Search

The present study investigated the effects of the nutritional levels of diets on meat quality and related gene expression in Hainan black goat. Twenty-four goats were divided into six dietary treatments and were fed a concentrate-based diet with two levels of crude protein (CP) (15% or 17%) and three levels of digestive energy (DE) (11.72, 12.55 or 13.39 MJ/kg DM) for 90 days. Goats fed the concentrate-based diet with 17% CP had significantly (P < 0.05) higher average daily gains (ADG) and better feed conversion rates (FCR). The pH 24h value tended to decrease (P < 0.05) with increasing DE levels. The tenderness of Longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) and Semimembranosus muscle (SM) reduced with increasing CP levels (P < 0.05). With increasing DE levels, tenderness was increased (P < 0.05). The heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) mRNA expression levels in LD and SM increased with increasing DE levels (P < 0.05), but decreased with increasing CP levels (P < 0.05). The calpastatin (CAST) and μ-calpain mRNA expressions levels in LD and SM were affected significantly (P < 0.05) by CP and DE levels in the diet. Therefore, the nutritional levels of diets affect meat quality and expression levels of genes associated with meat quality in Hainan black goats., (© 2014 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Fusarium graminearum produces zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin that is widely found in food and feed products and is toxic to humans and livestock. Piper sarmentosum extract (PSE) inhibits F. graminearum, and Oroxylin A appears to be a major antifungal compound in PSE. The aim of this study is to quantify the Oroxylin A content in PSE using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and to investigate the antagonistic activity of Oroxylin A against F. graminearum and its inhibitory effect on ZEA production. The results indicate that Oroxylin A inhibits both fungal growth and ZEA production in a dose-dependent manner. Oroxylin A treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of zearalenone biosynthesis protein 1 (ZEB1) and zearalenone biosynthesis protein 2 (ZEB2). The metabolomics analysis of F. graminearum mycelia indicated that the level of ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) deceased (p < 0.05) after Oroxylin A treatment (64–128 ng/mL). Moreover, as the Oroxylin A treatment content increased from 64 to 128 ng/mL, the levels of cis-aconitate (p < 0.05) and fumarate (p < 0.01) were upregulated successively. A correlation analysis further showed that the decreased R5P level was positively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression, while the increased cis-aconitate and fumarate levels were negatively correlated with ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression. These findings demonstrate the potential of Oroxylin A as a natural agent to control toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of weaning age on intestinal mucosal morphology, expressions of tight junction proteins and inflammatory cytokines, as well as secretory IgA (sIgA) of Wuzhishan piglets, a total of 96 piglets at 1-day old with an average body weight of 0.56 ± 0.07 kg were randomly divided into four treatments with four replicates per treatment and 6 pigs per replicate. Piglets in those four treatments were weaned at the age of 21(21W), 28(28W), 35 (35W) and 42 (42W) days, respectively. Blood sample was collected for determining plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate at 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days old. The jejunum and ileum segments were collected for morphology analysis, and mucosa samples were collected for Real-time PCR and sIgA measurements at 56 days old. The results showed that: compared with the 21W groups, piglets in 35W and 42W groups significantly decreased DAO activity and D-lactate level at 28 to 35 days and 56 days old (p < .05), increased mRNA levels of occludin and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) in jejunal and ileal mucosa (p < .05) and claudin in ileal mucosa (p < .05) and reduced the sIgA contents in jejunum and ileum (p < .05) at 56 days old. By contrary, the intestinal mucosal morphology and mRNA levels of cytokines in jejuna and ileal mucosa at 56 days old were not significantly different among the treatments (p > .05). Results suggest that weaning at 35 or 42 days old may be beneficial to intestinal barrier function, whereas weaning at 21 days old promoted sIgA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small heat shock proteins 9 and 10 (HSPB9 and HSPB10) are two testis-specific expressed sHsps. The objective of this study was to investigate the mRNA expression profile of HSPB9 and HSPB10 in goat testis among the different seasons, ages, and environmental temperatures. Allocation of the two sHsps was also performed by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the transcript levels of HSPB9 and HSPB10 were extremely high in the testis (P<0.01). The relative expression of HSBP9 and HSPB10 in testis showed a tendency to increase with age and then is maintained at the constant level after sexual maturity. HSPB9 and HSPB10 have significantly higher expression in the breeding season  (P<0.05) and hot season (P<0.01). Both HSPB9 and HSPB10 were found to be upregulated by high-temperature stress in testis (P<0.05), and the expressions of Hsp70 and Hsp90 were also increased simultaneously (P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry analysis localized HSPB9 expressed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids and HSPB10 expressed in the elongate spermatids. In epididymis, strongly staining signal of HSPB10 was detected in pseudostratified columnar epithelium. In conclusion, the two testis-specific sHsps are closely related to male reproduction and heat tolerance. The results could provide valuable data for the further studies on HSPB9 and HSPB10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood vessels play a crucial role in the development of skeletal muscle, ensuring the supply of nutrients and oxygen. Putrescine, an essential polyamine for eukaryotic cells, has an unclear impact on skeletal muscle angiogenesis. In this study, we observed lower vessel density and reduced putrescine level in the muscle of low-birth-weight piglet models, and identified a positive correlation between putrescine content and muscle vessel density. Furthermore, putrescine was found to promote angiogenesis in skeletal muscle both in vitro and in vivo by targeting matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). On a mechanistic level, putrescine augmented the expression of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) by attenuating hydrogen peroxide production, thereby increasing the level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified MMP9 mRNA. This m6A-modified MMP9 mRNA was subsequently recognized and bound by the YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1 (YTHDF1), enhancing the stability of MMP9 mRNA and its protein expression, consequently accelerating angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. In summary, our findings suggest that putrescine enhances MMP9-mediated angiogenesis in skeletal muscle via the hydrogen peroxide/METTL3 pathway. The mechanism of putrescine regulates skeletal muscle angiogenesis. Putrescine up-regulated METTL3 expression by decreasing H 2 O 2 generation, leading to a higher amount of m6A-modified MMP9 mRNA. m6A-modified MMP9 mRNA was recognized and bound by YTHDF1, such that MMP9 mRNA stability and protein expression were increased, leading to enhanced angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. [Display omitted] • Low birth weight (LBW) decreases putrescine level and impairs angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. • Putrescine deficiency impairs skeletal muscle angiogenesis. • ROS/METTL3/MMP9 mediates skeletal muscle angiogenesis inhibition of putrescine deficiency controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]