Animals最新文献

{"title":"The Glutamatergic System Regulates Feather Pecking Behaviors in Laying Hens Through the Gut-Brain Axis.","authors":"Xiliang Yan, Chao Wang, Yaling Li, Yating Lin, Yinbao Wu, Yan Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani15091297","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feather pecking (FP) is a significant welfare and economic problem in laying hen husbandry. While there is growing evidence that the glutamatergic system plays a crucial role in regulating FP behavior, the biological mechanisms remain unclear, largely due to the limited uptake of peripheral glutamate across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we applied a multi-omics approach combined with physiology assays to answer this question from the perspective of the gut-brain axis. A total of 108 hens were randomly assigned to two groups (treatment and control) with six replicates each, and the treatment group was subjected to chronic environmental stressors including re-housing, noise, and transport. We found that chronic exposure to environmental stressors induced severe FP, accompanied by reduced production performance and increased anxiety- and depression-related behaviors, compared to controls. In addition, the immune system was potentially disrupted in FP chickens. Notably, gut microbiota diversity and composition were significantly altered, leading to decreased microbial community stability. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis identified a variety of differential metabolites, primarily associated with arginine and histidine biosynthesis. A significant increase in glutamate levels was also observed in the hippocampus of FP chickens. Transcriptome analysis revealed the upregulated expressions of glutamate-related receptors <i>GRIN2A</i> and <i>SLC17A6</i> in the hippocampus. Correlation analysis indicated that <i>GRIN2A</i> and <i>SLC17A6</i> are positively associated with arginine levels in the duodenum, while <i>Romboutsia</i> in the duodenum is negatively correlated with arginine. These findings suggest that intestinal bacteria, including <i>Romboutsia</i>, may influence FP behavior by altering plasma arginine and histidine levels. These changes, in turn, affect glutamate levels and receptor gene expression in the hippocampus, thereby regulating the glutamatergic system. Our research offers insights into novel strategies for mitigating harmful behaviors in poultry farming, with potential benefits for animal performance and welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143960110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of <i>Angulyagra polyzonata</i> and Its Phylogenetic Status in Viviparidae.","authors":"Shengjie Zhang, Kangqi Zhou, Xianhui Pan, Yong Lin, Jinxia Peng, Junqi Qin, Zhenlin Ke, Yaoquan Han, Zhong Chen, Xuesong Du, Wenhong Li, Pinyuan Wei, Dapeng Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani15091284","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091284","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Angulyagra polyzonata</i> is an economically important mollusk in China, but detailed insights into its mitochondrial genome remain scarce. In this study, we sequenced and comprehensively analyzed the structural features and selection pressures of the <i>A. polyzonata</i> mitochondrial genome. The maximum likelihood method and Bayesian phylogenetic inference method were used to construct a phylogenetic tree of <i>A. polyzonata</i> with 21 other species, including gastropods and bivalves. The full-length mitochondrial genome of 17,379 bp was found to include 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 13 protein-coding genes, exhibiting similarity to the composition and arrangement of mitochondrial genes in other gastropod species. Notably, the Ka/Ks ratios of mitochondrial protein-coding genes (<i>nad5</i>, <i>cox3</i>, <i>nad3</i>, <i>nad2</i>, <i>cox1</i>, <i>cox2</i>, <i>atp8</i>, <i>atp6</i>, <i>nadl</i>, <i>nad6</i>, <i>cob</i>, <i>nad4l</i>, and <i>nad4</i>) were <1, which indicates that the snail genes of the three genera of the family may have been subjected to strong natural selection pressure during the evolutionary process, so that the number of synonymous mutations (ks) in genes was much more than that of nonsynonymous mutations (ka). Comparative genomic analysis indicated that, apart from the absence of <i>trnW</i> and <i>trnQ</i>, the gene composition of <i>A. polyzonata</i> shares a high degree of homology with other members of the conical snail family. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the selected species could be classified into two primary clades in which <i>A. polyzonata</i> clustered with the Viviparidae family. This study bridges the knowledge gap regarding the mitochondrial genome of <i>A. polyzonata</i> and offers valuable insights into the systematic relationships within the Viviparidae family.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Morinda officinalis</i> Oligosaccharides Protect Against LPS-Induced Uterine Damage and Endometrial Inflammation in Mice and Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells.","authors":"Shiwen He, Beibei Yu, Tingting Yu, Tingting Jiang, Diqi Yang, Hui Peng","doi":"10.3390/ani15091286","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endometritis poses a significant challenge to the dairy industry, impairing bovine reproductive performance and causing substantial economic losses. Although <i>Morinda officinalis</i> oligosaccharides (MOO) exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, their therapeutic potential against endometritis remains unclear. This study investigated MOO's protective effects against LPS-induced uterine injury in mice and inflammation in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BENDs), and explored the underlying mechanisms. In mice, MOO attenuated uterine inflammation by improving histopathology, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreasing oxidative stress. In BEND cells, MOO alleviated LPS-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via downregulating pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, TLR4, RELA), restoring antioxidant enzymes (HMOX1, NQO1, Nrf2, NOX4), and modulating apoptosis markers (BAX, cleaved CASP3, CASP9, BCL2). MOO reduced ROS accumulation, preserved mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibited calcium influx. Critically, the calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 reversed MOO's protective effects, confirming calcium signaling modulation as a key mechanism. This study provides the first evidence that MOO mitigates LPS-induced uterine damage and BENDs inflammation through calcium signaling regulation, suggesting its potential for treating inflammation-related reproductive disorders in livestock.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071045/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143969178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implications of No Tail Docking on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Pigs Raised Under Commercial Conditions in Brazil.","authors":"Juliana Cristina Rego Ribas, Joseph Kaled Grajales-Cedeño, Isadora Gianeis, Vivian S Sobral, Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa","doi":"10.3390/ani15091308","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of no tail docking on the performance, health, and behavior of piglets raised under commercial conditions in Brazil. The study included 768 weaned piglets from the Pietrain synthetic line, randomly divided into two groups: DT = the final third part of the tail-docked (n = 384) and NTD = non-tail-docked (n = 384). Tail docking was performed on day two using an electrocautery clipper for piglets from the DT group, and both groups were subjected to standard environmental enrichment with branched chains. In cases of tail biting, a contingency plan was adopted to mitigate this problem by enriching the pen with a sisal rope. Behavioral measurements were performed using scan sampling. Tail biting, reactivity to humans, and health were assessed using a methodology adapted from the Welfare Quality Protocol^®. The piglets were weighed at 140 days of age and inspected according to the parameters established by the Pig Genealogical Registration Service to be used as reproduction animals. The off-test rate was calculated based on the total number of piglets approved for animal use relative to the total number evaluated. During the nursery stage, the NDT piglets showed a trend toward significance (<i>p</i> = 0.07) toward a higher occurrence of tail biting than the DT piglets and exhibited a higher incidence of severe lesions. They also engaged more frequently (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in exploratory behavior, interacting with branched chains and sisal rope, than the DT piglets. During the finishing phase, tail biting was observed only in the NDT piglets (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The NDT piglets that did not require the contingency plan exhibited lower fear responses (<i>p</i> = 0.02) during human interactions in the nursery phase than the DT piglets. Conversely, the NDT piglets that required a contingency plan showed higher fear levels (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Productivity performance was not affected (<i>p</i> > 0.05), and new cases of tail biting ceased after the contingency plan was implemented. The number of animals that died or were removed did not differ between the treatments (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In conclusion, managing piglets with intact tails on commercial farms presents a significant welfare challenge. By contrast, docking the final third of the tail, in accordance with regulations, was associated with fewer negative welfare outcomes, even when best management practices were applied.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disorders of the Female Reproductive Tract in Chelonians: A Review.","authors":"Emanuele Lubian, Giulia Palotti, Francesco Di Ianni, Alessandro Vetere","doi":"10.3390/ani15091275","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding reproductive biology and associated disorders is crucial for the clinical management of chelonians, particularly those maintained in captivity. This literature review presents an overview of the main pathological conditions affecting the female reproductive tract of these animals. For each condition, practical and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are detailed. Commonly observed disorders include dystocia, ectopic eggs, follicular stasis, infertility, oophoritis, salpingitis, cloacitis, cloacal or oviductal prolapse, neoplasms, and ovarian torsion. The fundamental approach to these conditions always involves a thorough clinical examination, which requires extensive knowledge of the species, a clinical history, and management practices. Diagnostic procedures include physical exams, imaging techniques (ultrasound, radiography, CT, endoscopy), and surgical interventions. A shared feature of many pathologies is the influence of management errors and the presence of non-specific clinical signs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070840/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143956864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Novel Antigenic Epitopes of African Swine Fever Virus Inner Membrane p54 Protein Revealed by Monoclonal Antibodies.","authors":"Jiajia Zhang, Kaili Zhang, Shaohua Sun, Ping He, Dafu Deng, Hanrong Lv, Mingwang Xie, Pingping Zhang, Wanglong Zheng, Nanhua Chen, Jianfa Bai, Jianzhong Zhu","doi":"10.3390/ani15091296","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>African swine fever (ASF) is caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV); infection in domestic pigs and wild boars leads to a highly contagious, hemorrhagic disease. The p54 protein is encoded by the ASFV E183L gene and is an important structural protein located on the inner envelope of the virus. It is involved in processes of virus assembly, apoptosis induction, and neutralizing antibody production. In this study, three specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against ASFV p54 protein were generated, namely 6B11, 3E3, and 3C10, from mice who were immunized with recombinant prokaryotic p54-truncated protein. Three novel linear B cell epitopes, recognized by the mAbs, were revealed: ⁶⁰AAIEEEDIQFINP⁷², ¹²⁸MATGGPAAAPAAASAPAHPAE¹⁴⁸, and ¹⁶³MSAIENLRQRNTY¹⁷⁵. The epitopes ⁶⁰AAIEEEDIQFINP⁷² and ¹⁶³MSAIENLRQRNTY¹⁷⁵ were highly conserved in genotype I and II ASFV strains. In addition, the epitope peptide ELISA can be used for the detection of ASFV antibodies. Our work provides new insights for p54 antigenicity and an alternative tool for serological diagnosis of ASF.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143958237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) on Greater Bangkok Residents' Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Free-Roaming Dogs.","authors":"Elly Hiby, Tuntikorn Rungpatana, Alicja Izydorczyk, Valerie Benka, Craig Rooney","doi":"10.3390/ani15091274","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between 2016 and 2023, over 400,000 dogs in Greater Bangkok, Thailand, were sterilised and vaccinated against rabies through a Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) programme. CNVR is practiced in many countries to humanely and effectively manage free-roaming dog populations, and to mitigate canine and human rabies risks. Residents were surveyed about their experiences, attitudes, and behaviours towards free-roaming dogs. Responses were evaluated in relation to respondents' dog ownership status and the CNVR intensity within their local administrative area (0, 1, 2, or 3 CNVR rounds). The results show an overall positive effect of CNVR. A dose-dependent CNVR effect was observed with residents' perceptions of declines in free-roaming dog populations and puppies born in their community, as well as in being \"troubled\" by free-roaming dogs now versus before the intervention. Residents living in areas with the highest levels of CNVR also had lower odds of reporting a dog bite. Some measures, including other current attitudes and behaviours towards free-roaming dogs, did not exhibit this dose-dependent effect. Dog owners showed higher levels of tolerance and care for street dogs than non-owners. The results suggest that owned dogs contributed substantially to the roaming dog population and must be considered in management efforts. CNVR appears to have delivered meaningful benefits to Greater Bangkok residents, and the majority reported sterilisation as their preferred management approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071130/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143967628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carapace Morphological Characteristics of Chinese Mitten Crab (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>) from Emerging Origins Revealed via Geometric Morphometrics.","authors":"Wang Zhang, Junren Xue, Li Ma, Jian Yang","doi":"10.3390/ani15091300","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study used geometric morphometrics to investigate the carapace features of Chinese mitten crabs (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>) from non-traditional/emerging origins (Zhenlai County and Bosten Lake) and identify differences in features relative to crabs from traditional origins (Yangcheng Lake). Thirty-five landmark data points on the crab carapace were extracted based on the geometric morphometrics landmark point approach and standardized to obtain the mean shape of the crabs from the three origins. The carapace morphologies of crabs from the three different origins varied. Compared to the average morphology, the first lateral tooth of the carapace of the Zhenlai crab was shorter, and the M pattern was enlarged in males, whereas the first and second lateral teeth of the crabs from the other two origins were longer, and the M pattern was reduced. In female crabs, distinct morphological variations were observed across regions. In Zhenlai crabs, the lateral teeth were shorter, and the M pattern was enlarged. In Bosten crabs, the frontal tooth was shorter, the first and second lateral teeth were longer, and the posterior carapace margin was narrowed. In Yangcheng Lake crabs, the frontal and third lateral teeth were elongated, and the M pattern was narrowed. The discrimination accuracy of individual female and male crabs from different origins reached 100%. The results confirm that the carapace geometric morphometric method represents a convenient and non-lethal method of tracing <i>E. sinensis</i> origins in fine-scale production areas. Thus, this study provides guidance on developing a characteristic industrial chain for aquatic products of emerging origins, which may help to promote the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry in associated areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071168/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143965154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heritability and Trends in Selected Udder Traits and Their Relation to Milk Production in Holstein-Friesian Cows.","authors":"Zsolt Jenő Kőrösi, Szabolcs Albin Bene, László Bognár, Ferenc Szabó","doi":"10.3390/ani15091276","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the heritability (<i>h</i>²) estimates of some important udder conformation traits, their relationship to each other and with production, and their phenotypic and genetic trends over a 10-year period in relatively high-yielding Holstein-Friesian cows. A total of 15,032 cows from six herds in Hungary were tested for milk (MY), butterfat (FY), and protein (PY) production yields over 305 days in first lactation. In addition, their udder conformation was scored for udder attachment (FU), rear udder height (RUH), central ligament (CL), udder depth (UD), front teat placement (FTP), and udder texture (UT) on a 1-9 linear udder score scale. REML and BLUP single-step animal model and linear regression model were used for data analysis and estimation. The production traits of the cows were quite reasonable, with 10,179.4 kg milk, 380.3 kg fat, and 333.1 kg protein in a standard lactation of 305 days. The scores of the udder conformation traits (5.4 to 6.1) were slightly above the mean of 5 on a linear scale of 1-9. The <i>h</i>² for MY, FY, and PY were obtained from 0.30 to 0.35, while those for udder traits were from 0.22 to 0.41. Phenotypic (<i>r_p</i>) and genetic (<i>r_g</i>) correlations for the relationship between production and udder conformation were weak or negligible (ranged from -0.33 to +0.15). Most of the associations between different udder traits were generally weak, but moderate positive correlations were observed between FU and UD (<i>r_p</i> = 0.42, <i>r_g</i> = 0.50 or 0.57), and between FU and UT (<i>r_p</i>= 0.36, <i>r_g</i> = 0.33 or 0.35). There were increasing genetic trends in the milk production (<i>b</i> = 2.2 to 16.5), but the studied udder conformation traits did not change over time (<i>b</i> = 0.00 to 0.03). In our study, despite an increase in milk yield over the studied ten-year period, udder conformation traits did not change. Therefore, considering that udder conformation scores were slightly above average and that udder traits were included in the selection index, we believe that it may be necessary to reconsider the udder conformation scoring system and its inclusion in the selection index.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143960260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Butyrate Derivatives Exhibited Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Integrity in Porcine Cell Culture Models.","authors":"Lauren Kovanda, Monika Hejna, Tina Du, Yanhong Liu","doi":"10.3390/ani15091289","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ani15091289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Butyrate and its derivatives may influence inflammatory status and physiology in a variety of organisms and organ systems. Inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as post-weaning diarrhea, negatively impact swine. Dietary intervention with butyrate-based compounds should be considered a strategy to improve disease resistance in pigs. We aimed to assess the properties of different forms of butyrate treatments using porcine cell culture experiments. This assessment may inform future in vivo feed experiments designed to determine its potential application of the dietary supplements for pigs. An intestinal porcine enterocyte cell line, IPEC-J2, was seeded at 5 × 10³ cells/mL in 96-well plates to confirm cell viability by MTT assay for each dose range used in the current experiments (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 mM butyric acid or tributyrin; 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 mM sodium butyrate or monobutyrin). For transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) analysis, IPEC-J2 was seeded at 5 × 10⁵ cells/mL in 12-well transwell inserts and treated with 5 levels of each butyrate derivative after adherence (n = 5). TEER was measured at 24, 48, and 72 h post-treatment to quantify intestinal barrier integrity of IPEC-J2 monolayers. Butyric acid, sodium butyrate, and monobutyrin significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) TEER in IPEC-J2 at different time points compared with control. Further, porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) were harvested from donor weaned piglets (n = 6) via bronchoalveolar lavage and isolated for primary culture (6 × 10⁵ cells/well, 6-well plates). PAMs were treated with five levels of each butyrate derivative with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL) challenge. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β in cell culture supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Butyric acid and sodium butyrate treatments reduced the production of TNF-α in LPS-challenged PAMs (linear; <i>p</i> < 0.05). Different butyrate derivatives exerted anti-inflammatory properties and improved intestinal barrier integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12071038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}