Revealing the expression patterns of fatty acid and amino acid transporters as affected by dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio would be useful for further clarifying the importance of the balance between n-6 and n-3 PUFA. A total of ninety-six finishing pigs were fed one of four diets with the ratio of 1:1, 2·5:1, 5:1 and 10:1. Pigs fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 5:1 had the highest (P,0·05) daily weight gain, and those fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of 1:1 had the largest loin muscle area (P,0·01). The concentration of n-3 PUFA was raised as the ratio declined (P,0·05) in the longissimus dorsi and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The contents of tryptophan, tasty amino acids and branchedchain amino acids in the longissimus dorsi were enhanced in pigs fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1-5:1. The mRNA expression level of the fatty acid transporter fatty acid transport protein-1 (FATP-1) was declined (P,0·05) in the longissimus dorsi of pigs fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1-5:1, and increased (P, 0·05) in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of pigs fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 5:1 and 10:1. The expression profile of FATP-4 was similar to those of FATP-1 in the adipose tissue. The mRNA expression level of the amino acid transceptors LAT1 and SNAT2 was up-regulated (P,0·05) in the longissimus dorsi of pigs fed the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1 and 2·5:1. In conclusion, maintaining the dietary n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios of 1:1-5:1 would facilitate the absorption and utilisation of fatty acids and free amino acids, and result in improved muscle and adipose composition.

Eucommia ulmoides (EU) (also known as “Du Zhong” in Chinese language) is a plant containing various kinds of chemical constituents such as lignans, iridoids, phenolics, steroids, flavonoids, and other compounds. These constituents of EU possess various medicinal properties and have been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) as a folk drink and functional food for several thousand years. EU has several pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiaging, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Hence, it has been widely used solely or in combination with other compounds to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, sexual dysfunction, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and neurological diseases. This review paper summarizes the various active ingredients contained in EU and their health-promoting properties, thus serving as a reference material for the application of EU.

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Tryptophan (Trp) plays an essential role in pig behavior and growth performances. However, little is known about Trp's effects on tight junction barrier and intestinal health in weaned pigs. In the present study, twenty-four (24) weaned pigs were randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with 8 piglets/treatments. The piglets were fed different amounts of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) as follows: 0.0%, 0.15, and 0.75%, respectively, named zero Trp (ZTS), low Trp (LTS), and high Trp (HTS), respectively. No significant differences were observed in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain: feed (G/F) ratio between the groups. After 21 days of the feeding trial, results showed that dietary Trp significantly increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) in the jejunum of pig fed HTS. In addition, pig fed HTS had higher (P < 0.05) serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate. Furthermore, pig fed HTS significantly decreased mRNA expression of tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1 but not claudin-1 in the jejunum. The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and goblet cells were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the groups. Collectively, these data suggest that dietary Trp supplementation at a certain level (0.75%) may negatively affect the small intestinal structure in weaned pig.

W. 2017. Effect of dietary supplementation with arginine on haematological indices, serum chemistry, carcass yield, gut microflora, and lymphoid organs of growing turkeys. A 8-wk feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation 25 with Arg on haematological indices, serum chemistry, carcass yield, gut microflora, and 26 lymphoid organ weights of growing turkeys. A total of one hundred and eighty 56-d-old male 27 grower turkeys were weighed individually and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments 28 with 6 replicate pens, and 10 turkeys per pen in a completely randomized design. Dietary 29 treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 g Arg/kg. Haematological 30 indices and serum chemistry were measured at 84 and 112 d of study. Carcass yield, relative 31 weights of retail cuts, organ weights, and gut microflora were measured at d 112. Except 32 eosinophil, no effect of Arg supplementation was obtained on haematological indices at d 84. At 33 d 112, finisher turkeys fed the diet supplemented with 0.5 g Arg/kg had the greatest red blood 34 cell (quadratic, P < 0.001), lymphocyte (linear, P = 0.011; quadratic, P < 0.001), and basophil 35 counts (quadratic, P < 0.001). In grower turkeys at d 84, total serum protein (quadratic, P = 36 0.030), and serum globulin concentrations (quadratic, P = 0.043) increased initially as Arg 37 supplementation increased from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but decreased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg. Uric acid 38 concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity reduced as Arg supplementation increased 39 from 0 to 0.5 g/kg, but increased with the 1.0 g Arg/kg (quadratic, P = 0.002). In finisher turkeys 40 at d 112, total serum protein (linear, P = 0.004; quadratic, P = 0.002), serum globulin (linear, P = 41 0.008; quadratic, P = 0.030), serum albumin (linear, P = 0.012; quadratic, P = 0.040), and 42 triodosterine concentrations (linear, P = 0.025; quadratic, P = 0.033) increased with increasing 43 Arg supplementation. At d 112, spleen weights increased linearly (P = 0.006), while thymus 44 weights increased quadratically (P = 0.003) with increasing dietary Arg supplementation. 45 Salmonella counts in the small intestinal content of turkeys at d 112 reduced quadratically as Arg 46 supplementation increased from 0 to 1.0 g/kg (P = 0.029). In conclusion, Arg supplementation 47 increased packed cell volume of finisher turkeys, improved serum chemistry of grower, and 48 finisher turkeys as indicated by increased total serum protein, and reduced serum enzymes with 49 appreciable improvement obtained when included at 0.5 g Arg/kg. Arginine supplementation 50 enhanced the relative weights of thymus, spleen, and reduced Salmonella counts in small 51 intestine of turkeys.52

Tryptophan, a nutritionally essential amino acid, is active in the regulation of immune responses in animals. The products of tryptophan metabolism, such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, kynurenine, quinolinic acid, and melatonin, may improve immunity in an organism and induce anti-inflammatory responses. The immune tolerance processes mediated by tryptophan metabolites are not well understood. Recent studies have reported that the enzymes that break down tryptophan through the kynurenine metabolic pathway are found in numerous cell types, including immunocytes. Moreover, some tryptophan metabolites have been shown to play a role in the inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation, elevation of immunoglobulin levels in the blood, and promotion of antigen-presenting organization in tissues. This review summarizes the effects and mechanisms of tryptophan and metabolites in immune functions in livestock and poultry. It also highlights the areas in which our understanding of the role(s) of tryptophan is incomplete and suggests possible future research that might prove of benefit to livestock and poultry producers.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during oxidative stress may cause cellular injury. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is one of the skeletal muscle secreted myokines, and there is no information that reported its anti-oxidative capability in skeletal muscle. The aim of this study therefore is to investigate the protective effects of myokine IL-15 against H2O2-mediated oxidative stress in C2C12 myoblasts. The results showed that IL-15 pre-incubation reduced the intracellular creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, decreased the ROS overload, and protect the mitochondrial network via up-regulated mRNA expression levels of IL-15 and uncoupling protein 3. It also down-regulated the levels of IL-6 and p21 of the myoblasts compared to the cells treated only with H2O2. Meanwhile, apurinic/aprimidinic endonuclease 1 expression and the Akt signaling pathway were stimulated. These effects could contribute to the resumption of cell viability and act as protective mechanism. In conclusion, myokine IL-15 could be a novel endogenous regulator to control intracellular ROS production and attenuate oxidative stress in skeletal muscle cells.