Transcriptional reprogramming in rumen epithelium during the developmental transition of pre-ruminant to the ruminant in cattle

Abstract

We present an analysis of transcriptomic dynamics in rumen epithelium of 18 Holstein calves during the transition from pre-rumination to rumination in cattle-fed hay or concentrated diets at weaning. Three calves each were euthanized at 14 and 42 d of age to exemplify preweaning, and six calves each were provided diets of either milk replacer and grass hay or calf starter to introduce weaning. The two distinct phases of rumen development and function in cattle are tightly regulated by a series of signaling events and clusters of effectors on critical pathways. The dietary shift from liquid to solid feeds prompted the shifting of gene activity. The number of differentially expressed genes increased significantly after weaning. Bioinformatic analysis revealed gene activity shifts underline the functional transitions in the ruminal epithelium and signify the transcriptomic reprogramming. Gene ontogeny (GO) term enrichment shows extensively activated biological functions of differentially expressed genes in the ruminal epithelium after weaning were predominant metabolic functions. The transcriptomic reprogramming signifies a correlation between gene activity and changes in metabolism and energy production in the rumen epithelium, which occur at weaning when transitioning from glucose use to VFA use by epithelium during the weaning.