Effect of short‐term supplementation with rumen‐protected fat during the late luteal phase on reproduction and metabolism of ewes

This study was designed to study the effect of short‐term supplementation with rumen‐protected fat during the late luteal phase on reproduction and metabolism of sheep during breeding season. Seventy‐six ewes (Rahmani, Barki and Awassi × Barki) were allocated to two groups considering genotype: the control ewes (C‐group) received a maintenance diet, and the fat‐supplemented ewes (F‐group) received the maintenance diet plus 50 g/head/day of rumen‐ protected fat (Megalac) for 9 days during which oestrus was synchronized. The latter had been accomplished using double intramuscular injection of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) 11 days apart. Ovarian activity, serum concentration of cholesterol, glucose, insulin and reproductive performance variables were recorded. Data were analysed considering treatment (group) and genotype. Supplementation had positive effects on the overall mean serum concentrations of cholesterol (p < 0.05), glucose (p < 0.05) on day 6 of nutritional treatment and insulin (p = 0.07) on day 8. Fat supplementation did not affect the total number of follicles, follicle populations and ovulation rate. However, fat‐supplemented Rahmani ewes tended to have higher ovulation rate compared with other breeds (treatment × breed interaction, p = 0.06). Treatment also did not affect the mean concentration of serum estradiol or progesterone. Supplemented ewes had higher conception (p = 0.06) and lambing rates (p < 0.05) compared with control. In conclusion, short‐term supplementation with rumen‐protected fat as a source of energy around breeding time improved metabolism, conception and lambing rates of ewes without effects on steroidogenic capacity and ovarian activity being apparent.     

Effects of high‐fat and high‐carbohydrate diets on fat and carbohydrate oxidation and plasma metabolites in healthy cats

High‐fat (HF) or high‐carbohydrate (HC) diets (30% fat, 18.9% carbohydrate; HF and 10% fat, 46.3% carbohydrate; HC) and lengths of adaptation were investigated in cats (Felis catus; 10 ± 2 months, 3.6 ± 0.3 kg). Cats randomly received each treatment for 14 days in a crossover design with a 14‐day washout period between each diet. Three 22‐h indirect calorimetry studies were conducted after acute (day 0), semichronic (day 4) and chronic (day 13) dietary exposure. Blood samples were collected after a 24‐h fast on days 1, 5 and 14. When cats consumed the HC and HF diet, oxidation of the restricted nutrient exceeded intake while oxidation of the nutrient in excess matched intake. Mean max energy expenditure (EE) of cats consuming the HF and HC diet were 107 and 102 kcal/kg^0.67/day and occurred at a mean of 4 and 12 h post‐feeding respectively. Maximal fat (0.90 g/h) and carbohydrate (carbohydrate; 1.42 g/h) oxidation were attained at 26 min and 10.4 h post‐feeding respectively. The changes observed in macronutrient oxidation and EE suggest that cats adapt whole‐body nutrient metabolism in response to changes in dietary macronutrient content, but may require longer than 14 day to adapt to a macronutrient that is present at a lower concentration in the diet.     

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.     

日本沼虾饲料最适蛋白质、脂肪含量及能量蛋白比的研究

本文研究了日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)饲料的最适蛋白质含量、脂肪含量及能量蛋白比。试验用饲料由酪蛋白、糊精、混合油、复合维生素和无机盐混合物等组成。本试验用的日本沼虾体重为 1.77±0.23克,试验期间水温为 21—25℃。用增重率、饲料系数和肝胰脏α-淀粉酶活力等作为评价指标。试验结果表明:日本沼虾配合饲料适宜蛋白质含量为 36.8—42.27％,适宜脂肪含量为6—12％。当配合饲料的蛋内质含量在适宜范围内,饲料能量蛋白比(C/P)为8千卡/克蛋白左右,每公斤配合饲料的总能量为3006—3561千卡是最为适宜的。当饲料总能量在一定范围内,随着饲料碳水化合物含量的增加,肝胰脏α-淀粉酶活力增强。     

牛磺酸对鲫鱼脂肪消化吸收的影响

将0.20%、0.40%、0.60%、0.80%的牛磺酸添加到基础饲料中,以基础饲料为对照,饲喂鲫鱼(45~52 g)15 d后,测定脂肪消化吸收率。试验结果表明:牛磺酸可极显著地提高鲫鱼对脂肪的消化吸收率(P<0.01);其中,0.40%组效果最佳,比对照组提高10.19%。脂肪消化率的提高,是牛磺酸促进鱼体生长速度加快的主要原因之一。     

越冬和产卵洄游期黄海鳀鱼对能量的利用差异

根据2002年6月至2003年9月黄海中南部水域的鳀鱼(Engraulis japonicus)样品，分析越冬和产卵期间鳀鱼能量利用差异。结果显示，各个月份鳀鱼性腺指数(GSI)和腹腔含脂量等级呈负相关。越冬和产卵期间鱼体脂肪消耗速率有显著差异，纯鱼体脂肪消耗速率也有相似变化。摄食期间(3～5月)黄海鳀积累大量脂肪作为能量储备，产卵前期(5月)个别鳀鱼全鱼体脂肪含量超过40％，平均脂肪含量达15％，产卵过后平均脂肪含量水平下降了10％～11％。然而，越冬期间(11～1月)脂肪含量变化幅度很小。产卵期间(5～7月)全鱼体脂肪含最与性腺重量(性腺成熟度为Ⅳ或Ⅴ期)呈显著正相关。叉长和性腺重量(性腺成熟度为Ⅳ或Ⅴ期)也呈显著正相关。越冬期间全鱼体和纯龟体的同体物质(蛋白质)含量比产卵期间低1％-2％。各个月份全鱼体固体物质(蛋白质)含量比纯鱼体低1％左右。越冬期间各叉长组能量变化很小，而产卵期间月能量消耗则随叉长呈指数增长。能量损失主要是脂肪新陈代谢造成，而存储蛋白质主要用于性腺发育，并且在越冬和产卵期间全鱼体的蛋白质含量保持相对常量。     

Nutrient digestibility studies in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) and C. gariepinus (Burchell)

The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC %) for protein in catfishes, Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus) (16–18 cm; 45–50 g), C. gariepinus (Burchell) (21–22 cm; 60–65 g) and Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) (10–12 cm; 10–15 g) was estimated for nine feedstuffs of plant and animal origin. Fat digestibility was tested for C. batrachus and C. gariepinus, wherein the influence of feeding frequency on protein digestibility was also examined. The digestibility trials were conducted with triplicate groups of 25 fish each in 70‐L polyvinyl indoor flow‐through (1–1.5 L min^?1) circular tanks (water volume=55 L). Fish were fed to satiation daily, at 08:00 and 18:00 hours, and faecal matter was collected through slow siphoning. For studying the effect of feeding frequency, fish were fed the experimental diets at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 hours. The protein digestibility of the feedstuffs varied significantly within each test species. However, the protein digestibility values for most of the ingredients tested were comparable between the three catfish species. The most efficient utilization of protein in these fishes was noted for soybean meal followed by lab‐prepared fishmeal. The lowest protein digestibility was recorded for rice bran. Similarly, the utilization of fat from the feedstuffs was also significantly different within each of the two species, C. batrachus and C. gariepinus. Fat digestibility of feed ingredients was similar between the two species. With respect to the fat, soybean meal, lab‐prepared fishmeal, full‐fat soybean meal and dried fish were more efficiently utilized, while the lowest fat digestibility was obtained for rice bran. A marked decline in protein utilization was observed in the two species where the feeding frequency was increased from two to four times a day.     

水-甘油通道蛋白基因与体脂代谢相关性研究进展

水-甘油通道蛋白在机体内各器官组织广泛表达,对维持机体多个器官系统的正常生理功能,甘油运输的调节,体内脂肪物质代谢具有重要的生理意义。本文对水-甘油通道蛋白基因的结构特点、在甘油运输和脂肪代谢中的重要作用以及基因遗传多态性与体脂性状相关性的研究进展进行综述。     

共轭亚油酸及其生物学功能研究进展

共轭亚油酸（CLA）是含有共轭双键的亚油酸家族的总称,在这个家族中至少有28个同分异构体,它们主要存在于反刍动物的脂肪中.其中含量最多,生物学功能最为广泛的c9t11 CLA,占整个CLA总量的80％～90％.其生物学功能包括抗肿瘤细胞生长、改善心血管系统功能、增强机体免疫力以及预防糖尿病等.其次为t1oc12 CLA,占CLA总量的3％～5％,其主要生物学功能为降低脂肪酸的合成,抑制脂肪细胞的分化与生长等.给反刍动物饲喂具有不同脂肪酸含量特征的油菜籽、长链不饱和脂肪酸等,或对体内硬酯酰辅酶A去饱和酶的活性进行调节,均可提高反刍动物组织中的CLA含量,从而生产出具有促进人体健康的功能性畜产品.未来的研究应该阐明共轭亚油酸中的共轭结构是如何发挥其生物学功能的,在其他营养物质中是否也存在具有生物学功能的结构形式.