Effects of organic and inorganic copper on cecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in growing rabbits.

Introduction: Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element for the growth of rabbits. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different Cu sources on intestinal microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in growing rabbits. Methods: The experimental animals were randomly divided into four experimental groups, each group comprised eight replicates, with six rabbits (half male and half female) per replicate. And they were fed diets was composed by mixing the basal diet with 20 mg/kg Cu from one of the two inorganic Cu (cupric sulfate and dicopper chloride trihydroxide) or two organic Cu (cupric citrate and copper glycinate). Cecal contents of four rabbits were collected from four experimental groups for 16S rDNA gene amplification sequencing and gas chromatography analysis. Results: Our results indicate that the organic Cu groups were less variable than the inorganic Cu groups. Compared with the inorganic Cu groups, the CuCit group had a significantly higher relative abundance of Rikenella Tissierella, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Enterococcus, and Paeniclostridium, while the relative abundance of Novosphingobium and Ruminococcus were significantly lower (p < 0.05). The SCFAs level decreased in the organic Cu groups than in the inorganic Cu groups. Among the SCFAs, the butyric acid level significantly decreased in the CuCit group than in the CuSO4 and CuCl2 groups. The relative abundance of Rikenella and Turicibacter genera was significantly negatively correlated with the butyric acid level in the CuCit group compared with both inorganic Cu groups. These results revealed that the organic Cu (CuCit) group had an increased abundance of Rikenella, Enterococcus, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Turicibacter genera in the rabbit cecum. Discussion: In summary, this study found that organic Cu and inorganic Cu sources had different effects on cecal microbiota composition and SCFAs in rabbits. The CuCit group had the unique higher relative abundance of genera Rikenella and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, which might be beneficial to the lower incidence of diarrhea in rabbits.

The interaction between dietary fiber and gut microbiota, and its effect on pig intestinal health.

Intestinal health is closely associated with overall animal health and performance and, consequently, influences the production efficiency and profit in feed and animal production systems. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the main site of the nutrient digestive process and the largest immune organ in the host, and the gut microbiota colonizing the GIT plays a key role in maintaining intestinal health. Dietary fiber (DF) is a key factor in maintaining normal intestinal function. The biological functioning of DF is mainly achieved by microbial fermentation, which occurs mainly in the distal small and large intestine. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main class of microbial fermentation metabolites, are the main energy supply for intestinal cells. SCFAs help to maintain normal intestinal function, induce immunomodulatory effects to prevent inflammation and microbial infection, and are vital for the maintenance of homeostasis. Moreover, because of its distinct characteristics (e.g. solubility), DF is able to alter the composition of the gut microbiota. Therefore, understanding the role that DF plays in modulating gut microbiota, and how it influences intestinal health, is essential. This review gives an overview of DF and its microbial fermentation process, and investigates the effect of DF on the alteration of gut microbiota composition in pigs. The effects of interaction between DF and the gut microbiota, particularly as they relate to SCFA production, on intestinal health are also illustrated.

Effects of Dietary Zinc Sources on Growth Performance and Gut Health of Weaned Piglets.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary zinc sources on the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets. In total, 96 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) weaned piglets with an initial average body weight of 8.81±0.42kg were divided into four groups, with six replicates per treatment and four pigs per replicate. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: (1) control group, basal diet; (2) zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) group, basal diet +100mg/kg ZnSO4; (3) glycine zinc (Gly-Zn) group, basal diet +100mg/kg Gly-Zn and (4) zinc lactate group, and basal diet +100mg/kg zinc lactate. The whole trial lasted for 28days. Decreased F/G was noted in the Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups (p<0.05). The zinc lactate group had a lower diarrhea rate than the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the ZnSO4, Gly-Zn, and zinc lactate groups had significantly higher apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude ash, and zinc than the control group (p<0.05). The Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups had higher jejunal villus height and a higher villus height:crypt depth ratio than the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the ZnSO4, Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups had a significantly lower mRNA expression level of jejunal ZRT/IRT-like protein 4 (ZIP4) and higher mRNA expression level of jejunal interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) than the control group (p<0.05). The mRNA expression level of jejunal zinc transporter 2 (ZNT2) was higher and that of jejunal Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) was lower in the Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the zinc lactate group had a higher count of Lactobacillus spp. in the cecal digesta and higher mRNA expression levels of jejunal occludin and mucin 2 (MUC2) than the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 100mg/kg ZnSO4, Gly-Zn, or zinc lactate could improve the growth performance and gut barrier function of weaned piglets. Dietary supplementation with organic zinc, particularly zinc lactate, had the best effect.

The Effect of Ellagic Acid on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidant Activity in Mice.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the imbalance of lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity leads to damage to liver. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ellagic acid (EA), a phenolic compound, on hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity in mice. In our study, 24 C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: (1) control (CON); (2) basal diet+0.1% EA (EA1); and (3) basal diet+0.3% EA (EA2). After the 14-day experiment, the liver was sampled for analysis. The results showed that 0.3% EA administration increased the liver weight. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol activities decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol activity increased by EA supplementation. Meanwhile, dietary supplementation with EA dose-dependently decreased the acetyl-CoA carboxylase protein abundance and increased the phospho-hormone-sensitive lipase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha protein abundances. Moreover, EA supplementation reduced the malonaldehyde concentration and increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase concentrations. The protein abundances of phospho-nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 increased by EA supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, EA supplementation promoted the lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity to maintain the liver health in mice.

Clinical and Genetic Heterogeneity in a Cohort of Chinese Children With Dopa-Responsive Dystonia.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic and clinical features of dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) in China. Method: Characteristics of gene mutations and clinical manifestations of 31 patients diagnosed with DRD were analyzed retrospectively. Result: From January 2000 to January 2019, 31 patients were diagnosed with DRD. Twenty (64.5%) were male, and 11 (35.5%) were female. Ten patients (32.3%) had classic DRD, 19 (61.3%) had DRD-plus, and 2 (6.4%) patients had mutations in the dopamine synthetic pathway (PTS gene mutation) without a typical phenotype (not DRD or DRD-plus). Twenty-eight (90.3%) patients underwent genetic testing. Homozygous or compound heterozygous TH gene mutations were found in 22 patients. GCH1 and PTS gene mutations were found in 2 patients. Heterozygous TH mutation and genetic testing were negative in 1 patient. They took different doses of L-dopa, ranging from 0.4 to 8.7 mg/kg/d. Patients with classic DRD responded well. In patients with DRD-plus, 94.7% (18/19) responded well with residual symptoms. One patient (5.3%) did not show any improvement. Conclusion: DRD can be divided into classic DRD and DRD-plus. In this cohort, the most common pathogenic gene was TH. Fever was the important inducing factor of the disease. L-dopa has sustained and stable effects on patients with classic DRD. In patients with DRD-plus, treatment with L-dopa could ameliorate most of the symptoms.