Background: Depression is a burdensome psychiatric disorder presenting with disordered inflammation and neural plasticity. We conducted this study with an aim to explore the effect of stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) on inflammation and neuron injury in rats with depression-like behaviors.Methods: A model of depression-like behaviors was established in Wistar rats by stress stimulation. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-packaged STC1 overexpression sequence or siRNA against STC1 was introduced into rats to enhance or silence the STC1 expression. Moreover, we measured pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. An in vitro model was induced in hippocampal neurons by CORT to explore the effect of STC1 on the neuron viability, toxicity and apoptosis. RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were employed to determine the expression of STC1 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related genes.Results: STC1 was under-expressed in the hippocampus of rats with depression-like behaviors, while its overexpression could reduce the depression-like behaviors in the stress-stimulated rats. Furthermore, overexpression of STC1 resulted in enhanced neural plasticity, reduced release of pro-inflammatory proteins, elevated SOD and CAT and diminished MDA level in the hippocampus of rats with depression-like behaviors. Overexpressed STC1 blocked the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the viability of CORT-treated neurons while repressing their toxicity and apoptosis.Conclusion: Collectively, overexpression of STC1 inhibits inflammation and protects neuron injury in rats with depression-like behaviors by inactivating the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high temperature on internal egg yolk quality parameters and their possible mechanisms in Huaixiang chickens. This study consisted of two treatments, and each treatment had six replicates with six birds per cage. A total of seventy-two 26-week-old female Huaixiang chickens were randomly divided into a normal-temperature group (NT) and a high-temperature group (HT) for 6 weeks. And these hens were exposed to 25 ± 2 °C and 32 ± 2 °C, respectively. Their relative humidity was maintained at 55–65%. The results showed that the HT group significantly reduced yolk weight, yolk color, and egg weight compared to the NT group (p < 0.05). Heat stress caused vacuolar degeneration of the liver and reduced the absolute liver weight (p < 0.05). Both yolk triglyceride (TG) and liver TG in the HT group were significantly higher than in the NT group (p < 0.05). However, the liver total cholesterol (TC) level in the HT group was remarkably lower than that in the NT group (p < 0.05). Additionally, heat stress remarkably enhanced SREBP-1c, ACACA, and FASN lipid metabolism-related gene mRNA expression levels in Huaixiang chicken liver after 6 weeks of heat exposure (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the HT group had remarkably reduced total amino acid, Cys, and Tyr levels in the yolk when compared with the NT group in our experiment (p < 0.05). In conclusion, heat stress causes egg yolk quality reduction and abnormal lipid metabolism in Huaixiang chickens. These findings provided novel insights into the role of high temperature on egg yolk parameters and the underlying mechanisms in Chinese indigenous laying hens.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pineapple pomace as a functional feed additive on growth performance, fecal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and odor substance emissions in weaned piglets. The experiment utilized 90 weaned three-way crossbred piglets (Duroc–Yorkshire–Guoshou Black Pig) at 28 days of age, randomly divided into three groups of 10 pigs each: the control group (CON, basal diet), the fish meal group (FM, basal diet + 2% imported fish meal), and the pineapple pomace group (PPC, basal diet + 2% pineapple pomace compound). The results indicated the PPC group exhibited significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and significantly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05) than the CON group. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the PPC group significantly increased fecal microbiota species richness and diversity (p < 0.01) while enriching beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and butyrate-producing bacteria such as Blautia. Concurrently, acetic acid and butyric acid levels in feces were significantly elevated in the PPC group (p < 0.05), with butyric acid production markedly higher than in the FM group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), such as isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid (p < 0.05). Moreover, PPC supplementation led to a significant decrease in fecal levels of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary inclusion of 2% pineapple pomace improves growth performance and intestinal health in weaned piglets by modulating the fecal microbiota, promoting beneficial SCFA production, and inhibiting protein putrefaction. These findings support PPC as an effective and sustainable alternative to fish meal, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly feeding strategies in pig production.

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