Gut microbiota affects the estrus return of sows by regulating the metabolism of sex steroid hormones

Background Sex hormones play important roles in the estrus return of post-weaning sows.Previous studies have demonstrated a complex and bi-directional regulation between sex hormones and gut microbiota.However,the extent to which the gut microbiota affects estrus return of post-weaning sows is largely unknown.Results In this study,we first screened 207 fecal samples from well-phenotyped sows by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identified significant associations between microbes and estrus return of post-weaning sows.Using metagenomic sequencing data from 85 fecal samples,we identified 37 bacterial species that were significantly associated with estrus return.Normally returning sows were characterized by increased abundances of L.reuteri and P.copri and decreased abundances of B.fragilis,S.suis,and B.pseudolongum.The changes in gut microbial composition significantly altered the functional capacity of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the gut microbiome.The results were confirmed in a validation cohort.Significant changes in sex steroid hormones and related compounds were found between normal and non-return sows via metabolome analysis.An integrated analysis of differential bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome provided evidence that normal return-associated bacterial species L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.participated in the degradation of pregnenolone,progesterone,and testosterone,thereby promoting estrogen biosynthesis.Furthermore,the microbial metabolites related to sow energy and nutrient supply or metabolic disorders also showed relationships with sow estrus return.Conclusions An integrated analysis of differentially abundant bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome revealed the involvement of L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.in sow estrus return.These findings provide deep insight into the role of gut microbiota in the estrus return of post-weaning sows and the complex cross-talk between gut microbiota and sex hormones,suggesting that the manipulation of the gut microbiota could be an effective strategy to improve sow estrus return after weaning.

Optimization design of autofocusing metasurface for ultrasound wave application

In this paper,two optimized autofocusing metasurfaces(AFMs)with different desired focal distances are designed by using particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm.Based on the ffnite element simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics,the performance of ultrasound transducer(UT)with AFM at different design parameters in Airy distributions(r0,ω)and the bottom thickness(d)of AFM are simulated and analyzed.Based on the simulation data,the artiffcial neural network model is trained to describe the complex relationship between the design parameters of AFM and the performance parameters of UT.Then,the multiobjective optimization function for AFM is determined according to the desired performance parameters of UT,including focal position,lateral resolution,longitudinal resolution and absolute sound pressure.In order to obtain AFMs with the desired performance,PSO algorithm is adopted to optimize the design parameters of AFM according to the multiobjective optimization function,and two AFMs are optimized and fabricated.The experimental results well agree with the simulation and optimization results,and the optimized AFMs can achieve the desired performance.The fabricated AFM can be easily integrated with UT,which has great potential applications in wave ffeld modulation underwater,acoustic tweezers,biomedical imaging,industrial nondestructive testing and neural regulation.

Krill oil attenuates obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice

Obesity is associated with skeletal muscle mass loss and physical dysfunction.Krill oil(KO)has been shown to be beneficial in human health.However,the effect of KO on obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is still unclear.In this study,the male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet(HFD)for 12 weeks to induce obesity,and then were intragastric administration with 400 mg/kg bw KO for an additional 6 weeks.The results showed that KO treatment reduced body weight,fat accumulation and serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in HFD-induced obese mice.Importantly,KO treatment attenuated skeletal muscle atrophy in HFD-fed mice,as evidenced by preserving skeletal muscle mass,average myofiber cross-sectional area and grip strength.KO administration also mitigated obesity-induced ectopic lipid deposition and inflammatory response in skeletal muscle.Additionally,KO treatment inhibited the transcriptional activities of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)p65 and forkhead box O 3a(FoxO3a),and then down-regulated muscle atrophy F-box(MAFbx)and muscle-specific RING finger protein 1(MuRF1)protein levels in skeletal muscle from HFD-fed mice.KO administration also improved obesity-induced impaired muscle protein synthesis via activating PI3K/Akt pathway.Furthermore,KO treatment enhanced muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in HFD-induced obese mice via activating PGC-1αpathway.Collectively,KO might be developed as a potential nutritional supplement for the prevention and treatment of obesity-induced skeletal muscle atrophy.