Melatonin Regulates Differentiation of Sheep Brown Adipocyte Precursor Cells AMP-Activated Protein Kinase.

In sheep industry, hypothermia caused by insufficient brown adipose tissue (BAT) deposits is one of the major causes of lamb deaths. Enhancing the formation and function of BAT in neonatal lamb increases thermogenesis and hence reduces economic losses. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect and mechanism of melatonin on sheep brown adipocyte formation and function.

Net micromineral requirements for maintenance and growth of ewe lambs at the latter fattening period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the net micromineral (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) requirements for maintenance and growth of Dorper×Jinzhong crossbred ewe lambs at their latter fattening period.

Methods: Thirty 1/2 Dorper × 1/2 Jinzhong crossed F1 ewe lambs (35±0.5 kg of body weight [BW]) were used and divided into five groups in a randomized design for a comparative slaughter trial.

In vitro evaluation of antiviral activity of tea seed saponins against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Background: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the major swine pathogens. This virus causes immune suppression and other secondary infections, leading to significant economic losses in the swine industry. Tea seed saponins (TS) are a natural extract from tea seeds with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate inhibits the meq, ul49 and VP22 expression of Marek's disease virus.

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated that sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a natural compound derived from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen), could effectively inhibit Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection both in vitro and in vivo, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The main objective of the study was to explore the effect of STS on the meq, ul49 and VP22 expression of MDV in vitro.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyse the effect of STS on meq and ul49 expression at both the DNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) level, and the effect of STS on VP22 was assessed by immunofluorescence assay and western blotting.

AMP-activated protein kinase α1 but not α2 catalytic subunit potentiates myogenin expression and myogenesis.

The link between AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and myogenesis remains poorly defined. AMPK has two catalytic α subunits, α1 and α2. We postulated that AMPK promotes myogenesis in an isoform-specific manner.

AMP-activated protein kinase mediates myogenin expression and myogenesis via histone deacetylase 5.

There is a global epidemic of obesity, and obesity is known to inhibit AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and impairs myogenesis. Myogenin mediates the fusion of myoblasts into myotubes, a critical step in myogenesis. We observed that inhibition of AMPKα1 downregulates myogenin expression and myogenesis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Maternal obesity induces epigenetic modifications to facilitate Zfp423 expression and enhance adipogenic differentiation in fetal mice.

Maternal obesity (MO) predisposes offspring to obesity and type 2 diabetes despite poorly defined mechanisms. Zfp423 is the key transcription factor committing cells to the adipogenic lineage, with exceptionally dense CpG sites in its promoter. We hypothesized that MO enhances adipogenic differentiation during fetal development through inducing epigenetic changes in the Zfp423 promoter and elevating its expression.

Side-stream smoking reduces intestinal inflammation and increases expression of tight junction proteins.

Aim: To investigate the effect of side-stream smoking on gut microflora composition, intestinal inflammation and expression of tight junction proteins.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were exposed to side-stream cigarette smoking for one hour daily over eight weeks. Cecal contents were collected for microbial composition analysis.

Maternal obesity enhances collagen accumulation and cross-linking in skeletal muscle of ovine offspring.

Maternal obesity (MO) has harmful effects on both fetal development and subsequent offspring health. We previously demonstrated that MO enhances collagen accumulation in fetal skeletal muscle, but its impact on mature offspring muscle collagen accumulation is unknown. Ewes were fed either a control diet (Con, fed 100% of NRC nutrient recommendations) or obesogenic diet (OB, fed 150% of NRC nutrient recommendations) from 60 days before conception to birth.

AMP-activated protein kinase regulates beta-catenin transcription via histone deacetylase 5.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of energy metabolism; it is inhibited under obese conditions and is activated by exercise and by many anti-diabetic drugs. Emerging evidence also suggests that AMPK regulates cell differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We hypothesized that AMPK regulates cell differentiation via altering β-catenin expression, which involves phosphorylation of class IIa histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5).

Maternal obesity-impaired insulin signaling in sheep and induced lipid accumulation and fibrosis in skeletal muscle of offspring.

The prevalence of maternal obesity is increasing rapidly in recent decades. We previously showed that maternal obesity affected skeletal muscle development during the fetal stage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity on the skeletal muscle properties of offspring.