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Liu S, Lu H, Mao S, Zhang Z, Zhu W, Cheng J, Xue Y. Undernutrition-induced substance metabolism and energy production disorders affected the structure and function of the pituitary gland in a pregnant sheep model. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1251936. [PMID: 38035344 PMCID: PMC10684748 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1251936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Undernutrition spontaneously occurs in ewes during late gestation and the pituitary is an important hinge in the neurohumoral regulatory system. However, little is known about the effect of undernutrition on pituitary metabolism. Methods Here, 10 multiparous ewes were restricted to a 30% feeding level during late gestation to establish an undernutrition model while another 10 ewes were fed normally as controls. All the ewes were sacrificed, and pituitary samples were collected to perform transcriptome, metabolome, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis and investigate the metabolic changes. Results PCA and PLS-DA of total genes showed that undernutrition changed the total transcriptome profile of the pituitary gland, and 581 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the two groups. Clusters of orthologous groups for eukaryotic complete genomes demonstrated that substance transport and metabolism, including lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids, energy production and conversion, ribosomal structure and biogenesis, and the cytoskeleton were enriched by DEGs. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis displayed that the phagosome, intestinal immune network, and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched by DEGs. Further analysis found that undernutrition enhanced the lipid degradation and amino acid transport, repressing lipid synthesis and transport and amino acid degradation of the pituitary gland. Moreover, the general metabolic profiles and metabolic pathways were affected by undernutrition, repressing the 60S, 40S, 28S, and 39S subunits of the ribosomal structure for translation and myosin and actin synthesis for cytoskeleton. Undernutrition was found also to be implicated in the suppression of oxidative phosphorylation for energy production and conversion into a downregulation of genes related to T cell function and the immune response and an upregulation of genes involved in inflammatory reactions enriching phagosomes. Discussion This study comprehensively analyses the effect of undernutrition on the pituitary gland in a pregnant sheep model, which provides a foundation for further research into the mechanisms of undernutrition-caused hormone secretion and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Huizhen Lu
- Biotechnology Center, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Shengyong Mao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zijun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianbo Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanfeng Xue
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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Sánchez JM, Keogh K, Kelly AK, Byrne CJ, Lonergan P, Kenny DA. A high plane of nutrition during early life alters the hypothalamic transcriptome of heifer calves. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13978. [PMID: 34234169 PMCID: PMC8263617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93080-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to examine the effect of rapid body weight gain during early calfhood consistent with earlier sexual development on the transcriptional profile of the hypothalamus. Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves (19 ± 5 days of age) were offered a high (HI, n = 14) or moderate (MOD, n = 15) plane of nutrition from 3 to 21 weeks of age to achieve a growth rate of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. Following euthanasia at 21 weeks, the arcuate nucleus (ARC) region was separated from the remainder of the hypothalamus and both were subjected to RNA-Seq. HI calves exhibited altered expression of 80 and 39 transcripts in the ARC and the remaining hypothalamus, respectively (P < 0.05) including downregulation of AGRP and NPY and upregulation of POMC, previously implicated in precocious sexual development. Stress-signaling pathways were amongst the most highly dysregulated. Organ morphology, reproductive system development and function, and developmental disorder were amongst the networks derived from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ARC. Gene co-expression analysis revealed DEGs within the ARC (POMC, CBLN2, CHGA) and hypothalamus (PENK) as hub genes. In conclusion, enhanced nutrition during early calfhood alters the biochemical regulation of the hypothalamus consistent with advanced sexual development in the prepubertal heifer.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Sánchez
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria, Ctr. de la Coruña Km 5.9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Kate Keogh
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Alan K Kelly
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Colin J Byrne
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Pat Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David A Kenny
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
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Snoj T, Blažič K, Šehić N, Vake T, Majdič G. Calves' management conditions affect sperm count in adult bulls. Acta Vet Scand 2020; 62:65. [PMID: 33239077 PMCID: PMC7690124 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-020-00563-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early maternal separation may have long-lasting physiological effects on different organ systems. Although long-lasting effects of early maternal separation are mostly studied in connection with the development and function of the central nervous system hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, animal health, behaviour and productivity, there is a lack of information about its impacts on the reproductive system. In the dairy industry, calves are often separated from mothers 1 or 2 days after birth and are not nursed. In the present retrospective study based on data from an artificial insemination (AI) centre, we compared semen parameters and fertility in bulls that were separated from their mothers one day after birth with the semen parameters of bulls that remained with their mothers and were nursed for approximately 2 months. Semen parameters were followed in 3 consecutive years in 52 maternally separated and 22 nursed bulls. Results Ejaculate volume and total sperm count in ejaculate were significantly higher in nursed bulls in comparison to maternally separated bulls at the age 25–36 and 37–48 months, but interestingly, not at the age 12–24 months, during the first year in the AI centre. Non-return rates did not differ between separated and nursed bulls. Conclusion The results suggest that early maternal separation causes long-lasting effects on the functioning of the male reproductive system, evident by reduced production of semen in adult bulls. The data suggest that with a standard of 20 million sperms per straw of frozen semen, 27–78 fewer straws can be obtained from one ejaculate of maternally separated bulls in comparison to the nursed bulls.
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Johnson C, Dance A, Kovalchuk I, Kastelic J, Thundathil J. Enhanced pre-pubertal nutrition upregulates mitochondrial function in testes and sperm of post-pubertal Holstein bulls. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2235. [PMID: 32042017 PMCID: PMC7010748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Supplemental energy and protein during calf-hood (2–30 wk) in dairy bulls hastened puberty (~1 mo), upregulated steroid biosynthesis, concentrations of reproductive hormones and Sertoli cell maturation, with larger testes and greater sperm production (~25%) in mature bulls. The objective was to evaluate effects of feeding high (20.0% crude protein [CP], 67.9% total digestible nutrients [TDN]), control/medium (17.0% CP, 66.0% TDN) and low (12.2% CP, 62.9% TDN) diets from 2 to 30 wk on post-pubertal testes of Holstein bulls. Based on RNA sequencing, 497 and 2961 genes were differentially expressed (P < 0.1) in high- vs low- and high- vs medium-diet groups, respectively. According to KEGG analysis, oxidative phosphorylation and ribosome pathways were upregulated in high- vs medium- and low-diet groups, with majority of upregulated genes encoding for essential subunits of complex I, III, IV and V of OXYPHOS pathway. In addition, mitochondrial translation, mitotic nuclear division and cell division were enriched in high- vs medium-diet groups. Consistent with these results, a greater percentage of sperm from high-diet bulls were progressively motile and had normal mitochondrial function compared to medium-diet sperm (P < 0.1). Thus, enhanced early life nutrition upregulated mitochondrial function in testes and sperm of post-pubertal Holstein bulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinju Johnson
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Alysha Dance
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, TIK 3M4, Canada
| | - John Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jacob Thundathil
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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English AM, Byrne CJ, Cormican P, Waters SM, Fair S, Kenny DA. Effect of Early Calf-Hood Nutrition on the Transcriptional Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular axis in Holstein-Friesian Bull Calves. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16577. [PMID: 30409985 PMCID: PMC6224434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34611-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early calf-hood nutrition on the transcriptomic profile of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and testes in Holstein-Friesian bulls. Holstein-Friesian bull calves with a mean (±S.D.) age and bodyweight of 19 (±8.2) days and 47.5 (±5.3) kg, respectively, were offered a high (n = 10) or low (n = 10) plane of nutrition in order to achieve an overall growth rate of 1.2 and 0.5 kg/day. At 126 (±3) days of age, calves were euthanized, hypothalamus (arcuate region), anterior pituitary and testicular parenchyma samples were harvested and RNAseq analysis was performed. There were 0, 49 and 1,346 genes differentially expressed in the arcuate nucleus, anterior pituitary and testicular tissue of bull calves on the low relative to the high plane of nutrition, respectively (P < 0.05; False Discovery Rate <0.05). Cell cycle processes in the anterior pituitary were down regulated in the low relative to the high plane of nutrition; there was no differential expression of genes related to reproductive processes. Gene expression involved in cholesterol and androgen biosynthesis in the testes were down regulated in animals on the low plane of nutrition. This study provides insight into the effect of early life plane of nutrition on the regulation of the HPT axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M English
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93, Co. Meath, Ireland.,Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - C J Byrne
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93, Co. Meath, Ireland.,School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland
| | - P Cormican
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - S M Waters
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - S Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - D A Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93, Co. Meath, Ireland. .,School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland.
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