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At least 19 records

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2002

Neither Milk Production, Milk Transfer Nor Pup Growth Hormone Account for Reduced Body Weights of Rat Pups Reared In Hypergravity

Studies spanning the gravity continuum from 0 to 2-g are revealing new insights into how mammalian reproduction and development may proceed in the microgravity of space. Rat pups reared from either conception or midgestation in hypergravity (hg) weigh 6-15% less than 1-g controls. In the present study we analyzed maternal and pup factors that may account for reduced body weight of hg reared pups. Beginning on Gestational day (G)11 of the rats' 22 day pregnancy, rat dams and their litters were continuously exposed to either 1.5-g, 1.75-g or 2.0-g. Prolaction (Prl) and oxytocin (OT) were measured in hg-exposed dams during either pregnancy (G20) or lactation (Postnatal day [P] 10). Gravity related differences in Prl were not observed whereas OT was depressed during lactation in hg dams relative to controls (p less than 0.05). Milk transfer measured during a discrete suckling episode was actually increased in hg-reared litters and comparable numbers of milk-letdowns were observed in the two conditions. Recent reports using dwarfing phenotypes in mouse mutants have provided evidence for postnatal dependence on growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). Plasma GH measured in P10 pups using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was significantly elevated in hg pups relative to 1-g controls (mean +/- sd., ng/ml: 2.0-g, 10.6 [3.0], 1.5-g 8.9 [4.0], 1.0-g, 7.95 [3.1]). Together, these findings suggest that neither milk production, milk transfer nor pup GH play significant roles in reduced body weights of hg-reared pups. Studies underway are focused on insulin-like growth factors.

Bear, L. A.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid influence milk production ability via different early responses in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Highlights: • LPS and LTA affect on the milk production of lactating BMECs in different manners. • LPS/TLR4 and LTA/TLR2 signaling induce different innate immune responses in BMECs. • Inhibition of p38 and NF-κB may help recover decrease in milk production in mastitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) are cell wall components of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which cause clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively. However, the reason of the difference in symptoms by pathogen type remains unclear. In this study, the influence of LPS and LTA on early response and milk production in lactating bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) was comparatively investigated. The results showed that LPS decreased the secretion of β-casein, lactose, and triglycerides, whereas LTA decreased the secretion of lactose and triglycerides but increased lactoferrin production without any influence on β-casein secretion. In addition, the influence of milk lipid droplet size in BMECs and gene expression related to milk fat synthesis was different between LPS and LTA. LPS increased the gene expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-8 through the activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathways, whereas LTA increased IL-1β and CC chemokine ligand 5 expression through the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, these cytokines and chemokines differently affected the milk production ability of BMECs. These results suggested that the pathogen-specific symptoms may be related to the differences in the early response of BMECs to bacterial toxins.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

Cooling and dietary crude protein affected milk production on heat-stressed dairy cows

Environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, exert dramatic effects on the production, health, and well-being of lactating dairy cows. Heat-stressed cows undergo a series of homeorhetic adaptations that alters cellular homeostasis and nutrient utilization. As such, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of cooling and dietary crude protein (CP) content on fermentability of rumen inoculum, milk production, and health of heat-stressed cows. It was hypothesized that cooled but not heat-stressed cows would support productivity in response to an increase in dietary CP content. Thirty-six multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (9 cows/treatment). Treatments consisted of cooling (CO) or moderate long-term heat stress (HS) and diets containing low CP content (LCP; 12.5% CP) or moderate CP content (MCP; 16.1% CP) of dry matter. The CO treatment provided heat abatement with sprinklers and fans that came on at > 20.0°C, whereas the HS treatment did not provide sprinklers and fans. Cows were housed in pens in a freestall barn, and treatments were imposed for 21 d during July and August. Compared with the HS treatment, CO decreased afternoon rectal and vaginal temperatures (0.60 and 0.70°C) and afternoon respiration rate (27.6 breaths/min). Treatment interactions showed that compared with the LCP treatment, MCP increased milk fat yield (23%) in CO but not in HS cows. Compared with the LCP treatment, MCP decreased milk protein percent (0.14 units) in CO but increased milk protein percent (0.09 units) in HS cows. Rumen inoculum collected on d 21 showed a ~3-fold increase in total gas production in vitro in CO compared with the HS treatment. Relative to the LCP treatment, MCP increased plasma glucose and insulin and decreased total free fatty acids concentrations. In summary, under the conditions of this study CO but not HS cows responded to a CP stimulus by increasing productivity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2014

Microorganism Utilization for Synthetic Milk Production

A desired architecture for long duration spaceflight, such as aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or for future missions to Mars, is to provide a supply of fresh food crops for the astronauts. However, some crops can create a high proportion of inedible plant waste. The main goal of this project was to produce the components of milk (sugar, lipid, protein) from inedible plant waste by utilizing microorganisms (fungi, yeast, bacteria). Of particular interest was utilizing the valuable polysaccharide, cellulose, found in plant waste, to naturally fuel- through microorganism cellular metabolism- the creation of sugar (glucose), lipid (milk fat), and protein (casein) to produce a synthetic edible food product. Environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, carbon source, aeration, and choice microorganisms were optimized in the laboratory and the desired end-products, sugars and lipids, were analyzed. Trichoderma reesei, a known cellulolytic fungus, was utilized to drive the production of glucose, with the intent that the produced glucose would serve as the carbon source for milk fat production and be a substitute for the milk sugar lactose. Lipid production would be carried out by Rhodosporidium toruloides, yeast known to accumulate those lipids that are typically found in milk fat. Results showed that glucose and total lipid content were below what was expected during this phase of experimentation. In addition, individual analysis of six fatty acids revealed that the percentage of each fatty acid was lower than naturally produced bovine milk. Overall, this research indicates that microorganisms could be utilized to breakdown inedible solid waste to produce useable products.

sythetic↗

NASA NTRS2014

Microorganism Utilization for Synthetic Milk Production

Utilization↗

NASA NTRS2014

Microorganism Utilization for Synthetic Milk Production

Microorganism↗

NASA NTRS1984

Self-selection of a high calcium diet by vitamin D-deficient lactating rats increases food consumption and milk production

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Brommage, R.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Effects of Hypergravity Exposure On Plasma Oxytocin Concentrations In Pregnant and Lactating Rat Dams

Rat dams and offspring were exposed to 1.5-g, 1.75-g or 2.0-g hypergravity (hg) from Gestational day (G) 11 until Postnatal day (P) 10. To ascertain the role of maternal factors in reduced postnatal body weights of offspring developed in hg, the dams' lactational hormones were measured. Oxytocin (OT), the major hormone responsible for milk ejection, was reduced in hg dams whereas prolactin (Prl), involved in milk production, was unchanged. Video analyses of nursing behavior revealed that hg dams spent more time nursing relative to 1-g controls. We hypothesized impaired milk transfer from dam to pup, however pup body weight gains following a discrete suckling episode were comparable across conditions. Changes in lactational hormones and nursing behavior by dams exposed to hg do not account for reduced body masses of their offspring.

Baer, Lisa A.↗

DOE OSTI2021

IL-1β is a key inflammatory cytokine that weakens lactation-specific tight junctions of mammary epithelial cells

Highlights: • TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 directly affect tight junctions of MECs in different ways. • IL-1β rapidly disrupts tight junctions at tricellular contacts between MECs. • IL-1β decreases the amount of tight junction proteins and weaken the TJ barrier. • Activation of p38 by IL-1β triggers disruption of tight junctions. In lactating mammary glands, alveolar mammary epithelial cells (MECs) produce milk and form less-permeable tight junctions (TJs). However, alveolar TJs are weakened with a reduction in milk production in mammary glands due to mastitis or weaning in the presence of high levels of IL-1β, IL-6, or TNF-α. In this study, using in vitro cultured model of MECs with milk-producing ability and lactation-specific TJs, we investigated whether the aforementioned cytokines affect MEC TJs. The results showed that TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 affected lactation-specific TJs in different ways. In particular, upon activation of p38 and JNK signalling, IL-1β caused rapid disruption of TJs at tricellular contact points. IL-1β treatment led to decreased CLDN3, CLDN4, and OCLN levels and a weakened TJ barrier. The adverse effects of IL-1β on TJs were mimicked by anisomycin, which is an activator of p38 and JNK signalling, and were blocked by MEC pretreatment with a p38 inhibitor but not a JNK inhibitor. The mislocalization of tricellulin at tricellular contact areas was confirmed in MECs treated with IL-1β or anisomycin. These results indicate that IL-1β is a key cytokine that adversely affects the TJs between MECs by activating p38.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1988

Management of hypophosphatemia

The etiology, clinical presentation, and management of hypophosphatemia are reviewed. Phosphorus is a major intracellular anion and plays an important role in many biochemical pathways relating to normal physiologic functions. Approximately 60 to 90% of the 1 to 1.5 g of daily dietary phosphorus intake is absorbed, and of that amount, about two thirds is excreted in the urine. The overall incidence of hypophosphatemia is about 2 to 3% of all hospitalized patients. Factors associated with hypophosphatemia include phosphate-binding antacid therapy, nasogastric suction, liver disease, sepsis, alcoholism, and acidosis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. Patients receiving parenteral nutrient solutions were also at higher risk for hypophosphatemia before the routine supplementation of these formulations with phosphate. Patients with hypophosphatemia may be asymptomatic or may experience weakness, malaise, anorexia, bone pain, and respiratory arrest. The major systems involved include the neuromuscular, hematologic, and skeletal systems. Phosphorus-containing products used to treat hypophosphatemia are a combination of monobasic and dibasic phosphate salts. Therefore, it is essential to calculate doses in millimoles rather than milligrams or milliequivalents to more accurately reflect the phosphorus concentration and to avoid potentially serious dosage errors. Normal daily requirements are readily maintained by dietary sources of phosphorus such as milk products or may be supplemented by phosphate-containing products administered orally or intravenously. Since phosphorus is a key factor in many organ systems, it is essential to monitor serum phosphorus concentrations in patients at risk for hypophosphatemia.

Review, Tutorial↗

DOE OSTI2024

Optimizing dietary rumen-degradable starch to rumen-degradable protein ratio improves lactation performance and nitrogen utilization efficiency in mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows

The dietary rumen-degradable starch (RDS) to rumen-degradable protein (RDP) ratio, denoted as the RDS-to-RDP ratio (SPR), has been proven to enhance in vitro rumen fermentation. However, the effects of dietary SPR in vivo remain largely unexplored. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary SPR on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation patterns, blood indicators, and nitrogen (N) partitioning in mid-lactating Holstein cows. Seventy-two Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to three groups (24 head/group), balanced for (mean ± standard deviation) days in milk (116 ± 21.5), parity (2.1 ± 0.8), milk production (42 ± 2.1 kg/d), and body weight (705 ± 52.5 kg). The cows were fed diets with low (2.1, control), medium (2.3), or high (2.5) SPR, formulated to be isoenergetic, isonitrogenous, and iso-starch. The study consisted of a one-week adaptation phase followed by an eight-week experimental period. The results indicated that the high SPR group had a lower dry matter intake compared to the other groups ( p < 0.05). A quadratic increase in milk yield and feed efficiency was observed with increasing dietary SPR ( p < 0.05), peaking in the medium SPR group. The medium SPR group exhibited a lower milk somatic cell count and a higher blood total antioxidant capacity compared to other groups ( p < 0.05). With increasing dietary SPR, there was a quadratic improvement ( p < 0.05) in the total tract apparent digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, starch, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber. Although no treatment effect was observed in rumen pH, the rumen total volatile fatty acids concentration and microbial crude protein synthesis increased quadratically ( p < 0.05) as dietary SPR increased. The molar proportion of propionate linearly increased ( p = 0.01), while branched-chain volatile fatty acids linearly decreased ( p = 0.01) with increasing dietary SPR. The low SPR group (control) exhibited higher concentration of milk urea N, rumen ammonia N, and blood urea N than other groups ( p < 0.05). Despite a linear decrease ( p < 0.05) in the proportion of urinary N to N intake, increasing dietary SPR led to a quadratic increase ( p = 0.01) in N utilization efficiency and a quadratic decrease ( p < 0.05) in the proportion of fecal N to N intake. In conclusion, optimizing dietary SPR has the potential to enhance lactation performance and N utilization efficiency. Based on our findings, a medium dietary SPR (with SPR = 2.3) is recommended for mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows. Nevertheless, further research on rumen microbial composition and metabolites is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the observed effects.

Chen, Panliang↗

DOE OSTI2025

Apomixis in Farmers’ Fields: Overview, Case Studies from Forage Grasses and Considerations for Future Apomictic Crops

Apomixis occurs naturally in several commercially important species from diverse plant families. While in some of these species apomixis is yet to be exploited in breeding schemes aimed at fixing heterosis, genetic progress and cultivar development, in other species apomixis has been integrated at different stages of breeding. Some of the most relevant examples come from the subfamily Panicoideae, the second largest subfamily of the Poaceae, and are the main focus of this review. The subfamily encompasses many tropical and sub-tropical grasses and grains of worldwide economic importance. Apomictic tropical forages are prime examples of how apomixis can be used and exploited in the development of marketable cultivars, which are essential to the meat and milk production industries globally. The main commercial forages used as grass pastures covering millions of hectares in tropical and sub-tropical regions are polyploids exhibiting gametophytic apomixis that belong to the genus Urochloa spp. (brachiariagrasses) and to the species Megathyrsus maximus (guineagrass). Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Paspalum spp. are other important apomictic forages bred and used in these regions. Breeding involves large germplasm collections from the centers of origin of the species, and for most of them, sexually reproducing diploid plants have been found. Chromosomically duplicated plants that maintain sexual reproduction are used in crosses with apomictic genotypes for the development and selection of cultivars to be marketed or used as progenitors in subsequent breeding cycles. The peculiarities of each genus/species breeding programs, the cultivars obtained from these programs, and the impact of use of marker assisted selection in cultivar development are presented. In addition, the test or implementation of new technologies such as high throughput phenotyping, and the use of machine learning methods for trait prediction and genomic selection are positively impacting the selection and speed of development of new polyploid apomictic cultivars. Furthermore, genetic transformation techniques, including genome editing, provide an additional layer for design of tailor-made, customer-oriented cultivars.

Cenchrus↗

DOE OSTI2020

Comprehensive analyses of 723 transcriptomes enhance genetic and biological interpretations for complex traits in cattle

By uniformly analyzing 723 RNA-seq data from 91 tissues and cell types, we built a comprehensive gene atlas and studied tissue specificity of genes in cattle. We demonstrated that tissue-specific genes significantly reflected the tissue-relevant biology, showing distinct promoter methylation and evolution patterns (e.g., brain-specific genes evolve slowest, whereas testisspecific genes evolve fastest). Through integrative analyses of those tissue-specific genes with large-scale genome-wide association studies, we detected relevant tissues/cell types and candidate genes for 45 economically important traits in cattle, including blood/immune system (e.g., CCDC88C) for male fertility, brain (e.g., TRIM46 and RAB6A) for milk production, and multiple growth-related tissues (e.g., FGF6 and CCND2) for body conformation. We validated these findings by using epigenomic data across major somatic tissues and sperm. Collectively, our findings provided novel insights into the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying complex traits in cattle, and our transcriptome atlas can serve as a primary source for biological interpretation, functional validation, studies of adaptive evolution, and genomic improvement in livestock.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

A New Method to Overcome Carboxyamide Formation During AFEX Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) in the plant cell wall are responsible for providing resistance against biomass-degrading enzymes produced by microorganisms. Four major types of lignin-carbohydrate bonds are reported in the literature, namely, benzyl ethers, benzyl esters, phenyl glycosides, and acetyl ester linkages. Ester’s linkages in the plant cell wall are labile to alkaline pretreatments, such as ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), which uses liquid or gaseous ammonia to cleave those linkages in the plant cell wall and reduce biomass recalcitrance. Two competing reactions, notably hydrolysis and ammonolysis, take place during AFEX pretreatment process, producing different aliphatic and aromatic acids, as well as their amide counterparts. AFEX pretreated grasses and agricultural residues are known to increase conversion of biomass to sugars by four- to five-fold when subjected to commercial enzyme hydrolysis, yielding a sustainable feedstock for producing biofuels, biomaterials, and animal feed. Animal feed trials on dairy cows have demonstrated a 27% increase in milk production when compared to a control feedstock. However, the presence of carboxamides in feedstocks could promote neurotoxicity in animals if consumed beyond a certain concentration. Thus, there is the need to overcome regulatory hurdles associated with commercializing AFEX pretreated biomass as animal feed in the United States. This manuscript demonstrates a modified pretreatment for increasing the digestibility of industrial byproducts such as Brewer’s spent grains (BSG) and high-fiber meal (HFM) produced from BSG and dry distillers grains with soluble (DDGS), while avoiding the production of carboxamides. The three industrial byproducts were first treated with calculated amounts of alkali such as NaOH, Ca(OH) 2 , or KOH followed by AFEX pretreatment. We found that 4% alkali was able to de-esterify BSG and DDGS more efficiently than using 2% alkali at both 10 and 20% solids loading. AFEX pretreatment of de-esterified BSG, HFM, and DDGS produced twofold higher glucan conversion than respective untreated biomass. This new discovery can help overcome potential regulatory issues associated with the presence of carboxamides in ammonia-pretreated animal feeds and is expected to benefit several farmers around the world.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS1992

Thermophilic Beta-Glycosidase

Report describes identification of thermophilic Beta-glycosidase enzyme from isolate of Sulfolobus solfataricus, sulfur-metabolizing archaebacteria growing aerobically and heterotrophically to relatively high cell yields. Enzyme useful in enzymatic conversion of cellulose to D-glucose and important in recycling of biomass. Used for removal of lactose from milk products. Offers promise as model substance for elucidation of basic principles of structural stabilization of proteins.

Grogan, Dennis W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Multipurpose Compound

Specially formulated derivatives of an unusual basic compound known as Alcide may be the answer to effective treatment and prevention of the disease bovine mastitis, a bacterial inflammation of a cow's mammary gland that results in loss of milk production and in extreme cases, death. Manufactured by Alcide Corporation the Alcide compound has killed all tested bacteria, virus and fungi, shortly after contact, with minimal toxic effects on humans or animals. Alcide Corporation credits the existence of the mastitis treatment/prevention products to assistance provided the company by NERAC, Inc.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2024

Engineered plants provide a photosynthetic platform for the production of diverse human milk oligosaccharides

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a diverse class of carbohydrates which support the health and development of infants. The vast health benefits of HMOs have made them a commercial target for microbial production; however, producing the approximately 200 structurally diverse HMOs at scale has proved difficult. Here we produce a diversity of HMOs by leveraging the robust carbohydrate anabolism of plants. This diversity includes high-value and complex HMOs, such as lacto-N-fucopentaose I. HMOs produced in transgenic plants provided strong bifidogenic properties, indicating their ability to serve as a prebiotic supplement with potential applications in adult and infant health. Technoeconomic analyses demonstrate that producing HMOs in plants provides a path to the large-scale production of specific HMOs at lower prices than microbial production platforms. Our work demonstrates the promise in leveraging plants for the low-cost and sustainable production of HMOs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1998

Milk and other dietary influences on coronary heart disease

While dietary links to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality have been studied for many years, the correlation has not clearly been resolved, especially for older populations. In this paper, a multi-country statistical approach involving 32 countries is used to find dietary links to IHD and CHD for various age groups aged 35+. For IHD, milk carbohydrates were found to have the highest statistical association for males aged 35+ and females aged 65+, while for females aged 35-64, sugar was found to have the highest association. In the case of CHD, non-fat milk was found to have the highest association for males aged 45+ and females aged 75+, while for females 65-74, milk carbohydrates and sugar had the highest associations, and for females aged 45-64, sugar had the highest association. A number of mechanisms have been proposed in the literature that might explain the milk carbohydrate or non-fat milk association. One of the most prominent theories is that animal proteins contribute to homocysteine (Hcy) production; however, milk more than meat lacks adequate B vitamins to convert Hcy to useful products. Lactose and calcium in conjunction with Hcy from consumption of non-fat milk may also contribute to calcification of the arteries.

Coronary Disease/etiology↗