Changes of β-carotene and retinol levels and BCO1 gene and protein expressions in yak tissues at different nutritional seasons

Effect of high proportion concentrate dietary on Ashdan Yak jejunal barrier and microbial function in cold season

The intestinal health of ruminants plays a vital role in absorbing and metabolizing nutrients. In order to explore the jejunal barrier and microbiota dysfunction of Ashdan yaks, animals were fed with a high proportion of concentrated feeds in cold season. In present study, twelve Ashdan male yaks were arbitrarily separated into two categories, namely FF and CF. Compositional and functional differences in their jejunum barrier and microbiota between the FF and CF yaks were compared using metagenomics and proteomics methods. The results showed that the activity of jejunum digestive protease and microbe metabolite of forage-fed yaks were more conducive to healthy cultivation than the concentrate-fed yaks. 57 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were recognized using label-free MS, those could conclude to 2 principal classes: structural proteins and inflammatory factors, and 14 proteins were relatively active in those principal classes. Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phylum in the jejunum microbiota of both the forage-fed group (24.33%) and concentrate-fed group (23.16%). As compared to forage-fed group, the concentrate-fed group showed enhanced alpha diversity and reduced beta diversity of the jejunal microbiota. The long-term high-proportion concentrate feeding inhibited the growth of Actinobacteria, Proteo-bacteria, Ascomycota, Bacteroidetes and stimulated the growth of Streptophyta, Cyanobacteria, Fusobacteria and Chlamydiae. The concentrate-fed group showed increase in the abundance of immune system process, along with decrease in the metabolic process, especially the binding process. Interestingly, the proteomics and metagenomics results were both inclined to the enrichment of jejunum mechanical barrier and inflammatory response. Overall, the study suggested that the long-term high-proportion concentrate feeding affected the expressions of specific jejunum proteins and composition of microbiota, which damaged the jejunum barrier and the function of microbiota in yaks.

Effect of high proportion concentrate dietary on Yak jejunal structure, physiological function and protein composition during cold season

The current study aimed to investigate the damage of long-term high concentrate diet feeding pattern on Yak jejunal structure, physiological function and protein composition during cold season. Twelve Datong male Yak (Bos grunniens) with the same age from cold season were randomly selected and slaughtered to determine Yak jejunal digestive enzyme activity, morphology and protein composition on different feeding patterns in Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that Yak jejunum digestive enzyme activity and morphology of grazing reared group were better than those in the intensively reared group. A total of 96 differentially expressed proteins were identified by label-free Mass Spectrometry (MS), which could be concluded to two predominant themes: protein structure and inflammatory response. Nine differentially expressed proteins were correlated in Yak jejunum damage in different feeding patterns. According to this research, we found that feeding pattern resulted the differences in Yak jejunum physiological function, morphology and protein composition. This fact was confirmed long-term high dietary concentrate feeding could damage the jejunum epithelial morphology and function.

Retinol deficiency in animals: Etiopathogenesis and consequences

Infertility is widespread for all species of animals and causes significant economic losses to livestock due to the loss and shortage of offspring, their reduced viability and, consequently, increased morbidity and mortality. Alimentary-deficiency factors are among the commonest causes of infertility, from which A-vitamin deficiency should be singled out. The precursor of vitamin A in the body is carotene, which is an unstable compound which is easily destroyed even under the influence of moderate factors of influence, in connection with which its deficiency is global, especially at the end of the winter – stall period of keeping animals. Accordingly it is the leading etiological factor of retinol deficiency infertility. As a result, the body has two negatives that act in parallel: carotene / vitamin A deficiency adversely affects the organs, the constituent and major functional unit of which is the secretory epithelial cell, and the free radical oxides formed in high concentration are extremely effective in destroying the cells, weakening antioxidant protection. Vitamin A has a significant effect on the reproductive function of animals both directly and indirectly. It is necessary to ensure the structure and functioning of the epithelial tissues of the organs of regulation and performance of sexual function, and therefore the physiological development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy, parturition and postpartum period, ovo- and spermiogenesis, the manifestation of sexual reflexes. Instead, its deficiency underlies the etiology and pathogenesis of retinol deficiency infertility of animals, causing changes in individual indices of homeostasis and prooxidate-antioxidant system, morphostructure of the reproductive and endocrine organs, hormonal status, sperm quality and reproductive function. The consequence is the emergence and development of gynecological, andrological, mammological and perinatal (ante-, intra-, post- and neo-) pathologies. At the same time, the addition of carotene or retinol to the diets of animals or their oral administration in cases of deficiency of vitamin A prevents impaired reproductive function. The study of the features of the etiopathogenesis of retinol deficiency infertility of animals allows programs of complex diagnostics, therapy and prevention to be developed which provide determination of carotene and vitamin A content and replenishment of the organism in cases of their deficiency.