Gene expression of amino acid transporter in pigeon (Columbia livia) intestine during post-hatch development and its correlation with amino acid in pigeon milk

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate gene expression of the amino acid transporter in post-hatch pigeon small intestine and the association of pigeon milk amino acid with the above transporter's gene expression. A total of 48 pigeon breeding families were randomly allocated to 8 groups of 6 replicates of one parental pigeon pair and 2 squabs. Samples of pigeon milk and duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected on d 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 14 post hatch. The results showed that levels of crude protein (8.93 to 15.56%) were highest in pigeon milk on an air-dry basis. Amino acid content in pigeon milk remained constant in the first 4 d, declined abruptly at d 6, then increased dramatically from d 8 to 14. There was a significant effect of interaction between age and intestinal segments on those amino acid transporters gene expression. mRNA abundance of ATB0'+, SNAT-2, LAT-4, rBAT, b0'+AT, EAAT-3 and PAT-1 was highest in the ileum; B0AT1, asc-1, and IMINO were predominate in the jejunum; and CAT-1 and y+LAT2 were greatest in the duodenum. Age-related changes of amino acid transporter mRNA was inconsistent. mRNA levels of SNAT-2, rBAT, y+LAT2, b0'+AT, and EAAT-3 ascended with age, whereas that of asc-1, CAT-1, and IMINO diminished significantly. Levels of B0AT1 and PAT-1 mRNA abundance were minimized at d 6. However, few correlations were found between pigeon milk amino acid and the amino acid transporter gene expressions in squab small intestine. Our findings provide a comprehensive elaboration on ontogeny of the amino acid transporter in post-hatch pigeon intestine.

Nutrient sensing, taste and feed intake in avian species

“…In addition, intestinal nutrient transporters have also been reported to sense nutrients ( 109 ) . In poultry, transporters for peptides, AA, glucose and fructose have been extensively studied ( 110 – 119 ) . However, their role as chemosensory mediators has yet to be fully described.…”

Dynamic variations in serum amino acid and the related gene expression in liver, ovary, and oviduct of pigeon during one egg-laying cycle

“…However, y + LAT2 worked as an antiport by coupling the efflux of cationic AAs to the influx of neutral AAs ( Bröer, et al., 2004 ). In pigeons, gene expression of various AA transporters had been analyzed in parent crop tissue ( Xie, et al., 2020a ) and in small intestine of chick or parent during chick-rearing period ( Gao, et al., 2016 ; Zhang, et al., 2017 ; Xie, et al., 2020b ). In the present study, the B 0 AT1 expression increased and the expression of LAT4, EAAT3, CAT1 and y + LAT2 decreased in the ovary at D10 and D13, suggesting the neutral AAs transport was mainly carried out by B 0 AT1 and the transport of anionic and cationic AAs exhibited a less active status during the period of yolk formation.…”

Effects of incubation and chick rearing on intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, and mRNA expression of nutrient transporter genes in the pigeon (Columba livia) under artificial farming conditions

“…Nutrient transporters can be representatives of intestine development in pigeons ( Dong et al., 2012b , Xie et al., 2012 , Xie et al., 2013 , Zhang et al., 2017 ). FAT/CD36 and fatty acid–binding protein ( FABP ) are important components of the long-chain fatty acid transport system in various types of cells ( Veerkamp and Maatman, 1995 , Febbraio et al., 2001 ).…”

“…EAAT3 contributes to the cellular uptake of glutamate and aspartate, and both of them are nonessential amino acids. Zhang et al. (2017) analyzed the amino acid profile of crop milk and found that concentrations of glutamate and aspartate were stable from day 1 to day 14 after hatching.…”