Effects of rumen-protected fat on changes of metabolites and reproductive genes in testes of Malin rams

Abstract

The effects of RPF on metabolites and reproductive genes in testes of Malin ram was investigated. Twenty Malin rams (36.6kg ± 5.57 kg of bodyweight), were subjected to four dietary treatments; A: basal diet without rumen-protected fat (RPF), B; basal diet with 2% prilled fat, C; basal diet with 2% calcium salt and D; basal diet with 2% canola oil. At the end of the experiment four out of five animals from each group were slaughtered. The testes were excised for metabolites and gene expression stud-ies. The genes tested were associated to testes development and spermatogenesis (ODF1, SERPINA10, CatSper4, AdipoR2 and DAZL). Feeding RPF with calcium salt (Treatment C) has resulted in the up-regulation more than two folds in all reproductive genes. There were metabolites changes occurred between the groups and identified 44 important putative metabolites present in the testes. In conclu-sion, feeding of RPF to the animals as a source of energy has up-regulated the genes and identified the metabolites involve in the male reproductive tissues and activities.

Keywords

• energy
• fat
• gene expression
• metabolites
• sheep