Background: Manganese (Mn) is a trace element essential for multiple physiological and biological processes. The testis plays a key role in male reproduction by producing sperm and synthesizing male hormones. This study investigates how Mn deficiency affects testicular development, spermatogenesis, and the blood–testis barrier (BTB), and evaluates associated variations in oxidative stress to explore potential mechanisms. Methods: A Mn-deficient diet was used to induce Mn deficiency in mice, with MnCl₂ administered via intraperitoneal injection. Mn levels in testicular tissue were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Testis and sperm morphology were assessed by H.E. and sperm staining. BTB markers were analyzed using immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qPCR. Oxidative stress was evaluated biochemically. Nrf2 pathway changes were detected by qPCR and Western blot. Results: The results indicated that Mn deficiency dramatically decreased the testicular index, caused abnormal testicular tissue structure, and significantly decreased Johnsen’s score. At the same time, sperm density and motility were significantly reduced, and the sperm deformity rate was significantly increased. In addition, the BTB function was impaired, as indicated by the significantly down-regulated expression of tight junction proteins including Occludin, ZO-1, JAM-A, and Claudin-11. As the oxidative stress levels increased, the mRNA and protein expression levels of molecules (including Nrf2 and HO-1) related to the Nrf2 signaling pathway were significantly down-regulated, while its inhibitor Keap1 exhibited significantly up-regulated expression. Notably, after supplementing MnCl₂, all the above abnormal indicators were significantly improved. Conclusions: Mn deficiency can lead to testicular tissue damage, decreased sperm quality, and BTB dysfunction, and the potential mechanism is probably closely associated with the increase in the oxidative stress level mediated by the Nrf2 pathway.

Heterosis refers to the phenomenon where hybrids exhibit superior performance compared to the parental phenotypes and has been widely utilized in crossbreeding programs for animals and crops, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain enigmatic. A better understanding of the gene expression patterns in post-hatch chickens is very important for exploring the genetic basis underlying economically important traits in the crossbreeding of chickens. In this study, breast muscle and liver tissues (n = 36) from full-sib F1 birds and their parental pure lines were selected to identify gene expression patterns and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 28 days of age by strand-specific RNA sequencing (ssRNA-seq). This study indicates that additivity is the predominant gene expression pattern in the F1 chicken post-hatch breast muscle (80.6% genes with additivity) and liver (94.2% genes with additivity). In breast muscle, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that a total of 11 biological process (BP) terms closely associated with growth and development were annotated in the identified DEG sets and non-additive gene sets, including STAT5A, TGFB2, FGF1, IGF2, DMA, FGF16, FGF12, STAC3, GSK3A, and GRB2. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation presented that a total of six growth- and development-related pathways were identified, involving key genes such as SLC27A4, GLUL, TGFB2, COX17, and GSK3A, including the PPAR signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, and mTOR signaling pathway. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for crossbreeding in domestic animals.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of dietary folic acid supplementation on maternal folate status and ovarian function in female broiler breeders. Fifty 30-week-old Arbor Acres female broiler breeders were randomly divided into two groups (5 pens/group, 5 hens/pen) after 2 weeks of pre-feeding: the control group (Con, supplementation 0 mg/kg folic acid) and the folic acid group (FA, supplementation 4 mg/kg folic acid). The trial lasted 16 weeks. Folate content in eggs, maternal plasma, and offspring plasma (1-day-old) was measured, alongside expression levels of folate transporters in the ovary, liver, duodenum, and jejunum. Ovarian transcriptome analysis was performed. Results showed that the FA group had significantly increased folate deposition in eggs (p < 0.05) and offspring plasma folate levels (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in embryonic organ indexes (p > 0.05). The FA group had downregulated mRNA expression of proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) in the jejunum, folate transporter (RFC) in the liver, and folate receptors (FR) in the ovary (p < 0.05). However, they had upregulated RFC in the duodenum (p < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis identified 326 differentially expressed genes (217 up-regulated, 109 down-regulated; p < 0.05). KEGG enrichment revealed 10 pathways, including cell cycle, Wnt signaling, and steroid biosynthesis. These findings suggest that folic acid enhances ovarian reproductive gene expression and improves folate transfer to eggs and offspring.

One hundred and twenty-eight boars and gilts of the Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire variety with an initial body weight (BW) of 52.49 ± 0.48 kg were used in a randomized complete block design for a 63-day experiment. The four treatment groups were: control diet (CON), CON + 0.2% soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS), CON + 0.4% SBOS, and CON + 0.8% SBOS. The results showed that the average daily weight gain (ADG) was significantly higher in the 0.8% SBOS group than in the CON group on days 0–63 (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, adding 0.8% SBOS to the diet significantly increased the carcass weight, dressing percentage, and carcass lean percentage, but decreased the average backfat depth of growing–finishing pigs (p < 0.05). Adding different concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%) of SBOS to the diet can significantly increase the concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate in feces (p < 0.05). The activities of malic enzyme and fatty acid synthase in the 0.8% group were significantly lower than those in the 0.2% and CON groups (p < 0.05). In summary, 0.8% SBOS supplementation to growing–finishing pigs’ diets can reduce lipid deposition and increase ADG.

This study investigated the effects of super-dosing phytase (up to 3,000 phytase units/kg—FTU/kg) and supplementary dietary inositol (2 g/kg) on phosphorus (P) digestibility and retention (experiment 1), and the growth performance (experiment 2) of growing pigs fed either P-deficient or P-adequate diets. In experiment 1, a total of 96 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows [initial body weight (BW) = 37.2 ± 0.4 kg] were housed individually in 32 stainless steel metabolism cages. The barrows were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 8 treatment groups, using a randomized complete block design. Experiment 1 was conducted in 3 runs to complete 12 replicate pigs per group. Total feces and urine were collected to determine the digestibility and retention of P. In experiment 2, a total of 2,496 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs (initial BW = 24.6 ± 0.3 kg) were blocked by BW and sex and randomly allocated to 8 treatment groups, using a randomized complete block design with 12 replicates of 26 pigs per pen, per group. The treatment setup was the same across both experiments. The 8 experimental treatments comprised 2 total P levels (deficient, total P = 0.45% and adequate, total P = 0.60%). Within each P level, 4 diets were fed: control (without added phytase), control plus inositol (2 g/kg), control plus phytase (500 FTU/kg), and control plus phytase (3,000 FTU/kg). Phytase supplementation significantly enhanced P digestibility and retention across both P levels. Phytase supplementation at 500 and 3,000 FTU/kg improved P digestibility from 50.3% to 74.4% and 81.3%, respectively, in P-deficient diets, and from 59.2% to 73.5% and 78.0%, respectively, in P-adequate diets. Similarly, P retention increased from 36.6% to 62.6% and 69.6% in P-deficient diets and from 46.0% to 61.6% and 66.3% in P-adequate diets. In addition, phytase supplementation significantly improved the growth performance of pigs, resulting in increased final BW, average daily gain, and gain-to-feed ratio over the 42 d experimental period. Supplementary dietary inositol alone had no observable impact on P metabolism or growth performance. The interaction between dietary P level and phytase supplementation suggested that the optimal benefit of phytase supplementation may depend on the baseline dietary P content. These results suggested that phytase super-dosing enhanced P digestibility and utilization, reduced P excretion, and optimized growth performance in P-deficient diets. These benefits were mainly driven by the digestible P released by phytase, rather than the presence of inositol.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves (ZBL) are a phytogenic feed resource, but their energy value and functional effects in laying hens are not well defined. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 96 healthy 38-week-old Roman Pink laying hens were allotted to either a control diet or a diet containing 5% ZBL (eight replicates, six hens per replicate) to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) using an indicator method (7 d adaptation, 3 d collection). The AME and nitrogen-corrected AME of ZBL were 5.46 and 5.33 MJ/kg, respectively. In Exp. 2, 832 healthy 41-week-old hens were randomly assigned to diets supplemented with 0, 1%, 2%, or 3% ZBL (8 replicates, 26 hens per replicate) for 8 weeks after 1 week adaptation. Dietary ZBL at 1% to 3% did not affect production performance (p > 0.05), but increased albumen height linearly (p < 0.05) and improved yolk color at 2% and 3% (p < 0.05). ZBL increased serum albumin (p < 0.05) with a linear tendency (p = 0.065), and elevated serum IgA and IgM linearly (p < 0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase were increased (p < 0.05) with significant linear and quadratic responses (p < 0.05), while serum malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). In the liver, 3% ZBL increased total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), hepatic catalase activity was decreased in all ZBL groups (p < 0.05), and hepatic malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). Cecal acetate increased linearly (p < 0.05), and propionate and butyrate increased with both linear and quadratic dose responses (p < 0.05). ZBL improved small intestinal morphology, especially duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota was remodeled, with a marked reduction in norank_o__WCHB1-41 and increases in Ruminococcus, Pseudoflavonifractor, and several Coriobacteriales and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae taxa. Overall, ZBL provides usable energy and, at 2–3% inclusion, enhances egg quality, antioxidant status, humoral immunity, short-chain-fatty-acid production, and intestinal health without compromising laying performance.