Epigenetic changes of hepatic glucocorticoid receptor in sheep male offspring undernourished in utero

The aim of this study was to characterise the effects of maternal undernutrition during gestation on hepatic gluconeogenic enzyme gene expression and to determine whether such effects are mediated through epigenetic changes in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Pregnant ewes were fed a 50% nutrient-restricted diet from Day 0 to 30 (R1) or from Day 31 to 100 of gestation (R2) or a 100% diet throughout gestation (Control). After parturition lambs were fed to appetite. At 10 months of age offspring were euthanised and livers were removed. Maternal undernutrition did not affect offspring bodyweight at birth or at 10 months of age. However, liver weight of males of the R2 group was lower (P &lt; 0.05) in relation to other groups. A significant (P &lt; 0.05) hypomethylation of the hepatic GR promoter was revealed in males of the R2 group and a tendency towards the same in the R1 group, along with increased (P &lt; 0.001) GR gene expression in both restricted groups. A significant increase (P &lt; 0.05) in hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene expression was found in male lambs of both undernourished groups, accompanied by increased (P &lt; 0.01) protein levels, while no differences were detected for glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) mRNA abundance and protein levels. In female lambs, no differences between groups were observed for any parameter studied. These data represent potential mechanisms by which insults in early life may lead to persistent physiological changes in the offspring.</jats:p

Effect of <i>Spirulina</i> Dietary Supplementation in Modifying the Rumen Microbiota of Ewes

Supplementing ruminant diets with microalgae, may prove an effective nutritional strategy to manipulate rumen microbiota. Forty-eight ewes were divided into four homogenous groups (n = 12) according to their fat-corrected milk yield (6%), body weight, age, and days in milk, and were fed individually with concentrate, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw. The concentrate of the control group (CON) had no Spirulina supplementation, while in the treated groups 5 (SP5), 10 (SP10), and 15 g (SP15) of Spirulina were supplemented as an additive in the concentrate. An initial screening using metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology was followed by RT-qPCR analysis for the targeting of specific microbes, which unveiled the main alterations of the rumen microbiota under the Spirulina supplementation levels. The relative abundance of Eubacterium ruminantium and Fibrobacter succinogenes in rumen fluid, as well as Ruminococcus albus in rumen solid fraction, were significantly increased in the SP15 group. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Prevotella brevis was significantly increased in the rumen fluid of the SP5 and SP10 groups. In contrast, the relative abundance of Ruminobacter amylophilus was significantly decreased in the rumen fluid of the SP10 compared to the CON group, while in the solid fraction it was significantly decreased in the SP groups. Moreover, the relative abundance of Selenomonas ruminantium was significantly decreased in the SP5 and SP15 groups, while the relative abundance of Streptococcus bovis was significantly decreased in the SP groups. Consequently, supplementing 15 g Spirulina/ewe/day increased the relative abundance of key cellulolytic species in the rumen, while amylolytic species were reduced only in the solid fraction

Assessing the Optimum Level of Supplementation with Camelina Seeds in Ewes' Diets to Improve Milk Quality

Camelina sativa seeds are rich in bioactive compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and antioxidants, thus, their supplementation in ewes' diets, may be an effective way to develop high nutritional dairy products. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of the dietary inclusion of Camelina sativa seeds in ewes' oxidative status and milk quality. Forty-eight dairy Chios ewes were divided into four homogenous groups and were fed individually. The concentrate of the control group (CON) had no inclusion of Camelina seeds, while the treatment groups (CSS6, CSS11, CSS16) were supplemented with 6%, 11%, and 16%, respectively. Including Camelina seeds in 6% and 11%, had no impact on milk performance, while in the CSS16, milk fat was significantly decreased compared to the CON. Supplementing Camelina seeds improved milk quality from a human health perspective by modifying the content of saturated fatty acid, the proportions of α-linolenic (C18:3 n-3), and C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 (CLA), and the ω6/ω3 ratio. Furthermore, the activity of catalase (CAT) was significantly increased in the CSS11 and CSS16, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity also significantly upsurged in the CSS16. Still, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased in the CSS11 compared to the CON and CSS6, and in the CSS16 compared to the CSS6. In CSS16, protein carbonyls were significantly increased. Finally, in the CSS-fed ewes, milk oxidative stability was fortified, as suggested by the modifications in the activities of SOD, CAT, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in the antioxidant capacity, and the oxidative stress biomarkers. Consequently, the incorporation of 6% Camelina seeds in the concentrates of ewes improves milk's fatty acid profile and oxidative status. However, more research is required regarding the possible negative effects of the constant consumption of Camelina seeds by ewes

Effects of dietary pomegranate seed cake supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing lambs

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dietary pomegranate seed cake (PSC) supplementation, in replacement of corn and barley grain, on productive traits, carcass characteristics, intramuscular and subcutaneous fatty acid (FA) composition and meat antioxidant status. For the experiment, which lasted for 63 days, thirty six male growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs were used. Lambs with a mean body weight (BW) of 19.86 ± 2.78 kg, were randomly allocated into four dietary treatments (PSC0, PSC115, PSC175, and PSC235) of 9 lambs each and accommodated in individual floor pens. The PSC was added to the concentrate mixture at inclusion levels of 0, 115, 175, and 235 g/kg concentrate for treatments PSC0, PSC115, PSC175 and PSC235, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) occurred among PSC treatments in final BW, BW gain, dry matter (DM) intake and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, carcass characteristics were not affected (P > 0.05), except for the lean and fat color, fat firmness, wetness and overall acceptability of carcasses that were quadraticaly improved, with increased PSC feeding. In both intramuscular and subcutaneous fat, proportions of trans C18:1 (P = 0.001; P < 0.05, respectively), C18:2n-6t (P = 0.001; P < 0.01, respectively), and cis-9, trans-11 C18:2 (P = 0.001; P < 0.05, respectively) were linearly increased and Δ9-desaturase activity index concerning C18:1/C18:0 was linearly decreased (P < 0.05; P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, in subcutaneous fat trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 (P = 0.001), cis-9, trans-11, cis-13 C18:3 (punicic acid; P = 0.001) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (P < 0.05) proportions were linearly increased and that of cis-9 C18:1 (P < 0.05), C18:2n-6c (P = 0.001), C18:3n-3 (P = 0.001) and C20:3n-3 (P = 0.001) were linearly decreased with increasing PSC feeding. No effects (P < 0.05) of dietary PSC were observed in meat 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) values, but a linear increase (P = 0.001) was found in meat malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, being higher only in PSC235 treatment relative to control. Higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values were observed in the intramuscular fat of lambs fed with PSC175, but lower in PSC235 treatment. Thus, pomegranate seed cake could partially replace cereals in growing lambs diets with no effects on their performance and carcass quantitative characteristics. Moreover, dietary PSC supplementation could improve the nutritional and functional properties of meat and subcutaneous fat, as indicated by the increase in essential fatty acids, such as trans-10, cis-12 C18:2. Low inclusion levels of PSC could have a positive effect on antioxidant potential, and on nutritional and functional quality of meat, whereas high levels (i.e. 235 g/kg of concentrate) could posses an opposite effect

Effects of dietary pomegranate seed oil addition to diets for laying hens on fatty acid profile of eggs

In an experiment with 60 laying hens (ISA Brown), 25 weeks of age, effects of dietary pomegranate seed oil supplementation on performance and egg quality were determined. In the 6-week experiment, hens were allocated to five dietary treatments (PSO0, PSO250, PSO500, PSO750 and PSO1000 with pomegranate seed oil addition at an increasing level from 0 to 1000 mg/kg diet respectively). Hens were allocated to 6 cages (replicates)/treatment of 2 hens each and received a diet at 120 g/hen/day. During the experiment, no differences (P > 0.05) occurred among pomegranate seed oil treatments in final body weight (1644 g), feed intake (119.5 g), production of cracked, thin-shelled and shell-less eggs (0.011 eggs/hen/day) and egg weight (61.26 g). However, egg production and egg mass tended to be improved for hens receiving 250 and 500 mg of added pomegranate seed oil in the diet. Feed conversion ratio was tended to be reduced for hens of the PSO250 and PSO500 treatments compared to the other ones. In addition, eggshell weight and yolk index increased, with increasing dietary pomegranate seed oil inclusion levels. The increasing dietary pomegranate seed oil inclusion levels increased egg yolk dry matter content, ash content and antioxidant activity as measured with ferric reducing antioxidant power. Regarding the egg fatty acid profile, the contents of conjugated linoleic acid, saturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids were increased. In conclusion, dietary pomegranate seed oil supplementation, at inclusion levels up to 1000 mg/kg of concentrate mixture, tended to improve performance of laying hens and some egg quality characteristics, and increased egg yolk conjugated linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids content indicating the potential to create enriched eggs