Different housing technology, breed, age and nutrition can contribute to changes in the composition of microbial communities in pigs. Faecal samples from groups of Mangalica and commercial pigs were collected and analysed by qPCR in order to identify changes and differences regarding the quantity of total faecal bacteria, Prevotella genus, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and the family Enterobacteriaceae. In both Mangalica and commercial pig samples, quantities of total faecal bacteria increased from weaner pigs to lactating sows. The relative quantity of total bacteria was larger (p<0.05) in Mangalica growers and lactating sows compared to commercial pigs. The ratio of Prevotella genus in total bacteria was higher (p<0.05) in Mangalica growers and lower in Mangalica lactating sows compared to respective commercial groups. The ratio of Lactobacillus spp. was largest (p<0.05) in samples of Mangalica boars, whereas ratios of Bifidobacterium spp. were greater (p<0.05) in Mangalica weaners, growers, and boars. Faecal samples of Mangalica growers contained a higher ratio of Enterobacteriaceae in total bacteria, whereas Enterococcus spp. was more prevalent in commercial weaner pigs and boars (p<0.05). Considerable changes in faecal bacteria communities were observed in association with different age and utilization.

Objective: Effects of linseed oil (LO) supplementation on the fat content and fatty acid profile of breast meat, and the expression of three genes in the liver, breast muscle and fat tissues of commercial 154-day-old hybrid male turkeys were investigated. Methods: The animals in the control group were fed a commercially available feed and received no LO supplementation (n = 70), whereas animals in the LO group (n = 70) were fed the same basic diet supplemented with LO (day 15 to 21, 0.5%; day 22 to 112, 1%). The effect of dietary LO supplementation on fatty acid composition of breast muscle was examined by gas chromatography, and the expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) genes was analysed by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The LO supplementation affected the fatty acid composition of breast muscle. Hepatic FADS2 levels were considerably lower (p<0.001), while adipose tissue expression was higher (p<0.05) in the control compared to the LO group. The PPARγ expression was lower (p<0.05), whereas IGF1 was higher (p<0.05) in the fat of control animals. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in FADS2, PPARγ, and IGF1 gene expressions of breast muscle; however, omega-6/omega-3 ratio of breast muscle substantially decreased (p<0.001) in the LO group compared to control. Conclusion: Fatty acid composition of breast meat was positively influenced by LO supplementation without deterioration of fattening parameters. Remarkably, increased FADS2 expression in the liver of LO supplemented animals was associated with a significantly decreased omega-6/omega-3 ratio, providing a potentially healthier meat product for human consumption. Increased PPARγ expression in fat tissue of the LO group was not associated with fat content of muscle, whereas a decreased IGF1 expression in fat tissue was associated with a trend of decreasing fat content in muscle of the experimental LO group.

The Ca 2+ entry mechanism that sustains the Ca 2+ oscillations in fertilized pig oocytes was investigated. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and ORAI1 proteins tagged with various fluorophores were expressed in the oocytes. In some cells, the Ca 2+ stores were depleted using cyclopiazonic acid (CPA); others were inseminated. Changes in the oocytes' cytosolic free Ca 2+ concentration were monitored, while interaction between the expressed fusion proteins was investigated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Store depletion led to an increase of the FRET signal in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, indicating that Ca 2+ release was followed by an interaction between these proteins. A similar FRET increase in response to CPA was also detected in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-STIM1, which is consistent with STIM1 forming punctae after store depletion. ML-9, an inhibitor that can interfere with STIM1 puncta formation, blocked store-operated Ca 2+ entry (SOCE) induced by Ca 2+ add-back after a CPA treatment; it also disrupted the Ca 2+ oscillations in fertilized oocytes. In addition, oocytes overexpressing mVenus-STIM1 showed high-frequency Ca 2+ oscillations when fertilized, arguing for an active role of the protein. High-frequency Ca 2+ oscillations were also detected in fertilized oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, and both of these high-frequency Ca 2+ oscillations could be stopped by inhibitors of SOCE. Importantly, in oocytes co-expressing mVenus-STIM1 and mTurquoise2-ORAI1, we were also able to detect cyclic increases of the FRET signal indicating repetitive interactions between STIM1 and ORAI1. The results confirm the notion that in pig oocytes, SOCE is involved in the maintenance of the repetitive Ca 2+ transients at fertilization.

The authors study the current status of Hungarian Cikta Sheep based on genetic background of scrapie resistance. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the relative frequency of prion haplotypes, -genotypes, and risk categories as well as to reveal the efficiency of scrapie eradication program achieved over the last decade. The authors confirmed based on larger sample size the previous knowledge, that the resistance against scrapie of Cikta breed is considered as low, and the classification of this breed according to risk category has not been improved. However, the frequent genotype ARQ and risk category 3 can also be considered for breed specificity. The careful use of these genotypes is permitted and will contribute to the maintenance of breed diversity according to other aspects.