Effects of abomasal supplementation of quercetin on performance, inflammatory cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinase genes expression in goats fed a high-grain diet

The Expression of Selected Cytokine Genes in the Livers of Young Castrated Bucks after Supplementation with a Mixture of Dry Curcuma longa and Rosmarinus officinalis Extracts

The study aims to determine the effect of supplementation with a mixture of Curcuma longa and Rosmarinus officinalis extracts (896:19 ratio) on the expression of 15 cytokine genes in the livers of 20 castrated goat bucks. Two equal groups were created: treated and control groups. The treated group was provided a mixture (1.6 g/day/buck) for 124 days. Liver tissue samples were collected after slaughter. The gene expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR with two reference genes. Variance analysis was conducted using a model with the group fixed effect. IL-2 and IL-8 expression was below the detection level. No differences were found for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-16, IFN-α, IFN-β, TNF-α, and CCL4 expressions, suggesting that supplementation does not activate cytokine production in the healthy hepatocytes. The treated group demonstrated lower IL-12 expression (p < 0.05) and a tendency for higher IL-18 and INF-γ (0.05 < p < 0.10) expressions, which may indicate a hypersensitivity resulting from excessive supplement dose. The increased IFN-γ expression could be caused by the increased IL-18 expression. If a small dose of extract can induce an allergic reaction in young goat bucks, it is also possible that humans may be susceptible to an overdose of curcumin and/or turmeric extracts.

Rumen-protected glucose supplementation in transition dairy cows shifts fermentation patterns and enhances mucosal immunity

Manipulation of perinatal diets, such as supplementing feed with rumen-protected glucose (RPG), has been positively regarded as a strategy to improve milking performance. This study was conducted to assess the effects of RPG on the fermentation profiles, resident microbiota and mucosal immunity in the cecum. Ten Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to either a 25 g/kg RPG diet (DM basis) or a 11 g/kg coating fat diet (control, CON). Compared with the CON group, the acetate-to-propionate ratio was lower in the RPG group. Gene expression analysis indicated that RPG supplementation tended to upregulate the expression of Na⁺/H⁺ hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) (P = 0.076). RPG supplementation downregulated the expression of genes involved in self-rehabilitation such as matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), MMP3, MMP9 and MMP13. Additionally, the mRNA expression of genes involved in immunity including Toll-like receptors (TLR4, TLR6 and TLR7) and proinflammatory cytokines (immune interferon gamma [IFNG] and interleukins interleukin 17A [IL17F], IL17A, IL22), was downregulated by RPG supplementation. Nonetheless, no differences existed in the bacterial copy number and beta diversity between the 2 groups. Overall, supplementation with RPG would probably cause a shift towards propionate production in the cecal digesta, and promote the immune homeostasis of the cecal mucosa in transition dairy cows. Our results extended the basic understanding of RPG supplementation and utilization in transition dairy cows in terms of host microbe interplay in the cecum.

Transcriptome profiling of hepatic and renal mRNAs and lncRNAs under a nutritional restriction during pregnancy in a sheep model

This study aimed to investigate the transcriptome profiles of liver and kidney in pregnant sheep under a nutritional restriction. Twenty Hu sheep were segregated into control group (CON) and severe feed restriction (FR) group. Results showed that the concentration of insulin decreased, whereas glucagon, epinephrine, and norepinephrine increased in the FR group. Histological morphology showed no apparent difference in terms of fat deposition in the kidney. In addition, FR significantly decreased the hepatic gene expression of gluconeogenic genes. However, in the kidney, the relative mRNA expression levels of gluconeogenic genes and glucose transporter 1 were observed to increase while the mRNA expression of sodium-glucose co-transporter 1 were decreased by FR. The differentially expressed genes in the liver were associated with fatty acid metabolism and inflammation. In the kidney, FR mainly activated the gluconeogenesis improving negative energy balance. These results provide a better understanding of the consequences of starvation during pregnancy.