Dietary sophorolipid accelerates growth by modulation of gut microbiota population and intestinal environments in broiler chickensOA

Background: Gut is a crucial organ for the host’s defense system due to its filtering action of the intestinal membrane from hazardous foreign substances. One strategy to strengthen the gut epithelial barrier function is to upregulate beneficial microflora populations and their metabolites. Sophorolipid(SPL), which is a glycolipid biosurfactant, could increase beneficial microflora and decrease pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.Therefore, herein, we conducted an experiment with b...     

The significan e of N-carbamoylglutamate in ruminant productionOA

Improving the efficiency and production of grazing ruminants to support food and fiber production, while reducing the environmental footprint and meeting the welfare needs of the animals, is important for sustainable livestock production systems. Development of new technologies that can improve the efficiency of nitrogen(N) utilization in ruminants, and that are effective and safe, has important implications for ruminant livestock production. N-carbomoylglutamate(NCG) is a functional micronutrie...     

Perturbations of the ileal mycobiota by necrotic enteritis in broiler chickensOA

Background: Intestinal microbiota is critical for maintaining animal health and homeostasis. However, involvement of the fungal community, also known as the mycobiota, in animal health and disease is poorly understood. This study was aimed to examine the association between the intestinal mycobiota and the severity of necrotic enteritis(NE), an economically significant poultry disease.Methods: A total of 90 day-of-hatch Cobb broilers were infected with Eimeria maxima on d 10, followed by an oral...     

Serum metabolic profile and metabolome genome-wide association study in chickenOA

Background Chickens provide globally important livestock products. Understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underpinning chicken economic traits is crucial for improving their selective breeding. Influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, metabolites are the ultimate expression of physiological processes and can provide key insights into livestock economic traits. However, the serum metabolite profile and genetic architecture of the metabolome in chickens have no...     

Invited review: Remediation strategies for mycotoxin control in feedOA

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of different species of fungi. Aflatoxin B1(AFB1), deoxynivalenol(DON),zearalenone(ZEN) and fumonisin B1(FB1) are the main mycotoxins contaminating animal feedstuffs. These mycotoxins can primarily induce hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, consequently cause adverse effects on the health and performance of animals. Therefore, physical, chemical, biological and nutritional regulation approaches have been developed as primary stra...     

Harnessing male germline epigenomics for the genetic improvement in cattleOA

Sperm is essential for successful artificial insemination in dairy cattle, and its quality can be influenced by both epigenetic modification and epigenetic inheritance. The bovine germline differentiation is characterized by epigenetic reprogramming, while intergenerational and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance can influence the offspring’s development through the transmission of epigenetic features to the offspring via the germline. Therefore, the selection of bulls with superior sperm q...     

Genomic patterns of homozygosity and inbreeding depression in MurcianoGranadina goatsOA

Background: Inbreeding depression can adversely affect traits related to fitness, reproduction and productive performance. Although current research suggests that inbreeding levels are generally low in most goat breeds, the impact of inbreeding depression on phenotypes of economic interest has only been investigated in a few studies based on genealogical data.Results: We genotyped 1040 goats with the Goat SNP50 BeadChip. This information was used to estimate different molecular inbreeding coeffi...     

Gut health benefit and application of postbiotics in animal productionOA

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 ...     

Metabolomic fingerprinting of pig seminal plasma identifies in vivo fertility biomarkersOA

Background: Metabolomic approaches, which include the study of low molecular weight molecules, are an emerging-omics technology useful for identification of biomarkers. In this field, nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy has already been used to uncover(in) fertility biomarkers in the seminal plasma(SP) of several mammalian species. However, NMR studies profiling the porcine SP metabolome to uncover in vivo fertility biomarkers are yet to be carried out. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate...     

Role of functional fatty acids in modulation of reproductive potential in livestockOA

Fatty acids are not only widely known as energy sources,but also play important roles in many metabolic pathways.The significance of fatty acids in modulating the reproductive potential of livestock has received greater recognition in recent years.Functional fatty acids and their metabolites improve follicular development,oocyte maturation and embryo development,as well as endometrial receptivity and placental vascular development,through enhancing energy supply and precursors for the synthesis ...     

MAPK信号通路在镉致大鼠肝细胞凋亡中的作用

探讨MAPK通路在镉诱导大鼠肝细胞凋亡中的作用.采用两步灌流法获得大鼠肝细胞,经过24 h培养,用醋酸镉、醋酸镉与MAPK抑制剂(p38抑制剂SB202190、JNK抑制剂SP600125、ERK抑制剂U0126)共同处理肝细胞.用MTT法检测细胞存活率,倒置显微镜和荧光显微镜观察细胞形态和凋亡,免疫组织化学法检测p38蛋白表达.结果表明,镉可极显著提高肝细胞磷酸化p38的表达量(P＜0).01),而SB202190能极显著降低其表达(P＜0.01).SB202190可以显著或极显著提高镉处理组细胞的存活率(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),减少变形细胞和凋亡细胞数量,但SP600125和U0126作用相反.说明镉暴露导致肝细胞p38 MAPK途径激活而引起细胞凋亡.     

Expression of macrophage CD44 receptor in the course of experimental inflammatory response of bovine mammary gland induced by lipopolysaccharide and muramyl dipeptide

The aim of this study was to investigate development over time of the surface expression of CD44 on macrophages during an inflammatory response of bovine mammary gland. Intramammary instillation of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the total count of CD44+ non-vacuolised macrophages (_NMAC) after 24 h. During resolution of the inflammatory response, there was observed a gradual decrease in the total count CD44+ _NMAC. The lower total count and proportion of CD44 + vacuolised macrophages (_VMAC) was observed as the effect of MDP and LPS at 24 h after induction (P < 0.01). During resolution, the total count and proportion of CD44 + _VMAC increased. We have demonstrated CD44 receptor is expressed during the inflammatory response caused by LPS and MDP and the effect of these components on CD44 expression was particularly evident during initiation of the inflammatory response. High expression of CD44 in resolution of inflammatory response may relate to macrophages´ involvement in the processes leading to restitution of injured tissues.     

Maternal obesity stimulates lipotoxicity and up‐regulates inflammatory signaling pathways in the full‐term swine placenta

This study aimed to investigate the effects of back‐fat thickness (BF), at mating of sows, on placental lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We performed iTRAQ labeling‐based proteomic analysis on term placentas obtained by vaginal delivery from BFI (15–20 mm, control) and BFII (21–27 mm, obese) sows formed according to BF at mating. Proteomic analysis revealed 413 proteins to be significantly different in placenta from BFII sows by ≥1.2‐fold. Gene ontology (GO) analysis identified proteins related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response to be altered in placenta from obese sows. Indicative of a lipotoxic placental environment, increased placental lipid, and up‐regulated mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, including ADRP (p = .06), PPARD, FASN, ACACA, DGAT1, and LIPIN3, were associated with decreased AMPK and increased activation of WNT signaling in placenta from BFII group (p < .05). Furthermore, we observed a 18% decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), increased mRNA content of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6, IL‐18, and TNF‐α, and increased activation of inflammatory NF‐κB and JNK signaling in placenta from BFII sows that was significantly associated with macrophage accumulation (p < .05). These findings suggest that maternal obesity aggravates a lipotoxic environment in pig term placenta that may be associated with placental dysfunction and impaired fetal growth.     

Differential alterations in ultrastructural morphology of chicken heterophils and lymphocytes induced by corticosterone and lipopolysaccharide

Birds are continuously confronted by a large number of stressors, including pathogens. Despite their variety, all stressors induce an elevation in plasma corticosterone concentration, and consequently increase heterophil to leukocyte (H/L) ratio. In order to evaluate and differentiate effects of endocrine (non-bacterial) and bacterial stress on the proportions and ultrastructural characteristics of chicken leukocytes, a series of experiments were conducted with seven-week old chickens exposed either to dietary corticosterone or to intravenous (i.v.)-injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Samples were taken for haematological, endocrine, and electron microscopy examination. Administration of corticosterone and LPS significantly elevated plasma corticosterone concentrations and increased H/L ratios. Electron microscopy observations indicated changes in heterophil size, shape, and granulation, and lymphocyte cytoplasmic characteristics. Immature heterophils were observed in the peripheral blood, suggesting that corticosterone and LPS both stimulate an earlier release of heterophils from bone marrow and enhance their influx into blood circulation. The LPS induced a degenerative morphology and the destruction of lymphocytes, whereas corticosterone appeared to stimulate their redistribution rather than destruction. The results indicate that exposure to corticosterone or LPS similarly increase H/L ratios, but differentially alter the ultrastructure of heterophils and lymphocytes. Elucidation of the mechanisms that cause such changes may play an important role in distinguishing between a nonimmune and immune stress challenge at the molecular level.     

硒对金黄色葡萄球菌诱导的奶牛乳腺上皮细胞自噬及胞内细菌增殖的影响

为探讨硒对金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)诱导的奶牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMECs)自噬和细菌增殖的影响,本试验通过蛋白免疫印迹法检测自噬相关蛋白LC3、Atg5、Beclin-1和p62蛋白的表达,免疫荧光检测GFP-LC3与溶酶体的共定位,细菌平板计数检测胞内S.aureus增殖情况。结果发现S.aureus感染后,细胞内自噬相关蛋白LC3、Atg5、Beclin-1和p62蛋白显著升高,GFP-LC3绿色聚点与溶酶体无明显共定位;硒添加后,能够显著或极显著降低S.aureus诱导的LC3和p62蛋白的表达,同时促进GFP-LC3与溶酶体的共定位,降低S.aureus的胞内增殖。综上所述,S.aureus感染诱导BMECs发生自噬,自噬体和溶酶体无法融合,自噬流阻塞。而硒促进自噬体和溶酶体融合,并缓解了自噬流的阻塞,降低S.aureus胞内增殖,这为临床金黄色葡萄球菌性乳腺炎的预防和治疗提供理论基础。     

Activation of phagocytes during initiation and resolution of mammary gland injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in heifers

The object of the study was the comparative assessment of phagocyte activation during initiation and resolution of mammary gland injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or buffered salt solution (PBS) on the basis of the CD14 receptor positivity. The experiments were carried out in 15 clinically normal Holstein x Bohemian Red Pied crossbred heifers, aged 14 to 18 months. Noninflammatory and inflammatory mammary gland injury were induced by intramammary administration of PBS (10 mL) and LPS (10 mL, 1 microg/mL), respectively. Samples of the cell populations were obtained by mammary lavages at 24 h intervals. Flow cytometry was used to determine the CD14+ neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages. The percentage of CD14+ neutrophils was only 1.2% and 1.3% 24 h after the treatment with PBS and LPS, respectively. The resolution was accompanied by an increase in proportion of CD14+ neutrophils. The proportion of CD14+ neutrophils returned to initial values in the PBS-treated, but not in the LPS-treated mammary glands till 96 h. Percentage of CD14+ monocytes increased after 24 h and the effect was more pronounced in the LPS-treated than in the PBS treated mammary glands (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD14+ macrophages decreased highly significantly at 24 h in the LPS-treated, but not in the PBS-treated mammary glands (P < 0.01). The resolution of mammary gland injury (48 to 96 h) was characterised by an increase in CD14+ macrophages proportion, which was greater in the LPS-treated than PBS-treated mammary glands (P < 0.01). The activation of macrophages during resolution of mammary gland injury can be interpreted as an important mechanism of restitution.     

女贞子多糖抑制MDA缓解CCl_4致小鼠肝损伤

本研究应用女贞子多糖给小鼠饮水,探讨其对四氯化碳诱导肝损伤的保护作用。试验分为对照组、模型组、女贞子多糖高、中、低剂量组和阳性药组,通过检测各组小鼠的生长性能、肝脏指数、血清生化指标和丙二醛(MDA)的表达量,综合评估女贞子多糖的保肝作用。结果表明:与模型组相比较,饮水中添加不同剂量的女贞子多糖对小鼠生长性能无影响(P>0.05),但可以显著缓解四氯化碳所致的肝脏指数(P<0.05)、肝功能指标(P<0.05)和肝脏血清MDA含量(P<0.05)。饮水中添加女贞子多糖可以有效缓解小鼠化学性肝损伤,这可能与调节肝脏MDA的表达,抑制脂质过氧化反应有关。