Interactions Between Rumen Microbes, VFAs, and Host Genes Regulate Nutrient Absorption and Epithelial Barrier Function During Cold Season Nutritional Stress in Tibetan Sheep.

ABSTRACT: As one of the important ruminants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibetan sheep are able to reproduce and maintain their population in this harsh environment of extreme cold and low oxygen. However, the adaptive mechanism of Tibetan sheep when nutrients are scarce in the cold season of the Plateau environment is unclear. We conducted comparative analysis rumen fermentation parameters, rumen microbes, and expression of host genes related to nutrient absorption and rumen epithelial barrier function in cold and warm season Tibetan sheep. We found that concentrations of the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) acetate, propionate and butyrate of Tibetan sheep in the cold season were significantly higher than in the warm season (P < 0.05). Microbial 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed significant diffe

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7674685 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature