Category Archives: Animal Science Journal

Label‐free proteomic analysis reveals an estrous cycle transition between the follicular phase and the luteal phase in yak ovary

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Abstract

In order to further study the physiological mechanism about yak reproduction for the improvement of its fertility, differentially expressed proteins (DEGs) of the ovary were screened during the follicular and luteal phases of yak based on label-free quantitative proteomics. The main research results were as follows: it discovered 2867 proteins during the follicular phase and 2180 proteins during the luteal phase, among which there were 2011 proteins of expression during both phases, 856 during the follicular phase, and 169 during the luteal phase. According to the bioinformatics and Gene Ontology analysis, the screened differentially expressed proteins were mostly located in the cell membrane and extracellular region and primarily acted on the activity of laminin. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that the main involvement of differentially expressed proteins included steroid biosynthesis, chemokine signaling pathway, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, carbon metabolism, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, PPAR signaling pathways, nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD) receptor signaling pathways, and purine metabolic pathways. Screened proteins related to reproductive function, so as to lay a theoretical foundation for the in-depth study of the regulation mechanism of yak reproduction and improve its fertility.

Heat enhances the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide on duck granulosa cell proliferation and steroid biosynthesis in vitro

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Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces the reproductive performance of laying ducks, especially during the hot summer months. To study the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the effects of different LPS concentrations and heat on duck granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and steroid biosynthesis in vitro. We investigated GC proliferation, secretion, and activation of the MAPK pathway. The cell cycle results showed that LPS treatment alone did not significantly affect cell proliferation, whereas the mRNA expression levels of IGF2, IGFBP2, and CyclinD1 were downregulated and p27kip1 was significantly upregulated after 2000 ng/mL LPS treatment when compared to untreated cells. In steroid hormone synthesis, although LPS increased the expression of most steroid biosynthesis genes, it inhibited the expression of CYP11A1 at high LPS concentrations. High temperatures enhanced the inhibitory effect of LPS on the expression of proliferation-promoting genes. Heat significantly reduced CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 expression. In addition, the phosphorylation of P38 was significantly upregulated by high temperatures combined with LPS, whereas the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK was downregulated. The relative protein expression of Bax/BCL-2 was upregulated at high temperatures in combination with LPS. Heat treatment enhanced the inhibitory effects of LPS on the proliferation and hormone biosynthesis of duck GCs in vitro.

Berberine enhances autophagic flux by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in bovine endometrial epithelial cells to resist LPS‐induced apoptosis

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Abstract

Berberine exerts many beneficial effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs). Recently, we also found that berberine shows significant antiapoptotic and autophagy-promoting activities, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. This research explored the association between the antiapoptotic and autophagy-promoting activities of berberine in LPS-treated BEECs. BEECs were first preconditioned with an inhibitor of autophagic flux (chloroquine [CQ]) for 1 h, treated with berberine for 2 h, and then incubated with LPS for 3 h. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, and autophagy activities were assessed by immunoblot analysis of LC3II and p62. The results indicated that the antiapoptotic activity of berberine was notably inhibited in LPS-treated BEECs after preconditioning with CQ for 1 h. Furthermore, to determine whether berberine promoted autophagy by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, we assessed autophagy in LPS-treated BEECs after preconditioning with a signaling pathway inhibitor of Nrf2 (ML385). The results indicated that the enhanced autophagy activity induced by berberine was partially reversed in LPS-treated BEECs after the Nrf2 signaling pathway was disturbed by ML385. In conclusion, berberine enhances autophagic flux to allow resistance to LPS-induced apoptosis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in BEECs. The present study may provide new insight into the antiapoptotic mechanism of berberine in LPS-induced BEECs.

Effects of a low‐protein diet supplemented with essential amino acids on egg production performance and environmental gas emissions from layer‐manure composting in laying hens in the later laying period

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Abstract

We fed 330–545 day-old laying hens (later laying period) a low-protein diet supplemented with essential amino acids (LPS) and composted their manure. We then investigated the laying performance of the hens, the nitrogen balance and emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3) from the composting, and several characteristics of the finished compost. There were no significant differences in the egg-laying rate, egg mass, egg weight, proximate compositions in egg yolk and egg white, or feed intake between the laying hens fed a Control diet (Cont) and those fed the LPS diet. However, the LPS-fed hens had lower excreta levels and nitrogen excretion. In addition, the environmental gas emissions per layer from composting of the manure from the LPS-fed laying hens were decreased by 9.7% for N2O, 40.9% for CH4, and 24.8% for NH3 compared to the Cont-fed laying hens. The concentrations of total nitrogen in the finished compost were similar between the LPS-fed and Cont-fed laying hens. In a vegetable-growth test, the weights of komatsuna plants grown with compost from LPS-fed and Cont-fed hens were also not significantly different. Feeding an LPS diet to 330–545 day-old laying hens was suggested to reduce environmental gas emissions from manure composting without affecting the egg production performance.

Impact of packaging system on the microbial quality of chilled rabbit meat over 21 days of storage

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Abstract

The pace of life is accelerating, so we are seeking ways to optimize the shelf life of products. To achieve this goal, the microbiological quality of rabbit meat was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days under refrigerated conditions, utilizing two storage methods, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAC). Maintaining high levels of hygiene is critical not only during slaughter but also during subsequent technological processes and meat storage. The research concluded that the MAP method was more effective at extending the shelf-life of fresh rabbit meat than the VAC method. Additionally, increasing the CO2 concentrations in meat significantly decreased the Pseudomonas bacteria population (after 14 and 21 days of storage). Conversely, the gaseous mixture containing 70% O2 significantly decreased the Enterobacteriaceae population in the sample after 21 days of storage. Moreover, the MAP storage method considerably impeded microbial growth, particularly the total yeast and mold count, lactic acid bacteria count, and Pseudomonas spp. count. This study's findings demonstrate that rabbit meat can be stored for 21 days in a modified atmosphere containing appropriate concentrations of gases such as gaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Evaluation of parentage testing using single nucleotide polymorphism markers for draft horses in Japan

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We evaluated the utility of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for parentage testing in Breton (BR) and Percheron (PR) horses in Japan using the proposed International Society for Animal Genetics (P-ISAG) 147 SNP panel and 414 autosomal SNPs. Genomic DNA was extracted from 98 horses of two breeds, BR (n = 47) and PR (n = 51), and sequenced using next-generation sequencing. The average minor allele frequencies for the P-ISAG panel for BR and PR were 0.306 and 0.301, respectively. The combined probabilities of exclusion (PEs) given two parents and one offspring: exclude a relationship (PE01) and given one parent and one offspring: exclude their relationship (PE02) were over 0.9999 for both breeds. Using the P-ISAG panel, no exclusion or doubtful cases were identified in 35 valid parent–offspring pairs, suggesting that the P-ISAG panel is helpful for parentage verification in both breeds. In contrast, as 0.18% of falsely accepted parentages were observed in the parentage discovery cases, additional markers such as the combination of the P-ISAG panel and 414 autosomal SNPs (561-SNP set) presented here should be used to identify valid parent–offspring pairs of horses with unknown parentage relationships.

Hazards of swine slurry: Heavy metals, bacteriology, and overdosing—Physicochemical models to predict the nutrient value

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In this work, 124 samples of slurry from 32 commercial farms of three animal categories (lactating sows, nursery piglets, and growing pigs) were studied. The samples were collected in summer and winter over two consecutive years and analyzed for physicochemical properties, macronutrient and micronutrient, heavy metals, and major microbiological indicators. The results were found to be influenced by farm type and to deviate especially markedly in nursery piglets, probably as a consequence of differences in pig age, diet, and management. The main potential hazards of the slurries can be expected to arise from their high contents in heavy metals (Cu and Zn), especially in the nursery piglet group, and from the high proportion of samples testing positive for Salmonella spp. (66%). Linear and nonlinear predictive equations were developed for each animal category and the three as a whole. Dry matter, which was highly correlated with N, CaO, and MgO contents, proved the best predictor of fertilizer value. Using an additional predictor failed to improve the results but nonlinear and farm-specific equations did. Rapid on-site measurements can improve the accuracy of fertilizer value estimates and help optimize the use of swine slurry as a result.

Physical and chemical characterization of the femur during and after the body development period in male and female guinea pigs

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In this study, it was aimed to reveal the physical and chemical characterization of the bone structures during body development periods (prepubertal period, period between adolescence and adulthood) and after (young adult period and old adult period) in male and female guinea pigs. In this study, 40 guinea pigs (20 male, 20 female) were used. Morphometric measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for mineral levels, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis for surface area, and porosity analysis were applied to the bones. The male guinea pigs had greater values than females in the other three categories, with the exception of the second group, when the females have higher values in morphometric measurements. Ca levels rose up to the third group, as did P levels in the males, peaking in the third group and declining in the fourth. As with phosphorus, there was a progressive rise in females from the first to the fourth group. Fe, Zn, and Sr elements had the greatest values in both genders in the first group. In all four groups, the females had greater Zn levels than males. The highest Ca/P ratio was found in the third male group and the fourth female group. This study revealed that adolescence, adulthood, and gender are effective in the physical and chemical characterization of bone structure in guinea pigs.

A highly sensitive PCR method for A1 allele detection in A2 milk samples without DNA isolation

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We previously developed a genotyping method to detect the A1 and A2 alleles of the bovine β-casein gene. This method required DNA extraction from hair samples. Recently, demand for A2 milk (milk from cows homozygous for the A2 allele) has increased, and dairy farms are required to have certification to produce A2 milk. Here, we describe the development of a new, simple, and sensitive genotyping method for the β-casein gene that does not require DNA extraction. This method uses the CycleavePCR technique and can amplify the β-casein gene directly from raw milk samples. Genotypes obtained from the milk samples (n = 27) were completely coincident with those obtained from genomic DNA. In addition, this method could quantify the A1 allele in the milk samples. The limit of detection for the A1 allele in A2 milk was 2%. The copy numbers of the A1 allele corresponding to the 2% detection limit were estimated to be 30.5 ± 24.3 molecules/μL. These findings indicate that this new genotyping method is simple and fast for detecting the A1 allele in milk samples and can therefore be potentially used to certify A2 milk.

Relationship between refractive index and fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and near‐infrared fiber‐optic method in bovine fat

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The causes of the difference in fatty acid composition between gas chromatography (GC) and near-infrared fiber-optic method (NIR) in bovine fat and their countermeasures were studied using absolute values of refractive index. Using intermuscular fat from 45 crossbreeds, refractive index was measured by using a refractometer, and saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were measured by NIR and GC. The correlation coefficients between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, as well as those between refractive index and GC or NIR (in SFA and MUFA), were all greater than or equal to 0.8 (p < 0.01). In samples with 3% or more difference between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, GC and NIR values were often located in opposite directions to the regression lines with regard to refractive index. GC reanalysis on these samples slightly increased the correlation coefficient between GC and refractive index and reduced the difference between GC and NIR by 1%–2%. Results indicate that measurement errors in GC and NIR are related to their more than 3% difference, and GC reanalysis based on refractive index may improve its accuracy.