Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
BMC Microbiol. 2020 Jun 5;20(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12866-020-01828-1.
In animals, many factors affect the small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms, including body weight and genetic background. However, whether paternal weight impacts the small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms remains unknown to date. The current study used Nonghua sheldrake to estimate the effect of paternal weight on the intestine of the offspring by evaluating differences in small intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activity, and cecal microorganisms between the offspring of male parents with high body weight (group H) and that of male parents with low body weight (group L).
The results of the analysis of small intestinal morphology showed that the villus height of the jejunum of group H ducks was higher than that of group L ducks, and the difference was significant for ducks at 10 weeks of age. Moreover, the villus height/crypt depth of the duodenum in group H significantly exceeded that of group L at a duck age of 2 weeks. The amylase activity in the jejunum content of group H exceeded that of group L at 5 and 10 weeks of age. Furthermore, the proportion of the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was significantly higher in group H (duck age of 2 weeks). Among the genera with a relative abundance exceeding 1%, the relative abundances of genera Desulfovibrio, Megamonas, Alistipes, Faecalibacterium, and Streptococcus observed in group H were significantly different between group H and group L.
For the first time, this study identifies the effect of paternal weight on offspring small intestinal function and cecal microorganisms. Consequently, this lays a foundation for further research on the relationship between male parents and offspring intestinal function.
在动物中，许多因素会影响小肠功能和盲肠微生物，包括体重和遗传背景。然而，目前尚不清楚父亲的体重是否会影响后代的小肠功能和盲肠微生物。本研究使用农华麻鸭来评估高体重（H 组）和低体重（L 组）公鸭父本对子代的影响，通过评估后代小肠形态、消化酶活性和盲肠微生物之间的差异来估计父本体重对后代肠道的影响。
小肠形态分析结果表明，H 组鸭的空肠绒毛高度高于 L 组鸭，10 周龄鸭的差异显著。此外，2 周龄鸭的 H 组十二指肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度显著高于 L 组。H 组鸭的空肠内容物中淀粉酶活性在 5 周龄和 10 周龄时均高于 L 组。此外，H 组（2 周龄鸭）厚壁菌门与拟杆菌门的比例显著高于 L 组。在相对丰度超过 1%的属中，H 组中观察到脱硫弧菌、巨单胞菌、粪拟杆菌、瘤胃球菌和链球菌的相对丰度与 L 组显著不同。
本研究首次确定了父本体重对后代小肠功能和盲肠微生物的影响。因此，这为进一步研究父本与后代肠道功能之间的关系奠定了基础。
