High-grain diets suppress ruminal tissue abundance of angiopoietin-like protein 4 in cattle

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is expressed in bovine ruminal epithelium, making it possible that dietary components or commensal microbes may influence gastrointestinal ANGPTL4 production via interactions at the mucosal surface. Therefore, we conducted 3 experiments to evaluate the effects of dietary concentrate level and VFA infusions on ANGPTL4 abundance in ruminal tissue. In Exp. 1, we assigned 12 nonlactating Holstein cows to either 8% or 64% concentrate diets; diets were fed 28 d before euthanasia and ruminal tissue collection. Ruminal tissue and plasma ANGPTL4 protein abundance were unaltered by treatment. In Exp. 2, we assigned 8 continental crossbred heifers to either a 45% or 90% concentrate diet; diets were fed for 75 d before euthanasia and ruminal tissue collection. Compared with the 45% concentrate diet, the 90% concentrate diet decreased (P < 0.01) ruminal tissue ANGPTL4 protein abundance. In Exp. 3, we assigned 6 ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows to a treatment sequence in replicated 3 × 3 Latin squares and fed a standard lactation diet. Cows were infused with 5 mol/d sodium acetate, sodium propionate, or sodium butyrate for 2 d. Infusions of VFA did not affect (P > 0.10) mRNA or protein abundance of ANGPTL4 in ruminal papillae. Ruminal papillae ANGPTL4 abundance was, however, negatively correlated with (P = 0.01) ruminal VFA concentrations. ANGPTL4 abundance in ruminal tissue decreases in response to very high dietary concentrate and is inversely correlated with ruminal total VFA concentrations.