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Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Heritable gut microbiota decreases fat accumulation in pregnant sows and optimizes gestational outcomes
Mingyu Wang1,2, Lin Zhang1, Songbai Li1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
Abstract:
This study investigates the interplay between host genetics and gut microbiota in regulating fat deposition and reproductive outcomes in sows. Integrating multiomics data from 348 Yorkshire sows-including whole-genome sequencing, 16S rRNA sequencing, and metabolomic profiling-we identified 37 microbial taxa significantly associated with thick backfat (TBP) through microbiome-wide association studies (MWAS). Microbial genome-wide association analysis (mGWAS) revealed heritable genera, including Ezakiella and Corynebacterium, and implicated host genes such as MED17 and VSTM5 in microbial modulation. Concurrently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified MC4R and MEDAG as candidate genes directly influencing TBP. Metabolomic analysis highlighted acetate, a short-chain fatty acid, as a key mediator in host adipogenesis. Functional validation in experimental models demonstrated that exogenous acetate supplementation alters lipid metabolism and enhances reproductive performance. These findings elucidate a mechanistic axis wherein host genetics shape gut microbial composition, which in turn modulates fat metabolism via acetate production, ultimately affecting pregnancy outcomes. This integrated approach provides insights into host-microbe co-regulation of metabolic traits and highlights potential targets for improving reproductive efficiency in livestock.
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