Dataset Information

Microbial succession in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows from 2 weeks to first lactation.

ABSTRACT: Development of the dairy calf gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its associated microbiota are essential for survival and milk production, as this community is responsible for converting plant-based feeds into accessible nutrients. However, little is known regarding the establishment of microbes in the calf GIT. Here, we measured fecal-associated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities of dairy cows from 2 weeks to the middle of first lactation (>2 years) as well as rumen-associated communities from weaning (8 weeks) to first lactation. These communities were then correlated to animal growth and health. Although succession of specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was unique to each animal, beta-diversity decreased while alpha-diversity increased as animals aged. Calves exhibited similar microbial families and genera but different OTUs than adults, with a transition to an adult-like microbiota between weaning and 1 year of age. This suggests that alterations of the microbiota for improving downstream milk production may be most effective during, or immediately following, the weaning transition.

SUBMITTER: Dill-McFarland KA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241668 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Microbial succession in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows from 2 weeks to first lactation.

Dill-McFarland Kimberly A KA Breaker Jacob D JD Suen Garret G

Scientific reports 20170118

Development of the dairy calf gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its associated microbiota are essential for survival and milk production, as this community is responsible for converting plant-based feeds into accessible nutrients. However, little is known regarding the establishment of microbes in the calf GIT. Here, we measured fecal-associated bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities of dairy cows from 2 weeks to the middle of first lactation (>2 years) as well as rumen-associated communitie ...[more]

PMID: 28098248

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Project description:Dietary supplementation with calcium propionate can effectively alleviate negative energy balance and hypocalcemia of dairy cows in early lactation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium propionate feeding levels on the immune function, liver function, and fecal microbial composition of dairy cows in early lactation. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to four treatments after calving. Treatments were a basal diet plus 0, 200, 350, and 500 g calcium propionate per cow per day throughout a 5-week trial period. Cows were milked three times a day, and blood was sampled to measure immune function and liver function on d 7, 21, and 35. The rectal contents were sampled and collected on d 35 to analyze the microbial composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results indicated that increasing amounts of calcium propionate did not affected the serum concentrations of total protein, IgG, IgM, and calcium, but the concentrations of albumin and IgA changed quadratically. With the increase of calcium propionate, the activity of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase increased linearly, in contrast, the activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased linearly. Moreover, dietary supplementation with increasing levels of calcium propionate tended to quadratically decrease the relative abundance of Firmicutes while quadratically increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, and consequently linearly decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the rectal microbiota. Additionally, the supplementation of calcium propionate increased the relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 and Prevotellaceae_UCG-004 linearly, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 quadratically, but decreased the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group and Family_XIII_AD3011_group quadratically. Compared with the CON group, the calcium propionate supplementation significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acetitomaculum but increased the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Alistipes. In summary, these results suggested that the supplementation of calcium propionate to dairy cows in early lactation could beneficially alter the rectal microbiota.

Project description:Pten is a tumor suppressor gene regulating many cellular processes, including growth, adhesion, and apoptosis. In the aim of investigating the role of Pten during mammary gland development and lactation of dairy cows, we analyzed Pten expression levels in the mammary glands of dairy cows by using western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. Dairy cow mammary epithelial cells (DCMECs) were used to study the function of Pten in vitro. We determined concentrations of β-casein, triglyceride, and lactose in the culture medium following Pten overexpression and siRNA inhibition. To determine whether Pten affected DCMEC viability and proliferation, cells were analyzed by CASY-TT and flow cytometry. Genes involved in lactation-related signaling pathways were detected. Pten expression was also assessed by adding prolactin and glucose to cell cultures. When Pten was overexpressed, proliferation of DCMECs and concentrations for β-casein, triglyceride, and lactose were significantly decreased. Overexpression of Pten down-regulated expression of MAPK, CYCLIN D1, AKT, MTOR, S6K1, STAT5, SREBP1, PPARγ, PRLR, and GLUT1, but up-regulated 4EBP1 in DCMECs. The Pten siRNA inhibition experiments revealed results that opposed those from the gene overexpression experiments. Introduction of prolactin (PRL) increased secretion of β-casein, triglyceride, and lactose, but decreased Pten expression levels. Introduction of glucose also increased β-casein and triglyceride concentrations, but did not significantly alter Pten expression levels. The Pten mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased 0.3- and 0.4-fold in mammary glands of lactating cows producing high quality milk (milk protein >3.0%, milk fat >3.5%), compared with those cows producing low quality milk (milk protein <3.0%, milk fat <3.5%). In conclusion, Pten functions as an inhibitor during mammary gland development and lactation in dairy cows. It can down-regulate DCMECs secretion of β-casein, triglyceride, and lactose, and plays a critical role in lactation related signaling pathways.

Dataset Information

Microbial succession in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows from 2 weeks to first lactation.

Publications

Microbial succession in the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cows from 2 weeks to first lactation.

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