ABSTRACT: Neonatal testis transcriptome profiles differ among calves born to cows supplemented with different forms of dietary selenium throughout gestation
Project description:In many parts of the US, selenium (Se)-deficient soils dictate the necessity of supplementing this trace mineral directly to the diet of cattle, with the form of Se supplied known to affect tissue-level gene expression profiles and presumably function. Because a deficiency of Se will reduce fertility, including reduced biosynthesis of testosterone by the testis and an increased frequency of abnormalities in mature spermatozoa, we hypothesized that the form of Se supplemented to cows during gestation would affect the transcriptome of the neonatal bull calf testis. Microarray analysis using the Bovine gene 1.0 ST array (GeneChip; Affymetrix, Inc., Santa Clara, CA) was conducted to determine whether gestational form of supplemental Se affected gene expression profiles in the testis. GeneChip transcript annotations were last updated in January 2013 using the annotation update release 33 from the NetAffx annotation database. Twenty-four Angus cross cows were assigned randomly (n=8) to individual ad libitum intake of a common vitamin-mineral mix that contained 35 ppm of Se supplied as either inorganic (ISe, sodium selenite; Prince Se Concentrate, Prince Agri Products, Inc., Quincy, IL), organic (OSe, Sel-Plex; Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY), or a 50/50 mix of ISe/OSe (Mix) Se for 4 months prior to breeding and throughout gestation. Cows were managed under a fall-calving, forage-based, cow-calf production regimen at the University of Kentucky Princeton Research and Education Center. Testis tissue (ISe n=5; OSe n=4; Mix n=4) was collected within 2 days of birth, and RNA extracted for microarray analysis.
Project description:We used an RNA-Seq transcriptomic approach to investigate Longissimus dorsi muscle gene expression profiles of calves from cows receiving weekly Se-yeast boluses at supranutritional concentrations during different trimesters of gestation. Pregnant beef cows received, except the control group (CTR), weekly supranutritional selenium-yeast boluses (105 mg Se/wk) during the first (TR1), second (TR2), or third (TR3) trimester of gestation. Within 12 to 48 h of birth, muscle samples were collected from the Longissimus dorsi using a Bergstrom biopsy needle (inner diameter: 5 mm). Muscle biopsies were placed into sterile vials, stored on ice and frozen at – 80 ºC until total RNA isolation was performed. After sequencing and read quality control, we identified 3,048 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across all group comparisons (FDR < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 1.5). Furthermore, we predicted 237 unique transcription factors that putatively regulate the DEGs. Our findings suggest a beneficial effect of supranutritional maternal organic Se supplementation during late gestation on Se-status and muscle development and function of newborn calves.
Project description:In many parts of the US, selenium (Se)-deficient soils dictate the necessity of supplementing this trace mineral directly to the diet of cattle, with the form of Se supplied known to affect tissue-level gene expression profiles and presumably function. Because a deficiency of Se will reduce fertility, including reduced biosynthesis of testosterone by the testis and an increased frequency of abnormalities in mature spermatozoa, we hypothesized that the form of Se supplemented to cows during gestation would affect the transcriptome of the neonatal bull calf testis. Microarray analysis using the Bovine gene 1.0 ST array (GeneChip; Affymetrix, Inc., Santa Clara, CA) was conducted to determine whether gestational form of supplemental Se affected gene expression profiles in the testis. GeneChip transcript annotations were last updated in January 2013 using the annotation update release 33 from the NetAffx annotation database.
Project description:The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of methyl donor supplementation of pregnant animals in the presence or absence of a concomitant lactation on the methylome of the offspring. Twenty Holstein cows, 10 nulliparous (not lactating while pregnant) and 10 multiparous (lactating while pregnant) were blocked by parity and randomly assigned to an i.m. weekly injections of a placebo (CTRL) or a solution containing methyl donors (MET). After calving, 5 calves randomly selected from each treatment (two born to primiparous and three to multiparous dams) were blood-sampled to determine their full methylome. There were more than 2,000 CpG differentially methylated between calves born to CTRL and those born to MET, and also between calves born to multiparous and nulliparous dams. Most of the differences affected genes involved in immune function, cell growth regulation and differentiation, kinase activity, and ion channeling. We conclude that the coexistence of pregnancy and lactation affects the methylome of the offspring, and that supplementation of methyl donors early in gestation has also consequences on the methylome.
Project description:Maternal nutrition during gestation can cause epigenetic effects that translate to alterations in gene expression in offspring. This 2-year study employed RNA-sequencing technology to evaluate the pre- and post-vaccination muscle transcriptome of early-weaned Bos indicus-influenced beef calves born from dams offered different supplementation strategies from 57 ± 5 d prepartum until 17 ± 5 d postpartum.
Project description:We evaluated if a higher plane of maternal nutrition during late gestation and weaning age alters the offspring’s Longissimus muscle (LM) transcriptome. A microarray analysis was performed in LM samples of early (EW) and normal weaned (NW) Angus × Simmental calves born from cows that were grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue/red clover pastures with no supplement (low plane of nutrition (LPN)), or supplemented with 2.3 kg of dried distiller’s grains with solubles and soyhulls (70% DDGS/30% soyhulls) (medium plane of nutrition (MPN)) during the last 90 days of gestation. Biopsies were harvested at 78, 187 and 354 days of age. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted that offspring transcriptome did not respond markedly to cow plane of nutrition, resulting in only 13 differentially expressed genes. However, weaning age and a high-starch diet strongly impacted the transcriptome, especially the immediate activation of the lipogenic program in EW steers. In addition, between 78 and 187 days of age, these animals had an activation of the innate immune system due presumably to macrophage infiltration in intramuscular fat. Between 187 and 354 days of age (i.e. the fattening phase), NW steers had an activation of the lipogenic transcriptome machinery, while EW steers had a clear gene transcription inhibition. The latter appears to have occurred through the epigenetic control of histone acetylases, which were down-regulated. Higher cow plane of nutrition alone affected 35 genes in the LM of steers that underscore the presence of a mechanism of macrophage infiltration likely originating from localized oxidative stress as a result of increased levels of hypoplasia and hypertrophy in LM.
Project description:Urine sampled from preterm-born (<34 weeks gestation) school-aged (7-12yrs) children and term born (>/=37 weeks gestation). Spirometry, exercise testing and cardiovascular assessment performed at time of sampling. Preter-born children with low lung function entered a randomised placebo controlled trial of inhaler therapies.
Project description:The transition period is the most critical stage in the lactation cycle of dairy cattle. During this period, cows are subjected to high levels of oxidative stress. One way of managing this stress is through mineral supplementation with antioxidant micronutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene expression of transition dairy cows supplemented with the antioxidant trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se). The study was carried out in a commercial Holstein dairy farm located in General Belgrano, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cows (n=200) were randomly assigned to either a supplemented or a control group. Blood samples were obtained seven days after calving and used to determine superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, antioxidant capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Additionally, RNA-sequencing analysis was performed. The oxidative stress index differed significantly between groups, despite only two differentially expressed genes which codify for second messengers (adjusted p value < 0.05). This would suggest that trace mineral supplementation of transition dairy cows would not induce changes in gene expression profiles in pathways associated with oxidative stress and immune function, since their expression is already high in response to the high oxidative stress levels and the dietary changes associated with this period. Nevertheless, considering the role of these minerals as cofactors, a higher availability in the supplemented group would increase antioxidant enzyme activity.