Investigating the Short-Term Effects of Cold Stress on Metabolite Responses and Metabolic Pathways in Inner-Mongolia Sanhe Cattle

Abstract

Inner-Mongolia Sanhe cattle are well-adapted to low-temperature conditions, but the metabolic mechanisms underlying their climatic resilience are still unknown. Based on the 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance platform, 41 metabolites were identified and quantified in the serum of 10 heifers under thermal neutrality (5 °C), and subsequent exposure to hyper-cold temperature (−32 °C) for 3 h. Subsequently, 28 metabolites were pre-filtrated, and they provided better performance in multivariate analysis than that of using 41 metabolites. This indicated the need for pre-filtering of the metabolome data in a paired experimental design. In response to the cold exposure challenge, 19 metabolites associated with cold stress response were identified, mainly enriched in “aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis” and “valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation”. A further integration of metabolome and gene expression highlighted the functional roles of the DLD (dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase), WARS (tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase), and RARS (arginyl-tRNA synthetase) genes in metabolic pathways of valine and leucine. Furthermore, the essential regulations of SLC30A6 (solute carrier family 30 (zinc transporter), member 6) in metabolic transportation for propionate, acetate, valine, and leucine under severe cold exposure were observed. Our findings presented a comprehensive characterization of the serum metabolome of Inner-Mongolia Sanhe cattle, and contributed to a better understanding of the crucial roles of regulations in metabolites and metabolic pathways during cold stress events in cattle.

Age-dependent variations in rumen bacterial community of Mongolian cattle from weaning to adulthood

“…So, their time of weaning, environmental condition, and food or diet used for weaning are different. Previous studies mainly focused on the health, metabolism, and productivity of Mongolian cattle [19,24,25]. The changes in composition and structure of bacterial communities at different developmental stages of Mongolian cattle from weaning to adulthood remain untouched.…”

Seminal and vagino-uterine microbiome and their individual and interactive effects on cattle fertility

“…Finally, environmental temperature may illicit an effect on the microbiota of the internal and external genitalia of bulls in various climates or during seasonal changes ( Wickware et al, 2020 ). While there is currently no direct evidence of this available in the literature, there is evidence of environmental temperatures creating both heat and cold stress in cattle that lead to changes in steroidogenesis, rumen bacterial diversity, and metabolic function ( Roth et al, 2001 ; Tajima et al, 2007 ; O'Brien et al, 2010 ; Hu et al, 2021 ). It has also been shown that certain bacteria can quickly adapt to changes in environmental temperature, altering their metabolism and cell structure as a survival mechanism ( Onyango et al, 2013 ; Alreshidi et al, 2015 ).…”

Genetic Bases and Molecular Breeding of Key Economic Traits in China Dairy Cattle: A Progress Report

“…Yan et al [26] identified the Mongolian hornless allele in Chinese Sanhe cattle breeds and the 2 bp deletion in the Friesian hornless allele which is a specific marker for the hornless gene. And Hu et al [27] found 19 metabolites related to cold stress in inner Mongolian Sanhe cattle which is involved in the metabolic regulation of fat metabolism, amino acid metabolism and intestinal microbiota metabolism in response to cold in Sanhe cattle.…”