Maternal organic selenium supplementation during gestation enhances muscle fiber area and muscle fiber maturation of offspring in porcine modelOA

Background:Organic selenium supplementation during gestation improves the antioxidant status and reproductive performance of sows and increases the antioxidative capacity of the intestines of their offspring.This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal basel diet(control) supplemented with an organic Se,2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid(HMSeBA),or inorganic sodium selenite(Na2SeO3) during gestation on the antioxidant status and development of muscle in newborn and weaned pi...     

NORHA,a novel follicular atresia-related lncRNA,promotes porcine granulosa cell apoptosis via the miR-183-96-182 cluster and FoxO1 axisOA

Background:Follicular atresia has been shown to be strongly associated with a low follicle utilization rate and female infertility, which are regulated by many factors such as microRNAs (miRNAs), which constitute a class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). However, little is known about long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which constitute another ncRNA family that regulate follicular atresia.Results:A total of 77 differentially expressed lncRNAs, including 67 upregulated and 10 downregulated lncRNAs,were ide...     

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...     

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 ...     

Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of goat ovarian agingOA

Background The ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process, and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging, especially in goats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.Results For the firs...     

Associations between maternal vitamin D status and porcine litter characteristics throughout gestationOA

Emerging evidence suggests an important role of vitamin D in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy,and the regulation of foetal growth across mammalian species.However,the temporal changes in maternal vitamin D status throughout gestation in the pig and the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and litter characteristics of interest across gestation remain poorly understood and under-investigated.The abundance of 25(OH)D in maternal plasma was quantified by HPLC–MS/MS at gestat...     

Chronic heat stress induces renal fib osis and mitochondrial dysfunction in laying hensOA

Background Heat stress in laying hens negatively affects egg production and shell quality by disrupting the homeo-stasis of plasma calcium and phosphorus levels. Although the kidney plays an important role in calcium and phos-phorus homeostasis, evidence regarding the effect of heat stress on renal injury in laying hens is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic heat stress on renal damage in hens during laying periods.Methods A total of 16 w...     

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 ...     

Glycine alleviates fluoride-induced oxidative stress,apoptosis and senescence in a porcine testicular Sertoli cell line

Glycine is a well-known free radical scavenger in the cellular antioxidant system that prevents oxidative damage and apoptosis. Excessive fluoride exposure is associated with multiple types of cellular damage in humans and animals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of glycine on sodium fluoride (NaF) exposure and the possible underlying mechanisms in a porcine testicular Sertoli cell line model. Cellular viability and proliferation were examined following NaF exposure and glycine supplementation, and glycine dramatically ameliorated the decreases in NaF-induced porcine testicular Sertoli cell viability and proliferation. Further investigations revealed that glycine decreased NaF-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production, DNA fragment accumulation and the apoptosis incidence in the porcine testicular Sertoli cell line; in addition, glycine improved mitochondrial function and ATP production. Notably, results of the SPiDER-β-Gal analysis suggested that glycine alleviated NaF-induced cellular senescence and downregulated P53, P21, HMGA2 and P16INK4a gene expression in the porcine testicular Sertoli cell line. Collectively, the beneficial effects of glycine alleviate NaF-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and senescence, and together with our previous findings, support the hypothesis that glycine plays an important role in protecting against NaF exposure-induced impairments in the porcine testicular Sertoli cell line.     

Reduced dietary lysine enhances proportion of oxidative fibers in porcine skeletal muscle

The present study was conducted to elucidate the effects of dietary lysine levels on the proportion of oxidative muscle fibers in porcine muscle. Two 6-week-old barrows from each of five litters were used. Each littermate was assigned to one of two diets, control (lysine content: 1.16%) or low lysine (LL) diet (lysine content: 0.73%). The diets were iso-energetic and iso-protein, and contained all essential amino acids (apart from lysine) in the recommended amounts. The pigs were fed these diets for 3 weeks. Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.4) activity in longissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles was higher in the LL group ( P  < 0.05). In both muscles, pigs fed the LL diet had a higher proportion of muscle fiber with activities of reduced nicotinic amide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.5.3, P  < 0.01). The abundance of mRNA of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α in rhomboideus muscle was higher in the LL group ( P  < 0.05), and those of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 were higher in both longissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles in the LL group ( P  < 0.05). We conclude that reduced intake of dietary lysine enhances proportion of oxidative muscle fiber, and hence oxidative capacity of porcine muscle.     

Effects of hypotaurine, cysteamine and aminoacids solution on post-thaw microscopic and oxidative stress parameters of Angora goat semen

This study was conducted to determine the effects of cysteamine, hypotaurine and aminoacids solution (BME) on standard semen parameters, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities of Angora goat semen after the freeze–thawing process. Ejaculates collected from four Angora goats were evaluated and pooled at 37 °C. Semen samples, which were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing the antioxidants hypotaurine (5 mM) and cysteamine (5 mM), and an aminoacid solution (13%), and an extender containing no antioxidants (control), were cooled to 5 °C and frozen in 0.25-ml French straws in liquid nitrogen. Frozen straws were thawed individually at 37 °C for 20 s in a water bath for evaluation.Supplementation with cysteamine, hypotaurine and BME caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in sperm motility, and significant (P < 0.05) decreases in total abnormality rates in comparison to the control group. While all in vitro treatments did not affect the acrosomal abnormality rates, hypotaurine and BME but not cysteamine significantly (P < 0.05) increased the HOST results as compared to the control group. Supplementation with antioxidants and BME did not significantly affect MDA levels and CAT activity in comparison to the control group (P > 0.05). The antioxidants hypotaurine and cysteamine decreased SOD activity when compared to the BME group and controls (P < 0.001).     

Effects of hypotaurine,cysteamine and aminoacids solution on post-thaw microscopic and oxidative stress parameters of Angora goat semen

This study was conducted to determine the effects of cysteamine, hypotaurine and aminoacids solution (BME) on standard semen parameters, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities of Angora goat semen after the freeze–thawing process. Ejaculates collected from four Angora goats were evaluated and pooled at 37 °C. Semen samples, which were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing the antioxidants hypotaurine (5 mM) and cysteamine (5 mM), and an aminoacid solution (13%), and an extender containing no antioxidants (control), were cooled to 5 °C and frozen in 0.25-ml French straws in liquid nitrogen. Frozen straws were thawed individually at 37 °C for 20 s in a water bath for evaluation.Supplementation with cysteamine, hypotaurine and BME caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in sperm motility, and significant (P < 0.05) decreases in total abnormality rates in comparison to the control group. While all in vitro treatments did not affect the acrosomal abnormality rates, hypotaurine and BME but not cysteamine significantly (P < 0.05) increased the HOST results as compared to the control group. Supplementation with antioxidants and BME did not significantly affect MDA levels and CAT activity in comparison to the control group (P > 0.05). The antioxidants hypotaurine and cysteamine decreased SOD activity when compared to the BME group and controls (P < 0.001).     

The evaluation of lycopene and cysteamine supplementation effects on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during chilled storage of canine semen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of lycopene and cysteamine on characteristics of sperm, liquid peroxidation and enzymatic activities in seminal plasma of canine semen preserved at 5°C for 72 hr. The semen samples were divided into eight aliquots: control, control sham (dimethyl sulfoxide 5%), lycopene groups (250, 500 and 750 µg/ml) and cysteamine groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mM). Motility, viability, membrane integrity, DNA integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. Progressive motility and total motility were higher with the 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, compared to the control group and the cysteamine groups following 72 hr of storage in the liquid storage. Motility characteristics, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) percentages were significantly improved in 500 µg/ml lycopene compared to other groups. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, showed significantly reduced percentages of spermatozoa with DNA integrity compared to the control group. The 500 and 750 µg/ml lycopene concentrations, respectively, led to the significant decrease of MDA levels. The 500 µg/ml lycopene enhanced TAC levels after 48 and 72 hr that was not observed in other groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that lycopene supplementation in canine semen extenders improved canine semen parameters and TAC levels and decreased MDA levels in the chilling process.     

Dietary glucose oxidase and/or catalase supplementation alleviates intestinal oxidative stress induced by diquat in weaned piglets

This study investigated the effects of dietary exogenous glucose oxidase (GOD) and/or catalase (CAT) on the intestinal antioxidant capacity and barrier function in piglets under oxidative stress. Sixty pigs assigned randomly to five treatment groups—CON: basal diet; DIQ: basal diet; GOD: basal diet + 40-U GOD/kg diet; CAT: basal diet + 50-U CAT/kg diet; and GC: basal diet + 40-U GOD/kg diet + 50-U CAT/kg diet—were analyzed. On Day 14, the CON group was injected with saline, and the others were treated with diquat. The results showed that in diquat-treated piglets, supplementation of dietary GOD and CAT elevated the superoxide dismutase and CAT activities and attenuated the malondialdehyde level in plasma and intestinal mucosa, enhanced the duodenal villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio, upregulated ZO-1 mRNA level, and attenuated the apoptosis of the epithelial cells and caspase-3 mRNA level in the intestine. Additionally, the supplementation upregulated mRNA expression of the intestinal NF-E2-related factor 2-regulated genes in diquat-treated piglets. However, GOD combined with CAT could not alleviate oxidative damage better than supplementation of CAT or GOD alone under oxidative stress. Overall, the study provides a potential alternative that could relieve the weaning stress in piglets and help formulate antibiotic-free diets.     

Haemato-biochemical alterations and oxidative stress associated with naturally occurring porcine circovirus2 infection in pigs

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Porcine circovirus2 (PCV2) infection in pigs is one of the major causes of economic loss to the farmers in terms of low production, slow growth and increase...     

Immunoglobulins in porcine umbilical cord blood and maternal placenta.

Studies were made of the immunoglobulin (Ig) in serums from umbilical cord of newborn pigs and maternal placenta. The neutralization test for porcine parvovirus and Japanese encephalitis virus was carried out with the serum of the sow and that of the umbilical cord of the newborn pig. Comparative studies of the serums from the dam and the umbilical cord were also done with gel filtration. Of 20 umbilical cord serum samples, IgG was seen in 5 samples (25%), IgA in 1 sample (5%), and IgM in 9 samples (45%). The amount of any 1 of the 3 classes of Ig in the serums was between 13.5 and 28.0 mg/dl. Among the samples examined, 1 had both IgG and IgA and 1 had IgG and IgM, but none had both IgA and IgM and none had 3 classes of immunoglobulins (i.e., IgG, IgA, and IgM). Only 7 samples (35%) did not have any class of Ig. The IgG disappeared from the blood of hysterectomy-produced colostrum-deprived pigs at 3 days of age, and IgM disappeared when pigs were 7 days of age. Neutralization antibodies of porcine parvovirus and Japanese encephalitis virus in maternal serum were not transferred to the fetus through the placenta. Results of immunohistologic surveys indicated that the sow's Ig were not transferred to the fetus through the placenta. Therefore, it is believed that the Ig in the porcine fetus might be synthesized in certain cells in the placental tissue, and the degree of production of the Ig in the placental tissues may differ in each case. The component, which seems to be Ig, was observed as the obscure band of the beta- to gamma-globulin area in serum of the umbilical cord. Comparison was made, with gel filtration, of maternal serum and serum from the umbilical cord of the newborn pig originating from the same sow. Seemingly, the IgG in the umbilical cord serum is mainly in the lower molecular weight fraction, whereas IgG in the sow's serum was distributed in the high to low molecular weight fractions.     

Exogenous somatotropin alters IGF axis in porcine endometrium and placenta

The aim of this study was to examine whether exogenous somatotropin (ST) can alter the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis in the porcine epitheliochorial placenta. Crossbred gilts were injected either 6 mg of recombinant porcine ST or vehicle from days 10 to 27 after artificial insemination (term day 116). Control and ST-treated gilts were euthanized on day 28 (8 control/5 treated), day 37 (4 control/6 treated), and day 62 (4 control/6 treated) of gestation. Endometrium and placental tissue samples were collected and subjected to mRNA analyses. In control gilts, somatotropin receptor (STR) and IGF-I mRNA abundance in the endometrium decreased with gestation. Conversely, the amounts of IGF-II mRNA and of IGF binding protein (BP)-2 and -3 mRNA, which were analyzed in endometrium and placental chorion, increased with gestation. The endometrium contained less IGF-II mRNA but more IGFBP-2 and-3 mRNA than the placental chorion. In response to pST treatment, the amounts of endometrial STR and IGF-I mRNA were lower at days 28 and 37, but higher at day 62 of gestation. The content of IGF-II mRNA was higher in the endometrium of pST-treated than control gilts on day 37. The amount of IGFBP-2 mRNA was increased on day 37 in endometrium and placenta of pST-treated gilts, whereas no changes in IGFBP-3 mRNA were observed. The IGF-II/IGFBP-2 ratio was higher in the placenta in response to pST on day 28 of gestation. Results show that pST treatment of pregnant gilts during early gestation alters IGF axis in maternal and fetal placental tissues and suggest pST may exert an effect on fetal growth by altering the relative amount of IGFBPs and IGFs at the fetal-maternal interface.     

Dihydromyricetin supplementation during in vitro culture improves porcine oocyte developmental competence by regulating oxidative stress

Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a dihydroflavonoid compound, exhibits a variety of biological activities, including antitumor activity. However, the effects of DHM on mammalian reproductive processes, especially during early embryonic development, remain unclear. In this study, we added DHM to porcine zygotic medium to explore the influence and underlying mechanisms of DHM on the developmental competence of parthenogenetically activated porcine embryos. Supplementation with 5 μM DHM during in vitro culture (IVC) significantly improved blastocyst formation rate and increased the total number of cells in porcine embryos. Further, DHM supplementation also improved glutathione levels and mitochondrial membrane potential; reduced natural reactive oxygen species levels in blastomeres and apoptosis rate; upregulated Nanog, Oct4, SOD1, SOD2, Sirt1, and Bcl2 expression; and downregulated Beclin1, ATG12, and Bax expression. Collectively, DHM supplementation regulated oxidative stress during IVC and could act as a potential antioxidant during in vitro porcine oocytes maturation.