Department of Animal Biosciences, Animal Science and Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 1Y2, Canada.
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
Genomics. 2023 Sep;115(5):110664. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110664. Epub 2023 Jun 5.
This study aims to characterize the functional changes of the rumen epithelium associated with ruminal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration and epithelium-attached microbes during the weaning transition in dairy calves. Ruminal SCFA concentrations were determined, and transcriptome and microbiota profiling in biopsied rumen papillae were obtained from Holstein calves before and after weaning using RNA- and amplicon sequencing. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that pathways related to SCFA metabolism and cell apoptosis were up- and down-regulated postweaning, respectively. Functional analysis showed that genes related to SCFA absorption, metabolism, and protective roles against oxidative stress were positively correlated with ruminal SCFA concentrations. The relative abundance of epithelium-attached Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Campylobacter was positively correlated with genes involved in SCFA absorption and metabolism, suggesting that these microbes can cooperatively affect host functions. Future research should examine the contribution of attenuated apoptosis on rumen epithelial functional shifts during the weaning transition.
本研究旨在描述奶牛犊牛断奶过渡期瘤胃上皮与瘤胃短链脂肪酸（SCFA）浓度和附着在其上的微生物相关的功能变化。通过 RNA 和扩增子测序，在荷斯坦犊牛断奶前后，测定瘤胃液 SCFA 浓度，并从瘤胃乳头活检中获得转录组和微生物组分析。代谢途径分析表明，断奶后与 SCFA 代谢和细胞凋亡相关的途径分别上调和下调。功能分析表明，与 SCFA 吸收、代谢和抗氧化应激保护作用相关的基因与瘤胃 SCFA 浓度呈正相关。附着在瘤胃上皮的 Rikenellaceae RC9 肠道群和弯曲杆菌的相对丰度与参与 SCFA 吸收和代谢的基因呈正相关，表明这些微生物可以协同影响宿主功能。未来的研究应检查在断奶过渡期减弱的细胞凋亡对瘤胃上皮功能转变的贡献。
