Li Wanhong, Liu Jiamei, Wu Weiwei, Yao Ting, Weng Xiuxiu, Yue Xiangpeng, Li Fadi
Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.
Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.
Theriogenology. 2023 Apr 15;201:106-115. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.02.027. Epub 2023 Feb 27.
Corn straw and corncobs contain large amounts of crude fibers and are widely used in mutton sheep husbandry in northwest China. The aim of this study was to determine whether feeding with corn straw or corncobs affects lamb testis development. A total of 50 healthy Hu lamb at two-month-old (average body weight of 22.3 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly and equally divided into two groups, and the lambs were equally allocated to five pens in each group. The corn straw group (CS) received a diet containing 20% corn straw, whereas the corncobs group (CC) received a diet containing 20% corncobs. After a 77-day feeding trial, the lambs, except the heaviest and lightest in each pen, were humanely slaughtered and investigated. Results revealed no differences in body weight (40.38 ± 0.45 kg vs. 39.08 ± 0.52 kg) between the CS and CC groups. Feeding diet containing corn straw significantly (P < 0.05) increased testis weight (243.24 ± 18.78 g vs. 167.00 ± 15.20 g), testis index (0.60 ± 0.05 vs. 0.43 ± 0.04), testis volume (247.08 ± 19.99 mL vs. 162.31 ± 14.15 mL), diameter of seminiferous tubule (213.90 ± 4.91 μm vs. 173.11 ± 5.93 μm), and the number of sperm in the epididymis (49.91 ± 13.53 × 10/g vs. 19.34 ± 6.79 × 10/g) compared with those in the CC group. The RNA sequencing results showed 286 differentially expressed genes, and 116 upregulated and 170 downregulated genes were found in the CS group compared with the CC group. The genes affecting immune functions and fertility were screened out. Corn straw decreased the mtDNA relative copy number in the testis (P < 0.05). These results suggest that compared with corncobs, feeding corn straw in the early reproductive development stage of lambs increased the testis weight, diameter of seminiferous tubule and the number of cauda sperm.
玉米秸秆和玉米芯含有大量粗纤维，在中国西北的肉羊养殖中被广泛使用。本研究的目的是确定饲喂玉米秸秆或玉米芯是否会影响羔羊睾丸发育。选取50只2月龄健康湖羊羔羊（平均体重22.3±0.1千克），随机平均分为两组，每组羔羊再平均分配到5个羊圈中。玉米秸秆组（CS）饲喂含20%玉米秸秆的日粮，而玉米芯组（CC）饲喂含20%玉米芯的日粮。经过77天的饲养试验后，对每组羊圈中除最重和最轻的羔羊外的其他羔羊进行人道屠宰并开展研究。结果显示，CS组和CC组之间的体重无差异（分别为40.38±0.45千克和39.08±0.52千克）。与CC组相比，饲喂含玉米秸秆日粮显著（P<0.05）增加了睾丸重量（分别为243.24±18.78克和167.00±15.20克）、睾丸指数（分别为0.60±0.05和0.43±0.04）、睾丸体积（分别为247.08±19.99毫升和162.31±14.15毫升）、曲细精管直径（分别为213.90±4.91微米和173.11±5.93微米）以及附睾中的精子数量（分别为49.91±13.53×10/克和19.34±6.79×10/克）。RNA测序结果显示有286个差异表达基因，与CC组相比，CS组中有116个上调基因和170个下调基因。筛选出了影响免疫功能和繁殖力的基因。玉米秸秆降低了睾丸中mtDNA的相对拷贝数（P<0.05）。这些结果表明，与玉米芯相比，在羔羊生殖发育早期饲喂玉米秸秆可增加睾丸重量、曲细精管直径和附睾尾精子数量。
