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草业学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (5): 196-211.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025212

• 研究论文 • 上一篇    

基于转录组学分析代乳粉饲喂量对42日龄断奶牦牛犊牛脾脏和胸腺发育的影响

周亚楠(), 徐玉麟(), 别欣亚, 袁金泉, 谷颖超, 王紫莹, 杨得玉, 孙璐, 闫忠心, 刘书杰, 崔占鸿()   

  1. 青海大学畜牧兽医科学院,农业农村部青藏高原放牧牦牛藏羊动物营养与饲草料重点实验室,青海省牦牛工程技术研究中心,青海省高原放牧家畜动物营养与饲料科学重点实验室,青海 西宁 810016
  • 收稿日期:2025-05-27 修回日期:2025-07-07 出版日期:2026-05-20 发布日期:2026-03-11
  • 通讯作者: 崔占鸿
  • 作者简介:Corresponding author. E-mail: cuizhanhong27@126.com
    周亚楠(1997-),女,河南项城人,在读博士。E-mail: yanan_zhou0312@163.com
    徐玉麟(1999-),女,天津人,在读硕士。E-mail: xuyulin0524@163.com第一联系人:共同第一作者These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • 基金资助:
    青海省科技计划项目(2025-NK-124)

Transcriptomics-based analysis of the effect of feeding weaned yak calves with milk replacer powder on their spleen and thymus development

Ya-nan ZHOU(), Yu-lin XU(), Xin-ya BIE, Jin-quan YUAN, Ying-chao GU, Zi-ying WANG, De-yu YANG, Lu SUN, Zhong-xin YAN, Shu-jie LIU, Zhan-hong CUI()   

  1. Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science,Qinghai University,Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Grazing Yak and Tibetan Sheep Animal Nutrition and Feed-Forage,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Qinghai Yak Engineering Technology Research Center,Qinghai Provincial Plateau Grazing Livestock Animal Nutrition and Feed Science Key Laboratory,Xining 810016,China
  • Received:2025-05-27 Revised:2025-07-07 Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-03-11
  • Contact: Zhan-hong CUI

摘要:

本研究基于转录组学技术,以14头42日龄健康公牦牛犊牛[体重(36.30±1.09) kg,遗传背景一致]为研究对象,随机分为低(dC组,代乳粉饲喂量为平均体重的0.8%)和高(dH组,代乳粉饲喂量为平均体重的1.2%)代乳粉饲喂量两组,探究其对脾脏和胸腺免疫功能的影响。试验期间犊牛自由采食开食料及苜蓿干草,经30 d预试期后,当体重达60 kg以上且固体饲料日采食量超过1 kg时,每组随机选取5头屠宰取样,采集脾脏和胸腺组织样品用于相关指标的测定分析。结果表明:1)转录组学结果显示,牦牛犊牛脾脏中,高代乳粉饲喂量显著促进脾脏免疫相关基因(如CXCL14、CXCL11CXCL9)的上调,且差异表达基因显著富集在病毒蛋白与细胞因子和细胞因子受体的相互作用、细胞DNA感应途径、趋化因子信号通路、RIG-Ⅰ样受体信号通路等,增强了脾脏的抗病能力。2)牦牛犊牛胸腺中,高代乳粉饲喂量中抗原呈递相关基因(HSPA6HSPA1A)及Toll/Imd通路基因(MAPK10)表达增强,且差异表达基因显著富集在抗原处理和表达、细胞色素P450对外源物质代谢的影响、Toll和Imd信号通路等。3)牦牛犊牛胸腺和脾脏组织实时荧光定量PCR结果与测序结果一致,表明测序结果可靠。综上所述,相较于低代乳粉饲喂量,高代乳粉饲喂量组犊牛脾脏调节病毒蛋白与宿主免疫系统的相互作用影响病毒-宿主互作,同时还能影响病毒防御相关通路(如干扰素信号通路)的激活程度;胸腺能够优化抗原呈递细胞的加工和表达功能,进而提高犊牛的免疫能力,为牦牛犊牛早期免疫发育的营养干预提供理论依据。

关键词: 牦牛犊牛, 代乳粉饲喂量, 脾脏, 胸腺, 转录组学

Abstract:

This study investigated the effects of feeding weaned yak calves with milk replacer at a range of levels on the immune function of the spleen and thymus, using a transcriptomics approach to analyze gene transcript profiles. Fourteen healthy male yak calves were selected for this experiment. The calves were 42 days old at the start of the experiment, had a consistent genetic background, and an average weight of (36.30±1.09) kg. The calves were randomly assigned to either a low milk replacer group (dC, 0.8% of average body weight) or a high milk replacer group (dH, 1.2% of average body weight). The calves had ad libitum access to calf starter and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay. After a 30-day preliminary period, when calves reached a body weight of more than 60 kg and a daily solid feed intake exceeding 1 kg, five calves from each group were randomly selected for slaughter and sample collection. Spleen and thymus tissues were collected for analysis. The main results were as follows: 1) Transcriptomics analysis of spleen tissue revealed significant upregulation of immune-related genes (e.g., CXCL14CXCL11CXCL9) in the spleen of the dH group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the dH and dC groups were significantly enriched in pathways such as viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, cellular DNA-sensing pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and RIG-Ⅰ-like receptor signaling pathway, suggesting enhanced antiviral capacity of the spleen. 2) In thymus tissue, the dH group exhibited increased transcript levels of antigen presentation-related genes (HSPA6HSPA1A) and Toll/Imd pathway genes (MAPK10). Furthermore, the DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways including antigen processing and presentation, cytochrome P450 xenobiotic metabolism, and the Toll and Imd signaling pathway. 3) Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses of thymus and spleen tissues corroborated the transcriptomic sequencing results, confirming the accuracy of the sequencing data. In conclusion, compared with the dC group, the dH group displayed changes in gene expression in the spleen indicative of enhanced immune responses to viral proteins, including the activation of virus defense-related pathways such as the interferon signaling pathway. Similarly, antigen-presenting cell processing and presentation functions were improved in the thymus of calves in the dH group, indicative of increased immune competence. These findings provide a theoretical basis for nutritional interventions aimed at promoting early immune development in yak calves.

Key words: yak calves, milk replacer feeding level, spleen, thymus, transcriptomics