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Al Amaz S, Mishra B. Embryonic thermal manipulation: a potential strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens for sustainable poultry production. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:75. [PMID: 38831417 PMCID: PMC11149204 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-024-01028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to high environmental temperatures and climate change, heat stress is a severe concern for poultry health and production, increasing the propensity for food insecurity. With climate change causing higher temperatures and erratic weather patterns in recent years, poultry are increasingly vulnerable to this environmental stressor. To mitigate heat stress, nutritional, genetic, and managerial strategies have been implemented with some success. However, these strategies did not adequately and sustainably reduce the heat stress. Therefore, it is crucial to take proactive measures to mitigate the effects of heat stress on poultry, ensuring optimal production and promoting poultry well-being. Embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) involves manipulating the embryonic environment's temperature to enhance broilers' thermotolerance and growth performance. One of the most significant benefits of this approach is its cost-effectiveness and saving time associated with traditional management practices. Given its numerous advantages, embryonic TM is a promising strategy for enhancing broiler production and profitability in the poultry industry. TM increases the standard incubation temperature in the mid or late embryonic stage to induce epigenetic thermal adaption and embryonic metabolism. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the available literature and scientific evidence of the beneficial effect of pre-hatch thermal manipulation on broiler health and performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadid Al Amaz
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, AgSci 216, 1955 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Birendra Mishra
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, AgSci 216, 1955 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
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Kebede FG, Derks MFL, Dessie T, Hanotte O, Barros CP, Crooijmans RPMA, Komen H, Bastiaansen JWM. Landscape genomics reveals regions associated with adaptive phenotypic and genetic variation in Ethiopian indigenous chickens. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:284. [PMID: 38500079 PMCID: PMC10946127 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10193-6] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a threat to sustainable livestock production and livelihoods in the tropics. It has adverse impacts on feed and water availability, disease prevalence, production, environmental temperature, and biodiversity. Unravelling the drivers of local adaptation and understanding the underlying genetic variation in random mating indigenous livestock populations informs the design of genetic improvement programmes that aim to increase productivity and resilience. In the present study, we combined environmental, genomic, and phenotypic information of Ethiopian indigenous chickens to investigate their environmental adaptability. Through a hybrid sampling strategy, we captured wide biological and ecological variabilities across the country. Our environmental dataset comprised mean values of 34 climatic, vegetation and soil variables collected over a thirty-year period for 260 geolocations. Our biological dataset included whole genome sequences and quantitative measurements (on eight traits) from 513 individuals, representing 26 chicken populations spread along 4 elevational gradients (6-7 populations per gradient). We performed signatures of selection analyses ([Formula: see text] and XP-EHH) to detect footprints of natural selection, and redundancy analyses (RDA) to determine genotype-environment and genotype-phenotype-associations. RDA identified 1909 outlier SNPs linked with six environmental predictors, which have the highest contributions as ecological drivers of adaptive phenotypic variation. The same method detected 2430 outlier SNPs that are associated with five traits. A large overlap has been observed between signatures of selection identified by[Formula: see text]and XP-EHH showing that both methods target similar selective sweep regions. Average genetic differences measured by [Formula: see text] are low between gradients, but XP-EHH signals are the strongest between agroecologies. Genes in the calcium signalling pathway, those associated with the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors, and sports performance (GALNTL6) are under selection in high-altitude populations. Our study underscores the relevance of landscape genomics as a powerful interdisciplinary approach to dissect adaptive phenotypic and genetic variation in random mating indigenous livestock populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fasil Getachew Kebede
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands.
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Martijn F L Derks
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands
| | - Tadelle Dessie
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Carolina Pita Barros
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands
| | - Richard P M A Crooijmans
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Komen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands
| | - John W M Bastiaansen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, PB-6708, The Netherlands
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Pathak RK, Kim JM. Veterinary systems biology for bridging the phenotype-genotype gap via computational modeling for disease epidemiology and animal welfare. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae025. [PMID: 38343323 PMCID: PMC10859662 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Veterinary systems biology is an innovative approach that integrates biological data at the molecular and cellular levels, allowing for a more extensive understanding of the interactions and functions of complex biological systems in livestock and veterinary science. It has tremendous potential to integrate multi-omics data with the support of vetinformatics resources for bridging the phenotype-genotype gap via computational modeling. To understand the dynamic behaviors of complex systems, computational models are frequently used. It facilitates a comprehensive understanding of how a host system defends itself against a pathogen attack or operates when the pathogen compromises the host's immune system. In this context, various approaches, such as systems immunology, network pharmacology, vaccinology and immunoinformatics, can be employed to effectively investigate vaccines and drugs. By utilizing this approach, we can ensure the health of livestock. This is beneficial not only for animal welfare but also for human health and environmental well-being. Therefore, the current review offers a detailed summary of systems biology advancements utilized in veterinary sciences, demonstrating the potential of the holistic approach in disease epidemiology, animal welfare and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kumar Pathak
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Mo Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 17546, Republic of Korea
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Perini F, Ceccobelli S, Crooijmans RPMA, Tiambo CK, Lasagna E. Editorial: Global green strategies and capacities to manage a sustainable animal biodiversity. Front Genet 2023; 14:1213080. [PMID: 37396045 PMCID: PMC10313107 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1213080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Perini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - S. Ceccobelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - R. P. M. A. Crooijmans
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - C. K. Tiambo
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - E. Lasagna
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Landi V, Maggiolino A, Cecchinato A, Mota LFM, Bernabucci U, Rossoni A, De Palo P. Genotype by environment interaction due to heat stress in Brown Swiss cattle. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:1889-1909. [PMID: 36586797 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Due to its geographical position and a highly variable orography, Italy is characterized by several climatic areas and thus, by many different dairy cow farming systems. Brown Swiss cattle, in this context, are a very appreciated genetic resource for their adaptability and low metabolic requirement. The significant heterogeneity in farming systems may consist of genotype by environment (G × E) interactions with neglected changes in animals' rank position. The objective of this study was to investigate G × E for heat tolerance in Brown Swiss cattle for several production traits (milk, fat, and protein yield in kilograms; fat, protein, and cheese yield in percentage) and 2 derivate traits (fat-corrected milk and energy-corrected milk). We used the daily maximum temperature-humidity index (THI) range, calculated according to weather stations' data from 2008 to 2018 in Italy, and 202,776 test-day records from 23,396 Brown Swiss cows from 639 herds. Two different methodologies were applied to estimate the effect of the environmental variable (THI) on genetic parameters: (1) the reaction norm model, which uses a continuous random covariate to estimate the animal additive effect, and (2) the multitrait model, which splits each production pattern as a distinct and correlated trait according to the first (a thermal comfort condition), third (a moderate heat stress condition), and fifth (a severe heat stress condition) mean THI value quintile. The results from the reaction norm model showed a descending trend of the additive genetic effect until THI reached the value of 80. Then we recorded an increase with high extreme THI values (THI 90). Permanent environmental variance at increasing THI values revealed an opposite trend: The plot of heritability and the ratio of animal permanent environmental variance to phenotypic variance showed that when the environmental condition worsens, the additive genetic and permanent environmental component for production traits play a growing role. The negative additive genetic correlation between slope and linear random coefficient indicates no linear relationship between the production traits or under heat stress conditions, except for milk yield and protein yield. In tridimensional wireframe plots, the extreme margin decreases until a minimum of ∼0.90 of genetic correlation in the ECM trait, showing that the magnitude of G × E interaction is greater than the other traits. Genetic correlation values in Brown Swiss suggest the possibility of moderate changes in animals' estimated breeding value in heat stress conditions. Results indicated a moderate G × E interaction but significant variability in sire response related to their production level.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Landi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, Valenzano 70010, Italy
| | - A Maggiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, Valenzano 70010, Italy.
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Agripolis, Legnaro (Padova) 35020, Italy
| | - L F M Mota
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, Valenzano 70010, Italy
| | - U Bernabucci
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy
| | - A Rossoni
- Italian Brown Swiss Breeders Association, Località Ferlina 204, Bussolengo 37012, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Palo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, Valenzano 70010, Italy
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How Geography and Climate Shaped the Genomic Diversity of Italian Local Cattle and Sheep Breeds. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172198. [PMID: 36077919 PMCID: PMC9454691 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172198] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this paper, we study the inter-relationships among geography, climate, and genetics in Italian local cattle and sheep breeds. In terms of genetic diversity, geography (latitude and longitude) appears to play a larger role in sheep (26.4%) than that in cattle (13.8%). Once geography is accounted for, 10.1% of cattle genomic diversity and 13.3% of that of sheep are attributable to climatic effects. Stronger geographic effects in sheep can be related to a combination of higher predomestication genetic variability together with biological and productive specializations. The climate alone seems to have had less impact on the current genetic diversity in both species even if climate and geography are greatly confounded. Results confirm that both species are the result of complex evolutionary histories triggered by interactions between human needs and environmental conditions. Abstract Understanding the relationships among geography, climate, and genetics is increasingly important for animal farming and breeding. In this study, we examine these inter-relationships in the context of local cattle and sheep breeds distributed along the Italian territory. To this aim, we used redundancy analysis on genomic data from previous projects combined with geographical coordinates and corresponding climatic data. The effect of geographic factors (latitude and longitude) was more important in sheep (26.4%) than that in cattle (13.8%). Once geography had been partialled out of analysis, 10.1% of cattle genomic diversity and 13.3% of that of sheep could be ascribed to climatic effects. Stronger geographic effects in sheep can be related to a combination of higher pre-domestication genetic variability together with biological and productive specificities. Climate alone seems to have had less impact on current genetic diversity in both species, even if climate and geography are greatly confounded. Results confirm that both species are the result of complex evolutionary histories triggered by interactions between human needs and environmental conditions.
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Guo A, Zuo X, Hu Y, Yue P, Li X, Lv P, Zhao S. Two Dominant Herbaceous Species Have Different Plastic Responses to N Addition in a Desert Steppe. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:801427. [PMID: 35557730 PMCID: PMC9087737 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.801427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition rates are increasing in the temperate steppe due to human activities. Understanding the plastic responses of plant dominant species to increased N deposition through the lens of multiple traits is crucial for species selection in the process of vegetation restoration. Here, we measured leaf morphological, physiological, and anatomical traits of two dominant species (Stipa glareosa and Peganum harmala) after 3-year N addition (0, 1, 3, and 6 g N m-2 year-1, designated N0, N1, N3, and N6, respectively) in desert steppe of Inner Mongolia. We separately calculated the phenotypic plasticity index (PI) of each trait under different N treatments and the mean phenotypic plasticity index (MPI) of per species. The results showed that N addition increased the leaf N content (LNC) in both species. N6 increased the contents of soluble protein and proline, and decreased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the peroxidase (POD) activities of S. glareosa, while increased POD and catalase (CAT) activities of P. harmala. N6 increased the palisade tissue thickness (PT), leaf thickness (LT), and palisade-spongy tissue ratio (PT/ST) and decreased the spongy tissue-leaf thickness ratio (ST/LT) of S. glareosa. Furthermore, we found higher physiological plasticity but lower morphological and anatomical plasticity in both species, with greater anatomical plasticity and MPI in S. glareosa than P. harmala. Overall, multi-traits comparison reveals that two dominant desert-steppe species differ in their plastic responses to N addition. The higher plasticity of S. glareosa provides some insight into why S. glareosa has a broad distribution in a desert steppe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aixia Guo
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoan Zuo
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ya Hu
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ping Yue
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiangyun Li
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Peng Lv
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shenglong Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, China
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Rovelli G, Luigi-Sierra MG, Guan D, Sbarra F, Quaglia A, Sarti FM, Amills M, Lasagna E. Evolution of inbreeding: a gaze into five Italian beef cattle breeds history. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12049. [PMID: 34692245 PMCID: PMC8483007 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, intensive selection programs have led to sustained increases of inbreeding in dairy cattle, a feature that might have adverse consequences on the viability and phenotypic performance of their offspring. This study aimed to determine the evolution of inbreeding of five Italian beef cattle breeds (Marchigiana, Chianina, Romagnola, Maremmana, and Podolica) during a period of almost 20 years (2002–2019). The estimates of Ho, He, Fhat2, and Fped averaged across years (2002–2019) in the studied breeds fluctuated between 0.340–0.401, 0.348–0.392, –0.121–0.072, and 0.000–0.068, respectively. Moreover, annual rates of increase of the estimated inbreeding coefficients have been very low (Fhat2 = 0.01–0.02%; Fped = 0.003–0.004%). The use of a high number of bulls combined with strategies implemented by the Association of Italian Beef Cattle Breeders ANABIC to minimize inbreeding might explain these results. Despite the fact that diversity and inbreeding have remained quite stable during the last two decades, we have detected a sustained decrease of the population effective size of these five breeds. Such results should be interpreted with caution due to the inherent difficulty of estimating Ne from SNPs data in a reliable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Rovelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (DSA3), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Gracia Luigi-Sierra
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dailu Guan
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Fiorella Sbarra
- National Association of Italian Beef-Cattle Breeders (ANABIC), San Martino in Colle, Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Quaglia
- National Association of Italian Beef-Cattle Breeders (ANABIC), San Martino in Colle, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Maria Sarti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (DSA3), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marcel Amills
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emiliano Lasagna
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (DSA3), University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Guzmán-Luna P, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Flysjö A, Hospido A. Analysing the interaction between the dairy sector and climate change from a life cycle perspective: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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10
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Recent population expansion in wild gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) as revealed by microsatellite markers. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Foggi G, Ciucci F, Conte M, Casarosa L, Serra A, Giannessi E, Lenzi C, Salvioli S, Conte G, Mele M. Histochemical Characterisation and Gene Expression Analysis of Skeletal Muscles from Maremmana and Aubrac Steers Reared on Grazing and Feedlot Systems. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030656. [PMID: 33801206 PMCID: PMC7999344 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Muscle fibre types and sizes are important factors affecting muscle growth potential and meat quality. Their variability depends on some factors like muscle type, animal breed, physical activity, and they could be going through morphological or metabolic modifications, throughout animal life. Two muscles from Maremmana, an autochthonous breed from Tuscany (Italy), was compared to those from Aubrac, a breed from the Massif Central (France), under histochemical and gene expression points of view. Both these breeds were poorly studied, and the results identified Maremmana muscles were more oxidative in comparison to Aubrac. Moreover, steers of each breed were proportionally divided and reared on grazing or feedlot systems. Conversely to what was expected, the voluntary physical activity on pasture, another aspect poorly studied, influenced neither histochemical characteristics nor the gene expression. Abstract This study aimed to characterise the fibre composition of Triceps brachii (TB) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles from 20 Maremmana (MA) and 20 Aubrac (AU) steers, and the effect of grazing activity in comparison with feedlot system. The histochemical method was performed with the m-ATPase method with an acid pre-incubation, thus allowing to distinguish type I, IIA, and IIB fibres. Additionally, on total RNA extracted from SM muscle, the expressions of atp1a1, mt-atp6, and capn1 genes were evaluated, in order to find potential associations with muscle fibre histochemical characteristics. In SM muscle, the MA steers had the greater frequency of oxidative fibres (type I and IIA) and the higher atp1a1 expression, in comparison to AU steers. Conversely, AU steers had a greater frequency of type IIB fibres, and the higher capn1 expression. A similar histochemical pattern was observed in TB muscle. The grazing activity was probably insufficient to determine differences both for fibre proportion and size, and gene expressions, except for mt-atp6 expression that was surprisingly highest in feedlot MA in comparison to other steers. These findings further the knowledge of muscle properties belonging to these breeds, and the effect of voluntary physical activity since few studies were available in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Foggi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesca Ciucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Maria Conte
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Laura Casarosa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Andrea Serra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “Enrico Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Giannessi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (C.L.)
| | - Carla Lenzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.G.); (C.L.)
| | - Stefano Salvioli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Conte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “Enrico Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marcello Mele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.C.); (L.C.); (A.S.); (G.C.); (M.M.)
- Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali “Enrico Avanzi”, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
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Perini F, Cendron F, Rovelli G, Castellini C, Cassandro M, Lasagna E. Emerging Genetic Tools to Investigate Molecular Pathways Related to Heat Stress in Chickens: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:ani11010046. [PMID: 33383690 PMCID: PMC7823582 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary New genomic tools have been used as an instrument in order to assess the molecular pathway involved in heat stress resistance. Local chicken breeds have a better attitude to face heat stress. This review aims to summarize studies linked to chickens, heat stress, and heat shock protein. Abstract Chicken products are the most consumed animal-sourced foods at a global level across greatly diverse cultures, traditions, and religions. The consumption of chicken meat has increased rapidly in the past few decades and chicken meat is the main animal protein source in developing countries. Heat stress is one of the environmental factors which decreases the productive performance of poultry and meat quality. Heat stress produces the over-expression of heat shock factors and heat shock proteins in chicken tissues. Heat shock proteins regulate several molecular pathways in cells in response to stress conditions, changing the homeostasis of cells and tissues. These changes can affect the physiology of the tissue and hence the production ability of chickens. Indeed, commercial chicken strains can reach a high production level, but their body metabolism, being comparatively accelerated, has poor thermoregulation. In contrast, native backyard chickens are more adapted to the environments in which they live, with a robustness that allows them to survive and reproduce constantly. In the past few years, new molecular tools have been developed, such as RNA-Seq, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), and bioinformatics approaches such as Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). Based on these genetic tools, many studies have detected the main pathways involved in cellular response mechanisms. In this context, it is necessary to clarify all the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in heat stress response. Hence, this paper aims to review the ability of the new generation of genetic tools to clarify the molecular pathways associated with heat stress in chickens, offering new perspectives for the use of these findings in the animal breeding field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Perini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia (PG), Italy; (F.P.); (G.R.); (C.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Filippo Cendron
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Giacomo Rovelli
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia (PG), Italy; (F.P.); (G.R.); (C.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Cesare Castellini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia (PG), Italy; (F.P.); (G.R.); (C.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Martino Cassandro
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy;
| | - Emiliano Lasagna
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, 06121 Perugia (PG), Italy; (F.P.); (G.R.); (C.C.); (E.L.)
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