Effects of dietary heme iron and exercise training on abdominal fat accumulation and lipid metabolism in high‐fat diet‐fed mice

Animal by‐products can be recycled and used as sources of essential nutrients. Water‐soluble heme iron (WSHI), a functional food additive for supplementing iron, is produced by processing animal blood. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of 3% WSHI and exercise training for 4 weeks on the accumulation of abdominal fat and lipid metabolism in mice fed high‐fat diet. Exercise‐trained mice had significantly less perirenal adipose tissue, whereas WSHI‐fed mice tended to have less epididymal adipose tissue. In addition, total weight of abdominal adipose tissues was significantly decreased in the Exercise + WSHI group. Dietary WSHI significantly increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of lipoprotein lipase and hormone‐sensitive lipase. WSHI‐fed mice also tended to show increased mRNA levels of adipose triglyceride lipase in their epididymal adipose tissue. Dietary WSHI also significantly decreased the mRNA levels of fatty acid oxidation‐related enzymes in the liver, but did not influence levels in the Gastrocnemius muscle. Exercise training did not influence the mRNA levels of lipid metabolism‐related enzymes in the epididymal adipose tissue, liver or the Gastrocnemius muscle. These findings suggest that the accumulation of abdominal fat can be efficiently decreased by the combination of dietary WSHI and exercise training in mice fed high‐fat diet.     

Effects of epigallocatechin gallate on lipid metabolism and its underlying molecular mechanism in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on fat metabolism and to establish the molecular mechanism of these effects in broilers. Seventy‐two 28‐day‐old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into three groups with different levels of EGCG supplementation for 4 weeks: normal control (NC) group, L‐EGCG (a low‐level supplement of EGCG, 40 mg/kg body weight daily) and H‐EGCG (a high‐level supplement of EGCG, 80 mg/kg body weight daily). After 4 weeks of oral administration, EGCG significantly reduced the level of abdominal fat deposition in broilers. The serum triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol of chickens in H‐EGCG group were also significantly decreased compared with the NC group, and the high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was notably increased at the same time. Moreover, the vital role of the liver and abdominal adipose tissue in lipid metabolism of poultry animals was examined through gene expression and enzyme activities related to fat anabolism and catabolism in these organs. Our data show that EGCG supplementation for 2 weeks significantly downregulated the expression of fatty acid synthesis and fat deposition‐related genes, and upregulated the expression of genes involved in fatty acid β‐oxidation and lipolysis genes. Simultaneously, the activities of hepatic fatty acid synthesis enzymes (fatty acid synthase and acetyl CoA carboxylase) were significantly decreased, and the activity of carnitine palmitoyl transferase‐1 was notably elevated. The results suggest that EGCG could alleviate fat deposition in broilers through inhibiting fat anabolism and stimulating lipid catabolism in broilers.     

Antibiotics promote abdominal fat accumulation in broilers

Antibiotics stimulate the growth of animals but result in drug residues and bacterial resistance. In this study, the negative effect of antibiotics on abdominal fat deposition was evaluated in broilers. The results showed that adding both chlortetracycline (50 g/1,000 kg) and tylosin (50 g/1,000 kg) significantly increased abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat percentage (p < .05), and triglyceride and cholesterol levels (p < .05) in blood. Also, both products synchronously stimulated intestinal absorption and synthesis of liver fat. The expression levels of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), diacylgycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP4) genes in abdominal fat tissue significantly increased (p < .05 or 0.01) when antibiotics were added to the feed. However, no significant difference was found in expression of the fatty acid synthesis (FAS) or acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) genes. Further in vitro study results revealed that antibiotics had no effect on fat content or the related gene expression levels in preadipocytes. In summary, the antibiotics induced fat deposition in adipose tissues by activating extracellular absorption of fatty acids from intestinal absorption and synthesis of liver fat. However, it shows no direct regulation by adipose tissue.     

玉米RNA对小鼠脂肪沉积的影响

本试验旨在探讨玉米RNA对小鼠脂肪沉积的影响。将20只28日龄C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为2组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只小鼠。对照组灌服生理盐水,试验组灌服玉米RNA(100μg/d),试验期4周。试验结束时检测小鼠的生长性能、血清生化指标、体组成、体成像、器官指数及脂肪相关基因的表达。结果显示:试验组小鼠体重和附睾脂肪组织指数显著低于对照组(P<0.05),且整体脂肪含量明显减少,表明小鼠脂肪沉积减少。血脂检测结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组血清球蛋白(GLB)含量显著增加(P<0.05),高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和总胆固醇(TC)含量极显著增加(P<0.01);脂肪相关基因检测结果显示,与对照组相比,试验组脂肪合成相关基因脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)和CCAAT增强子结合蛋白α(C/EBP-α)mRNA相对表达量极显著上调(P<0.01),过氧化物酶体增殖剂激活受体-γ(PPAR-γ)及脂肪分解基因脂肪甘油三酯脂肪酶(ATGL)和激素敏感脂酶(HSL)mRNA相对表达量显著上调(P<0.05),表明小鼠脂肪合成和脂肪分解增加。综上所述,玉米RNA能同时促进小鼠脂肪合成代谢和脂肪分解代谢,最终抑制脂肪沉积,为植物源核酸调控动物脂肪沉积影响因素的探索提供新证据。     

Capsosiphon fulvescens extracts improve obesity‐associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice

Herbal dietary supplements have attracted more and more attention owing to their relative effectiveness in obesity ‐related metabolic disorders and diseases. This study investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extracts on obesity, their associated metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with normal, HFD/Vehicle and HFD/CF (orally 300 mg/kg/day for CF). After 12 weeks, CF blocked HFD‐induced body weight, food intake, liver weight, hepatic triglyceride (TG), fat mass (weight of abdominal subcutaneous fat and epididymal adipose tissue) and biochemical parameters (total cohlesterol, glucose, TG, creatinine, high‐density lipoproteins cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) of serum. CF also had improved serum levels of adiponectin, leptin and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in HFD/CF mice. Moreover, CF ameliorated the hepatic steatosis‐reducing size of white adipose tissue. These results indicate that CF have anti‐obesity effects and are effective for reducing metabolic risk and hepatic steatosis.     

Comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes related to triglyceride metabolism between intramuscular fat and abdominal fat in broilers

ABSTRACT

1. Lipid metabolism is an indispensable process in an organism, though little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of fat deposition in different types of adipose tissues.

2. The differentially expressed genes related to triglyceride (TG) metabolism between abdominal and intramuscular fat (IMF) of Beijing-You chickens were investigated in this study.

3. TG content in abdominal fat (AF) (349.7 mg/g) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the breast and thigh (12.3 mg/g and 24.8 mg/g, respectively).

4. Using Agilent chicken gene-expression profiling in adipose tissues between AF and muscle (breast and thigh), certain representative genes related to fatty acid metabolism, lipoprotein catabolism and esterification reactions were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

5. Genes involved in fatty acid oxidation or carbohydrate utilisation were significantly up- or downregulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), including those involved with highly enriched pathways of lipid metabolism (PPAR, Wnt pathway and inositol phosphate metabolism), cell junctions (focal adhesion and regulation of actin cytoskeleton) and muscle contraction.

6. Overall, higher TG levels were observed in AF tissue than in adipose tissues of breast and thigh, which could be regulated through gene expression of pathways related to lipid metabolism (PPAR, Wnt pathway and inositol phosphate metabolism), cell junctions (focal adhesion and regulation of actin cytoskeleton) and muscle contraction. These results provide clues to understanding the molecular mechanisms of TG metabolism between abdominal and IMF.     

不同腹脂率番鸭回肠转录组差异分析

【目的】解析番鸭回肠组织中与腹脂沉积相关的主效基因。【方法】从2 000只番鸭中随机选取200只70日龄的番鸭进行屠宰,采集腹脂并称重,计算腹脂率。按腹脂率大小排序,选取腹脂率最高的5只和最低的5只番鸭的回肠组织进行转录组测序分析。利用Illumina NovaSeq 6000高通量RNA-Seq测序技术对2种腹脂率番鸭的回肠进行转录组测序,使用RSEM软件将测序得到的reads序列与Trinity拼接的参考基因组进行序列比对,筛选出差异表达基因,利用GO和KEGG数据库进行功能注释、富集分析和聚类分析,并利用皮尔森相关性分析方法分析了腹脂重和腹脂率与差异表达基因的相关性。【结果】高腹脂率和低腹脂率番鸭的回肠差异表达基因共有602个;与低腹脂率番鸭相比,高腹脂率番鸭回肠中有285个基因上调,317个基因下调。GO和KEGG富集分析显示,有5个与脂肪代谢相关的GO条目(脂质应答、类固醇激素介导的信号通路、类固醇激素应答、类固醇激素刺激的细胞应答和脂质的细胞应答)和4个KEGG通路(PPAR信号通路、初级胆汁酸的生物合成、花生四烯酸代谢和胆汁分泌),并筛选出与脂肪代谢显著相关的6个基因(P＜0.05),包括NR5A2、ACBP、ACOX2、FABP2、FABP4和FABP5,其中,ACOX2和FABP5基因与腹脂重和腹脂率呈显著正相关(P＜0.05),ACBP基因与腹脂重和腹脂率呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01)。【结论】不同腹脂率番鸭回肠转录组存在差异,发现5个GO条目和4个KEGG通路,NR5A2、ACBP、ACOX2、FABP2、FABP4和FABP5等基因与番鸭腹部脂肪沉积相关。     

Differential expression of genes implicated in liver lipid metabolism in broiler chickens differing in weight

ABSTRACT

1. Lipid parameters and expression of ACACA, APOA1, CPT1A, FASN, FOXO1, LIPG, PPARα and SIRT1 genes involved in lipid metabolism were investigated in two groups of high (HW) and low (LW) weight broilers from the same strain.

2. Blood cholesterol and liver triglyceride levels were significantly increased in HW chickens compared to LW broilers, while other parameters, i.e. blood triglyceride, blood HDL/LDL, liver cholesterol and total liver fat showed no significant changes in either group.

3. The relative expression of ACACA, APOA1 and CPT1A genes was significantly lower in the liver tissues of HW broilers than in the LW group. The mRNA levels of these three genes showed a significant negative correlation with abdominal fat deposition and live weight of broilers. However, relative expression of FASN, FOXO1, LIPG, PPARα and SIRT1 hepatic genes did not differ among broilers.

4. It was concluded that, of eight hepatic genes implicated in lipid metabolism, only the expression of three (ACACA, APOA1 and CPT1A) were significant for fat and leanness within the same strain of chicken. Since reducing body fat is a major goal in the broiler industry, these data can provide fresh insight into the molecular processes underlying the regulation of fat deposition in broilers.     

鹅脂肪甘油三酯脂肪酶和长链脂酰辅酶A合成酶1基因表达差异及其对脂肪沉积和血清脂类代谢的调控

本试验旨在研究脂肪甘油三酯脂肪酶(ATGL)和长链脂酰辅酶A合成酶1(ACSL1)基因在鹅的不同组织器官中的表达差异,并探索2个基因表达对机体脂肪沉积和血清脂类代谢的调控。选取16周龄五龙鹅30只(公母各占1/2),屠宰后用实时荧光定量PCR检测不同组织器官(肝脏、心脏、皮下脂肪、腹部脂肪、胸肌、腿肌、肌胃、腺胃、小肠、肾脏、大脑、肺、脾脏)中A TG L、A CSL1基因表达量。结果表明:1)在鹅的皮下脂肪、腹部脂肪、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、心脏、胸肌和腿肌中均检测出ATGL和ACSL1基因的表达;ATGL基因在皮下脂肪和腹部脂肪中表达量最高,其次是肝脏和脾脏,在肾脏、心脏、胸肌和腿肌中只有少量表达;ACSL1基因在皮下脂肪、腹部脂肪、肝脏、脾脏中表达量较高,在肾脏、心脏、胸肌和腿肌中有少量表达,而在肌胃、腺胃和肺中几乎不表达。2)ATGL基因表达量与腿肌肌内脂肪率、胸肌肌内脂肪率、腹部脂肪率、胸肌率和腿肌率呈显著或极显著负相关(P0.05或P0.01),与皮下脂肪率呈显著正相关(P0.05);ACSL1基因表达量与腿肌肌内脂肪率、胸肌肌内脂肪率、胸肌率呈正相关(P0.05),与腿肌率呈显著正相关(P0.05),与皮下脂肪率呈显著负相关(P0.05)。3)ATGL基因表达量与血清甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和葡萄糖含量呈显著或极显著正相关(P0.05或P0.01);ACSL1基因表达量与血清总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和葡萄糖含量呈负相关(P0.05),与甘油三酯含量呈显著负相关(P0.05)。由此可见,ATGL和ACSL1基因在鹅的不同组织器官中的表达具有明显差异性,对机体脂肪沉积和血清脂类代谢具有反向调控作用。     

Adiponectin‐impaired adipocyte differentiation negatively regulates fat deposition in chicken

Adiponectin is a protein hormone secreted exclusively by adipocytes that plays an important role in the modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. To investigate the effect of adiponectin on lipid metabolism in chicken, rosiglitazone (agonist of adiponectin) and dexamethasone (inhibitor of adiponectin) were used to treat 23‐day‐old broilers in vivo. To verify the functionality of adiponectin on fat deposition, chicken pre‐adipocytes were cultured in the medium containing 10 μg/ml adiponectin. Serum adiponectin and lipids and fat distribution were analysed. Oil Red O staining was used to determine lipid deposition in adipocytes. The expression levels of adiponectin, adiponectin receptors (AdipoR) and lipid metabolism–related genes in different tissues and pre‐adipocytes were measured using real‐time PCR, and the abundance of lipid metabolism–related proteins was measured by Western blot. Rosiglitazone increased serum adiponectin concentration and the expression levels of adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) in tissues and significantly decreased levels of serum lipids and fat deposition. Rosiglitazone significantly increased the expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and AdipoR1 and decreased the expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS). Dexamethasone had the converse effects compared with rosiglitazone. Oil red O staining results showed a marked decrease in fat deposition in cells treated with adiponectin. In adipocytes, adiponectin could decrease the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein α (C/EBPα) and FAS and increased the expression levels of ATGL and AdipoR1. These results indicate that adiponectin has a remarkable effect on impairment of adipocyte differentiation, which contributes to the negative regulation of fat deposition in chicken.     

多浪羊与小尾寒羊皮下脂肪组织转录组分析

旨在探索多浪羊（D组）与小尾寒羊（X组）皮下脂肪组织中的特异性表达基因,并研究其潜在的作用,为理解绵羊脂肪组织发育规律以及对脂代谢相关疾病的预防和治疗研究提供依据。本研究选取脂肪沉积能力存在差异、健康无病、体况良好、种内个体体重相近（约50 kg）的雌性成年多浪羊和小尾寒羊为试验材料,分为D组（试验组）和X组（对照组）,每组3个重复,采集位于背最长肌的皮下脂肪组织,应用RNA-Seq技术和生物信息学方法进行转录组测序并对结果进行分析。以|Fold change|≥2,P adjust≤0.05为标准筛选差异表达基因,通过对差异表达基因进行GO功能注释和KEGG通路富集分析,得到与脂肪沉积和脂代谢有关的差异基因。为了验证测序数据的可靠性,本研究随机选取了6个差异表达基因进行qRT-PCR验证。结果显示,在6个样本中共检测到38 672个已知的mRNAs,新的mRNAs为1 606个,在两组中共有839个差异表达基因,其中有320个差异基因在多浪羊组中上调表达,有519个差异基因在多浪羊组中下调表达。通过GO功能注释分析发现,差异表达基因主要参与脂质分解代谢过程、脂质生物合成过程、脂质分解代谢负调控过程、MAPK级联反应调控、对甘油三酯的反应等生物学过程。KEGG通路富集结果显示,差异表达基因显著富集到了PI3K-Akt、MAPK、胰岛素以及PPAR等信号通路中。qRT-PCR结果与测序结果一致,表明测序结果可靠。通过对多浪羊和小尾寒羊皮下脂肪组织进行转录组测序以及生物信息学分析,筛选到与脂肪沉积和脂代谢相关的差异表达基因,这些基因主要参与脂质生物合成、脂质代谢等过程,其中COL1A1、AKT2、SCD、LPL、PCK1与PPP2R5A可能在多浪羊与小尾寒羊的皮下脂肪组织的沉积与代谢中发挥重要作用。     

系统分析多组织转录组鉴定影响猪脂肪沉积的关键基因

旨在挖掘影响松辽黑猪脂肪沉积的关键基因及脂肪、肝和肌肉在体内的功能。本研究选择体重100 kg左右健康且背膘厚差异显著的6头(高、低各3头)松辽黑猪为试验动物,利用高通量转录组测序技术检测其脂肪、肝和背最长肌组织中基因的表达水平,鉴定不同脂肪沉积猪和不同组织中的差异表达基因,并分析差异表达基因的生物学功能。结果表明,在不同分组的猪中发现135个差异表达基因,其中部分参与了PPAR信号通路、AMPK信号通路、代谢通路、脂肪酸代谢和甘油代谢等通路。经生物学功能分析发现,EHHADH、ME1、SCD、OLR1、PHGDH、ACLY、LEP和CYP超家族基因等基因为影响猪脂肪沉积的关键基因。在不同组织的差异表达表达基因中,脂肪组织中高表达的基因显著富集在胰岛素信号通路、MAPK信号通路、三羧酸循环、氧化磷酸化等通路;肝中高表达基因显著富集在多种物质的代谢、脂肪酸的降解、氨基酸的合成等通路;背最长肌中高表达的基因主要参与了蛋白质的降解、PI3K-Akt信号通路、氧化磷酸化通路、Wnt信号通路、磷脂酰肌醇信号通路等通路。不同组间差异表达基因分析结果提示,EHHADH、ME1、SCD、OLR1、PHGDH、ACLY、LEP和CYP超家族基因等基因是影响脂肪沉积的关键基因;不同组织间差异表达基因表明,脂肪组织是脂肪合成的主要部位,而肝和肌肉组织主要涉及脂肪酸的降解。本研究结果对脂肪性状的遗传改良、机理解析有一定意义。     

N-carbamoylglutamate improves lipid metabolism,inflammation, and apoptosis responses in visceral adipocytes of Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus), in vivo and in vitro

This study applied in vivo and in vitro methods to investigate the effect of dietary N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) on lipid metabolism, inflammation and apoptosis related-gene expression in visceral adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes of Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus). A basal diet and a test diet supplemented with 720 mg/kg NCG were fed to the fish for 10 weeks. During the growth trial, no mortality and no significant differences in growth performance were observed in fish between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Plasma Arg content and mRNA level of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) in adipose tissue were significantly increased, which indicated that NCG inclusion promoted endogenous Arg synthesis. Thereafter, the potential effects of NCG treatment on lipid metabolism-related genes expression were studied through in vivo and in vitro methods. In the present study, we successfully established a primary adipocytes culture system and isolated pre-adipocytes in vitro of Japanese seabass for the first time. Both the results in vivo and in vitro showed that NCG treatment decreased the mRNA levels of genes related to adipogenesis (fatty acid synthase, FASN), cholesterol synthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, HMGCR) and fat deposition (lipoprotein lipase [LPL] and leptin), which revealed the underlying mechanism of NCG on reducing fat deposition. The results of this study demonstrated that NCG inclusion reduced the expression of inflammatory and apoptosis cytokines markedly in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, NCG did exert beneficial effects on ameliorating adipogenesis, inflammation and apoptosis via promoting Arg endogenous synthesis in Japanese seabass.     

Lipogenic gene expression in abdominal adipose and liver tissues of diet-induced overweight cats

The effect of overweight status on the expression of SREBP-1c and downstream lipogenic genes, such as ATP citrate lyase (ACL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), in abdominal adipose and liver tissues was determined in cats using a diet-induced weight gain model. ACL and SREBP-1c mRNA expression was significantly reduced (～65% and 20%, respectively) in liver tissue, whereas FAS and SREBP-1c expression was significantly increased (～80% and 45%, respectively) in abdominal omental adipose tissue of overweight animals as compared to healthy animals. Additionally, ACL, FAS, and SREBP-1c expression was significantly reduced by ～50%, 75%, and 70%, respectively, in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of overweight animals. Omental adipose tissue appeared to foster, whereas subcutaneous adipose and liver tissues appeared to defer lipid storage based on differences in SREBP-1c mRNA expression. Overall, reduced lipogenic gene mRNA expression patterns support the hypothesis that SREBP-1c expression is reduced in overweight and possibly obese cats, reflecting down-regulation of the lipogenic pathway to prevent further fat accumulation and weight gain.     

Effects of dietary corticosterone in young Leghorn and meat-type cockerels

1. Cockerels from meat-type (MT) and Leghorn (LG) stocks were fed on diets containing 0, 20, or 30 mg corticosterone/kg from 1 to 22 d after hatching. 2. Within MT and within LG stocks, responses to dietary corticosterone inclusion rates were similar; however, patterns differed between these major classes resulting in stock X diet interactions. 3. Traits responding to different inclusion rates of corticosterone in a dissimilar manner for MT and LG chickens included: immunoresponsiveness, body weight, efficiency of food utilisation, feathering; relative weights of liver, spleen, bursa, testes, breast and abdominal fat pad, as well as the proportion of liver lipid. 4. No differential responses occurred for relative adrenal weight, plasma xanthophyll concentrations, proportion of breast lipid and abdominal fat, or surface and cloacal temperatures. 5. Results indicated genetic differences in thresholds for response to corticosterone and in degree of response once thresholds were reached. Within populations, sensitivities varied between target organs.     

Effect of melatonin on regulation of apoptosis and steroidogenesis in cultured buffalo granulosa cells

This study was aimed to address melatonin receptor expression, mRNA level of hypothalamus and hypophysis hormone receptors (GnRHR, FSHR, and LHR), steroidogenesis, cell cycle, apoptosis, and their regulatory factors after addition of melatonin for 24 hr in cultured buffalo granulosa cells (GCs). The results revealed that direct addition of different concentrations of melatonin (100 pM, 1 nM, and 100 nM) resulted in significant upregulation (p < 0.05) of mRNA level of melatonin receptor 1a (MT1) without affecting melatonin receptor 1b (MT2). Melatonin treatment significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) mRNA level of FSH and GnRH receptors, whereas 100 nM dose of melatonin significantly increased mRNA level of LH receptor. Treatment with 100 nM of melatonin significantly decreased the basal progesterone production with significant decrease (p < 0.05) in mRNA levels of StAR and p450ssc, and lower mRNA level of genes (Insig1, Lipe, and Scrab1) that affect cholesterol availability. Melatonin supplementation suppressed apoptosis (100 nM, p < 0.05) and enhanced G2/M phase (1 nM, 100 nM, p < 0.05) of cell cycle progression which was further corroborated by decrease in protein expression of caspase‐3, p21, and p27 and increase in bcl2. Our results demonstrate that melatonin regulates gonadotrophin receptors and ovarian steroidogenesis through MT1. Furthermore, the notion of its incorporation in apoptosis and proliferation of buffalo GCs extends its role in buffalo ovaries.     

Effects of Dietary Energy Density on Plasma Glucose and Lipid Profile, Morphological Aspects and Chemical Characteristics of Adipose Tissue in Finishing Pigs

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) plays a pivotal role in controlling adipogenesis. We hypothesized that changes in dietary energy density might alter fat deposition in finishing pigs via modulation of the expression of PPAR-γ. To test this hypothesis, thirty female finishing pigs were fed diets containing low (LD), medium (MD) or high (HD) energy density. Blood samples were collected on day 53, and then the pigs were sacrificed to collect samples of the dorsal subcutaneous (ST), abdominal (AT) and mesenteric (MT) adipose tissue. Compared with pigs fed the MD diet, malate dehydrogenase activity was increased in the ST and MT of pigs fed the HD diet, while activity was decreased in the MT of pigs fed the LD diet (P < 0.05). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was increased in all three fat depots of pigs fed the HD diet (P < 0.05) in comparison with pigs fed the MD diet. Both HD and LD diets increased the size of the adipocytes in the AT and MT (P < 0.05). Pigs fed the HD diet had a higher cell proliferation index in the ST compared with pigs fed the other two diets (P < 0.05). Compared with pigs fed the MD diet, a decreased apoptosis index was seen in the ST of pigs fed the HD diet, and in the AT of pigs fed the LD diet, as well as in the MT of both HD and LD fed pigs (P < 0.05). PPAR-γ positive percentage was elevated in the ST and MT of HD fed pigs compared with pigs fed the MD and LD diets, while it was decreased in the ST of LD compared with MD fed pigs (P < 0.05). These results suggest that dietary energy density may regulate fat deposition in finishing pigs. It is possible that feeding a high energy diet may induce fat deposition via up-regulation of  PPAR-γ expression.     

Atmospheric ammonia alters lipid metabolism‐related genes in the livers of broilers (Gallus gallus)

Atmospheric ammonia in animal housing is reported to have adverse effects on livestock performance and animal health. Previous experiments have found that 75 ppm ammonia reduced the production performance and altered body fat distribution quality of broilers. In this study, we examined the body fat distribution, serum metabolites and lipid metabolism gene expression of broiler exposed to ammonia. A total of 400 chickens were randomly allocated to four groups with four replicates and received ammonia treatments at 0, 25, 50 and 75 ppm, respectively, for 3 weeks. The average daily feed intake and weight gain were decreased when broiler was exposed to ammonia concentration exceeding 50 ppm (p < .05). The increased abdominal fat and reduced thickness of subcutaneous adipose were found in broilers of 75 ppm group (p < .05). When ammonia exceeded 50 ppm, the content of fat in breast muscle of broiler was increased, and when ammonia was higher than 25 ppm, the fat in liver was increased (p < .05). It showed that the fat content in liver was a sensitive index for broilers exposed to ammonia. Furthermore, ammonia exposure had no significant effect on total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum, but significantly increased the relative mRNA expression of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (p = .046) and malic enzyme in liver (p = .038), which indicated that ammonia exposure may increase the de novo fat synthesis in liver. In addition, ammonia increased the high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = .02) and activity of hepatic lipase in serum (p < .001), which indicated that ammonia exposure may improve the transportation of cholesterol to liver. To conclude, our results indicated that ammonia exposure might increase the de novo fat synthesis in liver and increased the transportation of cholesterol to liver. In addition, the concentration of ammonia in poultry house should be limited lower than 25 ppm based on the variation of hepatic fat content.     

Seasonal and nutrients intake regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in grazing yak (Bos grunniens) in the Alpine Regions around Qinghai Lake

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is considered as a key enzyme in the lipid deposition and metabolism in tissues. To better understand fat cycling in grazing yak to adapt to the harsh environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and we have therefore explored seasonal and nutritional regulation of LPL in adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle. Sixty 3 year old growing yaks (BW. 120.3 ± 15.28 kg) were subdivided into six groups, each used to determine effects on chemical body composition and LPL activity in different tissues. The alpine pastures had the highest Crude protein (CP, 11.06%) contents and the gross energy (GE, 11.49 MJ/kg) in summer. Growth rates and body fat content were responsive to CP and GE intake regimen. Late spring up-regulation of LPL activity in the subcutaneous adipose tissue was consistent with a pronounced increase of body weight (BW) and whole body fat content. The highest LPL activity in the skeletal muscle was found in September (774 ± 64.1 mU/g tissue), which may serve to cover the increased energy demands for compensatory growth and maintenance of adiposity in the coming cold season. Furthermore, the seasonal regulation of LPL involves some factors in addition to insulin and triglycerides (TG). These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on LPL activity to adapt to the harsh forage environment. During the growing season, an enhanced synthesis of LPL production in the adipose tissues along with mechanisms for the recycling of fat contributes toward the rapid recovery of body weight.     

Expression of genes related to liver fatty acid metabolism in fat‐tailed and thin‐tailed lambs during negative and positive energy balances

Fat‐tailed sheep breeds can tolerate periods of negative energy balance without suffering from elevated concentration of plasma non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA). This ability was attributed to unique metabolism of fat‐tailed adipose depot, whereas role of liver as an influential organ in fatty acid metabolism was not evaluated yet. Hence, current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of negative and positive energy balances on liver expression of genes related to fatty acid metabolism in fat‐tailed and thin‐tailed lambs. Lambs experienced negative (21 days) and positive (21 days) energy balances and were slaughtered at the beginning and end of negative energy balance and at the end of positive energy balance. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐Q‐PCR) was conducted to evaluate changes in gene expression. Expression of diglyceride acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2) and apolipoprotein B (APOB) was not affected by genotype, energy balance and their interaction. Expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) was significantly higher in liver of fat‐tailed comparing to thin‐tailed lambs regardless of energy balance (p < 0.02). Catalase mRNA abundance was increased in response to negative energy balance (p < 0.02), and severity of this enhancement was higher in fat‐tailed lambs (p < 0.06). Expression of CPT1 was positively correlated with expression of HMGCS2 in both fat‐tailed (p < 0.05) and thin‐tailed lambs (p < 0.002); however, the correlation was weaker in fat‐tailed lambs (0.72 vs. 0.57, respectively, for thin‐tailed and fat‐tailed lambs). There was a positive correlation between DGAT1 and APOB genes expression in fat‐tailed lambs (0.94; p < 0.001), whereas this correlation was not observed in thin‐tailed lambs. Results demonstrate that liver of fat‐tailed lambs has higher capacity for metabolism of mobilized NEFA exposed to liver during negative energy balance.