Plasma amino acid profiles at various reproductive stages in female rats

We measured the plasma levels of amino acids at various reproductive stages in female rats, including the estrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation, and compared the resulting amino acid profiles using two- or three-dimensional figures. These figures revealed that the amino acid profiles of pregnant and lactating dams differed considerably from those during the estrous cycle or in male rats. The plasma levels of individual amino acids were almost the same between proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus, and their profiles did not differ significantly. However, the amino acid profiles changed during pregnancy and lactation in dams. The plasma Ser level decreased significantly in mid and late pregnancy, whereas Tyr, Gly and His decreased significantly in the late and end stages of pregnancy, and Trp and Lys significantly decreased and increased at the end of pregnancy, respectively. Much larger changes in amino acid profiles were observed during lactation, when the levels of many amino acids increased significantly, and none showed a significant decrease. Plasma Pro, Ser and Gly levels increased continuously from day 1 until day 15 of lactation, whereas Asn and Met increased significantly from days 1 and 5 respectively until the end of lactation. These results suggest that the profiles of plasma amino acids show characteristic changes according to reproductive stage and that it may be necessary to consider such differences when performing amino acid-based diagnosis.     

The fate of glycerol entering the rumen of dairy cows and sheep

This study investigated the fate of glycerol entering the rumen, in particular whether glycerol could be absorbed across the rumen epithelium. Three non‐lactating rumen‐fistulated cows were used to calculate the overall disappearance rate of glycerol in vivo and evaluate the rate of ruminal glycerol absorption. Rumen epithelial tissues isolated from sheep were used to characterise glycerol transport properties. The rate of rumen microbial degradation of glycerol was then studied in an in vitro system under anaerobic and thermo‐regulated conditions. The results showed that glycerol can be absorbed from the rumen in significant amounts. The fractional rate of absorption of glycerol was not affected by variations in glycerol concentration in the buffer solution in the in vivo study. The glycerol absorption apparently occurred largely by passive diffusion and was probably not facilitated by carriers. Glycerol also disappeared via microbial digestion and outflow from the rumen through the omasal orifice.     

Adenosine protects Sprague Dawley rats from high‐fat diet and repeated acute restraint stress‐induced intestinal inflammation and altered expression of nutrient transporters

This study investigated the effect of repeated acute restraint stress and high‐fat diet (HFD) on intestinal expression of nutrient transporters, concomitant to intestinal inflammation. The ability of adenosine to reverse any change was examined. Six‐week‐old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into eight groups: control or non‐stressed (C), rats exposed to restraint stress for 6 h per day for 14 days (S), control rats fed with HFD (CHF) and restraint‐stressed rats fed with HFD (SHF); four additional groups received the same treatments and were also given 50 mg/l adenosine dissolved in drinking water. Fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, adiponectin and corticosterone were measured. Intestinal expression of SLC5A1, SLC2A2, NPC1L1 and TNF‐α was analysed. Histological evaluation was conducted to observe for morphological and anatomical changes in the intestinal tissues. Results showed that HFD feeding increased glucose and insulin levels, and repeated acute restraint stress raised the corticosterone level by 22%. Exposure to both stress and HFD caused a further increase in corticosterone to 41%, while decreasing plasma adiponectin level. Restraint stress altered intestinal expression of SLC5A1, SLC2A2 and NPC1L1. These changes were enhanced in SHF rats. Adenosine was found to alleviate HFD‐induced increase in glucose and insulin levels, suppress elevation of corticosterone in S rats and improve the altered nutrient transporters expression profiles. It also prevented upregulation of TNF‐α in the intestine of SHF rats. In summary, a combination of stress and HFD exaggerated stress‐ and HFD‐induced pathophysiological changes in the intestine, and biochemical parameters related to obesity. Adenosine attenuated the elevation of corticosterone and altered expression of SLC5A1, NPC1L1 and TNF‐α.     

Demonstration of uniformity of calcium absorption in adult dogs and cats

A meta‐analysis was conducted to understand quantitative aspects of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) absorption in adult dogs and cats. 34 studies in dogs and 14 studies in cats met the criteria for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Intake and faecal excretion values of Ca and P were subjected to a modified Lucas test and subsequent regression analyses. According to the current scientific consensus, Ca true digestibility (absorption) should increase at low Ca intake and decrease at high Ca intake. If true, this should result in a nonlinear relationship between the percentage of Ca excreted and dietary Ca intake. The present meta‐analysis showed a highly significant linear relationship (p < 0.0001) between Ca intake and Ca excretion suggesting a lack of systematic quantitative adaptation in true Ca digestibility. This finding suggests either that the time period covered by standard digestion trials is too short to induce adaptation mechanisms or that dogs and cats at maintenance will not efficiently alter quantitative Ca absorption percentage according to the amount ingested. If the latter is true, a dietary Ca supply differing greatly from the recommended dietary intake might impair the health of cats and dogs when fed long term. The data plots for P intake and faecal excretion were less uniform suggesting other factors not just dietary intake influence faecal P excretion. In adult cats, the dietary Ca:P ratio strongly influenced the true digestibility of P, whereas this effect was less marked in adult dogs. Faecal P excretion was significantly correlated to faecal Ca excretion in both species (p < 0.0001), and surprisingly, the level of P intake did not appear to be an important determinant of true digestibility of P.     

Glucose transport and milk secretion during manipulated plasma insulin and glucose concentrations and during LPS‐induced mastitis in dairy cows

In dairy cows, glucose is essential as energy source and substrate for milk constituents. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of long‐term manipulated glucose and insulin concentrations in combination with a LPS‐induced mastitis on mRNA abundance of glucose transporters and factors involved in milk composition. Focusing on direct effects of insulin and glucose without influence of periparturient endocrine adaptations, 18 dairy cows (28 ± 6 weeks of lactation) were randomly assigned to one of three infusion treatments for 56 h (six animals each). Treatments included a hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp (HypoG), a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (EuG) and a control group (NaCl). After 48 h of infusions, an intramammary challenge with LPS from E. coli was performed and infusions continued for additional 8 h. Mammary gland biopsies were taken before, at 48 (before LPS challenge) and at 56 h (after LPS challenge) of infusion, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in mammary gland metabolism was measured by RT‐qPCR. During the 48 h of infusions, mRNA abundance of glucose transporters GLUT1, 3, 4, 8, 12, SGLT1, 2) was not affected in HypoG, while they were downregulated in EuG. The mRNA abundance of alpha‐lactalbumin, insulin‐induced gene 1, κ‐casein and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase was downregulated in HypoG, but not affected in EuG. Contrary during the intramammary LPS challenge, most of the glucose transporters were downregulated in NaCl and HypoG, but not in EuG. The mRNA abundance of glucose transporters in the mammary gland seems not to be affected by a shortage of glucose, while enzymes and milk constituents directly depending on glucose as a substrate are immediately downregulated. During LPS‐induced mastitis in combination with hypoglycaemia, mammary gland metabolism was more aligned to save glucose for the immune system compared to a situation without limited glucose availability during EuG.     

饲料脂肪源和乳化剂对牛蛙生长性能、肠道消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究以猪油或鱼油为脂肪源的饲料中添加乳化剂对牛蛙生长性能、肠道消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响。试验采用2×2因子完全随机区组试验设计,2种脂肪源(猪油和鱼油)和2个乳化剂添加水平(0和300 mg/kg),配成4种等氮等能的试验饲料。将初始平均体重为(19.01±0.01)g的180只牛蛙随机分为4组,每组3个重复,每个重复15只蛙,进行为期8周的饲养试验。结果表明:未添加乳化剂的鱼油组增重率(WGR)和摄食量(FI)显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的猪油组WGR和FI显著高于添加乳化剂的鱼油组(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的猪油组WGR、FI和特定生长率(SGR)显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05),2组之间饲料系数(FCR)、氮沉积率(NRE)、能量沉积率(ERE)均差异不显著(P0.05)。添加乳化剂的鱼油组的各生长性能指标与未添加乳化剂的鱼油组均无显著差异(P0.05)。各组牛蛙胴体水分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪和粗灰分含量差异不显著(P0.05),而添加乳化剂的猪油组全体粗脂肪含量显著高于未添加乳化剂的猪油组(P0.05)。各组牛蛙肠道蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力差异不显著(P0.05),饲料中添加乳化剂显著提高以猪油为主要脂肪源牛蛙的肠道脂肪酶活力(P0.05),而对以鱼油为主要脂肪源牛蛙的影响不显著(P0.05)。各组牛蛙肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力无显著差异(P0.05)。在以猪油为主要脂肪源时,添加乳化剂显著提高肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量(P0.05);在以鱼油为主要脂肪源时,添加乳化剂对肝脏MDA含量无显著影响(P0.05)。根据结果得出,在以猪油为主要脂肪源的饲料中添加乳化剂可提高牛蛙的生长性能。     

一水肌酸对杜浙猪肉质性状、肌肉磷酸原代谢、纤维类型特征及蛋白质溶解度的影响

本文旨在研究饲粮添加一水肌酸(CMH)对杜浙猪肉质性状、肌肉磷酸原代谢、纤维类型特征及蛋白质溶解性的影响。试验选取体重70 kg左右杜浙猪30头,随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复3头猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂基础饲粮+0.5%CMH,试验期30 d。结果显示:与对照组相比,饲粮添加CMH对杜浙猪生长性能无显著影响(P0.05),使背最长肌宰后24 h p H和剪切力显著增加(P0.05),滴水损失和压榨损失显著降低(P0.05),背最长肌的肌酸(Cr)总量、磷酸肌酸(PCr)储备量、肌酸激酶(CK)活性、白蛋白及肌原纤维蛋白溶解度显著增加(P0.05),背最长肌肌球蛋白重链(My HC)Ⅱa mRNA比例显著降低(P0.05)。结果提示,饲粮添加CMH对杜浙猪肉质性状具有调控作用,对肌肉磷酸原代谢能力、蛋白质溶解度及肉品系水力产生显著影响。     

氮沉降对植物-丛枝菌根共生体影响的研究进展

氮沉降是影响陆地生态系统的重要环境因子。丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)作为一种能够与绝大多数植物共生并广泛存在的土壤微生物,对植物生长、养分吸收以及抗逆性等均具有重要的调节作用,而针对氮沉降对植物-丛枝菌根共生体影响的研究往往被忽视。基于此,笔者从氮沉降对菌根侵染特性、菌根多样性、菌根对宿主植物生长发育、氮代谢、磷吸收以及对宿主植物生物多样性影响等方面进行了归纳总结,并提出应重点关注的研究方向,旨为菌根生理生态学的研究提供一定的科学依据。     

Effects of dietary energy level on lipid metabolism‐related gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue of Yellow breed × Simmental cattle

This study was conducted to estimate the effect of dietary energy level on lipid metabolism‐related gene expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue in Yellow breed × Simmental cattle. The experiment was conducted for 60 days. The results showed that final weight, average daily gain, average backfat thickness, (testicles + kidney + pelvic) fat percentage and subcutaneous fat percentage in the high and medium energy groups were significantly higher than in the low‐energy group but that the feed conversion ratio was significantly lower. The glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein in the high‐energy group were significantly higher than in the low‐energy group. With dietary energy increasing the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) significantly increased, whereas hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 (CPT‐1) significantly diminished. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), LPL, FAS, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP‐1), ACC, stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) and adipocyte‐fatty acid binding proteins (A‐FABP) gene expression were significantly increased by dietary energy increasing, and HSL and CPT‐1 gene expression were significantly decreased. These results indicated that with dietary energy increasing, the subcutaneous fat accumulation mainly increased due to adipose tissue lipogenic gene expression and decreased lipolytic gene expression.