Metabolites in Ruminant Health

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 12229

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institute of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: nutrition and health of dairy cows

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolites are products/intermediates of biological systems. The vital role of metabolites has been highlighted due to their multitude of biological functions, such as energy generation, signaling conduction, epigenetic alteration and cofactor activity. In ruminants, metabolite-based research has been widely conducted, and their value in homeostasis evaluation, disease diagnosis, nutritional regulation and animal food functionality has been partly revealed.

This Special Issue of Metabolites, “Metabolites in Ruminant Health”, will be dedicated to dealing with the role of metabolites concerned with homeostasis of various of ruminants, including cattle, sheep and goats. This Special Issue is intended to publish results focused on the diagnosis or regulatory roles of various metabolites in ruminant health and sustainable production, with different biological tools and novel analysis concepts.

Dr. Diming Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ruminants
  • health
  • metabolites

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5229 KiB  
Article
Liver Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanisms of Metabolic Adaptation of Xizang Sheep to Seasonal Changes
by Jianzhao Cui, Junru Pan, Fengbo Sun, Nan Zhang, Jiacuo Jinmei, Yang Zhen, Ciren Puchi, Luo Snag, Zengqiang Liu, Wangsheng Zhao and Yangzong Zhaxi
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110640 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The Xizang sheep is a unique breed of sheep in the highland regions of China that has gradually developed physiological characteristics adapted to the plate environment through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding. However, little is known about the molecular basis [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The Xizang sheep is a unique breed of sheep in the highland regions of China that has gradually developed physiological characteristics adapted to the plate environment through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding. However, little is known about the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation to seasons in Xizang sheep. Methods: In this study, liver tissues from Xizang sheep in summer (SL) and autumn (AL) were selected for transcriptome sequencing to explore the metabolic adaptability of Xizang sheep to seasons. Results: The results showed that a total of 12,046 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 1123 genes significantly upregulated and 951 genes significantly downregulated in autumn. The top five pathways enriched for DEGs were Metabolic pathways, Phagosome, Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, Propanoate metabolism, and Fatty acid metabolism, which are involved in immune regulation, fat oxidation, and synthesis. The reduction in lipid synthesis, fatty acid oxidation, and fat breakdown metabolism promotes gluconeogenesis by inhibiting the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase- Protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathways. Conclusions: This process helps to maintain the whole-body energy homeostasis of Xizang sheep, facilitating their adaptation to the seasonal changes in the extreme high-altitude environment. These findings provide foundational data for studying the molecular mechanisms of metabolic adaptation to seasons in ruminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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13 pages, 1838 KiB  
Article
Alteration of Fecal Microbiota, Fecal Metabolites, and Serum Metabolites in Dairy Cows with Pre-Retained Placenta
by Tao Zhou, Zhenlong Du, Zhengzhong Luo, Xiaoping Li, Dan Wu, Yixin Huang, Kang Yong, Xueping Yao, Liuhong Shen, Shumin Yu, Zuoting Yan and Suizhong Cao
Metabolites 2024, 14(7), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14070386 - 15 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1099
Abstract
Retained placenta (RP) affects lactation and fertility in dairy cows and causes economic losses to the dairy industry. Therefore, screening for early warning of this disease is important. This study used multi omics techniques to reveal the metabolic differences of dairy cows before [...] Read more.
Retained placenta (RP) affects lactation and fertility in dairy cows and causes economic losses to the dairy industry. Therefore, screening for early warning of this disease is important. This study used multi omics techniques to reveal the metabolic differences of dairy cows before RP onset and to find potential warning markers. Fecal samples and serum samples of 90 healthy Holstein cows were collected 7 days pre-calving; 10 healthy and 10 RP cows were enrolled according to normal expulsion of fetal membranes after calving. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis, while plasma was analyzed using targeted metabolomics. Pathogenic bacteria levels increased in the intestines of cows with RP compared to those in healthy cows. Lipid metabolites constituted the largest proportion of differential metabolites between feces and plasma. Six potential warning markers for RP in cows were identified, including two fecal microbiomics markers (Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 and Escherichia-Shigella), one fecal untargeted metabolomics marker (N-acetylmuramic acid), and three plasma targeted metabolomics markers (glycylcholic acid-3 sulfate, 7-ketolithocholic acid, and 12-ketolithocholic acid). These biomarkers can predict RP occurrence in the early perinatal period. These results lay a theoretical foundation for early nutritional intervention and pathogenesis research in dairy cows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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23 pages, 2665 KiB  
Article
Impact of Varying Dietary Calcium Contents on the Gut Metabolomics of Yunnan Semi-Fine Wool Sheep (Ovis aries)
by Muhammad Khan, Xiaoqi Zhao, Xiaojun Ni, Sikandar Ali, Baiji Danzeng, Hongyuan Yang, Maida Mushtaq, Jiachong Liang, Bai Xue and Guobo Quan
Metabolites 2024, 14(7), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14070381 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1112
Abstract
Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSFW) is a recently developed dual-purpose (meat and wool) sheep breed mainly found in Yunnan Province, China. Moreover, dietary calcium is essential for animal health and productivity. The current experiment aimed to investigate the impact of dietary calcium on sheep [...] Read more.
Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSFW) is a recently developed dual-purpose (meat and wool) sheep breed mainly found in Yunnan Province, China. Moreover, dietary calcium is essential for animal health and productivity. The current experiment aimed to investigate the impact of dietary calcium on sheep gut metabolite profile. For this, thirty YSFW rams (male, age = 10 months, and body weight = 40.37 ± 0.49 kg) were randomized into three groups (n = 10 rams/group), followed by a completely randomized design, and the groups were allotted to one of three dietary calcium levels (Q_1 = 0.50%, Q_3 = 0.73%, and Q_5 = 0.98% on a dry basis). The rams were fed ad libitum by feeding twice a day (at 08:00 and 17:00 h/day) throughout the experimental period (44 day). On the 21st day of the experiment, fecal samples were collected from 27 rams (9/group) and untargeted metabolite profiling was performed by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The PCA plot showed that the Q_5 group metabolites were clustered more tightly than for Q_1 and Q_3, respectively. The tightly clustering molecules were mainly alkaloids and their derivatives, benzenoids, lignans and related compounds, lipids, nucleotides, organic acids, and nitrogenous-based derivatives. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, these molecules potentially contribute to metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, proteinaceous compounds, and the metabolism of the protein derivatives, particularly amino acids. The PLS-DA plots revealed a significant difference between the Q_1, Q_3, and Q_5 groups, suggesting that Q_5 had a clear separation across the groups. Based on the metabolomic analysis, feeding different levels of dietary calcium significantly changed the metabolomic profile of YSFW rams, which primarily entails metabolic pathways such as energy, protein, and lipid metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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19 pages, 4163 KiB  
Article
Combined Metabolomics and Biochemical Analyses of Serum and Milk Revealed Parity-Related Metabolic Differences in Sanhe Dairy Cattle
by Zixin Liu, Aoyu Jiang, Xiaokang Lv, Dingkun Fan, Qingqing Chen, Yicheng Wu, Chuanshe Zhou and Zhiliang Tan
Metabolites 2024, 14(4), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14040227 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1287
Abstract
The production performance of dairy cattle is closely related to their metabolic state. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the production performance and metabolic features of Sanhe dairy cattle across different parities, with a specific focus on evaluating variations in [...] Read more.
The production performance of dairy cattle is closely related to their metabolic state. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the production performance and metabolic features of Sanhe dairy cattle across different parities, with a specific focus on evaluating variations in milk traits and metabolites in both milk and serum. Sanhe dairy cattle from parities 1 to 4 (S1, n = 10; S2, n = 9; S3, n = 10; and S4, n = 10) at mid-lactation were maintained under the same feeding and management conditions. The milk traits, hydrolyzed milk amino acid levels, serum biochemical parameters, and serum free amino acid levels of the Sanhe dairy cattle were determined. Multiparous Sanhe dairy cattle (S2, S3, and S4) had a greater milk protein content, lower milk lactose content, and lower solids-not-fat content than primiparous Sanhe dairy cattle (S1). Moreover, S1 had a higher ratio of essential to total amino acids (EAAs/TAAs) in both the serum and milk. The serum biochemical results showed the lower glucose and total protein levels in S1 cattle were associated with milk quality. Furthermore, ultra-high-resolution high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem MS analysis (UPLC-MS/MS) identified 86 and 105 differential metabolites in the serum and milk, respectively, and these were mainly involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. S1 and S2/S3/S4 had significantly different metabolic patterns in the serum and milk, and more vitamin B-related metabolites were significantly higher identified in S1 than in multiparous cattle. Among 36 shared differential metabolites in the serum and milk, 10 and 7 metabolites were significantly and strongly correlated with differential physiological indices, respectively. The differential metabolites identified were enriched in key metabolic pathways, illustrating the metabolic characteristics of the serum and milk from Sanhe dairy cattle of different parities. L-phenylalanine, dehydroepiandrosterone, and linoleic acid in the milk and N-acetylornithine in the serum could be used as potential marker metabolites to distinguish between Sanhe dairy cattle with parities of 1–4. In addition, a metabolic map of the serum and milk from the three aspects of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids was created for the further analysis and exploration of their relationships. These results reveal significant variations in milk traits and metabolites across different parities of Sanhe dairy cattle, highlighting the influence of parity on the metabolic profiles and production performance. Tailored nutritional strategies based on parity-specific metabolic profiles are recommended to optimize milk production and quality in Sanhe cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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10 pages, 283 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Data to Assess Relationships among Plasma Folate, Vitamin B12, Non-esterified Fatty Acid, and β-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations of Holstein Cows during the Transition Period
by Mélissa Duplessis, Younes Chorfi and Christiane L. Girard
Metabolites 2023, 13(4), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13040547 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1367
Abstract
It is well established that the plasma metabolite profile changes during metabolic dysfunction, such as elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) release when body reserve mobilization is excessive in early lactation cows. Relationships between changes in plasma concentrations of metabolites caused by a metabolic [...] Read more.
It is well established that the plasma metabolite profile changes during metabolic dysfunction, such as elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) release when body reserve mobilization is excessive in early lactation cows. Relationships between changes in plasma concentrations of metabolites caused by a metabolic impairment and the status of vitamins, such as folates and vitamin B12, have barely been studied in cattle. This study was undertaken to assess relationships between peripartum plasma concentrations of folates, vitamin B12, NEFA, and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Longitudinal data of 48 multiparous Holstein cows from 5 studies were taken from days −14 to 21 relative to calving. Blood samples were taken weekly before calving and either twice or thrice per week postpartum, and plasma was analyzed for folate, vitamin B12, NEFA, and BHB concentrations. Postpartum plasma NEFA and BHB concentrations were negatively related to plasma folate concentration at days −14 and −7 relative to parturition, whereas the opposite relationship was noted for the plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio. The plasma folate and NEFA areas under the curve from the whole studied period were negatively associated, and the opposite was observed with the association between the plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio and NEFA as well as the BHB areas under the curve. The results suggest that there is an increased use of folate for metabolic functions during elevated concentrations of plasma NEFA and BHB. Future research should focus on finding an optimal plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio to favor cow health during the challenging period of parturition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
14 pages, 3292 KiB  
Article
Effect of Methionine Hydroxy Analog on Hu Sheep Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation, and Rumen Microbial Community In Vitro
by Shujie Li, Hanfang Zeng, Changjian Wang and Zhaoyu Han
Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020169 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1970
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) on in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen microbiota. Two different MHA, 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) and the calcium salt of the hydroxy analog of [...] Read more.
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) on in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen microbiota. Two different MHA, 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) and the calcium salt of the hydroxy analog of methionine (MHA-Ca), were selected for in vitro experiments. The treatments were the Control group (0% of MHA), HMBi group (2%HMBi), and MHA-Ca group (2%MHA-Ca). Dry matter digestibility was measured after 12 h and 24 h of fermentation, and fermentation parameters and microbial composition were analyzed after 24 h. HMBi and MHA-Ca showed increased (p = 0.001) cumulative gas production in 3 h. The total volatile fatty acids, microbial protein (MCP) concentration, acetate, and acetate to propionate ratio in the HMBi and MHA-Ca groups were significantly higher than those in the Control group (p = 0.006, p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p = 0.004), and the NH3-N concentrations in the HMBi and MHA-Ca groups were significantly lower than those in the Control group (p = 0.004). The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the HMBi group had a higher (p = 0.039, p = 0.001, p = 0.027) relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Synergistetes and a lower relative abundance of Proteobacteria (p = 0.001) than the Control group. At the genus level, Prevotella abundance was higher (p = 0.001), while Ruminobacter abundance was lower (p = 0.001), in the HMBi and MHA-Ca groups than in the Control group. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of Prevotella_1, Streptococcus, and Desulfovibrio was positively correlated with dry matter digestibility, MCP, and fermentation parameters. MHA, thus, significantly increased gas production and altered the rumen fermentation parameters and microbiota composition of sheep. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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14 pages, 6935 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals That NEFA and β-Hydroxybutyrate Induce Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
by Chengmin Li, Junpeng Huang, Xiangxing Chen, Yexiao Yan, Lian Li and Weiguo Zhao
Metabolites 2022, 12(11), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12111060 - 2 Nov 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) are the metabolites of fat mobilization initiated by negative energy balance (NEB) during the perinatal period in dairy cows, which have an adverse effect on cell physiology of various bovine cell types. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) are the metabolites of fat mobilization initiated by negative energy balance (NEB) during the perinatal period in dairy cows, which have an adverse effect on cell physiology of various bovine cell types. The aim of this study was to explore the biological roles of NEFA and BHBA on provoking oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). RNA sequencing analysis showed that there are 1343, 48, and 1725 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BMECs treated with NEFA, BHBA and their combination. GO functional analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in “response to oxidative stress” and “inflammatory response”. Further study demonstrated that NEFA and BHBA elevated the malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and reduced the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity to cause oxidative stress. In addition, expression of inflammatory markers (NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) were increased after NEFA and BHBA stimulation. Mechanistically, our data showed that NEFA and BHBA activated the MAPK signaling pathway. Collectively, our results indicate that NEFA and BHBA induce oxidative stress and inflammatory response probably via the MAPK signaling pathway in BMECs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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15 pages, 1685 KiB  
Article
Physiological and Proteomic Responses of Dairy Buffalo to Heat Stress Induced by Different Altitudes
by Qin Lan, Zhiyong Cao, Xiujuan Yang and Zhaobing Gu
Metabolites 2022, 12(10), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12100909 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
Buffalo are mainly distributed in low-altitude (LA), medium-altitude (MA), and high-altitude (HA) regions characterised by different thermal and oxygen environments in Yunnan province, China. Due to black skin, sparse hair, and the low density of skin sweat glands, buffalo are more sensitive to [...] Read more.
Buffalo are mainly distributed in low-altitude (LA), medium-altitude (MA), and high-altitude (HA) regions characterised by different thermal and oxygen environments in Yunnan province, China. Due to black skin, sparse hair, and the low density of skin sweat glands, buffalo are more sensitive to heat stress. Here, we used data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics to reveal a broad spectrum of proteins that play roles in adaptation to the heat stress of buffalo raised at low altitude or hypoxia at high altitude. LA buffalo showed higher body temperatures than MA- and HA buffalo, and HA buffalo had higher levels of GSH and SOD and lower levels of ROS compared to LA and MA buffalo. In 33 samples, 8476 peptides corresponding to 666 high-confidence proteins were detected. The levels of circulating complement proteins in the immune pathways were lower in LA and MA buffalo than in HA buffalo. There were higher levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein in LA buffalo than in MA and HA buffalo. Relative to MA buffalo, levels of blood oxygen delivery proteins were higher in LA and HA buffalo. A higher abundance of apolipoproteins was detected in LA and MA buffalo than in HA buffalo. In summary, buffalo adopted similar adaptation strategies to oxidative stress induced by heat stress or hypoxia, including immunological enhancement, high efficiency of blood oxygen delivery, and the inhibition of lipid oxidation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites in Ruminant Health)
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