Leptin receptor in the chicken ovary: potential involvement in ovarian dysfunction of ad libitum-fed broiler breeder hens

In hens, the ovarian follicles committed to ovulation are arranged in an ordered follicular hierarchy. In standard broiler breeders hens genetically selected for high growth rate the reproductive function is clearly dysfunctional. Feed restriction is needed during reproductive development to limit the formation of excessive numbers of ovarian yellow follicles arranged in multiple hierarchies. To determine whether leptin is involved in the nutritional and reproductive interactions controlling follicular hierarchy in hens, blood leptin levels and ovarian expression of the leptin receptor mRNA were determined during follicle maturation in three chicken lines; a slow growing broiler "Label" genotype without reproductive dysfunction, a fast growing "Standard" genotype fed ad libitum or restricted and a fast growing "Experimental" line with intermediate reproductive performance levels. Whereas expression of the leptin receptor mRNA did not change in the theca, it clearly decreased with follicular differentiation in the granulosa of slow growing hens. In fast growing standard hens fed ad libitum and presenting significant reproductive dysfunction, the decrease was disrupted and dramatic up-regulation of granulosa cell expression of the leptin receptor was observed. On the other hand, feed restriction decreased the overall level of expression of the leptin receptor mRNA and restored the decrease with follicular growth. The level of expression of the leptin receptor probably modulates the action of leptin on follicular differentiation. Since blood leptin and other metabolic factors were not affected by the genotype or by nutritional state, the factors involved in the regulation of leptin receptor gene expression remain to be determined. This study demonstrates the involvement of leptin in the nutritional control of reproduction in birds. Leptin action on the ovary probably controls follicular hierarchy through the regulation of steroidogenesis

Functional Amino Acids in Pigs and Chickens: Implication for Gut Health

In pigs and broiler chickens, the gastrointestinal tract or gut is subjected to many challenges which alter performance, animal health, welfare and livability. Preventive strategies are needed to mitigate the impacts of these challenges on gut health while reducing the need to use antimicrobials. In the first part of the review, we propose a common definition of gut health for pig and chickens relying on four pillars, which correspond to the main functions of the digestive tract: (i) epithelial barrier and digestion, (ii) immune fitness, (iii) microbiota balance and (iv) oxidative stress homeostasis. For each pillar, we describe the most commonly associated indicators. In the second part of the review, we present the potential of functional amino acid supplementation to preserve and improve gut health in piglets and chickens. We highlight that amino acid supplementation strategies, based on their roles as precursors of energy and functional molecules, as signaling molecules and as microbiota modulators can positively contribute to gut health by supporting or restoring its four intertwined pillars. Additional work is still needed in order to determine the effective dose of supplementation and mode of administration that ensure the full benefits of amino acids. For this purpose, synergy between amino acids, effects of amino acid-derived metabolites and differences in the metabolic fate between free and protein-bound amino acids are research topics that need to be furtherly investigated

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, protein and amino acids on protein synthesis and degradation in skeletal muscle of cachectic mice

Atrophy of skeletal muscle reduces both the quality and quantity of life of patients with cancer cachexia. Loss of muscle mass is thought to arise from a reduction in protein synthesis combined with an enhanced rate of protein degradation, and few treatments are available to counteract this process. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been shown to attenuate the enhanced protein degradation, but to have no effect on protein synthesis. This study examines the effect of EPA combined with a protein and amino-acid supplementation on protein synthesis and degradation in gastrocnemius muscle of mice bearing the cachexia-inducing MAC16 tumour. Muscles from cachectic mice showed an 80% reduction in protein synthesis and about a 50-fold increase in protein degradation compared with muscles from nontumour-bearing mice of the same age and weight. Treatment with EPA (1 g kg-1) daily reduced protein degradation by 88%, but had no effect on protein synthesis. Combination of EPA with casein (5.35 g kg-1) also had no effect on protein synthesis, but when combined with the amino acids leucine, arginine and methionine there was almost a doubling of protein synthesis. The addition of carbohydrate (10.7 g kg-1) to stimulate insulin release had no additional effect. The combination involving the amino acids produced almost a doubling of the ratio of protein synthesis to protein degradation in gastrocnemius muscle over that of EPA alone. No treatment had a significant effect on tumour growth rate, but the inclusion of amino acids had a more significant effect on weight loss induced by the MAC16 tumour than that of EPA alone. The results suggest that combination therapy of cancer cachexia involving both inhibition of the enhanced protein degradation and stimulation of the reduced protein synthesis may be more effective than either treatment alone. © 2004 Cancer Research UK

The Influence of Coastal Access on Isotope Variation in Icelandic Arctic Foxes

To quantify the ecological effects of predator populations, it is important to evaluate how population-level specializations are dictated by intra- versus inter-individual dietary variation. Coastal habitats contain prey from the terrestrial biome, the marine biome and prey confined to the coastal region. Such habitats have therefore been suggested to better support predator populations compared to habitats without coastal access. We used stable isotope data on a small generalist predator, the arctic fox, to infer dietary strategies between adult and juvenile individuals with and without coastal access on Iceland. Our results suggest that foxes in coastal habitats exhibited a broader isotope niche breadth compared to foxes in inland habitats. This broader niche was related to a greater diversity of individual strategies rather than to a uniform increase in individual niche breadth or by individuals retaining their specialization but increasing their niche differentiation. Juveniles in coastal habitats exhibited a narrower isotope niche breadth compared to both adults and juveniles in inland habitats, and juveniles in inland habitats inhabited a lower proportion of their total isotope niche compared to adults and juveniles from coastal habitats. Juveniles in both habitats exhibited lower intra-individual variation compared to adults. Based on these results, we suggest that foxes in both habitats were highly selective with respect to the resources they used to feed offspring, but that foxes in coastal habitats preferentially utilized marine resources for this purpose. We stress that coastal habitats should be regarded as high priority areas for conservation of generalist predators as they appear to offer a wide variety of dietary options that allow for greater flexibility in dietary strategies

Regulation du metabolisme proteique chez des chevres taries et en lactation. Roles de l'insuline et des acides amines explores par une nouvelle technique de "clamp"

SIGLEINIST T 76337 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Métabolisme protéique chez le poulet en croissance. Effet des protéines alimentaires

Pour assurer une croissance musculaire maximale tout en évitant de gaspiller l’azote, une possibilité consiste à diminuer l’apport alimentaire de protéines et rééquilibrer les régimes en les supplémentant en acides aminés industriels. Connaître les conséquences des variations de l’apport protéique alimentaire (quantités et composition en acides aminés) sur les activités respectives de la synthèse et de la dégradation des protéines, dont le bilan détermine le dépôt protéique, permet de rationaliser cette démarche. Les méthodes de mesure de la synthèse des protéines les plus couramment employées sont présentées en insistant particulièrement sur les hypothèses sur lesquelles elles reposent et leurs limites. Les techniques permettant d’estimer la dégradation des protéines sont également brièvement discutées. Le renouvellement des protéines tissulaires et corporelles varie en fonction de facteurs liés à l’animal : le taux de synthèse diminue avec l’âge, notamment dans les muscles squelettiques, et le taux de dégradation est très lié au type génétique du poulet. Le taux protéique de la ration modifie le métabolisme protéique par des effets propres dus aux quantités de protéines ingérées ainsi que par des effets liés aux variations de ces niveaux d’apports (restriction puis réalimentation protéique). La composition en acides aminés des protéines alimentaires joue également un rôle important. Ainsi la diminution de l’apport en protéines ou en un acide aminé produit une réduction des quantités de protéines synthétisées et, dans une moindre mesure, de celles dégradées. Les mécanismes régulant le dépôt protéique lorsque les apports quantitatifs et qualitatifs d’acides aminés varient, restent cependant mal connus. L’approfondissement de leur étude au niveau de différents tissus et organes, en intégrant les facteurs physiologiques et hormonaux, permettrait de mieux raisonner la supplémentation en acides aminés.A possible dietary option that would ensure maximal muscle growth while avoiding excessive nitrogen loss to the environment consists of lowering the quantity of protein in the feed and using synthetic amino acids to supplement the diet. This review was undertaken in order to improve understanding of the effects of changes in the amount of protein in the diet (variations in the total quantity of protein and in its amino acid composition) on protein synthesis and breakdown. The balance between the two latter processes regulates protein deposition. The current methods for measuring protein synthesis have been presented here, noting the assumptions and limitations for each one. The techniques for estimating protein breakdown have also been briefly described. The turnover of whole-body and tissue proteins varies according to individual animal characteristics. For example, the fractional rate of protein synthesis decreases with age, especially for the skeletal muscles and the fractional rate of protein breakdown varies with the genotype. The quantity of protein in the feed modifies the protein metabolism of the animal. These effects are due to the quantity of ingested protein as well as to fluctuations in the input level (protein starvation followed by protein re-feeding). The amino acid composition of the dietary protein also plays an important rôle. Thus a decrease in the protein intake or a deficiency in a particular amino acid may reduce the quantity of protein synthesized and, to a lesser extent, degraded. The mechanisms that regulate protein deposition in response to alterations in protein and amino acid supply, however, remain poorly understood. Further investigations of protein metabolism in different tissues and organs, including physiological and hormonal factors, need to be undertaken in order to deepen understanding of the effects of amino acid supplementation and provide a better basis for diet formulation

Mécanismes de régulation de la synthèse proteique (voies de signalisation impliquées dans l'activation de la p70S6K chez le poulet)

TOURS-BU Sciences Pharmacie (372612104) / SudocSudocFranceF

Measurement of plasma leucine flux in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.) using osmotic pump. Preliminary investigations on influence of diet

International audienceA method for the direct measurement of plasma amino acid flux, in rainbow trout, using the continuous infusion of L-[U-14C]-leucine with ALZET mini-osmotic pumps implanted into the peritoneal cavity, was developed. The fish were fed successively on three different diets (a commercial control diet, a semi-purified diet and a purified diet) during the 4 weeks of experiment. The amounts of radioactivity in the free pool and the protein of both the plasma and skin mucus were measured in these fish. The total flux of leucine was calculated either from the specific activity of leucine in the plasma (61.8 mg leucine. 100 g-1.d-1) or from the amounts of labelled and unlabelled leucine flowing into the skin mucus protein (61.5 mg leucine. 100g-1.day-1). The total plasma flux was not affected by changes in the diet. The contributions of total leucine oxidation and whole body protein turnover to plasma leucine flux (80% and 20% respectively) were estimated in fish fed the semi-purified diet