This study evaluated the effects of low-level replacement of corn with dried bamboo shoot powder (DBSP) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical, immune, inflammatory, and antioxidant indices, colonic fermentation, microbiota, carcass traits, and meat quality in growing–finishing pigs. A total of 128 healthy pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc; initial body weight, 82.90 ± 1.71 kg) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: a basal diet (CON) and diets in which 1% (DBS1), 2% (DBS2), or 3% (DBS3) of corn was replaced with DBSP. The experiment included a 5-day adaptation period and a 35-day experimental period. DBSP replacement did not affect growth performance, serum biochemical, immune, inflammatory, or antioxidant indices, or meat quality (p > 0.05). Crude protein apparent total tract digestibility increased linearly with DBSP level and was higher in DBS3 than in CON (p < 0.05). Colonic acetate concentration increased linearly, and total short-chain fatty acid concentration was affected by dietary treatment. Carcass weight and dressing percentage showed linear responses to increasing DBSP replacement levels. Overall, replacing corn with up to 3% DBSP did not significantly impair growth performance or meat quality and may influence crude protein apparent total tract digestibility, colonic fermentation, and selected carcass traits.

The difficulty in the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass due to its complex cross-linking structure, while green and efficient pretreatment mode is the main means to improve its utilization efficiency. We investigated the effects of a mild alkali (CaO and Na2CO3), steam explosion (SE), and the combination of SE and mild alkali on the sugar yield and lignocellulose structural properties of reed straw (RS) in this study. All the pretreatments decreased the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content but increased the reducing sugar content of RS (P < 0.05). Similarly, the pretreatments increased the reducing sugar content of RS after enzymatic digestion and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency compared to the untreated RS, and the order of the increasement of reducing sugar of each pretreatment method is co-pretreatment > SE pretreatment > alkali pretreatment (P < 0.05). Collectively, both mild alkali pretreatment and SE pretreatment could degrade the lignocellulose content and change the physicochemical structure of RS.

Weaning is known to induce oxidative stress and dysregulated inflammatory responses, thus damaging performance growth. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of dulcitol (Dul) on the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets using multi-omics technologies. Two groups (n = 6, 6 pigs per replicate) of piglets (28 days old, BW, 8.91 ± 0.18 kg) were randomly assigned to receive either a basal diet supplemented with Dul (500 mg/kg) or without it for a period of 28 days. The findings indicated that the addition of Dul to the diet improved growth performance and had positive effects on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory statuses in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dul also strengthened intestinal barrier integrity via decreased diamine oxidase and D-lactate and elevated tight junction proteins (i.e., ZO-1, CLDN, and OCLN, p < 0.05). Multi-omics analyses demonstrated that Dul induced modifications in colonic protein expression associated with oxidative stress and glucose metabolism, altered linoleic acid metabolic pathways, and restructured the gut microbiota. This restructuring was characterized by a decreased prevalence of genera linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, including Proteobacteria, Prevotella, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group. Collectively, the findings indicate that Dul promotes intestinal wellness and growth in weaned piglets through intricate interactions between gut microbiota and host metabolic processes.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of graded levels of red yeast rice residue (RYRR) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 144 pigs were randomly allocated into four dietary treatment groups, over a 75-day experimental period. The study comprised a control group and three dietary supplementation groups receiving RYRR. The control (CON) group was fed a two-phase diet tailored to the pigs’ body weight, while the RYRR groups were provided with the CON diet, where corn, soybean meal, puffed soybeans, and wheat shorts were substituted with 5%, 10%, and 20% of RYRR. Supplementation with 10% RYRR enhanced the apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, and crude fiber, while reducing the feed-to-gain ratio and serum triglyceride levels (p < 0.05). Microbiological analyses revealed that short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Anaerotignum and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-009) were biomarkers in pigs fed the RYRR supplementation diets (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that RYRR supplementation of the diet exerted beneficial effects on promoting nutrient digestibility as well as modulating the fecal microbiota of pigs, and the recommended proportion of RYRR added to the growing-finishing pigs’ diet is 10%.

Dulcitol (DUL) has multiple biological functions such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer. However, little is known about the DUL used in swine diets. This experiment investigated the effects of DUL on the growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrient, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 144 barrows (initial body weight (BW) of 30.1 ± 0.7 kg) were blocked based on BW and assigned to 4 dietary treatments in a 72-d trial, each treatment had 6 replicate pens and 6 pigs per pen. Dietary treatments included a control (CON) diet and 3 DUL diets with DUL supplementation at the concentration of 100 (DUL1), 500 (DUL2), and 1,000 (DUL3) mg/kg in the basal diet, respectively. Results showed that DUL supplementation increased the final BW, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake of pigs (p < 0.05). Additionally, DUL2 decreased the feed-to-gain ratio of the pigs and increased the apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, ash, and calcium compared to CON group (p < 0.05). The contents of IgG and IgM in serum increased linearly with an increased inclusion level of DUL, whereas the serum IL-1β and TNF-α contents were linearly decreased with the increased DUL levels (p <0.05). Similarly, DUL addition linearly increased the activity of SOD, GSH-px, and CAT, but decreased the MDA contents in serum (p <0.05). Microbial analysis showed that the DUL supplementation had no effects on the diversity of fecal microbiota. While LEfSe analysis showed that Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was enriched in DUL1 group, while the Enterobacterales were enriched in DUL3 group. Spearman correlation analysis identified a correlation between the abundance of Lactobacillus and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and the functions of antioxidants and immune (p < 0.05). Collectively, current study demonstrated that 500 mg/kg DUL supplementation could increase growth performance and nutrients digestibility, as well as promote serum immune and antioxidant indices of growing-finishing pigs.

Vanadium (V) pollution potentially threatens human health. Here, it is found that nsp1 and nsp2, Rhizobium symbiosis defective mutants of Medicago truncatula, are sensitive to V. Concentrations of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and sulfur (S) with V are negatively correlated in the shoots of wild-type R108, but not in mutant nsp1 and nsp2 shoots. Mutations in the P transporter PHT1, PHO1, and VPT families, Fe transporter IRT1, and S transporter SULTR1/3/4 family confer varying degrees of V tolerance on plants. Among these gene families, MtPT1, MtZIP6, MtZIP9, and MtSULTR1; 1 in R108 roots are significantly inhibited by V stress, while MtPHO1; 2, MtVPT2, and MtVPT3 are significantly induced. Overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana VPT1 or M. truncatula MtVPT3 increases plant V tolerance. However, the response of these genes to V is weakened in nsp1 or nsp2 and influenced by soil microorganisms. Mutations in NSPs reduce rhizobacterial diversity under V stress and simplify the V-responsive operational taxonomic unit modules in co-occurrence networks. Furthermore, R108 recruits more beneficial rhizobacteria related to V, P, Fe, and S than does nsp1 or nsp2. Thus, NSPs can modulate the accumulation and tolerance of legumes to V through P, Fe, and S transporters, ion homeostasis, and rhizobacterial community responses.

This study investigated the protective effect of dulcitol on LPS-induced intestinal injury in piglets and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. A total of 108 piglets were divided into three groups: CON, LPS, and DUL. The CON and LPS groups were fed a basal diet, the DUL group was fed a diet supplementation with 500 mg/kg dulcitol. On day 29, 6 piglets in the LPS and DUL groups were injected with 100 μg/kg BW of LPS. At 4 h postchallenge, all pigs were slaughtered, and colonic samples were collected. Results showed that dulcitol supplementation boosted intestinal barrier function in LPS-challenged piglets by enhancing intestinal morphology and integrity, and increasing the gene expression of zonula occludens-1, claudin-1, and occludin in the colonic mucosa (P <0.05). Metabolomics showed DUL supplementation mainly increased (P <0.05) the metabolites related to steroid and vitamin metabolism (Cholesterol and Vitamin C). Proteomics showed that dulcitol supplementation altered the protein expression involved in maintaining barrier integrity (FN1, CADM1, and PARD3), inhibiting inflammatory response (SLP1, SFN, and IRF3), and apoptosis (including FAS, ING1, BTK, MTHFR, NOX, and P53BP2) in LPS-challenged piglets (P <0.05). Additionally, dulcitol addition also suppressed the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and apoptosis in mRNA and protein levels. Dulcitol increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus, Blautia, and Faecalibacterium) at the genus level, but decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level and Pseudomonas and Delftia at the genus level in piglets (P<.05). In conclusion, these results suggested that the addition of dulcitol alleviated LPS-induced intestinal barrier injury in piglets, probably by maintaining its integrity, inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways and apoptosis, and modulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, dulcitol can be considered a potential dietary additive for improving intestinal health in pig models.

Adiponectin has previously been investigated for exerting its protective effect against myocardial injury through anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative actions. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the nature and mechanism of adiponectin inhibition of H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis in chicken skeletal myoblasts. Skeletal muscle satellite cells were differentiated and assigned into three groups. Group C was on the blank control group, group H was stimulated with the H 2 O 2 (500 μmol/L, 4 h) alone group, group A + H was pre-treated with adiponectin (10 μg/mL, 24 h) and stimulated with the H 2 O 2 (500 μmol/L, 4 h) group. Cytotoxicity inhibited by adiponectin was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay. The degree of apoptosis and oxidative damage was investigated by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining assays. Oxidative stress was assessed by evaluating lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione. Acridine orange (AO) staining detected lysosomal membrane permeability. The changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were analyzed using 5,5,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1,3,3-tetraethylimidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) dye under a fluorescence microscope. The lysosomal function, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis-related mRNA and protein expression levels were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively. The results suggested that adiponectin treatment attenuated H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in skeletal myoblasts. Compared with H 2 O 2 treatment, TUNEL and ROS staining demonstrated lower apoptosis upon adiponectin treatment. AO staining confirmed the amelioration of lysosomal membrane damage, and JC-1 staining revealed an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential after adiponectin treatment. At the molecular level, adiponectin treatment inhibited the expression of the lysosomal apoptotic factors cathepsin B, chymotrypsin B, and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway cytochrome-c (cyt-c) and caspase-8; decreased the apoptotic marker gene Bax; and increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic marker gene Bcl-2. Adiponectin treatment attenuated H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis in skeletal myoblasts, possibly by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis through the lysosomal-mitochondrial axis.

The intestine is an important organ for digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as playing an immune role in livestock and poultry. The intestinal barrier function is an important internal factor that affects the intestinal health of livestock and poultry. In recent years, nutritional intervention has gradually become a sustainable method for preventing diseases and improving intestinal health in livestock and poultry. Eugenol, as a natural plant extract, has biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. The article reviews the improvement of intestinal barrier function by syringic acid and its application in livestock and poultry production, aiming to elucidate the role of syringic acid in improving intestinal health and enhancing production performance in livestock and poultry.

Although vacuolar phosphate transporters (VPTs) are essential for plant phosphorus adaptation, their role in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is unclear. In this study, homologous genes of VPT1 (MtVPTs) were identified in Medicago truncatula to assess their roles in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and phosphorus adaptation. MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 mainly positively responded to low and high phosphate, respectively. However, both mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 mutants displayed shoot phenotypes with high phosphate sensitivity and low phosphate tolerance. The root-to-shoot phosphate transfer efficiency was significantly enhanced in mtvpt3 but weakened in mtvpt2, accompanied by lower and higher root cytosolic inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration, respectively. Low phosphate induced MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 expressions in nodules. MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 mutations markedly reduced the nodule number and nitrogenase activity under different phosphate conditions. Cytosolic Pi concentration in nodules was significantly lower in mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 than in the wildtype, especially in tissues near the base of nodules, probably due to inhibition of long-distance Pi transport and cytosolic Pi supply. Also, mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 could not maintain a stable cytosolic Pi level in the nodule fixation zone as the wildtype under low phosphate stress. These findings show that MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 modulate phosphorus adaptation and rhizobia-legume symbiosis, possibly by regulating long-distance Pi transport.

The purpose of this experiment is to study the effects of fermented bamboo powder (FBP) on growth performance, apparent digestibility, carcass traits, and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 72 barrows (initial body weight, 90.37 ± 0.73 kg) were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a 42 d trial, including a control (CON) diet and 3 FBP supplementation diets. In this experiment, the CON group was fed the basic diet, whereas, in the FBP group, wheat bran was replaced with different proportions of FBP, which were 2.5% (FBP 2.5%), 5.0% (FBP 5%), 10.0% (FBP 10%) respectively. The results showed that FBP of 2.5% and 5% had no negative effect on the performance of growing-finishing pigs (P >0.05), FBP could increase the digestibility of feed, decrease the average backfat thickness, increase the loin eye muscle area and make the meat color fresher (P <0.05), more in line with Chinese consumers' buying habits. Adding 10% FBP increased the feed-to-gain ratio; increased water holding capacity and drip loss of pork (P <0.05) and decreased the content of intermuscular fat of pork (P<0.05), thus decreasing the taste of pork. To sum up, FBP can be used as a feed raw material to replace part of the grain, and the recommended addition ratio is 5%.

This study aimed to explore the protective effects of L-theanine supplementation on the diquat-challenged weaned piglets. A total of 160 weaned piglets were randomly divided into 4 groups using a 2 x 2 two-factor design, there were 4 replicates per group and 10 pigs per replicate. Piglets were fed diets (with 1000 mg/kg L-theanine addition or not), then challenged with diquat or saline on day 7. 21 days after challenge, two pigs from each replicate were selected for sample collection. Results showed that supplement with 1000 mg/kg L-theanine down-regulated the diarrhea rate, serum D-lactate level, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling in pigs without diquat challenge (p < 0.05). While for diquat-challenged piglets, L-theanine addition increased average daily gain, jejunum villus height, and interferon-gamma level (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, L-theanine addition decreased the diarrhea rates and mortality, serum D-lactate level, and phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in diquat-challenged pigs (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that L-theanine pretreatment could alleviate diquat-induced oxidative stress and improve intestinal barrier function in diquat-challenged weaned piglets, which can be attributed to suppression of MAPK phosphorylation signaling pathways.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of adding Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) and Radix Puerariae crude extracts, and their mixture to the diet of finishing pigs on their growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunological functions. A total of 72 healthy Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred barrows without sig-nificant differences in body weight were selected and randomly divided into four groups (18 in each group). The groups were fed with the following diets: control group, basic diet; L. japonica crude extract (CGA) group, basic diet + 1 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract; Radix Puerariae crude extract (PF) group, basic diet + 1 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract; and mix group, basic diet + 0.5 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract + 0.5 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract. The following results were obtained: 1) The average daily feed intake in the mix group significantly increased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05), and the ratio of feed to gain signif-icantly decreased (P<0.05). 2) The red blood cell count significantly increased in the CGA and PF groups compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). The neutrophil count in the PF group significantly decreased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). 3) Serum cholesterol content was significantly lower in the CGA group than in the other three groups(P<0.05), whereas the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels in the serum of the PF and mix groups were significantly higher than those of the control groups. The low-density li-poprotein (LDL-C) level in the serum of the mix group was significantly lower than that in the PF group (P<0.05). 4) The malondialdehyde content in the serum of the CGA group was significantly reduced compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity and the activity levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). 5) The immunoglobulin M and interleukin-4 levels in the serum of the CGA group were significantly reduced compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The IL-4 content of the PF group significantly decreased (P<0.05). The immunoglobulin A content in the serum of the mix group significantly increased, whereas the IL-4 content was significantly reduced (P<0.05). In summary, adding L. japonica and Radix Puerariae crude extracts to the diet can improved antioxidant capacities, blood biochemical indices, and immunological functions, thereby enhancing the growth performance of finishing pigs.

Background Based on our previous research conducted on cinnamaldehyde (CA) exhibiting its ability to improve the growth performance of fattening pigs and the adipogenesis induction model of C2C12 cells constructed in our laboratory, we explored the effects of CA on the generation and development of lipid droplets (LDs) in adipogenic differentiated C2C12 cells. Methods and results C2C12 cells were treated with either 0.4 mM or 0.8 mM CA. BODIPY staining and triglyceride measurements were conducted to observe the morphology of LDs, and Western blotting was used to measure the expression of their metabolism-related proteins. The results showed that the average number of LDs in the CA treatment groups was more than the control group ( P < 0.05), whereas the average LD size and triglyceride content decreased ( P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of fusion-related genes in the LDs of the CA treatment group significantly decreased, while decomposition-related genes and autophagy-related genes in the LDs in C2C12 cells significantly increased ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Cinnamaldehyde promoted the decomposition and autophagy of lipid droplets in C2C12 cells and inhibited the fusion of lipid droplets.

This study aims to investigate the influence of adding Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) and Radix Puerariae crude extracts and their mixture to the diet of finishing pigs on their fecal microbes and nutrient apparent digestibility. A total of 72 healthy Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred barrows without significant differences in body weight (93 ± 2 kg) were selected and randomly divided into four groups (18 in each group). Three replicate pens per group (six pigs per pen) were used, and two pigs were evaluated for each pen. The groups were fed the following diets: control group (CON), basic diet; chlorogenic acid group (CGA group), basic diet + 1 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract; Pueraria flavonoid group (PF group), basic diet + 1 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract; and mix group (Mix group), basic diet + 0.5 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract + 0.5 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract. The following results were obtained: (1) At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Proteobacteria, Fibrobaeteres, and Kiritimatiellaeota were the main components of the fecal microbiota (top 5); the relative abundance of bacteria from phyla Firmicutes significantly increased in the Mix group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Treponema_2, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae, uncultured_bacterium_f_Prevotellaceae, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group were the main components of the fecal microbiota (top 5); the relative abundance of bacteria from genus Lactobacillus significantly increased in the Mix group than in the CON group (p < 0.05). Chao1 and Ace counts were significantly higher in group CGA than in the CON group and group Mix (p < 0.05). The alpha and beta diversities and the relative abundance of fecal microbes were higher in all test groups than in the CON group. (2) The protein digestibility was significantly higher in the CGA and PF groups than in the CON group, and the TP digestibility was significantly higher in the CGA than in the CON and Mix groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Lonicera japonica and Radix Puerariae crude extract supplementation in the diet significantly changed fecal microbiota and improved the protein and TP digestibility of finishing pigs.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of fermented bamboo powder (FBP) on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, immunoglobulins and inflammatory cytokines, and fecal microbial composition of growing–finishing pigs. A total of 108 barrows (initial body weight, 56.30 ± 0.55 kg) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments in a 75 d trial, including a control (CON) diet and two FBP supplementation diets. The CON diet was formulated to three-phase diets according to the body weight of pigs, and the FBP diets were formulated used 5.00% (FBP1) or 10.00% (FBP2) FBP to replace the wheat bran in the CON diet, respectively. The results showed that there were no influences on growth performances between the CON diet and FBP addition diets, whereas the 5% FBP addition decreased the feed:gain of pigs compared to the pigs fed the FBP2 diet from d 0–75 (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the FBP addition increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) content in serum (linear, p < 0.05), and pigs fed the FBP1 diet had greater HDLC and IgA contents in serum than those in the pigs fed the CON diet (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis showed that the FBP addition diets decreased the abundance of Spirochaetes, and the FBP2 diet increased the abundance of Firmicutes more than the CON diet (p < 0.05). In addition, the pigs fed the FBP2 diet increased the abundance of uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group, and Lactobacillus more than the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FBP supplementation to the diet had no negative effects on the growth performance and exerted beneficial effects on promoting serum biochemical and immune indices, as well as modulating the fecal microbiota of pigs. Therefore, these results showed that the fermented bamboo powder could be one potential fiber-rich ingredient for growing–finishing pigs, and that the recommended addition proportion in the growing–finishing pigs’ diet is 5%.

试验旨在研究日粮添加香芹酚和百里香酚对断奶仔猪结肠微生物群落结构和代谢通路的影响.选取28日龄、体重8.5 kg≥1.0 kg断奶仔猪64头,随机分为4组,每组16个重复,每个重复1头猪.A组(对照组)饲喂基础日粮+抗生素,B组饲喂基础日粮±20 g/t香芹酚,C组饲喂基础日粮+20 g/t百里香酚,D组饲喂基础日粮+20 g/t香芹酚-百里香酚混合物(质量比2 ∶ 1).试验期30 d.基于Illumina HiSeq测序平台,利用双末端测序(Paired-End)的方法进行测序.通过对OTUs聚类,进行物种注释及丰度分析;进一步进行α多样性、β多样性分析及显著物种差异分析和功能基因预测分析.结果显示:①各试验组结肠微生物多样性均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05);②D组结肠中厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度极显著高于对照组(P＜0.01),显著高于B和C组(P＜0.05),拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)相对丰度显著高于对照组和C组(P＜0.05),Epsilonbacteraeota、螺旋体门(Spirochaetes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)相对丰度极显著低于对照组(P＜0.01).D组结肠中弯曲杆菌属(Campylobacter)相对丰度极显著低于对照组(P＜0.01),D组理研菌科RC9肠道群(Rikenellaceae RC9_gutgroup)相对丰度显著高于B组(P＜0.05),D组罗斯氏菌属(Roseburia)相对丰度极显著高于对照组(P＜0.01),D组螺杆菌属(Helicobacter)相对丰度极显著低于对照组(P＜0.01);③D组结肠微生物脂质代谢水平极显著高于对照组(P＜0.01),结肠微生物碳水化合物代谢、其他次生代谢物的生物合成和其他氨基酸代谢水平显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),结肠微生物能量代谢水平极显著低于对照组(P＜0.01).综上,在本试验条件下,断奶仔猪日粮中添加20 g/t的香芹酚-百里香酚混合物,改善了断奶仔猪结肠微生物群落结构,结肠中有益菌的相对丰度提高,有害菌的相对丰度降低,促进了结肠微生物的代谢功能.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of cinnamaldehyde in feed on growth performance, oxidative stability, immune function, and meat quality in finishing pigs. Sixty pigs (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire; body weight = 70.10 +/- 3.01 kg) were used in this study. The pigs were randomly allotted to three treatments (four replicates (pens) with five pigs per pen), control diet (basal diet), basal diet + 40 mg cinnamaldehyde and basal diet + 80 mg cinnamaldehyde per kg of feed. The results showed that dietary cinnamaldehyde increased pigs' average daily gain(ADG), M. longissimus dorsi area(LA), pH(24h), water maintain rate and serum interleukin 2 (IL-2)content (P < 0.05), and decreased average backfat thickness, shear force, intramuscular fat, marbling Score, glycolytic potential (P <0.05). Cinnamaldehyde significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P <0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity decreased (P <0.05). In addition, cinnamaldehyde decreased the activities of glycolytic enzymes phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that dietary cinnamaldehyde could improve growth performance and ameliorate meat quality of finishing pigs by improving the living immunity, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing glycolytic capacity of meat.

ABSTRACTAdiponectin (APN) stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and reduces lipid content in human and animal adipocytes. However, the mechanism of adiponectin in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis in chicken adipocytes has never been reported. The objective of this study is to examine the mechanism that adiponectin plays in lipid‐induced mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function in chicken adipocytes. We found that the overexpression of adiponectin reduced the membrane DAG content and elevated the membrane translocation of PKCθ. In contrast to control groups, the overexpression of adiponectin increased mitochondrial density and mitochondrial DNA contents and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor αcoactivator 1α (PGC1‐α) expression. Mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome C (Cyt C) content were detected by JC‐1 fluorescent staining and immunofluorescence which indicated that overexpression of adiponectin enhanced mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Moreover, AMPK/ACC2 signaling pathway was activated along with the elevation of PGC1‐α and TFAM by the overexpression of adiponectin, meanwhile the lipid transcription marker genes were down‐regulated. This effect was alleviated by reducing adiponectin and a specific inhibitor of AMPK pathway. We concluded that adiponectin could prevent reduction of lipid‐induced mitochondrial biogenesis via AMPK/ACC2 pathway in chicken adipocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1090–1100, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.