Search Results (11)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Pogostemon cablin essential oil (PEO) on rumen development in heat-stressed beef cattle. Eighteen male Jingjiang cattle were randomly assigned to two groups and fed a diet containing PEO at 0 mg/kg (Control) and 50 mg/kg in the feed concentrate (n = 9 per group). The rumen fluid samples had lower ammonia nitrogen and higher cellulase activity, propionate and total volatile fatty acids concentrations in the 50 mg/kg PEO group. Compared with the control group, 50 mg/kg dietary supplementation with PEO increased crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Additionally, the ruminal tissue papilla height, the papilla surface area, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were also higher, while the malondialdehyde content was lower for the heat-stressed cattle in the 50 mg/kg PEO group. Furthermore, PEO increased the average optical density values and mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin (p < 0.05). Transcriptomics analysis of the rumen epithelium showed that PEO upregulated the expression levels of genes related to tight junction proteins and the DNA replication/repair pathways, while it downregulated pro-apoptotic genes. In summary, dietary PEO supplementation improved nutrient digestibility, enhanced rumen antioxidant capacity, and promoted the repair of damaged rumen epithelium in heat-stressed cattle, indicating that PEO exerts a prominent protective effect on rumen function. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected chromium-nicotinic acid (RPCNA) supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant in lactating water buffaloes under conditions of a critical thermal comfort index (TCI). Healthy lactating water buffaloes (milk yield = 5.96 ± 0.21 kg; parity = 2.96 ± 0.15, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to four groups, which were the control (without RPCNA), and three treatment groups designated as RPCNA2, RPCNA4, and RPCNA6, with 0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/(d·head) of RPCNA, respectively. During a 56-day experimental period, the average temperature was 29 °C with an average TCI of 40.60, indicating a critical state of environmental stress. The results showed that the addition of RPCNA to the diet had no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, lactation performance, and dry matter intake in lactating water buffaloes. However, RPCNA supplementation positively influenced rumen fermentation, reducing ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentrations and promoting microbial protein synthesis. Supplementation with RPCNA4 and RPCNA6 decreased rumen NH₃-N levels by 48.3% and 36.4%, respectively, while RPCNA4 increased isobutyrate concentrations. This demonstrates that the coating technology does not provide 100% rumen protection. Serum analysis revealed that RPCNA significantly increases total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Additionally, the supplementation of 4 mg/(d·head) of RPCNA, improved serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These findings suggest that moderate doses of RPCNA supplementation can improve antioxidant status and rumen nitrogen metabolism in lactating water buffaloes under critical state, without significantly altering milk production or composition. Full article

Glutathione (GSH), widely present in plant and animal cells and crucial for combating oxidative stress and inflammation, has not been evaluated in dairy cows. This study aims to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected glutathione (RPGSH) supplementation on lactation, nutrient metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and health in transition dairy cows. Forty Holstein dairy cows (2.65 ± 0.78 of parity, 2.81 ± 0.24 of body condition score, 9207.56 ± 1139.18 kg of previous 305-day milk yield, 657.53 ± 55.52 kg of body weight, mean ± SD) were selected from a large cohort of 3215 cows on day 21 before expected calving (day −21 ± 3 d). Cows were randomly stratified into four dietary treatment groups (n = 10 per group): control (basal diet + 0 g/d RPGSH); T1 (basal diet + 1.5 g/d RPGSH); T2 (basal diet + 2 g/d RPGSH); and T3 (basal diet + 3 g/d RPGSH). Supplementation commenced approximately 21 days (±3) prepartum and continued through 21 days postpartum. Blood samples were collected at −21 ± 3, −14 ± 3, −7 ± 3, 0, 7, 14, and 21 d for analysis of serum metabolic parameters related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Milk composition was analyzed from samples collected on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum. Compared with the control group, supplementation with 2 g/d of RPGSH reduced somatic cell count (p < 0.05) and the incidence of postpartum diseases in dairy cows. No differences were observed among the groups in milk yield, milk fat, protein, lactose, total solids, dry matter intake, or energy-corrected milk. However, fat-corrected milk and feed efficiency were higher in the T2 group compared to the control (p < 0.05). Calcium and phosphorus levels did not differ among the groups. Compared to the control group, cows supplemented with 2 g/d RPGSH had lower β-hydroxybutyrate levels and higher glucose levels on days 14 and 21 postpartum (p < 0.05). From days 14 to 21 postpartum, RPGSH supplementation increased blood GSH, serum catalase, and total antioxidant capacity while reducing malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, haptoglobin, cortisol, C-reactive protein, and interleukin−6 levels compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The supplementation of 2 g/d RPGSH showed relatively better effects. RPGSH supplementation at 2 g/d improved lactation performance, nutrient metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation status in dairy cows, playing a crucial role in maintaining their health. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of supplementing RPGSH additive in Holstein cows. Full article

This study was conducted in nutrient-restricted pregnant Hu ewes to determine whether rumen-protected arginine (RP-Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) supplementation affects fetal liver growth and development. From 35 d to 110 d of gestation, 32 Hu ewes were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (100% of the National Research Council (NRC) requirements), a nutrient-restricted group (50% of the NRC requirements), and two treatment groups (ARG and NCG, 50% of the NRC requirements, supplemented with 20 g/day RP-Arg or 5 g/day NCG, respectively). Fetal body weights, fetal liver growth performance, the capability of antioxidation, and the expression of the mRNA and proteins of apoptosis-related genes in the fetal liver were determined and analyzed at 110 d of gestation. The dry matter, water, fat, protein, and ash components of the fetal livers in the RG group were found to be lower than in the CG group, and these components were significantly higher in the NCG group than in the RG group (p < 0.05). A decrease in DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations and contents, as well as in protein/DNA ratios, was observed in the RG group in comparison to the CG group (p < 0.05). Compared with the RG group, the NCG group had higher concentrations of DNA, RNA, and protein, as well as higher protein/DNA ratios (p < 0.05). The RG group had lower concentrations of cholinesterase, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase, and total protein than the CG group (p < 0.05). The RG group had higher levels of glutathione peroxidase, maleic dialdehyde, and aspartate aminotransferase than the CG group (p < 0.05). In the RG group, the mRNA and protein expression of p53 and Bax was significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with the CG group, and the gene expression of FasL and Bcl-2, the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in the RG group were lower (p < 0.05) than in the CG group. It appears that RP-Arg and NCG supplementation during pregnancy could influence fetal liver growth and development. A nutrition-based therapeutic intervention to alleviate reduced fetal growth can be developed based on this study, which has demonstrated that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy induces the maldevelopment of the fetal liver. Full article

This study investigated the effects of the dietary protein level and rumen-protected methionine and lysine (RPML) on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, and serum indexes of yaks. Thirty-six male yaks were randomly assigned to a two by three factorial experiment with two protein levels, 15.05% and 16.51%, and three RPML levels: 0% RPML; 0.05% RPMet and 0.15% RPLys; and 0.1% RPMet and 0.3% RPLys. The trial lasted for sixty days. The results showed that the low-protein diet increased the DMI and feed conversion ratio of yaks. The diet supplemented with RPML increased the activities of IGF1 and INS and nutrient digestibility. The high-protein diet decreased the rumen butyrate concentration and increased the rumen isovalerate concentration. The low-protein diet supplemented with RPML increased the rumen pH and the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, butyrate and NH₃-N; the high-protein diet supplemented with a high level of RPML decreased the rumen pH and the concentrations of isobutyrate, isovalerate, propionate and NH₃-N. The low-protein diet supplemented with RPML increased the total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity, along with the concentrations of malondialdehyde and amino acids such as aspartic acid, lysine, cysteine, etc. In conclusion, a low-protein diet supplemented with RPML is beneficial for rumen and body health, physiological response, and metabolic status in yaks. Full article

Weaning stress affects the health and performance of calves. L-glutamine (L-Gln) is commonly used as a functional antioxidant and energy supplement in the body. However, dietary L-Gln supplementation improving weaning stress of calves is unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore the effects of L-Gln (provided by rumen-protected L-Gln) on calves during weaning. Seventy-five Holstein calves (54.0 ± 2.68 kg; 42 ± 2.1 d of age) were assigned to five groups: no supplementation and L-Gln with 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% dry matter daily intake (DMI) supplementation groups, respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days (42–70 d of age of calves), and the calves were weaned at 15 d of experiment. DMI and body weekly weight of all calves were recorded. Blood samples of nine healthy calves with similar body weight were collected from each group at 0, 7, 14, 16, 18, 21, and 28 d of experiment for detecting serum L-Gln, glucose, insulin, urea nitrogen, D-lactate, cortisol, haptoglobin, interleukin-8, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, IgM, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and malondialdehyde. At the end of the experiment, six healthy calves with similar body weight from each group were selected for slaughter and morphological analysis of small intestine tissue. The results showed that the L-Gln supplementation in the diets improved the negative effects of sudden weaning in calves. Furthermore, compared to the higher-level L-Gln supple-mentation (3 and 4% of DMI) groups, the dietary lower-level L-Gln supplementation (1 and 2% of DMI) had higher average daily gain, glutathione peroxidase and IgG concentration, and villus height/crypt depth of the duodenum and jejunum, as well as lower cortisol, haptoglobin, and interleukin-8 concentration of weaned calves. These results provided effective reference for relieving the negative effects of calves during weaning. Full article

The dual stress of reduced feed intake and increased milk yield in dairy cows early postpartum results in a negative energy balance. Rumen-protected glucose (RPG) has been reported to replenish energy, increase milk yield, and improve gut health. However, early postpartum cows often develop an insulin resistance, implying that RPG may not be well utilized and increased milk production may increase the liver’s fat oxidization burden. This study aimed to investigate the effects of RPG on the hepatic oxidative/antioxidative status and protein profile. Starting 7 d before expected calving, six pairs of cows were supplemented with rumen-protected glucose (RPG, n = 6) or with an equal amount of rumen-protecting coating fat (CON, n = 6). Liver samples were obtained from 10 cows 14 d after calving (d 14). Concentration of malondialdehyde and activity of glutathione peroxidase were increased and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase tended to increase in the livers of the RPG cows compared to the CON cows. The revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (RQUICKI) was decreased by RPG, but triacylglycerol concentration in liver was increased by RPG supplementation. The overall profiles of hepatic proteins were similar between CON and RPG. A partial least square regression was conducted to identify the proteins associated with liver lipidosis, oxidative stress, and antioxidative capacity. The top twenty proteins, according to their variable importance value, were selected for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis. Eighteen enriched KEGG pathways were identified, including metabolism, the citrate cycle, propanoate metabolism, the peroxisome, and type II diabetes mellitus. Our study showed that RPG supplementation reduced insulin sensitivity but increased the liver triglyceride concentration and the oxidative stress in early postpartum cows. Liver proteins related to lipidosis, oxidative stress, and antioxidative capacity, were positively associated with the glutamine metabolism, citric acid cycle, peroxisome, and type II diabetes pathways, which may indicate an increased risk of liver metabolic disorders caused by RPG supplementation in early postpartum cows. Full article

This review examines several molecular mechanisms underpinning oxidative stress in ruminants and their effects on blood and milk oxidative traits. We also investigate strategies to alleviate or repair oxidative damages by improving animal immune functions using novel feed additives. Microbial pathogenic cells, feeding management, and body condition score were some of the studied factors, inducing oxidative stress in ruminants. The predominance of Streptococcus spp. (24.22%), Acinetobacter spp. (21.37%), Romboutsia spp. (4.99%), Turicibacter spp., (2.64%), Stenotrophomonas spp. (2.33%), and Enterococcus spp. (1.86%) was found in the microbiome of mastitis cows with a decrease of d-mannose and increase of xanthine:guanine ratio when Streptococcus increased. Diversity of energy sources favoring the growth of Fusobacterium make it a keystone taxon contributing to metritis. Ruminal volatile fatty acids rose with high-concentrate diets that decreased the ruminal pH, causing a lysis of rumen microbes and release of endotoxins. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased in high concentrate cows accompanied by a reduction of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity. In addition, albumin and paraoxonase concentrations were inversely related to oxidative stress and contributed to the protection of low-density and high-density lipoproteins against lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, and lactoperoxidase. High concentrate diets increased the expression of MAPK pro-inflammatory genes and decreased the expression of antioxidant genes and proteins in mammary epithelial tissues. The expression levels of NrF2, NQO1, MT1E, UGT1A1, MGST3, and MT1A were downregulated, whereas NF-kB was upregulated with a high-grain or high concentrate diet. Amino-acids, vitamins, trace elements, and plant extracts have shown promising results through enhancing immune functions and repairing damaged cells exposed to oxidative stress. Further studies comparing the long-term effect of synthetic feed additives and natural plant additives on animal health and physiology remain to be investigated. Full article

The objective was to perform a proof-of-principle study to evaluate the effects of methionine (Met) and arginine (Arg) supply on protein abundance of amino acid, insulin signaling, and glutathione metabolism-related proteins in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) explants under ceramide (Ce) challenge. SAT from four lactating Holstein cows was incubated with one of the following media: ideal profile of amino acid as the control (IPAA; Lys:Met 2.9:1, Lys:Arg 2:1), increased Met (incMet; Lys:Met 2.5:1), increased Arg (incArg; Lys:Arg 1:1), or incMet plus incArg (Lys:Met 2.5:1 Lys:Arg 1:1) with or without 100 μM exogenous cell-permeable Ce (N-Acetyl-d-sphingosine). Ceramide stimulation downregulated the overall abundance of phosphorylated (p) protein kinase B (AKT), p-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and p-eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). Without Ce stimulation, increased Met, Arg, or Met + Arg resulted in lower p-mTOR. Compared with control SAT stimulated with Ce, increased Met, Arg, or Met + Arg resulted in greater activation of mTOR (p-mTOR/total mTOR) and AKT (p-AKT/total AKT), with a more pronounced response due to Arg. The greatest protein abundance of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was detected in response to increased Met supply during Ce stimulation. Ceramide stimulation decreased the overall protein abundance of the Na-coupled neutral amino acid transporter SLC38A1 and branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK). However, compared with controls, increased Met or Arg supply attenuated the downregulation of BCKDK induced by Ce. Circulating ceramides might affect amino acid, insulin signaling, and glutathione metabolism in dairy cow adipose tissue. Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the role of rumen-protected amino acids in regulating bovine adipose function. Full article

Vitamin B and trace minerals are crucial molecular signals involved in many biological pathways; however, their bioavailability is compromised in high-producing ruminant animals. So far, studies have mainly focused on the effects of these micronutrients on animal performance, but their use in a rumen-protected form and their impact on liver metabolism in finishing beef cattle is poorly known. We used a shotgun proteomic approach combined with biological network analyses to assess the effects of a rumen-protected B-vitamin blend, as well as those of hydroxy trace minerals, on the hepatic proteome. A total of 20 non-castrated Nellore males with 353 ± 43 kg of initial body weight were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: CTRL—inorganic trace minerals without supplementation of a protected vitamin B blend, or SUP—supplementation of hydroxy trace minerals and a protected vitamin B blend. All animals were fed the same amount of the experimental diet for 106 days, and liver biopsies were performed at the end of the experimental period. Supplemented animals showed 37 up-regulated proteins (p < 0.10), and the enrichment analysis revealed that these proteins were involved in protein folding (p = 0.04), mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (p = 0.01) and IV (p = 0.01), chaperonin-containing T-complex 2 (p = 0.01), glutathione metabolism (p < 0.01), and other aspects linked to oxidative-stress responses. These results indicate that rumen-protected vitamin B and hydroxy trace mineral supplementation during the finishing phase alters the abundance of proteins associated with the electron transport chain and other oxidation–reduction pathways, boosting the production of reactive oxygen species, which appear to modulate proteins linked to oxidative-damage responses to maintain cellular homeostasis. Full article

There is limited information on the impact of dietary supplementation with separate rumen-protected (RP) amino acids (AA), or with their combination, on ewes’ oxidative status. Sixty ewes were divided into five groups; C: basal diet (control); M: basal diet + 6 g/ewe RP methionine; L: basal diet + 5 g/ewe RP lysine; LML: basal diet + 6 g methionine and 5 g lysine/ewe; and HML: basal diet + 12 g methionine + 5 g lysine/ewe. Milk’s fat content increased in RP-AA fed ewes, while that of protein in M and L only. In blood plasma, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced in the M, LML, and HML compared to C-fed ewes. An increase in glutathione transferase activity in the blood plasma of the M and LML compared to the C and HML-fed ewes were found. In milk, lower values of the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in the LML and HML-fed ewes and of 2,2′-Azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) in LML only, were found. Lysine increased milk’s FRAP values and MDA content. Both L and HML diets increased milk’s protein carbonyls content. Methionine improves the organism’s oxidative status, without adversely affecting milk’s oxidative stability. Lysine dietary inclusion affects negatively the oxidative stability of milk. Full article