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This study evaluated the efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC). A total of 28 piglets were assigned to the following dietary treatments for 14 d: negative control (NC) (basal diet containing supernatant without EGF), PC (NC + 2.5 g antibiotic·kg−1 feed), EGF120 [basal diet + supernatant with 120 μg EGF·kg−1 body weight (BW)·d−1], and EGF180 (basal diet + supernatant with 180 μg EGF·kg−1 BW·d−1). After a 6 d acclimation period, each pig was gavaged with 6 mL (2.4 × 1013 cfu·mL−1) of ETEC on the morning of day 7. Overall, piglets fed the EGF and PC diets tended to have higher gain to feed ratio than those fed the NC diet (P = 0.063). Pigs fed EGF diets had lower rectal temperature than those fed the NC diet at 6 h after challenge (P

The objective was to investigate the effects of a high canola meal-containing diet and multi-carbohydrase supplementation on growth performance and intestinal pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile, and microbiome in weaned piglets. Twenty-four piglets (7.46 ± 0.23 kg BW) were individually assigned to 1 of 3 diets in a completely randomized design. Diets were fed for 21 d: SB, corn and soybean meal-based diet; CM, 25% canola meal substituting soybean meal and adjusted to meet energy and nutrient requirements of piglets (NRC, 2012); and CM+E, CM supplemented with multi-carbohydrase (0.01%). Feed disappearance and BW were recorded weekly. On d 21, piglets were euthanized to assess digesta pH, SCFA profile, and gut microbiome. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS using the piglet as the experimental unit. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in growth performance and digesta pH. Piglets fed CM+E tended to (P = 0.051) or had significantly lower (P < 0.05) butyric acid in the cecum than piglets fed CM and SB, respectively. Piglets fed SB had higher (P < 0.05) isobutyric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB and CM tended to have higher (P < 0.05) isovaleric acid in the colon than piglets fed CM+E. Piglets fed SB tended to have lower (P < 0.10) proportion of Bifidobacteria, and had lower (P < 0.05) Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. Piglets fed CM+E tended to have lower (P < 0.10) Bifidobacteria and higher Clostridium XIVa than piglets fed CM, and had lower (P < 0.05) Enterococcus, but higher (P < 0.05) Lactobacillus than piglets fed CM. In conclusion, feeding 25% of canola meal in substitution to soybean meal with or without multi-carbohydrase supplementation changed the intestinal environment by modifying SCFA profile and relative proportion of microbiome, but without affecting digesta pH or growth performance in nursery piglets.

Understanding of adipogenesis is important to find remedies for obesity and related disorders. In addition, it is also critical in bone disorders because there is a reciprocal relationship between adipogenesis and osteogenesis in bone micro-environment. Oxysterols are pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic molecules via hedgehog activation in pluripotent bone marrow stomal cells. However, no study has evaluated the role of specific oxysterols in C3H10T1/2 cells, which are a good cell model for studying osteogenesis and adipogenesis in bone-marrows. Thus, we investigated the effects of specific oxysterols on adipogenesis and expression of adipogenic transcripts in C3H10T1/2 cells. Treatment of cells with DMITro significantly induced mRNA expression of Ppar&gamma, This induction was significantly inhibited by 25-HC. The expression of C/cep&alpha, Fabp4 and Lpl was also inhibited by 25-HC. To determine the mechanism by which 25-HC inhibits adipogenesis, the effects of the hedgehog signalling pathway inhibitor, cyclopamine and CUR61414, were evaluated. Treatment of C3H10T1/2 cells with DMITro + cyclopamine or DMITro + CUR61414 for 96h did not modulate adipocyte differentiation, cyclopamine and CUR61414 did not reverse the inhibitory effects of 25-HC, suggesting that the canonical hedgehog signalling may not play a role in the anti-adipogenic effects of 25-HC in C3H10T1/2 cells. In addition, LXR agonist did not inhibit adipogenesis, but 25-HC strongly inhibits adipogenesis of C3H10T1/2 cells. Our observations showed that 25-HC was the most potent oxysterol in inhibiting adipogenesis and the expression of key adipogenic transcripts in C3H10T1/2 cells among the tested oxysterols, suggesting its potential application in providing an intervention in osteoporosis and obesity. We also report that the inhibitory effects of 25-HC on adipogenic differentiation in C3H10T1/2 cells are not mediated by hedgehog signaling and LXR.

The aim was to determine the effects of high canola meal (CM) inclusion in gestation and lactation diets on reproductive performance, milk composition, fecal bacterial profile and nutrient and energy digestibility of sows. Forty-five sows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments consisting of a corn-soybean meal control diet, control diet containing 300 g/kg solvent-extracted CM with or without multi-enzyme complex (MC). Sows were individually housed and offered the experimental diets from day 60 of gestation until weaning on day 21. Sows were weighed and backfat thickness measured on days 60 and 111 of gestation, and on days 0 and 21 post-farrowing. Litters were weighed on days 0 and 21. Weaning to estrus interval in sows was recorded. Blood and milk samples were collected 2 h post-feeding from sows on days 0 and 21 to determine the plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) content and milk composition. Fecal samples were collected from sows during lactation to determine energy and nutrient digestibility, and during gestation and lactation to determine the fecal bacterial profile. There were no dietary effects on lactation feed intake, sow backfat loss, weaning to estrus interval and milk fat, protein and lactose composition, and suckling piglet performance except for sow body weight (BW) loss during lactation, wherein sows fed CM-containing diets with MC had lower (P

Two 14-day experiments, each with 90 (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]; 7.3 ± 0.6 kg) piglets, were conducted to determine the optimum sulfur amino acid (SAA) to lysine (Lys) ratio (SAA:Lys) for piglets when reared under clean or unclean sanitary conditions using performance and non-performance response criteria. Piglets were randomly assigned to the following dietary treatments. The basal diet contained 1.18% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys, and the SAA:Lys was 52%. In diets 2 to 5, the basal diet was supplemented with 4 graded levels of dl-Met to make SAA:Lys of 56%, 60%, 64% and 68%. In Exp. 1, piglets were housed in disinfected clean room. In Exp. 2, piglets were housed in a room previously occupied by other pigs and was not disinfected. On the last day, blood was collected to measure plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and one pig per pen was euthanized to collect jejunal tissue to measure villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and VH:CD. In Exp. 1, increasing SAA:Lys linearly and quadratically increased VH and VH:CD (P

In North-America, soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM) are the most extensively used protein supplements in the feed industry and corn and wheat are the primary sources of energy in swine diets. Recent studies show that piglets can tolerate relatively high levels of CM inclusion. However, it is unclear whether this ability depends on the cereal ingredient of the basal diet. This study was conducted to examine the effect of including CM in wheat or corn-based diet on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and fecal microbial communities compared with wheat- or corn-SBM based diet. Ninety-six pigs (Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc) with an initial BW of 6.63 ± 0.028 kg (barrows) and 6.78 ± 0.036 kg (gilts) were used in this 28-d feeding study. There were 8 replicates per treatment, each with 3 pigs. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of the four dietary treatments: corn-SBM diet (CSBM), corn-SBM diet + 200 g/kg CM (CCM), wheat-SBM diet (WSBM), and wheat-SBM diet + 200 g/kg of CM (WCM). A two-phase feeding program was used (phase I, 1–14 and phase II, 15–28 d post-weaning). Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed efficiency (G:F) were recorded weekly. Freshly voided fecal samples were collected on d 21 and 27 to determine ATTD of CP, energy, and fecal bacteria community. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the MIXED procedure of SAS and differences were declared significant at P 0.05. No significant differences were observed in ADFI, ADG, and final-BW among treatments. During phase I, pigs fed the WCM diet had higher G:F compared with those fed the CSBM diet (0.95 vs. 0.79, P 0.01). During phase II, pigs fed CSBM diet had higher ATTD of CP and energy compared with piglets fed the CCM, WSBM and WCM diets (96.6 vs. 89.0, 90.9 and 87.2%; and, 95.3 vs. 89.6, 90.8 and 86.9%, P 0.01). When compared to corn-based diets, wheat-based diets had a significant reduction in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus ( P 0.05). Likewise, the relative abundance of Enterococcus was reduced ( P 0.05). However, wheat-based diets had a significantly higher relative abundance of Clostridium cluster-IV ( P 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of CM into either wheat- or corn-SBM based diet influences G:F, protein, and energy digestibility and relative abundance of the measured fecal microbial community without affecting voluntary feed intake and body weight gain.

A study was conducted to determine the optimal standardized ileal digestible (SID) tryptophan:lysine (Trp:Lys) ratio in piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 ( E.coli K88) and fed antibiotic-free diets. Thirty individually housed mixed-sex pigs (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]) with an initial body weight (BW) of 6.4 ± 0.18 kg and weaned at 21 ± 1 day (d) were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments each with 6 pig replicates. Dietary treatments consisted of increasing levels of SID Trp:Lys ratios (16.1%, 18.6%, 20.3%, 22.9%, and 24.6%). Diets were corn-wheat-soybean meal-based with a constant SID Lys of 1.18% that was set to be the second limiting amino acid (AA) but adequate in other AA. Pigs had ad libitum access to feed and water for 13 d. After feeding the experimental diets for 6 d, pigs were orally challenged with 6 mL of E. coli K88 (2 × 10 11 colony forming unit/mL) on d 7. Body weights and pen feed disappearance were recorded weekly to determine ADG, ADFI and G:F. On d 13, all pigs were euthanized and ileal tissue samples were collected to measure mRNA expression of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF- α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) using qRT-PCR. During the pre-challenge period (d 0–6), increasing dietary SID Trp:Lys ratio increased (linear, P P = 0.08) to increase ADG (177, 180, 208, 210 and 213 g/d), whereas there was no effect on G:F (0.58, 0.63, 0.67, 0.66, 0.65) ( P > 0.10). The optimal SID Trp:Lys ratio determined using the broken-line regression analysis for ADG and G:F in piglets subjected to E.coli K88 challenge was 21.7% and 20.1%, respectively. Expression of IL-10 mRNA, increased (linear and quadratic, P E. coli K88 challenge.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of fatty acids (FA) with/without chicken serum (CS) on the expression of adipogenic transcripts and adipogenesis in chicken stromal vascular cells (SVC). In experiment 1, SVC were grown in DMEM containing 10% FBS (Control) and treated with 300 µM oleic acid (OLA) + FBS, linoleic acid (LNA) + FBS, palmitic acid (PAM) + FBS, or stearic acid (STA) + FBS for 48 h. In experiment 2, cells were grown in DMEM containing 5% CS and treated with 300 µM OLA (CS + OLA), PAM (CS + PAM), STA (CS + STA) or 200 µM LNA (CS + LNA) for 48 h. Adipogenesis was determined using Oil Red O staining and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. The proportion of OLA, PAM, or STA was increased (P

A study was conducted to examine the effects of different dietary levels of available phosphorus (aP) on P excretion, bone mineralization, performance and the mRNA expression of sodium-dependent P transporters in growing pigs. Sixty-day old growing pigs (n = 54) with an average initial BW of 19.50 ± 1.11 kg were randomly allocated to a control diet (C) containing 0.23% available phosphorus (aP), T1 containing 0.17% aP and T2 containing 0.11% aP. There were 6 pens per treatment with 3 pigs per pen. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly. At the end of each week, one pig from each pen was housed in a metabolic crate for 24 h to collect fecal and urine samples and then sacrificed to obtain third metacarpal (MC3) bones and jejunal and kidney samples. Bones were scanned by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Fecal and urine samples were sub-sampled and analyzed for P content. The expression of P transporter mRNA in jejunum and kidney samples was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Data were analyzed using GLM procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute version 9.2). Pigs fed the T2 diet had reduced (P0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed (G:F) compared to those fed the C diet during week 2. Overall, ADG and G:F were also reduced (P0.05) in pigs fed the T2 diet compared to those fed the C and T1 diets. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were reduced (P0.05) in pigs fed the T2 diet compared to those fed the C diet throughout the experiment. At week 1, jejunal mRNA expression of Na (+)-dependent phosphate transporter 2 (SLC34A2) was increased (P0.01) in pigs fed the T2 diet compared to C diet. Renal mRNA expression of Na(+)-dependent phosphate transporter 1 (SLC34A1) and SLC34A3 were increased (P0.05) in pigs fed the T2 diet compared to those fed the C diet at week 2 and was accompanied by lower (P0.05) urinary P in pigs fed the T2 diet during week 2 and week 3. In conclusion, growing pigs are highly sensitive to low dietary P as shown by reduced ADG, bone mineralization and urinary P level, but moderate reduction in dietary P up to 0.17% aP in the diet has the potential to reduce environmental pollution by reducing P concentration in swine manure and without compromising performance.

Effects of substituting cornstarch with D-xylose on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, serum metabolites, and expression of select hepatic genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated in broiler chickens. A total of 360 one-day-old male Ross chicks were fed 3 diets (n = 24; 5 chicks/cage) for 21 days. A control corn-soybean meal-based diet with 25% cornstarch was formulated to meet specifications. Two additional diets were formulated by substituting cornstarch with 5 or 15% D-xylose w/w. Growth performance and digestibility by index method were determined in 12 replicate cages. Birds in these replicates had free access to feed and water, the BW and feed intake (FI) were monitored weekly and the excreta samples were collected on d 18 to 20. The other 12 replicates were used for blood and liver sampling by serial slaughter. On d 18, baseline (t0) birds were sampled following a 12 h overnight fasting and birds allowed 30 min access to the feed; samples were subsequently taken at 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min post feeding. Serum metabolites (glucose, xylose, and insulin) were assayed at all time points, whereas expression of hepatic transcripts was evaluated at zero, 180 and 300 min. Xylose linearly reduced (P

A study was conducted to examine the effect of phenamil on adipogenic differentiation and expression of key adipogenic transcripts in hen preadipocytes. Preadipocytes were isolated from 20-week old Single Comb White Leghorn hens (Gallas gallus, Lohman strain). The experiment lasted for 48 h and had six treatments. Non-treated control (C) cells, cells treated with dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, insulin, and oleic acid (DMIOA) (T1), DMIOA + 15 μM phenamil (T2), DMIOA + 30 μM phenamil (T3), 15 μM phenamil alone (T4), and 30 μM phenamil alone (T5). Neutral lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of key adipogenic transcripts were measured in all treatments and compared. Lipid accumulation was detected in T1, T2, and T3 only. Expression of peroxisome proliferator receptor-activator gamma 2 (PPARγ2), the core enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), C/EBPβ, fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as well as ETS variant 4 (ETV4) and 5 was higher (P

This study investigated the effects of adding a multi-enzyme cocktail (MC) to a distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)-containing diet on energy and nutrient coefficients of apparent ileal (CAID) and total tract (CATTD) digestibility, digesta volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, and gut bacterial profile using ileal-cannulated barrows (n = 9; 62.7 ± 6.4 Kg initial body weight). Three isocaloric/isonitrogenous diets based on corn and soybean meal with 0 (control) or 30% DDGS (DDGS diet) and DDGS diet supplemented with MC (DDGS + MC) were used. The 3 diets were fed to pigs in a 2-period change over design to obtain 6 observations per diet. A casein–cornstarch-based diet was used in a separate period to determine basal endogenous N and AA losses to estimate standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA. All diets contained titanium dioxide as a digestibility marker. Ileal digesta and feces were used for VFA and bacterial profile determination, respectively. The CAID for DM, N, starch, and energy were greater (P 0.10). The DDGS diet also decreased (P 0.10) for N and NDF. However, diet had no effect (P > 0.10) on hindgut nutrient disappearance. Diet did not influence (P > 0.10) digesta pH and VFA concentrations except for isovalerate concentration, which was greatest (P 0.10) by diet. In conclusion, adding MC to the DDGS diet improved the digestibility of DM, starch, most AA, but not NDF and N digestibility. The results show that addition of MC to the DDGS diet stimulated the growth of intestinal bacteria with xylanolytic and cellulolytic activities.

The present study evaluated supplemental carbohydrase effect on performance, intestinal nutrient uptake, and transporter mRNA expressions in growing pigs offered a high-fiber diet manufactured with distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Twenty-four pigs (22.4 ± 0.7 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 1of 3 nutritionally adequate diets (8 pigs per diet) based on corn and soybean meal (SBM) with either 0 (control) or 30% DDGS (high fiber [HF]). The third diet was supplemented with a xylanase and β-glucanase blend (XB) in addition to the 30% DDGS (HF+XB). Parameters determined were ADFI, ADG, G:F, plasma glucose and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations, jejunal tissue electrophysiological properties, and mRNA expressions of the sodium-dependent glucose transport 1 (SGLT1) and cationic AA transporter, bo,+AT, in the jejunal and ileal tissues. In addition, mRNA expressions of the short-chain fatty acid transporters, monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter, and mucin genes were quantified in the ileum. Feed intake, plasma glucose, and jejunal tissue electrophysiological properties were not affected (P > 0.05) by diet. However, control-fed pigs had superior growth rate and feed efficiency and higher PUN (P < 0.05) than HF- and HF+XB-fed pigs. The HF diet increased (P < 0.05) SGLT1 mRNA expression in the jejunum and decreased (P < 0.05) bo,+ mRNA expression in the ileum. The XB supplementation also increased bo,+ mRNA expression in the ileum relative to HF-fed pigs. Additionally, MCT1 mRNA expression was greater (P < 0.05) in the ileum of the HF- and HF+XB-fed pigs. In the present study, XB supplementation influenced nutrient transporter mRNA expression, although it was not accompanied by improved pig performance.

Zucker (fa/fa) obese rats often have non-identical and differently sized paired testes, leaving one testis underdeveloped. Our earlier study found that the underdeveloped testes, > 30% smaller than the normal ones, have a selective decrease in docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6), a dominant fatty acid in the testes. This study was conducted to examine global testicular transcriptome profile in underdeveloped testes relative to developed ones using Rat Gene 2.0 ST Array (Affymetrix, USA). Testes were obtained from 14-week-old, sexually mature male obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. Out of the 1790 transcripts differentially expressed, 1108 and 682 were over-expressed in the underdeveloped and normal testis, respectively (fold change ≥ 2 and P

Effects of age, vitamin D3 (VitD3) and Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on the correlations of bone parameters were examined in broiler chickens. A total of 36 d-old male chicks were placed in battery brooders and fed a corn/soybean starter diet for 7 days and were randomly assigned to 12 pens each containing 3 birds. In group 1, birds were fed a corn/soybean starter diet and sacrificed on d 14 and 21. In groups 2 and 3, birds were fed a starter diet +250 μg VitD3/kg of diet and 4% FOS/kg of diet for 21 d, respectively. Birds were sacrificed to collect femur bones for measurement of bone parameters. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Total mineral density (BMD) and trabecular density (r14 = 0.99, p14 = 0.0001; r21 = 0.90, p21 = 0.0001), total bone area and trabecular area (r14 = 0.99, p14 = 0.0001; r21 = 1.00, p21

We have examined the effect of oleic acid (OA) concentrations and incubation time, along with chicken serum (CS), on adipogenic differentiation and expression of adipogenic transcripts in hen preadipocytes. Preadipocytes were treated with (i) an adipogenic cocktail (DMI) containing 500 nM dexamethasone, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and 20 µg/mL insulin alone and DMI + 75, 150, 300 or 600 µM OA for 48 h; (ii) DMI + 300 µM OA (DMIOA) for 6, 12, 24 or 48 h; and (iii) foetal bovine serum (FBS), CS, DMI + FBS, DMI + CS, DMIOA + FBS and DMIOA + CS. While FABP4 was significantly expressed with increasing concentrations of OA, the expression of C/EBPβ, LEPR and FAS were unchanged compared with the control. PPARγ2 expression was unchanged across all time-points. A significantly higher level of C/EBPα was measured at 48 h, but the levels of C/EBPβ increased after 12 h. Levels of FABP4 significantly increased with the time of incubation after 12 h, but that of LPL was reduced (P

A study was conducted to examine the effect of phenamil on adipogenic differentiation and expression of key adipogenic transcripts in hen preadipocytes. Preadipocytes were isolated from 20-week old Single Comb White Leghorn hens (Gallas gallus, Lohman strain). The experiment lasted for 48 h and had six treatments. Non-treated control (C) cells, cells treated with dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, insulin, and oleic acid (DMIOA) (T1), DMIOA + 15 μM phenamil (T2), DMIOA + 30 μM phenamil (T3), 15 μM phenamil alone (T4), and 30 μM phenamil alone (T5). Neutral lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of key adipogenic transcripts were measured in all treatments and compared. Lipid accumulation was detected in T1, T2, and T3 only. Expression of peroxisome proliferator receptor-activator gamma 2 (PPARγ2), the core enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), C/EBPβ, fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as well as ETS variant 4 (ETV4) and 5 was higher (P 0.05) in T2, T3, T4, and T5 compared to C. Expression of these transcripts was higher (P 0.05) in T2 and T3 compared to T4 and T5. The core enhancer binding protein α, C/EBPβ, and FABP4 were highly expressed (P 0.05) in T1 compared to C. However, the expression of PPARγ2, LPL, and ETV4 and ETV5 was not significantly different. Expression of C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and FABP4 was higher (P 0.05) in T2 and T3 compared to T1. Expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and leptin receptor (LEPR) was not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, phenamil enhances DMIOA-induced adipogenic differentiation of hen preadipocytes but does not induce adipogenesis by itself.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of suppressing transcription factor geneMSX1on the development ofin vitroproduced bovine oocytes and embryos, and identify its potential target genes regulated by this gene. Injection of long double-stranded RNA (LdsRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) at germinal vesicle stage oocyte reducedMSX1mRNA expression by 73 and 37% respectively at metaphase II stage compared with non-injected controls. Similarly, injection of the same anti-sense oligomers at zygote stage reducedMSX1mRNA expression by 52 and 33% at 8-cell stage compared with non-injected controls. Protein expression was also reduced in LdsRNA- and siRNA-injected groups compared with non-injected controls at both stages. Blastocysts rates were 33, 28, 20 and 18% in non-injected control, scrambled RNA (scRNA), LdsRNA- and siRNA-injected groups respectively. Cleavage rates were also significantly reduced in Smartpool siRNA (SpsiRNA)-injected group (53.76%) compared with scRNA-injected group (57.76%) and non-injected control group (61%). Large-scale gene expression analysis showed that 135 genes were differentially regulated in SpsiRNA-injected group compared with non-injected controls, of which 54 and 81 were down- and up-regulated respectively due to suppression ofMSX1. Additionally, sequence homology mapping and gene enrichment analysis with known human pathway information identified several functional modules that were affected due to suppression ofMSX1. In conclusion, suppression ofMSX1affects oocyte maturation, embryo cleavage rate and the expression of several genes, suggesting its potential role in the development of bovine preimplantation embryos.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation on growth performance, lymphoid organ weight, intestinal morphology, and immunological status in broilers (n=180) challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Birds were randomly assigned into a 3×2 factorial arrangement that included 1) 3 dietary treatments from d one to 21: positive control (PC), wheat-corn-soybean meal based diet contained antibiotics (virginiamycin and monensin); negative control (NC), as PC without antibiotics; and NC+FOS, as NC supplemented with 0.5% FOS, and 2) 2 intraperitoneal injections: 2 mg/kg Salmonella Enteritidis LPS or sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) on d 21. Growth performance and relative lymphoid organ weight were not significantly different among the treatments. Villus height, crypt depth, and total mucosa thickness were significantly increased (P

A study was conducted to examine the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-(OH)D3) on fecal Ca and P excretion, bone mineralization, performance and the mRNA expression of intestinal transporter genes in growing female pigs. Sixty-day old gilts (n = 24) with an average initial BW of 23.13 ± 1.49 kg were randomly allocated to a control diet (diet 1) containing wheat/corn/soybean meal and 150 IU kg(-1) of Vitamin D3, diet 1 + 50 μg of 25-(OH)D3 kg(-1) (diet 2) and diet 1 + 100 μg of 25-(OH)D3 kg(-1) (diet 3). The pigs were housed in an individual pen and had ad libitum access to feed and water for 42 days, and BWG and feed intake were measured weekly. Measures of bone mineralization and expression of Ca and P transporters mRNA were analyzed using Dual Energy X-Ray Absortiometry (DEXA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. Data were analyzed using GLM procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute version 9.2). Fecal Ca and P concentration were significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in pigs fed diets 2 and 3 compared with the control diet. Supplementation of 25-(OH)D3 did not significantly improve bone mineralization, animal performance and intestinal transporters mRNA expression except for SLC34A1, a sodium-dependent phosphate transporter 1. In conclusion, supplementation of 25-(OH)D3 in swine nutrition may not improve animal performance but has the potential to reduce environmental pollution by increasing dietary Ca and P retention while reducing their excretion.

Oxysterols have been shown to inhibit adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells while inducing their osteogenic differentiation. However, the effects of oxysterols on the adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 mouse stem cells are poorly understood. This study was conducted to examine the effects of specific oxysterols on the expression of adipogenic transcripts and adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 mouse stem cells. Cells were treated with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (control), 500nM Dexamethasone, 0.5mM 3-Isobutyl-1-methlyxanthine, 20µg/ml Insulin (DMI) + 10µM PPARγ agonist Troglitazone (Tro) (DMITro) and DMITro + 10µM 20S hydroxycholesterol (20S), 25 hydroxycholesterol (25), 22R hydroxycholesterol (22R) or 22S hydroxycholesterol (22S) for six days. Gene expression was analysed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expression data analysed using the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.2). Compared to the control, DMITro significantly increased the expression of peroxisome...

Adipogenesis is the process by which precursor stem cells differentiate into lipid laden adipocytes. Adipogenesis is regulated by a complex and highly orchestrated gene expression program. In mammalian cells, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and the CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) such as C/EBPα, β and δ are considered the key early regulators of adipogenesis, while fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), adiponectin, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) are responsible for the formation of mature adipocytes. Excess accumulation of lipids in the adipose tissue leads to obesity, which is associated with cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and other pathologies. Thus, investigating adipose tissue development and the underlying molecular mechanisms is vital to develop therapeutic agents capable of curbing the increasing incidence of obesity and related pathologies. In this review, we address the process of adipogenic differentiation, key transcription factors and proteins involved, adipogenic regulators and potential anti-adipogenic bioactive molecules.

Background 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol (20(S)) potentially reduces adipogenesis in mammalian cells. The role of this oxysterol and molecular mechanisms underlying the adipogenesis of preadipocytes from laying hens have not been investigated. This study was conducted to 1. Analyze genes differentially expressed between preadipocytes treated with an adipogenic cocktail (DMIOA) containing 500 nM dexamethasone, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 20 μg/mL insulin and 300 μM oleic acid (OA) and control cells and 2. Analyze genes differentially expressed between preadipocytes treated with DMIOA and those treated with DMIOA + 20(S) using Affymetrix GeneChip® Chicken Genome Arrays. Results In experiment one, where we compared the gene expression profile of non-treated (control) cells with those treated with DMIOA, out of 1,221 differentially expressed genes, 755 were over-expressed in control cells, and 466 were over-expressed in cells treated with DMIOA. In experiment two, where we compared the gene expression profile of DMIOA treated cells with those treated with DMIOA+20(S), out of 212 differentially expressed genes, 90 were over-expressed in cells treated with DMIOA, and 122 were over-expressed in those treated with DMIOA+20(S). Genes over-expressed in control cells compared to those treated with DMIOA include those involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction (IL6, CNN2, ITGB3), cellular assembly and organization (BMP6, IGF1, ACTB), and cell cycle (CD4, 9, 38). Genes over-expressed in DMIOA compared to control cells include those involved in cellular development (ADAM22, ADAMTS9, FIGF), lipid metabolism (FABP3, 4 and 5), and molecular transport (MAP3K8, PDK4, AGTR1). Genes over-expressed in cells treated with DMIOA compared with those treated with DMIOA+20(S) include those involved in lipid metabolism (ENPP2, DHCR7, DHCR24), molecular transport (FADS2, SLC6A2, CD36), and vitamin and mineral metabolism (BCMO1, AACS, AR). Genes over-expressed in cells treated with DMIOA+20(S) compared with those treated with DMIOA include those involved in cellular growth and proliferation (CD44, CDK6, IL1B), cellular development (ADORA2B, ATP6VOD2, TNFAIP3), and cell-to-cell signaling and interaction (VCAM1, SPON2, VLDLR). Conclusion We identified important adipogenic regulators and key pathways that would help to understand the molecular mechanism of the in vitro adipogenesis in laying hens and demonstrated that 20(S) is capable of suppressing DMIOA-induced adipogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1231-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.