Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in cottonseed meal fed to pregnant and non-pregnant sows.

This study determined the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standard ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) of six cottonseed meal (CSM) samples in pregnant and non-pregnant sows. Two CSM samples were processed by expelling with a CP level of 40.67% (ECSM41) and 44.64% (ECSM45), and four samples were processed by solvent-extracted which contained graded CP levels of 45% (SECSM45), 51.16% (SECSM51), 56.44% (SECSM56), and 59.63% (SECSM60). Landrace ×Yorkshire third parity sows, 7 at gestation and 14 non-pregnant, were fitted with T-cannula in the distal ileum. Pregnant sows were allotted to a 7 × 6 Latin square design with a cornstarch-based nitrogen-free (NF) diet and the six CSM diets, and non-pregnant sows were allotted to a replicated 7 × 3 Latin square design with seven diets and three periods, respectively, resulting in a total of six replicates per treatment. All experimental sows were fed 3.0 kg/d of the experimental diets. The AID of CP in ECSM41 (75.58%) was lower than in SECSM51 (80.42%), SECSM56 (80.50%), and SECSM60 (82.44%) diets for pregnant sows (P < 0.05). The AID of CP in ECSM41 (77.88%) was significantly lower than in SECSM60 (81.87%) diets for non-pregnant sows (P < 0.05). The physiological phase did not affect the AID of CP (P > 0.05). The SID of CP was affected by diets for both pregnant (P < 0.01) and non-pregnant sows (P = 0.06). The physiological phase also affected the SID of CP (P < 0.01). The AID of histidine, leucine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan significantly differed between different CSM samples in both pregnant (P < 0.05) and non-pregnant sows (P < 0.05). The AID of dispensable AA aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, serine, and tyrosine differed between different CSM samples of both pregnant (P < 0.05) and non-pregnant sows (P < 0.05). For pregnant sows, the indispensable AA cysteine, glycine, proline, and tyrosine had significantly different SID between different groups (P < 0.05). For non-pregnant sows, the SID of arginine, lysine, methionine, threonine, aspartic acid, cysteine, and serine had different values among different diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the current study presented that the ileal AA digestibility of CSM fed to pregnant and non-pregnant sows increased with the decreased of fiber content, and the current findings can contribute to a precise formulation of diets for sows using CSM.

As a protein-rich cottonseed byproduct, cottonseed meal (CSM) is considered a vegetable protein source that can substitute soybean meal in the feed of livestock animals. However, the presence of free gossypol and high fiber levels in CSM have been limiting factors for its use in growing and finishing pigs, yet its nutritive value is still uncertain for sows. There is a lack of standard ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) for plant proteins because fitting a T-cannula in the distal ileum is difficult. Therefore, this study evaluated the apparent ileal digestibility and SID of 18 AA of CSM in sows at two physiological stages (gestation and non-pregnancy). We found that CSM with different chemical compositions impacted the SID of AA when fed to pregnant and non-pregnant sows. Additionally, the physiological stage of the sow has a substantial impact on the SID of some AA. The current findings of this study provided a basis for the precise formulation of sow diets with CSM.

Nutritional values of cottonseed meal from different sources fed to gestating and non-pregnant sows.

This study set out to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of the nutrients and energy in six cottonseed meal (CSM) feedstuffs fed to pregnant and non-pregnant sows. The six types of CSM were: two expelled CSMs with crude protein (CP) levels of 40.67% and 44.64%, and four solvent-extracted CSMs with CP levels of 45.18%, 51.16%, 56.44%, and 59.63%. Fourteen gestating sows (at the fourth parity with body weights of 220.6 ± 18.4 kg at days 30 of gestation) and 14 non-pregnant sows (after the third parity with body weights of 219 ± 14.6 kg) were assigned to a replicated 7 × 3 Youden square design with seven diets and three periods. The seven diets included an entirely corn-based diet and six diets each containing 20.0% of the six CSMs tested. Each period included a 5-d acclimation to the experimental diets, followed by a 5-d period during which urine and feces were collected. Significant differences were found among the six CSM diets, regardless of reproductive stage, regarding 1) the ATTD of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < 0.05) and 2) the ATTD of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and CP and the gross energy (GE) (P < 0.01). Non-pregnant sows had a greater ATTD of OM and CP (P < 0.01) compared with gestating sows. The digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) of the six CSM samples ranged from 12.48 to 17.15 MJ/kg and 11.35 to 15.88 MJ/kg, respectively, for non-pregnant sows, and from 12.86 to 16.41 MJ/kg and 12.43 to 14.72 MJ/kg, respectively, for gestating sows. However, the DE, ME, and ME:DE ratios of each CSM were similar between gestating and non-pregnant sows. DE and ME were negatively correlated with NDF and ADF, respectively, but were positively corrected with CP level (P < 0.01). Collectively, the DE, ME, and nutrient digestibility of CSM varied greatly according to the chemical compositions, and CSMs with higher protein and lower fiber levels had greater DE and ME levels.

Cottonseed meal (CSM) is a high-protein feedstuff produced as a by-product of cottonseed processing. Concerns regarding the negative effects of antinutritional factors such as gossypol toxicity have limited the use of CSM as sow feed. As genetic breeding and feed processing technology improve, the potential for CSM as a supplementary protein in sow diets has increased. However, precise evaluation of the nutritive value of CSM for sows is key to accurate diet formulation. We evaluated the nutritional values of six CSMs prepared using different processing methods with different chemical compositions, fed to pregnant and non-pregnant sows, and investigated the relationships between their chemical composition and digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME). We found no differences in DE and ME between gestating and non-pregnant sows for the six CSMs tested. However, there were large variations in DE and ME among the six CSMs tested, and most DEs and MEs were higher than the values published by the NRC (2012), which were measured from pigs in the growth and finishing stages. These findings demonstrate the different DE and ME values of CSM with different chemical compositions and provide a basis for precise diet formulation for sows.

The potential role of Annexin 3 in diapause embryo restart of Artemia sinica and in response to stress of low temperature.

Annexins are highly conserved and ubiquitous in various somatic cell types. They are involved in membrane transport and a range of calcium-regulated activities on the cell membrane surface, including vesicular transport, membrane fusion in exocytosis, signal transduction, and formation of calcium channels. They also regulate inflammatory response, cell differentiation, and interaction between cytoskeletal proteins. In this study, for the first time, an ANX3 gene from Artemia sinica ( As-anx3) was cloned. The As-anx3 full-length complementary DNA comprises 1,024 bp and has a 948 bp open reading frame encoding a 315-amino-acid polypeptide with four ANX domains. The profiles of both As-ANX3 mRNA and protein expression exhibited peaks at the 0 hr stage and had the same significant downregulation trend throughout the post-diapause embryo development stage. The ERK1/2, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, and cell cycle-related protein (CDK4) expressions were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results showed that CDK4 presented a significantly ascending trend from 0 and 40 hr, although the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 did not increase significantly. The transcriptional and protein expressions of As-ANX3 were highly upregulated when the temperature was lowered from 25 to 15°C, but the expressions showed a gradual downward trend when the temperature was further lowered to 5°C. These results indicated that As-ANX3 plays a crucial role in restarting diapause and low-temperature stress in A. sinica.

Anti-metastasis effect of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls in mouse hepatocarcinoma Hca-F cells.

Metastasis is one of the major causes of cancer-related death. It is a complex biological process involving multiple genes, steps, and phases. It is also closely connected to many biological activities of cancer cells, such as growth, invasion, adhesion, hematogenous metastasis, and lymphatic metastasis. Fucoidan derived from Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls (Ups-fucoidan) is a sulfated polysaccharide with more biological activities than other fucoidans. However, there is no information on the effects of Ups-fucoidan on tumor invasion and metastasis. We used the mouse hepatocarcinoma Hca-F cell line, which has high invasive and lymphatic metastasis potential in vitro and in vivo, to examine the effect of Ups-fucoidan on cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Ups-fucoidan exerted a concentration- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis in vivo and inhibited Hca-F cell growth, migration, invasion, and adhesion capabilities in vitro. Ups-fucoidan inhibited growth and metastasis by downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) C/VEGF receptor 3, hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET, cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, phosphorylated (p) phosphoinositide 3-kinase, p-Akt, p-extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), and suppressed adhesion and invasion by downregulating L-Selectin, and upregulating protein levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The results suggest that Ups-fucoidan suppresses Hca-F cell growth, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis capabilities and that these functions are mediated through the mechanism involving inactivation of the NF-κB pathway mediated by PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways.

Cloning and expression of the sorbitol dehydrogenase gene during embryonic development and temperature stress in Artemia sinica.

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) catalyzes the interconversion of polyols and ketoses, using zinc and NAD(+) as cofactors. SDH converts sorbitol into fructose and plays an important role in the sorbitol metabolic pathway and in the early embryonic development of many invertebrates. Sorbitol usually accumulates in diapause embryos of insects to protect the embryos from frostbite, which indicates the vital function of SDH in the diapause and diapause-termination stages of embryo development. In this study, a 1311-bp full-length cDNA of As-sdh, including a 28-bp 5' UTR and a 59-bp 3' UTR, was cloned from Artemia sinica. This gene encodes 348 amino-acid proteins. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that this gene is highly conserved in arthropods. The expression patterns of As-sdh were investigated during different stages of embryonic development using real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. As-sdh was expressed at relatively high levels during the 0h embryonic stage, and transcript levels were quite high in 5- and 7-day-old embryos. In situ hybridization analysis showed that As-sdh is expressed in a widely dispersed pattern before incubation but is mainly concentrated on the body surface and the inner wall of the alimentary tract after the nauplius stage. Our results suggest that As-sdh is integral to the process of diapause and diapause termination in A. sinica.

Fucoidan extract derived from Undaria pinnatifida inhibits angiogenesis by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

In recent years, anti-angiogenic therapy has become an effective strategy for inhibiting tumor growth. Fucoidan is a class of fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharides found in brown algae, and it is known to have strong anti-tumor property. Using a human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)-based cell culture model, the present study investigated the anti-angiogenic activity of fucoidan extracted from the brown seaweed Undaria pinnatifida. Treatment of HUVECs with various concentrations of fucoidan resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation, cell migration, tube formation and vascular network formation. However, significant inhibition of cell proliferation only occurred with longer treatment time (48 h instead of 24h or less). About 40% of cell proliferation and cell migration and 61% of tube formation by HUVECs were inhibited by 400 µg/ml fucoidan, the maximum concentration tested. These results appeared to suggest that modulation of angiogenesis by fucoidan might not occur through growth inhibition and apoptosis. Ex vivo angiogenesis assay demonstrated that at 100 µg/ml, fucoidan caused significant reduction in microvessel outgrowth. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses indicated that at 400 µg/ml, fucoidan significantly reduced the expression of the angiogenesis factor VEGF-A in the suppression of angiogenesis activity. Our results showed that fucoidan isolated from U. pinnatifida may have a new therapeutic potential in the prevention angiogenesis-related diseases.