The Impacts of Dietary Fermented Mao-tai Lees on Growth Performance, Plasma Metabolites, and Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites of Weaned Piglets

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with fermented Mao-tai lees (FML) on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and intestinal microbiota and metabolites of weaned piglets. A total of 128 Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire piglets (28-days old) were randomly assigned to one of four groups, feeding a basal diet (control group), a basal diet supplemented with 2, 4 or 6% FML, respectively, for 42days. The results showed that dietary 4% FML supplementation had higher (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and plasma triglyceride concentration during days 1–14 of the trial than the other FML supplemented groups. In addition, dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ADG during days 15–28 of the trial and plasma total protein concentration on day 42 of the trial compared with the 6% FML supplement. The plasma concentrations of arginine, ethanolamine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, proline, taurine, threonine, and tyrosine were increased (p<0.05) in the 4% FML group compared with the other three groups on day 14 of the trial. Dietary supplementation with 2–6% FML decreased (p<0.05) the plasma urea nitrogen concentration on day 14 of the trial and the abundance of Escherichia coli in the colon, and dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation decreased (p<0.05) the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria compared with the control group. In the intestinal contents, a higher concentration of FML (6%) supplementation decreased (p<0.05) the colonic acetate concentration compared with the control and 2% FML groups, while 4% FML supplementation increased (p<0.05) the colonic cadaverine concentration compared with the other three groups. In conclusion, dietary 4% FML supplementation might contribute to the increased amino acids metabolism without affecting the growth performance of weaned piglets. Moreover, dietary 2 and 4% FML supplementation were also beneficial to intestinal health via decreasing the abundances of specific pathogens and increasing the concentrations of microbial metabolites in the gut, which provides the theoretical basis and data support for the application of FML in pigs.

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Effects of Dietary Zinc Sources on Growth Performance and Gut Health of Weaned Piglets

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.771617 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Diao ◽

Jiayou Yan ◽

Shuwei Li ◽

Shengyao Kuang ◽

Xiaolan Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Expression Level ◽

Control Group ◽

Mrna Expression Level ◽

Gut Health ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Zinc Sources

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary zinc sources on the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets. In total, 96 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) weaned piglets with an initial average body weight of 8.81±0.42kg were divided into four groups, with six replicates per treatment and four pigs per replicate. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: (1) control group, basal diet; (2) zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) group, basal diet +100mg/kg ZnSO4; (3) glycine zinc (Gly-Zn) group, basal diet +100mg/kg Gly-Zn and (4) zinc lactate group, and basal diet +100mg/kg zinc lactate. The whole trial lasted for 28days. Decreased F/G was noted in the Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups (p<0.05). The zinc lactate group had a lower diarrhea rate than the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the ZnSO4, Gly-Zn, and zinc lactate groups had significantly higher apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude ash, and zinc than the control group (p<0.05). The Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups had higher jejunal villus height and a higher villus height:crypt depth ratio than the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the ZnSO4, Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups had a significantly lower mRNA expression level of jejunal ZRT/IRT-like protein 4 (ZIP4) and higher mRNA expression level of jejunal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) than the control group (p<0.05). The mRNA expression level of jejunal zinc transporter 2 (ZNT2) was higher and that of jejunal Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) was lower in the Gly-Zn and zinc lactate groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, the zinc lactate group had a higher count of Lactobacillus spp. in the cecal digesta and higher mRNA expression levels of jejunal occludin and mucin 2 (MUC2) than the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 100mg/kg ZnSO4, Gly-Zn, or zinc lactate could improve the growth performance and gut barrier function of weaned piglets. Dietary supplementation with organic zinc, particularly zinc lactate, had the best effect.

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PSVI-40 Effects of dietary glucan on intestinal morphology, immunity response, barrier function and antioxidant capacity in weaning pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.436 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 212-213

Author(s):

xia xiong ◽

Lvliang Wu ◽

Yirui Shao ◽

Jian zou ◽

Yulong Yin

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Gut Health ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Weaning Piglets

Abstract Glucan has been studied as a potential alternative to antibiotics for animals in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary glucan on growth performance and gut health of weaning piglets, which is a water-soluble extracellular ꞵ-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. ZX09. A total of 108 weaned piglets (21 d of age; 6.05 ± 0.36 kg) were randomly assigned (6 pens/diet; 18 piglets/pen) to 3 dietary treatments consisting of a basal diet (control group) or the basal diet supplemented with 20 ppm olaquindox or 200 ppm glucan for 14 days, respectively. The results showed that piglets fed with glucan had greater (P < 0.05) body weight and average daily gain than piglets in control group. Piglets fed with glucan or antibiotic had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio on duodenum compared with control group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of Claudin-1 on duodenum or ileum was higher (P < 0.05) in glucan group than that on the other groups. The mRNA expression of TLR4, MYD88 and NFκB on jejunum were lower (P < 0.05) in glucan or antibiotic group than those in control group. Dietary supplementation with glucan tended to increase the IL-10 and SIgA concentration on ileum (0.05 < P < 0.1). Dietary supplementation with glucan tended to increase the total antioxidant capacity on jejunum (P = 0.093). In conclusion, 200 ppm glucan or 20 ppm olaquindox can improve the growth performance of weaning piglets. The glucan may can accelerate the growth of weaned piglets by improving gut health. This research will provide guidance for the olaquindox alternative on growing piglets.

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Effects of Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Leaf Extract on Growth Performance and Metabolomics in Weaned Piglets Challenged by Escherichia Coli

10.21203/rs.3.rs-148723/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dingfa Wang ◽

Luli Zhou ◽

Hanlin Zhou ◽

Guanyu Hou

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Antioxidant Ability ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Diarrhea Incidence

Abstract Background: The effects of dietary supplementation with guava leaf extracts (GE) on growth performance, diarrhea and intestinal barrier function, as well as associated with its modulation of serum and fecal metabolic changes in weaned piglets challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were investigated.Method: Fifty weaned piglets (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace) from 5 pens (2 piglets per pen) were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group (BC), negative control group (NC), or those supplemented with 50 mg kg-1 (S50), 100 mg kg-1 (S100), or 200 (S200) mg kg-1 diet GE, respectively. On day 4, all piglets (except for BC) were orally challenged with about 1.0 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU) enterotoxigenic ETEC. After 28-day trial, growth performance, diarrhea incidence, intestinal barrier function and metabolomics of serum and fecal were investigated.Results: We demonstrated that dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) reduced diarrhea incidence of piglets and increased expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) (P < 0.05) and sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) upregulated level of tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) and reversed higher level of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) caused by ETEC in serum compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets. In addition, dietary addition with GE (100 mg kg-1) reversed the lower level of L-pipecolic acid caused by ETEC in feces compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and decreased oxidative stress response of piglets. Further, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in the final weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and F/G among dietary groups during the overall period, and piglets in S50 group has the higher average daily gain (ADG). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with 50-200 mg kg-1 GE reduced diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets challenged by ETEC and exhibited positive effect on improving intestinal barrier function. Meanwhile, dietary addition with GE organized and redistributed energy resources through similar or dissimilar metabolic pathways, and finally enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets challenged by ETEC.

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14. Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Garlic (Allium Sativum) and Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Profile and Oxidative Status in Growing Rabbits

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.1515/aoas-2015-0079 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 489-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Mahmoud Alagawany ◽

Elwy Ali Ashour ◽

Fayez Mohamed Reda

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Rabbit Serum ◽

Control Group ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Growth Promoter ◽

Blood Profile

Abstract This study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with garlic and turmeric powder as growth promoter agents on performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant enzyme activities of growing rabbits. A total of 112 New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) at 5 weeks of age were randomly assigned to seven treatments with four replicates. The dietary treatments consisted of 7 groups as follows; the basal diet as control, phytogenic additives groups were supplemented with 2, 4, and 6 g/kg garlic or turmeric powder added to the basal diet. There were no linear and quadratic differences (P<0.05) in growth performance after garlic or turmeric supplementation at all studied ages. Compared with the control group, supplementation of diets with garlic or turmeric linearly and quadratically elevated immunity biomarkers such as total protein (TP), albumin (AL) and immunoglobulin (IgG) levels and decreased (linearly and quadratically, P<0.05) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT ), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in rabbit serum. However, TP, AL, globulin (GL), IgG and IgM levels were linearly and quadratically enhanced with increasing turmeric levels versus the control diet. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT ) and glutathione peroxidase GSH-Px activities as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations were linearly and quadratically (P<0.05) improved in garlic or turmeric additives fed groups. While MDA concentration was statistically (linearly, P= 0.022) reduced in comparison with the control group. It could be concluded that garlic or turmeric supplementation (2, 4 and 6 g/kg) did not linearly and quadratically affect growth performance but improved the immunity responses and lowered the lipid profile in blood and lipid peroxidation in liver and increased hepatic antioxidant activity in treated rabbits.

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Dietary Supplementation With Bacillus subtilis Promotes Growth and Gut Health of Weaned Piglets

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2020.600772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Zhilong Tian ◽

Xiaodan Wang ◽

Yehui Duan ◽

Yue Zhao ◽

Wenming Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Subtilis ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Control Group ◽

Gut Health ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Villus Height ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Group A

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) on the growth and gut health of weaned piglets. A total of 160 piglets were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (a basal diet), BS-A group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis A at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), BS-B group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis B at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed), and BS-C group (a basal diet supplemented with B. subtilis C at 1 × 106 CFU/g feed). All groups had five replicates with eight piglets per replicate. On days 7, 21, and 42 of the trial, blood plasma and intestinal tissues and digesta samples were collected to determine plasma cytokine concentrations, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota community and metabolic activity, and the expression of genes related to gut physiology and metabolism. The results showed that dietary B. subtilis supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the body weight and average daily gain (in BS-B and BS-C groups) of weaned piglets and decreased (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rates (in BS-A, BS-B, and BS-C groups). In the intestinal morphology analysis, B. subtilis supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the size of villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum of weaned piglets. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes were the most dominant microflora in piglets' colon whatever the trial group and time of analysis. Dietary BS-C supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundances of Anaerovibrio and Bulleidia and decreased (P < 0.05) the relative abundances of Clostridium and Coprococcus compared with the control group. In addition, dietary B. subtilis supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the indicators of intestinal health, including plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10, as well as the colonic levels of short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, dietary B. subtilis supplementation also up-regulated (P < 0.05) the expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation. In conclusion, these findings suggest that a diet containing BS-B or BS-C can efficiently promote growth performance, decrease diarrhea incidence, and ameliorate several indicators of intestinal health through the modulation of gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity in weaned piglets.

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Sodium Humate And Glutamine Combined Supplementation Alleviate Diarrhea of Weaned Calves Via Alter Intestinal Microbiota And Metabolites

10.21203/rs.3.rs-593416/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dong Wang ◽

Yuanyi Du ◽

Haotian Jia ◽

Siqi Huang ◽

Lei Lei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Microbiome ◽

Control Group ◽

Diarrhea Incidence ◽

Combined Supplementation ◽

Similar Body ◽

Fecal Score

Abstract Background: Weaning is one of the most stressful periods that cause gastrointestinal tract dysfunction and diarrhea in calves. HNa and Gln were reported to exert beneficial effects on promoting growth performance, decreasing diarrhea incidence, and modulating intestinal microbiota in animals. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of HNa and Gln combined supplementation on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, serum parameters, intestinal microbiome, and metabolites of weaned calves.Results: In Exp. 1, 40 calves at 51±3 days of age with similar body weight (66.82±4.31 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments fed with a basal diet (NC group), and a basal diet supplemented with 100 mL of 1%, 3%, or 5% HNa+1% Gln, twice daily, respectively. In a 21-day trial, calves on the 5% HNa+1% Gln group had higher ADG and lower fecal score and diarrhea incidence than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 calves at 51±3 days of age with similar body weight (69.37±6.28 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments fed with a basal diet (NC group) and a basal diet supplemented with 100 mL of 5% HNa+1% Gln, twice daily (H+G group, the dose was obtained from Exp. 1). In a 21-day trial, calves supplemented with HNa and Gln had higher final BW and ADG, serum IgG concentration and GSH-Px and T-AOC activities, but lower fecal score, diarrhea incidence, as well as serum DAO, D-lac, TNF-α, and MDA concentrations compared to NC group (P < 0.05). Analysis of intestinal microbiota indicated that supplemented with HNa and Gln significantly increased the abundance of phyla Firmicutes and genus of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Olsenella, Ruminiclostridium 9, Howardella, and uncultured organism, whereas the abundance of phyla Bacteroidetes, genus of Helicobacter and Lachnoclostridium were decreased as compared with NC group. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that supplemented with HNa and Gln altered 18 metabolites and enriched 6 KEGG pathways (primary fatty acid biosynthesis) compared to the NC group. Conclusions: This study showed that combined supplemented with HNa and Gln could decrease diarrhea of weaned calves, which may be associated with improved intestinal microbial ecology and altered metabolism profile.

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Dietary Cold Pressed Watercress and Coconut Oil Mixture Enhances Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota, Antioxidant Status, and Immunity of Growing Rabbits

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani8110212 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 212 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Mahmoud Alagawany ◽

Mohamed Abd El-Hack ◽

Adham Al-Sagheer ◽

Mohammed Naiel ◽

Islam Saadeldin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Antioxidant Status ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Coconut Oil ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Live Body Weight ◽

Cold Pressed

The present study assessed the effect of dietary supplementation with coconut oil (CNO), watercress oil (WCO), and their mixture as promoters of growth, antioxidant status, immunity, and intestinal microbiota in growing rabbits. A total of 120 rabbits were distributed into six groups (20 rabbits/group) receiving a basal diet without supplementation (G1) or diet supplemented with 2 g CNO (G2), 2 g WCO (G3), 0.5 g CNO plus 1.5 g WCO (G4), 1 g CNO plus 1 g WCO (G5), or 1.5 g CNO plus 0.5 g WCO/kg (G6). Live body weight and feed conversion ratio were significantly higher in the G4 and G5 groups than in the other groups. Superoxide dismutase activity and reduced glutathione concentration were significantly improved in the CNO or WCO diets. Supplemental CNO plus WCO at all tested levels produced the best lysozyme and complement 3 activities. Cecal lactobacilli, coliform, Enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridium spp. populations were lower in the group who received the 1 g CNO + 1 g WCO/kg diet than that in the control group. Dietary supplementation of 1 g CNO + 1 g WCO or 0.5 g CNO + 1.5 g WCO/kg had the potential to improve growth, feed utilization, antioxidant status, and immunity, and reduce cecal pathogenic bacteria in rabbits.

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Effects of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) Leaf Extract on Growth Performance and Fecal Microflora of Weaned Piglets

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/6508494 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Guoshun Chen ◽

Shengzhang Shui ◽

Mingjie Chai ◽

Dong Wang ◽

Yingyu Su ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Leaf Extract ◽

The Other ◽

Control Group ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Broussonetia Papyrifera ◽

Fecal Microflora ◽

Group I ◽

Group Ii

The paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) leaf is rich in alkaloids and flavonoids, which has high medicinal and feeding value. We aimed to analyze the effects of B. papyrifera leaf extract on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune functions, and fecal microflora of weaned piglets. Thirty healthy, 28-day-old piglets were randomly assigned to three groups and fed with a basal diet supplemented with 0, 150, and 300 g/t B. papyrifera leaf extract for 42 days (control group, group I, and group II) separately. The result revealed that the final weight of piglets in group II was higher than the other groups, and the diarrhea rate in this group was 62.9% lower than in the control group. The feed conversion ratio in group I was significantly lower than the other two groups. Higher blood urine nitrogen concentration was noted in group II, higher glutathione peroxidase and catalase in group II, higher superoxide dismutase in the control group, and higher immune globulins (Ig) IgG, IgA, and IgM in group II. There was no significant difference in community richness and community diversity among the three groups of fecal samples. The relative level of Roseburia was higher in groups I and II, while Lactobacillus was higher in the control group. In conclusion, supplementation with B. papyrifera leaf extract at a certain dosage can increase growth performance and antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets, reduce the occurrence of diarrhea, enhance immune functions and disease resistance, and affect the composition of fecal microflora.

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Effects of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on growth performance, intestinal antioxidative capacity, immunity, and intestinal microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Dong Ruan ◽

Qiuli Fan ◽

Ahmed Mohamed Fouad ◽

Yunyun Sun ◽

Shengshu Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Antioxidative Capacity ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Ileal Mucosa ◽

Oregano Essential Oil

Abstract Essential oils are plant-derived aromatic volatile oils, and they contain bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve poultry nutrition. In this study, we investigated the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) on intestinal antioxidative capacity, immunity, and gut microbiota of young yellow-feathered chickens. A total of nine hundred and sixty 1-d-old female Qingyuan partridge chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 40 birds each, and the feeding trial was lasted for 30 d. The controls were fed on a basal diet without in-feed antibiotics; the birds in the antibiotic group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin; the remaining birds were fed the basal diet containing 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO increased average daily feed intake (P = 0.057) and average daily gain (P < 0.05). The activities of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidative capacity in plasma, jejuna, and ileal mucosa were increased by OEO supplementation (P < 0.05), with a trend of lower jejunal content of malonaldehyde (P = 0.062). Moreover, dietary OEO increased the content of secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.078) and the relative expression of Claudin 1, Mucin 2, and Avain beta-defensin 1 in ileum (P < 0.05). Sequencing data of 16S rRNA indicated that dietary OEO increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum, and Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera, and decreasing that of Romboutsia. Functional analyses indicated that microbial amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, replication, and repair systems were higher in OEO groups than those of controls and antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with OEO enhanced growth performance, alleviated local oxidative stress in intestine, improved production of natural antibodies, and favorably modulated intestinal microbiota composition.

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Effects of dietary supplementation with exogenous catalase on growth performance, oxidative stress, and hepatic apoptosis in weaned piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yang Li ◽

Xilun Zhao ◽

Xuemei Jiang ◽

Ling Chen ◽

Liang Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Post Challenge ◽

Blood Samples

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of exogenous catalase (CAT) in the diet of weaned piglets on growth performance, oxidative capacity, and hepatic apoptosis after challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In experiment 1, 72 weaned piglets [Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 6.90 ± 0.01 kg body weight (BW), 21 d of age] were randomly assigned to be fed either a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 2,000 mg/kg CAT (CAT group; dietary CAT activity, 120 U/kg) for 35 d. Blood samples were collected on day 21 and day 35. At the end of this experiment, 12 pigs were selected from each of the CON and CAT groups, and six pigs were injected with LPS (50 μg/kg BW), while the remaining six pigs were injected with an equal amount of sterile saline, resulting in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (experiment 2). Blood samples and rectal temperature data were collected 0 and 4 h after challenge, and liver samples were obtained after evisceration. The gain-to-feed ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in piglets in the CAT group than in those in the CON group from day 1 to 35. Catalase and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities were higher (P < 0.05), whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were lower (P < 0.05), in piglets in the CAT group than in those in the CON group at day 35. During challenge, rectal temperature and liver MDA and H2O2 concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas plasma CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and liver CAT activity decreased markedly (P < 0.05), in LPS-challenged piglets 4 h post-challenge. Increased CAT activity and decreased MDA concentration were observed in the plasma and liver of piglets in the CAT group 4 h post-challenge (P < 0.05). Dietary CAT supplementation markedly suppressed the LPS-induced decrease in plasma GSH-Px activity and liver CAT activity to levels observed in the CON group (P < 0.05) as well as significantly decreasing the concentration and mRNA expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 (P < 0.05). LPS-induced liver injury was also attenuated by dietary CAT supplementation, as demonstrated by a decrease in liver caspase-3 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Overall, dietary supplementation with 2,000 mg/kg exogenous CAT (dietary CAT activity, 120 U/kg) improves growth performance and has a beneficial effect on antioxidant capacity in weaned piglets; alleviates oxidative stress and reduces liver damage by suppressing hepatic apoptosis in LPS-challenged piglets.

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