Newborn Goats Research Articles

Cold exposure affects glucose metabolism, lipid droplet deposition and mitophagy in skeletal muscle of newborn goats

Cold exposure is a common stressor for newborn goats. Skeletal muscle plays an important role in maintaining whole-body homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of skeletal muscle of newborn goats by cold exposure remains unclear. In this study, we found a significant increase (P < 0.01) in serum glucagon levels after 24 h of cold exposure (COLD, 6°C), while glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared to room temperature (RT, 25°C). Additionally, we found that cold exposure reduced glycogen content (P < 0.01) in skeletal muscle. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that cold exposure activated skeletal muscle glucose metabolism pathways (including insulin resistance and the insulin signaling pathway) and mitophagy-related pathways. Cold exposure up-regulated the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, promoting skeletal muscle lipid deposition. Notably, cold exposure induced mitophagy in skeletal muscle.

Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of goat ovarian aging

BackgroundThe ovaries are one of the first organs that undergo degenerative changes earlier in the aging process, and ovarian aging is shown by a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of female age-related fertility decline in different types of ovarian cells during aging, especially in goats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms driving ovarian aging in goats at single-cell resolution.ResultsFor the first time, we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of over 27,000 ovarian cells from newborn, young and aging goats, and identified nine ovarian cell types with distinct gene-expression signatures. Functional enrichment analysis showed that ovarian cell types were involved in their own unique biological processes, such as Wnt beta-catenin signalling was enriched in germ cells, whereas ovarian steroidogenesis was enriched in granulosa cells (GCs). Further analysis showed that ovarian aging was linked to GCs-specific changes in the antioxidant system, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Subsequently, we identified a series of dynamic genes, such as AMH, CRABP2, THBS1 and TIMP1, which determined the fate of GCs. Additionally, FOXO1, SOX4, and HIF1A were identified as significant regulons that instructed the differentiation of GCs in a distinct manner during ovarian aging.ConclusionsThis study revealed a comprehensive aging-associated transcriptomic atlas characterizing the cell type-specific mechanisms during ovarian aging at the single-cell level and offers new diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for age-related goat ovarian diseases.

Development of the gastrointestinal tract of newborn goats under maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

Development of the gastrointestinal tract of newborn goats under maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

Comparison of muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality between newborn and adult Haimen goats

Goat meat is popular with consumers for its rich nutritional content. Muscle fiber characteristics have been shown to play a crucial role in determining the quantity and quality of meat. However, little is known about the temporal changes in muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality during growth in goats. In this study, muscle fiber type, fiber diameter, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), glycolytic potential (GP), meat pH, and meat color were analyzed in the gastrocnemius (GAS), gluteus medius (GM), biceps brachii (BB), longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles from newborn (NHMG) and adult (AHMG) Haimen goats. The distribution of type I and type Π fiber in goats is not consistent across the four muscles and undergoes alterations with age. The diameter and CSA of the muscle fibers were similar among the four NHMG muscles. However, in AHMG, the LL muscle had the largest fiber in terms of both diameter and CSA, followed by BB, GM, and GAS muscles. Moreover, the CSA of type Π fibers was higher than that of type I fibers in both NHMG and AHMG. GP values ranged from 90 to 140 umol/g across the muscle and no significant differences were observed. AHMG had a higher pH level and a* value, but lower L* and b* values than NHMG. Overall, our findings enhance our understanding of the changes in muscle fiber type and meat quality during the growth in Haimen goats and provide a basis for future research on the development and transformation of muscle fibers in goats.

Cold Exposure Regulates Hepatic Glycogen and Lipid Metabolism in Newborn Goats.

Cold exposure influences liver metabolism, thereby affecting energy homeostasis. However, the gene regulatory network of the liver after cold exposure remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that 24 h cold exposure (COLD, 6 °C) increased plasma glucose (GLU) levels, while reducing plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and triglyceride (TG) levels compared to the room temperature (RT, 25 °C) group. Cold exposure increased hepatic glycogen content and decreased hepatic lipid content in the livers of newborn goats. We conducted RNA-seq analysis on the livers of newborn goats in both the RT and cold exposure groups. A total of 1600 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 555 genes were up-regulated and 1045 genes were down-regulated in the cold exposure group compared with the RT group. Cold exposure increased the expression of genes involved in glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and fatty acid degradation pathways. These results can provide a reference for hepatic lipid and glycogen metabolism in newborn goats after cold exposure.

Case Reports: Clinical features and postmorteum findings of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in a 2-years old bull

Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) is a fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle and other ungulates caused by alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) and ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), the main causative agents of wildebeest-associated MCF (WA-MCF) and sheep-associated MCF (SA-MCF), respectively. The virus is mainly spread by aerosols from pregnant or newborn sheep, goats, and wildebeest to susceptible animals. This case report presents the clinical features and post-mortem findings of an unusual case of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in a two-year-old bull brought to the Professor Feseha Gebreab Memorial Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The bull was semi-intensively managed, co-housed, and fed with sheep and other domestic animals. The animal was shivering upon arrival, with naso-ocular discharge and clouding of the eyes. The bull was febrile, with a rectal body temperature of 41.4 oC and a respiratory and heart rate of 40 and 48 beats per minute, respectively. On physical examination, the bull was emaciated, with bilateral yellowish mucopurulent naso-ocular discharge, frequent blinking, bilateral corneal opacity, salivation, a foamy mouth, head pressing, and enlargement of superficial lymph nodes. Malignant catarrhal fever was suspected based on the history and clinical signs, and empiric therapy with 10% oxytetracycline, diclofenac, and IV fluid was initiated. The bull died after receiving the third day of treatment. At necropsy, hemorrhages were found in the esophagus, trachea, and small and large intestines. In the kidney, white foci, enlargement, and fatty degeneration were observed. An ulcerated lesion was seen on the abomasum. In the gall bladder, enlargement and vascularization were also noted. The current case report confirms the rare case of clinical SA-MCF based on the history, exhibited clinical pictures, post-mortem findings, and PCR results. Separation of cattle and sheep is strongly advised to prevent SA-MCF, as no vaccine has yet been developed.

Physical, Metabolic, and Microbial Rumen Development in Goat Kids: A Review on the Challenges and Strategies of Early Weaning.

The digestive system of newborn ruminant functions is similar to monogastric animals, and therefore milk flows into the abomasum instead of rumen for digestion. The rumen undergoes tremendous changes over time in terms of structure, function, and microbiome. These changes contribute to the smooth transition from the dependence on liquid diets to solid diets. Goat kids are usually separated at early ages from their dams in commercial intensive systems. The separation from dams minimizes the transfer of microbiota from dams to newborns. In this review, understanding how weaning times and methodologies could affect the normal development and growth of newborn goats may facilitate the development of new feeding strategies to control stress in further studies.

LncDGAT2 is a novel positive regulator of the goat adipocyte thermogenic gene program

Brown and beige adipose thermogenesis are important for newborn mammals to maintain their body temperature. In addition, these thermogenic fats are regulated by multiple molecular interactions. How the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate adipose thermogenesis in newborn mammals upon cold exposure remains unexplored. Here, we identified lncRNAs induced by cold exposure in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of newborn goats and found that lncDGAT2 was enriched in BAT after cold exposure. Functional studies revealed that lncDGAT2 promoted brown and white adipocyte differentiation as well as thermogenic gene expression. Additionally, PRDM4 directly bound the lncDGAT2 promoter to activate the transcription of lncDGAT2 and the PRDM4-lncDGAT2 axis was essential for the brown adipocyte thermogenic gene program. These findings provide evidence for lncRNA and transcription factor regulatory functions in controlling adipose thermogenesis and energy metabolism of newborn goats.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СЕЛЕКЦИОННЫХ ФАКТОРОВ НА ПЛОДОВИТОСТЬ КОЗЕМАТОК И ЖИВУЮ МАССУ НОВОРОЖДЕННЫХ КОЗЛЯТ ЗААНЕНСКОЙ ПОРОДЫ

Reproduction of farm animals is one of the main indicators determining their biological and economic value. Highly efficient reproduction promotes the increase of livestock number and improvement of animal breeding technique. The reproductive qualities of goats depend on genetic factors and environmental conditions: age, fatness, live weight of queens, feeding level before mating and during pregnancy, daylight hours, etc. A goal has been set to study the fertility of goats and the live weight of newborn Saanen goats, bred in the goat farm of Krashen village, in the Shirak region. To analyze the goat fertility, 40 queens were taken into consideration depending on their lactation age, among which 47.5% were first-born, 5.0 % - second-born, 45.0 % were the third lambing and one doe was the fourth lambing. The studies were carried out on the queens of 2-4 years. In our opinion, it is this age, that is optimal for characterizing the queens in terms of fertility, since the first mating of goats is carried out at the age of 10 months, provided that the live weight of the young is 70-75 % of the mother's weight, but not less than 30-32 kg. Such a new approach to the technological solution makes it possible to obtain one lamb more from each queen during economic use than with conventional technology. The data obtained can be used in breeding farms for the production and sale of young animals, and the development of goat breeding in the republic.

Morphology of goat oviducts

The oviduct is a vital organ for the process of capacitation, sperm survival and insemination. Gametes are transported, and the embryo is formed in it. The article has described the morphological features and has studied the morphometric parameters of goats oviduct during the newborn period, in 5-, 6-, 7-months-old and in adult animals. Since the newborn period to the age of 5 months, the oviducts of female goats grow at a relative rate of 109.6%. From this age to adulthood, the relative growth rate averages 20.9%. The high epithelium in newborn goats compared to other individuals may be related with unadjusted folds of the mucous membrane, cell layering on top of each other due to lack of area, or it may be associated with hormonal stimulation.

Effect of Azawak Cattle Colostrum Supplementation on Performance and Survival of Red Goats During the First Year of Life.

The aim of this work was to measure the effect of supplementation with bovine colostrum Azawak among newborn Red goats breastfed in breeding conditions for semi-intensive type of Niger. The study was conducted in Secondary Goat Breeding Center of Maradi. Forty newborn kids, regardless of sex, were divided randomly into two groups: a "T-Control " group receiving only breast milk per feeding (n = 20) and a "C-Colostrum" group having the same diet but supplemented with bovine colostrum thawed (50 ml the first day of life, then 25 ml in 2 meals/ day between the ages of 2 and 15d, n = 20). The results indicate that supplementation with bovine colostrum in the first 15 days of life, increases the growth of kids until weaning, modified some barometric changes some settings improves health status and reduces the mortality rate. Birth weights in both groups were similar (1.65 kg vs. 1.64 kg; NS). However, at the end of period 1, the live weight and thus the total weight gain of the kids in-group C was higher (0.61 kg; p &lt; 0.001) than those in-group T. Growth rate was also improved (+41.0 g/d; p &lt; 0.001). For reproductive parameters and body measurements, the mean values of the BMPA were 13.2 ± 0.7 and 14.2 ± 0.2 months, respectively for group C and T; P = 0.07). The values of body measurements in group C animals were higher than those in group T, but the differences were not significant, except for head length and thoracic girth (p &lt; 0.001 and 0.05, respectively). To our knowledge, in the studied environment, this work is original and seems to bring new knowledge likely to have practical applications in areas with farming conditions quite difficult.

Maternal L-carnitine supplementation promotes brown adipose tissue thermogenesis of newborn goats after cold exposure.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important component of energy expenditure and necessary to maintain body temperature for newborn mammals. In the previous study, we found that L-carnitine was enriched in BAT and promoted BAT adipogenesis and thermogenesis in goat brown adipocytes. However, whether dietary L-carnitine regulates BAT heat production and energy expenditure in lambs remains unclear. In this study, maternal L-carnitine supplementation elevated the rectal temperature, as well as the expression of UCP1 and mitochondrial DNA content to promote BAT thermogenesis in newborn goats. Moreover, maternal L-carnitine supplementation increased the levels of triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lactate in plasma, as well as the content of lipid droplet and glycogen in BAT of newborn goats. Lipidomic analysis showed that maternal L-carnitine supplementation remodeled the lipid composition of BAT in newborn goats. L-carnitine significantly increased the levels of TG and diglyceride (DG) and decreased the levels of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids in BAT. Further studies showed that L-carnitine promoted TG and glycogen deposition in brown adipocytes through AMPKα. Our results indicate that maternal L-carnitine supplementation promotes BAT development and thermogenesis in newborn goats and provides new evidence for newborn goats to maintain body temperature in response to cold exposure.

Impact of insulin-like growth factor 1, immunoglobulin G and vitamin A in colostrum on growth of newborn Black Bengal goats and its crossbred.

The study aims to investigate the relationships between colostral concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and vitamin A (Vit A) and growth (body weight and average daily gain) in Black Bengal (BB) and its crossbred. The colostrum from dams (n=16) was collected at parturition to measure the concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A. The kid weight at birth (W-0), day 14 (W-14) and day 28 (W-28) were measured and the average daily gain during day 1-14 (ADG1-14) and day 14-28 (ADG14-28) were calculated. The average concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A in colostrum were 504.6±74.9ng/ml, 9.7±0.6mg/ml and 549.1±72.5µg/100g, respectively. The average body weight of kids at birth, day 14 and 28 were 1.72±0.08, 2.95±0.11 and 3.94±0.13kg respectively. Kid's breed, IGF-1, IgG and Vit A had significant positive effects on ADG14-28 while parity, litter size and sex had no effect. The growth factors that were classified into 2 classes based upon the mean values of colostral contents in all kids showed that the kids receiving the higher concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A in colostrum had higher body weight gain than those receiving the lower concentrations (92.1±7.8 vs. 59.8±5.7g/day; p=0.002, 88.3±7.8 vs. 60.3±6.1g/day; p=0.009 and 91.1±6.8 vs. 56.7±5.8g/day; p<0.001 respectively). It is concluded that IGF-1, IgG and Vit A concentrations in colostrum of dams were associated with increased kid's body weight gain at the end of first month in BB and BB crossbred goats.

Анализ распространения акушерско-гинекологических заболеваний на крупном козоводческом предприятии

Abstract. The purpose is to analyze the prevalence of obstetric and gynecological pathologies in a large dairy goat enterprise. Method. Analysis of data from veterinary registers of the enterprise, as well as histological examination of fetal membranes and determination of the biophysical profile of newborn goats were carried out. Results. The results obtained showed different distribution of obstetric and gynecological diseases among the Alpine goats in the conditions of a large industrial enterprise during the year. The results obtained showed that the general level of obstetric-gynecological diseases of goats by months of the year made up from 2.7 % to 100 % of the number of calves taken place with the most favourable conditions for obstetric-gynecological pathologies being June, July and September – 7.8 %, 4.1 % and 2.7 % respectively. A significant increase in the proportion of stillborn goats from their total number to 26.8 % and 26.3 % was observed in August and November, respectively. In winter and late autumn, there is a marked increase in retention of placenta, up to 8–10 %. In late spring and summer there is a seasonal decrease. The average number of goats in calving at this farm is 1.8 ± 0.43 goats with fluctuations by months of the year from 1.4 in January to 2.9 in August. The conducted histological and fetal membrane studies and determination of the biophysical profile of goats' calves showed a wide spread of fetoplacental insufficiency and changes in the placenta structure in the Alpine breed goats in the conditions of a large enterprise. Scientific novelty. The analysis of spread of obstetric-gynecological diseases of the Alpine breed goats in the conditions of the big enterprise has been carried out; the wide spread of fet-placental insufficiency among the uterine population has been confirmed by histological studies and the estimation of the biophysical profile of newborn baby goats.

Seroepidemiology of Aino Virus in Farmed and Free-Ranging Cervids in the Republic of Korea.

Aino virus is an infectious, non-contagious, vector-borne agent that has been implicated in arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome in newborn cattle, sheep, and goats. Information about reservoirs and host animal species susceptible to Aino virus remains unclear. To further explore the role of cervids in Aino virus infection transmission, we investigated cervid sera to determine the prevalence of Aino virus-neutralizing antibodies and to identify factors correlated with antibody positivity. We screened cervid serum samples collected in the Republic of Korea to better understand infection patterns in this animal species. Overall, Aino virus infection was widespread; 75 of 716 (10.5%, 95% [95% CI] = 8.4–13.4) farmed-cervid serum samples collected from 292 herds contained antibodies to Aino virus. Serological evidence of Aino virus infection was demonstrated in 5 of 43 free-ranging cervids, accounting for a prevalence rate of ~11.6% (95% CI = 4.6–26.4). Our results revealed that age class and geographic location affected seroprevalence. The main risk factors associated with Aino virus seroprevalence were older age (> 2 years old, OR = 2.221, 95% CI = 1.209–4.079, P = 0.009 in adults), southern provinces (OR = 2.432, 95% CI = 1.445–4.093, P = 0.001), and western provinces (OR = 1.905, 95% CI = 1.041–3.488, P = 0.034). The results in this study suggest that cervid species might serve as important hosts for the transmission of Aino virus, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of Aino virus infections in cervids.

Effects of Litter Size and Parity Number on Mammary Secretions Including, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1, Immunoglobulin G and Vitamin A of Black Bengal, Saanen and Their Crossbred Goats in Thailand.

The present study aims to investigate the composition including concentrations of IGF-1, IgG and Vit A in colostrum and their effects by litter size and goat parity in 3 groups of goats; Black Bengal (BB), Saanen (SA) and their crossbred (BBSA). Thirty-eight goats were used (23 BB, 7 BBSA and 8 SA). The composition (fat, protein, lactose and total solid; TS) in colostrum (Day 0; D0) and milk (Day 4; D4 and Day 7; D7) were measured. The IGF-1, IgG concentrations were analysed in some samples collected at D0, D4 and D7 while Vit A was analysed only in colostrum. The results showed that colostrum components were similar among experimental groups. However, the colostral IGF-1 concentration of BBSA (983.0 ± 163.6 ng/mL) was higher than that of BB (340.7 ± 85.5 ng/mL, p < 0.01) and SA (417.1 ± 93.9 ng/mL, p < 0.01). The colostral IgG concentration of BB (8.2 ± 0.9 mg/mL) was lower than that of BBSA (12.9 ± 1.7 mg/mL, p < 0.05) and SA (12.9 ± 1.0 mg/mL, p < 0.01). Colostral Vit A concentration in BBSA (787.2 ± 152.6 µg/100 gm) was higher than that in BB (388.9 ± 84.3 µg/100 gm, p < 0.05) but was not different from SA (522.8 ± 96.9 µg/100 gm). Colostrum from all groups contained higher protein and TS but was lower in lactose concentration than milk. The IGF-1 and IgG concentrations in colostrum were much higher than in milk both D4 and D7 (p < 0.001). Additionally, litter size had no effects on colostrum contents but colostrum from goats with a higher parity number had higher IgG concentration. It is concluded that colostrum from BBSA may be superior when fed to BB newborn goats in terms of higher IGF-1, IgG and Vit A contents. Moreover, colostrum from goats with a high parity number contained more IgG content.

Transcriptome changes in newborn goats’ skeletal muscle as a result of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

We investigated how feed restriction at 50% of maintenance requirements during different stages of gestation affects the transcriptome of newborn goats’ skeletal muscle. Fourteen pregnant dams were randomly assigned into one of the following dietary treatments: animals fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from 8–84 d of gestation and then fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (RM, n = 6), and animals fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from 8–84 d of gestation and then fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (MR, n = 8). At birth, samples of offspring's Longissimus muscle were collected for total RNA extraction and sequencing. Our data showed 66 differentially expressed (DE) genes (FDR < 0.05). A total of 6 genes were upregulated and 60 downregulated (FDR < 0.05) in the skeletal muscle of the newborns resulting from treatment RM compared with MR. Our results suggest that the DE genes upregulated in newborn goats’ skeletal muscle from the RM group compared to MR, included genes related to satellite cells, and genes that indicates impaired insulin sensitivity and changes in the composition of intramuscular fat. The DE genes upregulated in newborn goats’ skeletal muscle from the MR group compared to RM, are also related to impaired insulin sensitivity, as well as a predominantly oxidative metabolism and cellular oxidative stress. However, protective mechanisms against insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress may have been augmented in the skeletal muscle of offspring from MR treatment compared to RM, in order to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Test of Serum Immunoglobulin (Ig) of Newborn Kids by Anhydrous Sodium Sulphate

Because goats grow fast and produce a lot of meat and milk, interest in raising goats is increasing day by day. Especially here, it is very important to do scientific specification management for goat kids. Due to the failure of scientific specification management of the goat kids, the rate of death in the early stages of growth development is more than 20%, and it often does not guarantee the standard body weight of the candidate goat by affecting the pre- and post-natal stages. In particular, it is important to scientifically establish the colostrum recycling technology in the early stages of development, as newborn goats do not have the physiological function of producing and recycling the immune system on their own. Paper introduced a new method for evaluating the level of lactic acidity that easily tests serum Ig in field conditions in newborn goat kids, and newly assessed the biological relationship between the serum level and the ability to grow.

PSVII-9 Post transcriptional modifications may lead to changes in newborn goats’ skeletal muscle proteome as a consequence of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

Abstract We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation on proteomic profile in the skeletal muscle of newborn goats. A total of 14 pregnant dams were randomly divided into one of the follow dietary treatments: Animals fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 100% maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (RM, n = 6), and animals fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 50% maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (MR, n = 8). Longissimus muscle was sampled from male newborn goats and submitted to sarcoplasmic protein extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The raw data were processed with MaxQuant (1.6.3.3) software with parameters set to default values. Label-free quantification (LFQ) was added and only protein ratios calculated from at least two unique peptides were considered. Our data showed 3 differentially expressed proteins down-regulated in RM (q-value &amp;lt; 0.05). Additionally, we observed proteins present exclusively in each treatment (RM= 137 proteins; MR= 41 proteins). The overall enriched pathways in RM newborn goats are associated with glycolysis (PKM), NADPH synthesis (PGD), lipid oxidation (ECHS1, ACAT1) and citrate cycle (ACO1, OGDH). While the overall enriched pathways in MR newborn goats are associated with glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (GAPDH, ENO) and citrate cycle (PDHA, IDH3A). In addition, correlation analysis between shotgun proteomics and RNAseq data from the same samples showed that there were no relationships between proteins and transcripts observed. These results indicate that maternal feed restriction during different stages of gestation alters enzymes and protein domains abundance associated with nucleotide metabolism in the skeletal muscle of newborn goats. Moreover, the lack of correlation between protein-transcript suggests the importance of post-transcriptional regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism as a consequence of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation.

PSVII-10 Skeletal muscle transcriptome reveals gene expression differences in newborn goats' as a result of maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation

Abstract The current study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes and their biological process in the skeletal muscle of newborn goats as a function of maternal feed restriction during different stages of gestation. A total of 14 pregnant dams were randomly divided into one of the follow dietary treatments: Animals fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (RM, n = 6), and animals fed at 100% of maintenance requirement from 8-84 d of gestation and then fed at 50% of maintenance requirement from day 85 of gestation to parturition (MR, n = 8). At birth, all male offspring were euthanized and a sample of Logissimus muscle was collected for total RNA extraction and sequencing. Cuffdiff tool (Cufflinks 2.2.1) was used to count reads, normalize transcript expression (FPKM), and identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) between treatments. Network analysis was performed with String 11.0 using the available genome from the closest specie (Ovis aries). A total of 66 DEG (q-value &amp;lt; 0.05) were identified, with 6 up-regulated genes in skeletal muscle of RM compared to MR newborn goats. These genes are related to tissue development, such as CYTL1, UGT8, and NPNT. The 60 down-regulated genes in skeletal muscle of RM compared with MR newborn goats are related to transcription factors (TF) complex. Among the TF, FOS and JUNB families forms heterodimers in response to several stimuli (cytokines,growth factors, stress), and play key roles controlling a number of cellular processes, including signal transduction, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In conclusion, maternal feed restriction at different stages of gestation affects tissue development and changes the transcription pattern in the skeletal muscle of newborn goats, which may lead to negative consequences in animal growth and performance.