Effect of short term diet restriction on gene expression in the bovine hypothalamus using next generation RNA sequencing technology

• Published in: BMC genomics 2017-11, Vol.18 (1), p.857-14, Article 857
• Main Authors: Matthews, Daragh, Diskin, Michael G, Kenny, David A, Creevey, Christopher J, Keogh, Kate, Waters, Sinead M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Binomial distribution; Bovinae; Bovine; Cattle; Cell adhesion & migration; CXCL10 protein; Dairy cattle; Diet; Dietary restriction; Dietary restrictions; Economic importance; Energy; Energy balance; Energy homeostasis; Energy intake; Energy requirements; Estrus; Fertility; Food and nutrition; Gene expression; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Genomics; Glycoproteins; Gonadotropin-releasing hormone; Health aspects; High-throughput screening (Biochemical assaying); Homeostasis; Hypothalamus; Immune response; Immune system; Immunological tolerance; Impact analysis; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 8; Lactation; Low calorie diet; Management systems; Motility; mRNAseq; Neuropeptide Y; Neuroprotection; Nutrition research; Ontology; Ovulation; Physiological aspects; Reproduction; Transcription
• ISSN: 1471-2164; 1471-2164
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4265-6

Negative energy balance (NEB) is an imbalance between energy intake and energy requirements for lactation and body maintenance affecting high-yielding dairy cows and is of considerable economic importance due to its negative impact on fertility and health in dairy herds. It is anticipated that the cow hypothalamus experiences extensive biochemical changes during the early post partum period in an effort to re-establish metabolic homeostasis. However, there is variation in the tolerance to NEB between individual cows. In order to understand the genomic regulation of ovulation in hypothalamic tissue during NEB, mRNA transcriptional patterns between tolerant and sensitive animals were examined. A short term dietary restriction heifer model was developed which induced abrupt onset of anoestrus in some animals (Restricted Anovulatory; RA) while others maintained oestrous cyclicity (Restricted Ovulatory; RO). A third control group (C) received a higher level of normal feeding. A total of 15,295 genes were expressed in hypothalamic tissue. Between RA and C groups 137 genes were differentially expressed, whereas between RO and C, 32 genes were differentially expressed. Differentially expressed genes were involved in the immune response and cellular motility in RA and RO groups, respectively, compared to C group. The largest difference between groups was observed in the comparison between RA and RO heifers, with 1094 genes shown to be significantly differentially expressed (SDE). Pathway analysis showed that these SDE genes were associated with 6 canonical pathways (P