Lactation is characterized by an increase in energy demand and glucose consumption, which may also be linked to the concurrent compromise in immune function during early lactation. Magnesium (Mg) could be involved in this link based on its role for more than 600 metabolic reactions associated with energy metabolism, in addition to its essential role in glucose metabolism. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of Mg supplementation on the expression of glucose and Mg transport-associated genes in blood cells (predominantly leukocytes) of lactating ewes and to identify possible correlations between the expression of these genes and leukocyte subpopulations. Pregnant ewes were divided into a control group (Control, n = 8) and a Mg group (Mg, n = 8), the latter supplemented with magnesium oxide at a daily Mg intake of approximately 0.30% and 0.38% of dry matter during the last four weeks of gestation and the first four weeks after lambing, respectively. At the end of the supplementation period, blood samples were collected in PAXgene tubes in order to determine the mRNA expression of glucose transporters (GLUT1, GLUT3 and GLUT4) and genes linked to Mg transport (SLC41A1, CNNM2, TRPM6, TRPM7 and MagT1) in blood cells. Mg supplementation tended to increase the expression of GLUT1 in blood cells (P = 0.087). Expression values of GLUT3, SLC41A1, CNNM2, TRPM6, TRPM7, and MagT1 were not significantly changed (P > 0.1). Interestingly, GLUT4 was not detected in either group. Counts of circulating neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes showed no significant differences between the two groups. Furthermore, no correlations were observed between the expression of the investigated genes and specific leukocyte subpopulation percentages/frequenciies. In conclusion, the expression of a variety of glucose and Mg transport-associated genes did not respond to dietary Mg supplementation. Nonetheless, a tendency towards higher expression of GLUT1 in the Mg group might support an involvement of Mg in the regulation of glucose metabolism of ovine blood cells.

泌乳的特点是能量需求和葡萄糖消耗增加，这也可能与泌乳早期免疫功能同时受损有关。除了在葡萄糖代谢中的重要作用外，镁 (Mg) 还可能参与这一环节，因为它在与能量代谢相关的 600 多种代谢反应中发挥作用。因此，目前的研究旨在调查补充镁对泌乳母羊血细胞（主要是白细胞）中葡萄糖和镁转运相关基因表达的影响，并确定这些基因表达与白细胞亚群之间可能的相关性。妊娠母羊分为对照组（Control，n = 8）和Mg组（Mg，n = 8），后者在妊娠的最后 4 周和产羔后的前 4 周分别补充氧化镁，每日镁摄入量约为干物质的 0.30% 和 0.38%。在补充期结束时，将血样收集在 PAXgene 管中以确定葡萄糖转运蛋白的 mRNA 表达。GLUT1、GLUT3和GLUT4）以及与血细胞中镁转运相关的基因（SLC41A1、CNNM2、TRPM6、TRPM7和MagT1）。镁补充剂倾向于增加血细胞中GLUT1的表达（P  = 0.087）。GLUT3、SLC41A1、CNNM2、TRPM6、TRPM7和MagT1的表达值无显着变化（P > 0.1）。有趣的是，GLUT4两组均未检出。两组之间循环中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞和单核细胞的计数没有显着差异。此外，在所研究基因的表达与特定白细胞亚群百分比/频率之间没有观察到相关性。总之，多种葡萄糖和镁转运相关基因的表达对膳食镁补充没有反应。尽管如此，Mg 组中GLUT1更高表达的趋势可能支持 Mg 参与调节绵羊血细胞的葡萄糖代谢。