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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
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(College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
Objective: Sodium butyrate (SB) is a potentially useful feed additive; however, its effects on lipid metabolism in adipose and liver tissues of lambs are still not fully explored. This study systematically examined the effects and underlying mechanisms of dietary SB supplementation on lipid metabolism in lamb adipose and liver tissues from an adipose-blood-liver perspective. Methods: Twelve 3-month-old male lambs (22.37±2.05 kg) were randomly divided into a control group and an SB group. We measured the adipose tissue cellular morphology and lipid metabolism-related indices in both adipose and liver tissues. Results: The results indicated that SB significantly reduces abdominal and perirenal adipose tissue mass, as well as the average area and diameter of adipocytes (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation with SB activated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) in lamb adipose tissue, resulting in upregulated mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase (HSL) and downregulated mRNA expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and fatty acid synthase (p<0.05). Simultaneously, adiponectin secretion and receptor expression in adipose tissue, as well as serum adiponectin levels, were significantly elevated (p<0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with SB increased the levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites in lamb liver, including oxaloacetate, citrate, cis-aconitate, and succinate (p<0.05), while simultaneously activating the liver AMPKα1 signaling pathway. These changes led to upregulated HSL, platelet glycoprotein 4, and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase mRNA expression (p<0.05), thereby enhancing liver fatty acid metabolism. Conclusion: In summary, dietary supplementation with SB alters adiponectin levels in lambs, activates the AMPK signaling pathway, promotes adipose tissue lipolysis, and regulates liver lipid metabolism. The findings provide valuable insights into the use of SB for managing lamb body fat reserves and offer a robust basis for further research in animal bioscience.
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (32160589), the Basic research funds for universities directly under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (BR221306, BR230165), the Major R&D and Achievements Transformation Projects of Inner Mongolia (2022YFXZ0017), the Central Guides Local Science and Technology Development Foundation (2022ZY0029), the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia (2022MS03055).