Effect of transport stress on apoptosis and autophagy in goat lung cells (2025)

Zhuo, Y., Hu, Y., Jin, Y. et al.

Abstract

Introduction Road transportation exposes goats to thermal, mechanical, and microbial stressors that can compromise their welfare by triggering pulmonary apoptosis and autophagy processes associated with tissue damage and immunosuppression. Methods To explore potential biomarkers for transport-related welfare assessment, this study analyzed lung tissues from nine Ganxi goats (n = 9; 0 h control, 2 h/6 h transport groups) through an integrated experimental approach: TUNEL assays quantified apoptosis rates, immunohistochemistry mapped protein localization, Western blotting analyzed protein expression levels, and qPCR profiled gene expression of apoptotic regulators (Bax, Bcl-2) alongside autophagy-related markers (LC3B, p62, PINK1, Parkin). Results Results indicated time-dependent cellular stress patterns, where the 2 h group displayed elevated apoptosis rates, while the 6 h group exhibited upregulated Parkin expression (p 6 h) requiring characterization of cumulative autophagic impacts. The mechanistic insights can contribute to developing science-informed strategies for assessing transport stress, aligning animal welfare research with objectives to enhance sustainable livestock management practices.