Research Progress

• Response of Various Adipose Depots to Branched-chain Amino Acids Supplementation: Evaluation in a Piglet Model

  study in piglets has found that branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation in low-protein (LP) diets could alter the body fat condition, and this effect was likely modulated by the expression of lipid metabolic regulators in dorsal subcutaneous adipose (DSA), abdominal subcutaneous adipose (ASA), and perirenal adipose (PRA) tissues in a depot-specific manner. These findings, by researchers at the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have been published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

  May 19, 2017
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  Ruminal Methanogen Community Changes in Response to the Rumen Development and the Addition of Rhubarb

  Recently, an international research performed by the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture,Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISA) and the Lethbridge Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) together has clarified the changes of ruminal methanogen community during rumen development (from 1 d to 60 d after birth) in Xiangdong black goats (a local breed of goat in Changsha), and how rhubarb supplementation affected the methanogenic community.

  May 18, 2017
• Water Management and Fertilization Effects on Rice Rhizodeposition and Carbon Stabilization in Paddy Soils

  Paddy soil, the largest anthropogenic soil on earth, plays a strategic role in the global carbon sequestration. However, an understanding of how paddy soil plays its role in mitigating the global increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations requires investigation into the management of SOC sources, pools, spatial distribution, and stabilisation processes.

  Apr 17, 2017
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  Targeting Myofibers in the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes

  Mammalian skeletal muscles are composed of two major fiber-types (I and II) that differ in terms of size, metabolism, and contractile properties. In general, slow-twitch type I fibers are rich in mitochondria and have a greater insulin sensitivity than fast-twitch type II skeletal muscles. Although not widely appreciated, a forced induction of the slow skeletal muscle phenotype may inhibit the progress of obesity and diabetes (Figure 1). This potentially forms the basis for targeting slow/oxidative myofibers in the treatment of obesity. In this context, a better understanding of the molecular basis of fiber-type specification and plasticity may help to identify potential therapeutic targets and hence improve human health and fitness. Intriguingly, in contrast to the salutary effects of slow-twitch muscle fibers described above, several studies report that increased mass and function of glycolytic muscle fibers have beneficial effect on obesity and T2DM (Figure 2).

  Apr 10, 2017
• Turnover and Microbial Utilization of Four Different Photosynthesized Carbon in Paddy Soil

  Recently, researchers in the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture,Chinese Academy of Sciences(ISA) employed 13C labelling techniques and 13C-PLFA-SIP to investigate the turnover and microbial utilization of organic C from different sources by conducting a 300 days incubation study with four different 13C-labelled substrates: rice shoots (Shoot-C), rice roots (Root-C), rice rhizodeposits (Rhizo-C), and microbe-assimilated C (Micro-C).

  Mar 17, 2017
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  Ruminal Bacteria Community Evolves as Rumen Develops, and Rhubarb Could Alter its Composition as a Feed Additive

  Given the significance of ruminal bacteria in rumen fermentation and production performance of ruminants, extensive efforts have been taken to explore the relationship between the bacteria colonization and rumen development. Researchers also hope to find a way to shape ruminal bacteria in early life towards an efficient community which can last until the later period and thus benefit the production performance as well as the health welfare of ruminants to a great extent.

  Mar 15, 2017
• Scientists Control the Rate of Algal Blooms in Freshwater System

  Recently, researchers in the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISA) have investigated the allelopathic effects of Myriophyllum aquaticum and its exudate on two typical bloom-forming cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena flos-aquae under laboratory conditions

  Mar 15, 2017
• Chinese Herbal Medicine Contributes to the Gastrointestinal Tract Health in the Calves

  Acanthopanax senticosus (AS), a tonic and sedative Chinese herbal medicine, is well known to be highly effective in treating various conditions, including stress-induced pathophysiologic changes and inflammation. AS contains acanthosides, triterpenic saponin, polysaccharide, flavone, senticoside, organic acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Saponin may be responsible for the biological activities of AS.

  Mar 04, 2017
• Herbivorous Geese were Significantly Influenced by Wintering Habitat Changes in the East Dongting Lake

  Changes in herbivorous goose populations in relation to changes in their wintering habitat are of great concern in the major overwintering region in EAAF. The spatio-temporal evaluation of the waterbird-habitat relationship not only directly reflects the wintering herbivorous goose population pattern and their habitat quality but also promotes the development of wetland management strategies for protecting these valuable species in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River from the effects of human intervention, and in particular, the Three Gorges dam project.

  Mar 03, 2017
• Will Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids be More Helpful When They are Taken in the Morning?

  A team of researchers from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISA) studied the daily pattern of PUFA contents and expression of genes related to de novo synthesis of long chain PUFA, with a pig model. The researchers collected blood and liver samples in a day at 3: 00 a.m., 7: 00 a.m., 11: 00 a.m., 15: 00 p.m., 19: 00 p.m., 23: 00 p.m., respectively.

  Feb 21, 2017