scholarly journals Effects of Restricted Feeding on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immunity, and Skeletal Muscle Development in New Zealand Rabbits

Animals ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Junyi Zhuang ◽  
Tong Zhou ◽  
Shaocheng Bai ◽  
Bohao Zhao ◽  
Xinsheng Wu ◽  
...  

This study aimed to explore the effects of different feeding restriction levels on the growth performance, intestinal immunity, and skeletal muscle development of meat rabbits. Additionally, we studied whether complete compensatory growth could be obtained post 2 weeks of restricted feeding, in order to seek a scientific mode of feeding restriction. Each of three groups was exposed to 3 weeks of feeding restriction and 2 weeks of compensatory growth. The 15% feeding restriction showed a negligible effect on the final body-weight of the rabbits (p > 0.05), but significantly reduced the feed-to-weight ratio (p < 0.05); reduced diarrhea and mortality; and increased digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity. However, a 30% feeding-restriction level substantially reduced the growth rate of the rabbits (p < 0.05), impaired skeletal muscle development, and showed no compensatory growth after 2 weeks of nutritional recovery. Additionally, immunoglobulin and antioxidant enzyme synthesis were impaired due to reduced nutritional levels, and levels of pro-inflammatory factors were increased during the compensation period. The IGF1 mRNA expression decreased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas MSTN and FOXO1 expression increased noticeably (p < 0.05). Moreover, protein levels of p-Akt and p-p70 decreased significantly in the 15% feeding restriction group. Overall, the 15% feeding limit unaffected the weight and skeletal muscle development of rabbits, whereas the 30% feeding limit affected the growth and development of skeletal muscle in growing rabbits. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is plausibly a mediator of this process.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Mohammadreza Mohammadabadi ◽  
Farhad Bordbar ◽  
Just Jensen ◽  
Min Du ◽  
Wei Guo

Farm-animal species play crucial roles in satisfying demands for meat on a global scale, and they are genetically being developed to enhance the efficiency of meat production. In particular, one of the important breeders’ aims is to increase skeletal muscle growth in farm animals. The enhancement of muscle development and growth is crucial to meet consumers’ demands regarding meat quality. Fetal skeletal muscle development involves myogenesis (with myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion), fibrogenesis, and adipogenesis. Typically, myogenesis is regulated by a convoluted network of intrinsic and extrinsic factors monitored by myogenic regulatory factor genes in two or three phases, as well as genes that code for kinases. Marker-assisted selection relies on candidate genes related positively or negatively to muscle development and can be a strong supplement to classical selection strategies in farm animals. This comprehensive review covers important (candidate) genes that regulate muscle development and growth in farm animals (cattle, sheep, chicken, and pig). The identification of these genes is an important step toward the goal of increasing meat yields and improves meat quality.


Gene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 783 ◽  
pp. 145562
Author(s):  
Huadong Yin ◽  
Shunshun Han ◽  
Can Cui ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Diyan Li ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 748-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Pessemesse ◽  
Audrey Schlernitzauer ◽  
Chamroeun Sar ◽  
Jonathan Levin ◽  
Stéphanie Grandemange ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoda Ma ◽  
Yajun Wang ◽  
You Li ◽  
Lili Cui ◽  
Yujuan Zhao ◽  
...  

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