Sodium Butyrate Improves High-Concentrate-Diet-Induced Impairment of Ruminal Epithelium Barrier Function in Goats

The pH of rumen fluid in goats fed a high-concentrate diet with 1% sodium butyrate was higher than that in goats fed a high-concentrate diet alone.

• Sodium butyrate feeding is associated with reduced protein kinase C activity in the rumen epithelium compared to a high-concentrate diet alone.
• Lower levels of certain signaling proteins were observed in the rumen epithelium of goats receiving sodium butyrate or a low-concentrate diet.
• The DNA methylation rate of occludin was reduced in goats fed sodium butyrate or a low-concentrate diet compared to those on a high-concentrate diet.
• Increased expression of tight junction proteins was found in the rumen epithelium of goats fed sodium butyrate and a low-concentrate diet.
• Sodium butyrate may help protect the rumen epithelium from damage associated with high-concentrate diets.

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