China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 671-681.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.015

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Total Alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides Added to a High-concentrate Diet on Hepatic Glucose Metabolism in Sheep Based on Transcriptome Sequencing

SUN Lu(), LI Shufang, WANG Lina, ZHAO Jianxin, LU Henan, WANG Hairong()   

  1. Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science,Higher Education Institutions of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,College of Animal Science,Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,Hohhot 010018,China
  • Received:2025-07-02 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: WANG Hairong E-mail:1528896248@qq.com;wanghairong97@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which liver injury in sheep was alleviated and the key pathways of glucose metabolism were regulated through the addition of total alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides to high-concentrate diets based on transcriptome sequencing. Method Eighteen 3-month-old Dumont male sheep were randomly divided into three groups: G1 (concentrate to roughage ratio was 50∶50), G2 (concentrate to roughage ratio was 70∶30), and S3 (concentrate to roughage ratio was 70∶30, added with 121 mg/kg total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides). After a 15-day pre-feeding period and a 60-day experimental period, three sheep were randomly selected from each group for slaughter. Liver tissue was collected for transcriptomic sequencing, with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified and subjected to GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The fold changes in gene expression levels for glucose metabolism were further analyzed to evaluate expression differences in key enzyme genes, with four genes selected for validation via Real-time quantitative PCR. Result In the G2 vs G1 group,411 DEGs were identified (233 up-regulated,178 down-regulated). In the S3 vs G2 group,3 664 DEGs were identified (1 799 up-regulated,1 865 down-regulated).GO functional enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs in the G2 vs G1 group were primarily enriched in entries such as extracellular matrix and inflammatory and immune responses. Whereas the DEGs in the S3 vs G2 group were mainly enriched in entries related to immune system regulation and positive regulation of biological processes. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that no pathways related to glucose metabolism were significant enriched in the G2 vs G1 group. Whereas the S3 vs G2 group exhibited significant enrichment of DEGs across six glucose metabolism-related pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and inositol phosphate metabolism. In the glycolysis pathway, the expression levels of HK1, HK2, HK3, and PFKP genes were significantly downregulated, while the expression level of PKLR gene was significantly upregulated (P<0.05). In the citrate cycle pathway, the expression level of MDH2 gene was significantly increased (P<0.05). The results of Real-time quantitative PCR validation for PCK1, G6PC1, IDH3B, and SDHC genes were consistent with those of transcriptomic sequencing. Conclusion The total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides could alleviate high-concentrate diet induced inflammation and fibrosis in sheep liver by enriching functions related to immune system regulation and positive regulation of biological processes. The expression of key gluconeogenesis enzyme genes was increased, the expression of upstream glycolysis enzyme genes was inhibited, and the expression of downstream glycolysis enzyme genes was promoted, while the liver citrate cycle was enhanced. Through these effects, the glucose metabolism disorders induced by high-concentrate diet were ameliorated, and systemic glucose metabolic homeostasis was maintained.

Key words: total alkaloids from Sophora alopecuroides; high-concentrate diet; sheep; glucose metabolism; transcriptome

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