Favole Alessandra, Testori Camilla, Bergagna Stefania, Gennero Maria Silvia, Ingravalle Francesco, Costa Barbara, Barresi Sara, Curti Piercarlo, Barberis Francesco, Ganio Sandra, Orusa Riccardo, Vallino Costassa Elena, Berrone Elena, Vernè Marco, Scaglia Massimo, Palmitessa Claudia, Gallo Marina, Tessarolo Carlotta, Pederiva Sabina, Ferrari Alessio, Lorenzi Valentina, Fusi Francesca, Brunelli Laura, Pastorelli Roberta, Cagnotti Giulia, Casalone Cristina, Caramelli Maria, Corona Cristiano
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 10154 Turin, Italy.
Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Cuneo (CN), 12100 Cuneo, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Mar 25;13(7):1167. doi: 10.3390/ani13071167.
Complete animal welfare evaluation in intensive farming is challenging. With this study, we investigate new biomarkers for animal physical and mental health by comparing plasma expression of biochemical indicators in dairy cows reared in three different systems: (A) semi-intensive free-stall, (B) non-intensive tie-stall, and (C) intensive free-stall. Additionally, protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor form (proBDNF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) specific activity were evaluated in brain samples collected from 12 cattle culled between 73 and 138 months of age. Alterations in plasma lipid composition and in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism were observed in the tie-stall-reared animals. The total plasma BDNF concentration was higher in tie-stall group compared to the two free-housing groups. Brain analysis of the tie-stall animals revealed a different mBDNF/proBDNF ratio, with a higher level of proBDNF ( < 0.001). Our data are similar to previous studies on animal models of depression, which reported that inhibition of the conversion of proBDNF in its mature form and/or elevated peripheral kynurenine pathway activation may underlie cerebral biochemical changes and induce depressive-like state behavior in animals.
在集约化养殖中进行全面的动物福利评估具有挑战性。通过本研究，我们通过比较在三种不同养殖系统中饲养的奶牛血浆中生化指标的表达，来研究动物身心健康的新生物标志物：(A)半集约化自由牛舍，(B)非集约化拴系牛舍，以及(C)集约化自由牛舍。此外，还对从12头73至138月龄被宰杀的牛采集的脑样本中的成熟脑源性神经营养因子(mBDNF)及其前体形式(proBDNF)的蛋白水平和吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶(IDO1)的比活性进行了评估。在拴系牛舍饲养的动物中观察到血浆脂质组成和色氨酸代谢的犬尿氨酸途径发生了变化。与两个自由饲养组相比，拴系牛舍组的血浆BDNF总浓度更高。对拴系牛舍动物的脑分析显示mBDNF/proBDNF比值不同，proBDNF水平更高(<0.001)。我们的数据与先前关于抑郁症动物模型的研究相似，这些研究报告称，proBDNF向其成熟形式的转化受到抑制和/或外周犬尿氨酸途径激活增强可能是大脑生化变化的基础，并在动物中诱发类似抑郁状态的行为。
