Carcass composition and adipose tissue metabolism in growing sheep

Experiments were conducted to investigate biological variables that influence fat accretion in growing ram lambs. Carcass composition and adipose tissue development were measured in Columbia-sired ram lambs from 32.0 to 73.9 kg body weight. Five or six ram lambs were slaughtered every 2 mo, from 4 to 10 mo of age. The percentage of carcass fat-free dry matter decreased with age from 30.9 to 27.5% (P less than .05), while the percentage of carcass fat increased from 17.7 to 33.4%. Similarly, offal fat-free dry matter decreased with age (from 24.5 to 21.5), and there was nearly a threefold increase in the percentage of offal fat (P less than .05 for both measures). Subcutaneous adipocyte diameter and lipogenesis in vitro increased from 4 to 6 mo of age, and did not increase further with age. A bimodal distribution of adipocytes was apparent in the 4-mo-old lambs, but was not observed in any other age group. The presence of glucose in incubation media stimulated acetate incorporation into fatty acids in vitro in adipose tissue from 8- and 10-mo-old lambs. However, glucose did not affect the rate of lipogenesis from lactate. The data indicate early, rapid increases in carcass fat accretion, which corresponded to similar increases in lipogenesis and lipogenic enzyme activities.     

Growth and adipose tissue metabolism in young pigs fed cimaterol with adequate or low dietary protein

The beta-adrenergic agonist, cimaterol, was fed to young growing pigs to determine whether the carcass compositional changes observed in finishing pigs fed a beta-adrenergic agonist would be manifest in young animals. Furthermore, because cimaterol increased the deposition of lean mass in finishing pigs, it could have a protein sparing effect in young pigs that are rapidly accreting muscle mass and have a high dietary protein requirement. Pigs were fed cimaterol (at 0, .25 and .50 mg X kg-1 diet) and either an adequate (18%) or restricted (14%) protein diet from about 10 to 60 kg body weight. Pigs that were fed the 14 compared with 18% protein diet grew slower and ate less but had the same gain-to-feed ratio. These pigs also had shorter carcasses, less lean muscle and more fat deposition (assessed by carcass measurements and carcass chemical composition) than pigs that received adequate protein. Plasma protein and albumin concentrations were greater and plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and fatty acid concentrations were lower in pigs fed high compared with low dietary protein. Dietary cimaterol had no effect on any of the growth or carcass variables or on adipose tissue metabolism. When fed the high protein diet, cimaterol-supplemented pigs had smaller livers and stomachs. Dietary cimaterol did not have any major detectable effects on these young pigs, nor was there any evidence for a protein sparing effect.     

ACSL1基因对绵羊脂肪代谢的影响

为了深入了解绵羊长链脂酰辅酶A合成酶1(long-chain fatty acyl-CoA 1,ACSL1)对脂肪代谢的调控机制,本研究利用脂质体介导转染ACSL1基因过表达载体及干扰载体到前体脂肪细胞中,经过G418筛选获得转基因细胞,利用荧光定量PCR检测绵羊ACSL1mRNA水平变化,结果发现过表达载体和RNA干涉载体Ⅰ可有效对ACSL1基因进行转录和调控。检测过表达、沉默ACSL1基因后以及未转染的细胞中甘油三酯含量的变化,结果 ACSL1基因过表达后可显著提高绵羊前脂肪细胞的甘油三酯的含量,抑制ACSL1表达后也显著降低了甘油三酯的含量;表明ACSL1基因可能在调节动物脂肪代谢中起关键作用。     

Effects of adrenergic agonists and insulin on porcine adipose tissue lipid metabolism in vitro

Because this laboratory has been able to demonstrate only a small and somewhat inconsistent stimulation of glucose metabolism by insulin in porcine adipose tissue in vitro, the tissue was preincubated with insulin to attempt to enhance the hormone effect. Preincubation with or without insulin did not increase insulin stimulation. Furthermore, insulin did not stimulate triacylglycerol biosynthesis. Adrenergic hormones stimulated lipolysis in porcine adipose tissue in vitro. Several analogs of norepinephrine incubated with porcine adipose tissue in vitro did not inhibit glucose incorporation into CO2 or total lipids, in contrast to inhibition observed in adipose tissue from other species. Isoproterenol inhibited glycerol-3-phosphate incorporation into lipids; the maximal inhibition was 50% for the initial stages of the pathway. Palmitate incorporation into lipids also was inhibited 50% by isoproterenol but this may have been an artifact. Preincubation of adipose tissue, with no exogenous hormone, might decrease the concentration of endogenous adrenergic hormones and thus make the tissue more responsive to exogenous adrenergic hormones. Preincubation of porcine adipose tissue did not consistently lower the basal lipolytic rate but enhanced the stimulated lipolytic rate; the mechanism is not known. These experiments provide no evidence that preincubation is beneficial to measurement of lipolysis or glucose metabolism in porcine adipose tissue in vitro.     

Estradiol-17 beta effects on lipid metabolism of adipose tissue in nutritionally induced lean and obese ovariectomized ewes.

Nutritionally manipulated lean (68 kg) and obese (87 kg) ovariectomized ewes were administered estradiol-17 beta (E2) or sham implants. Ewes individually had ad libitum access to corn silage. Rates of de novo lipogenesis, palmitate esterification, and glycerol and fatty acid release were determined with slices of subcutaneous adipose tissue at 0, 5, and 30 d after implantation. Condition and E2 interacted over time (linear, P less than .12; quadratic, P less than .05) to affect intake. Lean ewes implanted with E2 decreased intake initially after implantation, whereas obese ewes implanted with E2 decreased intake later after implantation. The linear effect of time x condition x E2 interacted (P less than .02) for lipogenesis. Lipogenesis was inhibited in both the lean and obese ewes implanted with E2. Lean compared with obese ewes without E2 had increased lipogenesis at a faster rate over time. Esterification increased (linear, P less than .01) in the lean ewes and decreased (quadratic, P less than .01) in the obese ewes over time. A time x E2 interaction occurred for esterification (P less than .02). Glycerol and fatty acid release were variable over time within condition and E2. A 48-h adipose tissue culture determined the effect of E2 on lipid metabolism. Estradiol-17 beta decreased (P less than .05) lipogenesis, decreased (P less than .08) esterification, and maintained fatty acid and glycerol release. Data in vivo and in culture indicated that E2 acted to decrease de novo lipogenesis and palmitate esterification and had little or no effect on lipolysis.     

Brown adipose tissue development and metabolism in ruminants

We conducted several experiments to better understand the relationship between brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism and thermogenesis. In Exp. 1, we examined perirenal (brown) and sternum s.c. adipose tissue in 14 Wagyu x Angus neonates infused with norepinephrine (NE). Perirenal adipocytes contained numerous large mitochondria with well-differentiated cristae; sternum s.c. adipocytes contained a few, small mitochondria, with poorly developed cristae. Lipogenesis from acetate was high in BAT but barely detectable in sternum s.c. adipose tissue. In Exp. 2, we compared perirenal and tailhead adipose tissues between NE-infused Angus (n = 6) and Brahman (n = 7) newborn calves. Brahman BAT contained two-to-three times as many total beta-receptors as Angus BAT. The mitochondrial UCP1:28S rRNA ratio was greater in Brahman BAT than in BAT from Angus calves. Lipogenesis from acetate and glucose again was high, but lipogenesis from palmitate was barely detectable. Tail-head s.c. adipose tissue from both breed types contained adipocytes with distinct brown adipocyte morphology. In Exp. 3, three fetuses of each breed type were taken at 96, 48, 24, 14, and 6 d before expected parturition, and at parturition. Lipogenesis from acetate and glucose in vitro decreased 97% during the last 96 d of gestation in both breed types, whereas the UCP1 gene expression tripled during gestation in both breed types. At birth, palmitate esterification was twice as high in Angus than in Brahman BAT and was at least 100-fold higher than in BAT from NE-infused calves from Exp. 2. Uncoupling protein-1 mRNA was readily detectable in tailhead s.c. adipose tissue in all fetal samples. In Exp. 4, male Brahman and Angus calves (n = 5 to 7 per group) were assigned to 1) newborn treatment (15 h of age), 2) 48 h of warm exposure (22 degrees C) starting at 15 h of age, or 3) 48 h of cold exposure (4 degrees C) starting at 15 h of age. Brahman BAT adipocytes shrank with cold exposure, whereas Angus BAT adipocytes did not. Similarly, BAT from neonatal lambs (Exp. 5; n = 6 per group) was depleted of lipid in response to cold exposure, although UCP1 gene expression persisted. In Exp. 4, NE stimulated lipogenesis from palmitate in BAT incubated in vitro. Lipogenesis from palmitate was higher in Angus than in Brahman BAT, and increased with both warm and cold exposure. These studies suggest that BAT from Brahman calves may be exhausted of lipid shortly after birth during times of cold exposure.     

Effects of pregnancy and lactation on the metabolism of bovine adipose tissue

The incorporation of [2-14C] acetate into the triglycerides of adipocytes from bovine omental adipose tissue was at a minimum during peak lactation but increased again in late lactation. Similar but somewhat greater changes were observed for adipocytes from subcutaneous adipose tissue. In both tissues the activities of four enzymes concerned with fatty acid synthesis were lowest during peak lactation. In omental tissue lipoprotein lipase activity was lowest during peak lactation but there was a marked increase in its activity in the udder during lactation. In both omental and subcutaneous adipocytes the rate of glycerol release at peak lactation was higher than at all other stages of pregnancy and lactation. At peak lactation plasma insulin levels were low but growth hormone levels were higher than at all other stages of pregnancy and lactation. These results suggest that lipogenic precursors were diverted away from adipose tissue in early lactation and stored triglycerides were made available for use elsewhere in the body.     

溶血卵磷脂对肉仔鸡脂类代谢的影响

选200羽1日龄AA肉仔鸡,随机分成对照组和试验组(每组10个重复),试验组日粮添加0.1%溶血卵磷脂,研究溶血卵磷脂对肉鸡脂类代谢的影响。结果表明:溶血卵磷脂降低肝脏系数和肝脂率(P>0.05)、血清总甘油三酯与低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)(P>0.05)、LDL-C/HDL-C和葡萄糖含量(P<0.05),提高高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和游离脂肪酸含量(P<0.05),上调肉仔鸡肝脏载脂蛋白B(P<0.01)和脂肪酸合成酶(P=0.155)mRNA表达水平;而对肉仔鸡的42日龄体重、腹脂率、皮下脂肪厚、肌间脂肪厚、腿肌和胸肌含脂率以及血清总胆固醇、三碘甲腺原氨酸、四碘甲腺原氨酸、促甲状腺激素刺激激素和胰岛素含量均无显著影响(P>0.05)。结果提示:溶血卵磷脂对肉仔鸡有减少肝脂肪沉积及降血脂作用。     

Somatotropin and adipose tissue metabolism: substrate and temporal effects

The purpose of these studies was to determine the time course for changes in feed intake, blood metabolites, and lipogenic activity in adipose tissue in response to the initiation of porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment and following withdrawal from treatment in barrows. An initial study was conducted to determine the impact of chronic pST treatment (4 wk of daily injection; 0 vs 4 mg/d) on adipose tissue lipid metabolism in barrows (initial weight 67 kg). Feed efficiency was improved 27%, backfat thickness was decreased 43%, and glucose and lactate oxidation and incorporation into lipid in adipose tissue was reduced 70 to 86% in pST-treated pigs. Palmitate esterification was decreased 44%, whereas palmitate oxidation was unaffected. In vitro metabolism of lactate, glucose, and palmitate in liver slices was not affected by pST treatment. The time-course for changes in intake and adipose tissue metabolism in response to 7 d of pST (0 vs 4 mg/d) treatment and 7 d of withdrawal was examined in subsequent studies in barrows (initial weight 75 kg). Feed intake during pST treatment was significantly (P < .05) less than in control pigs within 24 h of the initiation of treatment and remained low through 3 d after withdrawal. Adipose tissue biopsies were obtained on d 0, 1, 2, 4, and 7 of the treatment phase and on d 2, 4, and 7 after withdrawal from 7 d of treatment. Maximal inhibition of lipogenesis by pST treatment in adipose tissue in vitro was observed on d 4 (-68%) and d 7 (-69%). Similarly, fatty acid synthase activity declined during the treatment period, with the greatest change noted on d 7 (-26%). After withdrawal from treatment, lipogenesis gradually increased, returning to control values 7 d after withdrawal. Levels of IGF-I began to increase from d 1 to d 7 of treatment, continually decreased during withdrawal, and were normalized by the end of the withdrawal period. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations decreased during treatment, increased during the withdrawal phase, and were normalized 4 d after the last pST treatment. Overall results indicate that most of the metabolic changes in response to pST occur within 1 wk of treatment and return to pretreatment values after 7 d of withdrawal from treatment.     

Human acylation-stimulating protein and lipid biosynthesis in bovine adipose tissue explants

Human acylation-stimulating protein (hASP) up-regulates triacylglycerol synthesis in human adipocytes. The objectives of this research were 1) to determine the effect of hASP on triacylglycerol synthesis in bovine adipose explants and 2) to determine whether nutritional status influences the sensitivity of adipose tissue to hASP. Fresh s.c. adipose tissue was sectioned into 20- to 30-mg explants and incubated for 1 to 6 h in M199 media containing 3% BSA and either 0.75 mM [1-14C]palmitate, 0.75 mM [9, 10-3H]oleate, or 2.5 mM [1-14C] acetate, as well as hASP and(or) insulin. The explants were extracted, and lipid fractions were separated by TLC and quantified by liquid scintillation. Acetate incorporation into lipids increased 15 to 30%, and palmitate or oleate incorporation increased 10 to 25%, when explants were exposed to hASP, although this response was not significant in every experiment. Insulin increased triacylglycerol synthesis in some experiments, but not in others. Our interpretation is that acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) can mildly enhance triacylglycerol synthesis in bovine adipose tissue. To fulfill the second objective, nine 9-mo-old steers were housed individually for two periods of 3 wk each. During the first period, four of the nine steers were fed to 50% of NEm requirement and the other five consumed the same diet ad libitum. After the first period, all steers consumed feed ad libitum for 2 wk and were assigned the opposite ration for the second period. Steers gained 40.5 kg BW when allowed ad libitum access to feed but lost 30.2 kg BW when feed intake was restricted (SE = 7.84; P < 0.01). At the end of each period, s.c. adipose tissue was sectioned into explants and incubated as described above. Four explants per steer per period were used to test effects of insulin (0 and 1 nM) and hASP (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM). Insulin did not influence incorporation of acetate or oleate. Acetate incorporation (P < 0.32) was 0.99, 1.03, 1.04, and 1.10 nmol x mg(-1) h(-1) (SE = 0.13) and oleate incorporation (P < 0.01) was 0.347, 0.357, 0.353, and 0.420 nmol x mg(-1)h(-1) (SE = 0.022) for 0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM hASP, respectively. Feed restriction reduced (P < 0.01) acetate and oleate incorporation by 95 and 40%, respectively. No interactions among feed intake, insulin, and hASP were detected. In conclusion, the effect of hASP on fatty acid esterification is not influenced by feed restriction.     

Protein metabolism in chicken muscle cell cultures treated with cimaterol

Primary muscle cell cultures were prepared from the leg muscle of 12-d broiler chicken embryos. The partitioning agent cimaterol (10(-6) to 10(-10) M) was added on d 1 and each day thereafter, and cells were studied after 7 d in culture. Cimaterol had no effect at any level either on the percentage of nuclei within multinucleated myotubes or on the total number of nuclei within myotubes. At 10(-7) M cimaterol, the quantity of the myofibrillar protein fraction was increased by 25.1 +/- 8.0% (P less than .05) and the quantity of myosin heavy chain was increased by 30.9 +/- 4.5% (P less than .05). To understand the basis for the increase in myofibrillar protein, the incorporation rate of [3H]Leu was measured in pulse labeling experiments. The apparent synthesis rate of the soluble protein fraction and the crude myofibrillar fraction was not significantly increased by cimaterol; however, cimaterol levels greater than 10(-8) M caused a 10 to 12% increase (P less than .05) in the incorporation rate of [3H]Leu into myosin heavy chain. The effect of cimaterol on release of [3H]Leu from prelabeled protein also was assessed in pulse-chase experiments; the apparent rate of protein degradation was inhibited by 10 to 15% (P less than .05) at the higher levels of cimaterol. Dot blot analysis indicated that the quantity of myosin heavy chain mRNA was elevated in cimaterol-treated cultures. Thus, the increased quantity of myofibrillar proteins in embryonic broiler muscle cell cultures is the combined result of a stimulation in the rate of protein synthesis and an inhibition in the rate of protein degradation.     

Effect of nutritional status on swine adipose tissue lipolytic activities

Young swine (28 days of age) were fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet with either a high fat or a low fat content for 3 to 4 weeks. The adipose tissue lipolytic rate was higher in the group fed the high fat diet. However, there was no effect of diet on the activities of several of the enzymes controlling the lipolytic process, i.e., adenylate cyclase, phosphodiesterase and hormone-sensitive lipase. No effect of diet on the activity of lipoprotein lipase was detected. Fasting for 72 hr, but not for 24 or 48 hr, caused an increase in the lipolytic rate. There was also a decrease in cell size after a 72-hr fast (P greater than .05) such that the increased rate was not significant when the data were expressed on a cell basis. Inexplicable transient changes in adenylate cyclase activity, as well as a decrease in the activity of the low affinity phosphodiesterase (doubtful physiological significance), were detected during starvation. Starvation depressed the adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity but had no effect on the hormone-sensitive lipase activity.     

Effect of sex on lipogenic activity in swine adipose tissue

Adipose tissue was obtained from male, female and male pigs castrated either at birth, 2 or 4 mo of age. Pigs were biopsied at 11 and 20 wk of age to obtain adipose tissue samples. Lipogenic capacity was assessed by measurement of in vitro glucose incorporation into lipids of adipose tissue slices. At 20 wk of age, males were less fat than females or males castrated either at birth or 20 mo of age. Adipocyte volume at 20 wk of age was smaller in males, females and recently castrated males (4 mo) than males castrated at birth or 2 mo of age. Lipogenic rate at 20 wk of age was lower in males than in castrated pigs; females had intermediate lipogenic rates. The results provide a partial metabolic explanation for the difference in subcutaneous fat deposition in the sexually diverse groups. There was no effect of estradiol-17 beta or testosterone in vitro on adipose tissue lipogenesis, suggesting that sex hormone effects in vivo may not be involved in short-term regulation of lipogenesis.     

肌肉生长抑制素调控肌肉和脂肪组织代谢的研究进展

肌肉生长抑制素(myostatin,MSTN),又名生长分化因子-8(growth differentiation factor 8,GDF-8),是一种主要由骨骼肌分泌的蛋白质,在肌肉生长发育过程中起负调控作用。若MSTN基因编码区碱基突变或缺失,可以导致肌肉异常肥大,出现典型的"双肌"性状。近年来研究还发现,MSTN在脂肪组织中也表达,并在脂肪沉积的过程中发挥重要调控作用。因此,本文将从MSTN的基因结构、组织分布、作用机制以及功能等几个方面的相关研究进展进行综述,重点阐述其在肌肉和脂肪组织中的调控作用及机制,以期更深入了解MSTN,为畜牧业新品种的改良和肉质性状的改善奠定理论基础。     

Effect of somatotropin on adipose tissue metabolism: Ontogeny of the enhanced response to adrenergic challenge in the lactating cow

Seven multiparous Holstein cows (>150 d postpartum) were used to evaluate the time course of the chronic adaptation in lipolytic response to adrenergic challenge with bovine somatotropin (bST) treatment. Cows received daily bST (sometribove; 40 mg/d) or excipient injections for 7 d (single reversal design) with a 7-d interim between periods. Epinephrine challenges (1.4 μg/kg body weight intravenously) were administered on Days −2, −1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 of treatment at 10:00 a.m. (15 hr after bST or excipient injection). Frequent blood samples were collected, and concentrations of plasma glycerol (GLY) and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were determined. Treatment with bST increased milk yield 23% (P < 0.05) and milk fat content 33% (P < 0.001) compared with controls. Somatotropin-treated cows entered negative energy balance by Day 3 and had higher basal plasma concentrations of GLY and NEFA than did controls by Day 2 and Day 3, respectively. Response to epinephrine, expressed as area under the response curve corrected for basal, was enhanced by bST treatment, regardless of energy balance. GLY response was greater than control by Day 1 of bST treatment (P < 0.01), and had plateaued by Day 2 (P < 0.001). The NEFA response area was higher than control and had plateaued by Day 1 of bST treatment (P < 0.001). Day 1 represented 15 hr after the first bST injection. Results illustrate that bST treatment results in enhanced in vivo lipolytic response to catecholamine challenge, and the metabolic adaptation is in place by 15 hr after the first bST injection.     

Body condition score prior to parturition is associated with plasma and adipose tissue biomarkers of lipid metabolism and inflammation in Holstein cows

Background: Previous research has revealed a strong inflammatory response within adipose(AT) tissue during the transition into lactation. Whether this effect is a result of oxidative stress induced by lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation associated with differences in prepartum body condition score remains to be determined. The objectives of this study were to investigate systemic biomarkers of energy balance and inflammation and the expression of lipid metabolismand inflammation-related genes in AT during the transition period in dairy cows.Results: Twenty multiparous Holstein cows were retrospectively divided by body condition score(BCS) prior to parturition into two groups(10 cows/group): BCS ≤ 3.25(Lo BCS) and BCS ≥ 3.75(Hi BCS). Subcutaneous adipose tissue was biopsied from the tail-head region at d-10, 7 and 20 relative to parturition. Plasma was used to evaluate biomarkers of energy balance(EBAL) [free fatty acids(NEFA), glycerol, insulin] and inflammation [IL-1β, haptoglobin, myeloperoxidase, and reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM)]. Although insulin concentration was not affected by BCS, NEFA was overal greater and glycerol lower in HiB CS cows. Greater activity of myeloperoxidase in plasma coincided with increased haptoglobin and IL-1β postpartum in LoB CS cows.Among genes related with oxidative stress, the expression of the cytosolic antioxidant enzyme SOD1 was greater in LoB CS compared to HiB CS. Cows in LoB CS compared with HiB CS had greater overal expression of ABDH5 and ATGL along with ADIPOQ, indicating enhanced basal lipolysis and secretion of adiponectin. Expression of CPT1 A, ACADVL, and ACOX1 was greater overal in HiB CS than LoB CS indicating enhanced NEFA oxidation. Although the temporal increase in plasma NEFA regardless of BCS coincided with the profile of CPT1 A, the gradual decrease in genes related with reesterification of NEFA(PCK1) and glycerol efflux(AQP7) coupled with an increase in glycerol kinase(GK) suggested some stimulation of NEFA utilization within adipose tissue. This idea is supported in part by the gradual decrease in insulin regardless of BCS. Although expression of the inflammation-related gene toll-like receptor 4( TLR4) was greater in Hi BCS versus Lo BCS cows at-10 d, expression of TLR9 was greater in Hi BCS versus Lo BCS at 20 d.These profiles did not seem to be associated with concentrations of pro-inflammatory biomarkers or ROM.Conclusions: Overall, data indicated that cows with BCS 3.25 or lower before calving experienced greater alterations in systemic inflammation and basal lipolysis without excessive increases in NEFA plasma concentrations.Despite the greater plasma NEFA around parturition, cows with BCS 3.75 or higher seemed to have a more active system for catabolism of NEFA and utilization of glycerol within adipose tissue. A linkage between those pathways and risk of disorders postpartum remains to be determined.     

半胱胺对肉仔鸡脂肪合成代谢的影响

21日龄艾维茵商品代肉仔鸡96只,随机分成2组,分别为基础日粮组和添加半胱胺(cysm ine,CS)组。研究CS对肉仔鸡血浆中胰岛素、肝脏中苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)水平的影响。结果表明:在42日龄以前,CS使体内胰岛素和MDH水平高于对照组;在42日龄以后,使体内胰岛素和MDH水平低于对照组。     

Carry-over effects of body condition in the early pregnant ewe on peri-partum adipose tissue metabolism

This study evaluated the carry‐over effects of ewe body reserves during early pregnancy on peri‐partum adipose tissue metabolism. Forty‐nine multiparous ewes were divided in three categories according to their body condition score (BCS) at day 30 of pregnancy (BCS < 3, 2.5–2.75; BCS = 3; BCS > 3, 3.25–3.5). Live‐weight (LW) and BCS gains from 1st to 4th month of pregnancy were greater in ewes with BCS < 3 and 3 than in >3 animals. In contrast, in the last month of pregnancy, there was BCS decrease in all groups, although LW continued increasing. There were no differences in LW or BCS across ewe categories during this period. Peripheral leptin levels throughout the three last weeks of pregnancy were greater in ewes with BCS > 3 than in the rest, but this difference did not persist after lambing. Plasma metabolites related to energy metabolism, milk yield and lamb growth were not affected by ewe BCS in early pregnancy. Long‐chain saturated milk fatty acids (FA) (C16–C24) were greater in ewes with lowest BCS (<3 and 3). Ewes with greater BCS showed greater monounsaturated and lowest polyunsaturated milk FA content. Ewe post‐mating body reserves affect both pre‐partum leptinaemia and post‐partum milk polyunsaturated fatty acids content, but it had little effect on lamb performance.     

GH对猪脂肪组织和Leptin分泌的调节

一般认为生长激素 (Growthhormone,GH)对动物的生长的调节是通过其受体 (GH -R)介导产生胰岛素样生长因子 - 1 (Insulinlikegrowthfactor -1 ,IGF - 1 ) ,再以内分泌方式作用于靶器官。而GH对脂肪的作用似乎是直接的 ,与IGF - 1无关 ,因为GH在体内试验的结果均可在体外试验中重现 ,而经IGF - 1处理的猪胴体组成没有重现GH处理的效应 (Etherton和Bauman ,1 998;Kindt等 ,1 998)。然而有试验表明 ,GH处理使生长猪皮下脂肪组织IGF - 1基因表达显著增高 (Coleman等 ,1 994;Brameld等 ,1 996) ,去垂体大鼠经GH处理其白色脂肪组织I…