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Singer M, Codron D, Lechner I, Rudnik R, Barboza P, Hummel J, Clauss M. The effect of size and density on the mean retention time of particles in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 292:111621. [PMID: 38452969 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Particle passage from the reticulorumen (RR) depends on particle density and size. A classic way of assessing these effects is the use of plastic markers of varying density and size that are recovered in the faeces. Here, we report results of an experiment where four fistulated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus, 96 ± 12 kg) were fed two different diets (browse, voluntary dry matter intake [DMI] 70 ± 10 g/kg0.75/d; or a pelleted diet, DMI 124 ± 52 g/kg0.75/d) and dosed via fistula with 8 different particle types combining densities of 1.03, 1.22 and 1.44 g/ml and sizes of 1, 10 and 20 mm. Generally, particles that passed the digestive tract intact (not ruminated) did so relatively early after marker dosing, and therefore had shorter mean retention times (MRT) than ruminated particles. On the higher intake, the overall mean retention time (MRT) of particles was shorter, but this was not an effect of shorter MRT for either intact or ruminated particles, but due to a higher proportion of intact particles at the higher intake. This supports the concept that ruminants do not adjust chewing behaviour depending on intake, but that a lower proportion of digesta is submitted to rumination due to pressure-driven escape from the forestomach at higher gut fills. Compared to cattle (Bos primigenius taurus), muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces alces) that had received the same markers, reindeer had a lower proportion of 1 mm particles that passed intact. Our results support the concept that the critical size threshold for particles leaving the ruminant forestomach is dependent on body size. While the results likely do not represent findings peculiar for reindeer, they indicate fundamental mechanisms operating in the forestomach of ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Singer
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Daryl Codron
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
| | - Isabel Lechner
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Rebecca Rudnik
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Perry Barboza
- Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 756100, Fairbanks, AK, USA.
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Clauss M, Fritz J, Hummel J. Teeth and the gastrointestinal tract in mammals: when 1 + 1 = 3. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220544. [PMID: 37839451 PMCID: PMC10577037 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Both teeth and the digestive tract show adaptations that are commonly interpreted in the context of trophic guilds-faunivory, herbivory and omnivory. Teeth prepare food for the digestive tract, and dental evolution focuses on increasing durability and functionality; in particular, size reduction of plant particles is an important preparation for microbial fermentative digestion. In narratives of digestive adaptations, microbes are typically considered as service providers, facilitating digestion. That the majority of 'herbivorous' (and possibly 'omnivorous') mammals display adaptations to maximize microbes' use as prey-by harvesting the microbes multiplying in their guts-is less emphasized and not reflected in trophic labels. Harvesting of microbes occurs either via coprophagy after separation from indigestible material by a separation mechanism in the hindgut, or from a forestomach by a 'washing mechanism' that selectively removes fines, including microbes, to the lower digestive tract. The evolution of this washing mechanism as part of the microbe farming niche opened the opportunity for the evolution of another mechanism that links teeth and guts in an innovative way-the sorting and cleaning of not-yet-sufficiently-size-reduced food that is then re-submitted to repeated mastication (rumination), leading to unprecedented chewing and digestive efficiency. This article is part of the theme issue 'Food processing and nutritional assimilation in animals'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Fritz
- Zugspitzstr. 15 1/2, 82131 Stockdorf, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Lopes DS, Rodrigues MT, de Oliveira TS. Effects of forage quality and particle size on feed intake and ruminoreticulum content of goats. Transl Anim Sci 2023; 7:txad101. [PMID: 38023420 PMCID: PMC10676119 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim was to evaluate the effect of particle size and hay quality on feed intake, granulometric profile, and composition of the ruminoreticulum content in goats. We used 54 Alpine bucks in a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of 3 × 3. Treatments were a combination of Bermuda grass hay (Cynodon dactylon) with three quality levels: high (35 days), medium (50 days), and low (65 d) harvested at regrowth times. Were evaluated three particle sizes: small (16% ≥4.76 mm), medium (48% ≥4.76 mm), and large (75% ≥4.76 mm), which accounted for 66%, 75%, and 94% of physically effective fiber, respectively. Samples of offered diet, intake, and ruminoreticulum content were used to generate the granulometric profile. The offered diet, intake, and ruminoreticulum content presented different granulometric profiles regarding hay quality and particle size. Dry matter intake (DMI) and neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) increased (P < 0.05) when low-quality hay and large particles were offered. However, when particle size in low-quality hay was reduced, DMI and NDF decreased (P < 0.05). When analyzing the ruminoreticulum content (DM, NDF, peNDF, and indigestible DM), we did not observe any effect (P > 0.05) of hay quality or particle size on the variables. Thus, reducing hay quality and increasing particle size increase dry matter and fiber intake, presenting an interaction between forage quality and particle size. Forage quality and particle size promote intense selective behavior and chewing, which leads to a homogeneous content of particle profile in ruminoreticulum and a uniform average retention time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Souza Lopes
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sudeste de Minas Gerais, Rio Pomba 36180-000, Brazil
| | | | - Tadeu Silva de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-602, Brazil
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Zhang X, Li Y, Terranova M, Ortmann S, Kreuzer M, Hummel J, Clauss M. Individual differences in digesta retention and their relation to chewing in cattle-A pilot investigation. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:394-406. [PMID: 35560728 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
While information on individual differences in digesta mean retention time (MRT) might be interesting when selecting phenotypes for digestive efficiency, MRT measurements are prohibitively labour-intensive for large-scale application. Therefore, more easily measured proxies of MRT might be helpful. We used the opportunity of an experiment applying saliva stimulant in cattle to investigate the effect of different individual chewing behaviour on fluid and particle MRT with a consistent diet. Four non-lactating cattle (670-850 kg body mass [BM]) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, treated with the saliva stimulant pilocarpine in dosages of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg BM per day. The cattle were fed hay with dry matter intake (DMI) assigned according to their metabolic body weight. MRT in the whole gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the reticulorumen (RR) and the distal tract were measured using Co-EDTA, Cr-mordanted fibre and La-mordanted fibre as markers representing fluid, small particles (2 mm) and large particles (1 cm), respectively. The chewing behaviour was measured via noseband pressure sensor and expressed as chewing frequency (chews per time) and chewing intensity (chews per DMI), both for total chewing (ingestion plus rumination) and rumination chewing alone. The animals differed considerably in chewing behaviour and MRT measures. BM did not show a significant effect on chewing behaviour and MRT measures, though it tended to negatively correlated to total chewing intensity. Chewing intensity exerted a significant negative influence on MRT of fluid and particles in the RR, which was not the case for chewing frequency. Chewing frequency showed a significant relationship with MRT of large particles in the GIT. We suggest that chewing behaviour could influence MRT in two ways: (i) by affecting saliva production via the masticatory-salivary reflex and subsequently, the fluid inflow to the RR; (ii) by contributing to particle size reduction. Should the link between chewing behaviour and MRT be corroborated in larger studies, chewing measures, with their large interindividual variation, could emerge as an easy-to-measure proxy for MRT characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Kreuzer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Hummel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Font-Porterias N, McNelis MG, Comas D, Hlusko LJ. Evidence of selection in the ectodysplasin pathway among endangered aquatic mammals. Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac018. [PMID: 35874492 PMCID: PMC9299678 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis The ectodysplasin pathway has been a target of evolution repeatedly. Genetic variation in the key genes of this pathway (EDA, EDAR, and EDARADD) results in a rich source of pleiotropic effects across ectodermally-derived structures, including teeth, hair, sweat glands, and mammary glands. In addition, a non-canonical Wnt pathway has a very similar functional role, making variation in the WNT10A gene also of evolutionary significance. The adaptation of mammals to aquatic environments has occurred independently in at least 4 orders, whose species occupy a wide geographic range (from equatorial to polar regions) and exhibit great phenotypic variation in ectodermally-derived structures, including the presence or absence of fur and extreme lactational strategies. The role of the ectodysplasin pathway in the adaptation to aquatic environments has been never explored in mammalian species. In the present study, we analyze the genetic variation in orthologous coding sequences from EDA, EDAR, EDARADD, and WNT10A genes together with ectodermally-derived phenotypic variation from 34 aquatic and non-aquatic mammalian species to assess signals of positive selection, gene-trait coevolution, and genetic convergence. Our study reveals strong evidence of positive selection in a proportion of coding sites in EDA and EDAR genes in 3 endangered aquatic mammals (the Hawaiian monk seal, the Yangtze finless porpoise, and the sea otter). We hypothesize functional implications potentially related to the adaptation to the low-latitude aquatic environment in the Hawaiian monk seal and the freshwater in the Yangtze finless porpoise. The signal in the sea otter is likely the result of an increased genetic drift after an intense bottleneck and reduction of genetic diversity. Besides positive selection, we have not detected robust signals of gene-trait coevolution or convergent amino acid shifts in the ectodysplasin pathway associated with shared phenotypic traits among aquatic mammals. This study provides new evidence of the evolutionary role of the ectodysplasin pathway and encourages further investigation, including functional studies, to fully resolve its relationship with mammalian aquatic adaptation. Spanish La vía de la ectodisplasina ha sido objeto de la evolución repetidamente. La variación genética en los principales genes de esta vía (EDA, EDAR y EDARADD) da como resultado una gran diversidad de efectos pleiotrópicos en las estructuras derivadas del ectodermo, incluidos los dientes, el cabello, las glándulas sudoríparas y las glándulas mamarias. Además, una vía wnt no canónica tiene un papel funcional muy similar, por lo que la variación en el gen WNT10A también tiene importancia evolutiva. La adaptación de los mamíferos a los entornes acuáticos se ha producido de forma independiente en al menos cuatro órdenes, cuyas especies ocupan un amplio rango geográfico (desde regiones ecuatoriales a polares) y presentan una gran variación fenotípica en las estructuras derivadas del ectodermo, incluyendo la presencia o ausencia de pelaje y estrategias de lactancia muy diferentes. El papel de la vía de la ectodisplasina en la adaptación a entornos acuáticos no se ha explorado nunca en especies de mamíferos. En este estudio, analizamos la variación genética en las secuencias codificantes ortólogas de los genes EDA, EDAR, EDARADD y WNT10A junto con la variación fenotípica derivada del ectodermo de 34 especies de mamíferos acuáticos y no acuáticos para evaluar señales de selección positiva, coevolución gen-rasgo y convergencia genética. Nuestro estudio revela señales de selección positiva en regiones de las secuencias codificantes de los genes EDA y EDAR en tres mamíferos acuáticos en peligro de extinción (la foca monje de Hawái, la marsopa lisa y la nutria marina). Estas señales podrían tener implicaciones funcionales potencialmente relacionadas con la adaptación al entorno acuático de baja latitud en la foca monje de Hawái y el agua dulce en la marsopa lisa. La señal en la nutria marina es probablemente el resultado de una mayor deriva genética tras un intenso un cuello de botella y una reducción de la diversidad genética. A parte de selección positiva, no hemos detectado señales sólidas de coevolución gen-rasgo o cambios convergentes de aminoácidos en la vía de la ectodisplasina asociados a rasgos fenotípicos compartidos entre mamíferos acuáticos. Este estudio proporciona nuevas evidencias del papel evolutivo de la vía de la ectodisplasina y quiere promover futuras investigaciones con estudios funcionales para acabar de resolver la relación de esta vía con la adaptación acuática de los mamíferos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Font-Porterias
- Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Madeline G McNelis
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley , California , USA
| | - David Comas
- Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Leslea J Hlusko
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley , California , USA
- National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) , Burgos , Spain
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Findeisen E, Südekum K, Fritz J, Hummel J, Clauss M. Increasing food intake affects digesta retention, digestibility and gut fill but not chewing efficiency in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 335:614-622. [PMID: 34254468 PMCID: PMC8362112 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In ruminants, the level of food intake affects net chewing efficiency and hence faecal particle size. For nonruminants, corresponding data are lacking. Here, we report the effect of an increased food intake of a mixed diet in four domestic rabbit does due to lactation, and assess changes in particle size (as determined by wet sieving analysis) along the rabbit digestive tract. During lactation, rabbits achieved a distinctively higher dry matter intake than at maintenance, with a concomitant reduction in mean retention times of solute and particle markers, an increase in dry matter gut fill, a reduction in apparent digestibility of dry matter, and an overall increase in digestible dry matter intake. By contrast, there was no change in faecal mean particle size (mean ± SD: 0.58 ± 0.02 vs. 0.56 ± 0.01 mm). A comparison of diet, stomach content and faecal mean particle size suggested that 98% of particle size reduction occurred due to ingestive mastication and 2% due to digestive processes. Very fine particles passing the finest sieve, putatively not only of dietary but mainly of microbial origin, were particularly concentrated in caecum contents, which corresponds to retention of microbes via a 'wash-back' colonic separation mechanism, to concentrate them in caecotrophs that are re-ingested. This study gives rise to the hypothesis that chewing efficiency on a consistent diet is not impaired by intake level in nonruminant mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Findeisen
- Institute of Animal Science, Animal NutritionUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
- Present address:
Hostertsweg 18Grafschaft53501Germany
| | - Karl‐Heinz Südekum
- Institute of Animal Science, Animal NutritionUniversity of BonnBonnGermany
| | | | - Jürgen Hummel
- Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of GoettingenGoettingenGermany
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic für Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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