Transcriptomic Impacts of Rumen Epithelium Induced by Butyrate Infusion in Dairy Cattle in Dry Period

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of butyrate infusion on rumen epithelial transcriptome. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics are used to accelerate our understanding of regulation in rumen epithelial transcriptome of cattle in the dry period induced by butyrate infusion at the level of the whole transcriptome. Butyrate, as an essential element of nutrients, is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that can alter histone acetylation and methylation, and plays a prominent role in regulating genomic activities influencing rumen nutrition utilization and function. Ruminal infusion of butyrate was following 0-hour sampling (baseline controls) and continued for 168 hours at a rate of 5.0 L/day of a 2.5 M solution as a continuous infusion. Following the 168-hour infusion, the infusion was stopped, and cows were maintained on the basal lactation ration for an additional 168 hours for sampling. Rumen epithelial samples were serially collected via biopsy through rumen fistulae at 0-, 24-, 72-, and 168-hour (D1, D3, D7) and 168-hour post-infusion (D14). In comparison with pre-infusion at 0 hours, a total of 3513 genes were identified to be impacted in the rumen epithelium by butyrate infusion at least once at different sampling time points at a stringent cutoff of false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.01. The maximal effect of butyrate was observed at day 7. Among these impacted genes, 117 genes were responsive consistently from day 1 to day 14, and another 42 genes were lasting through day 7. Temporal effects induced by butyrate infusion indicate that the transcriptomic alterations are very dynamic. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that in the early stage of rumen butyrate infusion (on day 1 and day 3 of butyrate infusion), the transcriptomic effects in the rumen epithelium were involved with mitotic cell cycle process, cell cycle process, and regulation of cell cycle. Bioinformatic analysis of cellular functions, canonical pathways, and upstream regulator of impacted genes underlie the potential mechanisms of butyrate-induced gene expression regulation in rumen epithelium. The introduction of transcriptomic and bioinformatic technologies to study nutrigenomics in the farm animal presented a new prospect to study multiple levels of biological information to better apprehend the whole animal response to nutrition, physiological state, and their interactions. The nutrigenomics approach may eventually lead to more precise management of utilization of feed resources in a more effective approach.

Effects of Thymol Supplementation on Goat Rumen Fermentation and Rumen Microbiota In Vitro

“…The declined ammonia concentrations in those studies might be attributed to a higher efficiency in consuming ammonia for microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Butyrate plays a prominent role as a major energy source for epithelial cells [ 59 ] and affects rumen nutrition utilisation and function [ 60 ]. In the present study, thymol at doses of 100 mg/L and 200 mg/L tended to increase butyrate concentration while a dramatical decrease was observed with 400 mg/L of thymol supplementation.…”

Developmental symbiosis facilitates the multiple origins of herbivory

“…Within 2 days of birth, the area of the rumen is seen to have microbes within it. Butyrate causes the dramatic growth of the rumen as well as the differentiation of the ruminal papillae and musculature (Sander, Warner, Harrison, & Loosli, 1959;Baldwin & Conner, 2017;Baldwin, Li, Jia, & Li, 2018;Liu, Sun, Mao, Zhu, & Liu, 2019). Before that time, it receives milk from the mother cow (again, one must remember that cows' milk is actually for their calves, not for humans).…”

“…The bacteria in the rumen multiply when given this food, and as they proliferate, they produce volatile fatty acids, including butyrate. Butyrate causes the dramatic growth of the rumen as well as the differentiation of the ruminal papillae and musculature (Sander, Warner, Harrison, & Loosli, ; Baldwin & Conner, ; Baldwin, Li, Jia, & Li, ; Liu, Sun, Mao, Zhu, & Liu, ). Thus, the gut bacteria help construct their niche, the rumen.…”

Evolutionary transitions revisited: Holobiont evo‐devo

“…When the calf is weaned and begins eating grain, the food is shunted into the immature rumen and the plant-digesting bacteria proliferate. These bacteria also secrete butyric acid, which induces the rumen to enlarge and to differentiate into a functional stomach (Baldwin, Li, Jia, & Li, 2018;Liu, Sun, Mao, Zhu, & Liu, 2019;Sander, Warner, Harrison, & Loosli, 1959). The developmental symbiosis of the rumen leads to the nutritional symbiosis that sustains the cow.…”