Sodium butyrate promotes milk fat synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells via GPR41 and its downstream signalling pathways

Objective: Short-chain fatty acids were reported to be the precursors of milk fat and can stimulate the de novo synthesis of fatty acids in bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs). However, the mechanism has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate (NaB) on milk fat synthesis in bMECs and explore its potential mechanism. Methods: Bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs) were isolated for subsequent experimental uses. BODIPY staining and triglyceride kit were used to detect the milk fat synthesis in bMECs. Western blotting and RT-PCR assays were performed to detect the expression of related genes in bMECs. Immunoprecipitation was used to detect the acetylation of SREBP1 in bMECs. Results: The results showed that NaB significantly promoted milk fat synthesis, promoted the activity of me-chanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 kinase (S6K), inhibited the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and promoted the gene expression of G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41). Knockdown of GPR41 and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and overexpression of sirtuin1 (SIRT1), mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin), and AMPK activator (AICIR) eliminated these effects. These results indicated that NaB increased the nuclear translocation of SREBP1 via the GPR41/AMPK/mTOR/S6K signalling pathway, promoted the acetylation of mature SREBP1a via GPR41/AMPK/SIRT1, and then promoted milk fat synthesis. Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrated that NaB increased nuclear translocation and acetylation of SREBP1 to promote milk fat synthesis by activating GPR41 and its downstream signalling pathways.