Effect of quantitative feed restriction and sex class on sheep skin quality.

The aim was to evaluate the quality of the sheep skin of different sex classes submitted to different levels of feed restriction. Sheep without defined racial pattern of different sex classes (15 non-castrated males, 15 castrated males and 15 females), with initial body weight of 18.1 ± 0.4 kg and mean age of 90 days were distributed in a factorial 3 × 3, with three sex classes and 3 levels of feed restriction (ad libitum intake and restricted intake at 70 and 80%), with 5 repetitions. After slaughter, the skins were collected for physical-mechanical tests. The effect of the sex classes x levels of dietary restriction interaction was observed for transverse thickness and longitudinal rupture elongation (p < 0.05). Animals fed ad libitum had greater longitudinal transverse thickness (p < 0.05). Animals fed ad libitum and 70% feed restriction showed greater transverse elongation at break (p < 0.05). As for the difference between sex classes in the transverse thickness variable for tearing strength, the interaction sex classes x levels of feed restriction for transverse thickness, longitudinal thickness, transverse tearing strength and longitudinal tearing strength occurred (p < 0.05). Feed restriction reduces the physical quality of the skin of sheep of different sex classes, and the use of castrated male sheep in positive energy balance is recommended to obtain leather with greater thickness, longitudinal rupture elongation and transverse tear strength.

GHSR in a Subset of GABA Neurons Controls Food Deprivation-Induced Hyperphagia in Male Mice.

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), primarily known as the receptor for the hunger hormone ghrelin, potently controls food intake, yet the specific Ghsr-expressing cells mediating the orexigenic effects of this receptor remain incompletely characterized. Since Ghsr is expressed in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing neurons, we sought to investigate whether the selective expression of Ghsr in a subset of GABA neurons is sufficient to mediate GHSR's effects on feeding. First, we crossed mice that express a tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase in the subset of GABA neurons that express glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (Gad2) enzyme (Gad2-CreER mice) with reporter mice, and found that ghrelin mainly targets a subset of Gad2-expressing neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARH) and that is predominantly segregated from Agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons. Analysis of various single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets further corroborated that the primary subset of cells coexpressing Gad2 and Ghsr in the mouse brain are non-AgRP ARH neurons. Next, we crossed Gad2-CreER mice with reactivable GHSR-deficient mice to generate mice expressing Ghsr only in Gad2-expressing neurons (Gad2-GHSR mice). We found that ghrelin treatment induced the expression of the marker of transcriptional activation c-Fos in the ARH of Gad2-GHSR mice, yet failed to induce food intake. In contrast, food deprivation-induced refeeding was higher in Gad2-GHSR mice than in GHSR-deficient mice and similar to wild-type mice, suggesting that ghrelin-independent roles of GHSR in a subset of GABA neurons is sufficient for eliciting full compensatory hyperphagia in mice.

Effects of food restriction on voluntary wheel-running behavior and body mass in selectively bred High Runner lines of mice.

Food restriction can have profound effects on various aspects of behavior, physiology, and morphology. Such effects might be amplified in animals that are highly active, given that physical activity can represent a substantial fraction of the total daily energy budget. More specifically, some effects of food restriction could be associated with intrinsic, genetically based differences in the propensity or ability to perform physical activity. To address this possibility, we studied the effects of food restriction in four replicate lines of High Runner (HR) mice that have been selectively bred for high levels of voluntary wheel running. We hypothesized that HR mice would respond differently than mice from four non-selected Control (C) lines. Healthy adult females from generation 65 were housed individually with wheels and provided access to food and water ad libitum for experimental days 1-19 (Phase 1), which allowed mice to attain a plateau in daily running distances. Ad libitum food intake of each mouse was measured on days 20-22 (Phase 2). After this, each mouse experienced a 20 % food restriction for 7 days (days 24-30; Phase 3), and then a 40 % food restriction for 7 additional days (days 31-37; Phase 4). Mice were weighed on experimental days 1, 8, 9, 15, 20, and 23-37 and wheel-running activity was recorded continuously, in 1-minute bins, during the entire experiment. Repeated-measures ANOVA of daily wheel-running distance during Phases 2-4 indicated that HR mice always ran much more than C, with values being 3.29-fold higher during the ad libitum feeding trial, 3.58-fold higher with -20 % food, and 3.06-fold higher with -40 % food. Seven days of food restriction at -20 % did not significantly reduce wheel-running distance of either HR (-5.8 %, P = 0.0773) or C mice (-13.3 %, P = 0.2122). With 40 % restriction, HR mice showed a further decrease in daily wheel-running distance (P = 0.0797 vs. values at 20 % restriction), whereas C mice did not (P = 0.4068 vs. values at 20 % restriction) and recovered to levels similar to those on ad libitum food (P = 0.3634). For HR mice, daily running distances averaged 11.4 % lower at -40 % food versus baseline values (P = 0.0086), whereas for C mice no statistical difference existed (-4.8 %, P = 0.7004). Repeated-measures ANOVA of body mass during Phases 2-4 indicated a highly significant effect of food restriction (P = 0.0001), but no significant effect of linetype (P = 0.1764) and no interaction (P = 0.8524). Both HR and C mice had a significant reduction in body mass only when food rations were reduced by 40 % relative to ad libitum feeding, and even then the reductions averaged only -0.60 g for HR mice (-2.6 %) and -0.49 g (-2.0 %) for C mice. Overall, our results indicate a surprising insensitivity of body mass to food restriction in both high-activity (HR) and ordinary (C) mice, and also insensitivity of wheel running in the C lines of mice, thus calling for studies of compensatory mechanisms that allow this insensitivity.

Effects of supplemental citrulline on thermal and intestinal morphology parameters during heat stress and feed restriction in growing pigs.

Study objectives were to characterize the effects of citrulline (CIT) on physiological and intestinal morphology metrics during heat stress (HS) and feed restriction. Forty crossbred gilts (30 ±â€…2 kg body weight [BW]) were assigned to one of five treatments: (1) thermoneutral (TN) fed ad libitum (AL) with control (CON) supplement (TNAL; n = 8), (2) TN pair-fed (PF) with CON (PF-CON; n = 8), (3) TN PF with CIT (PF-CIT; n = 8), (4) HS AL with CON (HS-CON; n = 8), and (5) HS AL with CIT (HS-CIT; n = 8). During the period (P) 1 (7 d), pigs were in TN conditions (23.6 °C) and fed AL their respective supplemental treatments. During P2 (2.5 d), HS-CON and HS-CIT pigs were fed AL and exposed to cyclical HS (33.6 to 38.3 °C), while TNAL, PF-CON, and PF-CIT remained in TN and were fed either AL or PF to their HS counterparts. Citrulline (0.13 g/kg BW) was orally administered twice daily during P1 and P2. HS increased rectal temperature (Tr), skin temperature (Ts), and respiration rate (RR) relative to TN pigs (0.8 °C, 4.7 °C, and 47 breaths/min, respectively; P < 0.01). However, HS-CIT had decreased RR (7 breaths/min, P = 0.04) and a tendency for decreased Tr (0.1 °C, P = 0.07) relative to HS-CON pigs. During P2, HS pigs had decreased feed intake (22%; P < 0.01) and a tendency for decreased average daily gain (P = 0.08) relative to TNAL pigs, and by experimental design, PF pigs followed this same pattern. Circulating lipopolysaccharide-binding protein tended to be decreased (29%; P = 0.08) in PF relative to TNAL pigs and was increased (41%; P = 0.03) in HS compared to PF pigs. Jejunum villus height was decreased in PF relative to TNAL pigs (15%; P = 0.03); however, CIT supplementation improved this metric during feed restriction (16%; P = 0.10). Jejunum mucosal surface area decreased in PF (16%; P = 0.02) and tended to decrease in HS (11%; P = 0.10) compared to TNAL pigs. Ileum villus height and mucosal surface area decreased in HS compared to TNAL pigs (10 and 14%, respectively; P ≤ 0.04), but both parameters were rescued by CIT supplementation (P ≤ 0.08). Intestinal myeloperoxidase and goblet cell area remained similar among treatments and intestinal segments (P > 0.24). In summary, CIT supplementation slightly improved RR and Tr during HS. Feed restriction and HS differentially affected jejunum and ileum morphology and while CIT ameliorated some of these effects, the benefit appeared dependent on intestinal section and stressor type.

Heat stress (HS) negatively affects animal health and production efficiency and is a significant economic burden to global animal agriculture. Although the mechanisms responsible for reduced animal productivity during HS are complex and multifaceted, increasing evidence points to decreased intestinal barrier function as an important mediator of this response. Furthermore, HS causes a voluntary reduction in feed intake, and feed restriction independently induces gastrointestinal hyperpermeability. Loss of intestinal barrier integrity facilitates bacteria translocation across the epithelium into local and systemic circulation, thus initiating an immune response. Dietary citrulline has been shown to support gut health by improving intestinal barrier integrity and modulating intestinal inflammation. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of citrulline supplementation on physiological and intestinal morphology parameters in heat-stressed and feed-restricted growing pigs. Herein, citrulline supplementation reduced respiration rate and rectal temperature in pigs exposed to the thermal load. Heat stress and feed restriction compromised small intestinal morphology, and while supplementing citrulline improved some of these parameters, the effects depended on the intestinal region and stressor type. Additional research is needed to evaluate the potential effects of citrulline supplementation on gut health during HS or nutrient restriction.

Effects of swimming activity and feed restriction on antioxidant and digestive enzymes in juvenile rainbow trout: Implications for nutritional and exercise strategies in aquaculture.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the effects of swimming activity and feed restriction on digestion and antioxidant enzyme activities in juvenile rainbow trout (average body weight of 26.54 ± 0.36 g). METHODS: The stomach, liver and kidney tissues were obtained from four distinct groups: the static water group (fish were kept in static water and fed to satiation), the feeding restricted group (fish were kept in static water with a 25% feed restriction), the swimming exercised group (fish were forced to swimming at a flow rate of 1 Body Length per second (BL/s)) and the swimming exercised-feed restricted group (subjected to swimming exercise at a 1 BL/s flow rate along with a 25% feed restriction). We determined the levels of glutathione, lipid peroxidation and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as the presence of reactive oxygen species in the tissues obtained from the fish. Additionally, the activities of pepsin, protease, lipase and arginase in these tissues were measured. RESULTS: Swimming activity and feed restriction showed different effects on the enzyme activities of the fish in the experimental groups. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that proper nutrition and exercise positively influence the antioxidant system and enzyme activities in fish, reducing the formation of free radicals. This situation is likely to contribute to the fish's development.

Transcriptome Analysis of Compensatory Growth and Meat Quality Alteration after Varied Restricted Feeding Conditions in Beef Cattle.

Compensatory growth (CG) is a physiological response that accelerates growth following a period of nutrient limitation, with the potential to improve growth efficiency and meat quality in cattle. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, 60 Huaxi cattle were divided into one ad libitum feeding (ALF) group and two restricted feeding groups (75% restricted, RF75; 50% restricted, RF50) undergoing a short-term restriction period followed by evaluation of CG. Detailed comparisons of growth performance during the experimental period, as well as carcass and meat quality traits, were conducted, complemented by a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of the longissimus dorsi muscle using differential expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). The results showed that irrespective of the restriction degree, the restricted animals exhibited CG, achieving final body weights comparable to the ALF group. Compensating animals showed differences in meat quality traits, such as pH, cooking loss, and fat content, compared to the ALF group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 57 genes and 31 pathways differentially regulated during CG, covering immune response, acid-lipid metabolism, and protein synthesis. Notably, complement-coagulation-fibrinolytic system synergy was identified as potentially responsible for meat quality optimization in RF75. This study provides novel and valuable genetic insights into the regulatory mechanisms of CG in beef cattle.

The physiological response of oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense to starvation-induced stress.

Environmental stresses play critical roles in the physiology of crustaceans. Food deprivation is an important environmental factor and a regular occurrence in both natural aquatic habitats and artificial ponds. However, the underlying physiological response mechanisms to starvation-caused stress in crustaceans are yet to be established. In the present study, the hepatopancreas tissue of Macrobrachium nipponense was transcriptome analyzed and examined for starvation effects on oxidative stress, DNA damage, autophagy, and apoptosis across four fasting stages (0 (control group), 7, 14, and 21 days). These results indicated that a ROS-mediated regulatory mechanism is critical to the entire fasting process. At the initial stage of starvation (fasting 0 d ~ 7 d), ROS concentration increased gradually, activating antioxidant enzymes to protect the cellular machinery from the detrimental effects of oxidative stress triggered by starvation-induced stress. ROS content production (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion) then rose continuously with prolonged starvation (fasting 7 d ~ 14 d), reaching peak levels and resulting in autophagy in hepatopancreas cells. During the final stages of starvation (fasting 14 d ~ 21 d), excessive ROS induced DNA damage and cell apoptosis. Furthermore, autophagolysosomes and apoptosis body were further identified with transmission electron microscopy. These findings lay a foundation for further scrutiny of the molecular mechanisms combating starvation-generated stress in M. nipponense and provide fishermen with the theoretical guidance for adopting fasting strategies in M. nipponense aquaculture.

Effects of food deprivation on conditioned orthonasal olfactory preferences with caloric and non-caloric reinforcers.

Three experiments were conducted to investigate Conditioned Olfactory Preferences using orthonasal inhalation, which is a less explored perceptual pathway compared to retronasal inhalation. In these experiments, odors were impregnated onto plastic disks to prevent the subjects from consuming or tasting them. The reinforcers used were a sucrose solution (Caloric groups) and a saccharin solution (Non-Caloric groups). The influence of nutritional deprivation was analyzed, with unrestricted access to food throughout the procedure in Experiment 1, food restriction during the conditioning phase in Experiment 2, and limited access to food during the test phase in Experiment 3. The results revealed conditioned preferences using both sucrose and saccharin as reinforcers. Furthermore, dietary restriction reduced the conditioned preference induced by saccharin, but not the preference induced by sucrose. These findings are discussed in light of the potential differences between orthonasal and retronasal presentation of odors during conditioning.

Food deprivation reduces sensitivity of liver Igf1 synthesis pathways to growth hormone in juvenile gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus).

Growth hormone (Gh) regulates growth in part by stimulating the liver to synthesize and release insulin-like growth factor-1 (Igf1), which then promotes somatic growth. However, for fish experiencing food limitation, elevated blood Gh can occur even with low circulating Igf1 and slow growth, suggesting that nutritional stress can alter the sensitivity of liver Igf1 synthesis pathways to Gh. Here, we examined how recent feeding experience affected Gh regulation of liver Igf1 synthesis pathways in juvenile gopher rockfish (Sebastes carnatus) to illuminate mechanisms underlying the nutritional modulation of Igf1 production. Juvenile gopher rockfish were maintained under conditions of feeding or complete food deprivation (fasting) for 14 d and then treated with recombinant sea bream (Sparus aurata) Gh or saline control. Gh upregulated hepatic igf1 mRNA levels in fed fish but not in fasted fish. The liver of fasted rockfish also showed a lower relative abundance of gene transcripts encoding teleost Gh receptors 1 (ghr1) and 2 (ghr2), as well as reduced protein levels of phosphorylated janus tyrosine kinase 2 (pJak2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (pStat5), which function to induce igf1 gene transcription following Gh binding to Gh receptors. Relative hepatic mRNA levels for suppressors of cytokine signaling (Socs) genes socs2, socs3a, and socs3b were also lower in fasted rockfish. Socs2 can suppress Gh activation of Jak2/Stat5, and fasting-related variation in socs expression may reflect modulated inhibitory control of igf1 gene transcription. Fasted rockfish also had elevated liver mRNA abundances for lipolytic hormone-sensitive lipase 1 (hsl1) and Igf binding proteins igfbp1a, -1b and -3a, reduced liver mRNAs encoding igfbp2b and an Igfbp acid labile subunit-like (igfals) gene, and higher transcript abundances for Igf1 receptors igf1ra and igf1rb in skeletal muscle. Together, these findings suggest that food deprivation impacts liver Igf1 responsiveness to Gh via multiple mechanisms that include a downregulation of hepatic Gh receptors, modulation of the intracellular Jak2/Stat5 transduction pathway, and possible shifts in Socs-inhibitory control of igf1 gene transcription, while also demonstrating that these changes occur in concert with shifts in liver Igfbp expression and muscle Gh/Igf1 signaling pathway components.

Sistemas alimentares para a saúde: Resumo informativo

Os sistemas alimentares atuais falham em fornecer dietas saudáveis ​​para todas as pessoas. Ações nos sistemas de agricultura, alimentação, saúde e meio ambiente são necessárias para reduzir o custo de alimentos nutritivos e aumentar a acessibilidade de alimentos saudáveis. Se os sistemas alimentares forem transformados, eles podem se tornar uma poderosa força catalisadora para acabar com a fome, a insegurança alimentar e a desnutrição em todas as suas formas. Consequentemente, a OMS e a OPAS promovem a aplicação de um pacote de medidas relacionadas aos sistemas alimentares, que mudam as regras do jogo, se complementam e se concentram na melhoria da qualidade nutricional dos alimentos ao longo da vida. ambientes. Este briefing descreve cada uma dessas medidas e por que elas são importantes. Além disso, são apresentados estudos de caso de países e exemplos de compromissos SMART e soluções inovadoras para transformar os sistemas alimentares e fornecer dietas saudáveis ​​para todo

Role of serotonin in the lack of sensitization caused by prolonged food deprivation in Aplysia.

Food deprivation may cause neurological dysfunctions including memory impairment. The mollusk Aplysia is a suitable animal model to study prolonged food deprivation-induced memory deficits because it can sustain up to 14 days of food deprivation (14DFD). Sensitization of defensive withdrawal reflexes has been used to illustrate the detrimental effects of 14DFD on memory formation. Under normal feeding conditions (i.e., two days food deprivation, 2DFD), aversive stimuli lead to serotonin (5-HT) release into the hemolymph and neuropil, which mediates sensitization and its cellular correlates including increased excitability of tail sensory neurons (TSNs). Recent studies found that 14DFD prevents both short-term and long-term sensitization, as well as short-term increased excitability of TSNs induced by in vitro aversive training. This study investigated the role of 5-HT in the absence of sensitization and TSN increased excitability under 14DFD. Because 5-HT is synthesized from tryptophan obtained through diet, and its exogeneous application alone induces sensitization and increases TSN excitability, we hypothesized that 1) 5-HT level may be reduced by 14DFD and 2) 5-HT may still induce sensitization and TSN increased excitability in 14DFD animals. Results revealed that 14DFD significantly decreased hemolymph 5-HT level, which may contribute to the lack of sensitization and its cellular correlates, while ganglia 5-HT level was not changed. 5-HT exogenous application induced sensitization in 14DFD Aplysia, albeit smaller than that in 2DFD animals, suggesting that this treatment can only induce partial sensitization in food deprived animals. Under 14DFD, 5-HT increased TSN excitability indistinguishable from that observed under 2DFD. Taken together, these findings characterize 5-HT metabolic deficiency under 14DFD, which may be compensated, at least in part, by 5-HT exogenous application.

Fasting and Cognitive Impairment.

Fasting is a nutritional practice involving complete food restriction for a varying length of time [...].

Serum Activity of Proteolytic Enzyme Trypsin in Rats under Conditions of Water and Food Deprivation.

Trypsin is mainly regarded as a digestive enzyme, but there is evidence that activation of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) leads to behavioral changes. There are no data on trypsin activity in the serum of animals under conditions of thirst and starvation in the available literature. In our experiments, water deprivation led to a significant (p⩽0.05) increase in trypsin activity in rats, and food deprivation led to its decrease in comparison with controls (free access to water and food). After deprived rats received water and food, a decrease in trypsin activity was observed in both experimental groups. Changes in trypsin activity under conditions of water or food deprivation and after satiation were accompanied by shifts in some biochemical parameters of the bloods. Under conditions of metabolic stress (starvation and thirst), opposite changes in trypsin activity seem to indicate its participation in the mechanisms of adequate restructuring of metabolism and maintenance of vital processes in the body.

Expression Level Changes in Serotonin Transporter are Associated with Food Deprivation in the Pond Snail Lymnaea stagnalis.

In the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis, serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in feeding behavior and its associated learning (e.g., conditioned taste aversion: CTA). The 5-HT content in the central nervous system (CNS) fluctuates with changes in the nutritional status, but it is also expected to be influenced by changes in the serotonin transporter (SERT) expression level. In the present study, we identified SERT in Lymnaea and observed its localization in 5-HTergic neurons, including the cerebral giant cells (CGCs) in the cerebral ganglia and the pedal A cluster neurons and right and left pedal dorsal 1 neurons in the pedal ganglia by in situ hybridization. Real-time PCR revealed that the SERT mRNA expression level was lower under severe food deprivation than under mild food deprivation in the whole CNS as well as in a single CGC. These results inversely correlated with previous data that the 5-HT content in the CNS was higher in the severely food-deprived state than in the mildly food-deprived state. Furthermore, in single CGCs, we observed that the 5-HT level was significantly increased in the severely food-deprived state compared with the mildly food-deprived state. Our present findings suggest that changes in the SERT expression level associated with food deprivation may affect 5-HT signaling, probably contributing to learning and memory mechanisms in Lymnaea.

Postruminal choline supply during negative nutrient balance alters components of hepatic mTOR signaling and plasma amino acids in lactating Holstein cows.

Choline requirements for dairy cattle are unknown. However, enhanced postruminal supply of choline may increase flux through the methionine cycle to spare Met for other functions such as protein synthesis and phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis during periods of negative nutrient balance (NNB). The objective was to investigate the effects of postruminal choline supply during a feed restriction-induced NNB on hepatic abundance and phosphorylation of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin)-related signaling proteins, hepatic lipidome and plasma AA. Ten primiparous rumen-cannulated Holstein cows (158 ± 24 DIM) were used in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design with 4 d of treatment and 10 d of recovery (14 d/period). Treatments were unrestricted intake with abomasal infusion of water, restricted intake (R; 60% of net energy for lactation requirements to induce NNB) with abomasal infusion of water (R0) or restriction plus abomasal infusion of 6.25, 12.5, or 25 g/d choline ion. Liver tissue was collected via biopsy on d 5 after infusions ended and used for Western blot analysis to measure proteins involved in mTOR signaling and untargeted lipidomics. Blood was collected on d 1 to 5 for plasma AA analysis. Statistical contrasts for protein and AA data were A0 versus R0 (CONT1), R0 versus the average of choline dose (CONT2) and tests of linear and quadratic effects of choline dose. Analysis of lipidomic data were performed with the web-based metabolomic processing tool MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Ratios of p-RPS6KB1:tRPS6KB1, p-EEF2:tEEF2, and p-EIF2:tEIF2 were greater with R (CONT1). Among those, supply of choline led to decreases in p-EEF2:tEEF2 (CONT2), p-EIF2:tEIF2 and tended to decrease p-EIF4BP1:tEIF4BP1. However, the effect was quadratic only for p-EEF2:tEEF2 and p-EIF2A:tEIF2A, reaching a nadir at 6.25 to 12.5 g/d choline ion. The ratio of p-RPS6KB1:tRPS6KB1 was not affected by supply of choline and was close to 2-fold greater at 25 g/d choline versus A0. Plasma Met concentration decreased with R (CONT1), but increased linearly with choline. Restriction also increased plasma 3-methyl-histidine (CONT1). The partial least squares discriminant analysis model of liver lipids distinguished treatments, with 13.4% of lipids being modified by treatment. One-way ANOVA identified 109 lipids with a false discovery rate ≤0.05. The largest group identified was PC species; all 35 detected decreased with R versus A0, but there were few differences among choline treatments. Overall, data suggested that dephosphorylation of EEF2 and EIF2A due to enhanced choline supply potentially helped maintain or increase protein synthesis during NNB. While activation of mTOR was not altered by choline, this idea of increased protein synthesis is partly supported by the increased circulating Met. However, enhanced postruminal choline had limited effects on the species of lipid produced during a period of NNB.

No food for thought: an intermediate level of food deprivation enhances memory in Lymnaea stagnalis.

Nutritional status plays an important role in cognitive functioning, but there is disagreement on the role that food deprivation plays in learning and memory. In this study, we investigated the behavioral and transcriptional effects induced by different lengths of food deprivation: 1 day, which is a short time period of food deprivation, and 3 days, which is an 'intermediate' level of food deprivation. Snails were subjected to different feeding regimens and then trained for operant conditioning of aerial respiration, where they received a single 0.5 h training session followed by a long-term memory (LTM) test 24 h later. Immediately after the memory test, snails were killed and the expression levels of key genes for neuroplasticity, energy balance and stress response were measured in the central ring ganglia. We found that 1 day of food deprivation was not sufficient to enhance snails' LTM formation and subsequently did not result in any significant transcriptional effects. However, 3 days of food deprivation resulted in enhanced LTM formation and caused the upregulation of neuroplasticity and stress-related genes and the downregulation of serotonin-related genes. These data provide further insight into how nutritional status and related molecular mechanisms impact cognitive function.

Food deprivation differentially modulates gene expression of LPXRFa and kisspeptin systems in the brain-pituitary axis of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis).

LPXRFa, also known as gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), and kisspeptin (Kiss) are two major hypothalamic peptides that modulate the reproductive axis of vertebrates, including teleosts. However, little information is available regarding the actions of nutritional status on the regulation of these two neuroendocrine systems in fish. Herein, we assessed the effects of starvation and refeeding on the expression of lpxrfa, kiss2 and their receptors (lpxrfa-r and kiss2r respectively) at the brain-pituitary level of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Food deprivation for 4 weeks induced a rise in brain lpxrfa as well as brain and pituitary lpxrfa-r mRNA levels, and refeeding restored brain lpxrfa and lpxrfa-r expression back to normal. However, pituitary lpxrfa-r mRNA levels still remained high after 1 week of refeeding. Neither lpxrfa nor kiss2 transcripts in the pituitary were altered by fasting, but their mRNA levels increased significantly after 1 week of refeeding, and declined back to the control levels after 2 weeks of refeeding. None of brain kiss2 and kiss2r along with pituitary kiss2r transcripts were modified by the nutritional status. In summary, our results revealed an interaction between energy status and the elements of LPXRFa and Kiss systems in the brain-pituitary axis of half-smooth tongue sole. Food deprivation and refeeding differentially regulated the two systems, which provided additional evidence for the involvement of the LPXRFa and Kiss systems in the regulation of reproduction by energy balance in non-mammalian species.

Differential effects of continuous and intermittent daytime food deprivation periods on metabolism and reproductive performance in diurnal zebra finches.

We investigated whether food availability effects on metabolism and reproduction are the result of the sum effect of daily feeding (food availability) and starvation (food deprivation) periods. Adult zebra finches were paired and subjected to a time-restricted feeding (TRF) regimen consisting of continuous and intermittent daytime food deprivation periods. Birds were given food during the 12-h day for a total of 4-h in the evening (1 *4-h, hour 8-12), or in 2 splits of 2 h each (2 * 2-h) or 4 splits 1 h each (4 * 1-h), with controls on food ad libitum, until they had the first egg clutch. TRF caused significant changes in hepatic expression of metabolism-associated sirt1, egr1, pparα and foxo1 genes despite no difference in the food intake, body mass and blood glucose levels. Importantly, TRF resulted in a significant reduction in plasma testosterone and estradiol levels, delayed nest-building and egg laying, and reduced clutch size. Concurrently, under TRF regimes, we found a significantly lower expression of th and mtr genes linked with motivation and affiliation (but not of dio2, dio3, gnrh1 and gnih genes linked with gonadal maturation) in the hypothalamus, and of star and hook 1 genes in the testes and star, cyp19 and erα genes in the ovary. These results demonstrate the importance of daily food deprivation times on the metabolism and reproduction, and suggest a possible provisioning of energy available from daily feeding for the maintenance of body condition at the expense of reproduction performance in diurnal animals.

Food intake behaviors change as a function of maternal diet and time-restricted feeding / Las conductas de ingesta de alimentos se alteran en función de la dieta materna y la alimentación limitada en el tiempo

Introduction: changes in dietary/energetic composition during the critical period of development (pregnancy/lactation) or even during meal times may contribute to changes in metabolic and behavioral parameters such as feeding behavior. Objective: the study aimed to examine the repercussions of time-restricted feeding on feeding behavior and on some parameters of glycemic and lipemic metabolism of the offspring of adult rats whose mothers were fed a westernized diet during pregnancy and lactation. Methods: initially, 43 male Wistar rats were used. At 60 days of life, the rats were divided into 4 groups: C: control group; RC: control group with time-restricted feeding; W: westernized diet during pregnancy/lactation group; RW: westernized diet group during pregnancy/lactation group with time-restricted feeding. The following parameters were evaluated: behavioral sequence of satiety (BSS), biochemical parameters, and abdominal fat. Results: findings highlighted a high level of abdominal fat in the groups whose mothers were submitted to a westernized diet, as well as hypertriglyceridemia, and clear differences in feed rate and meal length. This study showed that the westernized diet ingested by mothers during pregnancy and lactation induced hyperlipidemia and changes in the feeding behavior of their adult offspring. Conclusions: these changes may be responsible for eating disorders and risk factors for metabolism disturbance-related diseases. (AU)

Introducción: los cambios en la composición dietética/energética durante el período crítico de desarrollo (embarazo/lactancia) o incluso durante las comidas pueden contribuir a cambios en los parámetros metabólicos y conductuales como el comportamiento alimentario. Objetivo: el estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar las repercusiones de la alimentación restringida en el tiempo sobre el comportamiento alimentario y sobre algunos parámetros del metabolismo glucémico y lipémico de crías de ratas adultas cuyas madres fueron alimentadas con una dieta occidentalizada durante el embarazo y la lactancia. Métodos: inicialmente se utilizaron 43 ratas Wistar macho. A los 60 días de vida, las ratas se agruparon en 4 grupos: C: grupo de control; RC: grupo de control con alimentación restringida en el tiempo; W: grupo de dieta occidentalizada durante el embarazo/lactancia; RW: grupo de dieta occidentalizada durante el embarazo y la lactancia con alimentación restringida en el tiempo. Se evaluaron los siguientes parámetros: secuencia conductual de saciedad (BSS), parámetros bioquímicos y grasa abdominal. Resultados: destacó una grasa abdominal elevada en los grupos cuyas madres fueron sometidas a una dieta occidentalizada, así como hipertrigliceridemia y una diferencia evidente en la tasa de alimentación y la duración de la comida. Este estudio demostró que la dieta occidentalizada ingerida por las madres durante el embarazo y la lactancia induce hiperlipidemia y cambios en el comportamiento alimentario de las crías adultas. Conclusiones: estos cambios pueden ser responsables de trastornos alimentarios y factores de riesgo de enfermedades relacionadas con alteraciones del metabolismo. (AU)

Liver Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Energy Regulation and Functional Impairment of Onychostoma sima During Starvation.

Releasing juvenile fish into resource-depleted waters is regarded as an effective way to restore fishery resources. However, during this stage, released fish are most vulnerable to long-term food deprivation due to environmental changes and low adaptability. Therefore, research regarding the energy regulation of fish under starvation stress is crucial to the optimization of release strategies. In this study, we performed a transcriptome analysis of the liver of Onychostoma sima subjected to starvation for 14 days. The results showed that, under long-term starvation, the liver regulated glucose homeostasis by activating the gluconeogenesis pathway. Meanwhile, the fatty acid metabolism pathway was activated to supply acetyl-coA to the TCA cycle, thus increasing mitochondrial ATP production and maintaining the balance of energy metabolism. Nevertheless, the activation of energy metabolism could not completely compensate for the role of exogenous nutrients, as evidenced by the downregulation of many genes involved in antioxidant defenses (e.g., cat, gpx3, mgst1, and mgst2) and immune response (e.g., c3, cd22, trnfrsf14, and a2ml). In summary, our data reveal the effects of long-term starvation on the energy metabolism and defensive regulation of starved juvenile fish, and these findings will provide important reference for the optimization of artificial release.