GSE97674
Effect of early calf-hood nutrition on the transcriptomic profile of subcutaneous adipose in Holstein-Friesian bulls
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early calf-hood nutrition on the transcriptomic profile of subcutaneous adipose in Holstein-Friesian bulls and possible downstream effects on reproduction. Holstein Friesian bull calves with a mean (±S.D.) age and bodyweight of 19 (±8.2) days and 47.5 (±5.3) kg, respectively, were assigned to either a high (n=10) or low (n=10) plane of nutrition. Calves were fed in order to achieve an overall growth rate of 1.08 and 0.5 kg/day for the high and low plane of nutrition treatments, respectively.  At 126 days of age, the bulls were euthanized using an intravenous overdose of sodium pentobarbitone and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were harvested and RNAseq analysis was performed. At the end of the trial period, there were 745 genes differentially expressed in adipose tissue of bulls on the high plane of nutrition relative to those on the low plane of nutrition (P<0.05; FDR<0.05; fold change >2.0). Plane of nutrition altered the expression of genes involved in energy production and branched chain amino acid degradation. Plane of nutrition was also found to down regulate genes such as leptin and adiponectin which are known to effect reproductive function. This study identifies some of the molecular mechanisms regulated by feeding bulls a high plane of nutrition, which may be incorporated into future breeding programmes for artificial insemination centres. Overall design: 19 Holstein Friesian bull calves with a mean (±S.D.) age and bodyweight of 19 (±8.2) days and 47.5 (±5.3) kg, respectively, were assigned to either a high (n=10) or low (n=10) plane of nutrition. Calves were fed in order to achieve an overall growth rate of 1.2 and 0.5 kg/day for the high and low plane of nutrition treatments, respectively.  At 126 days of age, the bulls were euthanized using an intravenous overdose of sodium pentobarbitone and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were harvested and RNAseq analysis was performed.