Effect of Supplementary Dietary L-carnitine and Yeast Chromium on Lipid Metabolism of Laying Hens

Du, Rong,Qin, Jian,Wang, Jundong,Pang, Quanhai,Zhang, Chunshan,Jiang, Junfang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.2

Two hundred and eighty-eight 21-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens were randomly allotted to 9 treatments, 32 birds for each treatment. A 3${\times}$3 (chromium${\times}$L-carnitine) factorial experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast chromium (0, 400 and 600 ${\mu}g/kg$) and L-carnitine (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) to corn-soybean diets on lipid metabolism of laying hens for 7 weeks. The results showed that 600 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine had significant effects on most indices of lipid metabolism (p<0.05 or 0.01). There were significant interactions on the concentration of liver triglycerides, egg yolk cholesterol, abdominal fat percentage between chromium and L-carnitine (p=0.0003-0.0500). Adding 400 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium and 100 mg/kg Lcarnitine simultaneously was the best for reducing egg yolk cholesterol and adding 400 ${\mu}g/kg$ chromium and 50 mg/kg L-carnitine at the same time was the best for reducing abdominal fat percentage. There was no side effect on production performance of laying hens while chromium or (and) L-carnitine reduced liver lipid, abdominal fat and egg yolk cholesterol.

Molecular Cloning, mRNA Expression, and Localization of the G-protein Subunit Galphaq in Sheep Testis and Epididymis

Li, Zhen,Lu, Jieli,Sun, Xiaowei,Pang, Quanhai,Zhao, Yiwen Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.12

The reproductive function of G-protein subunit Galphaq (GNAQ), a member of the G protein alpha subunit family, has been extensively studied in humans and rats. However, no data is available on its status in ruminants. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression pattern of the GNAQ in the testis and epididymis of sheep by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mRNA expression levels were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and cellular localization of GNAQ in the testis and epididymis was examined by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, GNAQ protein was qualitatively evaluated via western blot, with the results indicating that similarities between GNAQ mRNA levels from sheep was highly conserved with those observed in Bos taurus and Sus scrofa. Our results also indicated that GNAQ exists in the caput and cauda epididymis of sheep, while GNAQ in the testis and epididymis was localized to Leydig cells, spermatogonial stem cells, spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, spermatid, principal cells, and epididymis interstitial cells. The concentrations of GNAQ mRNA and protein in the caput and cauda epididymis were significantly greater than those observed in the corpus epididymis (p<0.01) and testis (p<0.05). Our results indicated that GNAQ exists at high concentrations in the caput and cauda epididymis of sheep, suggesting that GNAQ may play an important role in gonad development and sperm maturation.

Effect of Yeast Chromium and L-carnitine on Lipid Metabolism of Broiler Chickens

Wang, Jundong,Du, Rong,Qin, Jian,Wang, Shaolin,Wang, Wenkui,Li, Hongquan,Pang, Quanhai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.12

A $3{\times}4$ (chromium and L-carnitine) experiment was designed to investigate the single and interactive effects of adding yeast Cr and L-carnitine to corn-soybean meal diets on lipid metabolism of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty one-day-old avian chickens were randomly allocated to 12 treatments of 40 each for 7 weeks. Levels of adding Cr were 0, 400, $600{\mu}g/kg$ and those of Lcarnitine was 0, 30, 50, 100 mg/kg, respectively. The result showed that adding $600{\mu}g/kg$ Cr or 100 mg/kg L-carnitine alone had better regulative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism than lower adding levels. Effects were more significant at the end of the experiment. There were significantly interactive effects between Cr and L-carnitine on triaclyglycerol, whole cholesterol, HDL, dissociating FFA, and blood glucose, cholesterol and triaclyglycerol of liver, and cholesterol of chest muscle at the end of experiment (p=0.0001-0.0315). But Cr or L-carnitine had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens (p>0.05).

Expression and tissue distribution analysis of vimentin and transthyretin proteins associated with coat colors in sheep (Ovis aries)

Yin Zhihong,Ma Zhisheng,Wang Siting,Hao Shitong,Liu Xinyou,Pang Quanhai,Wang Xinzhuang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2023 Animal Bioscience Vol.36 No.9

Objective: Pigment production and distribution are controlled through multiple proteins, resulting in different coat color phenotypes of sheep. Methods: The expression distribution of vimentin (VIM) and transthyretin (TTR) in white and black sheep skins was detected by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem MS (LC–ESI–MS/MS), gene ontology (GO) statistics, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. Results: LC–ESI–MS/MS results showed VIM and TTR proteins in white and black skin tissues of sheep. Meanwhile, GO functional annotation analysis suggested that VIM and TTR proteins were mainly concentrated in cellular components and biological process, respectively. Further research confirmed that VIM and TTR proteins were expressed at significantly higher levels in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins by Western blot, respectively. Immunohistochemistry notably detected VIM and TTR in hair follicle, dermal papilla, and outer root sheath of white and black sheep skins. qRT-PCR results also revealed that the expression of VIM and TTR mRNAs was higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins. Conclusion: The expression of VIM and TTR were higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins and the transcription and translation were unanimous in this study. VIM and TTR proteins were expressed in hair follicles of white and black sheep skins. These results suggested that VIM and TTR were involved in the coat color formation of sheep.

Skin proteomic screening and functional analysis of differential proteins associated with coat color in sheep (Ovis aries)

Yin Zhihong,Hao Shitong,Zhao Yuanyuan,Li Jinglong,Cui Yunli,Ge Yaming,Pang Quanhai 아세아·태평양축산학회 2024 Animal Bioscience Vol.37 No.9

Objective: Coat color is an important characteristic and economic trait in domestic sheep. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved in coat color regulation for sheep.Methods: Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was used to catalog global protein expression profiles in skin of sheep with black versus white coat color. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression localization of differential protein. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep.Results: A total of 136 differential proteins were obtained in different coat colors, including 101 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated. Pigmentation function entries were enriched through gene ontology annotation. Tyrosine metabolism and platelet activation signaling pathway were extracted by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. Apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA1) and fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) were found to be critical differential proteins by the interaction of differential proteins in the direct-interaction network diagram. Strikingly, twenty candidate differential proteins were screened, from which beta-actin (ACTB) protein showed higher expression in white sheep skin, while albumin (ALB), APOA1, MAOA (amine oxidase) and FGA proteins showed higher expression in black sheep skin, which was validated by immunofluorescence, western blot, and qRT-PCR.Conclusion: This study identified several novel proteins that may be involved in the coat color formation of sheep. The white and black sheep skin proteome profiles obtained provide a valuable resource for future research to understand the network of protein expression controlling skin physiology and melanogenesis in sheep. Objective: Coat color is an important characteristic and economic trait in domestic sheep. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms and the signaling pathways involved in coat color regulation for sheep. Methods: Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was used to catalog global protein expression profiles in skin of sheep with black versus white coat color. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression localization of differential protein. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. Results: A total of 136 differential proteins were obtained in different coat colors, including 101 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated. Pigmentation function entries were enriched through gene ontology annotation. Tyrosine metabolism and platelet activation signaling pathway were extracted by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. Apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA1) and fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) were found to be critical differential proteins by the interaction of differential proteins in the direct-interaction network diagram. Strikingly, twenty candidate differential proteins were screened, from which beta-actin (ACTB) protein showed higher expression in white sheep skin, while albumin (ALB), APOA1, MAOA (amine oxidase) and FGA proteins showed higher expression in black sheep skin, which was validated by immunofluorescence, western blot, and qRT-PCR. Conclusion: This study identified several novel proteins that may be involved in the coat color formation of sheep. The white and black sheep skin proteome profiles obtained provide a valuable resource for future research to understand the network of protein expression controlling skin physiology and melanogenesis in sheep.

Expression and Distribution of the Guanine Nucleotide-binding Protein Subunit Alpha-s in Mice Skin Tissues and Its Association with White and Black Coat Colors

Yin, Zhihong,Zhao, Xin,Wang, Zhun,Li, Zhen,Bai, Rui,Yang, Shanshan,Zhao, Min,Pang, Quanhai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.10

Guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-s ($Gn{\alpha}s$) is a small subunit of the G protein-couple signaling pathway, which is involved in the formation of coat color. The expression level and distribution of $Gn{\alpha}s$ were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the underlying mechanisms of coat color in white and black skin tissues of mice. qPCR and western blot results suggested that $Gn{\alpha}s$ was expressed at significantly higher levels in black mice compared with that of white mice, and transcripts and protein possessed the same expression in both colors. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated $Gn{\alpha}s$ staining in the root sheath and dermal papilla in hair follicle of mice skins. The results indicated that the $Gn{\alpha}s$ gene was expressed in both white and black skin tissues, and the expression level of $Gn{\alpha}s$ in the two types of color was different. Therefore, $Gn{\alpha}s$ may be involved in the coat color formation in mice.