Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (9): 4204-4214.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.09.007

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress of Heat Stress Affect Digestive Tract Barrier Function of Ruminants by Interfering with Biological Clock

YI Huanming1,2(), BAO Guosheng1,2, WAN Hui1,2, OU Jingyu1,2, HE Xiaolong1,2, REN Chunhuan1,2, CHEN Jiahong3, ZHANG Zijun1,2, WANG Qiangjun1,2,*()   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
    2. Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Germplasm Innovation of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource, Hefei 230036, China
    3. Jianghuai Watershed Comprehensive Experiment Station of Anhui Agricultural University, Dingyuan 233282, China
  • Received:2024-09-09 Online:2025-09-23 Published:2025-09-30
  • Contact: WANG Qiangjun E-mail:1342877790@qq.com;wangqiangjun@ahau.edu.cn

Abstract:

In recent years, as the global greenhouse effect has become more serious, frequent extreme weather has caused huge economic losses to animal husbandry. Especially in the summer when heat waves are frequent, continuous high temperatures can cause heat stress reactions in ruminants, resulting in stunted growth and development, increased mortality, and serious restrictions on the high-quality development of animal husbandry. Studies have found that heat stress has a particularly significant impact on the intestinal health of young ruminants, causing disordered intestinal microbial flora structure, oxidative stress damage, and increased barrier permeability. However, most existing studies only explore intestinal damage caused by heat stress at a single time point, but the latest research reveals that intestinal barrier function is not static but shows circadian rhythmic changes. To this end, this article reviews the effects of heat stress on the circadian rhythm of the digestive tract biological clock and barrier function of ruminants on a diurnal time scale, in order to find potential pathways and mechanisms for heat stress to regulate digestive tract barrier function through the biological clock, and provide new ideas for precise production and environmental management of ruminants.

Key words: heat stress, biological clock, digestive tract barrier

CLC Number: