Search

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary digestible energy (DE) density (13.0 or 14.5 MJ/kg) and apparent ileal digestible lysine:energy (Lys:DE) ratio (0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 g/MJ) on growth performance, meat quality, and PPARγ gene expression of muscle and adipose tissues in Landrace x Rongchang crossbred pigs. One hundred and eight (71.22±0.04 kg body weight) crossbred (Landrace x Rongchang) castrated male pigs were blocked by BW and allotted to 36 pens (three pigs per pen), and pens were randomly assigned within blocks to one of six dietary treatments arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial design, with two DE levels (13.0 or 14.5 MJ/kg) and three Lys:DE ratios (0.40, 0.50, or 0.60 g/MJ). Over the 46-d trial, dietary energy density had no effect on average daily gain (ADG) (P=0.48), however, pigs fed high-energy diets had decreasing average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the ratio of feed intake and gain (F/G) (P<0.05). Feeding of the diet with the highest Lys:DE ratio resulted in increased F/G (P<0.05) compared with other experimental diets. Increasing energy density increased hot carcass, dressing percentage and intramuscular fat (IMF) content (P<0.05). Furthermore, IMF content decreased with increasing Lys:DE ratio (P<0.05). An energy density x Lys:DE ratio interaction on slaughter weight and shearing force was observed (P<0.05). In addition, pigs fed 14.5 MJ/kg had decreasing IMF content as Lys:DE ratio increased (linear and quadratic, P<0.05), but increasing muscle pH45 min (linear, P<0.05). There was a quadratic effect on shearing force (P<0.05) as Lys:DE ratio increased for pigs fed 13.0 MJ/kg. Increasing dietary DE enhanced the expression of PPARγ (P<0.05) in muscle tissues, whereas the mRNA levels of PPARγ decreased (P<0.05) as Lys:DE ratio increased. The results of this study indicated that a reasonably reduced Lys:DE ratio diet increased intramuscular fat deposition and improved pork tenderness. This could be partly related to the increased gene expression of PPARγ in muscle tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokine storms are associated with severe pathological damage and death in some diseases. Excessive activation of M1 macrophages and the subsequent secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines are a major cause of cytokine storms. Therefore, promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages to restore immune balance is a promising therapeutic strategy for treating cytokine storm syndrome (CSS). This study was aimed at investigating the potential protective effects of leucine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced CSS in mice and exploring the underlying mechanisms. CSS was induced by LPS administration in mice, which were concurrently administered leucine orally. In vitro, bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) were polarized to M1 and M2 phenotypes with LPS and interleukin-4 (IL-4), respectively, and treated with leucine. Leucine decreased mortality in mice treated with lethal doses of LPS. Specifically, leucine decreased M1 polarization and promoted M2 polarization, thus diminishing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and ameliorating CSS in mice. Further studies revealed that leucine-induced macrophage polarization through the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)/liver X receptor α (LXRα) pathway, which synergistically enhanced the expression of the IL-4-induced M2 marker Arg1 and subsequent M2 polarization. In summary, this study revealed that leucine ameliorates CSS in LPS mice by promoting M2 polarization through the mTORC1/LXRα/Arg1 signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that a fundamental link between metabolism and immunity contributes to the resolution of inflammation and the repair of damaged tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial-derived products, including short chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide and secondary bile acids, have been shown to participate in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. Previous studies have demonstrated that prebiotics, such as oligosaccharide and inulin, have abilities to change the concentration of microbial-derived products through modulating the microbial community structure, thus controlling body weight and alleviating hepatic fat accumulation. However, recent evidence indicates that there are individual differences in host response upon inulin treatment due to the differences in host microbial composition before dietary intervention. Probably it is because of the multiple relationships among bacterial species (e.g., competition and mutualism), which play key roles in the degradation of inulin and the regulation of microbial structure. Thereby, analyzing the composition and function of initial gut microbiota is essential for improving the efficacy of prebiotics supplementation. Furthermore, considering that different structures of polysaccharides can be used by different microorganisms, the chemical structure of processed inulin should be tested before using prebiotic inulin to treat obesity related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), an analogue of endogenous N-acetyl-glutamate (an activator of arginine synthesis) has been shown to enhance neonatal growth by increasing circulating arginine levels. However, the effect of NCG on pregnancy remains unknown. This study examined the effects of NCG on pregnancy outcome and evaluated potential mechanisms involved. Reproductive performance, embryo implantation, and concentration of amino acids in serum and uterine flushing, were determined in rats fed control or NCG supplemented diets. Ishikawa cells and JAR cells were used to examine the mechanism by which NCG affects embryo implantation. Dietary NCG supplementation increased serum levels of arginine, onithine, and proline, as well as uterine levels of arginine, glutamine, glutamate, and proline. Additionally, it stimulated LIF expression, and enhanced the activation of signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), protein kinase B (PKB), and 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1) during the periimplantation period, resulting in an increase in litter size but not birth weight. In uterine Ishikawa cells, LIF expression was also enhanced by treatment with arginine and its metabolites. In trophoblast JAR cells, treatment with arginine and its metabolites enhanced Stat3, PKB, and S6K1 activation and facilitated cellular adhesion activity. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin) and mammalian target of rapamycin (rapamycin). The results demonstrate that NCG supplementation enhances pregnancy outcome and have important implications for the pregnancy outcome of mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threonine is of great importance for the maintenance of intestinal health. However, little is known about the optimal level of dietary threonine for neonates or the underlying mechanisms of its beneficial action. Our objective in this study was to determine the effects of graded levels of true ileal digestible (TID) threonine on the intestinal mucosal barrier in weanling pigs. Four groups of piglets (n = 8/group) were fed for 14 d diets containing 0.37, 0.74, 0.89, or 1.11% TID threonine. The duodenal mucosa of piglets fed the 0.37 and 1.11% TID threonine diets exhibited distorted villus architecture. Compared with pigs fed the 0.74 and 0.89% TID threonine diets, apoptosis was higher (P< 0.05) in pigs fed the 1.11% TID threonine diet. Feeding 0.37 and 1.11% TID threonine reduced (P < 0.05) concentrations of ileal acidomucins and duodenal sulfomucins, respectively, compared with the 0.74% TID threonine group. Compared with piglets fed the 0.89% TID threonine diet, the total amounts of mucins in duodenum, as well as expression of MUC2 mRNA in duodenum and jejunum, were reduced (P < 0.05) in piglets fed the 0.37 and 1.11% TID threonine diets. Collectively, these findings indicate that a deficiency or excess of dietary threonine affects the intestinal mucosal barrier and that the optimal level of dietary TID threonine for supporting gut barrier function is 0.89% for weanling pigs. These new findings have important implications for both the maintenance of normal physiological functions and the prevention of gut-related diseases in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrates represent the most important energy source in the diet of humans and animals. A large number of studies have shown that dietary carbohydrates (DCHO) are related to the bacterial community in the gut, but their relationship with the composition of intestinal fungi is still unknown. Here, we report the response of the colonic fungal community to different compositions of DCHO in a pig model. Three factors, ratio (2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) of amylose to amylopectin (AM/AP), level of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP; 1%, 2%, and 3%), and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS; 400, 800, and 1,200mg/kg body weight), were considered according to an L9 (34) orthogonal design to form nine diets with different carbohydrate compositions. Sequencing based on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 region showed that the fungal community in the colon of the pigs responded to DCHO in the order of MOS, AM/AP, and NSP. A large part of some low-abundance fungal genera correlated with the composition of DCHO, represented by Saccharomycopsis, Mrakia, Wallemia, Cantharellus, Eurotium, Solicoccozyma, and Penicillium, were also associated with the concentration of glucose and fructose, as well as the activity of b-D-glucosidase in the colonic digesta, suggesting a role of these fungi in the degradation of DCHO in the colon of pigs. Our study provides direct evidence for the relationship between the composition of DCHO and the fungal community in the colon of pigs, which is helpful to understand the function of gut microorganisms in pigs. IMPORTANCE Although fungi are a large group of microorganisms along with bacteria and archaea in the gut of monogastric animals, the nutritional significance of fungi has been ignored for a long time. Our previous studies revealed a distinct fungal community in the gut of grazing Tibetan pigs (J. Li, D. Chen, B. Yu, J. He, et al., Microb Biotechnol 13:509-521, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13507) and a close correlation between fungal species and short-chain fatty acids, the main microbial metabolites of carbohydrates in the hindgut of pigs (J. Li, Y. Luo, D. Chen, B. Yu, et al., J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 104:616-628, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13300). These groundbreaking findings indicate a potential relationship between intestinal fungi and the utilization of DCHO. However, no evidence directly proves the response of intestinal fungi to changes in DCHO. Here, we show a clear alteration of the colonic fungal community in pigs triggered by different compositions of DCHO simulated by varied concentrations of starch, nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP), and oligosaccharides. Our results highlight the potential involvement of intestinal fungi in the utilization of nutrients in monogastric animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on performance, egg quality, tibia quality, and serum hormones concentration in laying hens reared under high stocking density. A total of 800 45-week-old Lohmann laying hens were randomly allotted into a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of dietary 25-OH-D3 levels (0 and 69 μg/kg) and 2 rates of stocking densities [506 (low density) and 338 (high density) cm²/hen]. Laying hens were monitored for 16 wk. High stocking density decreased laying rate, egg weight, and feed intake compared with low stocking density (P < 0.01) during 1 to 8 wk and 1 to 16 wk. Overall, high stocking density increased eggshell lightness value and decreased shell redness and yellowness value, strength, thickness, and relative weight compared with low stocking density (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 25-OH-D3 reduced the value of the eggshell lightness and increased its yellowness and eggshells weight (P ≤ 0.05). The increase in eggshell thickness was more pronounced when 25-OH-D3 was supplemented to layers under high stocking density (interaction, P < 0.05). Layers under high stocking density had lower ash content and calcium content in the tibia than layers under low stocking density (P = 0.04); dietary 25-OH-D3 increased tibia strength compared with no addition (P = 0.05). Layers under high stocking density had higher serum concentrations of 25-OH-D3, corticosterone (CORT), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and osteocalcin (OC; P < 0.05), lower content of parathyroid hormone (PTH) compared with layers under low stocking density (P < 0.01). Dietary 25-OH-D3 increased serum concentration of 25-OH-D3, carbonic anhydrase (CA), and calcitonin (CT) (P < 0.01) and reduced corticosterone, lipopolysaccharide and osteocalcin concentration (P ≤ 0.05). The increase effect in PTH was more pronounced when 25-OH-D3 was supplemented to layers under high stocking density (interaction, P = 0.05). Overall, the results gathered in this study indicate that high stocking density result in reducing production performance, shell color and quality, and tibia health, whereas dietary 25-OH-D3 was able to maintain tibia health and to mitigate the negative impact of high stocking density on productive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of adding 130 mg/kg Cu from either copper sulfate (CS) or tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) on growth performance, mineral deposition in tissues, and the excretion in feces of pigs as well as changes in the mineral contents in tissues and feces when the supplemental Cu level was decreased from 130 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg. Methods: A total of 72 pigs (32.6±1.2 kg) were randomly assigned to a CS diet or a TBCC diet with 6 pens per treatment. The trial lasted 102 d and included 3 phases (phase 1, 1 to 30 d; phase 2, 31 to 81 d; and phase 3, 82 to 102 d). The supplemental levels of Cu in the 2 treatments were 130 mg/kg in phase 1 and 2 and 10 mg/kg in phase 3. Results: The results showed that pigs fed the CS diet tended to have higher average daily gain than pigs fed the TBCC diet during d 1 to 81 (p<0.10). Compared with CS, TBCC increased the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), ceruloplasmin, and superoxide dismutase in serum on d 30 (p<0.05). The TBCC decreased the Cu level in the liver on d 81 (p<0.05) and increased the Mn level in the liver on d 102 (p<0.05). The concentration of Cu in feces sharply decreased when the supplemental Cu level in diet changed from 130 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg in both diets (p<0.05). Conclusion: The result suggested that TBCC and CS had no significant difference on growth performance but TBCC had higher activities of AST and antioxidant enzymes and lower liver Cu than CS when pigs fed diets with 130 mg Cu /kg diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a natural phenolic acid, which is an important component of biologically active dietary phenols isolated from various species. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of CGA on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, nutrient digestibility, diarrhea incidence, intestinal digestion and absorption function, and the expression levels of intestinal digestion and absorption-related genes in weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, 200 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg CGA, respectively, in a 14-d trial. Pigs on the 1,000 mg/kg CGA-supplemented group had greater (P < 0.05) G:F compared with those on the control (CON) group. In Exp. 2, 24 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to two groups and fed with a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg CGA (the optimum does from Exp. 1; CGA group). After a 14-d trial, 8 pigs per treatment were randomly selected to collect serum and intestinal samples. Compared with the CON group, the ADG, G:F, as well as the apparent total tract digestibility of CP, crude fat, and ash were increased (P < 0.05), whereas the diarrhea incidence was decreased (P < 0.05) in the CGA group. Pigs on the CGA group had greater (P < 0.05) serum albumin and IGF-1, and lower (P < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen than pigs on the CON group. Furthermore, dietary CGA supplementation enhanced (P < 0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) in the serum, the activity of maltase in the jejunum and ileum, as well as the activities of sucrase and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in the jejunum. The mRNA levels of sodium glucose transport protein-1 (SGLT1) and zinc transporter-1 (ZNT1) in the duodenum and the mRNA levels of SGLT1, glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2), and divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) in the jejunum were upregulated (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the CGA diet. These results suggested that dietary CGA supplementation has the potentials to improve the growth performance and decrease the diarrhea incidence of the weaned pigs, possibly through improving the antioxidant capacity and enhancing the intestinal digestion and absorption function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Xylanases are considered one of the most important enzymes in many industries. However, their low thermostability hampers their applications in feed pelleting, pulp bleaching, and so on. The main aim of this work was to improve the thermostability of Trichoderma ressei xylanase 2 (Xyn2) by introducing disulfide bonds between the N-terminal and α-helix and the β-sheet core. Results: In this work, two disulfide bonds were separately introduced in the Xyn2 to connect the N-terminal and α-helix to the β-sheet core of Xyn2. The two disulfide bondswere introduced by site-directed mutagenesis of the corresponding residues. The half-life of themutants Xyn2C14-52 (disulfide bond between β-sheets B2 and B3) and Xyn2C59-149 (disulfide bond between β-sheets A5 and A6) at 60°C was improved by approximately 2.5- and 1.8-fold compared to that of the wild type Xyn2. In addition, the enzyme's resistance to alkali and acid was enhanced. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the connection of the N-terminal and α-helix to the β-sheet core is due to the stable structure of the entire protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely known that branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are not only elementary components for building muscle tissue but also participate in increasing protein synthesis in animals and humans. BCAA (isoleucine, leucine and valine) regulate many key signaling pathways, the most classic of which is the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. This signaling pathway connects many diverse physiological and metabolic roles. Recent years have witnessed many striking developments in determining the novel functions of BCAA including: (1) Insufficient or excessive levels of BCAA in the diet enhances lipolysis. (2) BCAA, especially isoleucine, play a major role in enhancing glucose consumption and utilization by up-regulating intestinal and muscular glucose transporters. (3) Supplementation of leucine in the diet enhances meat quality in finishing pigs. (4) BCAA are beneficial for mammary health, milk quality and embryo growth. (5) BCAA enhance intestinal development, intestinal amino acid transportation and mucin production. (6) BCAA participate in up-regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, abnormally elevated BCAA levels in the blood (decreased BCAA catabolism) are a good biomarker for the early detection of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. This review will provide some insights into these novel metabolic and physiological functions of BCAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pea fiber (PF) is a potential fibrous supplement in swine production. The influence of dietary PF on microbial community in the colon of pigs remains largely unexplored. Methanogens in the hindgut of monogastric animals play important roles in degradation of dietary fibers and efficient removal of microbial metabolic end product H2. Understanding the impact of dietary PF on the structure of colonic methanogens may help understand the mechanisms of microbe-mediated physiological functions of PF. This study investigated the influence of PF on the diversity and quantity and/or activity of colonic methanongens of piglets and finishing pigs. Four archaeal 16S rRNA clone libraries were constructed for piglets and finishers fed with control (Piglet-C and Finisher-C) or PF diet (Piglet-P and Finisher-P). Results: There were 195, 190, 194 and 196 clones obtained from the library Piglet-C, Piglet-P, Finisher-C and Finisher-P, respectively, with corresponding 12, 11, 11 and 16 OTUs (operational taxonomic units). Significant differences of Shannon Index among the four libraries were found (P < 0.05). Libshuff analysis showed that the archaeal community structure among the four libraries were significantly different (P < 0.0001). The predominant methanogens shifted from Methanobrevibacter to Methanobrevibacter and Methanomassiliicoccus-like genus as a result of dietary PF. Supplementation of PF significantly increased the copy numbers of mcrA and dsrA genes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Alteration of methanogenic community structure may lead to functional transition from utilization of H2/ CO2 to employment of both H2/CO2 and methanol/CO2. Quantification of three functional genes (mcrA, dsrA and fhs) of methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and acetogens revealed that dietary PF also increased the activity of methanogens and SRB,probably associated with increased proportion of Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis-species. Further study is required to examine the interaction between specific methanogens and SRB during fermentation of dietary PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sox6, a member of the Sox (Sry-related HMG box) family of transcription factors, plays an important role in embryonic muscle development and adult fast myofiber maintenance. Here we report the expression and purification of a His-tagged version of recombinant porcine Sox6 (pSox6) in Escherichia coli. The recombinant pSox6 was expressed as a C-terminal fusion protein with His6 tag in the E. coli Rosetta (DE3) host strain. The protein was purified by Ni affinity chromatography, yielding approximately 5 μg/mL. The protein was identified by western blot analysis and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/timeof- flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometer analysis. In vitro biological activity assay demonstrated that the refolded purified recombinant pSox6 downregulated MyHC I, Tnnt1, Tnnc1, and Tnni1 mRNA expressions in porcine myotubes, suggesting that it was active. The present study provides a reliable technique for the recombinant expression and purification of pSox6 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a organic acid, benzoic acid has become one of the most important alternatives for antibiotics, and its beneficial effect on performance in animals has been proven for a decade. However, knowledge of the effects of benzoic acid on jejunal digestive physiology, especially the antioxidant capacity and mucosal glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) concentrations is lacking. Methods: A total of 20 barrows [Duroc x (Yorkshire x Landrace)] with an average body weight (BW) of 18.75 ± 0.2 kg were used in a 14-d trial to determine the potential mechanisms of benzoic acid supplementation on the performance, nutrient digestibility and jejunal digestive physiology in young pigs. All pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 diets supplemented with 0 or 5000 mg/kg benzoic acid. Results: Relative to the control, benzoic acid supplementation increased the average daily feed intake (ADFI), and average daily gain (ADG) in young pigs (P < 0.05), improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), gross energy (GE) and crude ash (P < 0.05), and enhanced the activities of trypsin, lipase and amylase in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Similarly, relative to the control, supplementing benzoic acid in the diet resulted in a trend to reduce the pH values of the digesta (P = 0.06), decreased crypt depth and increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) in the jejunum of pigs. Finally, benzoic acid supplementation increased the mRNA expression and concentration of glucagon-like peptide 2 and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the jejunal mucosa of young pigs (P <0 . 0 5 ) . Conclusions: In conclusion, supplementation with 5000 mg/kg benzoic acid improved the performance of young pigs through promoting nutrient digestion, improving jejunal antioxidant capacity, and maintaining the jejunal morphology in young pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 144 weaned crossed pigs were used in a 42-d trial to explore the effects of different concentrations/ combinations of benzoic acid and thymol on growth performance and gut characteristics in weaned pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments: i) control (C), basal diet, ii) C+1,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol (BT1), iii) C+1,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+200 mg/kg thymol (BT2) and, iv) C+2,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol (BT3). Relative to the control, pigs fed diet BT3 had lower diarrhoea score during the overall period (p<0.10) and improved feed to gain ratio between days 1 to 14 (p<0.05), which was accompanied by improved apparent total tract digestibility of ether extract, Ca and crude ash (p<0.05), and larger lipase, lactase and sucrose activities in the jejunum (p<0.05) at d 14 and d 42. Similarly, relative to the control, pigs fed diet BT3 had higher counts for Lactobacillus spp in digesta of ileum at d 14 (p<0.05), and pigs fed diets BT1, BT2, or BT3 also had higher counts of Bacillus spp in digesta of caecum at d 14 (p<0.05), and lower concentration of ammonia nitrogen in digesta of caecum at d 14 and d 42 (p<0.05). Finally, pigs fed diet BT3 had higher concentration of butyric acid in digesta of caecum at d 42 (p<0.05), and a larger villus height:crypt depth ratio in jejunum and ileum at d 14 (p<0.05) than pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, piglets fed diet supplementation with different concentrations/combinations of benzoic acid and thymol could improve feed efficiency and diarrhoea, and improve gut microfloral composition. The combination of 2,000 mg/kg benzoic acid+100 mg/kg thymol produced better effects than other treatments in most measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapeseed cake is a good source of protein for animal feed but its utilization is limited due to the presence of anti-nutritional substances, such as glucosinolates (Gls), phytic acid, tannins etc. In the present study, a solid state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus niger was carried out with the purpose of degrading glucosinolates and improving the nutritional quality of rapeseed cake (RSC). The effects of medium composition and incubation conditions on the Gls content in fermented rapeseed cake (FRSC) were investigated, and chemical composition and amino acid in vitro digestibility of RSC substrate fermented under optimal conditions were determined. Results: After 72 h of incubation at 34°C, a 76.89% decrease in Gls of RSC was obtained in solid medium containing 70% RSC, 30% wheat bran at optimal moisture content 60% (w/w). Compared to unfermented RSC, trichloroacetic acid soluble protein (TCA-SP), crude protein and ether extract contents of the FRSC were increased (P < 0.05) 103.71, 23.02 and 23.54%, respectively. As expected, the contents of NDF and phytic acid declined (P < 0.05) by 9.12 and 44.60%, respectively. Total amino acids (TAA) and essential amino acids (EAA) contents as well as AA in vitro digestibility of FRSC were improved significantly (P < 0.05). Moreover, the enzyme activity of endoglucanase, xylanase, acid protease and phytase were increased (P < 0.05) during SSF. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the solid state fermentation offers an effective approach to improving the quality of proteins sources such as rapeseed cake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in the hepatic proteome of newborn piglets after maternal folic acid supplementation (FS). Methods: Pregnant dams were fed a control diet (folic acid 1.3 mg/kg) or an FS diet (folic acid 30 mg/kg) during gestation. The liver samples of newborn piglets from each group were collected at birth for the analysis of the proteome using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Results: The results indicated that the expression levels of 11 proteins were changed dramatically in the newborn piglets after maternal FS. FS during gestation increased the content of proteins that regulate the immune response (90-kDa heat shock protein), energy metabolism (aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase), and intermediary metabolism (formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase and abhydrolase). In addition, maternal FS down regulated the expression of proteins associated with cellular signal transduction (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein and exportin), proteolysis (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and porcine e-trypsin), and cell migration regulation (actin-related protein-3). Conclusion: These findings suggest that maternal FS alters the expression abundance of several hepatic proteins that are involved in metabolic regulation, oxidative responses, and cancer-related processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been recognized that there is a relationship between prenatal growth restriction and the development of metabolicrelated diseases in later life, a process involved in mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) increases the susceptibility of offspring to high-fat (HF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome. Recent findings suggested that HF feeding decreased mitochondrial oxidative capacity and impaired mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. Therefore, we hypothesized that the long-term consequences of IUGR on mitochondrial biogenesis and function make the offspring more susceptible to HF diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Normal birth weight (NBW), and IUGR pigs were allotted to control or HF diet in a completely randomized design, individually. After 4 weeks of feeding, growth performance and molecular pathways related to mitochondrial function were determined. The results showed that IUGR decreased growth performance and plasma insulin concentrations. In offspring fed a HF diet, IUGR was associated with enhanced plasma leptin levels, increased concentrations of triglyceride and malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glycogen and ATP contents in skeletal muscle. High fat diet-fed IUGR offspring exhibited decreased activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). These alterations in metabolic traits of IUGR pigs were accompanied by impaired mitochondrial respiration function, reduced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contents, and down-regulated mRNA expression levels of genes responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis and function. In conclusion, our results suggest that IUGR make the offspring more susceptible to HF diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan pig is well known for its strong disease resistance. However, little is known about the molecular basis of its strong resistance to disease. Stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING), also known as MPYS/MITA/ERIS/TMEM173, is an adaptor that functions downstream of RIG-I and MAVS and upstream of TBK1 and plays a critical role in type I IFN induction. Here we report the first cloning and characterization of STING gene from Tibetan pig. The entire open reading frame (ORF) of the Tibetan porcine STING is 1137 bp, with a higher degree of sequence similarity with Landrace pig (98%) and cattle (88%) than with chimpanzee (84%), human (83%) or mouse (77%). The predicted protein is composed of 378 amino acids and has 4 putative transmembrane domains. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis indicated that Tibetan pig STING mRNA was most abundant in the lung and heart. Overexpression of Tibetan porcine STING led to upregulation of IFN-β and IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in porcine jejunal epithelial cell line IPEC-J2 cells. This is the first study investigating the biological role of STING in intestinal epithelial cells, which lays a foundation for the further study of STING in intestinal innate immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian innate and acquired immune responses involve a coordinated, sequential, and self limiting sequence of events controlled by positive and negative regulatory mechanism. MicroRNAs have been implicated as a negative regulator for diverse biological events including immune responses. However, the involvement of miRNAs in regulating the immune responses is just beginning to be explored. Here, we characterized the expression profiling of 375 microRNAs in porcine monocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and result shows that several of them are endotoxin-responsive genes. Through promoter analysis, the miR-628 was found to be a NF-κB dependent gene. Importantly, miR-628 was predicted to base-pair with sequences in the 3′-UTR of the myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88) gene. And we found that the UTR inhibit expression of a linked reporter gene coding a key adapter molecule downstream of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), resulting in suppressing of the TLR signaling. Therefore, we not only propose a role of miR-628 in control of the TLR signaling through a negative feedback regulation loop involving down-regulation of MyD88 protein levels, but results may also contribute to rational target selection orchestrating the inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]