Bamei pigs,an indigenous Chinese breed,yield meat with a delectable flavor and boast higher carcass fat content compared to commercial breeds,making them a rich food source for humans.However,the differences in lipid ...Bamei pigs,an indigenous Chinese breed,yield meat with a delectable flavor and boast higher carcass fat content compared to commercial breeds,making them a rich food source for humans.However,the differences in lipid and nutrient components between the adipose tissue of Bamei pigs and commercial pigs are still unclear.The study employed UPLC-MS/MS to quantify the composition of lipids and metabolites in the backfat of both Bamei and Large White pigs.A total of 428 lipids and 193 metabolites were significantly different between the 2 groups.Specifically,Bamei pig backfat exhibited altered levels of various lipids and metabolites that may potentially contribute to nutritional and flavor differences,including unsaturated triglycerides,free fatty acids,medium-chain triglycerides,essential amino acids,vitamins and antioxidants,while maintaining reduced cholesterol levels.Furthermore,we delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying these nutritional differences by analyzing significantly different 431 m RNAs and 865 proteins and integrating the regulatory network of protein-metabolite-lipid pathway.Importantly,in the pyruvate metabolic pathway of Bamei pigs,the bioprocess of lactate production was inhibited but the acetyl-Co A production was activated,suggesting the possibility that energy allocation favors the biogenesis of lipid precursors.These findings may contribute to guiding industrial food producers in enhancing the quality of lard at the genetic and molecular levels.展开更多
Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,wi...Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the effects of different light intensities and various mydriatic and miotic drugs on pupil accommodation in guinea pigs.METHODS:Forty-two-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups ...AIM:To investigate the effects of different light intensities and various mydriatic and miotic drugs on pupil accommodation in guinea pigs.METHODS:Forty-two-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups to assess pupillary responses under varying light intensities(100,250,500 lx)and pharmacological interventions(1%atropine,1%cyclopentolate,1%tropicamide,or 2%pilocarpine).Baseline pupil size and eccentricity were recorded using a non-contact Python-based imaging system integrating edge detection and pixel-to-distance conversion.Direct illumination effects were measured at sequential time points,followed by drug administration and longitudinal tracking of pupillary changes.The protocol was repeated at 12wk of age for developmental comparisons.Postexperiment,enucleated eyes were analyzed to evaluate in vitro vs in vivo differences.RESULTS:Significant age-dependent differences in pupil dynamics were observed.Both 2-and 12-week-old guinea pigs exhibited marked pupil constriction under direct illumination(P<0.001),with decreased eccentricity post-constriction(P<0.001).Indirect illumination caused inconsistent pupil size changes(2-week:P=0.68;12-week:P=0.49).Pharmacologically,atropine,cyclopentolate,and tropicamide induced pupil dilation(P<0.001),whereas pilocarpine caused constriction(P<0.001).All drug groups showed reduced eccentricity(P<0.001).In vivo/in vitro comparisons revealed significant structural differences.CONCLUSION:This study investigates pupillary responses in developing guinea pigs,revealing a direct pupillary light reflex(PLR)with light intensity-dependent responses,while indirect PLR was undetectable.The differential effects of muscarinic modulators on pupillary responses underscore the critical role of cholinergic signaling in ocular accommodation,with age-related variations in sensitivity.Additionally,a novel non-contact measurement methodology achieved a precision of 0.01 mm for pupillary quantification,enhancing accuracy in ocular studies.展开更多
Background The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of different dietary soybean meal(SBM)levels on jejunal immunity in nursery pigs at different days post-weaning.Methods Forty-eight pigs(6.2±0...Background The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of different dietary soybean meal(SBM)levels on jejunal immunity in nursery pigs at different days post-weaning.Methods Forty-eight pigs(6.2±0.3 kg),weaned at 21 days of age,were assigned to 2 dietary treatments(n=12)in a randomized complete block design and fed for 20 or 42 d in 3 phases(10,10,and 22 d,respectively).The dietary treatments consisted of low and high SBM diets.On d 20 and 42,jejunal mucosa and tissue samples were collected.Treatments were arranged in 2×2 factors with dietary SBM levels(low and high SBM diets)and days post-weaning(20 d and 42 d post-weaning).Results Pigs fed high SBM diets had greater(P<0.05)relative abundance(RA)of jejunal Prevotella,tended to have greater(P=0.091)jejunal IgA,had greater(P<0.05)crypt depth,and tended to have lower(P=0.064)villus height to crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)than pigs fed low SBM diets.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning had greater(P<0.05)RA of jejunal Lactobacillus and had greater(P<0.05)jejunal IL-8 and protein carbonyl than pigs at 42 d post-weaning.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning tended to have greater(P=0.090)jejunal IgG,tended to have lower(P=0.059)jejunal IgA,and had greater(P<0.05)proportion(%)of Ki-67+cells in the jejunal crypt than pigs at 42 d post-weaning.Conclusion Pigs fed high SBM diets showed greater RA of Staphylococcus,a greater immune response,and a decreased VH:CD in the jejunum than pigs fed low SBM diets.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning were more susceptible to jejunal inflammation and intestinal damage than pigs at 42 d post-weaning,but the negative impacts of high SBM diets on jejunal inflammation and intestinal damage were consistent compared to low SBM diets at 20 d and 42 d post-weaning.展开更多
In the countryside of east Zhejiang Province,a quiet village has hit a home run.Xujiadai,once a place known for pig farming and environmental pollution,is drawing visitors from across China with a sport still uncommon...In the countryside of east Zhejiang Province,a quiet village has hit a home run.Xujiadai,once a place known for pig farming and environmental pollution,is drawing visitors from across China with a sport still uncommon in the country:baseball.展开更多
There is a critical shortage of organs, cells, and corneas from deceased human donors worldwide. There are also shortages of human blood for transfusion. A potential solution to all of these problems is the transplant...There is a critical shortage of organs, cells, and corneas from deceased human donors worldwide. There are also shortages of human blood for transfusion. A potential solution to all of these problems is the transplantation of organs, cells, and corneas from a readily available animal species, such as the pig, and the transfusion of red blood cells from pigs into humans. However, to achieve these ends, major immunologic and other barriers have to be overcome. Considerable progress has been made in this respect by the genetic modification of pigs to protect their tissues from the primate immune response and to correct several molecular incompatibilities that exist between pig and primate. These have included knockout of genes responsible for the expression of major antigenic targets for primate natural anti-pig antibodies, insertion of human complement- and coagulation-regulatory transgenes, and knockdown of swine leukocyte antigens that stimulate the primate＇s adaptive immune response. As a result of these manipulations, the administration of novel immunosuppressive agents, and other innovations, pig hearts have now functioned in baboons for 6-8 months, pig islets have maintained normoglycemia in diabetic monkeys for 〉 1 year, and pig corneas have maintained transparency for several months. Clinical trials of pig islet trans- plantation are already in progress. Future developments will involve further genetic manipulations of the organ- source pig, with most of the genes that are likely to be beneficial already identified.展开更多
Background There is a growing focus on using various plant-derived agricultural by-products to increase the benefits of pig farming,but these feedstuffs are fibrous in nature.This study investigated the relationship b...Background There is a growing focus on using various plant-derived agricultural by-products to increase the benefits of pig farming,but these feedstuffs are fibrous in nature.This study investigated the relationship between dietary fiber physicochemical properties and feedstuff fermentation characteristics and their effects on nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,and gut microbiota in growing pigs.Methods Thirty-six growing barrows(47.2±1.5 kg)were randomly allotted to 6 dietary treatments with 2 apparent viscosity levels and 3β-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios.In the experiment,nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,fecal microbial community,and production and absorption of short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)of pigs were investigated.In vitro digestion and fermentation models were used to compare the fermentation characteristics of feedstuffs and ileal digesta in the pig’s hindgut.Results The production dynamics of SCFA and dry matter corrected gas production of different feedstuffs during in vitro fermentation were different and closely related to the physical properties and chemical structure of the fiber.In animal experiments,increasing the dietary apparent viscosity and theβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased the apparent ileal digestibility(AID),apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD),and hindgut digestibility of fiber components while decreasing the AID and ATTD of dry matter and organic matter(P<0.05).In addition,increasing dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased gas exchange,heat production,and protein oxidation,and decreased energy deposition(P<0.05).The dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucanto-arabinoxylan ratios had linear interaction effects on the digestible energy,metabolizable energy,retained energy(RE),and net energy(NE)of the diets(P<0.05).At the same time,the increase of dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased SCFA production and absorption(P<0.05).Increasing the dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios increased the diversity and abundance of bacteria(P<0.05)and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria.Furthermore,increasing the dietaryβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios led to a linear increase in SCFA production during the in vitro fermentation of ileal digesta(P<0.001).Finally,the prediction equations for RE and NE were established.Conclusion Dietary fiber physicochemical properties alter dietary fermentation patterns and regulate nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,and pig gut microbiota composition and metabolites.展开更多
Background The aim of this study was to investigate the role of necroptosis in deoxynivalenol(DON)-induced liver injury and inflammation in weaned piglets.Methods In Exp.1,12 weaned piglets were divided into 2 groups ...Background The aim of this study was to investigate the role of necroptosis in deoxynivalenol(DON)-induced liver injury and inflammation in weaned piglets.Methods In Exp.1,12 weaned piglets were divided into 2 groups including pigs fed basal diet and pigs fed diet contaminated with 4 mg/kg DON for 21 d.In Exp.2,12 weaned piglets were divided into 2 groups including con-trol piglets and piglets given a gavage of 2 mg/kg body weight(BW)DON.In Exp.3,24 weaned piglets were used in a 2×2 factorial design and the main factors including necrostatin-1(Nec-1)(DMSO or 0.5 mg/kg BW Nec-1)and DON challenge(saline or 2 mg/kg BW DON gavage).On 21 d in Exp.1,or at 6 h post DON gavage in Exp.2 and 3,pigs were killed for blood samples and liver tissues.Liver histology,blood biochemical indicators,and liver inflamma-tion and necroptosis signals were tested.Results Dietary or oral gavage with DON caused liver morphological damage in piglets.Dietary DON led to hepato-cyte damage indicated by increased aspartate transaminase(AST)activity and AST/alanine aminotransferase(ALT)ratio,and DON gavage also caused hepatocyte damage and cholestasis indicated by increased AST and alkaline phosphatase(AKP)activities.Dietary DON caused liver necroptosis indicated by increased protein abundance of total receptor interacting protein kinase 3(t-RIP3)and total mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein(t-MLKL).Moreover,DON gavage increased mRNA expression of interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1βin liver.DON gavage also induced liver necroptosis demonstrated by increased protein abundance of t-RIP3,phosphorylated-RIP3(p-RIP3),t-MLKL and p-MLKL.However,pretreatment with Nec-1,a specific inhibitor of necroptosis,inhibited liver necroptosis indi-cated by decreased protein expression of t-RIP3,p-RIP3,t-MLKL and p-MLKL.Nec-1 pretreatment reduced liver morphological damage after DON gavage.Pretreatment with Nec-1 also attenuated liver damage induced by DON indicated by decreased activities of AST and AKP.Furthermore,Nec-1 pretreatment inhibited liver mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-1βafter DON challenge.Conclusions Our data demonstrate for the first time that necroptosis contributes to DON-induced liver injury and inflammation in piglets.展开更多
Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of mono...Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of monoglyceride blend on weaned pigs and their impacts on performance,immune response,and gut health using a disease chal-lenge model.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary monoglycerides of short-and medium-chain fatty acids on the immunity and gut health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18.Results Pigs supplemented with high-dose zinc oxide(ZNO)had greater(P<0.05)growth performance than other treatments,but no difference was observed in average daily feed intake between ZNO and monoglycerides groups during the post-challenge period.Pigs in ZNO and antibiotic groups had lower(P<0.05)severity of diarrhea than control,but the severity of diarrhea was not different between antibiotic and monoglycerides groups.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or ZNO had lower(P<0.05)serum haptoglobin on d 2 or 5 post-inoculation than control.Pigs in ZNO had greater(P<0.05)goblet cell numbers per villus,villus area and height,and villus height:crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)in duodenum on d 5 post-inoculation than pigs in other treatments.Pigs supplemented with monoglyc-erides,ZNO,or antibiotics had reduced(P<0.05)ileal crypt depth compared with control on d 5 post-inoculation,contributing to the increase(P=0.06)in VH:CD.Consistently,pigs in ZNO expressed the lowest(P<0.05)TNFa,IL6,IL10,IL12,IL1A,IL1B,and PTGS2 in ileal mucosa on d 5 post-inoculation,and no difference was observed in the expres-sion of those genes between ZNO and monoglycerides.Supplementation of ZNO and antibiotic had significant impacts on metabolic pathways in the serum compared with control,particularly on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,while limited impacts on serum metabolites were observed in monoglycerides group when compared with control.Conclusions The results suggest that supplementation of monoglyceride blend may enhance disease resist-ance of weaned pigs by alleviating the severity of diarrhea and mitigating intestinal and systemic inflammation,although the effectiveness may not be comparable to high-dose zinc oxide.展开更多
Intramuscular fat(IMF)is an important economic trait for pork quality,affecting meat flavour,juiciness,and tenderness.Hence,the improvement of IMF content is one of the hotspots of animal science to provide better mea...Intramuscular fat(IMF)is an important economic trait for pork quality,affecting meat flavour,juiciness,and tenderness.Hence,the improvement of IMF content is one of the hotspots of animal science to provide better meat product.Here,we found that most IMF-related genes are enriched in lipid metabolism processes,including fatty acid transport and uptake,fatty acid beta oxidation,lipid synthesis,lipid storage,and lipolysis.PPAR and AMPK signalling pathways are identified to be responsible for IMF deposition.Genetics and nongenetic factors(i.e.,diets,gut microbiota,age,sex and management)also positively or negatively regulate the IMF content in pigs.Taken together,this review deepens our understanding of how these factors affect pig IMF deposition and provides valuable information for moderately increasing IMF content.展开更多
Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biologic...Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biological functions as nutritional interventions.Despite the interest in organic acids and monoglycerides,few studies have examined the effects of the combination of these acid-based additives in weaned pigs under disease challenge conditions.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with blend of organic acids and/or medium-chain fatty acid monoglycerides on intestinal health and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)F18 at 4-week of age.Results Dietary supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or both organic acids and monoglycerides(combination)reduced(P<0.05)the diarrhea frequency of ETEC F18-infected pigs throughout the experimental period(d−7 to 21 post-inoculation).This is consistent with the reduced(P<0.05)proportion ofβ-hemolytic coliforms in feces observed for the organic acid and combination treatments on d 10 post-inoculation.Supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or combination also reduced(P<0.05)bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 21 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or combination had lower(P<0.05)white blood cells on d 5 post-inoculation,and pigs fed the combination also had lower(P<0.05)lymphocytes than pigs in control group.Monoglyceride supplementation increased(P<0.05)white blood cells and neutrophils compared with control group on d 14 post-inoculation.However,supplementation with organic acid blend,monoglyceride blend,or combination did not affect growth performance in this experiment.Conclusions Supplementation with monoglycerides or organic acids alone or in combination improves the detrimental effects of ETEC F18 infection in weaned pigs,as indicated by reduced diarrhea,fecal shedding ofβ-hemolytic coliforms,and bacterial translocation,and thus enhancing disease resistance.Monoglycerides reduced the inflammatory response during peak infection,but their immunomodulatory and possible synergistic effects with organic acids need to be further investigated.展开更多
Background The composition and relative abundances of intestinal microbiota are closely related to animal growth,development and health.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution and temp...Background The composition and relative abundances of intestinal microbiota are closely related to animal growth,development and health.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of intestinal fungi in pigs,with a focus on fungal alterations associated with diarrhea.Methods Intestinal digesta from duodenum,jejunum,ileum,cecum,colon and feces of 8 finishing pigs(180 days old)were collected.Fecal samples were also collected from 18 pigs across different growth stages,including lactation(3 d),nursery(26 d,35 d,49 d),growing(120 d)and finishing(180 d).Additionally,feces were collected from 32 diarrheal and 32 healthy piglets at 28 days old.Fungal community profiling in these samples was performed using internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequencing.Results A total of 9,224 amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)were detected in all of 220 samples.Intestinal fungal diversity exhibited clear biogeographic patterns,with significantly lower richness and Shannon index in the ileum(P<0.05)and significantly higher richness in the large intestine and feces(P<0.05).The fungal community structure also varied significantly across intestinal segments,with Kazachstania dominating in the ileum and Geotrichum in the duodenum and jejunum.Across growth stages,fecal fungal diversity increased after weaning.PCoA results revealed that fungal structure exhibited significant temporal changes(R=0.7313,P=0.001),with the core fungal taxa dominated by Diutina catenulata,Aspergillus restrictus and Tahromyces munnarensis.In addition,by comparing the fungal community of piglets with and without diarrhea,the richness and Shannon index were significantly higher in the diarrheal piglets than those in healthy piglets(P<0.05)with Kazachstania,Diutina and Aspergillus enriched in diarrheal piglets and Geotrichum,Tahromyces and Piromyces in healthy piglets.Conclusions The intestinal fungal community in pigs shows distinct spatial variation,with greater diversity in the large intestine.Fungal composition shifts dynamically with age,particularly around the weaning transition.This study highlights specific fungal taxa associated with diarrhea caused by weaning stress,offering new insights into the interplay between gut fungi and pig health.展开更多
Background Exogenous xylanase can increase utilization of fiber and energy when included in diets for pigs,and xylo-oligosaccharides(XOS)may improve growth performance of pigs by modulating intestinal fermentation.How...Background Exogenous xylanase can increase utilization of fiber and energy when included in diets for pigs,and xylo-oligosaccharides(XOS)may improve growth performance of pigs by modulating intestinal fermentation.However,it is unclear if a stimbiotic(i.e.,a combination of xylanase and XOS)has superior effects compared with a xylanase alone,and there is a lack of data demonstrating if xylanase fed to lactating sows influences growth performance of weanling pigs.Therefore,two hypotheses were tested:1)xylanase and stimbiotic improve growth performance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of gross energy(GE)and total dietary fiber(TDF),digestible energy(DE),and intestinal health of weanling pigs and 2)offspring of sows fed xylanase in lactation have greater growth performance after weaning than offspring of sows fed no xylanase during lactation.Methods One hundred and twenty pigs were weaned from sows fed a diet without xylanase,and 120 pigs were weaned from sows fed a lactation diet containing 16,000 beechwood xylanase units per kg(initial weight:5.81±0.50 kg).Pigs were allotted to a 2×3 factorial with two sow groups(lactation diet without or with xylanase)and three dietary treatments(i.e.,control,control plus xylanase,or control plus stimbiotic).Results There were no interactions between sow treatment and post-weaning pig treatment,and sow treatment did not impact post-weaning growth or ATTD of GE and TDF in weaned pigs.From d 15 to 28 post-weaning,the ADG,G:F,ATTD of GE and TDF,and concentration of DE were greater(P<0.05)for pigs fed the diet with stimbiotic than if fed the xylanase diet or the control diet,and pigs fed the xylanase diet had greater(P<0.05)ADG,G:F,ATTD of GE and TDF,and concentration of DE than pigs fed the control diet.From d 29 to 42 post-weaning,pigs fed the diets with xylanase or stimbiotic had greater(P<0.05)ADG,ATTD of GE and TDF,and DE than pigs fed the control diet.Conclusions Pigs fed xylanase or stimbiotic had greater ATTD of GE and TDF,greater DE,and greater overall ADG,G:F,and final body weight on d 42 post-weaning than pigs fed the control diet,but feeding sows xylanase in lactation did not influence post-weaning growth performance.展开更多
Background Backfat thickness(BFT)is a vital economic trait in pigs,reflecting subcutaneous fat levels that affect meat quality and production efficiency.As a complex trait shaped by multiple genetic factors,BFT has be...Background Backfat thickness(BFT)is a vital economic trait in pigs,reflecting subcutaneous fat levels that affect meat quality and production efficiency.As a complex trait shaped by multiple genetic factors,BFT has been studied using genome-wide association studies(GWAS)and linkage analyses to locate fat-related quantitative trait loci(QTLs),but pinpointing causal variants and genes is hindered by linkage disequilibrium and limited regulatory data.This study aimed to dissect the QTLs affecting BFT on Sus scrofa chromosome 1(SSC1),elucidating regulatory variants,effector genes,and the cell types involved.Results Using whole-genome genotyping data from 3,578 pigs and phenotypic data for five BFT traits,we identified a 630.6 kb QTL on SSC1 significantly associated with these traits via GWAS and fine-mapping,pinpointing 34 candidate causal variants.Using deep convolutional neural networks to predict regulatory activity from sequence data integrated with detailed pig epigenetic profiles,we identified five SNPs potentially affecting enhancer activity in specific tissues.Notably,rs342950505(SSC1:161,123,588)influences weak enhancer activity across multiple tissues,including the brain.High-throughput chromosome conformation capture(Hi-C)analysis identified that rs342950505 interacts with eight genes.Chromatin state annotations confirmed enhancer activity at this QTL in the cerebellum.Leveraging these insights,single-cell ATAC-seq revealed a chromatin accessibility peak encompassing rs342950505 that regulates PMAIP1 expression in inhibitory neurons via enhancer-mediated mechanisms,with an adjacent peak modulating CCBE1 expression in neuroblasts and granule cells.Transcriptome-wide association studies(TWAS)confirmed PMAIP1's role in the hypothalamus,and Mendelian randomization(MR)validated PMAIP1 and CCBE1 as key brain expression quantitative trait locus(eQTL)effectors.We propose that the variant rs342950505,located within a regulatory peak,modulates PMAIP1 expression in inhibitory neurons,potentially influencing energy homeostasis via hypothalamic regulation.Similarly,CCBE1 may contribute to this process.Conclusions Our results,through systematic dissection of pleiotropic BFT-associated loci,provide a framework to elucidate regulatory mechanisms of complex traits,offering insights into polygenic control through lipid metabolism and neural signaling pathways.展开更多
Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)is a globally distributed parasite that can infect a diversity of warm-blooded animals,including swine and humans.Infection in swine poses a considerable threat to food safety and public hea...Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)is a globally distributed parasite that can infect a diversity of warm-blooded animals,including swine and humans.Infection in swine poses a considerable threat to food safety and public health.The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the seroprevalence of T.gondii infection in the swine population in China from 2000 to 2023 and to examine potential factors associated with infection.A total of 112 studies were included,collectively involving 145,152 swine samples originating from 26 provinces.The pooled seroprevalence was 26.0%(95%CI:23.3%–28.7%).Stratified analysis based on diagnostic methods revealed that studies using the indirect hemagglutination assay(IHA)reported a seroprevalence of 19.7%(95%CI:17.2%–22.2%),whereas those utilizing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)reported a higher seroprevalence of 35.5%(95%CI:29.1%–41.8%).Geographical analysis indicated higher seroprevalence in the South Central and Southwest regions,whereas the East and Northwest areas reported the lowest seroprevalence.Chongqing Province reported the highest seroprevalence,reaching 44.9%(95%CI:43.4%–46.0%),followed by Xinjiang,Hainan,and Guizhou,whereas the lowest was observed in Shandong Province(3.5%,95%CI:1.7%–6.1%).These findings provide important epidemiological evidence that can inform strategies for the prevention and control of T.gondii infection in swine populations,with a focus on high-risk populations and geographical areas.This imperative contributes substantially to the improvement of both food safety and public health.展开更多
Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glut...Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glutamate and L-aspartate on growth performance,diarrhea severity,intestinal barrier integrity,and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC).Weaned piglets were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments,including unchallenged and ETEC-challenged controls,amino acid-supplemented groups,and an antibiotic control,to assess their responses to ETEC challenge.Results Supplementation with 1%L-glutamate or 2%L-aspartate enhanced growth performance,with significantly greater(P<0.05)average daily weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio compared with the positive control group from d 0 to d 5 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with 1%or 2%L-aspartate had reduced(P<0.05)diarrhea severity in ETEC-challenged pigs compared with the positive control group.The 1%L-aspartate supplementation also supported intestinal structure by increasing(P<0.05)duodenal villi height and ileal villi width compared with carbadox supplementation.Additionally,1%L-glutamate supplementation significantly improved(P<0.05)resilience in ETEC-challenged pigs by reducing fecal shedding ofβ-hemolysin-producing bacteria compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Moreover,1%L-aspartate supplementation promoted intestinal barrier integrity by significantly up-regulated(P<0.05)the expression of ileal OCDN and ileal ZO-1 compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Interestingly,2%L-aspartate supplementation altered the intestinal mucosa by down-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of jejunal CLDN-1,while up-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of ileal CLDN-1 compared with the negative control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Furthermore,L-glutamate supplementation significantly changed proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and showed the trend for enrichment in beneficial bacterial genera such as Bifidobacterium and Megasphaera in ETEC-infected pigs by d 14 post-inoculation.Conclusion Supplementation with L-glutamate or L-aspartate promoted growth performance,supported gut health,and enhanced disease resistance in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC.During the weaning period,L-glutamate or L-aspartate could potentially be considered conditionally essential amino acids,helping to alleviate weaning complications and reduce the need for antibiotic use in swine farming.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the refractive and the histological changes in guinea pig eyes after posterior scleral reinforcement with scleral allografts.METHODS:Four-week-old guinea pigs were implanted with scleral allografts,...AIM:To investigate the refractive and the histological changes in guinea pig eyes after posterior scleral reinforcement with scleral allografts.METHODS:Four-week-old guinea pigs were implanted with scleral allografts,and the changes of refraction,corneal curvature and axis length were monitored for 51d.The effects of methylprednisolone(MPS)on refraction parameters were also evaluated.And the microstructure and ultra-microstructure of eyes were observed on the 9d and 51d after operation.Repeated-measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance were used.RESULTS:The refraction outcome of the implanted eye decreased after operation,and the refraction change of the 3 mm scleral allografts group was significantly different with control group(P=0.005)and the sham surgical group(P=0.004).After the application of MPS solution,the reduction of refraction outcome was statistically suppressed(P=0.008).The inflammatory encapsulation appeared 9d after surgery.On 51d after operation,the loose implanted materials were absorbed,while the adherent implanted materials with MPS group were still tightly attached to the recipient’s eyeball.CONCLUSION:After implantation of scleral allografts,the refraction of guinea pig eyes fluctuated from a decrease to an increase.The outcome of the scleral allografts is affected by implantation methods and the inflammatory response.Stability of the material can be improved by MPS.展开更多
Background Traditional genomic analysis relies on a single reference genome,which struggles to effectively characterize the genetic diversity among populations.This is due to the substantial genetic differences betwee...Background Traditional genomic analysis relies on a single reference genome,which struggles to effectively characterize the genetic diversity among populations.This is due to the substantial genetic differences between the genome of the studied species and the reference genome,potentially introducing reference bias.Results In this study,we focused on Guanzhong Black pigs(GZB),Danish Large White pigs(DLW),and their hybrid offspring,Qinchuan Black pigs(QCB).We provided two high-quality parental genomes at the chromosomal level and constructed a parental genomic reference panel to detect SNPs(single nucleotide polymorphisms),INDELs(insertions and deletions),and SVs(structural variations).Compared with the single-reference method,the integrated parental genomic strategy identified 5.48%more SNPs and 67.84%more INDELs.The uniformity of variant distribution and genome functional annotation remained consistent before and after integration,while the ratio of nonreference/non-reference genotypes was also improved.In population genetic structure analysis,principal component analysis(PCA)of the three variant types(SNPs,INDELs,and SVs)exhibited good clustering effects,and ADMIXTURE analysis demonstrated consistent stratification.Selection signal analysis based on the integrated parental genomic strategy successfully identified more differentiated windows and positively selected genes.By leveraging multiple variant types and employing two selection signal methods,we jointly identified several novel intramuscular fat candidate genes(MSMO1,SMC6,CCDC158,KIT,CCNC,etc.),which could not be identified by the single-reference method alone.Functional validation of the gene MSMO1 revealed its role in promoting intramuscular adipocyte proliferation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation.Conclusions This study is the first to construct a parental genomic reference panel specifically for pig hybrid populations,which significantly reduces reference bias and exhibits superior performance in downstream analyses.This strategy offers new possibilities for genomic selection breeding of livestock and establishes a methodological foundation for precisely dissecting complex traits in hybrid populations.展开更多
Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development o...Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development of cutting-edge therapies in orthopedics.We present a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the meniscus,consisting of cell clusters corresponding to four major cell types:chondrocytes,endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,and immune cells.Five distinct chondrocyte subclusters(CH0–CH4)were annotated,of which only one was widespread in both the red and white zones,indicating a major difference in the cellular makeup of the zones.Subclusters distinct to the white zone appear responsible for cartilage-specific matrix deposition and protection against adverse microenvironmental factors,while those in the red zone exhibit characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and are more likely to proliferate and migrate.Additionally,they induce remodeling actions in other chondrocyte subclusters and promote the proliferation and maturation of endothelial cells,inducing healing and vascularization processes.Considering that they have substantial remodeling capabilities,these subclusters should be of great interest for tissue engineering studies.We also show that the cellular makeup of the pig meniscus is comparable to that of humans,which supports the use of pigs as a model in orthopedic therapy development.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFF1000602)the National Natural Science Foundations(32202642)the earmarked fund for CARS-35-PIG.
文摘Bamei pigs,an indigenous Chinese breed,yield meat with a delectable flavor and boast higher carcass fat content compared to commercial breeds,making them a rich food source for humans.However,the differences in lipid and nutrient components between the adipose tissue of Bamei pigs and commercial pigs are still unclear.The study employed UPLC-MS/MS to quantify the composition of lipids and metabolites in the backfat of both Bamei and Large White pigs.A total of 428 lipids and 193 metabolites were significantly different between the 2 groups.Specifically,Bamei pig backfat exhibited altered levels of various lipids and metabolites that may potentially contribute to nutritional and flavor differences,including unsaturated triglycerides,free fatty acids,medium-chain triglycerides,essential amino acids,vitamins and antioxidants,while maintaining reduced cholesterol levels.Furthermore,we delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying these nutritional differences by analyzing significantly different 431 m RNAs and 865 proteins and integrating the regulatory network of protein-metabolite-lipid pathway.Importantly,in the pyruvate metabolic pathway of Bamei pigs,the bioprocess of lactate production was inhibited but the acetyl-Co A production was activated,suggesting the possibility that energy allocation favors the biogenesis of lipid precursors.These findings may contribute to guiding industrial food producers in enhancing the quality of lard at the genetic and molecular levels.
基金financially supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund(Grant no:ZDYF2024XDNY187).
文摘Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.
文摘AIM:To investigate the effects of different light intensities and various mydriatic and miotic drugs on pupil accommodation in guinea pigs.METHODS:Forty-two-week-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups to assess pupillary responses under varying light intensities(100,250,500 lx)and pharmacological interventions(1%atropine,1%cyclopentolate,1%tropicamide,or 2%pilocarpine).Baseline pupil size and eccentricity were recorded using a non-contact Python-based imaging system integrating edge detection and pixel-to-distance conversion.Direct illumination effects were measured at sequential time points,followed by drug administration and longitudinal tracking of pupillary changes.The protocol was repeated at 12wk of age for developmental comparisons.Postexperiment,enucleated eyes were analyzed to evaluate in vitro vs in vivo differences.RESULTS:Significant age-dependent differences in pupil dynamics were observed.Both 2-and 12-week-old guinea pigs exhibited marked pupil constriction under direct illumination(P<0.001),with decreased eccentricity post-constriction(P<0.001).Indirect illumination caused inconsistent pupil size changes(2-week:P=0.68;12-week:P=0.49).Pharmacologically,atropine,cyclopentolate,and tropicamide induced pupil dilation(P<0.001),whereas pilocarpine caused constriction(P<0.001).All drug groups showed reduced eccentricity(P<0.001).In vivo/in vitro comparisons revealed significant structural differences.CONCLUSION:This study investigates pupillary responses in developing guinea pigs,revealing a direct pupillary light reflex(PLR)with light intensity-dependent responses,while indirect PLR was undetectable.The differential effects of muscarinic modulators on pupillary responses underscore the critical role of cholinergic signaling in ocular accommodation,with age-related variations in sensitivity.Additionally,a novel non-contact measurement methodology achieved a precision of 0.01 mm for pupillary quantification,enhancing accuracy in ocular studies.
文摘Background The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of different dietary soybean meal(SBM)levels on jejunal immunity in nursery pigs at different days post-weaning.Methods Forty-eight pigs(6.2±0.3 kg),weaned at 21 days of age,were assigned to 2 dietary treatments(n=12)in a randomized complete block design and fed for 20 or 42 d in 3 phases(10,10,and 22 d,respectively).The dietary treatments consisted of low and high SBM diets.On d 20 and 42,jejunal mucosa and tissue samples were collected.Treatments were arranged in 2×2 factors with dietary SBM levels(low and high SBM diets)and days post-weaning(20 d and 42 d post-weaning).Results Pigs fed high SBM diets had greater(P<0.05)relative abundance(RA)of jejunal Prevotella,tended to have greater(P=0.091)jejunal IgA,had greater(P<0.05)crypt depth,and tended to have lower(P=0.064)villus height to crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)than pigs fed low SBM diets.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning had greater(P<0.05)RA of jejunal Lactobacillus and had greater(P<0.05)jejunal IL-8 and protein carbonyl than pigs at 42 d post-weaning.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning tended to have greater(P=0.090)jejunal IgG,tended to have lower(P=0.059)jejunal IgA,and had greater(P<0.05)proportion(%)of Ki-67+cells in the jejunal crypt than pigs at 42 d post-weaning.Conclusion Pigs fed high SBM diets showed greater RA of Staphylococcus,a greater immune response,and a decreased VH:CD in the jejunum than pigs fed low SBM diets.Pigs at 20 d post-weaning were more susceptible to jejunal inflammation and intestinal damage than pigs at 42 d post-weaning,but the negative impacts of high SBM diets on jejunal inflammation and intestinal damage were consistent compared to low SBM diets at 20 d and 42 d post-weaning.
文摘In the countryside of east Zhejiang Province,a quiet village has hit a home run.Xujiadai,once a place known for pig farming and environmental pollution,is drawing visitors from across China with a sport still uncommon in the country:baseball.
文摘There is a critical shortage of organs, cells, and corneas from deceased human donors worldwide. There are also shortages of human blood for transfusion. A potential solution to all of these problems is the transplantation of organs, cells, and corneas from a readily available animal species, such as the pig, and the transfusion of red blood cells from pigs into humans. However, to achieve these ends, major immunologic and other barriers have to be overcome. Considerable progress has been made in this respect by the genetic modification of pigs to protect their tissues from the primate immune response and to correct several molecular incompatibilities that exist between pig and primate. These have included knockout of genes responsible for the expression of major antigenic targets for primate natural anti-pig antibodies, insertion of human complement- and coagulation-regulatory transgenes, and knockdown of swine leukocyte antigens that stimulate the primate＇s adaptive immune response. As a result of these manipulations, the administration of novel immunosuppressive agents, and other innovations, pig hearts have now functioned in baboons for 6-8 months, pig islets have maintained normoglycemia in diabetic monkeys for 〉 1 year, and pig corneas have maintained transparency for several months. Clinical trials of pig islet trans- plantation are already in progress. Future developments will involve further genetic manipulations of the organ- source pig, with most of the genes that are likely to be beneficial already identified.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2021YFD1300201)Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology Innovation Platform and Talent Special Project(No.20230508090RC).
文摘Background There is a growing focus on using various plant-derived agricultural by-products to increase the benefits of pig farming,but these feedstuffs are fibrous in nature.This study investigated the relationship between dietary fiber physicochemical properties and feedstuff fermentation characteristics and their effects on nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,and gut microbiota in growing pigs.Methods Thirty-six growing barrows(47.2±1.5 kg)were randomly allotted to 6 dietary treatments with 2 apparent viscosity levels and 3β-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios.In the experiment,nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,fecal microbial community,and production and absorption of short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)of pigs were investigated.In vitro digestion and fermentation models were used to compare the fermentation characteristics of feedstuffs and ileal digesta in the pig’s hindgut.Results The production dynamics of SCFA and dry matter corrected gas production of different feedstuffs during in vitro fermentation were different and closely related to the physical properties and chemical structure of the fiber.In animal experiments,increasing the dietary apparent viscosity and theβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased the apparent ileal digestibility(AID),apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD),and hindgut digestibility of fiber components while decreasing the AID and ATTD of dry matter and organic matter(P<0.05).In addition,increasing dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased gas exchange,heat production,and protein oxidation,and decreased energy deposition(P<0.05).The dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucanto-arabinoxylan ratios had linear interaction effects on the digestible energy,metabolizable energy,retained energy(RE),and net energy(NE)of the diets(P<0.05).At the same time,the increase of dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios both increased SCFA production and absorption(P<0.05).Increasing the dietary apparent viscosity andβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios increased the diversity and abundance of bacteria(P<0.05)and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria.Furthermore,increasing the dietaryβ-glucan-to-arabinoxylan ratios led to a linear increase in SCFA production during the in vitro fermentation of ileal digesta(P<0.001).Finally,the prediction equations for RE and NE were established.Conclusion Dietary fiber physicochemical properties alter dietary fermentation patterns and regulate nutrient utilization,energy metabolism,and pig gut microbiota composition and metabolites.
基金Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China(U22A20517 and 32272906).
文摘Background The aim of this study was to investigate the role of necroptosis in deoxynivalenol(DON)-induced liver injury and inflammation in weaned piglets.Methods In Exp.1,12 weaned piglets were divided into 2 groups including pigs fed basal diet and pigs fed diet contaminated with 4 mg/kg DON for 21 d.In Exp.2,12 weaned piglets were divided into 2 groups including con-trol piglets and piglets given a gavage of 2 mg/kg body weight(BW)DON.In Exp.3,24 weaned piglets were used in a 2×2 factorial design and the main factors including necrostatin-1(Nec-1)(DMSO or 0.5 mg/kg BW Nec-1)and DON challenge(saline or 2 mg/kg BW DON gavage).On 21 d in Exp.1,or at 6 h post DON gavage in Exp.2 and 3,pigs were killed for blood samples and liver tissues.Liver histology,blood biochemical indicators,and liver inflamma-tion and necroptosis signals were tested.Results Dietary or oral gavage with DON caused liver morphological damage in piglets.Dietary DON led to hepato-cyte damage indicated by increased aspartate transaminase(AST)activity and AST/alanine aminotransferase(ALT)ratio,and DON gavage also caused hepatocyte damage and cholestasis indicated by increased AST and alkaline phosphatase(AKP)activities.Dietary DON caused liver necroptosis indicated by increased protein abundance of total receptor interacting protein kinase 3(t-RIP3)and total mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein(t-MLKL).Moreover,DON gavage increased mRNA expression of interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1βin liver.DON gavage also induced liver necroptosis demonstrated by increased protein abundance of t-RIP3,phosphorylated-RIP3(p-RIP3),t-MLKL and p-MLKL.However,pretreatment with Nec-1,a specific inhibitor of necroptosis,inhibited liver necroptosis indi-cated by decreased protein expression of t-RIP3,p-RIP3,t-MLKL and p-MLKL.Nec-1 pretreatment reduced liver morphological damage after DON gavage.Pretreatment with Nec-1 also attenuated liver damage induced by DON indicated by decreased activities of AST and AKP.Furthermore,Nec-1 pretreatment inhibited liver mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-1βafter DON challenge.Conclusions Our data demonstrate for the first time that necroptosis contributes to DON-induced liver injury and inflammation in piglets.
文摘Background Monoglycerides have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional practices due to their biolog-ical activities,including antimicrobial properties.However,few studies have assessed the efficacy of monoglyceride blend on weaned pigs and their impacts on performance,immune response,and gut health using a disease chal-lenge model.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary monoglycerides of short-and medium-chain fatty acids on the immunity and gut health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18.Results Pigs supplemented with high-dose zinc oxide(ZNO)had greater(P<0.05)growth performance than other treatments,but no difference was observed in average daily feed intake between ZNO and monoglycerides groups during the post-challenge period.Pigs in ZNO and antibiotic groups had lower(P<0.05)severity of diarrhea than control,but the severity of diarrhea was not different between antibiotic and monoglycerides groups.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or ZNO had lower(P<0.05)serum haptoglobin on d 2 or 5 post-inoculation than control.Pigs in ZNO had greater(P<0.05)goblet cell numbers per villus,villus area and height,and villus height:crypt depth ratio(VH:CD)in duodenum on d 5 post-inoculation than pigs in other treatments.Pigs supplemented with monoglyc-erides,ZNO,or antibiotics had reduced(P<0.05)ileal crypt depth compared with control on d 5 post-inoculation,contributing to the increase(P=0.06)in VH:CD.Consistently,pigs in ZNO expressed the lowest(P<0.05)TNFa,IL6,IL10,IL12,IL1A,IL1B,and PTGS2 in ileal mucosa on d 5 post-inoculation,and no difference was observed in the expres-sion of those genes between ZNO and monoglycerides.Supplementation of ZNO and antibiotic had significant impacts on metabolic pathways in the serum compared with control,particularly on carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism,while limited impacts on serum metabolites were observed in monoglycerides group when compared with control.Conclusions The results suggest that supplementation of monoglyceride blend may enhance disease resist-ance of weaned pigs by alleviating the severity of diarrhea and mitigating intestinal and systemic inflammation,although the effectiveness may not be comparable to high-dose zinc oxide.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172761)the Key Research and Development Program of Hunan Province,China(2023NK2018)+1 种基金“Huxiang Young Talents Plan”Project of Hunan Province,China(2022RC1157)the College of Animal Science and Technology,Hunan Agricultural University for support。
文摘Intramuscular fat(IMF)is an important economic trait for pork quality,affecting meat flavour,juiciness,and tenderness.Hence,the improvement of IMF content is one of the hotspots of animal science to provide better meat product.Here,we found that most IMF-related genes are enriched in lipid metabolism processes,including fatty acid transport and uptake,fatty acid beta oxidation,lipid synthesis,lipid storage,and lipolysis.PPAR and AMPK signalling pathways are identified to be responsible for IMF deposition.Genetics and nongenetic factors(i.e.,diets,gut microbiota,age,sex and management)also positively or negatively regulate the IMF content in pigs.Taken together,this review deepens our understanding of how these factors affect pig IMF deposition and provides valuable information for moderately increasing IMF content.
基金supported by Animal Nutrition,Eastman Chemical Company,Kingsport,TN,USA.
文摘Background The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms associated with conventional swine production practices has increased interest in acid-based compounds having antimicrobial properties and other biological functions as nutritional interventions.Despite the interest in organic acids and monoglycerides,few studies have examined the effects of the combination of these acid-based additives in weaned pigs under disease challenge conditions.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with blend of organic acids and/or medium-chain fatty acid monoglycerides on intestinal health and systemic immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)F18 at 4-week of age.Results Dietary supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or both organic acids and monoglycerides(combination)reduced(P<0.05)the diarrhea frequency of ETEC F18-infected pigs throughout the experimental period(d−7 to 21 post-inoculation).This is consistent with the reduced(P<0.05)proportion ofβ-hemolytic coliforms in feces observed for the organic acid and combination treatments on d 10 post-inoculation.Supplementation of organic acids,monoglycerides,or combination also reduced(P<0.05)bacterial translocation in mesenteric lymph nodes on d 21 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with monoglycerides or combination had lower(P<0.05)white blood cells on d 5 post-inoculation,and pigs fed the combination also had lower(P<0.05)lymphocytes than pigs in control group.Monoglyceride supplementation increased(P<0.05)white blood cells and neutrophils compared with control group on d 14 post-inoculation.However,supplementation with organic acid blend,monoglyceride blend,or combination did not affect growth performance in this experiment.Conclusions Supplementation with monoglycerides or organic acids alone or in combination improves the detrimental effects of ETEC F18 infection in weaned pigs,as indicated by reduced diarrhea,fecal shedding ofβ-hemolytic coliforms,and bacterial translocation,and thus enhancing disease resistance.Monoglycerides reduced the inflammatory response during peak infection,but their immunomodulatory and possible synergistic effects with organic acids need to be further investigated.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372907)State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products(No.10417000023 CE0601G/004/002)。
文摘Background The composition and relative abundances of intestinal microbiota are closely related to animal growth,development and health.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of intestinal fungi in pigs,with a focus on fungal alterations associated with diarrhea.Methods Intestinal digesta from duodenum,jejunum,ileum,cecum,colon and feces of 8 finishing pigs(180 days old)were collected.Fecal samples were also collected from 18 pigs across different growth stages,including lactation(3 d),nursery(26 d,35 d,49 d),growing(120 d)and finishing(180 d).Additionally,feces were collected from 32 diarrheal and 32 healthy piglets at 28 days old.Fungal community profiling in these samples was performed using internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequencing.Results A total of 9,224 amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)were detected in all of 220 samples.Intestinal fungal diversity exhibited clear biogeographic patterns,with significantly lower richness and Shannon index in the ileum(P<0.05)and significantly higher richness in the large intestine and feces(P<0.05).The fungal community structure also varied significantly across intestinal segments,with Kazachstania dominating in the ileum and Geotrichum in the duodenum and jejunum.Across growth stages,fecal fungal diversity increased after weaning.PCoA results revealed that fungal structure exhibited significant temporal changes(R=0.7313,P=0.001),with the core fungal taxa dominated by Diutina catenulata,Aspergillus restrictus and Tahromyces munnarensis.In addition,by comparing the fungal community of piglets with and without diarrhea,the richness and Shannon index were significantly higher in the diarrheal piglets than those in healthy piglets(P<0.05)with Kazachstania,Diutina and Aspergillus enriched in diarrheal piglets and Geotrichum,Tahromyces and Piromyces in healthy piglets.Conclusions The intestinal fungal community in pigs shows distinct spatial variation,with greater diversity in the large intestine.Fungal composition shifts dynamically with age,particularly around the weaning transition.This study highlights specific fungal taxa associated with diarrhea caused by weaning stress,offering new insights into the interplay between gut fungi and pig health.
基金financial support for this research by AB Vista,Marlborough,UK,is greatly appreciated.
文摘Background Exogenous xylanase can increase utilization of fiber and energy when included in diets for pigs,and xylo-oligosaccharides(XOS)may improve growth performance of pigs by modulating intestinal fermentation.However,it is unclear if a stimbiotic(i.e.,a combination of xylanase and XOS)has superior effects compared with a xylanase alone,and there is a lack of data demonstrating if xylanase fed to lactating sows influences growth performance of weanling pigs.Therefore,two hypotheses were tested:1)xylanase and stimbiotic improve growth performance,apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of gross energy(GE)and total dietary fiber(TDF),digestible energy(DE),and intestinal health of weanling pigs and 2)offspring of sows fed xylanase in lactation have greater growth performance after weaning than offspring of sows fed no xylanase during lactation.Methods One hundred and twenty pigs were weaned from sows fed a diet without xylanase,and 120 pigs were weaned from sows fed a lactation diet containing 16,000 beechwood xylanase units per kg(initial weight:5.81±0.50 kg).Pigs were allotted to a 2×3 factorial with two sow groups(lactation diet without or with xylanase)and three dietary treatments(i.e.,control,control plus xylanase,or control plus stimbiotic).Results There were no interactions between sow treatment and post-weaning pig treatment,and sow treatment did not impact post-weaning growth or ATTD of GE and TDF in weaned pigs.From d 15 to 28 post-weaning,the ADG,G:F,ATTD of GE and TDF,and concentration of DE were greater(P<0.05)for pigs fed the diet with stimbiotic than if fed the xylanase diet or the control diet,and pigs fed the xylanase diet had greater(P<0.05)ADG,G:F,ATTD of GE and TDF,and concentration of DE than pigs fed the control diet.From d 29 to 42 post-weaning,pigs fed the diets with xylanase or stimbiotic had greater(P<0.05)ADG,ATTD of GE and TDF,and DE than pigs fed the control diet.Conclusions Pigs fed xylanase or stimbiotic had greater ATTD of GE and TDF,greater DE,and greater overall ADG,G:F,and final body weight on d 42 post-weaning than pigs fed the control diet,but feeding sows xylanase in lactation did not influence post-weaning growth performance.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[Grant Number BX20240146 and 2024M761230]Key Project of Research and Development Plan in Jiangxi Province[Grant Number 20243BCC31001].
文摘Background Backfat thickness(BFT)is a vital economic trait in pigs,reflecting subcutaneous fat levels that affect meat quality and production efficiency.As a complex trait shaped by multiple genetic factors,BFT has been studied using genome-wide association studies(GWAS)and linkage analyses to locate fat-related quantitative trait loci(QTLs),but pinpointing causal variants and genes is hindered by linkage disequilibrium and limited regulatory data.This study aimed to dissect the QTLs affecting BFT on Sus scrofa chromosome 1(SSC1),elucidating regulatory variants,effector genes,and the cell types involved.Results Using whole-genome genotyping data from 3,578 pigs and phenotypic data for five BFT traits,we identified a 630.6 kb QTL on SSC1 significantly associated with these traits via GWAS and fine-mapping,pinpointing 34 candidate causal variants.Using deep convolutional neural networks to predict regulatory activity from sequence data integrated with detailed pig epigenetic profiles,we identified five SNPs potentially affecting enhancer activity in specific tissues.Notably,rs342950505(SSC1:161,123,588)influences weak enhancer activity across multiple tissues,including the brain.High-throughput chromosome conformation capture(Hi-C)analysis identified that rs342950505 interacts with eight genes.Chromatin state annotations confirmed enhancer activity at this QTL in the cerebellum.Leveraging these insights,single-cell ATAC-seq revealed a chromatin accessibility peak encompassing rs342950505 that regulates PMAIP1 expression in inhibitory neurons via enhancer-mediated mechanisms,with an adjacent peak modulating CCBE1 expression in neuroblasts and granule cells.Transcriptome-wide association studies(TWAS)confirmed PMAIP1's role in the hypothalamus,and Mendelian randomization(MR)validated PMAIP1 and CCBE1 as key brain expression quantitative trait locus(eQTL)effectors.We propose that the variant rs342950505,located within a regulatory peak,modulates PMAIP1 expression in inhibitory neurons,potentially influencing energy homeostasis via hypothalamic regulation.Similarly,CCBE1 may contribute to this process.Conclusions Our results,through systematic dissection of pleiotropic BFT-associated loci,provide a framework to elucidate regulatory mechanisms of complex traits,offering insights into polygenic control through lipid metabolism and neural signaling pathways.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFE0114400).
文摘Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii)is a globally distributed parasite that can infect a diversity of warm-blooded animals,including swine and humans.Infection in swine poses a considerable threat to food safety and public health.The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the seroprevalence of T.gondii infection in the swine population in China from 2000 to 2023 and to examine potential factors associated with infection.A total of 112 studies were included,collectively involving 145,152 swine samples originating from 26 provinces.The pooled seroprevalence was 26.0%(95%CI:23.3%–28.7%).Stratified analysis based on diagnostic methods revealed that studies using the indirect hemagglutination assay(IHA)reported a seroprevalence of 19.7%(95%CI:17.2%–22.2%),whereas those utilizing the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)reported a higher seroprevalence of 35.5%(95%CI:29.1%–41.8%).Geographical analysis indicated higher seroprevalence in the South Central and Southwest regions,whereas the East and Northwest areas reported the lowest seroprevalence.Chongqing Province reported the highest seroprevalence,reaching 44.9%(95%CI:43.4%–46.0%),followed by Xinjiang,Hainan,and Guizhou,whereas the lowest was observed in Shandong Province(3.5%,95%CI:1.7%–6.1%).These findings provide important epidemiological evidence that can inform strategies for the prevention and control of T.gondii infection in swine populations,with a focus on high-risk populations and geographical areas.This imperative contributes substantially to the improvement of both food safety and public health.
基金Funding support was from the Novo Nordisk Foundation with the project's grant number NNFSA210073688.
文摘Background L-Glutamate and L-aspartate are functional amino acids that play pivotal roles in the cellular metabolic pathways of swine enterocytes.Therefore,this study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary L-glutamate and L-aspartate on growth performance,diarrhea severity,intestinal barrier integrity,and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC).Weaned piglets were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments,including unchallenged and ETEC-challenged controls,amino acid-supplemented groups,and an antibiotic control,to assess their responses to ETEC challenge.Results Supplementation with 1%L-glutamate or 2%L-aspartate enhanced growth performance,with significantly greater(P<0.05)average daily weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio compared with the positive control group from d 0 to d 5 post-inoculation.Pigs fed with 1%or 2%L-aspartate had reduced(P<0.05)diarrhea severity in ETEC-challenged pigs compared with the positive control group.The 1%L-aspartate supplementation also supported intestinal structure by increasing(P<0.05)duodenal villi height and ileal villi width compared with carbadox supplementation.Additionally,1%L-glutamate supplementation significantly improved(P<0.05)resilience in ETEC-challenged pigs by reducing fecal shedding ofβ-hemolysin-producing bacteria compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Moreover,1%L-aspartate supplementation promoted intestinal barrier integrity by significantly up-regulated(P<0.05)the expression of ileal OCDN and ileal ZO-1 compared with the positive control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Interestingly,2%L-aspartate supplementation altered the intestinal mucosa by down-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of jejunal CLDN-1,while up-regulating(P<0.05)the expression of ileal CLDN-1 compared with the negative control group on d 14 post-inoculation.Furthermore,L-glutamate supplementation significantly changed proportions of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota and showed the trend for enrichment in beneficial bacterial genera such as Bifidobacterium and Megasphaera in ETEC-infected pigs by d 14 post-inoculation.Conclusion Supplementation with L-glutamate or L-aspartate promoted growth performance,supported gut health,and enhanced disease resistance in weaned pigs challenged with F18 ETEC.During the weaning period,L-glutamate or L-aspartate could potentially be considered conditionally essential amino acids,helping to alleviate weaning complications and reduce the need for antibiotic use in swine farming.
基金Supported by the Scientific Research Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission(No.202140416)the Clinical Research Boosting Program of the Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(No.JYLJ202117).
文摘AIM:To investigate the refractive and the histological changes in guinea pig eyes after posterior scleral reinforcement with scleral allografts.METHODS:Four-week-old guinea pigs were implanted with scleral allografts,and the changes of refraction,corneal curvature and axis length were monitored for 51d.The effects of methylprednisolone(MPS)on refraction parameters were also evaluated.And the microstructure and ultra-microstructure of eyes were observed on the 9d and 51d after operation.Repeated-measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance were used.RESULTS:The refraction outcome of the implanted eye decreased after operation,and the refraction change of the 3 mm scleral allografts group was significantly different with control group(P=0.005)and the sham surgical group(P=0.004).After the application of MPS solution,the reduction of refraction outcome was statistically suppressed(P=0.008).The inflammatory encapsulation appeared 9d after surgery.On 51d after operation,the loose implanted materials were absorbed,while the adherent implanted materials with MPS group were still tightly attached to the recipient’s eyeball.CONCLUSION:After implantation of scleral allografts,the refraction of guinea pig eyes fluctuated from a decrease to an increase.The outcome of the scleral allografts is affected by implantation methods and the inflammatory response.Stability of the material can be improved by MPS.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFD1301200 and 2021YFF1000602).
文摘Background Traditional genomic analysis relies on a single reference genome,which struggles to effectively characterize the genetic diversity among populations.This is due to the substantial genetic differences between the genome of the studied species and the reference genome,potentially introducing reference bias.Results In this study,we focused on Guanzhong Black pigs(GZB),Danish Large White pigs(DLW),and their hybrid offspring,Qinchuan Black pigs(QCB).We provided two high-quality parental genomes at the chromosomal level and constructed a parental genomic reference panel to detect SNPs(single nucleotide polymorphisms),INDELs(insertions and deletions),and SVs(structural variations).Compared with the single-reference method,the integrated parental genomic strategy identified 5.48%more SNPs and 67.84%more INDELs.The uniformity of variant distribution and genome functional annotation remained consistent before and after integration,while the ratio of nonreference/non-reference genotypes was also improved.In population genetic structure analysis,principal component analysis(PCA)of the three variant types(SNPs,INDELs,and SVs)exhibited good clustering effects,and ADMIXTURE analysis demonstrated consistent stratification.Selection signal analysis based on the integrated parental genomic strategy successfully identified more differentiated windows and positively selected genes.By leveraging multiple variant types and employing two selection signal methods,we jointly identified several novel intramuscular fat candidate genes(MSMO1,SMC6,CCDC158,KIT,CCNC,etc.),which could not be identified by the single-reference method alone.Functional validation of the gene MSMO1 revealed its role in promoting intramuscular adipocyte proliferation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation.Conclusions This study is the first to construct a parental genomic reference panel specifically for pig hybrid populations,which significantly reduces reference bias and exhibits superior performance in downstream analyses.This strategy offers new possibilities for genomic selection breeding of livestock and establishes a methodological foundation for precisely dissecting complex traits in hybrid populations.
基金supported by the National Centre for Research and Development TECHMATSTRATEG-Ⅲ/0027/2019,POWR.03.02.00-00-I006/17the IDUB UAM。
文摘Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development of cutting-edge therapies in orthopedics.We present a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the meniscus,consisting of cell clusters corresponding to four major cell types:chondrocytes,endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,and immune cells.Five distinct chondrocyte subclusters(CH0–CH4)were annotated,of which only one was widespread in both the red and white zones,indicating a major difference in the cellular makeup of the zones.Subclusters distinct to the white zone appear responsible for cartilage-specific matrix deposition and protection against adverse microenvironmental factors,while those in the red zone exhibit characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and are more likely to proliferate and migrate.Additionally,they induce remodeling actions in other chondrocyte subclusters and promote the proliferation and maturation of endothelial cells,inducing healing and vascularization processes.Considering that they have substantial remodeling capabilities,these subclusters should be of great interest for tissue engineering studies.We also show that the cellular makeup of the pig meniscus is comparable to that of humans,which supports the use of pigs as a model in orthopedic therapy development.
