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Localization of urea transporter B in the developing bovine rumen
Zhong, Chongliang Lyons, Tamsin Heussaff, Orla Doyle, Evelyn O'Hara, Eoin Waters, Sinead M. Kenny, David Stewart, Gavin S.
Zhong, Chongliang
Lyons, Tamsin
Heussaff, Orla
Doyle, Evelyn
O'Hara, Eoin
Waters, Sinead M.
Kenny, David
Stewart, Gavin S.
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2022-09-30
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Chongliang Zhong, Tamsin Lyons, Orla Heussaff, Evelyn Doyle, Eoin O'Hara, Sinead M. Waters, David Kenny, Gavin S. Stewart, Localization of urea transporter B in the developing bovine rumen, Animal Nutrition, Volume 10, 2022, Pages 216-222, ISSN 2405-6545, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2022.03.006.
Abstract
Urea nitrogen secreted from blood to rumen is a crucial factor shaping the symbiotic relationship between host ruminants and their microbial populations. Passage of urea across rumen epithelia is facilitated by urea transporter B (UT-B), but the long-term regulation of these proteins remains unclear. As ruminal function develops over a period of months, the developing rumen is an excellent model with which to investigate this regulation. Using rumen epithelium samples of calves from birth to 96 d of age, this study performed immunolocalization studies to localize and semi-quantify UT-B protein development. As expected, preliminary experiments confirmed that ruminal monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) short chain fatty acid transporter protein abundance increased with age (P < 0.01, n = 4). Further investigation revealed that ruminal UT-B was present in the first few weeks of life and initially detected in the basolateral membrane of stratum basale cells. Over the next 2 months, UT-B staining spread to other epithelial layers and semi-quantification indicated that UT-B abundance significantly increased with age (P < 0.01, n = 4 or 6). These changes were in line with the development of rumen function after the advent of solid feed intake and weaning, exhibiting a similar pattern to both MCT1 transporters and papillae growth. This study therefore confirmed age-dependent changes of in situ ruminal UT-B protein, adding to our understanding of the long-term regulation of ruminal urea transporters.