Impacts of Embryonic Thermal Programming on the Expression of Genes Involved in Production in Mule Ducks.

Embryonic thermal programming has been shown to improve production in overfed mule ducks. However, the mechanisms at the origin of this programming have not yet been characterized. In this study, we investigated the effect of embryonic thermal manipulation (+1°C, 16 h/24 h from embryonic (E) day 13 to E27) on the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms, stress, cell proliferation and thyroid hormone pathways at the end of thermal manipulation and before and after overfeeding (OF) in mule ducks.

Ontogeny of hepatic metabolism in mule ducks highlights different gene expression profiles between carbohydrate and lipid metabolic pathways.

Background: The production of foie gras involves different metabolic pathways in the liver of overfed ducks such as lipid synthesis and carbohydrates catabolism, but the establishment of these pathways has not yet been described with precision during embryogenesis. The early environment can have short- and long-term impacts on the physiology of many animal species and can be used to influence physiological responses that is called programming. This study proposes to describe the basal hepatic metabolism at the level of mRNA in mule duck embryos in order to reveal potential interesting programming windows in the context of foie gras production.

Positive Impact of Thermal Manipulation During Embryogenesis on Foie Gras Production in Mule Ducks.

Animal studies have shown that very early life events may have programing effects on adult metabolism and health. In this study, we aim, for the first, time to elucidate the effects of embryonic thermal manipulation (TM) on the performance of overfed mule ducks, in particular for the production of foie gras (fatty liver). We designed three embryonic TMs with different protocols for increasing the incubation temperature during the second part of embryogenesis, to determine whether hepatic metabolism could be "programed" to improve its fattening response to overfeeding at the age of three months.

Kinetic study of the expression of genes related to hepatic steatosis, glucose and lipid metabolism, and cellular stress during overfeeding in mule ducks.

Induced by overfeeding, hepatic steatosis is a process exploited for the "foie gras" production in mule ducks. To better understand the mechanisms underlying its development, the physiological responses of mule ducks overfed with corn for a duration of 11 days were analyzed. A kinetic analysis of glucose and lipid metabolism and cell protection mechanisms was performed on 96 male mule ducks during overfeeding with three sampling times (after the 4th, the 12th, and the 22nd meal).

Inter genotype differences in expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in Muscovy, Pekin and mule ducks.

In waterfowls, overfeeding leads to a hepatic steatosis, also called "foie gras". Our main objectives were to determine what is the share of genes involvement of glucose metabolism in the establishment of fatty liver in three genotypes of waterfowls: Muscovy (Cairina moschata), Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and their crossbreed, the mule duck. 288 male ducks of Pekin, Muscovy and mule genotypes were reared until weeks 12 and overfed between weeks 12 and 14.

Probiotics Strains Modulate Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism in Mule Ducks.

Background: Livestock production should respond to societal, environmental and economic changes. Since 2006 and the ban on antibiotics as growth factors in European Union, the use of probiotics has become widespread and has demonstrated the effect of intestinal microbiota on the performance of farm animals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation with (as a probiotics strain or combined with other strains) on zootechnical performance, metabolic and immune gene expression and intestinal microbiota diversity in mule ducks using high-throughput sequencing and real-time PCR.

Pre- and post-prandial expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism at the end of the overfeeding period of mule ducks.

In palmipeds, overfeeding leads to hepatic steatosis, also called "foie gras" which is the result of many metabolic mechanisms. In order to understand these mechanisms, we decided to measure the expression of genes implicated in lipid metabolism during 12 hours (h) following the last meal of the overfeeding period. We have shown that there is a precocious expression (within 2 h) of fatty acid synthase and acyl CoA synthetase long-chain 1 in liver and muscle of mule ducks in addition with a later peak.

Kinetics of expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism after the last meal in overfed mule ducks.

In waterfowls, overfeeding leads to a hepatic steatosis, also called "foie gras." We decided to investigate the role of glucose metabolism in steatosis emergence. For this, we measured the expression of genes during the 12 h following the last meal of the overfeeding period.

Genes involved in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in Muscovy, Pekin and mule ducks.

Our main objectives were to determine the genes involved in the establishment of hepatic steatosis in three genotypes of palmipeds. To respond to this question, we have compared Muscovy ducks, Pekin ducks and their crossbreed the mule duck fed ad libitum or overfed. We have shown a hepatic overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and di-acyl glycerol acyl transferase 2 (DGAT2) in overfed individuals, where DGAT2 seemed to be more regulated.

Influence of grand-mother diet on offspring performances through the male line in Muscovy duck.

Background: In mammals, multigenerational environmental effects have been documented by either epidemiological studies in human or animal experiments in rodents. Whether such phenomena also occur in birds for more than one generation is still an open question. The objective of this study was to investigate if a methionine deficiency experienced by a mother (G0) could affect her grand-offspring phenotypes (G2 hybrid mule ducks and G2 purebred Muscovy ducks), through their Muscovy sons (G1).

Overfeeding and genetics affect the composition of intestinal microbiota in Anas platyrhynchos (Pekin) and Cairina moschata (Muscovy) ducks.

To investigate the effect of overfeeding on the ileal and cecal microbiota of two genotypes of ducks (Pekin and Muscovy), high-throughput 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing was used. The ducks were overfed for 12 days with 58% maize flour and 42% maize grain. Samples were collected before the overfeeding period (at 12 weeks), at 13 weeks, at 14 weeks, and 3 h after feeding.

Insulin effect on lipogenesis and fat distribution in three genotypes of ducks during overfeeding.

In waterfowl, the response to overfeeding differs from one genotype to the other. Pekin ducks generally store lipids in the peripheral tissues while Muscovy and mule ducks promote hepatic lipid storage. A possible reason for these various susceptibilities to hepatic steatosis could be a difference in insulin sensitivity.

Effects of dietary cadmium contamination on bird Anas platyrhynchos--comparison with species Cairina moschata.

This study aimed to assess the effect of two dietary cadmium (Cd) levels (C1: 1 mgkg(-1); C10: 10 mgkg(-1)) on bird Anas platyrhynchos exposed for 10, 20 and 40 days (5 animals per experimental condition). Ducks were able to accumulate high amounts of Cd, especially in kidneys (after 40 days: C1 8.1 ± 1 mgkg(-1), C10 37.

Effect of dietary cadmium on lipid metabolism and storage of aquatic bird Cairina moschata.

In environment, birds often fast in connection with breeding, migration or drastic climatic conditions and need to mobilize lipid reserves during these periods. The impairment of lipid metabolism by cadmium (Cd; 1 mg kg(-1) added in diet) was investigated on palmiped Cairina moschata. Expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism, mitochondrial metabolism and detoxification were investigated in liver and muscle of ducks.

Concentrations of metals (zinc, copper, cadmium, and mercury) in three domestic ducks in France: Pekin, Muscovy, and Mule ducks.

The role of different factors such as biological material (tissues, organs) and trophic condition (overfeeding or not) in the metal accumulation was studied in three genotypes of ducks (Pekin, Muscovy, and Mule) under breeding conditions. Results showed that overfeeding decreased the concentration in Cd, Cu, and Zn through the dilution process. In contrast, mercury concentration increased with this method.

Does overfeeding enhance genotype effects on energy metabolism and lipid deposition in breast muscle of ducks?

We evaluated the effects of genotype (Muscovy, Pekin and their crossbreed hinny and mule ducks) and feeding levels (overfeeding between 12 and 14 weeks of age vs ad libitum feeding) on energy metabolism and lipid deposition in breast muscle of ducks. Samples of breast muscle (Pectoralis major) were collected at 14 weeks of age from 8 birds per group. Overfeeding induced an accumulation of lipids in breast muscle (1.

Does overfeeding enhance genotype effects on liver ability for lipogenesis and lipid secretion in ducks?

We evaluated the effects of genotype (Muscovy, Pekin and their crossbreed hinny and mule ducks) and feeding levels (overfeeding between 12 and 14 weeks of age vs ad libitum feeding) on liver ability for lipogenesis and lipid secretion in ducks. Samples of liver and blood were collected at 14 weeks of age from 8 birds per group. Plasma levels of insulin was considerably increased in overfed ducks (1.

Effect of genotype and overfeeding on lipid deposition in myofibres and intramuscular adipocytes of breast and thigh muscles of ducks.

We conducted a study to evaluate the effects of genotype (Muscovy, Pekin and their crossbred, hinny and mule) and overfeeding (14 days from 12 weeks of age) on lipid deposition in myofibres and intramuscular adipocytes of breast and thigh muscles of ducks. Birds of the four genotypes were also reared contemporaneously with a growing diet distributed ad libitum. Muscle samples (Pectoralis major and Sartorius) were collected at 14 weeks of age on 8 ducks per treatment.

Fear and stress reactions in two species of duck and their hybrid.

Susceptibility to fear and stress has often been studied in birds using selection experiments. Crosses between different species of the same genus have also been used to study the type of transmission observed for "fixed action patterns." In this experiment we used a cross between two species (male muscovy and female pekin ducks) to study the genetic transmission of various characteristics of fear reactions and adrenal activity.