China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 299-309.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.01.027

• Physiological and Biochemical • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of Metabolite Changes Before and After Exercise in Tumbler Pigeons Based on Untargeted Metabolomics

LIU Xiangxi(), LI Haiying(), ZHAO Xiaoyu(), WU Yingping, YAO Yingying, WANG Zening   

  1. College of Animal Science,Xinjiang Agricultural University,Urumqi 830052,China
  • Received:2025-03-24 Online:2026-01-05 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: LI Haiying, ZHAO Xiaoyu E-mail:2160426177@qq.com;lhy-3@163.com;729115360@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective The trial aimed to investigate the changes in blood gas indices and plasma differential metabolites in tumbler pigeons before and after exercise, analyze their blood acid-base balance and metabolic differences, and provide data support for exploring the exercise and fatigue recovery mechanisms of this breed. Method Twelve healthy 180-day-old tumbler pigeons (6 males and 6 females) were selected. Blood samples were collected in a resting state before exercise and after exhaustive exercise for blood gas analysis and non-targeted metabolomics analysis. Differential metabolites before and after exercise in the pigeons were screened, and metabolic pathway analysis was conducted. Result Blood gas analysis revealed that, compared to pre-exercise levels, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in blood (PvCO₂) and total carbon dioxide (TCO₂) levels were significantly decreased after exercise (P < 0.05), while the hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in bicarbonate (HCO3) and sodium ion (Na+) levels (P>0.05).Plasma metabolomics analysis identified differential metabolites in both positive and negative ion modes following exercise compared to pre-exercise levels. The levels of the metabolites allopurinol riboside, sphingomyelin, trans-aconitic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, loganetin and succinyladenosine were significantly higher than before exercise (P<0.05). Conversely, the levels of the metabolites glycyl-leucine, aminohexanoic acid, decursinol, heptadecanoic acid, and palmitoleic acid were significantly lower than before exercise (P<0.05). Differential metabolites were significantly enriched in pathways including phenylalanine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Conclusion Under the conditions of this experiment, compared to pre-exercise levels,the concentrations of PvCO2 and TCO2 in the blood of tumbler pigeons were significantly decreased after exercise, the concentrations of Hct and Hb were extremely significantly decreased. Moreover, exercise mainly affected the glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism of tumbler pigeons. The experimental results provided a theoretical basis for the post-exercise recovery and breeding selection of tumbler pigeons.

Key words: tumbler pigeon; exercise; blood gas indicators; metabolite

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