Diet Feeding Research Articles

Acute and long-term transcriptomic responses of granulosa cells to obesogenic diet and concomitant effects on oocyte quality: insight from an outbred mouse model.

Diet-induced obesity can alter ovarian functions after long-term high-fat high-sugar (HFHS) diet feeding. However, the acute impact of obesogenic diets on the follicular cells, and how this impact evolves over time when intake is continued and obesity develops, is not known. Our aim was to determine the onset and progression of changes in the granulosa cell (GC) transcriptomic profile after starting a HFHS-diet feeding in mice. We also examined the changes in oocyte lipid droplet content (LDC) and mitochondrial ultrastructural abnormalities. Swiss (outbred) mice were sacrificed at 24h, 3days, and at 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 wks of feeding HFHS and control diets. LDC significantly increased in the HFHS oocytes already after 24h compared to controls (P < 0.05). Oocyte mitochondrial abnormalities only increased starting from 8wks. Granulosa RNA-seq revealed altered transcriptomic gene-set enrichments (GO-terms and KEGG pathways, P adj < 0.05) already at 3d and 1wk indicating acute endoplasmic-reticulum unfolded-protein responses, with concomitant fluctuations in several cellular metabolic pathways and gene-sets related to mitochondrial bioenergetic functions, some of which persisted after 8wks. Interestingly the short- and long-term patterns of changes in cytochrome P450, steroid hormone biosynthesis, retinol metabolism, bile acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and Pi3K/Akt signaling pathways were most prominent and highly correlated; all being acutely upregulated, then chronically downregulated. These results show that the impact of obesogenic diet on the oocyte and granulosa cells is prompt, while the response depends on the duration of feeding and occurs in a multiphasic cascade together with a progressive deterioration in oocyte quality.

The impact of maternal obesity on polycystic kidney disease progression in a mouse model.

Due to the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, it is now estimated that approximately 1/3 of all children are born to obese moms. These data, coupled with data indicating that obesity is associated with accelerated cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients, led us to hypothesize that maternal obesity may influence the rate of disease progression in offspring. To test this hypothesis, we induced maternal obesity by high fat diet (HFD) feeding in the orthologous Pkd1RC/RC mouse model of ADPKD and followed polycystic kidney disease (PKD) progression in offspring for up to one year. Surprisingly, and in contrast to our initial hypothesis, exposure to maternal obesity during pregnancy and lactation did not significantly impact PKD severity in offspring at 3 months or one year of age. In contrast, re-exposure to HFD for ~3 months beginning at 12 weeks of age worsened PKD severity in female, but not male, offspring born to obese dams as measured by cystic index, cyst number, and cyst area. Despite worsened cystic parameters, fibrosis and BUN were not altered in these animals. Collectively, these findings indicate that maternal obesity may accelerate PKD severity in female offspring exposed to an obesogenic diet.

DNA metabarcoding study of the diet and feeding preferences of the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) during migration on the SW Black Sea coast, Bulgaria

We studied the diet composition and feeding preferences of the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) at its migration stopover at Pomorie Lake on the South-Western Black Sea coast, Bulgaria, through DNA metabarcoding of faeces. Faecal samples were collected in autumn 2020 and spring 2021, preserved in 95% ethanol, and stored at -20ºC until DNA extraction and metabarcoding. Two molecular markers were initially targeted - ITS2 for plant identification, and CO1 for animal identification; however, the subsequent analyses focused on the dominant animal prey identified by CO1. Concurrently, coastal habitats where the birds were observed to feed, such as the surf zone and the sandy supralittoral shore, were also sampled to determine prey availability. The Grey Plover had a broad diet spectrum, with 332 prey taxa in total identified by metabarcoding, belonging to 7 phyla, 14 classes, 24 orders, 78 families and 119 genera. The birds consumed both terrestrial and marine taxa, suggesting that multiple coastal habitats are used for foraging. Terrestrial arthropods, particularly insects, predominated in the diet, while mytilid bivalves were the most represented marine taxon. The results suggest that at the studied migration stopover site at the SW Black Sea, the Grey Plover was a generalist feeder, which agrees with previous studies from different areas. Most birds fed on insects (Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera); a few individuals also specialised on marine molluscs, arachnids and polychaetes. The most abundant potential prey in the environ­ment were not the most frequently consumed, possibly because the sampling methods were not suitable for the full spectrum of available prey (particularly the flying insects). We found limited seasonal variation in Grey Plover diet composition and preferences, with the proportions of some prey taxa differing slightly between seasons, probably due to seasonal variations in their abundance and activity in coastal habitats. Our results contribute to the knowledge of Grey Plover diet, prey choice and habitat use in a little-studied region on the Black Sea-Mediterranean Flyway. The new information could contribute towards designing effective conservation measures to preserve habitat quality at stopover sites for this wader and others with similar ecology, ensuring migration success at a time when migratory bird populations are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and degradation. The results are presented and analysed in detail in Vassileva et al. (2024). The full CO1 dataset is available in BOLD (https://doi.org/10.5883/DS-PLUVS).

Effects of feeding varying levels of mycotoxin-containing corn fines on diet choice and growth performance of nursery pigs

Abstract Mycotoxins in feed are known to negatively affect growth and other physiological processes in pigs. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding diets with varying levels of mycotoxins and boron (a nutrient reported to mitigate some aspects of mycotoxicosis). Screenings from the 2020 crop year corn contained mycotoxin levels of 23,038 ppb total fumonisins (FUM), 1,446 ppb zearalenone (ZEA), and 5,032 ppb total deoxynivalenol (DON). The corn fines were added to a corn-soybean meal diet formulated to meet or exceed NRC (2012) nutrient requirements as a replacement for corn at 0, 10, and 20% for Diets 1-3. Diets 4-6 were Diets 1-3, respectively, plus 40 ppm boron from sodium tetraborate decahydrate. Diets 3 and 6 were formulated to approximate the guidance level of fumonisin and the advisory level of DON stated by the FDA. Exp. 1 used 48 crossbred pigs (initial body weight [BW] = 9.18 kg ± 0.12 kg) blocked by sex and BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 3 treatment comparisons: Comparison 1) Diet 1 vs. Diet 2; Comparison 2) Diet 1 vs. Diet 3; and Comparison 3) Diet 2 vs. Diet 3. There were 4 replicates (4 pigs/pen) for the 21-day preference trial. Exp. 2 used 144 crossbred pigs (mean initial BW = 10.20 ± 0.23 kg) blocked by sex and BW and randomly allotted to diets for a total of 6 replicates (4 pigs/pen) for a 21-day growth trial. On d 21, serum was collected from the heaviest and lightest pig in each pen for clinical chemistry assessment. Exp. 1 demonstrated the barrows’ ability to discern between diets in Comparisons 2 and 3 (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for each week while gilts only started to exhibit that ability during Week 3 for Comparison 2 (P = 0.06). Increasing mycotoxin levels in Exp. 2 had no effect on overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F (P = 0.16, 0.53, and 0.92, respectively). The increasing mycotoxin levels affected serum glucose and cholesterol (P = 0.03, and P &amp;lt; 0.01, respectively). There was no effect of boron on the same performance measures (P = 0.81, 0.59, and 0.76, respectively) although it did lower serum glucose (P = 0.02). In conclusion, pigs can differentiate and choose between diets containing these mixed mycotoxins but when not given a choice, the pigs do not necessarily have different growth performance using the particular mycotoxins and concentrations within the framework of this assessment.

Early adolescent second-generation antipsychotic exposure produces long-term, post-treatment increases in body weight and metabolism-associated gene expression.

The use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications in pediatric patients raises concerns about potential long-term adverse outcomes. The current study evaluated the long-term effects of treatment with risperidone or olanzapine on body weight, caloric intake, serum insulin, blood glucose, and metabolism-associated gene expression in C57Bl/6J female mice. Compared to mice treated with vehicle, female mice treated with risperidone or olanzapine gained weight at higher rates during treatment and maintained higher body weights for months following treatment cessation. High-fat diet feeding did not produce a robust difference in weight gain in previously treated vs. control groups. Finally, female mice previously treated with olanzapine also exhibited increased expression of genes associated with inflammation and lipogenesis. These findings suggest that pediatric use of SGA medications that induce excess weight gain during treatment may exert persistent effects on body weight and gene expression and such outcomes may form an important aspect of assessing risk-to-benefit ratios in prescribing decisions.

Diurnal rhythm-modulated transcriptome analysis of meibomian gland in hyperlipidemic mice using RNA sequencing.

To explore the regulatory mechanism of meibomian gland (MG) in hyperlipidemic mice under a diurnal rhythm by transcriptomic analysis based on high-throughput sequencing. The mouse model of hyperlipidemia induced by four months of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding to a regular light-dark (LD) cycle for 2weeks was used in this study. Phenotypic observation and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of MGs of the experimental mice were then performed to investigate transcriptional changes due to hyperlipidemia and the diurnal rhythm and their effects on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The expression levels of the identified dysregulated genes were then validated by qRT-PCR. Several significantly regulated genes and enriched pathways were identified as associated with MGD in hyperlipidemic mice under a diurnal rhythm; these genes included some core diurnal clock genes, e.g., Clock, Per2 and Per3. Phenotypic and histological analysis reveals abnormal morphology concomitantly with a modification of the transcriptional landscape of MG caused by HFD. Our findings provide us with a deeper understanding of the diurnal rhythm regulation of MG in hyperlipidemic mice altered by daily nutritional challenge.

Understanding Caregivers’ Influence on Preschoolers’ Eating Behaviors: An Integrative Review Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background/Objectives: Primary caregivers of children play a significant role in developing their dietary behaviors. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this integrative review aimed to synthesize studies examining how personal and household characteristics, caregivers’ dietary beliefs, intentions, and feeding practices influence the eating behaviors of preschool-aged children (2–5 years). Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2014 and September 2024. The expanded PRISMA 2020 checklist was used to guide the literature search and report the results. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) was also used to evaluate the quality of the selected articles. Results: A total of 10 studies were included in the final analysis. The studies revealed that preschoolers’ eating behaviors were significantly influenced by personal characteristics (e.g., caregivers’ BMI, and weight perceptions) and household factors (e.g., food availability). Additionally, caregivers’ feeding practices, such as restriction, modeling, and permissiveness, played a pivotal role in shaping children’s eating habits. Although caregivers expressed intentions to provide a healthy diet, they often faced barriers, including conflicting work schedules, financial constraints, and logistical challenges, which impeded their ability to consistently promote healthy eating behaviors. Conclusions: Caregivers’ beliefs, intentions, and feeding practices are pivotal in shaping preschoolers’ eating behaviors. However, the limited available literature and the underexplored mechanisms linking these factors make it challenging to draw solid conclusions. Future research should address these gaps and consider integrating caregiver-focused factors into tailored interventions to promote healthier eating habits in preschool-aged children. This can aid healthcare professionals in designing culturally and contextually sensitive strategies for improving childhood nutrition.

NFAT5 exacerbates β-cell ferroptosis by suppressing the transcription of PRDX2 in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus

Pancreatic β-cell damage is a critical pathological mechanism in the progression of obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the exact underlying mechanism remains unclear. We established an obese T2DM mouse model via high-fat diet feeding. The protein expression profiles of pancreatic tissues from normal and obese T2DM mice were analyzed, revealing that nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) and ferroptosis are potential mediators and mechanisms of β-cell damage in obese T2DM mice. In vitro, high glucose and palmitate treatment resulted in increased NFAT5 expression and nuclear translocation in MIN6 cells. Inhibition of NFAT5 expression by shRNA significantly reduced ferroptosis and improved the reduction in insulin secretion in palmitic acid and high glucose (PG)-treated MIN6 cells. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays confirmed the ability of NFAT5 to bind to the peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) promoter, leading to the downregulation of PRDX2 transcription. Subsequent rescue experiments confirmed that NFAT5 is involved in PG-induced ferroptosis in MIN6 cells by inhibiting the expression of PRDX2. Finally, we demonstrated that the use of the AAV8-RIP2-miR30-shNFAT5 vector to specifically inhibit the expression of NFAT5 in β-cells significantly diminishes ferroptosis in obese T2DM mice, thereby increasing insulin secretion and improving abnormal glucose tolerance. These findings collectively highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting NFAT5 in β cells to counteract obesity-induced T2DM.

КОНВЕРСИЯ ПРОТЕИНА И ЭНЕРГИИ РАЦИОНОВ ЛАКТИРУЮЩИХ КОРОВ В ПРОДУКЦИЮ

The purpose of research is to study the conversion of feed nutrients into food protein and milk energy of Red Steppe cows depending on the feeding factor in the conditions of the Southern Urals. Objectives: to study the effect of cavitated concentrates in the composition of the diet on the daily and gross milk yield, the yield of nutrients with milk, to determine the relative conversion of nutrients and energy of diet feed into cows' products, depending on the nature of feeding. The subject of the study were clinically healthy cows of the Red Steppe breed of the 3rd–4th lactation, formed according to the principle of pair-analogs into groups. There were 3 groups, 10 heads in each. In the diets of cows of groups I and II, the concentrated part was completely replaced by cavitated grain mixture and wheat bran in terms of nutritional value. Feed-ing cows as part of diets with cavitated concentrates had a positive effect on the processes of milk synthesis. Thus, comparison with the control group of animals showed that the gross milk yield of natural milk in cows of two experimental groups (I and II) increased by 22.9 and 26.2 %. The increase in the daily milk yield of experimental cows, recalculated for 4 % fat, for the entire experimental period, in comparison with the control was 23.9 and 25.8 %. Feeding cavitated concentrates as part of the ration to dairy cows made it possible to additionally obtain 17.3–19.2 kg of milk protein, 17.9–18.4 kg of milk fat, 5.8–8.4 kg of lactose and 1632.6–1727 .6 MJ of energy. The coefficient of conversion of protein and feed energy into pro-tein and milk energy in experimental animals increased by 2.6–4.4 and 6.7–7.2 % compared to the control.

Dietary protein source mediates colitis pathogenesis through bacterial modulation of bile acids.

Evidence-based dietary recommendations for individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are limited. Red meat consumption is associated with increased IBD incidence and relapse in patients, suggesting that switching to a plant-based diet may limit gut inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying the differential effects of these diets remain poorly understood. Feeding diets containing plant- or animal-derived proteins to murine colitis models revealed that mice given a beef protein (BP) diet exhibited the most severe colitis, while mice fed pea protein (PP) developed mild inflammation. The colitis-promoting effects of BP were microbially-mediated as determined by bacterial elimination or depletion and microbiota transplant studies. In the absence of colitis, BP-feeding reduced abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii and Turicibacter sanguinis and expanded Akkermansia muciniphila , which localized to the mucus in association with decreased mucus thickness and quality. BP-fed mice had elevated primary and conjugated fecal bile acids (BAs), and taurocholic acid administration to PP-fed mice worsened colitis. Dietary psyllium protected against BP-mediated inflammation, restored BA-modulating commensals and normalized BA ratios. Collectively, these data suggest that the protein component of red meat may be responsible, in part, for the colitis-promoting effects of this food source and provide insight into dietary factors that may influence IBD severity.

Maternal exposure to ozone during implantation promotes a feminized transcriptomic profile in the male adolescent liver.

Maternal exposure to ozone during implantation results in reduced fetal weight gain in rats. Offspring from ozone-exposed dams demonstrate sexually dimorphic risks to high-fat diet feeding in adolescence. To better understand the adolescent hepatic metabolic landscape following fetal growth restriction, RNA sequencing was performed to characterize the effects of ozone-induced fetal growth restriction on male and female offspring. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to filtered air or 0.8 ppm ozone for 4 hours on both gestation days 5 and 6 (n = 6/group). At approximately postnatal day 48, liver tissue was obtained for RNA sequencing from offspring. Peri-implantation exposure to ozone in the dam had greater effects on hepatic gene expression in male offspring than in the females. Interestingly, heatmaps of these DEGs suggested that male offspring from ozone-exposed dams had a transcriptomic pattern like that of female offspring. Using a filtered set of highly female-predominant genes (n = 390), 57% were upregulated in the male offspring from ozone-exposed dams. Upregulated canonical pathways included sirtuin and orexin signaling, estrogen receptor signaling, and integration of energy metabolism. Relatively few genes altered in the male offspring from ozone exposed dams were associated with endpoints of sexual maturity, signifying the likely source of the observed feminization was not attributed to sex hormones. This study provides initial evidence that growth restriction in utero may increase the risk of hepatic feminization in male offspring. Additional work is needed to further understand the relationship between developmental undernutrition and feminization in the male liver.

Influence of feeding thermally peroxidized lipids on the performance of growing pigs.

Feeding pigs lipids containing high levels of lipid oxidation products (LOP) has been shown to reduce growth performance, but data is lacking on quantitative relationships between LOP and pig growth, feed intake and feed efficiency. Four experiments (EXP) were conducted using soybean oil (SO) in EXP 1, 2, and 3, as well as SO, choice white grease (CWG) and palm oil (PO) in EXP 4, to evaluate the impact of feeding diets containing different amounts of LOP on pig performance. Lipid peroxidation was carried out using variable heating temperatures and durations to generate lipids with a broad range of peroxide (PV, mEq) and anisidine value (AnV, unitless). Lipids were added to the diets at 10, 10, 8, and 7.5% for EXP 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, with dietary PV and AnV calculated using lipid peroxidation concentrations of PV and AnV times the dietary lipid inclusion rate. Within each EXP, pig performance (6.2 - 13.4kg, EXP 1, 13.5 - 23.7kg, EXP 2; 20.3 - 36.9kg, EXP 3; 29.6 - 44.1kg, EXP 4) was affected differently depending on dietary PV and AnV concentrations. Using the control-fed pigs within each experiment as a baseline of 100%, correlations of pooled relative pig performance data (dependent variables of ADG, ADFI, and GF) from EXP 1, 2, 3, and 4 with their respective dietary LOP values (independent variables of dietary PV and AnV due their ability to be measured commercially) resulted in significant (P ≤ 0.01) regression equations for relative ADG [ADG, % = 101.2 - [(0.321 × PV) + (1.019 × AnV)], R² = 0.81], ADFI [ADFI, % = 100.8 - [(0.320 × PV) + (0.629 × AnV)], R² = 0.68], and GF [GF, % = 101.3 - [(0.016 × PV) + (0.525 × AnV)], R² = 0.70], albeit PV was not a significant regression coefficient in the GF model (P = 0.90). This data shows that the values of primary and secondary LOP (i.e., PV and AnV, respectively) could be effectively used in predicting the effect of feeding oxidized lipids on growth, feed intake and feed efficiency in growing pigs.

The Effect of Replacing Levels of Compounded Feed by Cowpea bean (Vigna marina) Stems and Leaves in the Diet on the Growth of Bach Thao Goat

Background: The study aimed to identify the impact of Cowpea bean replacement on goat growth as a basis for developing a sustainable meat-goat farming model under climate change conditions. Methods: The experiment was conducted over a period of 60 days (including a 10-day adaptation period), on 18 Bach Thao male goats, approximately 4 to 5 months old, arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replications. Treatment1: 30% compound feed + 70% para grass, Treatment 2: 15% compound feed + 15% Cowpea Bean stems and leaves + 70% para grass and Treatment 3: 0 % compound feed + 30 % Cowpea Bean stems and leaves + 70% para grass. Result: Results showed that live weight gain (g/head/day) had a statistical difference between the experiment treatments (P less than 0.01), with the highest gain in 30% compound feed of diet at 104 g/head/day; following 15% compound feed of diet at 52g/head/day and finally 0 % compound feed in the diet at 57 g/head/day.

NLRP6 overexpression improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by promoting lipid oxidation and decomposition in hepatocytes through the AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A pathway.

To investigate the regulatory role of nucleotide-bound oligomerized domain-like receptor containing pyrin-domain protein 6 (NLRP6) in liver lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mouse models with high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks (n=6) or with methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) feeding for 8 weeks (n=6) were examined for the development of NAFLD using HE and oil red O staining, and hepatic expressions of NLRP6 were detected with RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Cultured human hepatocytes (LO2 cells) with adenovirus-mediated NLRP6 overexpression or knock-down were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in the presence or absence of compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), and the changes in cellular lipid metabolism were examined by measuring triglyceride, ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate levels and using oil red staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. HFD and MCD feeding both resulted in the development of NAFLD in mice, which showed significantly decreased NLRP6 expression in the liver. In PA-treated LO2 cells, NLRP6 overexpression significantly decreased cellular TG content and lipid deposition, while NLRP6 knockdown caused the opposite effects. NLRP6 overexpression in PA-treated LO2 cells also increased mRNA and protein expressions of PGC1A and CPT1A, levels of ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate, and the phosphorylation level of AMPK pathway; the oxidative decomposition of lipids induced by Ad-NLRP6 was inhibited by the use of AMPK inhibitors. NLRP6 overexpression promotes lipid oxidation and decomposition through AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A to alleviate lipid deposition in hepatocytes.

Synanthropic Rodents as Bioindicator of Human Pathogens in a Tourist Area of Brazil.

The black rat Rattus rattus is an exotic and synanthropic rodent prominent in Brazil and with high adaptation to urban areas. The species have an omnivorous diet feed on human food resources, potentially becoming infected and spreading infectious agents that cause zoonoses such as leptospirosis, leishmaniosis, Chagas disease, and toxoplasmosis, which are significant public health concerns in the country. We analyzed the epidemiologic profile of R. rattus infected with these agents using molecular diagnostics in the Olivença district, known for its tourism potential, in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Of 140 animals, the prevalence rates were 30.0% (42) for Leptospira spp., 3.57% (5) for Leishmania spp., and 0.71% (1) for both Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii. One animal was co-infected with Leptospira interrogans and T. gondii and another with Leptospira spp. and L. (L.) infantum. The high prevalence of Leptospira spp.-infected animals suggests rodents may be a significant infection source for local hosts, as L. interrogans is most common in rodents and humans. Rodents likely become infected through ingestion or contact with contaminated water bodies or food, particularly for Leptospira spp. and T. gondii. It is worth noting that the studied area has beach, high foot traffic, and popular tourist restaurants, which implies the presence of food waste and litter in the environment. This study found synanthropic rodents infected with significant zoonotic agents, indicating their presence in the environment. These agents may not impact the rodent population but can cause serious diseases in humans and other domestic and wild animal species.

Short- But Not Long-Term Effects of Creep Feeding Provided to Suckling Piglets.

Fifty-eight litters (16 from primiparous gilts and 42 from multiparous sows) were used, with a total number of 750 piglets involved in the study. Birth weight was stratified into three groups: low (<1.02 kg; LBW), normal (1.02-1.62 kg; NBW), and high (>1.62 kg; HBW). A creep feeding diet was offered to piglets in a creep feeder in 29 litters from day 7 until their weaning. Piglet mortality was recorded daily. Traceability was ensured up to the point of carcass splitting and subsequent meat analysis. Each carcass was eviscerated and weighed individually. Sixty-nine piglets were selected for the microbiome analysis (35 from the control group and 34 from the creep feeding group). Feces samples from the rectum were obtained at three time points (three days prior weaning, a week after weaning, and before the slaughtering of the pigs). Mortality during lactation was influenced by birth weight, with LBW piglets exhibiting a six-fold higher mortality rate than HBW. Creep feeding did not impact piglet mortality. Heavier piglets demonstrated greater weight gain when subjected to creep feeding, while the growth potential of lighter piglets was reduced. Variation in creep feeding consumption based on birth weight also affected microbiome composition, with high-birth-weight piglets displaying higher alpha diversity than low- and normal-birth-weight piglets seven days after lactation. Alpha diversity is indicative of gut health, with higher values suggesting greater stability and adaptability to different feed sources. In conclusion, the immediate impacts of creep feeding appear to be most prominent during lactation and potentially early postweaning. These short-term effects are modulated by birth weight, with HBW piglets demonstrating the greatest benefits from the implementation of creep-feeding practices.

Unraveling the Beneficial Role of Resveratrol in Fructose-Induced Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis with a Focus on the AMPK/Nrf2 Signaling Axis.

Background and Objectives: High fructose intake is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a chronic liver disease that is on the rise worldwide. New alternatives for treatment, such as bioactive phytochemicals, are needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial role of resveratrol in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Materials and Methods: Sixty male albino rats were allocated to three groups: group I, the normal control group; group II, the fructose-enriched diet group (FED), which was fed a 70% fructose diet for six weeks to induce NASH; and group III, the resveratrol-FED group (RES + FED), which was given the same FED diet plus an oral dose of 70 mg/kg resveratrol (RES) every day for an additional six weeks. We performed histological evaluations and assessed blood lipids and liver enzymes to study resveratrol's impact on NASH. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the liver samples. ELISA was used to measure Beclin 1, AMPK, IL-6, and the DNA-binding activity of Nrf2. Oxidative stress indicators, including GSH, SOD, and MDA, were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Results: Resveratrol effectively alleviated the biochemical and histopathological abnormalities associated with NASH, improving autophagy by raising Beclin 1 levels while reducing inflammation by decreasing IL-6 levels. Furthermore, resveratrol restored the liver architecture and the oxidative balance, as evidenced by the decreased MDA levels and improved antioxidant status via elevated GSH and SOD activities, as well as the activation of the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling axis. Conclusions: This study specifically examines resveratrol's therapeutic effects in a high-fructose diet-induced NASH model, focusing on the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway to address oxidative stress and autophagy, providing novel insights into its molecular mechanism of action. Resveratrol reduces NASH by boosting autophagy and activating the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway. These findings underscore the potential of resveratrol as a promising therapeutic agent that can support treatment alongside conventional medications in the management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Ecological insights on the feeding behaviour of waterbirds in an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area of South West Johor Coast, Malaysia.

Mangroves and mudflats are essential intertidal habitats that support benthic communities, providing critical feeding grounds for waterbirds. However, the degradation of these habitats due to coastal reclamation poses significant threats to prey availability and waterbird populations along the South est Johor Coast. While most avian research in Johor focuses on forest birds, studies on coastal waterbirds, particularly their feeding ecology, remain scarce. Understanding the feeding ecology of waterbirds is crucial for strengthening conservation efforts in vulnerable intertidal habitats. This study investigated the feeding behaviour and diet composition of waterbirds along the South West Johor Coast, Malaysia. Fieldwork was conducted in three coastal mudflats from November 2020 to May 2021, employing the direct observation technique. A total of 576 hours of observation were recorded, averaging 2 hours and 19 minutes per focal observation. Of 17 waterbird species recorded, only 11 species were included in the analysis based on sufficient data. The results revealed that waterbirds primarily consumed fish, molluscs, worms, crabs and unidentified prey, with fish comprising 25% of their overall diet. Feeding behaviour varied significantly by morphology traits, with larger waterbirds demonstrating higher feeding efficiency. Despite lower feeding rates and shorter feeding durations, larger species had a greater percentage of successful feeding attempts, indicating their superior ability to meet energy requirements. These findings provide crucial baseline data for understanding waterbird feeding ecology and highlight the importance of conserving the intertidal habitats. This research contributes to the development of targeted conservation strategies for waterbirds in the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the South West Johor Coast, Malaysia, an area increasingly at risk from habitat degradation.

Can the supplementation of autolyzed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) affect the diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot?

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of autolyzed yeast (obtained from culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sugarcane derivatives) supplementation on diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites associated with protein and energy metabolism, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs with an average age of 4months and a body weight (BW) of 19.49 ± 3.08kg were allocated to individual pens within a covered and elevated shed. The pens had a slatted floor without bedding suspended 1.8m above the ground, and an area of 1.5 m2. The trial was set out in a completely randomized design with two treatments and twelve replicates each. The treatments consisted of a basal diet without yeast products (Control) or with yeast culture (Yeast, RumenYeast® at 5g/animal/day). Lambs were fed ad libitum with a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of 400g/kg of dry matter (DM) of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) and 600g/kg DM of concentrate feed, and contained 146g/kg DM of crude protein and 2.30 Mcal/kg DM of metabolizable energy. The experiment was conducted over 84days, with the first 14days serving as an adaptation period. The subsequent experimental period was divided into two phases to evaluate animal performance (Days 1-63) and DM digestibility (Days 64-70). The supplementation with autolyzed yeast did not affect rumen or fecal pH, the DM digestibility, as well as the feeding behavior of lambs (the time spent on feeding, rumination, water intake, and idleness activities). In addition, yeast supplementation did not alter the serum levels of albumin, creatinine, urea, or level of plasma glucose, resulting in similar animal performance compared to the Control group. The mean values for final BW, DM intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were 37.52kg, 1.051kg/day, 0.286kg/day, and 3.74kg DM/kg gain, respectively. In the conditions of this study, the supplementation of autolyzed yeast in TMR (5g/animal/day) does not affect diet digestibility, feeding behavior, blood metabolites, or performance of lambs finished in feedlot. Regarding that metabolic and performance lamb responses were not improved, the supplementation of autolyzed yeast at the tested dose is not recommended. However, it is important to note that markers related to immunity and inflammation were not evaluated in our work, and these should be considered in future studies.

Histopathological Effect of Aqua Fix Supplementation on the Skeletal Muscle and Liver of Labeo rohita (Hamilton,1822) during Immunomodulation and Aeromoniasis

The impact of oral feeding diet (supplement) Aqua Fix was studied on the histopathological changes in skeletal muscles and liver of L.rohita during immunomodulation and aeromoniasis. Three groups (D,E,F) of six months old fish were employed; groups D and E were treated with Aqua Fix for 4 days, on day 5 fish of group E and F were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila @ 10-6CFU/fish(fish of group F were fed with normal diet for 4 days).Controls (group G) were untreated and uninfected. Histological examination of the skeletal muscle and liver tissues were carried out on selected days of experimentation (day 1 and day 4 of experiment). The stained sections were observed under microscope and histological changes were noted. Immunostimulated fish (group D) showed normal arrangement of muscle fibers and muscle bundles compared to other groups (E and F) of fish. Both the muscle fibers and muscle bundles were healthy as in controls (Group G). In infected group (untreated with Aqua Fix, group F), fragmentation of muscle fibers was noticed along with sarcoplasmic debris. Dermal lesions and moderate edema is noticed in necrotic muscle fibers. Liver in immunostimulated fish showed large, polygonal hepatocytes with distinct, round nuclei. Hepatic central vein and sinusoids were clearly visible. By day 1 of infection, liver exhibited necrosis of hepatocytes, pycnosis of hepatocyte nuclei, granulation and vacuolisation (group F). Dilation of hepatic vein and sinusoids were observed. Necrotic foci and haemorrhages were evident in the capillaries of liver and occurred more severely in group F compared to group E (treated with Aqua Fix and infected). The fish (group E) which received immunostimulant and infection showed moderate effect on liver suggesting that Aqua Fix supplementation ameliorate the ill effects of A. hydrophila, showing the positive influence of herbal immunostiomulant i.e, Aqua Fix in fresh water fish.