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Manenti I, Viola I, Ala U, Cornale P, Macchi E, Toschi P, Martignani E, Baratta M, Miretti S. Adaptation Response in Sheep: Ewes in Different Cortisol Clusters Reveal Changes in the Expression of Salivary miRNAs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3273. [PMID: 37893997 PMCID: PMC10603754 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Farm procedures have an impact on animal welfare by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that induces a wide array of physiological responses. This adaptive system guarantees that the animal copes with environmental variations and it induces metabolic and molecular changes that can be quantified. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the regulation of homeostasis and emerging evidence has identified circulating miRNAs as promising biomarkers of stress-related disorders in animals. Based on a clustering analysis of salivary cortisol trends and levels, 20 ewes were classified into two different clusters. The introduction of a ram in the flock was identified as a common farm practice and reference time point to collect saliva samples. Sixteen miRNAs related to the adaptation response were selected. Among them, miR-16b, miR-21, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-27a, miR-99a, and miR-223 were amplified in saliva samples. Cluster 1 was characterized by a lower expression of miR-16b and miR-21 compared with Cluster 2 (p < 0.05). This study identified for the first time several miRNAs expressed in sheep saliva, pointing out significant differences in the expression patterns between the cortisol clusters. In addition, the trend analyses of these miRNAs resulted in clusters (p = 0.017), suggesting the possible cooperation of miR-16b and -21 in the integrated stress responses, as already demonstrated in other species as well. Other research to define the role of these miRNAs is needed, but the evaluation of the salivary miRNAs could support the selection of ewes for different profiles of response to sources of stressors common in the farm scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Manenti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Irene Viola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Ugo Ala
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Paolo Cornale
- Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Animal Production Unit, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Macchi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Paola Toschi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Eugenio Martignani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
| | - Mario Baratta
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11a, 43124 Parma, Italy;
| | - Silvia Miretti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (I.M.); (I.V.); (U.A.); (E.M.); (P.T.); (E.M.)
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Thermoregulatory, metabolic and stress responses to spring shearing of aged ewes born to undernourished mothers. J Therm Biol 2023; 113:103503. [PMID: 37055122 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Maternal undernutrition during gestation affects the behaviour, metabolism, and sensitivity to stressors of the offspring. Shearing is a stressor that triggers physiological and behavioural changes and augments the thermoregulatory demands in sheep. The aim of this study was to compare the thermoregulatory, metabolic, and behavioural responses to spring shearing of aged ewes born to mothers who grazed different pasture allowances during gestation. Nineteen non-gestating six-year-old Corriedale ewes born to mothers who grazed two pasture allowances from 23 days before conception until 122 days of gestation were used. The pasture allowance offered to the mothers was high [HPA group; n = 11; 10-12 kg of dry matter (DM)/100 kg of body weight (BW)/day] or low [LPA group: n = 8; 5-8 kg of DM/100 kg of BW/day]. The adult offspring of both experimental groups were sheared during spring (Day 0), and remained outdoors, grazing natural grassland, and the behaviour, the surface temperature and the rectal temperature were recorded. Blood concentrations of albumin, total protein, glucose, and insulin were also determined. Data were compared with a mixed model. The LPA ewes had lower ear and nose maximum and minimum surface temperatures before shearing (P < 0.05). On Day 15, the average surface temperature of the vulva was lower in LPA than in HPA ewes (P < 0.05). After shearing, rumination frequency was greater in HPA than in LPA ewes (P = 0.01), and LPA ewes were observed more time standing up than HPA ewes (P < 0.0001). Insulin concentration tended to be greater in LPA than HPA ewes (P = 0.06). Maternal undernutrition during gestation modified the thermoregulatory responses and the acute behavioural changes after shearing in aged female offspring, whilst the metabolism was affected to a lesser degree. The long-term effects noticed in this study highlight the importance of providing proper nutrition to pregnant ewes.
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Gao J, Yang D, Sun Z, Niu J, Bao Y, Liu S, Tan Z, Hao L, Cheng Y, Liu S. Changes in Blood Metabolic Profiles Reveal the Dietary Deficiencies of Specific Nutrients and Physiological Status of Grazing Yaks during the Cold Season in Qinghai Province of China. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12080738. [PMID: 36005610 PMCID: PMC9413257 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080738] [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: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the changes in the blood metabolic profiles of grazing yaks during the cold season to reveal their physiological status and seek the nutrients needed to be supplemented. Six castrated yaks (3 years old) with 166.8 kg (standard deviation = 5.3) of liveweight grazed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were used as experimental animals without supplementary feeding. Blood samples of each animal were collected in October and December 2015, and March 2016 for the analysis of serum biochemicals and metabolome. Results showed serum indices involved in protein metabolism in grazing yaks showed greater differences during the cold season than the metabolisms of energy or minerals. Cold stress in December had minor effects on the serum metabolic profiles of yaks compared with those in October. Yaks in October and December shared seven differential serum metabolites and enrichments of the “arachidonic acid metabolism” and “glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism” pathways compared with those in March caused by the shortage of feeds. Summarily, the nutrient deficiency would be influential on the physiological status of grazing yaks during the cold season, especially on the protein metabolism, which could be improved by supplementary feeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Gao
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Deyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Feed Science of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Plateau Yak Research Center, Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Zhanying Sun
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jianzhang Niu
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Feed Science of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Plateau Yak Research Center, Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Yuhong Bao
- Institute of Grassland Science, Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850000, China
| | - Suozhu Liu
- College of Animal Science, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
| | - Zhankun Tan
- College of Animal Science, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
| | - Lizhuang Hao
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Feed Science of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Plateau Yak Research Center, Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
- Correspondence: (L.H.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yanfen Cheng
- Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Correspondence: (L.H.); (Y.C.)
| | - Shujie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Feed Science of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Plateau Yak Research Center, Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
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Filho WPDC, Souto PC, Orozco AMO, Argumedo AK, Girardi FM, Bento LD, da Fonseca LA. Influence of short and medium distance road transport on the acute phase proteins in horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2022; 117:104061. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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