Fig. 7

a Gene ontology analysis of genes based on DEGs. The enriched genes of 73 significantly altered GO terms include the regulation of three modules: protein activity processes (modification and degradation), substance transport, and cell growth (apoptosis and proliferation) are displayed on the histogram plot. Only terms with p < 0.05 were considered. b Differentially expressed genes related to the cell growth module in the rumen epithelium of lambs in the ST group (n = 4) compared with the CON group (n = 4). The values are presented as log₂ (fold change). The FDR was calculated based on the p value. ^#FDR < 0.05, ^##FDR < 0.01, ^###FDR < 0.001. qRT-PCR validation of transcriptomic results in the rumen epithelium of lambs in the ST group (n = 10) compared with the CON group (n = 10). The values are presented as log₂ (fold change). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001