ABSTRACT: Comparison of fecal microbiome of diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves revealed unique community structure of the calf intestine through metagenomics approach
Project description:The aim of this study was to examine changes in the transcriptional profile of the anterior pituitary gland of heifer calves offered varying planes of nutrition during the early life period. From approximately 3 weeks of age (19 ± 5 days of age) Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves were offered either a high (HP, n=13) or moderate (MP, n=15) plane of nutrition to achieve target growth rates of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. After 18 weeks of differential feeding all calves were euthanized and anterior pituitary tissue samples harvested from each calf. RNA was extracted and subsequently subjected to RNAseq analysis. A total of 195 genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed between calves on the High plane of nutrition and those on the Moderate plane of nutrition. Biological pathway analysis revealed an enrichement from these genes for processes and pathways related to growth and reproductive system development.
Project description:The aim of this study was to examine changes in the transcriptional profile of visceral adipose tissue in heifer calves offered varying planes of nutrition during the early life period. From approximately 3 weeks of age (19 ± 5 days of age) Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves were offered either a high (HP, n=15) or moderate (MP, n=15) plane of nutrition to achieve target growth rates of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. After 18 weeks of differential feeding all calves were euthanized and visceral adipose tissue samples harvested from each calf. RNA was extracted and subsequently subjected to RNAseq analysis. A total of 1052 genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed between calves on the High plane of nutrition and those on the Moderate plane of nutrition. Biological pathway analysis revealed an enrichement from these genes for processes and pathways including Sirtuin signalling, oxidative phosphorylation and adipogenesis.
Project description:We assessed the transcriptomic adaptation of the calf rumen epithelium to changes in ruminal pH caused by feeding calf starter with and without forage during weaning transition. The calves were divided into a gorage provision group (HAY group, n = 3) and forage non-provision group (CON group, n = 4) 3 weeks after weaning.
Project description:It has been established that enhanced early life nutrition progresses sexual development in the bull calf through neuroendocrine signalling via the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating this process have not been fully elucidated. This study measured the impact of contrasting feeding regimes in the first 12 wk of life, known to impact age at puberty, on the proteomic landscape of the testes of bull calves. Holstein bull calves with a mean (±SD) bodyweight and age of 48.8 (± 5.3) kg and 17.5 (± 2.8) days, were designated to high (HI; n=10) or moderate (MOD; n=10) dietary groups, with diets designed to provoke growth rates of 1.0 and 0.5 kg/day, respectively. At 12 wk of age, all calves were euthanized, and testes parenchyma harvested. HI calves were heavier at slaughter (112.4 v 88.7 (2.98) kg, P<0.001), and had a greater average daily gain (ADG) of (0.88 v 0.58 kg, P<0.001). The turquoise network from the protein analyses contained the protein CDH13 which is involved in testes development. Gene ontology analysis of the turquoise network revealed enrichment of genes with functions related to cholesterol biosynthesis, IGF-1 signalling, insulin receptor/secretion signalling, androgen signalling and Sertoli cell junction signalling.
Project description:The aim of this study was to examine alterations in the transcriptional profile of the arcuate nucleus region of the hypothalamus between heifer calves offered varying planes of nutrition during early life. Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves (19 ± 5 days of age, BW: 51.2 ± 7.8 kg, mean ± SD) were offered a high (HP, n=14) or moderate plane of nutrition (MP, n=15) from 3 to 21 weeks of age to achieve a target growth rate of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. At 21 weeks of age, all calves were euthanized and the arcuate nucleus region of the hypothalamus of each calf recovered. RNA was extracted transcriptional profiles examined using RNAseq. Compared with calves on the moderate plane of nutrition, a High plane of nutrition altered the expression of 80 genes within the arucate nucleus. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed functions including organismal development, behaviour, endocrine system development and function, lipid metabolism, molecular transport, small molecule biochemistry, cellular development, cellular growth and proliferation, and nervous system development and function to be affected by early life plane of nutrition in the arucate nucleus of heifer calves.
Project description:Transcriptome analysis was performed on the thymus of necropsied Japanese Black calves with a poor prognosis, to clarify the pathology of acute thymic involution, which often happens in farmed calves with a poor prognosis. Gene expression profiles obtained by DNA microarray analysis of eight calf thymuses were grouped into three patterns associated with the histopathological classification of acute thymic involution. Three clusters were arranged by the stage of acute thymic involution based on the first principal component score, suggesting that histopathological conditions have the most significant impact on changes in gene expression profile.
Project description:The objective of this study was to examine changes in hepatic gene expression of heifer calves offered varying planes of nutrition during early life. At approximately 3 weeks of age (19 ± 5 days of age) Angus X Holstein-Friesian heifer calves were offered a high (HP, n=15) or moderate plane of nutrition (MP, n=15) to achieve target growth rates of 1.2 kg/d and 0.5 kg/d, respectively. After 18 weeks of differential feeding all calves were euthanized and the liver of each calf recovered. RNA was extracted and subsequently subjected to RNAseq analysis. A total of 591 genes were identified as significantly differentially expressed between HP and MP calves. Differentially expressed genes were involved in biological pathways and processes including those related to metabolism (amino acid, vitamin and mineral metabolism) as well as those involved in organ growth and development.