Sika deer (Cervus nippon) rely on microorganisms living in the rumen to convert plant materials into chemical compounds, such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), but how the rumen bacterial community is affected by different forages and adapt to altered diets remains poorly understood. The present study used 454-pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes to examine the relationship between rumen bacterial diversity and metabolic phenotypes using three sika deer in a 3 × 3 latin square design. Three sika deer were fed oak leaves (OL), corn stover (CS), or corn silage (CI), respectively. After a 7-day feeding period, when compared to the CS and CI groups, the OL group had a lower proportion of Prevotella spp. and a higher proportion of unclassified bacteria belonging to the families Succinivibrionaceae and Paraprevotellaceae (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the concentration of isobutyrate was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the OL group than in the CS and CI groups. There was no significant change of dominant bacterial genera in the OL group after 28 days of feeding. Conversely, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) showed an increase after 28 days of feeding, mainly due to the increasing of acetate, propionate, and valerate (P<0.05). The interplay between bacteria and metabolism in the OL group differed from that in the CS and CI groups, especially for the interaction of TVFAs and acetate/propionate. Overall, the current study suggested that Prevotella spp. played critical roles in the fermentation of feed in the rumen of sika deer. However, the differences in interplay patterns between rumen bacterial community composition and metabolic phenotypes were altered in the native and domesticated diets indicating the changed fermentation patterns in the rumen of sika deer.

Background/Aims: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of EGF on the growth and migration of hair follicle outer root sheath (ORS) cells. Methods: Intact anagen hair follicles were isolated from mink skin and cultured with EGF in vitro to measure ORS daily growth. Meanwhile, purified primary ORS cells were treated or transfected with EGF, and their proliferation and migration were assessed by MTT assay and transwell assay, respectively. The signaling pathway downstream of EGF was characterized by using the Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor, XAV-939. Results: EGF of 2-20 ng/ml, not higher or lower, promoted the growth of follicular ORS in vitro. EGF treatment or overexpression promoted the proliferation and migration of ORS cells. Moreover, EGF stimulation induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, and upregulated the expression of Wnt10b, β-catenin, EGF receptor and SOX9. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by XAV-939 significantly reduced the basal and EGF-enhanced proliferation and migration of ORS cells. In addition, a number of follicle-regulatory genes, such as Survivin, Msx2 and SGK3, were upregulated by EGF in the ORS cells, which was also inhibited by XAV-939. Conclusion: EGF promotes the proliferation and migration of ORS cells and modulates the expression of several follicle-regulatory genes via Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

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