potential.Furthermore,tributyrin increased(P<0.05)mitochondrial DNA content and the mRNA abundance of genes related to mitochondrial functions,including peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator-1α,mitochondrial transcription factor A,nuclear respiratory factor-1 in the jejunum.Supplementation with tributyrin elevated(P<0.05)the phosphorylation level of AMPK and inhibited(P<0.05)the phosphorylation level of mTOR in jejunum compared with the control group.Conclusions:These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with tributyrin promotes intestinal mucosa growth,extenuates oxidative stress,improves mitochondrial function and modulates the AMPK-mTOR signal pathway of weaned pigs.展开更多
Background: It is wel known that peptides play a vital role in the nutrition and health of dairy cows. Bovine oligopeptide transporter 1(bP epT 1) is involved in the peptide transport process in the gastrointestinal t...Background: It is wel known that peptides play a vital role in the nutrition and health of dairy cows. Bovine oligopeptide transporter 1(bP epT 1) is involved in the peptide transport process in the gastrointestinal tracts of dairy cows. However,little information is known in the characteristics of bP epT 1. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize bP epT 1 functional y using a mammalian cel expression system. The uptake of radiolabeled dipeptide glycyl-sarcosine([3 H]-Gly-Sar)into the bP epT 1-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cel s was measured at various pH and substrate concentrations and with or without 15 other smal peptides that contained Met or Lys.Results: Western blot results showed that the abundance of bP epT 1 protein in the jejunum and ileum are the highest in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows. The uptake of [3 H]-Gly-Sar by b Pep T1-Chinese hamster ovary cells was dependent on time, p H, and substrate concentration, with a low Kmvalue of 0.94 ± 0.06 mmol/L and a maximum velocity of 20.80 ± 1.74 nmol/(mg protein · 5 min). Most of the di-and tripeptides were the substrates of b Pep T1,based on substrate-competitive studies. However, bP epT 1 has a higher affinity to the peptides with shorter chains, greater hydrophobicity, and negative or neutral charges.Conclusions: These results demonstrated for the first time the functional characteristics of bP epT 1, and they provide a new insight and better understanding into its vital role in absorbing a wide range of peptides from the digestive tract of dairy cows.展开更多
Background:Meat quality is largely driven by fat deposition,which is regulated by several genes and signaling pathways.The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-regulated transcriptional coactivator 3(CRTC3)is a coacti...Background:Meat quality is largely driven by fat deposition,which is regulated by several genes and signaling pathways.The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-regulated transcriptional coactivator 3(CRTC3)is a coactivator of cAMP response element binding protein(CREB)that mediates the function of protein kinase A(PKA)signaling pathway and is involved in various biological processes including lipid and energy metabolism.However,the effects of CRTC3 on the metabolome and transcriptome of porcine subcutaneous adipocytes have not been studied yet.Here,we tested whether porcine CRTC3 expression would be related to fat deposition in Heigai pigs(a local fatty breed in China)and Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire(DLY,a lean breed)pigs in vivo.The effects of adenovirus-induced CRTC3 overexpression on the metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles of subcutaneous adipocytes were also determined in vitro by performing mass spectrometry-based metabolomics combined with RNA sequencing(RNA-seq).Results:Porcine CRTC3 expression is associated with fat deposition in vivo.In addition,CRTC3 overexpression increased lipid accumulation and the expression of mature adipocyte-related genes in cultured porcine subcutaneous adipocytes.According to the metabolomic analysis,CRTC3 overexpression induced significant changes in adipocyte lipid,amino acid and nucleotide metabolites in vitro.The RNA-seq analysis suggested that CRTC3 overexpression alters the expression of genes and pathways involved in adipogenesis,fatty acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism in vitro.Conclusions:We identified significant alterations in the metabolite composition and the expression of genes and pathways involved in lipid metabolism in CRTC3-overexpressing adipocytes.Our results suggest that CRTC3 might play an important regulatory role in lipid metabolism and thus affects lipid accumulation in porcine subcutaneous adipocytes.展开更多
The effects of yeast culture and directfed microbes on the growth performance of weaner lambs was examined. Thirty-two Hu lambs with inihtial weight of 22.20 （ ±0.75 ） kg were randomly assigned to one of four t...The effects of yeast culture and directfed microbes on the growth performance of weaner lambs was examined. Thirty-two Hu lambs with inihtial weight of 22.20 （ ±0.75 ） kg were randomly assigned to one of four treatments： basal diet without additive （control）, added with yeast culture at 15 g/head/d （YEC）, YEC plus Bacillus licheniformis preparation at 2. 3 g/head/d （YBL） or plus Clostridium butyricum preparation at 2. 3 g/head/d （YCB）. The feeding trial lasted 75 d with 15 d for adaptation. Feed intake was not influenced （P 〉0. 05） by treatment. Average daily gain of growing lambs was 102, 114, 90, and 89 g/d in control, YEC, YBL, and YCB, respectively, with no significant difference （P 〉 0.05） among treatments, but the carcass weight of YEC lambs was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than that of other treatments. Total volatile fatty acids and acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen were unaffected, although the butyric acid concentration was higher （ P 〈 0.05 ） in the ru men fluid of YCB lambs compared with YEC lambs and slightly higher （ P 〉 0. 05 ） than in controls and YBL lambs. Solid-associated fungi population relative to total rumen bacteria 16S ribosomal DNA was significantly lower （ P 〈 0. 05 ） in YBL lambs （3.55） compared with those on YCB （23.12）. There was little difference in blood glucose and plasma urea-N concentrations among the treatments. Blood concentrations of creatinine and globulin were significantly higher （P 〈0.05） in YBL lambs, compared with the control and YEC-fed animals, and no difference with YCB lambs. Total protein and triglycerides in blood were significantly （P 〈 0.05） higher in YBL lambs, compared with controls. These serum biochemical parameters suggest that treatment increased amounts of absorbable protein but not efficiency of protein utilization and in YBL and YCB lambs. The results indicated that yeast culture improve growth performance, while little advantage could be expected from combining yeast culture with either the B. licheniformis preparation or C. butyricum preparation. More research using lower doses of B. licheniformis prepara- tion or C. butyricum preparation in combination with yeast culture is warranted.展开更多
Background： Alfalfa hay and corn stover are different type of forages which can significantly impact a cow＇s lactation performance, but the underlying metabolic mechanism has been poorly studied. We used biomarker a...Background： Alfalfa hay and corn stover are different type of forages which can significantly impact a cow＇s lactation performance, but the underlying metabolic mechanism has been poorly studied. We used biomarker and pathway analyses to characterize related biomarkers and pathways based on urine metabolomics data from different forage treatments. Urine was col ected from 16 multiparous Holstein dairy cows fed alfalfa hay（AH, high-quality forage, n = 8） and corn stover（CS, low-quality forage, n = 8） respectively. Gas chromatography–time of flight/mass spectrometry（GC-TOF/MS） was performed to identify metabolites in urine and the metaboanalyst online platform was used to do biomarker and pathway analysis.Results： Hippuric acid（HUA） and N-methyl-glutamic（NML-Glu） indicated the most significant difference between the two diets, when statistical y validated by biomarker analysis. HUA was also validated by standard compound quantitative method and showed significant higher concentration in CS group than AH group（2.8282 vs. 0.0005 mg/mL; P 〈 0.01）.The significant negative correlation between milk yield and HUA（R^2= 0.459; P 〈 0.01） and significant positive correlation between milk yield and NML-Glu（R^2= 0.652; P 〈 0.01） were characterized. The pathway analysis revealed that these different metabolites were involved in 17 pathways including 7 influential pathways（pathway impact value 〉 0）： Tyr metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, galactose metabolism,Phe, Tyr and Try biosynthesis, purine metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. Based on the metabolome view map,the Phe, Tyr and Try biosynthesis pathway exhibited the highest impact value（0.50）, and the Holm-Bonferroni multiple testing-based analysis revealed the most significant difference in the Tyr metabolism pathway（Holm P = 0.048）.Conclusions： The identified HUA and NML-Glu may serve as potential biomarkers for discriminating CS and AH diets and could be used as candidates for milk yield related mechanistic investigations. Integrated network pathways associated with related metabolites provide a helpful perspective for discovering the effectiveness of forage quality in lactation performance and provides novel insights into developing strategies for better utilization of CS and other low-quality forage in China.展开更多
Background Intramuscular fat(IMF)content is a critical indicator of pork quality,and abnormal IMF is also relevant to human disease as well as aging.Although N6-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)RNA modification was recently fou...Background Intramuscular fat(IMF)content is a critical indicator of pork quality,and abnormal IMF is also relevant to human disease as well as aging.Although N6-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)RNA modification was recently found to regulate adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular fat,however,the underlying molecular mechanisms was still unclear.Results In this work,we collected 20 longissimus dorsi muscle samples with high(average 3.95%)or low IMF content(average 1.22%)from a unique heterogenous swine population for m^(6)A sequencing(m^(6)A-seq).We discovered 70genes show both differential RNA expression and m^(6)A modification from high and low IMF group,including ADIPOQ and SFRP1,two hub genes inferred through gene co-expression analysis.Particularly,we observed ADIPOQ,which contains three m^(6)A modification sites within 3’untranslated and protein coding region,could promote porcine intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation in an m^(6)A-dependent manner.Furthermore,we found the YT521-B homology domain family protein 1(YTHDF1)could target and promote ADIPOQ mRNA translation.Conclusions Our study provided a comprehensive profiling of m^(6)A methylation in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle and characterized the involvement of m^(6)A epigenetic modification in the regulation of ADIPOQ mRNA on IMF deposition through an m^(6)A-YTHDF1-dependent manner.展开更多
Background:Mammary health is important for transition dairy cows and has been well recognized to exert decisive effects on animal welfare.However,the factors influencing mammary health are still unclear.Differential s...Background:Mammary health is important for transition dairy cows and has been well recognized to exert decisive effects on animal welfare.However,the factors influencing mammary health are still unclear.Differential somatic cell count(DSCC)could reflect the mastitis risk since it is the percentage of neutrophils plus lymphocytes in total somatic cells and could be reflective of mammary health of dairy cows.This work aimed to investigate the assessment and prognosis of the health of transition cows based on blood neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs).Results:Eighty-four transition Holstein dairy cows were selected.The serum was sampled in all the animals at week 1 pre-and postpartum,and milk was sampled at week 1 postpartum.Based on the DSCC in milk at week 1,cows with lower(7.4%±4.07%,n=15)and higher(83.3%±1.21%,n=15)DSCCs were selected.High DSCC cows had higher levels of red blood cell counts(P<0.05),hemoglobin(P=0.07),and hematocrit(P=0.05),higher concentrations of serum oxidative variables[reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),malondialdehyde(P<0.05),protein carbonyl(P<0.05),and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(P=0.07)],higher levels of serum and milk NETs(P<0.05)and blood-milk barrier indicators,including serumβ-casein(P=0.05)and milk immunoglobulin G2(P=0.09),than those of low DSCC cows.In addition,lower concentrations of serum nutrient metabolites(cholesterol and albumin)(P<0.05)and a lower level of serum deoxyribonuclease I(P=0.09)were observed in high DSCC cows than in low DSCC cows.Among the assessments performed using levels of the three prepartum serum parameters(NETs,deoxyribonuclease I andβ-casein),the area under the curve(0.973)of NETs was the highest.In addition,the sensitivity(1.00)and specificity(0.93)were observed for the discrimination of these cows using NETs levels with a critical value of 32.2 ng/mL(P<0.05).Conclusions:The formation of NETs in blood in transition dairy cows may damage the integrity of the blood-milk barrier and thereby increase the risk for mastitis in postpartum cows.展开更多
The gene encoding the VP28 envelope protein of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into the Escherichia coli strain BL21.After induction,the recombinant VP28 (rVP...The gene encoding the VP28 envelope protein of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into the Escherichia coli strain BL21.After induction,the recombinant VP28 (rVP28) protein was purified and then used to immunize Balb/c mice for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production.It was observed by immuno-electron microscopy the MAbs specific to rVP28 could recognize native VP28 target epitopes of WSSV and dot-blot analysis was used to detect natural WSSV infection.Competitive PCR showed that the viral level was approximately 104 copies/mg tissue in the dilution of gill homogenate of WSSV-infected crayfish at the detection limit of dot-blot assay.Our results suggest that dot-blot analysis with anti-rVP28 MAb could rapidly and sensitively detect WSSV at the early stages of WSSV infection.展开更多
Background:In rodents,research has revealed a role of liver X receptors(LXR) in controlling lipid homeostasis and regulating the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA).Recent data suggest that LXRB is the pred...Background:In rodents,research has revealed a role of liver X receptors(LXR) in controlling lipid homeostasis and regulating the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA).Recent data suggest that LXRB is the predominant LXR subtype in ruminant mammary cells,but its role in lipid metabolism is unknown.It was hypothesized that LXRB plays a role in lipid homeostasis via altering the synthesis of PUFA in the ruminant mammary gland.We used overexpression and knockdown of LXRB in goat primary mammary epithelial cells(GMEC) to evaluate abundance of lipogenic enzymes,fatty acid profiles,content of lipid stores and activity of the stearoyl-Co A desaturase(SCD1) promoter.Results:Overexpression of LXRB markedly upregulated the protein abundance of LXRB while incubation with si RNA targeting LXRB markedly decreased abundance of LXRB protein.Overexpression of LXRB plus T0901317(T09,a ligand for LXR) dramatically upregulated SCD1 and elongation of very long chain fatty acid-like fatty acid elongases 5–7(ELOVL 5–7),which are related to PUFA synthesis.Compared with the control,cells overexpressing LXRB and stimulated with T09 had greater concentrations of C16:0,16:1,18:1n7,18:1n9 and C18:2 as well as desaturation and elongation indices of C16:0.Furthermore,LXRB-overexpressing cells incubated with T09 had greater levels of triacylglycerol and cholesterol.Knockdown of LXRB in cells incubated with T09 led to downregulation of genes encoding elongases and desaturases.Knockdown of LXRB attenuated the increase in triacylglycerol and cholesterol that was induced by T09.In cells treated with dimethylsulfoxide,knockdown of LXRB increased the concentration of C16:0 at the expense of C18:0,while a significant decrease in C18:2 was observed in cells incubated with both si LXRB and T09.The abundance of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 precursor(p SREBP1) and its mature fragment(n SREBP1) was upregulated by T09,but not LXRB overexpression.In the cells cultured with T09,knockdown of LXRB downregulated the abundance for p SREBP1 and n SREBP1.Luciferase reporter assays revealed that the activities of wild type SCD1 promoter or fragment with SREBP1 response element(SRE) mutation were decreased markedly when LXRB was knocked down.Activity of the SCD1 promoter that was induced by T09 was blocked when the SRE mutation was introduced.Conclusion:The current study provides evidence of a physiological link between the LXRB and SREBP1 in the ruminant mammary cell.An important role was revealed for the LXRB-SREBP1 network in the synthesis of PUFA via the regulation of genes encoding elongases and desaturases.Thus,targeting this network might elicit broad effects on lipid homeostasis in ruminant mammary gland.展开更多
Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered ...Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered stomach is crucial for the health and well-being of young ruminants,especially the immune development.However,the dynamics of immune development are poorly understood.Results We investigated the early gene expression patterns across the four-chambered stomach in Hu sheep,at 5,10,15,and 25 days of age.We found that forestomachs share similar gene expression patterns,all four stomachs underwent widespread activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses from d 5 to 25,whereas the metabolic function were significantly downregulated with age.We constructed a cell landscape of the four-chambered stomach using single-cell sequencing.Integrating transcriptomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that the immune-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in T cells,monocytes and macrophages,as well as the defense-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in endothelial cells in the four-stomach tissues.Moreover,the non-immune cells such as epithelial cells play key roles in immune maturation.Cell communication analysis predicted that in addition to immune cells,non-immune cells recruit immune cells through macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling in the forestomachs.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the immune and defense responses of four stomachs are quickly developing with age in lamb's early life.We also identified the gene expression patterns and functional cells associated with immune development.Additionally,we identified some key receptors and signaling involved in immune regulation.These results help to understand the early life immune development at single-cell resolution,which has implications to develop nutritional manipulation and health management strategies based on specific targets including key receptors and signaling pathways.展开更多
Background Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome(FLHS),a fatty liver disease in laying hens,poses a grave threat to the layer industry,stemming from its ability to trigger an alarming plummet in egg production and usher in...Background Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome(FLHS),a fatty liver disease in laying hens,poses a grave threat to the layer industry,stemming from its ability to trigger an alarming plummet in egg production and usher in acute mortality among laying hens.Increasing evidence suggests that the onset and progression of fatty liver was closely related to mitochondria dysfunction.Sodium butyrate was demonstrated to modulate hepatic lipid metabolism,alle-viate oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro and mice models.Nevertheless,there is limited existing research on coated sodium butyrate(CSB)to prevent FLHS in laying hens,and whether and how CSB exerts the anti-FLHS effect still needs to be explored.In this experiment,the FLHS model was induced by administering a high-energy low-protein(HELP)diet in laying hens.The objective was to investigate the effects of CSB on alleviating FLHS with a focus on the role of CSB in modulating mitochondrial function.Methods A total of 288 healthy 28-week-old Huafeng laying hens were arbitrarily allocated into 4 groups with 6 replicates each,namely,the CON group(normal diet),HELP group(HELP diet),CH500 group(500 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet)and CH750 group(750 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet).The duration of the trial encompassed a period of 10 weeks.Results The result revealed that CSB ameliorated the HELP-induced FLHS by improving hepatic steatosis and patho-logical damage,reducing the gene levels of fatty acid synthesis,and promoting the mRNA levels of key enzymes of fatty acid catabolism.CSB reduced oxidative stress induced by the HELP diet,upregulated the activity of GSH-Px and SOD,and decreased the content of MDA and ROS.CSB also mitigated the HELP diet-induced inflammatory response by blocking TNF-α,IL-1β,and F4/80.In addition,dietary CSB supplementation attenuated HELP-induced activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response(UPRmt),mitochondrial damage,and decline of ATPase activity.HELP diet decreased the autophagosome formation,and downregulated LC3B but upregulated p62 protein expression,which CSB administration reversed.CSB reduced HELP-induced apoptosis,as indicated by decreases in the Bax/Bcl-2,Caspase-9,Caspase-3,and Cyt C expression levels.Conclusions Dietary CSB could ameliorate HELP diet-induced hepatic dysfunction via modulating mitochondrial dynamics,autophagy,and apoptosis in laying hens.Consequently,CSB,as a feed additive,exhibited the capacity to prevent FLHS by modulating autophagy and lipid metabolism.展开更多
Pork is one of the main meats consumed by people,and its nutritional value is closely related to human health.The lipid deposition and composition of pork not only affect the sensory quality but also determine the nut...Pork is one of the main meats consumed by people,and its nutritional value is closely related to human health.The lipid deposition and composition of pork not only affect the sensory quality but also determine the nutritional quality of pork.The lipids in pork include triglycerides(TAG)and a small amount of cholesterol and phospholipids.TAG are the main lipids in skeletal muscle fat,which is divided into intermuscular fat and intramuscular fat(IMF).In addition to TAG,IMF also contains phospholipids,which are important factors affecting pork flavour.There are three types of fatty acids in TAG:saturated fatty acids(SFA),monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA),and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA).PUFA,such as n-3 PUFA,have a beneficial effect on health,including the regulation of whole-body energy metabolism and protection against cardiovascular diseases.Therefore,regulating lipid deposition,especially the fatty acid composition,in pork is important for improving the nutritional quality for hu-man health.Notably,several strategies,such as breeding,environmental control,and the nutritional regulation of lipid composition and deposition in pork,have been studied.More recently,faecal trans-plantation,molecular design breeding and non-coding RNA have been studied and proven useful for regulating lipid deposition in pigs.In this review,we mainly summarized and discussed the research findings to date on the lipid composition and regulation mechanisms of fatty acid deposition and provide new insights into efficient means of improving the lipid composition and lipo-nutritional quality of pork.展开更多
Background: Residual feed intake(RFI) is an inheritable measure of feed efficiency that is independent on level of production. However, physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying divergent RFI are not fully elu...Background: Residual feed intake(RFI) is an inheritable measure of feed efficiency that is independent on level of production. However, physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying divergent RFI are not fully elucidated.This study was conducted to investigate dietary nitrogen(N) partitioning and microbial protein synthesis in lactating dairy cows divergent in phenotypic RFI.Results: Thirty Holstein dairy cows(milk yield = 35.3 ± 4.71 kg/d;milk protein yield = 1.18 ± 0.13 kg/d;mean ± standard deviation) were selected for the experiment to derive RFI. After the RFI measurement period of 50 d, the 10 lowest RFI cows and 8 highest RFI cows were selected. The low RFI cows had lower dry matter intake(DMI, P < 0.05) than the high RFI cows, but they produced similar energy-corrected milk. The ratios of milk to DMI(1.41 vs. 1.24, P < 0.01) and energy-corrected milk to DMI(1.48 vs. 1.36, P < 0.01) were greater in low RFI cows than those in the high RFI cows. The low RFI cows had lower milk urea nitrogen than that in the high RFI cows(P = 0.05). Apparent digestibility of nutrients did not differ between two groups(P > 0.10). Compared with high RFI animals, the low RFI cows had a lower retention of N(5.72 vs. 51.4 g/d, P < 0.05) and a higher partition of feed N to milk N(29.7% vs. 26.5%, P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results suggest that differences in N partition, synthesis of microbial protein, and utilization of metabolizable protein could be part of the mechanisms associated with variance in the RFI.展开更多
Background Rises in global warming and extreme weather occurrence make the risk of heat stress(HS)induced by high ambient temperatures more likely in high-yielding dairy cows,resulting in low milk quality and yield.In...Background Rises in global warming and extreme weather occurrence make the risk of heat stress(HS)induced by high ambient temperatures more likely in high-yielding dairy cows,resulting in low milk quality and yield.In ani-mals,oxygen is involved in many physiological and metabolic processes,but the effects of HS on oxygen metabolism remain unclear.Thus,the current study aimed to investigate how oxygen metabolism plays a role in health status of dairy cows by measuring the milk yield,milk composition,and blood biochemical variables of cows under different levels of HS:none(No-HS),mild(Mild-HS),and moderate HS(Mod-HS).Results The HS significantly increased rectal temperature(Ptreat<0.01)and respiration rate(Ptreat<0.01).Under Mod-HS,greater Na+(P<0.05)and lower total CO_(2),and pH(P<0.05)were observed relative to those under No-HS and Mild-HS.Oxygen concentrations in both coccygeal artery and mammary vein(Ptreat<0.01)were lower under Mod-HS than under No-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of heat shock protein 90(HSP90)(P<0.05)increased during Mod-HS compared with those in cows under No-HS.Malondialdehyde increased during Mod-HS,and glu-tathione peroxidase(P<0.01)increased during Mild-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(P<0.01),heme oxygenase-1(P<0.01),and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(P<0.01)were greater in cows under Mod-HS than those under No-HS.Red blood cell count(P<0.01)and hemoglobin concentration(P<0.01)were lower in the coccygeal vein of dairy cows under Mild-and Mod-HS than those of cows under No-HS.Conclusions Exposure to HS negatively impacts the health status and lactation performance of dairy cows by limit-ing oxygen metabolism and transportation.However,the specific mechanism by which HS affects mammary function in cows remains unclear and requires further exploration.展开更多
基金Innovation 2030-Biological Breeding-Major Projects(2022ZD04014)Key R&D Program of Zhejiang Province(2022C04017).
文摘Background Although several cell culture systems have been developed to investigate the function of the mam-mary gland in dairy livestock,they have potential limitations,such as the loss of alveolar structure or genetic and phe-notypic differences from their native counterparts.Overcoming these challenges is crucial for lactation research.Development of protocols to establish lactating organoid of livestock represents a promising goal for the future.In this study,we developed a protocol to establish a culture system for mammary organoids in dairy goats to model the mammary gland development and lactation process.Results The organoids cultured within an extracellular matrix gel maintained a bilayer structure that closely resem-bled the native architecture of mammary tissue.The expansion of mammary organoids was significantly promoted by growth factors containing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2 whereas the proliferative index of the organoids was significantly inhibited by the treatment with WNT inhibitors.Upon stimulation with a lactogenic medium containing prolactin,the mammary organoids exhibited efficient lactation,characterized by the accumu-lation of lipid droplets in the lumen space.The lactation could be sustained for more than 3 weeks.Importantly,the expression patterns of genes related to fatty acid synthesis and milk proteins in lactating organoids closely mirrored those observed in mammary tissues.These observations were confirmed by data from proteomic analysis that the bulk of milk proteins was produced in the lactating organoids.Conclusion This study is the first to establish a mammary organoid culture system modeling the mammary gland development and lactation process in ruminants.The efficient induction of lactation in ruminant mammary organoids holds promises for advancing the field of cell-based milk bio-manufacture in the food industry.
基金supported by China Agriculture Research System(No.CARS-37)
文摘Arginine （ARG） exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen （N） metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth. Unfortunately, unprotected ARG will be degraded in the rumen and its price is high, thus feeding rumen-protected ARG seems to be uneconomical. Alternatively, N-carbamoyl glutamate （NCG） is structural analogue of N-acetyl glutamate, cofactor of cabamoyl phosphate synthetasel, is lower in rumen degradation compared to ARG. Additionally, rumen epithelial and duodenal cells have potentially utilized the NCG for ureagenesis. Supplementation of NCG to high yielding dairy cows increased plasma concentration of ARG and nitric oxide, decreased the plasma ammonia N and improved lactation performance and N utilization. Supplementation of NCG enhanced pregnancy rates in rats, improved litter size and fetal survival rate, thereby improved the reproductive performance of sows. Oral NCG supplementation increases plasma ARG and somatotropin levels, and increased growth rate and muscle protein synthesis in nursing piglets. The NCG is potential a relatively cheaper source of feed additive to offer vital compensation over oral administration of ARG, resulting in improved ruminant animal health and production. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of AfiG biosynthesis by NCG and their significance in growth, reproduction, milk production and N utilization in ruminant animals.
基金supported by grants from the Key R&D Projects ofZhejiang Province (2022C04034)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Z19C170001)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672430)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFD0500502)the Funds of Ten Thousand People Plan
文摘Gut homeostasis is of importance to host health and imbalance of the gut usually leads to disorders or diseases for both human and animal.Postbiotics have been applied in manipulating of gut health,and utilization of postbiotics threads new lights into the host health.Compared with the application of probiotics,the characteristics such as stability and safety of postbiotics make it a potential alternative to probiotics.Studies have reported the beneficial effects of components derived from postbiotics,mainly through the mechanisms including inhibition of pathogens,strengthen gut barrier,and/or regulation of immunity of the host.In this review,we summarized the characteristics of postbiotics,main compounds of postbiotics,potential mechanisms in gut health,and their application in animal production.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province Outstanding Youth Fund Project(LR23C170001)。
文摘Understanding biological mechanisms is fundamental for improving animal production and health to meet the growing demand for high-quality p rotein.As an emerging biotechnology,single-cell transcriptomics has been gradually applied in diverse aspects of animal research,offering an effective method to study the gene expression of highthroughput single cells of different tissues/organs in animals.In an unprecedented manner,researchers have identified cell type s/subtypes and their marker genes,infe rred cellular fate trajectories,and revealed cell-cell in teractions in animals using single-cell transcriptomics.In this paper,we introduce the development of single-cell technology and review the processes,advancements,and applications of single-cell transcriptomics in animal research.We summarize recent efforts using single-cell transcriptomics to obtain a more profound understanding of animal nutrition and healthe reproductive performance,genetics,and disease models in different livestock species.Moreover,the practical experience accumulated based on a large number of cases is highlighted to provide a reference for determining key factors(e.g.,sample size,cell clustering,and cell type annotation)in single-cell transcriptomics analysis.We also discuss the limitations and outlook of single-cell transcriptomics in the current stage.This paper describes the comprehensive progress of single-cell transcriptomics in animal research,offering novel insights and sustainable advancements in agricultural productivity and animal health.
基金funded by the grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFD1301004)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31601962)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2662019QD021)Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition of Zhejiang University(KLMAN202101 and KLMAN202205)。
文摘Colonization and development of the gut microbiome are crucial for the growth and health of calves.In this review,we summarized the colonization,beneficial nutrition,immune function of gut microbiota,function of the gut barrier,and the evolution of core microbiota in the gut of calves of different ages.Homeostasis of gut microbiome is beneficial for nutritional and immune system development of calves.Disruption of the gut microbiome leads to digestive diseases in calves,such as diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.Microbiota already exists in the gut of calf fetuses,and the colonization of microbiota continues to change dynamically under the influence of various factors,which include probiotics,diet,age,and genotype.Colonization depends on the interaction between the gut microbiota and the immune system of calves.The abundance and diversity of these commensal microbiota stabilize and play a critical role in the health of calves.
基金financially supported by the China Agriculture(Dairy)Research System(CARS-36)
文摘Background: Corn stover(CS) is an abundant source of feed for livestock in China. However, it is low in nutritional value that we have been seeking technologies to improve. Previous studies show that non-fiber carbohydrate(NFC)might limit the utilization of a CS diet by lactating dairy cows. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the lactation performance and rumen fermentation characteristics in lactating cows consuming CS with two contents of NFC compared to an alfalfa hay-containing diet. Twelve Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary treatments:(1) low-NFC diet(NFC = 35.6%, L-NFC),(2) high-NFC diet(NFC = 40.1%,H-NFC), and(3) alfalfa hay diet(NFC = 38.9%, AH).Results: Intake of DM was lower for cows fed H-NFC compared to L-NFC and AH, while the milk yield was higher in AH than in H-NFC and L-NFC(P < 0.01). The feed efficiency(milk yield/DM intake, 1.15 vs. 1.08, P < 0.01) were greater for cows fed H-NFC than L-NFC. The contents of milk protein and lactose were not different among the groups(P > 0.11), but milk fat content was higher for cows fed H-NFC and L-NFC compared to AH(P < 0.01). The rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration and the concentrations of urea nitrogen in blood and milk were lower for cows fed H-NFC and AH compared to L-NFC(P < 0.05). The concentrations of rumen propionate and total volatile fatty acids were different among groups(P < 0.05) with higher concentration for cows fed AH compared to H-NFC and L-NFC, and acetate concentration tended to be different among groups(P = 0.06).Conclusions: From the results obtained in this study, it was inferred that the increased NFC content in a diet containing corn stover can improve the feed efficiency and benefit the nitrogen conversion.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872387)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Sodium butyrate promotes restoration of intestinal barrier induced by oxidative stress in piglets through AMPK mediated mitophagy)and Zhejiang Provincal Key R&D Project(2019C02051).
文摘Background:The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of dietary tributyrin on intestinal mucosa development,oxidative stress,mitochondrial function and AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy-two pigs were divided into two treatments and received either a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 750 mg/kg tributyrin.Each treatment has six replicates of six pigs.After 14 days,6 pigs from each treatment were selected and the jejunal samples were collected.Results:Results showed that supplemental tributyrin increased(P<0.05)villus height and villus height:crypt depth of weaned pigs.Pigs fed tributyrin had greater(P<0.05)RNA/DNA and protein/DNA ratios than pigs on the control group.The mRNA levels of sodium glucose transport protein-1 and glucose transporter-2 in the jejunum were upregulated(P<0.05)in pigs fed the tributyrin diet.Dietary tributyrin supplementation lowered(P<0.05)the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)content in jejunum,enhanced(P<0.05)the mitochondrial function,as demonstrated by decreased(P<0.05)reactive oxygen species level and increased(P<0.05)mitochondrial membrane potential.Furthermore,tributyrin increased(P<0.05)mitochondrial DNA content and the mRNA abundance of genes related to mitochondrial functions,including peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator-1α,mitochondrial transcription factor A,nuclear respiratory factor-1 in the jejunum.Supplementation with tributyrin elevated(P<0.05)the phosphorylation level of AMPK and inhibited(P<0.05)the phosphorylation level of mTOR in jejunum compared with the control group.Conclusions:These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with tributyrin promotes intestinal mucosa growth,extenuates oxidative stress,improves mitochondrial function and modulates the AMPK-mTOR signal pathway of weaned pigs.
基金supported by the grants from the National Key Basic Research Program of China Ministry of Science and Technology(Grant No.2011CB100801)Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists of Zhejiang Province(R16C170002)
文摘Background: It is wel known that peptides play a vital role in the nutrition and health of dairy cows. Bovine oligopeptide transporter 1(bP epT 1) is involved in the peptide transport process in the gastrointestinal tracts of dairy cows. However,little information is known in the characteristics of bP epT 1. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize bP epT 1 functional y using a mammalian cel expression system. The uptake of radiolabeled dipeptide glycyl-sarcosine([3 H]-Gly-Sar)into the bP epT 1-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cel s was measured at various pH and substrate concentrations and with or without 15 other smal peptides that contained Met or Lys.Results: Western blot results showed that the abundance of bP epT 1 protein in the jejunum and ileum are the highest in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows. The uptake of [3 H]-Gly-Sar by b Pep T1-Chinese hamster ovary cells was dependent on time, p H, and substrate concentration, with a low Kmvalue of 0.94 ± 0.06 mmol/L and a maximum velocity of 20.80 ± 1.74 nmol/(mg protein · 5 min). Most of the di-and tripeptides were the substrates of b Pep T1,based on substrate-competitive studies. However, bP epT 1 has a higher affinity to the peptides with shorter chains, greater hydrophobicity, and negative or neutral charges.Conclusions: These results demonstrated for the first time the functional characteristics of bP epT 1, and they provide a new insight and better understanding into its vital role in absorbing a wide range of peptides from the digestive tract of dairy cows.
基金The project was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31722053,31672427)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LR17C170001)the“Hundred Talents Program”funding from Zhejiang University awarded to TZS.
文摘Background:Meat quality is largely driven by fat deposition,which is regulated by several genes and signaling pathways.The cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-regulated transcriptional coactivator 3(CRTC3)is a coactivator of cAMP response element binding protein(CREB)that mediates the function of protein kinase A(PKA)signaling pathway and is involved in various biological processes including lipid and energy metabolism.However,the effects of CRTC3 on the metabolome and transcriptome of porcine subcutaneous adipocytes have not been studied yet.Here,we tested whether porcine CRTC3 expression would be related to fat deposition in Heigai pigs(a local fatty breed in China)and Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire(DLY,a lean breed)pigs in vivo.The effects of adenovirus-induced CRTC3 overexpression on the metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles of subcutaneous adipocytes were also determined in vitro by performing mass spectrometry-based metabolomics combined with RNA sequencing(RNA-seq).Results:Porcine CRTC3 expression is associated with fat deposition in vivo.In addition,CRTC3 overexpression increased lipid accumulation and the expression of mature adipocyte-related genes in cultured porcine subcutaneous adipocytes.According to the metabolomic analysis,CRTC3 overexpression induced significant changes in adipocyte lipid,amino acid and nucleotide metabolites in vitro.The RNA-seq analysis suggested that CRTC3 overexpression alters the expression of genes and pathways involved in adipogenesis,fatty acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism in vitro.Conclusions:We identified significant alterations in the metabolite composition and the expression of genes and pathways involved in lipid metabolism in CRTC3-overexpressing adipocytes.Our results suggest that CRTC3 might play an important regulatory role in lipid metabolism and thus affects lipid accumulation in porcine subcutaneous adipocytes.
基金supported by the earmarked fund from China Agriculture Research System,Ministry of Agriculture,China(CARS-372)
文摘The effects of yeast culture and directfed microbes on the growth performance of weaner lambs was examined. Thirty-two Hu lambs with inihtial weight of 22.20 （ ±0.75 ） kg were randomly assigned to one of four treatments： basal diet without additive （control）, added with yeast culture at 15 g/head/d （YEC）, YEC plus Bacillus licheniformis preparation at 2. 3 g/head/d （YBL） or plus Clostridium butyricum preparation at 2. 3 g/head/d （YCB）. The feeding trial lasted 75 d with 15 d for adaptation. Feed intake was not influenced （P 〉0. 05） by treatment. Average daily gain of growing lambs was 102, 114, 90, and 89 g/d in control, YEC, YBL, and YCB, respectively, with no significant difference （P 〉 0.05） among treatments, but the carcass weight of YEC lambs was significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than that of other treatments. Total volatile fatty acids and acetate to propionate ratio in the rumen were unaffected, although the butyric acid concentration was higher （ P 〈 0.05 ） in the ru men fluid of YCB lambs compared with YEC lambs and slightly higher （ P 〉 0. 05 ） than in controls and YBL lambs. Solid-associated fungi population relative to total rumen bacteria 16S ribosomal DNA was significantly lower （ P 〈 0. 05 ） in YBL lambs （3.55） compared with those on YCB （23.12）. There was little difference in blood glucose and plasma urea-N concentrations among the treatments. Blood concentrations of creatinine and globulin were significantly higher （P 〈0.05） in YBL lambs, compared with the control and YEC-fed animals, and no difference with YCB lambs. Total protein and triglycerides in blood were significantly （P 〈 0.05） higher in YBL lambs, compared with controls. These serum biochemical parameters suggest that treatment increased amounts of absorbable protein but not efficiency of protein utilization and in YBL and YCB lambs. The results indicated that yeast culture improve growth performance, while little advantage could be expected from combining yeast culture with either the B. licheniformis preparation or C. butyricum preparation. More research using lower doses of B. licheniformis prepara- tion or C. butyricum preparation in combination with yeast culture is warranted.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31472121)from the China Agriculture Research System(No.CARS-37)The funding body has not participated in or interfered with the research
文摘Background： Alfalfa hay and corn stover are different type of forages which can significantly impact a cow＇s lactation performance, but the underlying metabolic mechanism has been poorly studied. We used biomarker and pathway analyses to characterize related biomarkers and pathways based on urine metabolomics data from different forage treatments. Urine was col ected from 16 multiparous Holstein dairy cows fed alfalfa hay（AH, high-quality forage, n = 8） and corn stover（CS, low-quality forage, n = 8） respectively. Gas chromatography–time of flight/mass spectrometry（GC-TOF/MS） was performed to identify metabolites in urine and the metaboanalyst online platform was used to do biomarker and pathway analysis.Results： Hippuric acid（HUA） and N-methyl-glutamic（NML-Glu） indicated the most significant difference between the two diets, when statistical y validated by biomarker analysis. HUA was also validated by standard compound quantitative method and showed significant higher concentration in CS group than AH group（2.8282 vs. 0.0005 mg/mL; P 〈 0.01）.The significant negative correlation between milk yield and HUA（R^2= 0.459; P 〈 0.01） and significant positive correlation between milk yield and NML-Glu（R^2= 0.652; P 〈 0.01） were characterized. The pathway analysis revealed that these different metabolites were involved in 17 pathways including 7 influential pathways（pathway impact value 〉 0）： Tyr metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, galactose metabolism,Phe, Tyr and Try biosynthesis, purine metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. Based on the metabolome view map,the Phe, Tyr and Try biosynthesis pathway exhibited the highest impact value（0.50）, and the Holm-Bonferroni multiple testing-based analysis revealed the most significant difference in the Tyr metabolism pathway（Holm P = 0.048）.Conclusions： The identified HUA and NML-Glu may serve as potential biomarkers for discriminating CS and AH diets and could be used as candidates for milk yield related mechanistic investigations. Integrated network pathways associated with related metabolites provide a helpful perspective for discovering the effectiveness of forage quality in lactation performance and provides novel insights into developing strategies for better utilization of CS and other low-quality forage in China.
基金supported by funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.U21A20249)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022 M712794)。
文摘Background Intramuscular fat(IMF)content is a critical indicator of pork quality,and abnormal IMF is also relevant to human disease as well as aging.Although N6-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)RNA modification was recently found to regulate adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular fat,however,the underlying molecular mechanisms was still unclear.Results In this work,we collected 20 longissimus dorsi muscle samples with high(average 3.95%)or low IMF content(average 1.22%)from a unique heterogenous swine population for m^(6)A sequencing(m^(6)A-seq).We discovered 70genes show both differential RNA expression and m^(6)A modification from high and low IMF group,including ADIPOQ and SFRP1,two hub genes inferred through gene co-expression analysis.Particularly,we observed ADIPOQ,which contains three m^(6)A modification sites within 3’untranslated and protein coding region,could promote porcine intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation in an m^(6)A-dependent manner.Furthermore,we found the YT521-B homology domain family protein 1(YTHDF1)could target and promote ADIPOQ mRNA translation.Conclusions Our study provided a comprehensive profiling of m^(6)A methylation in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle and characterized the involvement of m^(6)A epigenetic modification in the regulation of ADIPOQ mRNA on IMF deposition through an m^(6)A-YTHDF1-dependent manner.
基金financially supported by grants from the China-USA Intergovernmental Collaborative Project in S&T Innovation under the National Key R&D Program (No.2018YFE0111700,Beijing)。
文摘Background:Mammary health is important for transition dairy cows and has been well recognized to exert decisive effects on animal welfare.However,the factors influencing mammary health are still unclear.Differential somatic cell count(DSCC)could reflect the mastitis risk since it is the percentage of neutrophils plus lymphocytes in total somatic cells and could be reflective of mammary health of dairy cows.This work aimed to investigate the assessment and prognosis of the health of transition cows based on blood neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs).Results:Eighty-four transition Holstein dairy cows were selected.The serum was sampled in all the animals at week 1 pre-and postpartum,and milk was sampled at week 1 postpartum.Based on the DSCC in milk at week 1,cows with lower(7.4%±4.07%,n=15)and higher(83.3%±1.21%,n=15)DSCCs were selected.High DSCC cows had higher levels of red blood cell counts(P<0.05),hemoglobin(P=0.07),and hematocrit(P=0.05),higher concentrations of serum oxidative variables[reactive oxygen species(P<0.05),malondialdehyde(P<0.05),protein carbonyl(P<0.05),and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(P=0.07)],higher levels of serum and milk NETs(P<0.05)and blood-milk barrier indicators,including serumβ-casein(P=0.05)and milk immunoglobulin G2(P=0.09),than those of low DSCC cows.In addition,lower concentrations of serum nutrient metabolites(cholesterol and albumin)(P<0.05)and a lower level of serum deoxyribonuclease I(P=0.09)were observed in high DSCC cows than in low DSCC cows.Among the assessments performed using levels of the three prepartum serum parameters(NETs,deoxyribonuclease I andβ-casein),the area under the curve(0.973)of NETs was the highest.In addition,the sensitivity(1.00)and specificity(0.93)were observed for the discrimination of these cows using NETs levels with a critical value of 32.2 ng/mL(P<0.05).Conclusions:The formation of NETs in blood in transition dairy cows may damage the integrity of the blood-milk barrier and thereby increase the risk for mastitis in postpartum cows.
基金NSFC (30901116)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Y3080212)The Planned Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Province,China (2008C32034)
文摘The gene encoding the VP28 envelope protein of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into the Escherichia coli strain BL21.After induction,the recombinant VP28 (rVP28) protein was purified and then used to immunize Balb/c mice for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production.It was observed by immuno-electron microscopy the MAbs specific to rVP28 could recognize native VP28 target epitopes of WSSV and dot-blot analysis was used to detect natural WSSV infection.Competitive PCR showed that the viral level was approximately 104 copies/mg tissue in the dilution of gill homogenate of WSSV-infected crayfish at the detection limit of dot-blot assay.Our results suggest that dot-blot analysis with anti-rVP28 MAb could rapidly and sensitively detect WSSV at the early stages of WSSV infection.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31702090)Key R&D program of Zhejiang Province(2022C04017)+1 种基金Zhejiang Provincial Major Science and Technology Projects on Agricultural New Varieties Selection and Breeding(2021C02068-6)Opening fund in Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition(Zhejiang University,KLMAN202103).
文摘Background:In rodents,research has revealed a role of liver X receptors(LXR) in controlling lipid homeostasis and regulating the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA).Recent data suggest that LXRB is the predominant LXR subtype in ruminant mammary cells,but its role in lipid metabolism is unknown.It was hypothesized that LXRB plays a role in lipid homeostasis via altering the synthesis of PUFA in the ruminant mammary gland.We used overexpression and knockdown of LXRB in goat primary mammary epithelial cells(GMEC) to evaluate abundance of lipogenic enzymes,fatty acid profiles,content of lipid stores and activity of the stearoyl-Co A desaturase(SCD1) promoter.Results:Overexpression of LXRB markedly upregulated the protein abundance of LXRB while incubation with si RNA targeting LXRB markedly decreased abundance of LXRB protein.Overexpression of LXRB plus T0901317(T09,a ligand for LXR) dramatically upregulated SCD1 and elongation of very long chain fatty acid-like fatty acid elongases 5–7(ELOVL 5–7),which are related to PUFA synthesis.Compared with the control,cells overexpressing LXRB and stimulated with T09 had greater concentrations of C16:0,16:1,18:1n7,18:1n9 and C18:2 as well as desaturation and elongation indices of C16:0.Furthermore,LXRB-overexpressing cells incubated with T09 had greater levels of triacylglycerol and cholesterol.Knockdown of LXRB in cells incubated with T09 led to downregulation of genes encoding elongases and desaturases.Knockdown of LXRB attenuated the increase in triacylglycerol and cholesterol that was induced by T09.In cells treated with dimethylsulfoxide,knockdown of LXRB increased the concentration of C16:0 at the expense of C18:0,while a significant decrease in C18:2 was observed in cells incubated with both si LXRB and T09.The abundance of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 precursor(p SREBP1) and its mature fragment(n SREBP1) was upregulated by T09,but not LXRB overexpression.In the cells cultured with T09,knockdown of LXRB downregulated the abundance for p SREBP1 and n SREBP1.Luciferase reporter assays revealed that the activities of wild type SCD1 promoter or fragment with SREBP1 response element(SRE) mutation were decreased markedly when LXRB was knocked down.Activity of the SCD1 promoter that was induced by T09 was blocked when the SRE mutation was introduced.Conclusion:The current study provides evidence of a physiological link between the LXRB and SREBP1 in the ruminant mammary cell.An important role was revealed for the LXRB-SREBP1 network in the synthesis of PUFA via the regulation of genes encoding elongases and desaturases.Thus,targeting this network might elicit broad effects on lipid homeostasis in ruminant mammary gland.
基金partially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Award number:D21C170001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Award number:31973000)。
文摘Background Four-chambered stomach including the forestomachs(rumen,reticulum,and omasum)and abomasum allows ruminants convert plant fiber into high-quality animal products.The early development of this four-chambered stomach is crucial for the health and well-being of young ruminants,especially the immune development.However,the dynamics of immune development are poorly understood.Results We investigated the early gene expression patterns across the four-chambered stomach in Hu sheep,at 5,10,15,and 25 days of age.We found that forestomachs share similar gene expression patterns,all four stomachs underwent widespread activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses from d 5 to 25,whereas the metabolic function were significantly downregulated with age.We constructed a cell landscape of the four-chambered stomach using single-cell sequencing.Integrating transcriptomic and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that the immune-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in T cells,monocytes and macrophages,as well as the defense-associated module hub genes were highly expressed in endothelial cells in the four-stomach tissues.Moreover,the non-immune cells such as epithelial cells play key roles in immune maturation.Cell communication analysis predicted that in addition to immune cells,non-immune cells recruit immune cells through macrophage migration inhibitory factor signaling in the forestomachs.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the immune and defense responses of four stomachs are quickly developing with age in lamb's early life.We also identified the gene expression patterns and functional cells associated with immune development.Additionally,we identified some key receptors and signaling involved in immune regulation.These results help to understand the early life immune development at single-cell resolution,which has implications to develop nutritional manipulation and health management strategies based on specific targets including key receptors and signaling pathways.
基金This research was supported by the Twinning service plan of the Zhejiang Provincial Team Science and the Science and Technology Develpoment project of Hangzhou(202003A02).
文摘Background Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome(FLHS),a fatty liver disease in laying hens,poses a grave threat to the layer industry,stemming from its ability to trigger an alarming plummet in egg production and usher in acute mortality among laying hens.Increasing evidence suggests that the onset and progression of fatty liver was closely related to mitochondria dysfunction.Sodium butyrate was demonstrated to modulate hepatic lipid metabolism,alle-viate oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro and mice models.Nevertheless,there is limited existing research on coated sodium butyrate(CSB)to prevent FLHS in laying hens,and whether and how CSB exerts the anti-FLHS effect still needs to be explored.In this experiment,the FLHS model was induced by administering a high-energy low-protein(HELP)diet in laying hens.The objective was to investigate the effects of CSB on alleviating FLHS with a focus on the role of CSB in modulating mitochondrial function.Methods A total of 288 healthy 28-week-old Huafeng laying hens were arbitrarily allocated into 4 groups with 6 replicates each,namely,the CON group(normal diet),HELP group(HELP diet),CH500 group(500 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet)and CH750 group(750 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet).The duration of the trial encompassed a period of 10 weeks.Results The result revealed that CSB ameliorated the HELP-induced FLHS by improving hepatic steatosis and patho-logical damage,reducing the gene levels of fatty acid synthesis,and promoting the mRNA levels of key enzymes of fatty acid catabolism.CSB reduced oxidative stress induced by the HELP diet,upregulated the activity of GSH-Px and SOD,and decreased the content of MDA and ROS.CSB also mitigated the HELP diet-induced inflammatory response by blocking TNF-α,IL-1β,and F4/80.In addition,dietary CSB supplementation attenuated HELP-induced activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response(UPRmt),mitochondrial damage,and decline of ATPase activity.HELP diet decreased the autophagosome formation,and downregulated LC3B but upregulated p62 protein expression,which CSB administration reversed.CSB reduced HELP-induced apoptosis,as indicated by decreases in the Bax/Bcl-2,Caspase-9,Caspase-3,and Cyt C expression levels.Conclusions Dietary CSB could ameliorate HELP diet-induced hepatic dysfunction via modulating mitochondrial dynamics,autophagy,and apoptosis in laying hens.Consequently,CSB,as a feed additive,exhibited the capacity to prevent FLHS by modulating autophagy and lipid metabolism.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LZ22C170003)the Zhejiang Provincial Key R&D Program of China(2021C02008)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University(226-2022-00113),and the“Hundred Talents Program”funding from Zhejiang University to TZS.
文摘Pork is one of the main meats consumed by people,and its nutritional value is closely related to human health.The lipid deposition and composition of pork not only affect the sensory quality but also determine the nutritional quality of pork.The lipids in pork include triglycerides(TAG)and a small amount of cholesterol and phospholipids.TAG are the main lipids in skeletal muscle fat,which is divided into intermuscular fat and intramuscular fat(IMF).In addition to TAG,IMF also contains phospholipids,which are important factors affecting pork flavour.There are three types of fatty acids in TAG:saturated fatty acids(SFA),monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA),and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA).PUFA,such as n-3 PUFA,have a beneficial effect on health,including the regulation of whole-body energy metabolism and protection against cardiovascular diseases.Therefore,regulating lipid deposition,especially the fatty acid composition,in pork is important for improving the nutritional quality for hu-man health.Notably,several strategies,such as breeding,environmental control,and the nutritional regulation of lipid composition and deposition in pork,have been studied.More recently,faecal trans-plantation,molecular design breeding and non-coding RNA have been studied and proven useful for regulating lipid deposition in pigs.In this review,we mainly summarized and discussed the research findings to date on the lipid composition and regulation mechanisms of fatty acid deposition and provide new insights into efficient means of improving the lipid composition and lipo-nutritional quality of pork.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31872380)the China Agricultural Research System(Beijing,China No.CARS-36)
文摘Background: Residual feed intake(RFI) is an inheritable measure of feed efficiency that is independent on level of production. However, physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying divergent RFI are not fully elucidated.This study was conducted to investigate dietary nitrogen(N) partitioning and microbial protein synthesis in lactating dairy cows divergent in phenotypic RFI.Results: Thirty Holstein dairy cows(milk yield = 35.3 ± 4.71 kg/d;milk protein yield = 1.18 ± 0.13 kg/d;mean ± standard deviation) were selected for the experiment to derive RFI. After the RFI measurement period of 50 d, the 10 lowest RFI cows and 8 highest RFI cows were selected. The low RFI cows had lower dry matter intake(DMI, P < 0.05) than the high RFI cows, but they produced similar energy-corrected milk. The ratios of milk to DMI(1.41 vs. 1.24, P < 0.01) and energy-corrected milk to DMI(1.48 vs. 1.36, P < 0.01) were greater in low RFI cows than those in the high RFI cows. The low RFI cows had lower milk urea nitrogen than that in the high RFI cows(P = 0.05). Apparent digestibility of nutrients did not differ between two groups(P > 0.10). Compared with high RFI animals, the low RFI cows had a lower retention of N(5.72 vs. 51.4 g/d, P < 0.05) and a higher partition of feed N to milk N(29.7% vs. 26.5%, P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results suggest that differences in N partition, synthesis of microbial protein, and utilization of metabolizable protein could be part of the mechanisms associated with variance in the RFI.
基金the National Nature Science Foundation(Grant Number:31930101).
文摘Background Rises in global warming and extreme weather occurrence make the risk of heat stress(HS)induced by high ambient temperatures more likely in high-yielding dairy cows,resulting in low milk quality and yield.In ani-mals,oxygen is involved in many physiological and metabolic processes,but the effects of HS on oxygen metabolism remain unclear.Thus,the current study aimed to investigate how oxygen metabolism plays a role in health status of dairy cows by measuring the milk yield,milk composition,and blood biochemical variables of cows under different levels of HS:none(No-HS),mild(Mild-HS),and moderate HS(Mod-HS).Results The HS significantly increased rectal temperature(Ptreat<0.01)and respiration rate(Ptreat<0.01).Under Mod-HS,greater Na+(P<0.05)and lower total CO_(2),and pH(P<0.05)were observed relative to those under No-HS and Mild-HS.Oxygen concentrations in both coccygeal artery and mammary vein(Ptreat<0.01)were lower under Mod-HS than under No-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of heat shock protein 90(HSP90)(P<0.05)increased during Mod-HS compared with those in cows under No-HS.Malondialdehyde increased during Mod-HS,and glu-tathione peroxidase(P<0.01)increased during Mild-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(P<0.01),heme oxygenase-1(P<0.01),and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(P<0.01)were greater in cows under Mod-HS than those under No-HS.Red blood cell count(P<0.01)and hemoglobin concentration(P<0.01)were lower in the coccygeal vein of dairy cows under Mild-and Mod-HS than those of cows under No-HS.Conclusions Exposure to HS negatively impacts the health status and lactation performance of dairy cows by limit-ing oxygen metabolism and transportation.However,the specific mechanism by which HS affects mammary function in cows remains unclear and requires further exploration.
