We tested the hypothesis that the proliferative effects of intraruminal butyrate infusions on the ruminal epithelium are linked to upregulation in cyclin D1 (CCND1), the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and their possible association with enhanced absorption of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Goats (n=23) in 2 experiments (Exp.) were fed 200 g/d concentrate and hay ad libitum. In Exp. 1, goats received an intraruminal infusion of sodium butyrate at 0.3 (group B, n=8) or 0 (group C, n=7) g/kg of body weight (BW) per day before morning feeding for 28 d and were slaughtered 8 h after the butyrate infusion. In Exp. 2, goats (n=8) received butyrate infusion and feeding as in Exp. 1. On d 28, epithelial samples were biopsied from the antrium ruminis at 0, 3, and 7 h after the last butyrate infusion. In Exp. 1, the ruminal molar proportional concentration of butyrate increased in group B by about 110% after butyrate infusion and remained elevated for 1.5 h; thereafter, it gradually returned to the baseline (preinfusion) level. In group C, the molar proportional concentration of butyrate was unchanged over the time points. The length and width of papillae increased in B compared with C; this was associated with increased numbers of cells and cell layers in the epithelial strata and an increase in the surface area of 82%. The mRNA expression of CCND1 increased transiently at 3 h but returned to the preinfusion level at 7 h following butyrate infusion in Exp. 2. However, it did not differ between B and C in Exp. 1, in which the ruminal epithelium was sampled at 8 h after butyrate infusion. The mRNA expression of the monocarboxylate transporter MCT4, but not MCT1, was stably upregulated in B compared with C. The estimated absorption rate of total SCFA (%/h) increased in B compared with C. We conclude that transient increases in cyclin D1 transcription contribute to butyrate-induced papillae growth and subsequently to the increased absorption of SCFA in the ruminal epithelium of goats.

Background High concentrate (HC) diet-induced oxidative stress causes gut epithelial damages associated with apoptosis. Selenium (Se) being an integral component of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) plays an important role in antioxidant defense system. Therefore, increasing dietary Se level would alleviate HC diet-induced injuries in gut mucosa. The present study investigated eighteen cross-bred goats, randomly divided into three groups (n = 6/group) fed either low concentrate (LC, roughage: concentrate ratio 65:35), high concentrate (HC, 35:65) or HC plus Se (HC-SY) diets for 10 weeks. Se was supplemented at the dose rate of 0.5 mg Se kg− 1 diet in the form of selenium yeast. The background Se level in HC and LC diets were 0.15 and 0.035 mg.kg− 1 diet, respectively. The Se at the dose of 0.115 mg.kg− 1 diet was added in LC diet to make its concentration equivalent to HC diet and with the supplementation of 0.5 mg Se kg− 1, the goats in group HC-SY received total Se by 0.65 mg.kg− 1 diet. Results The molar concentrations of individual and total short chain fatty acids (TSCFA) significantly increased (P < 0.05) with simultaneous decrease in pH of colonic fluid in goats of HC and HC-SY groups compared with LC goats. HC diet induced loss of epithelial integrity, inflammation and loss of goblet cells in colonic mucosa associated with higher lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations in colonic fluid whereas, the addition of SY in HC diet alleviated such damaging changes. Compared with LC, the HC diet elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) level with concurrent decrease in GSH-Px and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, while SY supplementation attenuated these changes and improved antioxidant status in colonic epithelium. Moreover, epithelial injury and oxidative stress in colon of HC goats were associated with increased apoptosis as evidenced by downregulation of bcl2 and upregulation of bax, caspases 3 and 8 mRNA expressions compared with LC goats. On contrary, addition of SY in HC (HC-SY) diet alleviated these changes by modulating expression of apoptotic genes in colonic epithelium. Conclusions Our data suggest that supranutritional level of Se attenuates HC diet-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and thereby minimizes the epithelial injury in colon of goats.

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The fitness of animal has an enormous influence on its reproductive capability, nowadays feeding of microelements is practiced in many feed formulations because micro-nutrient possesses strong influence on animal's reproductive ability. The male generative zone produces spermatozoa which needs a little number of free radicals for the maturation as well as for smooth fertilization. Whereas the raised level of these free radicals disturbs the entire process of sperm formation and also lead to infertility. The Selenium is a micro nutrient which naturally possess some enzymes and selenoproteins which diminish manufacture of unnecessary free radicals by acting as an antioxidant. Subsequently, it protects male gamete from destruction triggered by oxidative stress. Selenium also assistance in maintenance of semen quality by declining construction of atypical spermatozoa. Additionally, some studies have revealed that it possesses striking influence on both gross and histological characteristics of male reproductive organ, feeding this mineral improved circumference, size, the mass of the testis and speed up sperm construction by means of having a solid effect on seminiferous tubules histology. Hence, selenium shortage can cause infertility and further reproductive syndromes.

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