Yin Yulong

Effects of folic acid on the performance of suckling piglets and sows during lactation

BACKGROUND The present research was conducted to investigate the influences of supplementation with different levels of folic acids in diet on the performance of lactating sows. Twenty Landrace × Yorkshire sows received the same basal corn-soybean diets (folic acid, 1.3 mg kg(-1)) from gestation to parturition (day 107). After parturition, sows were allotted to four treatments: control group (folic acid supplementation level, 0 mg kg(-1)), group 1 (12.5 mg kg(-1)), group 2 (50 mg kg(-1)) and group 3 (100 mg kg(-1)), with five replicates of one sow. The experiment lasted for 21 days. RESULTS (1) Folic acid increased milk production (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the control, supplementation with folic acid (100 mg kg(-1)) increased the concentration of butter fat, total substance and non-lipoid substance significantly (P < 0.01), the concentration of milk protein was also significantly increased in group 2 and group 3 (P < 0.01) in milk. (3) Folic acid supplementation could increase litter weaning weight, average piglet weaning weight and average piglet daily gain (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggested that supplementation with folic acid in the diets of lactating sows increases milk production, improved milk quality and the performance of piglets.

Dynamic feeding low and high methionine diets affect the diurnal rhythm of amino acid transporters and clock related genes in jejunum of laying hens

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate effects of dynamic feeding low and high methionine (Met) diets on circadian clock gene expression in jejunum of laying hens. A total of 180 laying hens (Brown Hy-line, 41 weeks old) were allocated into 3 groups with 6 replicates each. The CON group received diet containing 0.30% Met, LH group received low Met diet (0.27% Met) at 07:30 h and high Met diet (0.33% Met) at 15:30 h, while HL group received high Met diet at 07:30 h and low Met diet at 15:30 h. After 10 weeks, jejunum samples were collected at 4 h intervals in a daily cycle initial starting at 07:30 h before feeding. Results showed that dynamic feeding of Met significantly affected the wave of mRNA expression of B0AT1, LAT1, SNAT2, CAT-2, and y+LAT2 by feeding regime during a day (P<0.05). Dynamic feeding of Met also influenced the fluctuation of relative mRNA expression of Clock, Bmal1, Cry1, Cry2, Per2, and Per3 significantly in hens during a day (P<0.05). These results demonstrated that dynamic feeding different Met level diets of hens affected the rhythmic fluctuation of amino acid transporters and may affected intestinal function by influencing the clock-related genes further.

Extraction and identification of the chyme proteins in the digestive tract of growing pigs

This study aimed to explore the rule of degradation of dietary proteins by identifying chyme proteins in different segments of the digestive tract of growing pigs, using proteomics techniques. Six growing pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet for 7 days. The feedstuff and chyme proteins were separately extracted and separated with SDS-PAGE. 2D LCMS/MS combined with protein database searching identified 1,513 proteins in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract, the number of identified exogenous proteins gradually decline from the stomach to colon, with large amounts in the duodenum to the large intestine. More corn proteins than soybean proteins were identified both in the feedstuff and chyme, and these were significantly decreased after digestion in the stomach. More membrane proteins than non-membrane proteins were identified in whole digestive tract. These results regarding the profiles of chyme proteins in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract would provide useful information for optimizing feed formula in pigs.

Effect of dietary niacin supplementation on performance, total tract nutrient retention, carcass yield and meat lipid profile of growing turkeys

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary high or recommended nicotinic acid (niacin) supplementation on growth performance, total tract nutrient digestibility, hematology, serum chemistry, and lipoprotein concentrations in the serum and meat of growing turkeys. Turkeys were assigned to three treatments on weight equalisation basis with five replicates of eight turkeys in each group. Experimental diets were: no supplemental niacin (Control), a diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg niacin termed as recommended niacin supplementation and a diet supplemented with 180 mg/kg niacin termed as high niacin supplementation (HNS). The experiment lasted for the grower (Day 56–84) and finisher phases (Day 84–112) of the birds. Dietary inclusion of HNS increased (P < 0.01) bodyweight gain, metabolisable energy (Days 84 and 112), dressing percentage and retail cut parts of turkeys (Day 112) in relation to the Control-fed turkeys. Furthermore, least white blood cell count and higher concentrations of packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin (P < 0.01) were found in turkeys fed HNS on Days 84 and 112. Similarly, turkeys in the HNS group had improved serum constituents including serum protein, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate. The blood and meat lipid profile analysis showed that low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were least (P < 0.05) in turkeys fed HNS. Collectively, dietary high supplementation of niacin (180 mg/kg) improves production performances, reduces serum and meat fat content and improve indicators of stress resistance ability in growing turkeys.

Current advances in renewal mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cells along the crypt-villus axis

The small intestine is not only an organ for food digestion and nutrient absorption but also an integral part of the immune and endocrine systems. Differentiation of enterocytes plays an important role in the damage repair mechanism after immune response elicitation by the intestine, for restoring the intestinal barrier function and homeostasis. Recently, research related to self-renewal, differentiation, and regulation of the intestinal epithelial crypt stem cells has been developing rapidly. In this review, we attempt to sum up recent studies related to the expression pattern of genes and proteins along the crypt-villus axis, and the effect of signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications on the differentiation of crypt stem cells. We also examine the mechanisms by which nutritional factors influence the differentiation and damage repair processes of the intestinal epithelial cells. This review could provide valuable theoretical framework in nutritional and pharmacological aspects and guidance for intervention and treatment of intestinal damage and related diseases.

Integrated hepatic transcriptional and serum metabolic studies on circulating nutrient metabolism in diurnal laying hens

The aim of the study was to see the diurnal variation of nutrients metabolism and their regulation under the management of large-scaled production. The hepatic transcriptional and serum metabolic studies on circulating nutrient metabolism were investigated in diurnal laying hens. Liver and blood were collected from 36 hens that were slaughtered at 3:30, 7:30, 11:30, 15:30, 19:30, and 23:30 (n = 6), respectively. The serum amino acid, fatty acid and glucose levels, as well as the hepatic transcriptome were analyzed. The results revealed that the circadian clock genes such as Bmal1, Clock, Per1, and Cry2 displayed circadian rhythms in hen livers. The genes related to circulating nutrient transportation, lipogenesis, lipid catabolism, sterol metabolism, and oxidative/anti-oxidative systems also oscillated. However, the nadir of glucose was observed at 7:30 and peaked at 11:30 in the day. Amino acid levels peaked mainly at night, and most amino acids exhibited circadian rhythms based on CircWave analysis. With the exception of undecanoic acid (C11:0), myristoleic acid (C14:1), cis-11, 14-eicosenoic acid (C20:2), and (cis-4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19-docosahexaenoic acid) C20:3N6 fatty acids, others peaked at 7:30 and 15:30. The results indicated that the hens required more glucose in the early morning. More proteins should be ingested late in the day, since protein catabolism occurred mostly at night. To remove the redundant fats and lipids, fewer should be ingested, especially during the night. All these results would help to design a more accurate nutrition schedule for improving the performance of laying hens in the future.

饲粮添加α-酮戊二酸对生长猪氮及钙、磷代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究低蛋白质饲粮添加α-酮戊二酸（α-ketoglutarate，AKG）对生长猪氮以及钙、磷代谢的影响。试验选用初始体重为（34.98±2.18） kg的健康三元杂交（杜×长×大）猪18头，按体重相近、性别比例相同原则随机分为3组，每组6个重复，每个重复1头。各组AKG的添加水平分别为0（对照组）、1%和2%。先进行为期14 d的饲养试验，观察生长性能；然后进行消化代谢试验，试验期为7 d，前5 d为预试期，后2 d为粪尿收集期（全收粪法）。结果表明：1）1%AKG添加组有改善35～45 kg生长猪生长性能的趋势，具体表现为提高平均日增重（P=0.194 2）和平均日采食量（P=0.258 3），降低料重比（P=0.419 7）。2）随着AKG添加水平提高，尿氮含量有下降趋势（P=0.143 2），粪氮、总氮含量及总氮排放率极显著降低（P 0.05）。由此可见，在35～45 kg的生长猪饲粮中添加1%～2%AKG可有效降低机体氮、钙、磷排放，提高氮及钙、磷的利用率和日增重。

Regulatory Mechanism of mTOR Signaling Pathway on Cell Energy Metabolism

Normal metabolic processes require the continuous energy supply and oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis occurs in the mitochondria of cells. As cellular nutrients sensor and energy regulator, the mTOR regulates cell metabolism, cell cycle progression, and cell growth. Thus, this review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of mTOR on mitochondrial function, the interactive effects of mTORC1 and AMPK on mitochondrial energy homeostasis, and the role of mTOR in integrating amino acid- and energy-sensing pathways, which would be possible to provide a support for prevention and treatment of cancers and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes in the nutrition and pharmacology.