Czech Journal of Animal Science - In Press
The mechanism of N-carbamoylglutamate promoting arginine synthesis and its application in pig production: a reviewReview
Pei Mao, Mengmeng Gao, Naizhi Hu, Xiaoli Zhang, Chenggang Yan, Chengsheng Song, Wenfeng Ma
Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid that can improve the reproductive capacity, intestinal development, and growth performance of pigs. N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG) and N-acetylglutamate (NAG) can activate carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I and the Δ1 pyrrolin 5 carboxylate synthetase in mitochondria, promoting the synthesis of citrulline from glutamine and proline, which are the main precursors for the synthesis of Arg, and subsequently increasing the endogenous synthesis of Arg to produce nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines. Compared with Arg, NCG has a longer half-life and does not inhibit the absorption of basic amino acids such as tryptophan, histidine, or lysine; thus, it has been developed as a feed additive. This paper reviews the application of NCG as a feed additive in pig production and its possible theoretical mechanism.
Rumen-Protected Gambir Catechins Encapsulated Using CaO-PFAD: Their Effects on Rumen Fermentation, Nutrient Digestibility, and Methane Production In VitroOriginal Paper
Roni Pazla, Asmuddin Natsir, Dewi Febrina, Mardiati Zain, Arief Arief, Antonius Antonius, Zaitul Ikhlas, Yolani Utami, Ezi Masdia Putri, Gusri Yanti, Yanuar Achadri, Sharli Asmairicen, Ida Andriani
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rumen-protected gambir catechins encapsulated using calcium oxide (CaO) and palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) on rumen fermentation profiles, microbial activity, nutrient digestibility, and methane production in vitro. A randomized block design was used, consisting of four treatments and five replicates. The treatments were assigned based on different levels of gambir catechin-CaO-PFAD encapsulate supplementation, namely 0% (A), 5% (B), 10% (C), and 15% (D) in the diet. The parameters observed included pH, NH₃, volatile fatty acids (VFA), methane production, microbial biomass, protozoa population, degradation, and nutrient digestibility. The results indicated that the treatments significantly affected NH₃ concentration, partial VFA profiles, methane production, microbial protein synthesis, degradation, and nutrient digestibility (P < 0.05), but no significant treatment effects were detected for total VFA, pH, or microbial biomass (P > 0.05). Treatment C produced the highest concentrations of propionate, microbial protein synthesis, degradation, and nutrient digestibility, while reducing methane production and the acetate: propionate ratio. The Cao-PFAD-encapsulated gambir catechin supplementation improved rumen fermentation efficiency, as indicated by increased propionate concentration, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestibility, and reduced methane production. Thus, gambir catechin-CaO-PFAD encapsulates could be used as a functional feed supplement to improve nutrient utilization and mitigate enteric methane emissions in ruminant livestock.
Improved cryotolerance of bovine blastocysts by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ supplementation during in vitro culture and post-thaw recoveryOriginal Paper
Lee HakKyo, Kim Do-Hyun, DaeJin Kwon
In vitro embryo production (IVP) is a valuable technique for advancing cattle breeding and reproductive biotechnology. Nevertheless, embryos produced in vitro often display reduced developmental competence and cryotolerance compared with their in vivo counterparts. Vitamin D is known to regulate many cellular functions, including growth and antioxidant defence. This study evaluated the impact of vitamin D supplementation during in vitro culture on bovine embryo development and post-thaw recovery. Oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro, and presumptive zygotes were cultured with 0 (control), 25, or 50 ng/mL of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Supplementation with 25 ng/mL vitamin D did not significantly alter cleavage or blastocyst rates; however, it increased the expression of IGF2R and SOD2. In contrast, 50 ng/ml impaired embryonic development. Following vitrification and warming, embryos supplemented with 25 ng/ml vitamin D showed higher blastocyst hatching rates, lower mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased IGF2R expression, and reduced BAX expression and BAX/BCL2L1 ratio (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that low-dose vitamin D supplementation may support embryonic recovery from cryo-induced stress, potentially through the modulation of the oxidative balance and growth-related pathways, rather than by enhancing pre-freezing developmental competence.
Gompertz – Putter - Gompertz: Resolving two centuries of debate on laws of biological growthOriginal Paper
Robert Gous, Gerald Emmans
The function of Gompertz (1825) can be derived from the growth equation of Putter (1920), using the modified form proposed by Kuhleitner et al. (2019). The genetic relative growth rate is derived as RG = dlnW/dt = BG.ln(AG/W). The genetic characteristics are AG, mature weight, and BG, the rate parameter; the state variable is weight, W. The integrated form is W = AG.exp-(-exp-(G0 + BG.t)), where G0 = -ln(-ln(W0/AG)) and W = W0 when t =0. The phenotypic equation is RP = qE.RG, where qE≤1 is a measure of the quality of the environment. This function is consistent with data, collected where qE can reasonably be assumed to be 1, on the post-hatching growth of domestic and wild altricial birds, and with data from both the pre-natal and post-natal growth of domestic mammals. The mean value of the rate parameter, scaled to AG0.27, for mammals and precocial birds unselected by humans, is about 0.037, with considerable variation in avian species. Human selection for growth traits in poultry has nearly doubled the value. The mean value for six altricial species was found to be nearly three times as that for the average precocial species. The Gompertz function is consistent with data collected where the environment is not limiting. It follows logically that any function that is inconsistent with the Gompertz is inconsistent with relevant data, and therefore not a sufficient description of genetic growth.
The impact of folic acid on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in liver of broilers
Pang Yuting, Zhang Yujie, Liu Yunheng, Li Xiuling, xing Jinyi
Folic acid (FA) plays an important role as a cofactor and coenzyme in animal growth and development, and in the regulation of gene expression and methylation. However, the epigenetic mechanism by which dietary FA supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broilers remains largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of FA on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in broiler liver and to identify differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and pathways associated with lipid metabolism. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was performed to analyze genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in liver tissues of broilers supplementing with 0 (C group), 5 (M group), 10 mg/kg (H group) FA in basal diet for 42 days. The genome-wide methylation analysis showed that the average percentage of each sample of CpG (5'-C-phosphate-G-3') methylation efficiency was 29.47%. A total of 1402 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected between C and M groups, including 745 hyper-DMRs and 657 hypo-DMRs; Compared with the C group, 410 hyper-DMRs and 436 hypo-DMRs were identified in the H group. Additionally, 511 hyper-DMRs and 560 hypo-DMRs were found between the M and H groups. Furthermore, a total of 134 DMGs exhibited DMRs in the promoter region across all three comparison groups, including 27 up-regulated DMGs and 20 down-regulated DMGs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of DMRs revealed that the associated genes are mainly involved in H3-K4 demethylation, histone lysine demethylation, peptidyl-lysine methylation), histone demethylation, lysine N-methyltransferase activity, fat cell proliferation, cellular lipid metabolic processes, fatty-acyl-CoA binding. In addition, key Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were primarily associated with the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, fatty acid metabolism, butanoate metabolism, retinol metabolism. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FA supplementation affects genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the liver of broilers, suggesting an underlying epigenetic mechanism for its regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.