Weaning usually leads to stress in livestock, which has a negative impact on their growth and development. Research on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by weaning has not been reported in goats. Here, we focused on oxidative stress profile and inflammation status of the lower gut (jejunum, ileum, and colon) of goats. First, we illustrated the status of antioxidant activity and inflammation in the intestine of young goats on pre-(2 weeks postnatal, 2 wk^pn) or post-(11 wk^pn, weaning at day 45 postnatal)-weaned period of young goats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (p < 0.0001) in jejunum and ileum of the young goats in 11 wk^pn than that in 2 wk^pn, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower (p = 0.012) in the lower gut of the young goats with 11 wk^pn than that in 2 wk^pn. Furthermore, we intended to explore the protective influence of a probiotic additive (Lactobacillus plantarum (LAC) P-8, 10 g/d) and a prebiotic additive (Sangrovit^®, Macleaya cordata (MAC) extract 3.75% w/w premix, 0.3 g/d) on intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation status of early-weaned young goats (average weights of 5.63 ± 0.30 kg, weaned on d 45 postnatal). We observed that LAC reduced MDA in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activity in ileum (p < 0.01), and increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in jejunum (p < 0.05). Similarly, MAC reduced MDA contents (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activities (p < 0.01) in both of ileum and jejunum, and increased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.05) in jejunum. However, there were no differences in feed intake, average daily gain, inflammation parameters (interleukin 2 and interleukin 6), and colon oxidative stress profile (MDA, SOD, or GSH-Px) among treatments. These results provide evidence that weaning induces oxidative damage in the lower gut of young goats, and the oxidative damage in the small intestine can be reduced by adding the addition of LAC or MAC in diets depending on the region of the lower gut.

Hypoxia-induced metabolic reprogramming is closely linked to breast cancer progression. Through transcriptomic analysis, we identified PRMT1 as a direct target of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) under hypoxic conditions in breast cancer cells. In turn, PRMT1 enhances the expression of HIF1α-driven glycolytic genes. Mechanistically, PRMT1 methylates HIF2β at arginine 42, facilitating the formation, chromatin binding, and the transcriptional activity of the HIF1α/HIF2β heterodimer. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PRMT1 suppresses HIF2β methylation, HIF1α/HIF2β heterodimer formation, chromatin binding, glycolytic gene expression, lactate production, and the malignant behaviors of breast cancer cells. Moreover, combination treatment with iPRMT1, a PRMT1 inhibitor, and menadione, an HIF1α/P300 interaction inhibitor, demonstrates synergistic effects in suppressing breast tumor growth. Clinically, PRMT1 and PRMT1-mediated HIF2β methylation were significantly elevated in breast tumors compared with adjacent normal tissues. In conclusion, our findings reveal the critical role of PRMT1-mediated arginine methylation in glycolytic gene expression, metabolic reprogramming, and breast tumor growth.

Passive immunity, the acquisition of specific immune protection through external antibodies or immune components, is critically important for neonatal survival. In ruminants, however, neonatal hypogammaglobulinemia, a consequence of their epitheliochorial placental structure preventing prenatal antibody transfer, often leads to high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, neonatal ruminants are entirely dependent on the timely consumption of colostrum to acquire sufficient immunoglobulin G (IgG) for protection. Establishing robust passive immunity is therefore a cornerstone for their survival, healthy development, and future production efficiency. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the establishment of passive immunity in neonatal ruminants. We first outline the fundamental principles of passive immunity transfer, then delve into the specific pathways and molecular mechanisms in ruminants. Key factors influencing this process are subsequently discussed. Furthermore, we highlight the long-term impact of passive immunity on adult production performance. This review aims to provide a scientific foundation for optimizing colostrum management strategies and to stimulate future research into the intricate mechanisms of IgG absorption.

Unlike monogastric animals, ruminants exhibit significantly lower starch digestibility in the small intestine. A better understanding of the physiological mechanisms that regulate digestion patterns in ruminants could lead to an increased use of starch concentrates. Here we show more robust pancreatic exocrine function in adult goats (AG) than in neonatal goats (NG) by combining scRNA-seq and proteomic analysis. Our findings suggest that inadequate amylase activity could be a limiting factor in starch digestion in ruminants. In addition, we show that insufficient starch hydrolysis in adult goats might be associated with low expression of a CCKBR receptor in the acinar cells. On top of that, the low expression of CCKBR in adult goats, in conjunction with a low distribution of the CCK-I cells in the duodenum, may jointly lead to a slow response of the intestinal-pancreatic reflex and induce an asynchronous process of food entering the small intestine and releasing of digestive enzymes, which ultimately limits the starch digestibility. Overall, the present findings generate a resource that can provide better insight into the mammalian pancreas.

The objective of this study was to determine whether single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) or single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) was more effective for studying the goat pancreas. Pancreas tissues from three healthy 10-day-old female Xiangdong black goats were processed into single-cell and single-nucleus suspensions. These suspensions were then used to compare cellular composition and gene expression levels following library construction and sequencing. Both scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq were eligible for primary analysis but produced different cell identification profiles in pancreatic tissue. Both methods successfully annotated pancreatic acinar cells, ductal cells, alpha cells, beta cells, and endothelial cells. However, pancreatic stellate cells, immune cells, and delta cells were uniquely annotated by scRNA-seq, while pancreatic stem cells were uniquely identified by snRNA-seq. Furthermore, the genes related to digestive enzymes showed a higher expression in scRNA-seq than in snRNA-seq. In the present study, scRNA-seq detected a great diversity of pancreatic cell types and was more effective in profiling key genes than snRNA-seq, demonstrating that scRNA-seq was better suited for studying the goat pancreas. However, the choice between scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq should consider the sample compatibility, technical differences, and experimental objectives.

Ovine species inhabiting harsh environments frequently develop enhanced functional adaptations. This study aims to (1) characterize rumen epithelial modifications in lactating Hulunbeier ewes under alpine conditions, and (2) elucidate how these adaptive responses are modulated by micronutrient supplementation and varying concentrate feed levels. Thirty lactating Hulunbeier ewes were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary groups and fed the same roughages with one of the following concentrates: 1) 550 g/d of local concentrate (LF) as the control, 2) 550 g/d of formulated concentrate (FF), and 3) 700 g/d of formulated concentrate (FS). Daily feed intake were recorded, and rumen epithelial tissues were collected for transcriptome analysis after slaughter on day 37 of the experiment. Transcriptomic analyses were performed on a subset of 11 ewes (LF, n = 4; FF, n = 4; FS, n = 3). No independent qPCR validation was conducted; results are therefore preliminary. In the exploratory cross-breed comparison, Hulunbeier sheep showed a suggestive trend toward enhanced expression of energy metabolism genes (ATP5MC2, ATP5PO, UQCRH) and genes encoding mitochondrial respiratory chain components relative to lowland Hu sheep. Supplementation with micronutrient premix upregulated key detoxification genes (CYP1A1, LOC101119706) and modulated immune-related pathways. In contrast, high concentrate levels promoted biosynthetic processes while suppressing cellular signaling functions. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis further indicated activation of thermogenesis pathways in the high-concentrate group, accompanied by altered expression of electron transport chain genes. PPARA may be involved in volatile fatty acid metabolism in response to micronutrient supplementation, but this requires direct experimental testing. Collectively, with the caveat of small sample size and lack of qPCR validation, these pilot-scale transcriptomic findings generate hypotheses that may underlie nutritional modulation of rumen function in alpine-adapted sheep; however, further validation with larger sample sizes and correlated phenotypic measurements is warranted. These results provide preliminary insights for developing targeted nutritional strategies to enhance ruminant production in breeds adapted to extreme environments.