The Effects of Artificially Dosed Adult Rumen Contents on Abomasum Transcriptome and Associated Microbial Community Structure in Calves

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the changes in abomasum transcriptome and the associated microbial community structure in young calves with artificially dosed, adult rumen contents. Eight young bull calves were randomly dosed with freshly extracted rumen contents from an adult cow (high efficiency (HE), n = 4), or sterilized rumen content (Con, n = 4). The dosing was administered within 3 days of birth, then at 2, 4, and 6 weeks following the initial dosing. Abomasum tissues were collected immediately after sacrifice at 8 weeks of age. Five genera (Tannerella, Desulfovibrio, Deinococcus, Leptotrichia, and Eubacterium; P < 0.05) showed significant difference in abundance between the treatments. A total of 975 differentially expressed genes were identified (P < 0.05, fold-change > 1.5, mean read-counts > 5). Pathway analysis indicated that up-regulated genes were involved in immune system process and defense response to virus, while the down-regulated genes involved in ion transport, ATP biosynthetic process, and mitochondrial electron transport. Positive correlation (r > 0.7, P < 0.05) was observed between TRPM4 gene and Desulfovibrio, which was significantly higher in the HE group. TRPM4 had a reported role in the immune system process. In conclusion, the dosing of adult rumen contents to calves can alter not only the composition of active microorganisms in the abomasum but also the molecular mechanisms in the abomasum tissue, including reduced protease secretion and decreased hydrochloric acid secretion.

Caecum transcriptome and associated microbial community in young calves with artificial dosing of rumen content obtained from an adult cow

“…In our recently published work, we inoculated the rumen content extracted from an adult cow into the young calves from birth to 8 weeks of age. We observed significant changes in the liver transcriptome along with distinctive microbial communities in the rumen epithelial (16), abomasum (17) and ileum (18) in the calves subjected to early dosing compared to the control animals. Taken together, these studies suggest that artificial dosing of rumen content in neonatal ruminants may offer an effective approach to elicit microbial changes in the gut.…”

“…Collected tissues were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, then stored at −80 °C until further processing. For microbial community comparative analysis, we included sequence data previously published by our group from these tissue types: epithelial layer of the rumen (16), abomasum (17), ileum (18), and liver [15].…”

The expression of intermediate filaments in the abomasum of ruminants: A comparative study

“…To date, there has not been much focus on molecular factors related to cellular differentiation, growth, adhesion, proliferation and migration in the abomasal tissue. Therefore, limited information is available on the functional mechanisms of these factors in different ruminant species such as cattle, sheep and goats in different feeding habitats (Gaowa et al., 2021; Loor, 2022).…”

“…functional mechanisms of these factors in different ruminant species such as cattle, sheep and goats in different feeding habitats (Gaowa et al, 2021;Loor, 2022).…”

Effect of rumen microbiota transfaunation on the growth, rumen fermentation, and microbial community of early separated Japanese Black cattle

“…For example, rumen protozoa transfaunation of Holstein calves decreased amylolytic bacteria and cellulolytic bacteria but increased methanogenic archaea and anaerobic fungi (Arakaki et al, 1994). Rumen microbiota transfaunation altered the abundance of abomasum microbes and the molecular mechanisms in the abomasum tissue of Holstein calves (Gaowa et al, 2021). Transfaunation increased the relative of acetate and butyrate concentrations, rumen digestibility, feed conversion efficiency, and methane production but significantly decreased average daily gain and wool production (Belanche et al, 2015; Eugene et al, 2004; Newbold et al, 2015).…”