Rhodotorula Yeast Culture Improved the Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Metabolism, and Immunity of Sheep Livers

Abstract

There is currently no research on the application evaluation of R. mucilaginosa yeast culture (RYC) in animal production. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of RYC on the antioxidant capacity, lipid metabolism, and immunity of sheep livers. Twenty-four 3-month-old Duhan male sheep (36 ± 4 kg) were divided into four groups. The control group received a basal diet, the L group received a basal diet + 10 g/sheep/day RYC, the M group received a basal diet + 20 g/sheep/day RYC, and the H group received a basal diet + 40 g/sheep/day RYC. The trial lasted for 75 days. The results showed that the content of glutathione peroxidase in the livers of sheep in group M was significantly increased by 26.6%, and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased by 38% (p < 0.05). Additionally, the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased; the liver content of C16:0 decreased; and the levels of C18:2n6C and C20:1 increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the contents of cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ in sheep livers from the M group were also significantly decreased by 20% and 24.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that supplementation with 20 g/sheep/day RYC can enhance antioxidant capacity, improve lipid metabolism, and reduce inflammation in sheep livers, which is advantageous for farming healthy sheep.

Keywords: Rhodotorula yeast culture; antioxidation; fatty acid; immunity; lipid metabolism; sheep.

Figure 1

The mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes in sheep livers. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 5). Values with different letters indicate statistical significance at p < 0.05. CON = fed a basal diet; L = fed a basal diet + 10 g/sheep/day RYC; M = fed a basal diet + 20 g/sheep/day RYC; H = fed a basal diet + 40 g/sheep/day RYC. GPx1: glutathione peroxidase 1; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; SOD1: superoxide dismutase 1; CAT: catalase; HO-1: heme oxygenase-1.

Figure 2

The mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in sheep livers. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 5). Values with different letters indicate statistical significance at p < 0.05. CON = fed basal diet; L = fed basal diet + 10 g/sheep/day RYC; M = fed basal diet + 20 g/sheep/day RYC; H = fed basal diet + 40 g/sheep/day RYC. PPARG: peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ; FASN: fatty acid synthase; HSL: hormone-sensitive lipase; ACC: acetyl CoA carboxylase; FABP1: fatty acid binding protein 1; CPTT1β: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1β; SREBP1: sterol regulatory element binding protein 1; SCD: stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; LPL: lipoprotein lipase.

Figure 3

The mRNA expression of immunity-related genes in sheep livers. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 5). Values with different letters indicate statistical significance at p < 0.05. CON = fed basal diet; L = fed basal diet + 10 g/sheep/day RYC; M = fed basal diet + 20 g/sheep/day RYC; H = fed basal diet + 40 g/sheep/day RYC. TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IFN-γ: interferon-γ; IL-1β: interleukin 1β; IL-6: interleukin 6; IL-10: interleukin 10; TLR4: toll-like receptor 4; NF-κBp65: nuclear factor kappa-B p65; MyD88: myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88.