This study aimed to evaluate the effects of boron on the lipid metabolism, estradiol concentration, uterine morphology and ERα expression in ovariectomized rats. Seventy 3-month-old female SD rats were selected and randomly divided into a sham-operated group and an ovariectomized group. After one week of surgical recovery, sham-operated rats were divided into Sham (distilled water) and Sham+B40 (40 mg/L boron) groups. Ovariectomized rats were allocated to OVX (control), OVX + Est (estrogen), OVX+B20 (20 mg/L boron), OVX+B40 (40 mg/L boron) and OVX+B80 (80 mg/L boron) groups. During the 22-week experiment period, body weight was recorded; serum lipid profiles (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) and estradiol (E2) levels were detected; uterine morphology was observed; uterine ERα expression was analyzed via qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the body weight and lipid metabolism levels in the three boron-supplemented groups were generally increased compared to those of the OVX group and the Sham group. The concentration of E2 was increased to a different degree. Uterine area and endometrial thickness increased with 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L boron but decreased at 80 mg/L. Although the expression levels of uterine ERα in the three boron-supplemented groups were different degree increased, the 20 mg/L group was showed the best result. Therefore, that boron demonstrates estrogen-modulatory effects, which can effectively improve the estrogen deficiency symptoms in ovariectomized rats, regulate lipid metabolism disorders, increase E2 concentration, alleviate degree of the uterine atrophy and promote the expression of ERα, especially the low-concentration (20 mg/L) boron has a better effect.

Huoshou black pig (HS) is a well-known indigenous Chinese breed distinguished by superior meat quality compared to Western breeds. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences, we performed Data-Independent Acquisition(DIA) proteomic analysis on the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle from HS and Yorkshire (YY) pigs. We identified 262 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 134 upregulated and 128 downregulated in HS relative to YY. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these DEPs were significantly involved in small molecule metabolism, oxidoreductase activity, and several key signaling pathways such as the mTOR, AMPK, and PI3K-Akt pathways. Protein -protein interaction network analysis highlighted roles in structural proteins, glycolysis, and ribosome biogenesis. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis identified five candidate genes (MGST2, PNPO, CALD1, NCAM1, ACSS1) potentially associated with meat quality traits. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) validated the consistent differential expression of these genes at both the protein and mRNA levels. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating pork quality in indigenous pig breeds.

Background: Laying performance is a key metric for assessing avian reproductive efficiency. The differential gene expression profiles of the Wanxi white goose (WWG) ovarian tissue at different laying stages (pre-oviposition phase, oviposition phase and post-laying phase) were analyzed to mine for candidate genes and signaling pathways related to laying performance. Methods: Ovarian tissue samples were collected from WWG during the pre-oviposition phase (PP), oviposition phase (OP) and post-laying phase (LP) to compare the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovarian tissues during different oviposition phases. The expression of DEGs and proteins in ovarian tissues at different laying periods was detected by qRT-PCR technology and Western blot technology respectively. Result: A total of 1,701 (PP vs OP), 1,259 (OP vs LP) and 652 (PP vs LP) DEGs were screened and GO and KEGG functional enrichment annotation analysis showed that DEGs were significantly enriched in multiple biological processes and signaling pathways related to the laying performance and follicular development of WWG. These include neuroactive receptor-ligand interaction, ECM-receptor interaction and cytokine-cytokine interaction (p<0.05). A DEGs protein-protein interaction network was constructed and five hub genes (ITGB3, VTN, FN1, ITGA2 and VWF) were identified by multi-algorithm analysis using the CytoHubba plug-in. The GSEA enrichment analysis selected signaling pathways related to laying performance and reproductive development of geese (ECM-receptor interaction pathway and Ribosome signaling pathway) (|NES|>1, FDR < 0.25, p<0.05). Five DEGs were randomly selected for fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) verification.

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary fiber levels on intestinal structure, digestion and absorption, and mucosal immune function of Wanxi white geese during the brooding period. A total of 120 healthy Wanxi white geese at one day of age with similar body weight were randomly divided into three groups, namely 3% fiber group (control), 7% fiber group, and 11% fiber group, with five replicates per group and eight geese per replicate. The trial period lasted 28 days. The results showed that at 14 days of age, the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the 11% fiber group was extremely higher than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The lactase activity in the jejunum of the 11% fiber group was extremely higher than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the jejunum of the 7% fiber group and 11% fiber group were extremely lower than those of the 3% fiber group (P<0.01). The content of IL-6 in the ileum of the 7% fiber group and 11% fiber group was extremely higher than that of the 3% fiber group (P<0.01). At 28 days of age, the jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio of the 11% fiber group was extremely higher than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The content of IL-6 in the jejunum of the 7% fiber group and 11% fiber group was significantly higher than that of the 3% fiber group (P<0.05). The content of TNF-α in the jejunum of the 3% fiber group and 11% fiber group was significantly higher than that of the 7% fiber group (P<0.05). The lipase activity in the jejunum and ileum of the 11% fiber group was significantly higher than that of the 3% fiber group (P<0.05). The ileal villus height to crypt depth ratio of the 11% fiber group was significantly higher than that of the 3% fiber group (P<0.05). At 28 days of age, the expression level of sodium-glucose linked transporter 1 (SGLT1) in the 11% fiber group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (P<0.05), and the expression level of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in the 7% fiber group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (P<0.05). The result shows that increasing the dietary fiber level can improve intestinal structure, enhance digestive enzyme activity, and strengthen mucosal immune function of Wanxi white geese during the brooding period, with the 11% dietary fiber level showing better effects.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 on the blood routine parameters, serum biochemical parameters, and liver and intestinal tissue structure in rats. A total of 50 SPF grade SD rats with an initial body weight of (64.0±0.5) g were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with 10 replicates per group and one rat per replicate. The control group had free access to pure water, while the experimental groups were given pure water supplemented with 0.1 (group 0.1 g/L), 0.5 (group 0.5 g/L), 2.5 (group 2.5 g/L), and 10.0 g/L (group 10.0 g/L) of vitamin D3, respectively. The test period lasted for 14 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the percentage of neutrophils (Neu), percentage of lymphocytes (Lym), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), and platelet crit (PCT) in blood were significantly increased in groups 0.5 g/L, 2.5 g/L, and 10.0 g/L (P<0.05). The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly increased in group 0.5 g/L (P<0.05). The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly increased in all experimental groups (P<0.05). The area and perimeter of hepatic lobules in the experimental groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). The villus height (VH) in the jejunum of the experimental groups was significantly increased (P<0.05). The villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) in the jejunum of groups 0.5 g/L and 10.0 g/L was significantly increased (P<0.05). The crypt depth (CD) in the ileum of the experimental groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The ileal VH/CD in groups 0.1 g/L, 0.5 g/L, and 2.5 g/L was significantly increased (P<0.05). The study shows that vitamin D3 can improve blood routine parameters, serum biochemical parameters, liver tissue structure, and intestinal morphology in rats, with 0.5 g/L exhibiting the most pronounced effects.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offer multiple probiotic benefits, yet host-specific strains for geese remain understudied. This study evaluated three goose-derived LAB strains, AK-GRW1, AK-GRW2, and AK-GRW3, for their effects on growth and intestinal health in geese. In vitro, AK-GRW1 exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity and acid production capacity, while AK-GRW2 showed the highest gastrointestinal tolerance. Additionally, all three strains remained sensitive to common antibiotics. In vivo, all three strains significantly increased ADG and crude protein digestibility, with AK-GRW1 and AK-GRW3 also significantly reduced F/G. LAB supplementation enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activities, upregulated amino acid transporter genes, and improved villus morphology and barrier integrity. Microbiota profiling further revealed increased abundance of beneficial anti-inflammatory taxa following LAB supplementation. Collectively, among the three strains tested, AK-GRW1 and AK-GRW2 were identified as the most promising candidate probiotics for geese. These results highlight the potential of host-adapted LAB as effective probiotics for sustainable goose production.

(1) Background: This experiment investigated the effects of balancing methionine or lysine under different dietary protein levels on intestinal function and immune organ development in Wanxi white geese during the brooding period. (2) Methods: A total of 180 one-day-old Wanxi white geese were randomly divided into six groups using a 2 × 3 factorial design, with amino acid balance (lysine or methionine) and dietary crude protein levels (20%, 18%, and 16%) as experimental factors. Each group consisted of five replicates with six geese per replicate. The feeding trial lasted 28 days. (3) Results: The lysine-balanced diet significantly increased jejunal lipase activity in 14-day-old geese (p < 0.05). In contrast, the methionine-balanced diet significantly enhanced ileal trypsin, maltase, and amylase activities at 14 days, as well as ileal trypsin activity at 28 days (p < 0.05). Lysine balance markedly improved jejunal weight and muscularis thickness, ileal weight, villus height, and villus-to-crypt (V/C) ratio in 14-day-old geese, and further increased jejunal villus height and ileal crypt depth and muscularis thickness at 28 days (p < 0.05). Methionine balance significantly elevated total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the jejunum and ileum of geese at both 14 and 28 days (p < 0.05). Moreover, the methionine-balanced group exhibited a significantly higher thymus index and spleen index in 28-day-old geese compared with the lysine-balanced group (p < 0.05). Notably, geese fed the 18% crude protein diet showed significantly greater follicular and medullary areas of the bursa of Fabricius at 14 days than those fed 20% or 16% protein diets (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Appropriate dietary protein reduction combined with balanced lysine or methionine supplementation effectively enhances intestinal digestive function, antioxidant capacity, and immune organ development in Wanxi white geese. Among the tested treatments, a dietary protein level of 18% produced the most favorable overall outcomes during the brooding period.

Cadmium (Cd), a pervasive environmental toxicant, induces hepatotoxicity via mitochondrial damage and dysregulated inflammation. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), the primary bioactive constituent of Astragalus membranaceus with antioxidative/anti-inflammatory properties, has an undefined regulatory role in the cGAS-STING axis during Cd-induced hepatic injury. In this study, the cytoprotective mechanisms of AS-IV against Cd-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated. The results showed that Cd exposure significantly impaired hepatocellular viability, induced mitochondrial dysfunction, promoted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release into the cytosol, and thereby activated the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, while AS-IV intervention effectively mitigated Cd-induced mitochondrial perturbations, suppressed mtDNA efflux, and inhibited cGAS-STING pathway activation by attenuating mtDNA-dependent STING activation via suppressing cytosolic mtDNA release.Collectively, AS-IV exerts robust hepatoprotection against Cd toxicity via preservation of mitochondrial integrity, inhibition of cytosolic mtDNA translocation, and suppression of cGAS-STING-driven innate immune hyperactivation. These findings nominate AS-IV as a viable therapeutic countermeasure against heavy metal-induced organ damage.

Introduction:Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP), a heteropolysaccharide composed of mannose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, and galactose, has been reported to exhibit immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. However, its role in regulating intestinal development and mucosal barrier function remains incompletely understood. This study investigated the effects of dietary CYP supplementation on antioxidant status, jejunal morphology, digestive function, and mucosal immunity in weaned rats. Methods:Thirty specific-pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats (initial body weight: 50.16 ± 0.50 g) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups (n = 10 per group) for a 28-day feeding trial: a control group fed a basal diet and two treatment groups fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1% or 0.5% CYP. At the end of the experiment, blood and jejunal tissues were collected for biochemical, histomorphological, and molecular analyses. Results:Compared with the control group, supplementation with 0.5% CYP significantly reduced plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (P < 0.05) and increased total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01), which was associated with activation of the MAPK ERK1/2-Nrf2 signaling pathway. Both 0.1% and 0.5% CYP supplementation significantly increased jejunal villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05), while reducing intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers (P < 0.05). Moreover, rats receiving 0.5% CYP exhibited significantly higher activities of lactase, sucrase, and maltase, along with increased jejunal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and β-defensin levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Additionally, CYP supplementation at both inclusion levels markedly upregulated the expression of Claudin-1 and Mucin-1 (P < 0.01). Discussion:Collectively, these findings demonstrate that dietary CYP enhances systemic antioxidant defense, promotes jejunal structural development, and strengthens intestinal mucosal barrier function in weaned rats.

Dietary fiber is a critical determinant of intestinal health, yet its optimal inclusion level for WWG during the critical brooding period remains undefined. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying dietary CF levels (approximately 3%, 5%, and 9%) on the intestinal morphology, immune function, and microbiome-metabolome axis of brooding WWG. A total of 120 one-day-old goslings were randomly assigned to the three dietary treatments for a 28-day trial. Histological analysis revealed that the 9% CF diet significantly improved gut morphology, yielding superior villus-to-crypt ratios in the jejunum and ileum. Molecular assays indicated that higher fiber levels (5–9%) upregulated the expression of nutrient transporters (SGLT1 and GLUT2). Concurrently, the 9% CF diet effectively suppressed the potent pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the jejunum while appropriately upregulating IL-6 and NF-κB, indicating enhanced mucosal immune vigilance and structural maturation. Multi-omics integration (shotgun metagenomics and LC-MS metabolomics) demonstrated that specific fiber levels significantly shifted microbial abundances, specifically enriching Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. These microbial shifts were strongly correlated with enriched metabolic pathways, notably lysine biosynthesis and purine metabolism, which synergistically support mucosal homeostasis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that a 9% dietary CF inclusion is an effective nutritional strategy to optimize intestinal architecture and microbial-metabolic profiles in brooding WWG.

The gut microbiota-brain axis constitutes a dynamic, bidirectional communication network that integrates neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways to regulate host physiology and behavior. Accumulating evidence indicates that disturbances within this axis have been consistently associated with metabolic, autoimmune, and neuropsychiatric disorders; however, much of the current evidence, particularly from human studies, remains largely correlative, and causal relationships are still under active investigation, highlighting its systemic relevance to health and disease. This review synthesizes current understanding of the structural and functional components of the gut microbiota-brain axis, including microbial community dynamics, neural signaling pathways, and key endocrine and immune mediators. We examine mechanistic insights into how microbial-derived metabolites influence brain function, cognition, mood regulation, stress responses, and disease pathogenesis. In addition, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota-brain axis, including psychobiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, while acknowledging dietary approaches, such as prebiotic supplementation, fiber-rich diets, and fermented food consumption, as complementary strategies that modulate microbiota composition that may indirectly support gut-brain axis function. By integrating mechanistic, clinical, and translational perspectives, this review aims to clarify current knowledge gaps and highlight future directions for leveraging the gut microbiota-brain axis in personalized approaches to neuropsychiatric disease management.

In the original publication [...].

Objective This study explored the molecular mechanism of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis on the regulation of brooding behavior and laying performance of Wanxi white geese (WWG). The transcriptome of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues of laying and brooding WWG was sequenced to identify genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that may be important in regulating the egg-laying performance and broodiness behavior of WWG. Methods This study sequenced the lncRNA on the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues of WWG white geese during laying and broodiness periods to determine the differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis. lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed using selected differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs), and DElncRNAs. Differentially expressed DEGs, DEMs, and DElncRNAs were further confirmed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed a targeting relationship between the MSTRG.1166. 1/miR-450-x/SOX8 axis. Results A total of 184 (brooding period hypothalamus vs laying period hypothalamus), 180 (brooding period pituitary vs laying period pituitary), and 880 (brooding period ovary vs laying period ovary) DElncRNAs were screened. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional enrichment analysis showed that the DElncRNAs significantly enriched Steroid hormone biosynthesis, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Calcium signaling, and other pathways. The ceRNA regulatory network of laying performance and nesting behavior was constructed through the database. MSTRG.1166.1-miR-450-x-SOX8, MSTRG. 7163.5-miR-182-x-CSMD1, XR_007167835.1-miR-277-z-RAB3B, MSTRG. 7163.5-miR-151-y-PAQR9, MSTRG.4615.2-miR-96-x-DAPK1, XR_ 007164924.1-miR-144-y-TFPI, XR_007161186.1-miR-205-x-THRB, MSTRG.10196.1/ XR_001206277.2-miR-339-x-TRAF4, and MSTRG.9442.1-miR-9-y-FBN3 may play an important role in the ovarian development of WWG. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed a targeting relationship between the MSTRG.1166.1/miR-450-x/SOX8 axis. The results of this study systematically expounded on how the HPG axis involves lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA to post-transcriptionally regulate the broodiness behavior and laying performance of WWG. Conclusion The results will improve knowledge of the complex interaction between lncRNA and genes controlling laying performance and broodiness behavior.

Boron (B) is a trace element that plays an important role in animal nutrition and health; however, its effects on the productive performance of Wanxi white geese remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary boron on reproductive performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical indices in Wanxi white geese during the laying period. A total of 126 one-year-old healthy geese were selected and randomly divided into three groups: 0 mg/kg B (control), 57 mg/kg B, and 114 mg/kg B supplementation in the diet. Each treatment included three replicates, with 14 geese (11 females and 3 males) in each replicate. Compared with the control group, boron supplementation at both 57 mg/kg and 114 mg/kg significantly reduced mating frequency and egg malformation rate, while increasing reproductive hormone levels and promoting follicular development. The 114 mg/kg B group showed significant improvements in egg qualification rate, hatchability, egg yolk ratio, and egg shape index. Additionally, it significantly enhanced yolk color (b* value). However, both boron-supplemented groups exhibited a significant reduction in eggshell thickness during the later laying period. Serum biochemical analysis revealed that 114 mg/kg B significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, suggesting a protective effect on liver function, whereas 57 mg/kg B significantly decreased the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, indicating reduced hepatic protein synthesis capacity. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 114 mg/kg boron enhances the egg qualification rate, hatchability, egg quality, follicular development, and serum biochemical indices in Wanxi white geese, supporting its potential as a beneficial feed additive during the laying period.

Background: Chinese herbal medicine are rich in nutrients and active ingredients, with advantages such as immune function, antioxidant capacity, stress reduction, tumor inhibition and improved meat quality. The effects of Chinese herbal medicines on the muscle microstructure and meat quality of broiler chickens were investigated by feeding with compound Chinese herbal medicines composed of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, licorice, astragalus, hawthorn fruit, poria cocos, isatis root, dried tangerine peel and common yam rhizome. Methods: The 800, 1-day-old, chickens were allocated to 4 treatments with 5 replicates, each replicate containing 40 birds. Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% compound Chinese herbal medicines for a period of 7 weeks ad libitum. At 21 and 42 days old, the birds were slaughtered and the breast and thigh muscles were sampled from 4 birds per replicate to determine meat quality and microstructure of muscle. Result: The results revealed that 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines significantly increased water holding capacity of the thigh muscle and decreased drip loss, cooking loss and water loss rate of 21-day-old broiler chickens. Moreover, 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicine significantly decreased the muscle fibers diameters of breast and thigh muscle. Microscopic observation showed that 0.5% and 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines decreased the fibers diameters of muscle fibers. The results indicated that the addition of 0.5% and 1.0% compound Chinese herbal medicines in the diets could promote muscle growth and improve the meat quality of broiler chickens.

Crude protein (CP) in diets is essential for maintaining animal health and production performance. However, the protein requirements of Wanxi white geese during the laying period are not well understood. In this study, 120 one-year-old Wanxi white geese were selected and divided into three groups based on similar body weights, namely 14% CP, 15% CP, and 16% CP, with each group consisting of 40 animals. The feed was administered for 120 days. Compared with the 14% CP group, the 15% CP group showed a significant increase in the number of courtships and matings, a reduction in nesting frequency, an enhancement in the egg fertility, and an improvement in the nutritional components, and specific gravity of eggs. Additionally, the 16% CP group promoted the secretion of serum E2, LH, P4, and GnRH while inhibiting the secretion of LEP, compared with the 14% CP group. Taken together, it can be seen that a diet containing 15% CP can enhance the reproductive performance, egg fertility, and egg quality of Wanxi white geese. This study is the first to analyze the effects of different dietary CP levels on the reproductive performance and egg specific gravity of Wanxi white geese during the laying period, providing a theoretical basis for formulating feeding standards for this breed.

A transcriptome sequencing analysis on ovarian tissues of Wanxi white geese (WWG) at different laying periods (pre-laying, laying, and eased) explored the effects of lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA on the follicular development and egg production performance of WWG. The purpose was to explore the molecular mechanism in ovarian tissue at different laying periods on the regulation of the laying performance of WWG. The results revealed 8353 differentially expressed genes, 258 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 3254 differentially expressed lncRNAs. GO and KEGG functional enrichment annotation analysis of the differentially expressed lncRNAs target genes showed that they were significantly enriched biological processes and signaling pathways related to follicular development and egg production. The pathways include germ cell development, steroid hormone synthesis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and Wnt signaling pathway (P < 0.05). The ceRNA interaction network showed that MSTRG.20844.2-miR-2970-x-SLC7A11, MSTRG.11176.1-miR-425-x-LEF1, MSTRG.6230.1/MSTRG.11176.1-miR-1-z-CPEB1, MSTRG.5594.1-miR-133-y-ZAR1, MSTRG.17059.2-miR-22-y-CDH6, MSTRG. 23558.2-miR-137-y-TGFBR2, and XR_001213273.2-miR-301-y-RUNX3 may regulate follicular development and the egg production performance of WWG. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed a targeting relationship between the MSTRG.20844.2-miR-2970-x-SLC7A11 axis. This study systematically expounded the post-transcriptional molecular mechanism of ovarian development and the laying performance of Wanxi white geese using lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA, revealing the complex interaction between lncRNA and genes controlling follicular development and laying performance. Therefore, this study provided a reference for molecular breeding and genetic improvement of geese in the later stage.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), present in contaminated food, water, and environments, can induce hepatic injury via the gut-liver axis, posing a serious threat to ecological systems and public health. Linarin, a flavonoid extracted from Chrysanthemum indicum, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but its protective effects against ETEC-induced hepatic injury remain unclear. In this study, 24 weaned piglets were randomly assigned to four groups: BD+NB (basal diet + nutrient broth), LN+NB (basal diet + 150 mg/kg linarin + nutrient broth), BD+ETEC (basal diet + ETEC challenge), and LN+ETEC (basal diet + 150 mg/kg linarin + ETEC challenge). Dietary linarin significantly increased ADFI and the genes related to oxidative damage and bile acid metabolism, while decreasing F:G ratio, liver index, serum liver function-related parameters, and the genes related to inflammatory response and apoptosis. It also significantly altered the relative abundances of gut microbiota, which were closely associated with key hepatic metabolic pathways, including nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis. Our study suggests that linarin alleviated ETEC-induced hepatic inflammation and apoptosis, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and regulated bile acid metabolism. The potential mechanism involves linarin modulating gut microbiota-mediated key hepatic metabolic pathways to exert protective effects. In contrast to previous flavonoid-ETEC studies that primarily focused on the gut, this study, based on the gut-liver axis, investigates the potential mechanisms by which linarin is associated with the alleviation of ETEC-induced hepatic injury through integrated analysis of gut microbiome metagenomics and liver metabolomics.

Improving feed efficiency in Tianchang Sanhuang chickens is essential for reducing production costs and environmental burden. The objective of this study was to integrate transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to identify key regulatory genes, metabolites, and pathways associated with residual feed intake (RFI) and feed efficiency. In this study, 650 Tianchang Sanhuang laying hens with similar body weights at 36 weeks of age were evaluated for daily feed intake (DFI), RFI, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The chickens were classified by RFI (mean ± 0.5 SD) into high-RFI (HRFI, n = 165) and low-RFI (LRFI, n = 158) groups. Phenotypes, serum biochemistry, antioxidant indices, and intestinal traits were compared in subsets (n = 8 per group). Duodenal transcriptomes (RNA-seq) and serum metabolomes (LC-MS/MS) were profiled in independent subsets (n = 4 per group). Compared with HRFI, LRFI hens showed lower RFI, FCR, and DFI (P < 0.01), with no differences in expected feed intake (EFI), metabolic body weight (MBW), daily egg mass (DEM), or average daily gain (ADG) (P > 0.05). The LRFI group showed increased breast muscle redness (a)* (P < 0.05), higher leg muscle drip loss (P < 0.01), and significantly lower levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). The intestinal morphology and molecular analyses revealed enhanced nutrient absorption and intestinal barrier function in the LRFI group. Transcriptomic analysis identified 237 differentially expressed genes (P < 0.05, |log2FC| ≥ 1) enriched in pathways related to digestion, energy metabolism, and appetite regulation. Metabolomic analysis detected 101 differentially expressed metabolites (VIP ≥ 1, |log2FC| ≥ 1), indicating that RFI is closely associated with protein and lipid metabolism. Integrated analysis identified candidate biomarkers for low RFI individuals selection, including genes such as ACSM5, AHSG, CTRB1, PLA2G1B, AMY2A, CPA1, CCKAR and metabolites including taurine, uridine, L-phenylalanine, D-glucose 6-phosphate and 5‑hydroxy-L-tryptophan. Overall, LRFI hens maintain production while achieving lower intake, potentially via reduced inflammation/oxidative stress and enhanced digestion, barrier integrity, appetite, and energy metabolism, offering targets for marker-assisted improvement of feed efficiency in local breeds.

The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is an important neuroendocrine regulatory center involved in egg-laying process in poultry. However, its mechanism of regulating broodiness behavior and laying performance in geese remains unclear. This study explored the molecular mechanism by which the HPG axis regulates brooding behavior in Wanxi white geese (WWG). The hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues of Wanxi white geese were collected at laying and brooding periods for transcriptome sequencing analysis. A total of 240 (BH vs. LH), 319 (BP vs. LP), and 445 (BO vs. LO) differentially expressed genes, and 56 (BH vs. LH), 82 (BP vs. LP), and 48 (BO vs. LO) differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were significantly enriched in hormone level regulation, cell communication, calcium signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and other processes. Six DEGs and four DEMs were randomly selected for real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The results showed that the transcriptome sequencing data were accurate and reliable. In addition, 22 potential hub miRNAs were screened. Dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed the targeting relationship between miR-144-y and DIO3. The results showed that the miRNAs mainly regulated the laying performance and brooding behavior of WWG by mediating the expression of target genes. In this study, we systematically elucidated the mechanisms by which the HPG axis regulates the broodiness behavior and laying performance of WWG at the post-transcriptional level. Several miRNAs and mRNAs associated with the reproductive performance of WWG were identified, providing a crucial reference for the subsequent use of gene editing technologies to breed new varieties and advance the development of WWG breeding industry.