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.     

Hyperglycaemia in transition dairy cows: Effects of lactational stage and conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on glucose metabolism and turnover

Supplementing conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA ) is supposed to spare glucose due to the milk fat‐depressing effect of the trans ‐10, cis ‐12 CLA isomer, and allows repartitioning nutrients despite an energy deficiency in early lactation. However, there is still a lack of knowledge in terms of the dynamic pattern of the glucose turnover in transition dairy cows. We hypothesized that dairy cows supplemented with CLA have an altered rate of glucose turnover and insulin sensitivity during early lactation. We conducted three consecutive hyperglycaemic clamps (HGC ) in weeks ?2, +2 and +4 relative to parturition in Holstein cows supplemented daily either with 70 g of lipid‐encapsulated CLA (6.8 g trans ‐10, cis ‐12 and 6.6 g of the cis ‐9, trans ‐11 CLA isomer; CLA ; n  = 11) or with 56 g of control fat ( CON ; n  = 11). From week ?3 up to week +4 relative to parturition, milk yield and dry matter intake (DMI ) were recorded daily, while body weight (BW ) and milk composition were obtained once weekly. Blood samples were taken once weekly and every 30 min during the HGC . Plasma was analysed for concentrations of glucose, fatty acids (FFA ), beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB ), insulin, triglycerides and cholesterol. The CLA supplementation did not affect performance and metabolic parameters except for BHB and cholesterol. Furthermore, insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity were affected by treatment. During the HGC in early lactation, insulin response was lower and decrease in FFA and BHB greater compared with the HGC in week ?2 although glucose target concentration achieved during the steady‐state period was similar for all three HGC . Our findings in terms of insulin and cholesterol suggest that body reserves are preserved through CLA feeding without restraining animal's performance. Furthermore, CLA effects on cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations indicated beneficial effects on hepatic lipid export contributing to an improved efficiency of prevailing metabolites in circulation.     

Effects of a DHA‐rich unextracted microalgae as a dietary supplement on performance,carcass traits and meat fatty acid profile in growing‐finishing pigs

Two 125‐day experiments of the same design were conducted to evaluate the effects of a heterotrophically grown microalgae (AURA) containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on pig performance, carcass traits and the fatty acid composition of lean and adipose tissue. In each experiment, 144 Hypor pigs were blocked by sex, allocated to three treatment groups, and fed 0, 0.25% or 0.50% AURA in isonutritive, isocaloric diets. Pigs were weighed on days 0, 28, 56, 84 and 112. Feed and water intakes were measured every 28 days. Pigs were slaughtered on day 125. Data from the two studies were analysed as a single data set. Performance and carcass traits did not differ between treatments. Both microalgae treatment levels enriched (p < .05) Longissimus lumborum (LL) and backfat in DHA and improved (p < .05) their ratios of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids.     

Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet

Threonine has been reported to be the second limiting amino acid in typical equine diets, but its actual requirement has not been determined in horses. To evaluate amino acid metabolism and requirements, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been successfully used in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate threonine requirements in mature horses fed timothy hay and concentrate in 4:1 ratio using the IAAO method. Six Thoroughbred mares (579.9 ± 46.7 kg) received each of 6 levels of threonine intake, 41, 51, 61, 70, 80 and 89 mg/kg BW/day, in a randomly determined order. Each study period was 7‐day long, and on day 6, blood samples were collected before and 90 min after feeding to measure amino acid concentrations using HPLC. On day 7, horses underwent IAAO procedures, which included a 2‐hr primed, constant intravenous infusion of [¹³C]sodium bicarbonate to measure total CO₂ production and a 4‐hr primed, constant oral administration of [1‐¹³C]phenylalanine to estimate phenylalanine oxidation to CO₂. Blood and breath samples were collected to measure blood [¹³C]phenylalanine, using GC‐MS analysis and breath ¹³CO₂ enrichment, using an infrared isotope analyser. Increasing threonine intake levels did not affect plasma phenylalanine oxidation by the ANOVA test (p > 0.05) but resulted in a linear decrease in phenylalanine oxidation (p = 0.04) without a breakpoint by the orthogonal linear contrast. This study is the first attempt to evaluate threonine requirements in horses by the IAAO method; however, threonine requirements are still unknown in mature horses at this time.     

氨基酸菌肥施用量对茶树生长及土壤肥力的影响

为探究不同氨基酸菌肥施用量对茶树生长和土壤肥力含量的影响,以鸿雁12号茶树为研究对象,采用田间微区试验的方法,设置了不施用氨基酸菌肥作对照组(CK)和氨基酸菌肥施用量分别为75 kg·hm^-2(T1)、150 kg·hm^-2(T2)、225 kg·hm^-2(T3)和300 kg·hm^-2(T4)的处理,研究不同氨基酸菌肥施用量对茶树生长、茶叶品质及土壤肥力的影响。结果表明：氨基酸菌肥施用后能显著增加茶叶芽头密度及茶叶产量,提高茶叶中氨基酸含量和土壤中碱解氮含量。试验6个月后与CK相比,T4组的芽头密度显著增加了63.4%,茶叶产量显著增加了71.5%;T1～T4处理茶叶中氨基酸含量分别增加了9.73%、6.41%、7.57%和13.2%,土壤中碱解氮含量分别增加了25.0%、36.0%、46.0%和37.6%。综上,氨基酸菌肥的施用能提高茶叶产量及品质,改善茶园土壤环境质量,为茶园生产的合理施肥及优质高效生产提供数据参考。     

多酚羧酸合成功能高分子材料研究(Ⅱ)——没食子酰化改性纤维素合成及其功能特性试验

以没食子酰基为功能基团,以改性纤维素为骨架合成功能高分子材料没食子酰化改性纤维素(没食子酰基-1,6-己二亚胺基-羟丙基-纤维素,CG):先将纤维素与环氧氯丙烷反应,然后依次接上己二胺桥链和三乙酰基没食子酰基,最后将没食子酰基脱去乙酰基得到目标产物。功能试验表明,1g产物能结合明胶49.5mg,并可再生使用。1g产物络合金属离子的能力:Fe3 53.4mg,Cu2 38.7mg,Hg2 46.5mg,Mn2 6.8mg,Zn2 27.9mg,Pb2 57.2mg。产物在稀酸、稀碱、稀醇和热水中具有稳定性。     

不同调酸剂对种植玉米红壤微生物群落的影响

为研究红壤微生物丰度和群落组成对不同调酸剂的响应,分析影响碳/氮关键代谢过程微生物的变化,通过盆栽实验,设置不施肥（CK）、钙镁复合剂（L）、钙镁复合剂配施猪粪（ML）和钙镁复合剂配施秸秆（SL）4个处理,采用宏基因组测序技术,分析土壤细菌、真菌和古菌以及碳/氮代谢关键过程微生物。结果表明：L、ML和SL处理显著提高土壤pH值和交换性钙/镁,显著降低土壤交换性酸。调酸剂增加了细菌优势菌中的变形菌门相对丰度,降低了绿弯菌门和酸杆菌门相对丰度;降低了真菌优势菌中的毛霉菌门相对丰度;增加了古菌优势菌中的广古菌门和深古菌门的相对丰度,降低了奇古菌门的相对丰度。冗余分析结果显示,速效钾是影响土壤细菌和真菌群落结构的主要环境因子,土壤pH和有机碳是影响土壤真菌和古菌群落结构组成的关键因子。碳代谢过程的贡献度方面,变形菌门的贡献度在SL处理中最高,放线菌门和芽单胞菌门的贡献度在ML处理中最高。氮代谢过程中,各处理绿弯菌门对硝化作用的贡献率均超过80%。调酸降低了绿弯菌门和酸杆菌门在反硝化与硝酸盐异化还原过程中的贡献度,L与SL处理的变形菌门贡献度低于ML处理,而ML处理的放线菌门贡献度高于L与SL处...     

外源阿魏酸抑制鲜切苹果褐变机制研究

苹果在鲜切过程中易因遭受机械损伤而引发褐变,严重影响其感官品质、风味和商品价值。采用不同浓度外源阿魏酸溶液对鲜切‘红富士’苹果进行浸泡处理,以研究其抑制鲜切苹果褐变的机制。结果表明：1、5、8、10 g/L 的阿魏酸浸泡处理均能有效抑制鲜切苹果褐变,10 g/L 阿魏酸浸泡处理10 min 对鲜切苹果褐变的抑制效果最优;10 g/L 阿魏酸处理显著提高了鲜切苹果超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性及1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（DPPH）自由基、2,2-联氨-双-3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸（ABTS）阳离子自由基的清除率,抑制了贮藏后期多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性,降低了表儿茶素等单一酚的含量,提高了对香豆酸的含量;添加5 mg/mL 表儿茶素会促进苹果浆液褐变,而添加5、10、20、40 mg/mL 对香豆酸均能抑制苹果浆液褐变。综上所述,外源阿魏酸处理可通过提高SOD 活性、抗氧化能力、内源褐变抑制物含量以及降低褐变底物含量来减轻鲜切苹果褐变。     

剩余污泥腐植酸的提取和对作物幼苗建成的影响

为解决IHSS （国际腐植酸协会）推荐法提取剩余污泥腐植酸参数不明确和剩余污泥腐植酸提取研究中缺乏其毒性效应评价等问题,利用响应曲面法得到剩余污泥腐植酸提取的最佳条件,并分析了腐植酸理化特性及其对作物幼苗建成的影响。结果表明,腐植酸提取的最佳条件：碱浓度为0.19 mol·L^-1,碱泥比（mL∶g）为11.6,振荡时间为3.8 h,提取量为96.1 mg·g^-1。相较于推荐法的腐植酸提取量增加了118%。提取所得腐植酸的元素分析显示,O/C为0.84,H/C为0.14,C/N为4.43;傅里叶变换红外光谱和凝胶渗透色谱分析显示,剩余污泥腐植酸存在羧基、醇羟基和酚羟基等含氧官能团,重均分子量为8 856 Da。此外,在500 mg·L^-1施用条件下,该腐植酸对大白菜和萝卜种子发芽率和子叶光合色素含量均无显著影响,而对大白菜种子胚根伸长具有显著促进作用。综上,通过优化提取条件可显著提高腐植酸提取量,剩余污泥腐植酸腐殖化程度与芳香化程度均较高,分子量较小,生物活性较强,且低浓度下对作物早期生长无不良影响。