scholarly journals Effects of supplemental β-carotene on growth performance, immune function and intestinal mucin in weaned piglets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuying Lang ◽  
Haizhou Gong ◽  
Ruonan Li ◽  
Min Wu ◽  
Qianran Chu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Weaning stress causes intestinal immune system disorders. β-carotene displays anti-inflammatory,which can prevent the development of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental β-carotene on growth performance, immune function and intestinal mucin in weaned piglets.Results A total of 45 piglets with the average body weight of 4.62 ± 0.06 kg (14 d of age) were randomly assigned to 3 treatments with 5 replicate pens per treatment and 3 pigs per pen and weaned at 21 d. The control group (CG) fed the basal diets from 14 d to 24 d of age. The low-dose group (LG) and the high-dose group (HG) fed the basal diets supplemented with 40 or 80 mg/kg β-carotene from 14 d to 24 d of age, respectively. Compared with the CG, t he average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of piglets in the HG were increased (p<0.05). And the IgA and IL-10 levels in serum in the HG were also higher than those in the CG (p<0.05). The IgM, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in serum in the β-carotene groups were lower than those in the CG (p<0.05). Periodic Acid-Schiff stain results showed that the content of mucopolysaccharide and the number of goblet cells in the intestine in the β-carotene groups were more than those in the CG (p<0.05). The results of immunofluorescence showed that the expression of MUC1 in the intestine in the β-carotene groups was lower than that in the CG (p<0.05). And the expression of mucin1 mRNA in the intestine in the β-carotene groups was also lower than that in the CG (p<0.05). However, compared with the CG, the expression of mucin2 mRNA in the intestine in the HG was increased (p<0.05).Conclusion Supplemental β-carotene could improve growth performance, immune function and intestinal mucin in weaned piglets. It is suspected that our pre-protection of β-carotene in weaned piglets may help weaned piglets safely through the weaning period.

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2104
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Jiafu Ying ◽  
Peng Zou ◽  
Yuanhao Zhou ◽  
Baikui Wang ◽  
...  

At present, the widespread use of high-dose zinc oxide and antibiotics to prevent post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets has caused serious environmental problems. To solve this problem, we studied the effect of HNa as a substitute for zinc oxide (ZnO) and antibiotics on the growth performance, immune status, and antioxidant capacity of piglets. Seventy-two weaned piglets (body weight = 7.42 ± 0.85 kg, 26-d-old) were distributed in a randomized 2 × 3 factorial design (two sexes and three treatments) with six replicates of four piglets each. The three treatments were the control diet (basic diet), HNa diet (basic diet + 2000 mg/kg sodium humate), and ZoA group (basic diet + 1600 mg/kg zinc oxide + 1000 mg/kg oxytetracycline calcium). ANOVA and Chi-square tests were applied to compare the means (p < 0.05) between treatments. The results showed that body weight at 16 and 30 d and the average daily gain of piglets fed with HNa or ZoA were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the control group. Supplementing HNa or ZoA significantly increased (p < 0.05) the level of immunoglobulin M and G, and reduced (p < 0.05) the concentration of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins IL-6 and IL-1β, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and diamine oxidase (DAO). Furthermore, dietary HNa or ZnO significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the level of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared with the control group. ZoA treatment showed an upward trend of IgA level and a downward trend of the concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and catalase (CAT). Overall, the study demonstrated that the addition of HNa in the diet partially replaced antibiotics and ZnO to improve the growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets, and maintained a good preventive effect on piglet diarrhea.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 802-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwei Zhang ◽  
Holden He ◽  
Limin Gong ◽  
Wenqing Lai ◽  
Bing Dong ◽  
...  

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary sucralose on diet preference and growth performance of weaned piglets, and a third experiment was a 28-d safety study to examine if high-dose sucralose could affect the health state of weaned piglets.Methods: In experiment one, 48 piglets had free access to a corn-soybean based diet and the same diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose for 15 d. In experiment two, 180 piglets were blocked into 5 treatments with 6 replications. They were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mg/kg sucralose for 28 days. In experiment three, 108 piglets were randomly assigned to 3 treatments and fed diets supplemented with 0, 150 (suitable level), and 1,500 (ten-fold suitable level) mg/kg sucralose for 28 d.Results: The experiment 1 showed that piglets preferred (p<0.05) diets containing sucralose during experimental period. In experiment 2, piglets fed a diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) than pigs in the control group and other treatment groups during the experiment period. The concentrations of sucralose over 150 mg/kg may decrease feed intake. However, no difference in feed conversion ratio was observed. In experiment 3, piglets fed diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg sucralose had a higher ADG and ADFI than that of pigs in the control group and 1,500 mg/kg treatment groups during the experiment period. Clinical blood metabolites, organ index and histological morphology were not significantly different between sucralose treatments.Conclusion: Sucralose can promote feed intake and thereby improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Moreover, inclusion of 1,500 mg/kg sucralose was demonstrated to have no observed adverse effects. Supplementing 150 mg/kg sucralose for weaned piglets is recommended in this study.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuying Lang ◽  
Haizhou Gong ◽  
Ruonan Li ◽  
Min Wu ◽  
Qianran Chu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Weaning causes stress syndrome in the newborns, while it can lead to many intestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the dietary supplementation of β-carotene on growth performance, jejunal permeability and tight junction proteins in weaned piglets, and explore the underlying mechanisms by which β-carotene regulates tight junction proteins. The positive control group was fed sow's milk throughout the trial. The negative control group was weaned at d 21 without any supplementation. Two experimental groups of piglets were weaned at d 21 and fed 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg β-carotene-supplemented diets from d 14 to d 24, respectively. Blood and the jejunum were collected at d 24. Results: The results showed that β-carotene at 80 mg/kg increased initial and final body weight and average daily feed intake, improved the villus height at d 24 (p<0.05) but reduced crypt depth in weaned piglets at d 24 (p<0.05). Additionally, β-carotene protected intestinal morphology. Supplemental 80 mg/kg β-carotene reduced the concentrations of D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase in serum (p<0.05) but enhanced the mRNA expression of claudin-3, occludin (p<0.05), and zonula occludens protein-1(p>0.05) and the protein levels of claudin-3 (p<0.01), occludin (p<0.05), and zonula occludens protein-1 (p>0.05) in the jejunum at d 24. Using intestinal epithelial cells and a Rac1 inhibitor in vitro, we demonstrated that the β-carotene-induced higher tight junction proteins might depend on the Rac1 pathway. Conclusions: β-carotene improved growth performance and attenuated jejunal permeability and tight junction proteins in weaned piglets, suggesting that β-carotene at 80 mg/kg may be an effective way for keeping healthier intestine of weaning piglets due to weaning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1328-1338
Author(s):  
Yufeng Xing ◽  
Chuantao Zhang ◽  
Fenfen Zhai ◽  
Tianran Zhou ◽  
Xiang Cui ◽  
...  

AbstractCells with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were studied to determine the mechanism of liver deficiency via the AdipoR2-PPARa pathway. NAFLD cells were randomly divided into a normal control group, blank control group, model group, low dose group, medium dose group, and high dose group. The NAFLD models were established by incubating the cells with linoleic acid (LA) and palmitic acid (PA) (2:1) for 24 h. The test groups were incubated with different doses of Shugan Xiaozhi Fang extract. The pathological changes in cells that accumulated lipids were detected by Oil Red O staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured. The apoptosis of cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. The levels of AdipoR2, PPARa, CD36, acyl-CoA mRNA, and protein were confirmed by RT- PCR and Western blot. The results of the Oil Red O staining demonstrated that the NAFLD cell model was successfully established. Compared with the model group, the levels of TG and MDA in the groups that received low, medium, and high doses of Shugan Xiaozhi were significantly lower (P<0.01), and a dose effect was evident. In addition, the expression of AdipoR2, PPARa, CD36, acyl-CoA protein, and mRNA in the Shugan Xiaozhi-treated groups was upregulated. Furthermore, the levels of AdipoR2, PPAR, CD36, acyl-CoA protein, and mRNA in all drug treatment groups that were extracted from L-O2 normal human hepatocytes were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Moreover, the factor pattern of HepG2 human liver carcinoma cells was similar to that of L-O2. The levels of AdipoR, CD36, acyl-CoA, and AdipoR mRNA in the HepG2 low group were increased (P<0.05). AdipoR, PPAR, CD36, and acyl-CoA protein levels and AdipoR mRNA expression were significantly increased in the intermediate dose group and high dose group (P<0.01). Shugan Xiaozhi Fang attenuates hepatic lipid deposition in NAFLD induced by incubating with LA and PA for 24 h, which is associated with the activation of the AdipoR2-PPARα pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Toshiaki Iba ◽  
Jerrold H. Levy ◽  
Koichiro Aihara ◽  
Katsuhiko Kadota ◽  
Hiroshi Tanaka ◽  
...  

(1) Background: The endothelial glycocalyx is a primary target during the early phase of sepsis. We previously reported a newly developed recombinant non-fucosylated antithrombin has protective effects in vitro. We further evaluated the effects of this recombinant antithrombin on the glycocalyx damage in an animal model of sepsis. (2) Methods: Following endotoxin injection, in Wistar rats, circulating levels of hyaluronan, syndecan-1 and other biomarkers were evaluated in low-dose or high-dose recombinant antithrombin-treated animals and a control group (n = 7 per group). Leukocyte adhesion and blood flow were evaluated with intravital microscopy. The glycocalyx was also examined using side-stream dark-field imaging. (3) Results: The activation of coagulation was inhibited by recombinant antithrombin, leukocyte adhesion was significantly decreased, and flow was better maintained in the high-dose group (both p < 0.05). Circulating levels of syndecan-1 (p < 0.01, high-dose group) and hyaluronan (p < 0.05, low-dose group; p < 0.01, high-dose group) were significantly reduced by recombinant antithrombin treatment. Increases in lactate and decreases in albumin levels were significantly attenuated in the high-dose group (p < 0.05, respectively). The glycocalyx thickness was reduced over time in control animals, but the derangement was attenuated and microvascular perfusion was better maintained in the high-dose group recombinant antithrombin group (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Recombinant antithrombin maintained vascular integrity and the microcirculation by preserving the glycocalyx in this sepsis model, effects that were more prominent with high-dose therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Hamid Reza Adeli Bhroz ◽  
Kazem Parivar ◽  
Iraj Amiri ◽  
Nasim Hayati Roodbari

Background and Aim: Thyroid is one of the endocrine glands, (T3 and T4) play a significant role in the development of prenatal brain and the following stages. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on the amount of expression of NT4, NT3, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain of one-day rat neonates with hypothyroidism.Materials and Methods: In total, 25 mature mice of Albino NMRI race were selected after mating, divided into three group, control, as well as low-dose and high-dose intervention groups. Samples of the control group received pure water during pregnancy, whereas subjects of the intervention group with low and high doses of the medication were administered with 20 mg and 100 mg methimazole powder (dissolved in 100 cc water), respectively. After child delivery, blood samples were obtained from mother mice to determine the level of T3 and T4 in blood serum. Following that, the brain of one-day mice were removed by surgery and assessed to determine the amount of expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF using the complete kit of RT-PCR.Results: Levels of T4 and T3 in the control group were 28 ug/dl and 1.59 ug/dl, respectively. In the low-dose intervention group, the amounts of the mentioned hormones were 8 ug/dl and 0.85 ug/dl, significantly, indicating a significant reduction in the expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF genes, compared to the control group. Moreover, T4 and T3 were 6 ug/dl and 0.79 ug/dl in the high-dose group, respectively, conveying a significant decrease in the expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF genes, compared to the control group (P<0.05).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hosameldeen Mohamed Husien ◽  
JunJie Huang ◽  
WeiLong Peng ◽  
ShuMei Zheng ◽  
JinGui Li

Abstract Moringa oleifera (MO) is a widely used as the nutritious and non-traditional feed supplementation containing kinds of bioactive substances. However, the enhancement effect of Moringa oleifera leaf Polysaccharide (MOLP) as a feed additive in broilers growth performance and immunity remains unclear. In this study, MOLP was obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation method, then purified with Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) assay. Chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups, to receive different doses of MOLP (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4g/kg) in feed for 3 weeks. The body weight gain (BWG) and feed consumption were recorded for feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) calculation. Broiler chickens were sacrificed and sampled on day 14, 21, 28 (D 14, D 21, and D 28) respectively. Serological indicators, including total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), and creatinine (CREA) were detected. ELISA kits were applied for detecting the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). From D 21 to D 28, the results showed that middle dose of MOLP significantly increased BWG and ADFI as well as liver and bursa indexes when compared with the control group. In addition, TP and GLO were also increased (P<0.05). All MOLP treatments enhanced the serum concentrations of IgG and IL-2 (P<0.01). Furthermore, results of quantitative RT-PCR showed that high dose of MOLP treatment significantly increased (P<0.001) the mRNA expression levels of IL-2 and TNF-α of chickens relative to the control group. In conclusion, the results showed that MOLP supplementation contributed to improve growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens, and MOLP could be considered as a promising feed additive.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingfa Wang ◽  
Luli Zhou ◽  
Hanlin Zhou ◽  
Guanyu Hou

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.


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhe Cui ◽  
Zhuorui Shan ◽  
Lintong Hou ◽  
Qiuju Wang ◽  
Juan J. Loor ◽  
...  

This study examined the effect of mixed medicinal herbs from China in the ground form on milk yield and various blood metabolites before and after parturition in Holstein cows. Crushed Agastache rugosus, Scutellaria barbata, Pericarpium citri reticulate, and Radix glycyrrhizae were used to develop TCMF4. Thirty-two Chinese Holstein cows were randomly divided into a control group or groups receiving 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 kg TCMF4/cow/d from −7 through 21 d relative to parturition. Blood samples for serum isolation were collected at −7, −1, 1, 7, 14, and 21 d relative to parturition and used to measure glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), total protein, albumin, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase. Milk production was recorded daily for the first 21 d postpartum, and composition was analyzed at 7, 14, and 21 d. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for multiple comparisons. The average milk production during the first 21-d postpartum was 28.7 ± 6.9, 27.2 ± 7.1, 31.2 ± 6.8, and 38.5 ± 6.1 kg/d for control group and groups receiving 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 kg TCMF4. Thus, average daily milk production increased between 9 to 34% by supplementation with TCMF4 compared with the control group. Compared with the control group, in the middle dose group, milk concentrations of lactose and total protein decreased by 21 and 19%, respectively, at d 7 around parturition, while total solids increased by 23% at d 21 in the high-dose group. Furthermore, compared with the control group, serum BHBA decreased by 50 and 20% at d −1 and 21 around parturition in the high-dose group. Overall, TCMF4 supplementation improved dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production of dairy cows during the periparturient period without adverse effects on liver function, and plasma BHBA concentrations of dairy cows tended to decrease when dietary TCMF4 increased, which suggested that TCMF4 might be used as potential additives in dairy cows to improve production performance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 997 ◽  
pp. 178-184
Author(s):  
Hong Ling Wang ◽  
Yu Hong Yang ◽  
Jia Qing Wang ◽  
Zhuo Wang ◽  
Shuang Ma

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of compound probiotics on broiler performance, intestinal microflora, immune function and serum biochemical indicators. Four hundred one-d-old female broiler chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates in each group and 25 chickens per replication. The chickens in groupI(control group) were fed a basal diet, experimental groups II, III and IVwere fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% compound probiotics. The results of this work were as follows: (1) during the experimental period, compared with control group, the average daily in group III was significantly increased (P<0.05), the feed/gain and average daily feed intake were significantly lower (P<0.05); (2) at the age of 14 and 28 days, the number of cecal Lactic acid in group II and III were significantly higher than the control (P<0.05) and the content of E.coli has the opposite results. (3) the anti-body titer in group III was the highest, and significantly higher compared to the control (P<0.05), but there were no significantly differences between group IV and control group (P>0.05). (4) serum biochemical indexes of broilers in group III and IVwere significantly increased than that in control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of 0.2% compound probiotics could promote the growth performance, improve the cecal mico-ecosystem, enhance the anti-body titer and biochemical indexes in serum.


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