Effects of starter feeding and early weaning on GHR mRNA expression in liver and rumen of lambs from birth to 84 days of age

The growth hormone receptor (GHR) is associated with animal growth and development. To investigate such effects on GHR gene expression, a total of 102 Hu lambs were randomly allocated to one of three groups (Group 1: starter diet from 7 d of age, weaning at 56 d of age; Group 2: starter diet from 42 d of age, weaning at 56 d of age; Group 3: starter diet from 7 d of age; weaning at 28 d of age). Six lambs from each group were sacrificed every 14 d to investigate the effects of starter feeding and weaning age on GHR mRNA expression in the liver and rumen. The results revealed that GHR mRNA expression was significantly higher in the liver and rumen (p < 0.05) than in other tissues. Early starter feeding up-regulated hepatic GHR mRNA expression on days 14, 28, 42 and 56 and ruminal GHR mRNA expression on days 28, 42, 70, and 84 (p < 0.05). Early weaning up-regulated hepatic GHR mRNA expression on days 56, 70 and 84 and ruminal GHR mRNA expression on days 42, 56, 70 and 84 (p < 0.05). Dietary and weaning regimes and age affected the hepatic and ruminal GHR mRNA expression.     

Assessing cockle shells (Anadara granosa) for reconstruction subdaily environmental parameters: Implication for paleoclimate studies

This study aims to investigate the potential of cockle shells as an environmental recorder, examining the environmental factors controlling the shell growth of the intertidal Anadara granosa from west coast of Malaysia. Subdaily environmental factors were recorded from December 2011 to November 2012. A total of 600 individuals were collected on a monthly basis and the shells sectioned from umbo to ventral margin, polished, etched and photographed under a light microscope to observe microgrowth bands and increments. Comparison of correlation matrix between mean increment width and each environmental factor indicated that shell growth had the highest positive correlation with seawater temperature (+0.72) and weak positive correlation with salinity (+0.53). Multiple regression analysis was used to assess independent associations between shell mean increment width and environmental parameters. Study model showed that 60.8% of the variation in shell growth could be explained by temperature, salinity, rainfall and tidal change. Individually, temperature and salinity made the greatest unique contribution to explain shell growth, respectively (p < 0.01). Laboratory results showed shell growth was in a linear trend to optimum temperature and salinity. These findings provide a basis for the interpretation of the temporal changes in shell microgrowth patterns in terms of environmental conditions of cockle shells.     

Involvement of ZEB1 and E-cadherin in the invasion of lung squamous cell carcinoma

This study intended to investigate the expression of the ZEB1 and E-cadherin proteins in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues and to examine the clinicopathological correlation between protein levels and LSCC. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of ZEB1 and E-cadherin mRNAs and proteins in LSCC tissues as well as in adjacent normal tissues, and then analyze the relationship between the clinicopathological characteristics and the expression changes of ZEB1 and E-cadherin mRNAs in LSCC. In addition, RNAi was used to knockdown the expression of the ZEB1 gene in Human HCC827 cells; subsequently, changes in the invasive ability of the resultant cells were studied. The positive rates of ZEB1 and E-cadherin mRNAs in LSCC tissues were 69.2 and 38.5 %, respectively. They differed significantly from the corresponding positive rates in the adjacent normal lung tissues (15.4 and 80.8 %, p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the protein levels of ZEB1 and E-cadherin in LSCC tissues (r = -0.714, p < 0.001); in addition, it was found that ZEB1 protein expression in LSCC tissues was significantly higher than that in the neighboring normal lung tissues (p < 0.05), and its expression was also significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases and distant metastases compared to those patients without metastatic disease (p < 0.05). On the contrary, E-cadherin expression was significantly lower in LSCC tissues than that in the neighboring normal tissue (p < 0.05). It was lower in patients with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis compared to patients without metastatic disease (p < 0.05). However, the expression of ZEB1 and E-cadherin was independent of gender, age, tumor size, or tumor differentiation level (p > 0.05). Transfection of ZEB1 siRNA into HCC827 cells significantly reduced the ZEB1 protein level (p < 0.01) and significantly elevated E-cadherin levels (p < 0.01). Moreover, significantly less ZEB1 siRNA-transfected cells migrated through Transwell chambers in the LSCC tissue than that in the control groups (untransfected or transfected with control siRNA, p < 0.01). The expression of the ZEB1 gene in LSCC tissues is downregulated with the expression of E-cadherin. On the other hand, the expression of siRNA against ZEB1 promotes E-cadherin expression and suppresses the invasive ability conferred by E-cadherin. In conclusion, our data suggested that overexpression of the ZEB1 gene is possibly associated with the occurrence, development, invasion of LSCC.     

Mineral composition variation in the shells of freshwater mussel Anodonta woodiana at different growth stages

The levels of mineral element Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Al, As, Ag, Cd, and Tl were quantified in the whole shells of the freshwater bivalve Anodonta woodiana at three different growth stages (i.e. J1 juveniles of 1 month old, J2 juveniles of 3.5 months old, and adults of 36 months old). The concentrations of Na and Al were different between different growth stages (p < 0.05). The highest Na concentrations (2715 ± 86 μg/g dry weight) were found in J2 juveniles. The highest Al concentrations (303.9 ± 5.95 μg/g dry weight) were found in J1 juveniles. Manganese concentrations (517.0 ± 47.98 μg/g dry weight) were significantly higher in J2 juveniles than in J1 juveniles (432.3 ± 9.87 μg/g dry weight) (p < 0.05). Copper concentrations (27.32 ± 0.15 μg/g dry weight) were significantly higher in J1 juveniles than in J2 juveniles (26.21 ± 0.86 μg/g dry weight) and adults (24.74 ± 1.43 μg/g dry weight) (p < 0.05). Burdens of Na, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, Ag, and Tl were positively correlated with the shell length (p < 0.05). These findings can possibly contribute to an understanding of elemental requirements for shell growth and, hence, facilitate improvement of survival and growth rates during artificial mussel culture.     

Downregulation of the circadian Period family genes is positively correlated with poor head and neck squamous cell carcinoma prognosis

ABSTRACT

We investigated the relationship between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the circadian genes of the Period (Per) family, Per1, Per2 and Per3. Tissue sections of HNSCC and normal head and neck tissues from two patient cohorts from two different hospitals were collected to assess the mRNA and protein expressions of the three Per family genes using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The clinicopathological features and disease prognosis for the latter cohort were analyzed through IHC and statistical methods. Protein positive expression levels of the three Per family genes in HNSCC tissues was found to be approximately two times lower than that in normal tissues (p < .01). Moreover, patients with locally advanced HNSCC showed significantly greater downregulation of Per1, Per2 and Per3 mRNA expression levels as compared to patients with early-stage cancer (p < .05). Immunohistochemical examination of HNSCC patient tissues revealed a positive correlation between the Per family protein expression and the clinical tumor staging (p < .05). In addition, the Per protein-positive expression group showed higher 3-year survival rates [overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)] as assessed by Kaplan-Meier plots and statistical analysis (p < .05). Our findings confirm the positive correlation between Per family gene expression and survival outcomes and support their role as prognostic markers for HNSCC.     

In ovo injection with glycerol and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I): hatchability,intestinal morphometry,performance, and carcass characteristics of broilers

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection with glycerol (GLY) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) on hatchability, biochemical parameters, intestinal morphometry, performance, and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 400 fertilised eggs were distributed into five experimental groups. The treatments were arranged as non-injected (control), saline solution injected (0.9% NaCl solution), GLY solution injected (10 nmol/ml), IGF-I solution injected (100 ng/ml), and GLY + IGF-I solution injected. At 17.5 d of incubation, 0.5 ml of each solution was injected into the amniotic fluid of each egg of the injected groups. The injection of different solutions did not influence the hatchability and incubation time of the eggs. Compared to intact eggs, IGF-I and IGF-I+ GLY increased (p < 0.01) the blood IGF-I at hatching. Higher hepatic glycogen was observed (p < 0.05) with GLY or IGF-I. The tested substances decreased (p = 0.02) the fructose 1,6-biphosfate phosphatase activity but did not affect glycaemia. No difference in performance was observed in the first week. Higher feed intake and weight gain with lower feed conversion ratio was obtained ( p  < 0.05) with IGF-I at 14 d. At 21 d, higher weight gain was obtained (p = 0.05) with IGF-I, GLY, IGF-I, and GLY + IGF-I, resulting (p < 0.01) in birds with greater weight gain at 35 and 42 d of age. GLY provided higher villus height in the ileum at hatching and at 7 d of age. The tested solutions increased the relative weight of the liver at hatching. At 42 d of age, no carcass characteristics were influenced. It is concluded that GLY and IGF-I, together or separately, can be used in the in ovo feeding to improve the post-hatch performance of broilers, without affecting hatchability and carcass composition.     

Effects of dietary grape pomace on the intestinal microbiota and growth performance of weaned piglets

ABSTRACT

Grape pomace (GP) is an abundant by-product from wine production and is rich in phenolic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre and beneficial bacteria. In this study, weaned piglets were fed a basic diet supplemented with 5% GP for 4 weeks. Compared with those in the control (CON) group, it was found that the proportion of Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Olsenella umbonata and Selenomonas bovis in the caecum and the villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio (VCR) of the jejunum were both significantly increased in the GP group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, at the mRNA expression level, several proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α) were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) in piglet caecal tissue, and the short-chain fatty acid receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) were not significantly upregulated. In contrast, the levels of IgG was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the sera of weaned piglets in the GP group. However, no difference in growth performance between the two groups of piglets was detected. These results show that GP had no adverse effects on the growth performance of piglets, but GP can promote the content of some beneficial bacteria in the caecum; this effect is conducive to improving the disease resistance potential of piglets.     

Inhibitory effects of food additives derived from polyphenols on staphylococcal enterotoxin A production and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of 14 food additives derived from polyphenol samples on staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) production and biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus. Tannic acid AL (TA), Purephenon 50 W (PP) and Polyphenon 70A (POP) at 0.25 mg/mL and Gravinol®-N (GN), Blackcurrant polyphenol AC10 (BP), and Resveratrol-P5 (RT) at 1.0 mg/mL significantly decreased SEA production by S. aureus C-29 (p < 0.05). TA, GN, BP, and RT significantly inhibited the expression of the sea gene in S. aureus C-29 (p < 0.05), while suppression attempts by PP and POP proved unsuccessful. After result analysis, it can be derived that TA, GN, BP, and RT inhibit the production of SEA. Of the six samples, each one significantly inhibited biofilm formation (p < 0.05). Food additives derived from polyphenols have viability to be used as a means to inhibit the enterotoxin production and control the biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens.     

Summer season induced heat stress impact on the expression patterns of different toll-like receptor genes in Malabari goats

The study was conducted with the primary objective of establishing the impact of heat stress on the expression pattern of different toll-like-receptors (TLRs) in Malabari goats. The study was conducted for a period of 45 days using twelve Malabari goats. The goats were randomly allocated into two groups: MC (n = 6; Malabari control) and MHS (n = 6; Malabari heat stress). At the end of study, all 12 animals were slaughtered and their mesenteric lymph node (MLN) tissues were collected for gene expression. Heat stress significantly (p < 0.05) down regulated TLR1, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR6 and significantly increased (p < 0.05) TLR2 expression pattern. A negative correlation (p < 0.01) was also established between THI and different TLRs except TLR3, TLR7 and TLR10. The study indicated that TLR2 could serve as ideal immunological marker for establishing the superior thermo-tolerance ability of Malabari breed in terms of maintaining the immune status during heat stress challenges.     

Effect of restricted feeding and realimentation periods on compensatory growth performance and physiological characteristics of pigs

An experiment with 94 growing pigs was conducted to determine the effect of a feed restriction of 25% on performance, carcass quality, organ weight, blood hormone levels and some biochemical parameters. The experiment consisted of four periods of 21 days each. In the different periods animals (initial BW about 31 kg) were fed ad libitum (A) or restrictively (R), resulting at day 84 in Groups AAAA, AARA, RAAA and RARA. During Period I, the daily gain of restrictively fed pigs (Group R) was about 22% lower than from Group A (p < 0.01). During realimentation, compensatory growth was observed in Period II for Group RA, and in Period IV for Group RARA. No compensatory growth was observed for Group AARA, which was fed restrictively in Period III only (day 43 to 63). For the whole experiment (day 1 to 84), BW gain and feed conversion amounted to 830 g/d and 3.03 kg/kg, 798 g/d and 2.99 kg/kg, 813 g/d and 2.86 kg/kg, and 800 g/d and 2.78 kg/kg for Groups AAAA, AARA, RAAA and RARA, respectively. The decrease of liver and kidney weights as a result of restricted feeding was not significant and after three weeks of realimentation these differences almost disappeared. At day 3 after realimentation of restrictively fed pigs (Group RA) the growth hormone level was significantly increased, but at day 14 of realimentation this level turned out to be lower (p < 0.01) than in pigs fed ad libitum (Group AA). This was considered as a further indication of compensatory growth.     

AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 gene expression are regulated by thyroid hormones in adipose tissue

The aim of this study was to examine whether the relative gene expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in rat adipose tissue is altered by thyroid hormones, and whether this might relate to their circulating thyroid hormones and adiponectin levels. Hyper- and hypothyroidism were induced by daily oral administration of levothyroxine and methimazole in rats, respectively, over a 42 days period. Real-time PCR analysis was performed to evaluate the changes in AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA levels in the adipose tissue on days 15, 28, 42, and also 2 weeks after the cessation of treatment. In response to treatment with methimazole, mRNA levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 decreased in the white adipose tissue compared to the euthyroid rats (p < 0.05). This decline was reversible 2 weeks after treatment cessation. The mRNA levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were increased in the hyperthyroid group of animals compared to euthyroid control (p < 0.05), and its changes were reversible 2 weeks after treatment cessation (P < 0.05). Adiponectin receptors gene expression levels in the adipose tissue of treated animals have positive correlations with thyroid hormones concentrations. Our results suggest that AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 gene expression is regulated by thyroid hormones in hypo- and hyperthyroidism.     

Effects of weaning age and formic acid-based feed additives on pigs from weaning to slaughter

Abstract

Two hundred and forty piglets were used in a 2×6 factorial experiment to study the effects of weaning age (26 or 36 d) and four formic acid-based feed additives on the performance of pigs from weaning to slaughter. Either formic acid (F) or a mixture of formic acid, propionic acid, and potassium sorbate (FPS) or a mixture of formic acid, propionic acid, and sodium benzoate (FPB) or formic acid in a diatomaceous earth carrier (FD) were added to the diets of weaned piglets (from weaning to 60 d of age) and growing (18 – 46 kg) and finishing pigs (46 – 107 kg) to provide 8, 6, and 6 g acid per kg feed, respectively. The negative control treatment's (C) diets contained no growth promoters, whereas the positive control treatment's weaner and grower diets were supplemented with 40 mg/kg of avilamycin (A). The piglets weaned at the age of 26 and 36 d weighed 7.6 and 10.7 kg at weaning (p < 0.001), and 18.5 and 17.9 kg at the age of 60 d (p > 0.05), respectively. There was a weaning age×feed additive interaction in the weight gain of piglets after weaning (p < 0.05). The weight gain of piglets weaned on day 26 was enhanced by A, FPS, and FD (p < 0.05), and that of piglets weaned on day 36 by A and FPB (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio was not affected by weaning ages but was decreased in groups A, F, FBS, and FPB (p < 0.05). The severity of post-weaning diarrhoea was less in groups A, F, FPS, and FD than in C (p < 0.05). In piglets weaned on day 26, faecal water content and the total Escherichia coli count were highest 9 d after weaning. The total E. coli count was reduced only by FD (p < 0.05). Increased faecal water content was characterized by increased faecal Na⁺ and decreased K⁺ concentrations. Weaning age did not influence performance or carcass quality in the growing-finishing pigs. Feed additives did not affect weight gain in the growing pigs, but FPS and FPB enhanced weight gain during finishing period and total fattening (p < 0.05). In summary, the pigs' growth performance from weaning to slaughter was not affected by weaning age but it was enhanced by mixtures of formic and propionic acids with small amounts of sorbate or benzoate.     

Effects of conjugated linoleic acids on growth performance,serum lysozyme activity,lymphocyte proliferation,and antibody production in broiler chicks

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on growth performance and immune responses in broiler chicks. A total of 240 day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments with different inclusion levels of CLA (0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g/kg) for six weeks. Growth performance, peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity (carbon clearance) and serum antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine were examined. There were no significant differences in growth performance among treatments (p > 0.05). Chicks fed CLA diets produced more lysozyme activity in serum than the control group at 2 and 6 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Dietary CLA enhanced the PBL proliferation in response to concanavalin A (ConA) at the age of 42 d (p < 0.05). Phagocytic ability was also affected by dietary CLA and chicks fed CLA diets had faster carbon clearance rate (p < 0.05), but antibody titers to NDV was not influenced by dietary CLA. The results of the study suggested that dietary CLA could enhance innate and cellular immune response in broiler chicks, and not affect the growth performance.     

Effect of recombinant growth hormone on expression of growth hormone receptor,insulin-like growth factor mRNA and serum level of leptin in growing pigs

Sixteen Large White × Landrace castrated male pigs were allotted into treatment and control group. The treatment group was injected intramuscularly with recombinant porcine growth hormone (rpGH, 4 mg d⁻¹) and the control group with vehicle for 28 days. Animals were slaughtered 4 h after final injection for liver, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and blood sampling. Serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and leptin were determined by RIA. The total RNA was extracted from tissues to measure the abundance of growth hormone receptor (GHR), IGF-I mRNA by RT-PCR with 18S rRNA internal standard. Results showed that rpGH enhanced the average daily weight gain by 26.1% (P < 0.05), the serum IGF-I concentration by 70.94% (P < 0.01), decreased serum leptin by 34.8% (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of GHR and IGF-I mRNA in liver were increased by 24.45% (P < 0.05) and 45.30% (P < 0.01), respectively, but no difference of GHR (P > 0.05) and IGF-I mRNA (P > 0.05) in LD between GH treated and control group was found. These results suggest that rpGH can up-regulate hepatic GHR and IGF-I gene expression and improve animal growth. However the effect of rpGH on GHR and IGF-I gene expression are tissue-specific.     

Two Novel Coding SNPs of SREBP1c Gene are Associated with Body Weight and Average Daily Gain in Bovine

It is known that the SREBP1c gene is an important gene responsible for adipogenesis and regulation of the expression of genes controlling fatty acid biosynthesis. Its expression levels increase in parallel with obesity. Therefore, the present study focused on screening the genetic variation within bovine SREBP1c gene and analyzing its effect on growth traits in 1035 individuals belonging to four Chinese cattle breeds (QC, NY, JX, CH) using PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing, and forced PCR-RFLP methods. The results revealed two novel mutations: NC_007317: g. 10781 C > A (457aa), 10914 G > A (502aa). Association analysis with growth traits in the Nangyang breed indicated that: The SNPs in the bovine SREBP1c gene had significant effects on body weight and average daily gain at birth, 6 and 12 months old (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Therefore, these results suggest that the SREBP1c gene is a strong candidate gene that affects growth traits in cattle.     

Long-term fructose feeding changes the expression of leptin receptors and autophagy genes in the adipose tissue and liver of male rats: a possible link to elevated triglycerides

Long-term fructose consumption has been shown to evoke leptin resistance, to elevate triglyceride levels and to induce insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Autophagy has been suggested to function in processes such as lipid storage in adipose tissue and inflammation in liver. Autophagy and the leptin system have also been suggested to regulate each other. This study aimed to identify the changes caused by fetal undernourishment and postnatal fructose diet in the gene expression of leptin, its receptors (LEPR-a, LEPR-b, LEPR-c, LEPR-e and LEPR-f) and autophagy genes in the white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver of adult male rats in order to clarify the mechanism behind the metabolic alterations. The data clearly revealed that the long-term postnatal fructose diet decreased leptin levels (p < 0.001), LEPR (p < 0.001), especially LEPR-b (p = 0.011) and LEPR-f (p = 0.005), as well as SOCS3 (p < 0.001), ACC (p = 0.006), ATG7 (p < 0.001), MAP1LC3β (p < 0.001) and LAMP2 (p = 0.004) mRNA expression in WAT. Furthermore, LEPR (p < 0.001), especially LEPR-b (p = 0.001) and LEPR-f (p < 0.001), ACC (p = 0.010), ATG7 (p = 0.024), MAP1LC3β (p = 0.003) and LAMP2 (p < 0.001) mRNA expression in the liver was increased in fructose-fed rats. In addition, the LEPR expression in liver and MAP1LC3β expression in WAT together explained 55.7 % of the variation in the plasma triglyceride levels of the rats (R _adj. ²  = 0.557, p < 0.001). These results, together with increased p62 levels in WAT (p < 0.001), could indicate decreased adipose tissue lipid storing capacity as well as alterations in liver metabolism which may represent a plausible mechanism through which fructose consumption could disturb lipid metabolism and result in elevated triglyceride levels.