Differential ammonia metabolism and toxicity between avian and mammalian species,and effect of ammonia on skeletal muscle: A comparative review

Comparative aspects of ammonia toxicity, specific to liver and skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle metabolism between avian and mammalian species are discussed in the context of models for liver disease and subsequent skeletal muscle wasting. The purpose of this review is to present species differences in ammonia metabolism and to specifically highlight observed differences in skeletal muscle response to excess ammonia in avian species. Ammonia, which is produced during protein catabolism and is an essential component of nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis, is detoxified mainly in the liver. While the liver is consistent as the main organ responsible for ammonia detoxification, there are evolutionary differences in ammonia metabolism and nitrogen excretory products between avian and mammalian species. In patients with liver disease and all mammalian models, inadequate ammonia detoxification and successive increased circulating ammonia concentration, termed hyperammonemia, leads to severe skeletal muscle atrophy, increased apoptosis and reduced protein synthesis, altogether having deleterious effects on muscle size and strength. Previously, an avian embryonic model, designed to determine the effects of increased circulating ammonia on muscle development, revealed that ammonia elicits a positive myogenic response. Specifically, induced hyperammonemia in avian embryos resulted in a reduction in myostatin, a well‐known inhibitor of muscle growth, expression, whereas myostatin expression is significantly increased in mammalian models of hyperammonemia. These interesting findings imply that species differences in ammonia metabolism allow avians to utilize ammonia for growth. Understanding the intrinsic physiological mechanisms that allow for ammonia to be utilized for growth has potential to reveal novel approaches to muscle growth in avian species and will provide new targets for preventing muscle degeneration in mammalian species.     

Reduction of urinary nitrogen excretion and ammonia emission from slurry by feeding a low protein diet supplemented with apple pomace to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing a reduced crude protein (CP) diet with apple pomace on the urinary nitrogen excretion and ammonia emission from slurry in the growing pigs. Four barrows (35 kg bodyweight) were assigned to one of two diets. Each pig was placed in a metabolism cage and fed a low CP, amino acid-supplemented diet (CP 11.33%; low CP diet) or a low CP, amino acid-supplemented diet containing 23.08% dried apple pomace (CP 9.47%; apple pomace diet) for two 14-day experimental periods. After the completion of the first period, the pigs were switched to the other diet. Urine and feces were quantitatively collected daily for 5 days after a 9-day adaptation period. The daily nitrogen intake for the low CP diet and the apple pomace diet was 17.76 g/pig and 18.64 g/pig, respectively. The pigs fed the apple pomace diet excreted more fecal nitrogen (6.86 g/day) than the pigs fed the low CP diet (3.63 g/day) ( P  < 0.001), but urinary nitrogen excretion with the apple pomace diet was 3.11 g/day, which was much lower than that for the low CP diet (5.95 g/day) ( P  < 0.001). The daily ammonia emission from the mixture of urine and feces determined by an in vitro method was much lower for pigs fed the apple pomace diet (120 mg) than that for pigs fed the low CP diet (603 mg) ( P  < 0.01). The addition of apple pomace to a reduced CP, amino acid-supplemented diet reduces urinary nitrogen excretion and thereby ammonia emission.     

湘岭猪不同世代、不同屠宰体重胴体性状和肌肉品质测定分析

试验旨在探讨不同世代、不同屠宰体重湘岭猪胴体性状和肌肉品质的差异.试验选择体重140 kg左右的湘岭猪Ⅰ世代阉公猪4头(组4),进行屠宰测定和肉质评定.另选择前期屠宰的零世代14头湘岭猪的屠宰测定数据作为对照,按宰前活重分为3组,分别为90 kg组(组1)、100 kg组(组2)、125 kg组(组3).结果表明:1)...     

肺炎支原体对大鼠气管平滑肌细胞损害作用的研究

采用贴片法进行大鼠气管平滑肌细胞的培养，将不同稀释度的肺炎支原体培养液接种于单层细胞中孵育。对次日收集的细胞上清液进行肺炎支原体的PCR反应检测，结果为阳性，而冲洗液反应阴性，表明支原体对细胞具有较强的粘附性；接种后7d内观察到细胞产生明显病变，部分细胞发生崩解、脱落。MTT法检测结果表明支原体使细胞活性明显降低，其致细胞死亡率随滴度增高而增加，提示肺炎支原体对大鼠气管平滑肌可产生很强的致病性，使呼吸道受到严重损伤。本研究为探讨肺炎支原体致病作用机制及新药筛选与评价提供一种新的方法。     

饲粮蛋白水平对肥育猪不同部位肌纤维发育增生的影响

试验比较研究了接近等氨基酸模式下,饲粮蛋白水平对肥育猪不同部位肌肉肌纤维发育增生的影响。饲粮蛋白水平分别为10%、18%、26%,试验选用平均体重约53kg的长×大二元杂交去势公猪54头。试验采用单因子完全随机区组设计,随机分为3个处理,每个处理3个重复(圈),每个重复6头猪,在接近等氨基酸模式TD-Lys:TD-Met:TD-Thr:TD-Trp=100:34.6:71.7:19.2,且在等能(14.2MJ/kg)条件下进行试验。采用石蜡切片方法,测定了肥育猪肌纤维横截面积、直径与密度,探讨在接近等氨基酸模式下饲粮蛋白水平对肥育猪肌纤维发育增生的影响。结果表明,通过提高饲粮蛋白质水平,进而提高动物体蛋白质的沉积效率,机体蛋白质含量的增加导致不同部位肌纤维横截面积和直径增大,即肌纤维体积增大,随着肌纤维的增粗,导致单位面积内肌纤维密度下降。     

Goblet cell hyperplasia and muscular layer thickening in the small intestine of a cynomolgus monkey

We report here the interesting case of a 5-year-old male cynomolgus monkey with goblet cell hyperplasia and thickening of the muscular layer throughout the small intestine without exhibiting any clinical symptoms. Necropsy examination showed diffuse thickening of the intestinal wall from the jejunum to the ileum, with an appearance likened to a rubber tube. Histopathologically, marked thickening was observed in both the mucosal and muscular layers in the jejunum and ileum, and slight thickening was observed in the duodenum. Goblet cell hyperplasia with extension of the circular folds and villi was prominently observed. The mucosal surface was covered with a thick mucus layer containing desquamated mucosal epithelial cells, and both the inner and outer muscular layers were markedly thickened due to smooth muscle hypertrophy. Neither macroscopic nor histopathological examination identified any causative factors, such as infection, enteritis and intestinal stenosis, or obstruction that may have caused development of this lesion. Given these observations, this case may simply be considered of spontaneous goblet cell hyperplasia and muscular layer thickening in the small intestine of a cynomolgus monkey.     

Effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide on villous height and disaccharidase activity of the small intestine,pH, VFA and ammonia concentrations in the large intestine of weaned pigs

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate changes in the lumen and wall of the intestinal tract of weaned pigs caused by fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and consequences for growth. Twelve male pigs weaned at 24 days were individually housed and fed either control, 0.25% FOS, or 3% FOS diets for 21 days after weaning. The pH of chyme in the caecum and proximal colon were lower (p<0.001) in 3% FOS compared to other treatments. Mean molar proportions (%) of total SCFA values along the large intestine were significantly affected by FOS diet. Acetic acid was significantly higher in control compared with other treatments. Butyric acid and isobutyric acid were significantly increased in 0.25 and 3% FOS compared to the control. Feed intake, empty body weight gain, disaccharidase activities and villous height in the small intestine were not significantly affected by FOS. It was concluded that dietary FOS stimulates fermentation in the large intestine, but does not significantly affect enzyme activity, ammonia content, villous height and growth.     

饲喂青绿全株玉米对肥育猪肉风味前体物质及营养特性的影响

为研究饲喂青绿全株玉米对肥育猪肉风味前体物质及营养特性的影响,试验选择健康无病、体重相近的杜长大三元杂交保育仔猪32头,随机分为4个组,每组8个重复(单栏饲养),对照组全程饲喂标准全价日粮,试验1组、试验2组和试验3组分别按生长期20%、30%、40%和肥育期40%、50%、60%比例的青绿全株玉米替代全价日粮进行饲喂,至平均约100 kg体重时,每组抽样屠宰6头,取样进行肉质测定。研究结果表明:饲喂青绿全株玉米对猪肉肌苷酸和胆固醇含量具有显著影响,与对照组相比,试验1组肌苷酸含量提高6.30%(P <0.05)、试验3组降低18.90%(P <0.05);试验2组、3组胆固醇含量分别降低6.95%、6.66%(P <0.05)。各试验组猪肌肉可溶性胶原蛋白(SC)、胶原蛋白溶解度(CS)差异显著,与对照组相比,试验1组SC提高11.32%(P <0.05),试验2组、3组有降低趋势(P> 0.05);试验1组CS提高9.16%(P <0.05),试验3组降低5.35%(P <0.05)。饲喂青绿全株玉米对猪肉中多数单体氨基酸、脂肪酸无显著影响,与对照组相比,试验组肌肉中总氨基酸(TAA)、必需氨基酸(EAA)、鲜味氨基酸(DAA)含量有降低趋势,而总多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)有升高趋势,但差异均不显著(P> 0.05)。研究证明,从保持和改善肉品风味及营养特性角度,猪生长期和肥育期按20%和40%的比例饲喂青绿全株玉米较为适宜。     

Effects of atmospheric ammonia on the production performance,serum biochemical indices,and liver RNA-seq data of laying ducks

ABSTRACT

1. Ammonia is a toxic gas and an air pollutant of great concern. The effects of ammonia-induced damage in ducks are rarely reported.

2. A total of 176 laying ducks were randomly allocated to one of two groups with four replicates and were exposed to ammonia at 5 ± 5 ppm (low ammonia, LA) or 75 ± 5 ppm (high ammonia, HA), respectively, for 30 days.

3. The results showed that atmospheric ammonia exposure significantly decreased body weight and laying performance (P < 0.05). It significantly changed serum biochemical indices by increasing alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and decreasing superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05). Haematoxylin and eosin staining of hepatocytes revealed severe fatty degeneration. Results of RNA-seq analyses revealed that eight genes were significantly up-regulated in the HA group, which were involved in catalytic activity, single-organism metabolic processes, oxidation-reduction processes, and carbohydrate metabolic processes.

4. These results indicated that atmospheric ammonia exposure reduced production performance, affected serum biochemical indices, and led to severe fatty degeneration in the liver of laying ducks. Differentially expressed genes in liver indicated that there were effects of ammonia exposure on the metabolism and detoxification capabilities in ducks.     

A morphometric study of the structural characteristics of the aorta in pigs using an image analysis method

The objective of this study was to evaluate multiple structural characteristics, in addition to vasa vasorum density, in different aortic regions. The aorta of healthy Landrace pigs was divided into four thoracic and three abdominal segments. Transverse sections were reserved for morphometric analysis. Image analysis showed the aortic diameter, the thickness of the media, the number of elastic lamellae and the thickness of elastic membranes being reduced with increased distance from the heart (P < 0.05). The average thickness of lamellar units remained constant in the thoracic, but increased in the abdominal aorta (P < 0.05). The number of lamellar units, contained in the avascular zone of the media, and the density of vasa vasorum decreased peripherally (P < 0.05), still the average thickness of the avascular zone was invariant. In conclusion, the anatomical properties of the vessel wall alter through the aorta, being optimal for the varying stresses to which the aorta is subjected along its length. The distinct aortic parts may exhibit inherent morphological features, responsible for the various pathological processes that affect the aorta.     

Differential regulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and liver of neonatal pigs by leucine through an mTORC1-dependent pathway

Neonatal growth is characterized by a high protein synthesis rate that is largely due to an enhanced sensitivity to the postprandial rise in insulin and amino acids, especially leucine. The mechanism of leucine’s action in vivo is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of leucine infusion on protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and liver of neonatal pigs. To evaluate the mode of action of leucine, we used rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex-1 (mTORC1). Overnight-fasted 7-day-old piglets were treated with rapamycin for 1 hour and then infused with leucine (400 μmol·kg -1 ·h -1 ) for 1 hour. Leucine infusion increased the rate of protein synthesis, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation in gastrocnemius and masseter muscles (P < 0.05), but not in the liver. The leucine-induced stimulation of protein synthesis and S6K1 and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation were completely blocked by rapamycin, suggesting that leucine action is by an mTORC1-dependent mechanism. Neither leucine nor rapamycin had any effect on the activation of the upstream mTORC1 regulators, AMP-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B, in skeletal muscle or liver. The activation of eIF2a and elongation factor 2 was not affected by leucine or rapamycin, indicating that these two pathways are not limiting steps of leucine-induced protein synthesis. These results suggest that leucine stimulates muscle protein synthesis in neonatal pigs by inducing the activation of mTORC1 and its downstream pathway leading to mRNA translation.     

The capacity of inspection on farm and at the abattoir to predict post-mortem outcomes in slaughter pigs: A study at animal level

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between ear, tail, and skin lesions, hernias, bursitis, and rectal prolapses at the abattoir and meat inspection outcomes in slaughter pigs, including carcass condemnations and trimmings, carcass weight, and carcass quality. This was an observational study whereby pigs were managed according to routine practices in a single abattoir. Data were collected from 1816 pigs. The relationship between animal-based welfare and post-mortem outcomes was analyzed using generalized mixed models (Proc Glimmix). Our findings showed that tail lesions were associated with entire carcass condemnations and trimmings (P < 0.001), a reduction in carcass weight (P < 0.05), and a potential to impair carcass quality by reducing muscle pH (P < 0.05), especially in carcasses from male pigs (P < 0.05). Additionally, hernias were associated with viscera condemnation (P < 0.05) and a reduction in carcass weight (P  < 0.05). Therefore, our findings confirm that ante-mortem inspection could be useful to predict post-mortem outcomes in the same pigs, especially in cases of tail lesions and hernia, which might trigger attention of the veterinary inspector in charge of the post-mortem inspection.     

A longer adaptation period to a functional amino acid-supplemented diet improves growth performance and immune status of Salmonella Typhimurium-challenged pigs

We recently showed that dietary supplementation with key functional amino acids (FAA) improves growth performance and immune status of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST)-challenged pigs. It is not known if ST-challenged pigs will benefit from a longer adaptation period to FAA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different adaptation periods to diets containing FAA above requirements for growth on performance and immune response of weaned pigs subsequently challenged with ST. A total of 32 mixed-sex weanling pigs (11.6 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, being a basal amino acid (AA) profile fed throughout the experimental period (FAA−) or a functional AA profile (FAA+; Thr, Met, and Trp at 120% of requirements) fed only in the postinoculation (FAA+0), for 1 wk pre- and postinoculation (FAA+1), or throughout the experimental period (FAA+2). After a 14-d adaptation period, pigs were inoculated with ST (2.15 × 10⁹ CFU/mL). Growth performance, body temperature, fecal score, acute-phase proteins, oxidant/antioxidant balance, score for ST shedding in feces and intestinal colonization, and fecal and digesta myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured pre- and postinoculation. Postinoculation body temperature and fecal score, serum haptoglobin, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and fecal MPO were increased while serum albumin and plasma reduced glutathione (GSH):oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were reduced compared to pre-inoculation (P < 0.05). Average daily gain and G:F were greater in FAA+2 pigs compared to FAA− pigs (P < 0.05). Serum albumin was higher in FAA+2 and FAA+1 compared to FAA+0 and FAA− pigs (P < 0.05) while FAA+2 pigs had lower haptoglobin compared to FAA− (P < 0.05). Plasma SOD was increased and GSH:GSSG was decreased in FAA− pigs compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05). Score for ST shedding in feces was progressively lower from d 1 to 6 regardless of treatment (P < 0.05) and was lower in FAA+2 pigs compared to FAA− and FAA+0 (P < 0.05). Counts of ST in colon digesta were higher in FAA− and FAA+0 pigs compared to FAA+2 (P < 0.05). Fecal and colonic digesta MPO were lower in FAA+2 and FAA+1 pigs compared to FAA− (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate a positive effect of a longer adaptation period to FAA-supplemented diets on performance and immune status of weaned pigs challenged with Salmonella.     

那西肽对生长肥育猪的作用效果及其在产品中的残留

选择32头30kg左右健康的二元杂交生长猪, 随机分为4组, 每组8头, 个体饲喂, 4组均喂相同的基础饲粮, 但添加不同饲用抗生素,分别是低、高剂量那西肽(10mg/kg、50mg/kg)、盐霉素(30mg/kg) 和对照。猪体重达90kg时, 分别按0、3和7d停药后屠宰, 检测那西肽在样品各器官中的残留量。结果表明: 那西肽可显著提高生长肥育猪的采食量和日增重(P<0 05), 但是对料重比的改善作用不明显; 当检测灵敏度为0 01mg/kg时, 在低、高剂量那西肽组猪的心脏、肝脏、肾脏和背最长肌中, 均未检出那西肽。     

HABP4基因在大白猪和莱芜猪杂交一代中表达量差异研究

采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测透明质酸接合蛋白（HABP4）基因在大白猪和莱芜猪2种杂交子代背最长肌组织中的表达水平差异情况。试验结果表明,HABP4基因在所检测的背最长肌组织中均有表达。且在2种杂交一代背最长肌组织中的表达水平有所不同。HABP4基因的表达量在正交一代的背最长肌中显著高于反交一代。本试验为猪屠宰性状的改良提供了分子遗传学依据,并为深入研究不同品种猪体内HABP4基因的生物学作用及作用机制奠定了基础。     

纳米载铜蒙脱石对断奶仔猪生长、肠道菌群及其肠黏膜形态的影响

选用128头健康“杜长大”三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为对照组、CuSO4组、纳米蒙脱石(MMT)组和MMT-Cu组,分别饲喂基础日粮(对照组)、基础日粮+78 mg/kg Cu2+(CuSO4.5H2O,相当于MMT-Cu中Cu2+的量)、基础日粮+2.0 g/kgMMT、基础日粮+2.0 g/kgMMT-Cu。结果表明,与对照组相比,MMT-Cu组能显著提高(P<0.05)断奶仔猪的平均日增重、饲料转化效率及小肠绒毛高度、绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值,显著降低(P<0.05)腹泻率及小肠、结肠内容物中大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量;而MMT组也显著降低(P<0.05)仔猪腹泻率,提高(P<0.05)小肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值。与MMT组或CuSO4组相比,MMT-Cu组能显著(P<0.05)提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重和饲料转化效率(P<0.05),显著降低了(P<0.05)小肠和结肠内容物中大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量。     

皖南花猪骨骼肌AdpR和MyHCmRNA表达的发育性变化

摘要：为探讨皖南花猪骨骼肌组织中脂联素受体（AdpRl、AdpR2）和不同类型肌球蛋白重链（MyHC）mRNA的发育性变化及性别差异,选择0（出生当天）、30、45、90、180日龄的皖南花猪公母各5头,以B～Actin为内标,采用△△Ct相对定量实时荧光PCR方法对背最长肌和半腱肌中AdpRl、AdpR2、MyHCI、MyHC2a、MyHC2b和My-HC2xmRNA进行定量分析。结果显示,背最长肌和半腱肌AdpRl、AdpR2、MyHCl、MyHC2a、MyHC2b和My—HC2XmRNA的表达都有显著或极显著的发育变化规律（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。总体上AdpRl、AdpR2、My—HC2a、MyHC2b和MyHC2XmRNA在背最长肌显著或极显著高于半腱肌（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）;MyHClmRNA在背最长肌极显著低于半腱肌（P〈0．01）。半腱肌MyHClmRNA在母猪显著大于公猪（P〈0．05）,而MyHC2amRNA在母猪显著小于公猪（P〈0．05）。背最长肌和半腱肌AdpR2mRNA的表达分别与MyHCl正相关（P〈0．05）,半腱肌AdpRlmRNA的表达与MyHC2x正相关（P〈0．05）。结果表明,皖南花猪骨骼肌组织中AdpR和MyHC的基因表达有特定的发育模式和组织特异性,且有一定性别差异。     

The use of alfaxalone for premedication,induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in pigs: a pilot study

Objective

The evaluation of alfaxalone as a premedication agent and intravenous anaesthetic in pigs.