Effect of maternal cottonseed feed on the immune and antioxidant status of Santa Ines lambs

Effect of Supplementation of Lambs with Whole Cottonseed: Impact on Serum Biomarkers and Infection by Gastrointestinal Parasites under Field Conditions

The purpose of this trial was to evaluate serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and biochemical analytes in crossbred lambs during the rearing phase in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) to control gastrointestinal parasites. The experiment used 36 crossbred lambs (cross: Ile de France × White Dorper × Texel) divided into two groups. The WCS group was supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS), and controls had no supplementation. Body weight, blood collection, and fecal analysis of nematode eggs and Eimeria oocysts counting per gram of feces were performed for each animal within 84 days of experiment. The following serum analytes were determined: total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, haptoglobin, and 10 oxidative stress biomarkers: cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, ferric reducing ability of plasma, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, thiol, uric acid, paraoxonase-1, total oxidant status, ferric-xylenol orange, advanced oxidation protein products, and reactive oxygen metabolites derived compounds. The inclusion of WCS suggested the benefit in controlling infection as well as inducing an increase in antioxidants and a decrease in oxidants in lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal parasites. The combination of WCS and ICLS could be a useful tool in controlling gastrointestinal parasite infection without affecting the production performance.

Cottonseed (gossypol) intake during gestation and lactation does affect the ovarian population in ewes and lambs?

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the cottonseed intake during gestation and lactation affects the ovarian population in ewes and lambs. Therefore, 39 ewes were evaluated during 10 months under two treatments: Cottonseed and soybeans. The quantification of ovarian follicular dynamics was analyzed by ultrasound and the determination of progesterone and estradiol levels was interpreted by radioimmunoassay. After weaning, ovaries of lambs (n = 10) were collected by ovariectomy and fixed for the assessment of follicular parameters as normality, classification, diameter, ultrastructure, stereology, and as well as immunoexpression of the α-estradiol receptor α (ER-α). The results showed that the cottonseed consumption altered neither the ovarian nor the hormonal follicular dynamics of Santa Inês ewes after calving and did not affect the normality, classification, diameter, stereology and follicular ultrastructure of offspring. Nevertheless, the offspring of ewes fed with cottonseed showed high ER-α immunoexpression in the ovarian structures. It is concluded that cottonseed did not affect the maternal-descendant follicular dynamics. However, lambs' ovaries had highest α-ER immunoexpression in oocytes, granulosa and theca cells and corpus luteum. This fact warns of a possible change in the future steroidogenic response of these lambs that had progenitors consuming cottonseed in their reproductive period.

Taurine attenuates gossypol-induced apoptosis of C2C12 mouse myoblasts via the GPR87-AMPK/AKT signaling

Gossypol, a toxic polyphenol extracted from cotton seeds, is hazardous to human and animal health. Taurine is considered as an essential or semi-essential amino acid and has diverse cytoprotective effects. This study was aimed to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of taurine against apoptosis of C2C12 mouse myoblasts induced by gossypol. C2C12 mouse myoblasts were exposed to gossypol (0, 1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 μM, and 10 μM). Cell numbers were rapidly decreased with increasing concentrations of gossypol. Gossypol significantly induced apoptosis, decreased Bcl2 expression, and increased the protein levels of Bax and the cleaved caspase 3. Taurine (0.24 mM) treatment largely rescued the cell number decreased by gossypol, attenuated gossypol-induced cell apoptosis. GPR87 knockdown abolished the inhibition by taurine of cell apoptosis. Furthermore, GPR87 overexpression attenuated cell apoptosis induced by gossypol. Both taurine treatment and GPR87 overexpression stimulated AKT phosphorylation but inhibited AMPK phosphorylation, whereas gossypol had the opposite effects. Taurine treatment promoted GPR87 expression and subcellular localization and partially rescued the inhibition of gossypol on this expression. In summary, these data reveal that taurine attenuates gossypol-induced apoptosis of C2C12 mouse myoblasts via the GPR87-AMPK/AKT signaling.

Effects of Maternal Dietary Cottonseed on the Profile of Minerals in the Testes of the Lamb

The use of cotton co-products in animal feed is restricted by the presence of gossypol, which is a toxic and highly reactive molecule of complex minerals. In mammals, part of the offspring phenotype is influenced by dam nutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ewe diet, with and without cottonseed (gossypol), on the testicular development of lambs from birth to weaning through the assessment of lamb live weight (LW), macro and histological morphology of testes, and mass fraction of chemical elements by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and microprobe X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as the multielement distribution map in the testes. Eighteen lambs were used with an average LW at birth of 4 ± 1.0 kg. All lambs were offspring of Santa Inês ewes, fed on ration either with or without cottonseed during mating, gestation, and lactation, thus forming two treatments: control group (C) without cottonseed and treatment group with cottonseed (G). The animals were weighed from birth to 60 days of age, at fortnightly intervals. At 60 days of age, the lambs were orchidectomized to collect their testes for macroscopy, histological, neutron activation, and X-ray fluorescence analysis. Besides dry matter (DM), protein, ether extract (EE), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) were higher in the ewe milk from the C group compared with the G group (P < 0.05). Lambs from the C group showed higher LW from 45 days onwards, as well as higher average daily gain when compared with the G group (P < 0.05). They also presented higher testicular weight, volume, length, width, as well as tubule and lumen diameters compared with lambs from the G treatment (P < 0.05). Multielementary NAA revealed higher mass fractions of rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), and cesium (Cs) in the testes of lambs from the C group when compared with the G group, while G showed higher zinc (Zn) content (P < 0.05). No differences between treatments were found for element levels and distribution using X-ray fluorescence microanalysis (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the maternal cottonseed diet compromised performance and testes development of the lambs and reduce the content of Se in the testes.

Gestational and lactational exposure to gossypol alters the testis transcriptome

Background

Reproductive capacity can be altered by challenges experienced during critical periods of development, including fetal development and early neonatal life. Gossypol is a polyphenolic compound, commonly found in cotton seeds, that impairs male reproduction. Here, we investigated whether the exposure to gossypol in utero and during lactation alters male reproductive function in sheep. From conception until 60 days postpartum, ewes were randomly assigned to a control diet or a gossypol-rich diet based on cottonseed. Lamb testicles were removed at 60 days of age and subjected to RNA-sequencing.

Results

Lambs derived from the maternal cottonseed diet showed significantly lower growth and lower testis weight as a proportion of the total body weight, and reduced testosterone levels. In addition, the testis transcriptome was significantly altered by the maternal cottonseed diet. Most of the altered genes are directly implicated in testis development and sperm biology, cell communication, iron ion metabolism, calcium homeostasis and signaling, among other functions. Interestingly, network analysis revealed that exposure to gossypol significantly disturbed coexpression patterns among spermatogenesis-related genes, suggesting a disruption in coregulation mechanisms.

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence that maternal exposure to gossypol alters male reproductive function in the offspring, with potential lasting or lifelong negative consequences.