Macleaya cordataExtract Decreased Diarrhea Score and Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Function in Growing Piglets

Macleaya cordataextract is of great scientific and practical interest to researchers, due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses within experimental animals. This study was designed to determine the diarrhea score and innate immunity of growing piglets after they had receivedMacleaya cordataextract supplements. A total of 240 growing pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments, with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 piglets per replicate. All pigs received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients. The three treatments were a control (no additive), an antibiotic (200 mg/kg colistin), and theMacleaya cordataextract supplement group (40 mg/kgMacleaya cordataextract). The diarrhea score was calculated after D 28. The jejunal samples were obtained from five piglets selected randomly from each treatment on D 28. In comparison with the control group, the dietaryMacleaya cordataextract and colistin group demonstrated a substantially decreased diarrhea score. The introduction ofMacleaya cordataextract supplements to the diet significantly increased volumes of ZO-1 and claudin-1, particularly in comparison with the pigs in the control group (P<0.05). The findings indicate thatMacleaya cordataextract does enhance intestinal barrier function in growing piglets and that it could be used as a viable substitute for antibiotics.

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Bacteriophage as an Alternative to Antibiotics Promotes Growth Performance by Regulating Intestinal Inflammation, Intestinal Barrier Function and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.623899 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Yongdi Zeng ◽

Zirui Wang ◽

Tiande Zou ◽

Jun Chen ◽

Guanhong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Control Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Weaned Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary bacteriophage supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets fed antibiotic-free diet. A total of 120 weaned piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments with five pens/treatment and six piglets/pen in a 21-d feeding trial. The control diet was supplemented with 25 mg/kg quinocetone and 11.25 mg/kg aureomycin in the basal diet, while the three treatment diets were supplemented with 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg bacteriophage in the basal diet, respectively. There was no difference for growth performance and all measured indices of serum and intestinal tissues between 200 mg/kg bacteriophage group and the control group with antibiotics (P > 0.05). More importantly, compared with the control diet, dietary 400 mg/kg bacteriophage inclusion increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake, and decreased feed/gain ratio and diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets (P < 0.05). Also, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had elevated villi height (VH) in jejunum and ileum, reduced crypt depth (CD) in jejunum and ileum, and elevated VH/CD ratio in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had lower interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and higher interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration in serum, and higher secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), and tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) content in the ileal mucosa (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary addition with 400 mg/kg bacteriophage decreased the D-lactate concentration and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum, and increased the relative mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, as well as the relative protein expression of Occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). However, the growth performance and all analyzed parameters in serum and intestinal tissues were not further improved when piglets fed 600 vs. 400 mg/kg bacteriophage (P > 0.05). MiSeq sequencing analysis showed that bacteriophage regulated the microbial composition in caecum digesta, as indicated by higher observed_species, Chao1, and ACE richness indices, as well as changes in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes (P < 0.05). Collectively, 400 mg/kg bacteriophage can be used as an antibiotics alternative for promoting the growth of weaned piglets. The underlying mechanism is associated with a positive effect of bacteriophage on intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

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Dietaryl-threonine supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of broiler chickens at an early age

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114518000740 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 119 (11) ◽

pp. 1254-1262 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Yueping Chen ◽

Hao Zhang ◽

Yefei Cheng ◽

Yue Li ◽

Chao Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Control Group ◽

Villus Height ◽

Lps Challenge ◽

Cell Counts

AbstractThis study was conducted to investigate the protective effects ofl-threonine (l-Thr) supplementation on growth performance, inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier function of young broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 144 1-d-old male chicks were allocated to one of three treatments: non-challenged broilers fed a basal diet (control group), LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet withoutl-Thr supplementation and LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 3·0 g/kgl-Thr. LPS challenge was performed intraperitoneally at 17, 19 and 21 d of age, whereas the control group received physiological saline injection. Compared with the control group, LPS challenge impaired growth performance of broilers, andl-Thr administration reversed LPS-induced increase in feed/gain ratio. LPS challenge elevated blood cell counts related to inflammation, and pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in serum (IL-1βand TNF-α), spleen (IL-1βand TNF-α) and intestinal mucosa (jejunal interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and ileal IL-1β). The concentrations of intestinal cytokines in LPS-challenged broilers were reduced byl-Thr supplementation. LPS administration increased circulatingd-lactic acid concentration, whereas it reduced villus height, the ratio between villus height and crypt depth and goblet density in both jejunum and ileum. LPS-induced decreases in jejunal villus height, intestinal villus height:crypt depth ratio and ileal goblet cell density were reversed withl-Thr supplementation. Similarly, LPS-induced alterations in the intestinal mRNA abundances of genes related to intestinal inflammation and barrier function (jejunal toll-like receptor 4,IFN-γand claudin-3, and ilealIL-1βand zonula occludens-1) were normalised withl-Thr administration. It can be concluded thatl-Thr supplementation could attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of young broilers.

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BAFF Blockade Attenuates Inflammatory Responses and Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in a Murine Endotoxemia Model

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.570920 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Runze Quan ◽

Chaoyue Chen ◽

Wei Yan ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Xi Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Barrier Dysfunction ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Lps Challenge ◽

Endotoxemia Model

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) production is increased in septic patients. However, the specific role of BAFF in sepsis remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the expression and function of BAFF in an experimental endotoxemia model and to identify the potential mechanisms. We established an endotoxemia mouse (6–8 weeks, 20–22 g) model by administering 30 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). BAFF levels in the circulating system and organ tissues were measured 4 and 8 h after LPS injection. Survival rates in the endotoxemia mice were monitored for 72 h after BAFF blockade. The effects of BAFF blockade on systemic and local inflammation, organ injuries, and intestinal barrier function were also evaluated 4 h after LPS treatment. BAFF production was systemically and locally elevated after LPS challenge. BAFF blockade improved the survival rate, systemic inflammation, and multi-organ injuries. Moreover, BAFF blockade attenuated both intestinal inflammation and impaired intestinal permeability. BAFF blockade upregulated ZO-1 and occludin protein levels via the NF-κB/MLCK/MLC signaling pathway. These results suggested that BAFF blockade protects against lethal endotoxemia at least partially by alleviating inflammation, multi-organ injuries, and improving intestinal barrier function and provides a novel focus for further research on sepsis and experimental evidence for clinical therapy.

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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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Effects of inulin supplementation on intestinal barrier function and immunity in specific pathogen-free chickens with Salmonella infection

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz396 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jiao Song ◽

Qinghe Li ◽

Nadia Everaert ◽

Ranran Liu ◽

Maiqing Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Mucosal Immunity ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Specific Pathogen Free ◽

Specific Pathogen ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Socs3 Mrna

Abstract We investigated the effects of inulin on intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity in Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE)–infected specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. SPF chickens (n = 240, 1-d-old) were divided into 4 groups (6 replicates per group, 10 chickens per replicate): a control group (CON) fed a basal diet without inulin supplementation and 3 SE-infected groups fed a basal diet supplemented with inulin 0% (SE group), 0.5% (0.5% InSE group), and 1% (1% InSE group), respectively. At 28 d of age, the chickens in SE-infected groups were orally infected with SE and in CON group were administrated with phosphated-buffered saline (PBS). Intestinal morphology, mucosal immunity, and intestinal barrier function-related gene expression were analyzed at 1- and 3-d post-infection (dpi). SE challenge significantly increased the mucosal gene expression, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor factor (LITAF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and increased serum IFN-γ, secretory IgA (sIgA), and IgG concentration, and significantly decreased the gene expression levels of mucin 2 (MUC2) and claudin-1 at 3 dpi compared with the CON group (P < 0.05). Inulin supplementation improved the expression levels of these immunity- and intestinal barrier function-related genes, increased villus height (VH), and decreased crypt depth (CD) in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at 1 and 3 dpi within the SE-challenged groups (P < 0.05). SE challenge significantly increased ileal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA at 1 and 3 dpi, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA at 1 dpi, and phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) and Janus kinase1 (JAK1) protein expression at 3 dpi compared with the CON group (P < 0.05). Inulin supplementation suppressed p-STAT3 and JAK1 protein expression and promoted ileal TLR4 and SOCS3 mRNA expression at 3 dpi compared with SE group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, inulin alleviated SE-induced gut injury by decreasing the proinflammatory response and enhancing mucosal immunity in chickens.

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Dietary seaweed-derived polysaccharides improve growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbial populations

10.21203/rs.3.rs-64432/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tiande Zou ◽

Jin Yang ◽

Xiaobo Guo ◽

Qin He ◽

Zirui Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Tnf Α ◽

G Ratio

Abstract Background: Seaweed-derived polysaccharides (SDP) represent an attractive source of prebiotic nutraceuticals for the food and animal husbandry industry. However, the mechanism by which SDP from Enteromorpha mediates pig growth are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how SDP supplementation influences the growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs.Results: In Exp. 1, 240 weaned pigs were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet or a basal diet containing 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP, respectively, in a 21-d trial. Pigs on the 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP-supplemented group had greater ADG and lower F/G ratio than those on the control group (P＜0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 male weaned pigs were randomly assigned to two treatments and fed with a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg SDP (the optimum does from Exp. 1), in a 21-d trial. Pigs fed the SDP diet had greater ADG, the concentrations of serum IL-6 and TNF-α and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase (P＜0.05), and lower F/G, diarrhea rate, as well as serum D-lactate concentrations and diamine oxidase activity (P＜0.05). Moreover, dietary SDP supplementation enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A content, villus height and villous height: crypt depth ratio in small intestine, as well as the lactase and maltase activities in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). SDP supplementation elevated the mRNA levels of inflammatory response-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, TLR4, TLR6 and MyD88), and the mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). Importantly, SDP not only increased the Lactobacillus population but also reduced the Escherichia coli population in cecum (P＜0.05). Furthermore, SDP increased acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in cecum (P＜0.05).Conclusions: These results not only suggest a beneficial effect of SDP on growth performance and intestinal barrier functions, but also offer potential mechanisms behind SDP-facilitated intestinal health in weaned pigs.

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Effects of Supplementing Intestinal Autochthonous Bacteria in Plant-Based Diets on Growth, Nutrient Digestibility, and Gut Health of Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.739572 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Zhe Wang ◽

Chunxiao Zhang ◽

Kangle Lu ◽

Kai Song ◽

Xueshan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Gut Health ◽

Autochthonous Bacteria

Poor utilization efficiency of plant protein diets always leads to intestinal barrier dysfunction and growth inhibition in animals. Probiotics have shown promise in improving growth performance and gut health of the host. However, obtaining the host-beneficial probiotic from thousands of bacterial phylotypes is challenging. Here, four intestinal autochthonous bacteria were isolated from fast-growing bullfrog after a 60-day feeding on a soybean meal (SM)-based diet. Another feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing these strains in an SM-based diet on growth, nutrient digestibility, immunity, and gut health of bullfrog. A high-SM basal diet was used as a non-supplemented control group (NC), and four other diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet with 1 × 107 CFU/g of Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus tequilensis (BT), Bacillus velezensis, and Lactococcus lactis (LL). Results showed that weight gain, feed efficiency, nitrogen retention, and apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein were significantly higher in the LL group compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the NC group, both BT and LL groups showed markedly higher jejunal protease and amylase activities, serum complement 4 and immunoglobulin M levels, jejunal muscularis thickness (p < 0.05), and up-regulated expression of il-10 and zo-1 genes (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing revealed higher abundances of Bacillus and Cetobacterium in BT and LL groups, respectively, accompanied with decreased abundances of Enterobacter and Escherichia–Shigella. Besides, KEGG pathways related to metabolisms were significantly enhanced by the LL diet relative to the NC diet (p < 0.05). Overall, the beneficial effects of two frog-derived probiotics were determined: supplementation of L. lactis in SM-based diet promoted growth and nutrient digestibility; both B. tequilensis and L. lactis supplementation improved immune response and intestinal barrier function of bullfrogs.

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PSX-A-9 Late-Breaking: Effects of farm noise on ileum intestinal barrier function of pullets

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.673 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 367-367

Author(s):

Chun Li ◽

Runxiang Zhang ◽

Hanlin Yu ◽

Yanru Feng ◽

Jianhong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Low Noise ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Junction Protein ◽

Related Proteins

Abstract Noise is a potential but not negligible environmental factor in animal husbandry. To investigate the effects of farm noise on intestinal barrier function of pullets, 336 Hailanhe pullets aged 1 day were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (CON), low noise group (LN), high noise group (HN). LN group and HN group were exposed to noise respectively at 65–75 dB and 85–95 dB, the average and the range of the highest loudness of noise in laying hens’ farms for 6h every day (7:00-19:00, hourly intervals for one hour) and lasted 4 weeks. Non additional noise addition in CON group, noise loudness of which was less than 40dB. 6 birds were randomly chosen form each group after every week of noise stimulation for ileum tissue samples. Hematoxylin-eosin stain (HE stain), immunofluorescence, and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to determine changes in ileum structure, expression of intestinal barrier related proteins and mRNAs and HSPs. Results shown that 1 week and 2 weeks after noise exposed inflammatory cell infiltration reduced, the expression of intestinal barrier related proteins (Occludin, Mucin2 and ZO-1) and mRNAs (Claudin-1, Claudin-4, E-cadherin, Occludin, Mucin2, ZO-1 and ZO-2) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), the mRNA expression of HSPs decreased (P < 0.05) or have no significate changes (P > 0.05). After 4 weeks of noise treatment, the expression of mRNAs of intestinal tight junction protein and mucin, HSPs were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). There was no difference between the LN and HN groups on those indicators (P > 0.05). The study indicates that noise at 65-75dB and 85-95dB does not cause stress to ileum of pullets while promote the development of intestinal barrier of chicks within 2 weeks maybe by mild stimulation and birds restored to balance due to habitualization after 4 weeks of noise treatment.

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Protective Effects of Let-7b on the Expression of Occludin by Targeting P38 MAPK in Preventing Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000486815 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 343-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Zhihua Liu ◽

Yinghai Tian ◽

Yanqiong Jiang ◽

Shihua Chen ◽

Ting Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

P38 Mapk ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Conditional Knockout ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Barrier Dysfunction ◽

Entire Study ◽

Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction

Background/Aims: Let-7b was dramatically reduced after a dicer knockout of mice with intestinal barrier function injuries. This paper aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of let-7b by targeting p38 MAPK in preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction. Methods: A total of 186 patients were enrolled, with 93 in the control group and 93 in the PRO group. Only 158 patients completed the entire study, whereas the others either did not meet the inclusion criteria or refused to participate. To further verify the role of let-7b, intestinal epithelial conditional knockout (IKO) mice of mmu-let-7b model were established. Serum let-7b, zonulin, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations were measured by ELISA or quantitative RT-PCR. Permeability assay was done by ussing chamber. The apoptotic cells were identified using an In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit. Protein was detected by western blot. Results: Probiotics can lower infection-related complications, as well as increase the serum and tissue let-7b levels. P38 MAPK was identified as the target of let-7b, as verified by NCM460 cells. P38 MAPK expression was increased, whereas tight-junction (TJ) proteins were significantly decreased in let-7b IKO mice (both P<0.05). Negative regulation of p38 MAPK molecular signaling pathways was involved in the protective effects of let-7b on intestinal barrier function. Conclusion: Let-7b was identified as a novel diagnosis biomarker or a potential treatment target for preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction.

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Dietary seaweed-derived polysaccharides improve growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbial populations

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40104-021-00552-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tiande Zou ◽

Jin Yang ◽

Xiaobo Guo ◽

Qin He ◽

Zirui Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Intestinal Barrier ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Barrier Function ◽

Control Group ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

Tnf Α ◽

G Ratio

Abstract Background Seaweed-derived polysaccharides (SDP) represent an attractive source of prebiotic nutraceuticals for the food and animal husbandry industry. However, the mechanism by which SDP from Enteromorpha mediates pig growth are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how SDP supplementation influences the growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs. Results In Exp. 1, 240 weaned pigs were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet or a basal diet containing 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP, respectively, in a 21-day trial. Pigs on the 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP-supplemented group had greater ADG and lower F/G ratio than those on the control group (P<0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 male weaned pigs were randomly assigned to two treatments and fed with a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg SDP (the optimum does from Exp. 1), in a 21-day trial. Pigs fed the SDP diet had greater ADG, the concentrations of serum IL-6 and TNF-α and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase (P<0.05), and lower F/G, diarrhea rate, as well as serum D-lactate concentrations and diamine oxidase activity (P<0.05). Moreover, dietary SDP supplementation enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A content, villus height and villous height: crypt depth ratio in small intestine, as well as the lactase and maltase activities in jejunum mucosa (P<0.05). SDP supplementation elevated the mRNA levels of inflammatory response-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, TLR4, TLR6 and MyD88), and the mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1, claudin-1 and occludin in jejunum mucosa (P<0.05). Importantly, SDP not only increased the Lactobacillus population but also reduced the Escherichia coli population in cecum (P<0.05). Furthermore, SDP increased acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in cecum (P<0.05). Conclusions These results not only suggest a beneficial effect of SDP on growth performance and intestinal barrier functions, but also offer potential mechanisms behind SDP-facilitated intestinal health in weaned pigs.

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