Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide on inflammatory responses,milk production and milk quality in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous low dose infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory responses and milk production and quality in lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in a cross‐over experimental design. Cows were infused intravenously either with saline solution or with saline solution containing LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4 at a dose of 0.01 μg LPS/kg body weight for approximately 6 hr each day during a seven‐day trial. The clinical symptoms and milk production performance were observed. Milk samples were analysed for conventional components, fatty acids and amino acids. And jugular vein and mammary vein plasma samples were analysed for concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins. LPS infusion decreased feed intake and milk yield. An increase in body temperature was observed after LPS infusion. LPS infusion also increased plasma concentrations of interleukin‐1β, serum amyloid A, LPS‐binding protein, C‐reactive protein and haptoglobin. LPS infusion decreased the contents of some fatty acids, such as C17:1, C18:0, C18:1n9 (trans) and C18:2n6 (trans), and most amino acids except for methionine, threonine, histidine, cysteine, tyrosine and proline in the milk. The results indicated that a continued low dose infusion of LPS can induce an inflammatory response, decrease milk production and reduce milk quality.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Based serum metabolomics analysis reveals simultaneous interconnecting changes during chicken embryonic development

Metabolic disorder is a major health problem and is associated with a number of metabolic diseases. Due to native hyperglycaemia and resistance to exogenous insulin, chickens as a model had used in the studies of adipose tissue biology, metabolism and obesity. But no detailed information is available about the comprehensive changes of serum metabolites at different stages of chicken embryonic development. This study employed LC/MS‐QTOF to determine the changes of major functional metabolites at incubation day 14 (E14d), 19 (E19d) and hatching day 1 (H1d), and the associated pathways of differential metabolites during chicken embryonic development were analysed using Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis method. Results showed that 39 metabolites were significantly changed from E14d to E19d and 68 metabolites were significantly altered from E19d to H1d in chicken embryos. Protein synthesis was promoted by increasing the concentrations of L‐glutamine and threonine, and gonadal development was promoted through increasing oestrone content from E14d to E19d in chicken embryos, which indicated that serum glutamine, threonine and oestrone contents may be considered as the candidate indicators for assessment of early embryonic development. 2‐oxoglutaric acid mainly contributed to enhancing the citric cycle, and it plays an important role in improving the growth of chicken embryos at the late development; the decreasing of L‐glutamine, L‐isoleucine and L‐leucine contents from E19d to H1d in chicken embryonic development implied their possible functions as the feed additive during early posthatch period of broiler chickens to satisfy the growth. These results provided insights into understand the roles of serum metabolites at different developmental stages of chicken embryos, it also provides available information for chicken as a model to study metabolic disease or human obesity.     

基质对黑果腺肋花楸幼苗生长的影响

以黑果腺肋花楸(Aronia melanocarpa)为试验材料,选用田园土、泥炭土、珍珠岩和黄沙,采用正交试验设计,研究不同基质配比对黑果腺肋花楸成苗率以及幼苗形态指标和生理指标的影响。结果表明,不同育苗基质对黑果腺肋花楸出苗率、苗高、地径、主根长、侧根数和高径比等形态指标以及根系活力、可溶性糖、淀粉和蛋白质等生理指标的影响差异显著,综合分析各项指标,筛选出适合黑果腺肋花楸容器育苗的栽培基质为田园土(40%)+泥炭土(30%)+黄沙(30%)、田园土(40%)+珍珠岩(30%)+黄沙(30%)、田园土(40%)+泥炭土(30%)+珍珠岩(30%)和田园土(60%)+泥炭土(20%)+黄沙(20%)。     

紫花苜蓿9个盐响应相关基因表达模式

紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)是世界上种植面积最大、应用最广泛的豆科牧草。由于其耐盐性中等,其在我国北方地区的产量和种植受到土壤盐渍化的限制。因此提高紫花苜蓿的耐盐性具有重要的科学和生产意义。为此,以龙牧801紫花苜蓿(M.sativa‘Longmu 801’)为试验材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了不同浓度NaCl胁迫下9个盐胁迫蛋白质组筛选出的盐响应相关基因的表达模式。结果显示,处理时间和处理浓度对9个基因的相对表达量均有显著性影响,表明这9个基因均在紫花苜蓿盐胁迫应答中发挥着一定作用。处理1h时,G6PI、ABP19a、Trx-h1、PR bet 1、FBPA、6PGDH和ALDH这7个基因的相对表达量在不同NaCl胁迫浓度处理的紫花苜蓿中均显著上调,RRM和GDPD在NaCl处理2h后开始上调。除G6PI基因,其他8个基因在0.4%NaCl处理下相对表达量显著高于0.2%和0.8%NaCl处理。这些基因参与糖代谢、信号转导和胁迫响应。以上结果表明,紫花苜蓿的耐盐性极其复杂,涉及到多基因的表达和代谢通路的调控。研究结果有助于全面研究并了解紫花苜蓿的盐响应相关基因的表达模式,促进紫花苜蓿耐盐分子育种。     

垄作模式下甜高粱对农田渍害胁迫的响应

我国长江中下游地区常年降水较多,易形成农田渍害。为探究渍害胁迫对甜高粱(Sorghum dochna)产量性状和抗氧化酶系统的影响,设计了平作和垄作两个处理,在甜高粱三叶期对其进行渍水处理,测定并比较各处理的抗氧化酶系统活性和产量性状。结果表明,苗期遭受渍害胁迫,垄作处理下甜高粱的茎粗、单株干重、叶数、叶面积指数均显著高于平作(P0.05)。株高和茎叶比在两个处理间无显著差异(P0.05);与平作处理相比,渍害胁迫下甜高粱叶片的抗氧化酶[超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)]活性更强。研究表明,垄作耕作方式能够提高甜高粱耐受渍害胁迫的能力,获得更高的产量。     

重庆市部分地区H5和H7重组禽流感病毒二价灭活苗免疫效果监测

2017年7月7日,农业部决定对全国家禽开展H7亚型流感免疫。为了掌握重组禽流感病毒(H5+H7)二价灭活苗的免疫效果,2017年8—9月,重庆市动物疫病预防控制中心进行了控制性试验和大面积临床监测。控制试验结果表明:首免15 d后,H7亚型禽流感抗体合格率可达70.00%,H5亚型抗体合格率仅为10.00%;首免22 d后,H7亚型禽流感抗体合格率达到93.33%,H5亚型抗体合格率达到60.00%;该疫苗未出现严重免疫副反应;H7亚型禽流感抗体产生的时间早于H5亚型。随机选取5个区县,采集414份免疫血清进行监测。结果显示:二价灭活苗免疫21 d后,H5和H7亚型禽流感抗体平均合格率分别为92.27%和76.00%;5个区县的抗体水平存在差异;蛋鸡抗体水平高于肉鸡。控制试验及临床监测结果提示,该疫苗免疫效果确实,但部分区县仍存在免疫抗体水平不高的养禽场。因此,在新旧疫苗交替使用期间,各地应高度重视高致病性H5和H7亚型禽流感防治工作,尤其是肉鸡。     

试论我国“注水肉”监管技术体系建设

"注水肉"监管存在判定标准单一的问题,亟须建立畜禽肉监管技术体系。本文借鉴发达国家"消费理念引导"和"市场行为约束"理念,提出以"正常为主"为判定原则,从畜禽宰前管理、屠宰及市场监管多环节入手,通过畜禽行为学、组织形态学、正常肉敏感指标范围、近红外等特征图谱,以及畜禽肉水分限量等指标,提出了构建"注水肉"监管技术体系的新思路。