Background Oxidative stress significantly impacts growth performance and liver function in piglets.Ferulic acid(FA)works as an antioxidant,however,the role and mechanism of FA in the regulation of diquat-induced oxida...Background Oxidative stress significantly impacts growth performance and liver function in piglets.Ferulic acid(FA)works as an antioxidant,however,the role and mechanism of FA in the regulation of diquat-induced oxidative stress in piglets are less known.This study was designed to investigate the effects of FA on growth performance and antioxi-dant capacity in piglets with diquat challenge.Methods Thirty-two healthy DLY(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)piglets(13.24±0.19 kg)were randomly divided into one of two diets including 0 or 4 g/kg FA for 14 d.On d 15,all pigs were intraperitoneally injected diquat or sterile saline.Results Dietary supplementation with ferulic acid(FA)significantly improved the average daily gain(ADG)and decreased feed-gain ratio(F/G)of piglets.Here,dietary FA supplementation reduced serum aspartate aminotrans-ferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)activities in diquat challenged piglets.Furthermore,diquat infusion increased reactive oxygen radicals(ROS)level in liver,decreased the activities of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)and increased malondialdehyde(MDA)con-tent in the liver and serum.Supplementation with FA significantly increased T-AOC and T-SOD activities and decreased MDA and ROS levels.FA down-regulated gene and protein expression of Keap1,and up-regulated protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the liver of piglets with diquat challenge.Importantly,diquat challenge increased the ratio of late apoptosis,increased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and up-regulated pyroptosis-related genes in the liver.FA supplementation reduced the ratio of late apoptosis and down-regulated mRNA expression of Caspase-1.Accordingly,FA addition reduced concentration of IL-1β,IL-18,and LDH under diquat challenge.Conclusions Diquat-induced oxidative stress reduced growth performance and impaired liver function in piglets.Dietary FA supplementation enhanced the antioxidant capacity and reduced the degree of hepatocyte pyroptosis,thereby alleviating the oxidative damage in the liver and mitigating the impact of diquat on growth performance of piglets.展开更多
Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face in...Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.展开更多
Background Aflatoxins have been reported as a significant pollutant in feed,capable of causing harm to the liver,gastrointestinal tract and kidneys of piglets.However,research on the interactions among aflatoxin B1(AF...Background Aflatoxins have been reported as a significant pollutant in feed,capable of causing harm to the liver,gastrointestinal tract and kidneys of piglets.However,research on the interactions among aflatoxin B1(AFB1),bile acid(BA)metabolism and gut microbiota is limited.Methods In this study,piglets were treated with AFB1 and antibiotics(ABX)to evaluate the interaction between AFB1 and gut microbiota.Subsequently,the roles of the farnesoid X receptor(FXR)and sterol 12α-hydroxylase(CYP8B1)in AFB1 absorption were studied by using FXR agonists obeticholic acid(OCA)and Cyp8b1-knockout(KO)mice,respectively.Result AFB1 inhibited bile salt hydrolase(BSH)activity in ileal microbiota,downregulated ileal FXR expression,and upregulated CYP8B1 expression in liver,increasing the proportion of 12α-OH BAs and potentially enhancing AFB1 absorption.ABX treatment reduced AFB1 absorption and liver damage,and unexpectedly increased BSH activity,counteracting the AFB1-induced downregulation of FXR and upregulation of CYP8B1.OCA reactivated ileal FXR,reduced AFB1 absorption,and alleviated liver damage.Furthermore,Cyp8b1-KO mice showed increased resistance to AFB1-induced liver damage by lowering AFB1 absorption.Conclusions These results underscore the significance of gut microbiota and BAs in AFB1 absorption,suggesting new strategies to mitigate health risks from AFB1 in piglets.展开更多
Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,ant...Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and metabolic regulatory functions of taurine(Tau),a free amino acid that is widely distributed in the body,have been extensively studied.However,the mechanisms by which dietary Tau alleviates oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage in weaned piglets remain unclear.Methods Forty weaned piglets(20 males and 20 females;6.41±0.11 kg;25 days old;Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)were used in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the mechanism by which dietary Tau(0%or 0.4%)alleviates PQ-induced oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage.We analyzed key biomarkers related to gut barrier function,mucosal damage repair,liver damage,gut-liver immunity,antioxidant capacity,systemic immune homeostasis,antioxidant levels,and gut microbiota diversity in piglets under normal and acute oxidative stress.In particular,we evaluated the coordinated regulation of gut-liver axis function mediated by Tau through the Nrf2/Keap1(antioxidant)and TLR4/NF-κB(immune modulation)signaling pathways.Partial least squares path modeling and molecular docking were used to explore the intrinsic relationship between PQ,Tau,and the gut-liver axis.Results PQ exposure impaired gut barrier function,increased the liver fibrosis area,and markedly affected gut microbial diversity(P<0.05).Tau effectively alleviated PQ-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.This enhanced gut barrier function,promoted mucosal repair,and significantly suppressed the concentration and circulation of lipopolysaccharides in the blood,consequently reducing liver damage(P<0.05).This further facilitated the optimization of gut microbiota composition,thereby supporting the positive regulation of the gut-liver axis and improving systemic immune and antioxidant functions.Conclusions Tau improved the health status of weaned piglets under both normal and stressed conditions by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathways,offering a potential new nutritional strategy for alleviating gut-liver damage.展开更多
Background Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is closely associated with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction.The aim of this study was to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of the probioti...Background Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is closely associated with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction.The aim of this study was to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of the probiotic Bacillus velezensis MZ09,which produces branched-chain short-chain fatty acids(BSCFAs),against the dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis in piglets.Results In this study,a DSS-induced piglet colitis model was established to explore the impact of MZ09.Pretreatment with MZ09 significantly alleviated the symptoms of colitis in piglets.For example,the disease activity index(DAI)score decreased,the length of the colon was restored,and splenomegaly was alleviated.MZ09 enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins such as Claudin-1,Occludin,and ZO-1.Using 16S rRNA analysis,we found that MZ09 could remodel the intestinal microbiota.MZ09 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes and Lactobacillus while suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella.MZ09 also increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in the colon.The increased SCFA content activated G-protein-coupled receptor 43(GPR43),which increased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and promoted the production of the antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-10(IL-10).Mechanistically,MZ09 mitigated mitochondrial damage via the STAT3/hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)axis.This action inhibits nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain,leucinerich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3)inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis,thus reducing the release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-18.Conclusions B.velezensis MZ09 alleviates DSS-induced colitis in piglets through multiple pathways,including gut microbiota remodeling,SCFAs–GPR43–STAT3 axis activation,and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis suppression.These findings provide a new theoretical basis for the development of targeted intervention strategies for IBD,suggesting that MZ09 represents a potentially promising therapeutic agent for IBD treatment.展开更多
Background Intestinal inflammation is a common and serious health problem in piglet production,especially enteritis caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli(E.coli).This condition often leads to high mortality,slow weigh...Background Intestinal inflammation is a common and serious health problem in piglet production,especially enteritis caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli(E.coli).This condition often leads to high mortality,slow weight gain,and significant economic losses.Results In this study,we isolated an E.coli strain,SKLAN202302,from the colon of diarrheal piglets to create an intestinal inflammation model for evaluating the protective effects of baicalin.Piglets infected with E.coli exhibited significant reductions in body weight,feed intake,small intestine length,and ileal goblet cell count(P<0.05),along with deteriorated ileal morphology.However,baicalin supplementation resulted in body weights,feed intake,and intestinal morphology similar to those of the control group.Notably,there was a significant increase in the colonization of Lactobacillus species,particularly Lactobacillus_reuteri,Lactobacillus_amylovorus,and Lactobacillus_johnii,compared to the E.coli group(P<0.05).At the metabolic and transcriptional levels,E.coli infection increased inflammatory mediators,including eicosanoids(leukotriene F4,prostaglandin F1a,leukotriene E4,thromboxane B2,prostaglandin G2,and PGH2),monosaccharides,and TCA cycle intermediates(oxoglutaric acid,glutaric acid,adipic acid,citric acid,and isocitric acid)in the ileum.It also promoted the expression of genes related to autoimmune diseases and the Th17 differentiation signaling pathway(CTLA4,IFN-ALPHA-8,IL12RB2,TRAV3,TRAV16,FOS,and VEGFA),as well as inflammatory factors.Conversely,baicalin supplementation not only counteracted these effects but also enhanced the presence of metabolites such as phospholipids[including lyso PC(P-18:1(9Z)/0:0),PC(17:0/0:0),lyso PC(16:1(9Z)/0:0),PC(18:0/0:0),lyso PC(18:0/0:0),PA(10:0/i-16:0),and PA(10:0/8:0)]and amino acids.It also regulated genes within the IL-17 signaling pathway(IL4,CCL17,CXCL10,IFNG,and CXCL2),suggesting a mechanism by which baicalin mitigates E.coli-induced intestinal and microbial disturbances.Subsequent flow cytometry analysis showed that E.coli infection increased the numbers of CD3+and Foxp3+cells,decreased IL-17A+cells,and reduced Th17/Treg ratios.Baicalin supplementation restored these parameters to control levels.Conclusions Baicalin supplementation effectively alleviates E.coli-induced intestinal inflammation and microbial disturbances in piglets by enhancing beneficial Lactobacillus colonization,counteracting inflammatory mediators,and regulating immune-related gene expression and the Th17/Treg balance.These findings highlight baicalin's potential in alleviating intestinal inflammation.展开更多
Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets eit...Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets either separately or included in their creep feed,combined with nursery diets with or without grass pellet inclusion on growth performance and gastrointestinal development.Methods Thirty-six litters(14–15 piglets per litter)were divided into three equal groups of 12 litters per treatment during the suckling phase:control group(CON)received regular creep feed;GH group received chopped grass hay as-is in separate feeders alongside regular creep feed;PGH group received regular creep feed but barley and wheat were replaced by 28%grass pellets.After weaning(d 23),each litter was split into two dietary treatments in a splitplot design(pre-wean treatment as main plot).Two of the pre-wean diets were also offered until d 14 post-weaning,i.e.,CON(CON nursery diet,CON-C,GH-C,PGH-C)and PGH(GH nursery diet,CON-GH,GH-GH,PGH-GH).Thereafter,transitioning to a diet containing 13%wheat/barley or grass pellets,respectively,until d 39 post-weaning.Gastrointestinal morphology,gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and barrier proteins,metabolite profile and microbiota were assessed on the day before weaning,d 10 and d 38 post-weaning.A total of 24 piglets were sacrificed at each dissection point.Results At weaning,GH group had consumed 7 g/piglet grass hay,and PGH group had consumed 46 g/piglet creep feed.One day before weaning,GH piglets showed heavier emptied small intestine(P=0.044)and colon(P=0.065),higher SCFA production in proximal segments and lower SCFA production in colon(P<0.05).Higher abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group was observed in caecal and colonic content of PGH compared to GH group(P<0.05),and PGH group showed a lower energy conversion ratio(net energy intake/gain,P=0.035).Following weaning,GH nursery group had a reduced average daily gain(226 vs.183 g,P<0.001)during d 0–14,while this group showed compensatory growth afterwards(P=0.056).Main plot effects on increased expressions of CLDN3 and FFAR2 were observed in GH and PGH by d 38 post-weaning(P<0.05).An interaction effect showed greater luminal abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group in GH-GH and PGH-GH groups compared to CON-GH on d 38.The GH nursery diet showed a better energy conversion ratio(P=0.006)with no influence on body weight and their SCFA production shifted towards proximal segments.Conclusion In conclusion, feeding a structured and fibre-rich diet to suckling piglets enhance their digestive tractdevelopment and adapt their microbiome to fibre digestion in later life. Maintaining a fibre-rich diet from sucklingto nursery is recommended, though this come with a transient reduction in weight gain caused by lower feed intakethat, however, can be recovered afterwards accompanied with an optimized energy conversion ratio.展开更多
Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)infection poses a significant challenge to the swine industry,with limited effective control measures available.Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP)is the primary active ing...Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)infection poses a significant challenge to the swine industry,with limited effective control measures available.Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP)is the primary active ingredient of Poria cocos,and has been demonstrated to show beneficial effects on intestinal damage in previous studies.However,its mechanism has not been fully understood.In the present study,18 seven-day-old piglets were divided into 3 groups:Control group,PEDV group,and PCP+PEDV group.After three days of adaptation,piglets in the PCP+PEDV group were orally administered 10 mg/kg body weight/d PCP from d 4 to 10.On d 8,piglets were orally administered with PEDV at the dose of 104.5 TCID50/piglet.This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of PCP on PEDVinduced intestinal injury and explored the underlying mechanisms.Results The results showed that PCP administration effectively alleviated diarrhea,reduced PEDV replication in the small intestine and colon of piglets,and significantly improved intestinal mucosal morphology.Specifically,PCP increased the villus height in both the jejunum and ileum and increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum(P<0.05).Improved intestinal function was further evidenced by elevated plasma D-xylose levels and decreased diamine oxidase activity(P<0.05).Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that lipid metabolism is a key pathway regulated by PCP during PEDV infection.Notably,PCP significantly upregulated sphingolipid metabolism-related genes,including ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 7 and N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2.Metabolomic analysis revealed that PCP primarily modulated the levels of plasmanylphosphoethanolamine,lysophosphatidylcholine,and carnitine.Additionally,PCP reversed the expression of key genes involved in fatty acid uptake,intracellular lipid transport,and fatty acid synthesis,such as fatty acid binding protein 2,fatty acid transport protein 4,apolipoprotein B,apolipoprotein C3,fatty acid synthase,long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase 3,lipoprotein lipase and acyl-CoA thioesterases 12(P<0.05).Conclusions These findings demonstrate that PCP mitigates PEDV-induced intestinal injury by modulating lipid metabolism and highlight its potential as a dietary supplement for enhancing anti-PEDV defenses and promoting intestinal health in piglets.展开更多
Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites ...Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites play a crucial role in the antidiarrhea process of weaned piglets.Results In this study,we first observed that piglets with diarrhea exhibited a lower average daily gain and higher diarrhea score,and elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and D-lactate(D-LA)compared to healthy piglets.Subsequently,we analyzed the differences in intestinal microbial composition and metabolite levels between healthy and diarrheal weaned piglets.Diarrheal piglets demonstrated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis,characterized pri-marily by a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio,a deficiency of Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus reuteri,and an increased abundance of Bacteroides sp.HF-5287 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.Functional pro-filing of the gut microbiota based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)data was performed,and the results showed that tryptophan metabolism was the most significantly inhibited pathway in piglets with diar-rhea.Most tryptophan metabolites were detected at lower concentrations in diarrheal piglets than in healthy piglets.Furthermore,we explored the effects of dietary indole-3-aldehyde(IAld),a key tryptophan metabolite,on intestinal development and gut barrier function in weaned piglets.Supplementation with 100 mg/kg IAld in the diet increased the small intestine index and improved intestinal barrier function by promoting intestinal stem cell(ISC)expansion in piglets.The promotion of ISC expansion by IAld was also confirmed in porcine intestinal organoids.Conclusions These findings revealed that intestinal microbial tryptophan metabolite IAld alleviates impaired intesti-nal development by promoting ISC expansion in weaned piglets.展开更多
[Objective] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mycotoxin from moldy maize on immune response of piglets.[Method] ELISA method was used to determine the content of Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in ...[Objective] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mycotoxin from moldy maize on immune response of piglets.[Method] ELISA method was used to determine the content of Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in maize; after the piglets were fed with the moldy maize,the corresponding antibody titers in the serums of piglets were measured.[Result] Antibody levels of tested group were obvious lower than that of the control,while the histological section of immune organs also suggested that mycotoxin could significantly inhibit the immune response of piglets.[Conclusion] Mycotoxin in maize had important effects on the internal organs and immune response of piglets.展开更多
In this study, feed-grade proteinase was added into conventional diets of three-line crossbred （Duroc x Landrace x Large White） piglets, to investigate the effects of feed-grade proteinase on anti-diarrhea capacity,...In this study, feed-grade proteinase was added into conventional diets of three-line crossbred （Duroc x Landrace x Large White） piglets, to investigate the effects of feed-grade proteinase on anti-diarrhea capacity, daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of piglets. The results showed that adding feed-grade proteinase in diets enhanced anti-diarrhea capacity of piglets and improved signifi- cantly production performance and breeding efficiency of piglets. This study provided the reference for rational utilization of feed-grade proteinase in actual production.展开更多
Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of ...Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of key proteins that regulate growth and nutrient transport of jejunum, a total of 12 healthy piglets （21 day-old, similar body weight, Landrace x Yorkshire） delivered by four sows were randomly divided into two groups. Piglets in the test group were reared with feed supplemented L-arginine at a concentration of 6.0 g/kg, while piglets in the control group were fed with feed supplemented L-alanine at a concentration of 12.3 g/kg （isonitrogenous control）. After 7 d, jejunum mucosae was collected and analyzed with the 2-D PAGE MS technology. Compared with the control pigs, arginine decreased the levels of proteins that regulate the protein syn- thesis, intermediary metabolism and tissue growth （ similar to anterior gradient 2 homolog, cyclophilin_ABHJike, hypothetical protein FLJ39502 and tetratrioopeptide repeat domain 16, similar to KIAA0156, mitechondrial ATP synthase, hydrion transporting F1 complex, beta subunit and alpha-tu- bulin ubiquitous isoform 19, prolyl 4-hydroxylase, beta subunit precursor）. In addition, arginine increased the levels of proteins that are involved in proteolysis and immune response （ PGAM1, T cell receptor beta variable 20, membrane steroid binding protein, similar to myomesin-1, and chain A, structure of pig muscle Pgk complexed with MgATP）. Therefore, arginine influences the immune response and protein synthesis mechanisms as well as improves eady weaned stress syndrome of piglets.展开更多
Weaning of piglets is generally considered as a stressor which changes intestinal ecosystem and leads to clinical implications. Microbiota inhabiting in small intestine （especially ileum） are assumed to promote heal...Weaning of piglets is generally considered as a stressor which changes intestinal ecosystem and leads to clinical implications. Microbiota inhabiting in small intestine （especially ileum） are assumed to promote health, but their functional properties are yet poody dascdbed. As indicated by the 16S rRNA gene sequences of ileal micrebiota in nursing piglets （at the age of 21 and 28 d） and 28-day-old weaned piglets （weaned at 21 d of age）, the microbiota were mainly comprised of gram-positive bacteria. There were 40 operational taxonomic units （OTUs） （from 171 clones） in the ileum of nursing piglets aged 21 d, 61 OTUs （from 194 clones） in the ileum of nursing piglets aged 28 d, and 56 OTUs （from 171 clones） in the ileum of weaned piglets aged 28 d. The flea of nursing piglets aged 21 d were dominantly occupied by Lactobacilli （87.7%） as well as Streptococ cus （ 3.5 % ）. Lactobacillus amy/ovorus （41.5 % ）, Lactobaci/lus sp. （ 19.3 % ）, Lactobaci/lus reuteri （ 12.3 % ）, Lactobacillus salivarius （ 9.4 % ） and L. mucosae （4.7%） were the predominant species among Lactobacil/L Similar results were obtained in the nursing piglets at 28 d of age ex- cept that Lactobaci/li decreased to 71.1% and Streptococcus increased to 21.1% significantly. Lactobacillus （52.0%） and Streptococcus （26.3%） were the two major groups in the ileum of weaned piglets aged 28 d. Lactobacillus amylovorus （31.6%） and Lactobaci/lus reuteri （ 16.4% ） was the two most important species in Lactobacillus. Therefore, Lactobacilli were predominant in the ileum of nursing and weaned piglets, and they had the highest diversity, followed by Streptococcus. The diversity of ileal microbiota was not different remarkably between the nursing piglets and the weaned piglets, but the composition changed significantly. These findings are helpful to understand ileal bacterial ecophysiology and further develop nutritional regimes to prevent or counteract complications during the weaning transition.展开更多
[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administrat...[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administration and its effects on diarrhea rate, growth performance, in- testinal microflora, pH values of different parts of the intestine and intestinal mucosal morphology were observed. [ Result] DUAN-NAI-AN could im- prove the growth performance of weaned piglets by increasing the growth rate and phase weight gain, showing as higher livability, average daily gain and daily feed intake as well as lower diarrhea rate with 19.24% decline by contrast to the control. In addition, DUAN-NAI-AN could keep the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier and normal digestive function by strengthening intestinal resistance and thus enhance the intestinal mucosal im- mune level. It could also decrease the proportion of potential pathogens and their toxicity effects inside the intestine to help the piglets transfer to and then maintain the dynamic balance of intestinal microflora in a very short period, and it also showed a trend of decreasing the pH value of piglet in- testinal contents. [ Conclusion] DUAN-NAI-AN is an effective microbial ecological agent for the control of weaned piglet diarrhea.展开更多
[ Objective] The research aimed to explore effects of an immunological stress on immune response in different breeds of piglets （ Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig）. [Method] All the 12 weaning pigs （Lulai pig...[ Objective] The research aimed to explore effects of an immunological stress on immune response in different breeds of piglets （ Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig）. [Method] All the 12 weaning pigs （Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig） weighing （12.6 ±0.5） kg were used in a 2 x3 factorial design. The main factors consisted of immunological challenge （ LPS or saline） and breeds （ Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig）. On Day 1, six piglets of each breed were injected with LPS at the usage of 200 μg/kg BW or an equivalent amount of sterile saline, and in jected classical swine fever vaccine at the same time. Blood sample were collected on Day 2, 7 and 14 post injection to analyze the blood lympho cyte proliferation. The levels of antibodies against classical swine fever were tested on Day 1 prior to injection and on Day 7 and 14 post injection. [ Result] On Day 2 after injection, the lymphocyte transformation rate of piglets injected with LPS were significantly （P〈O. 01 ） increased compared with piglets injected with saline. The lymphocyte transformation rate of Laiwu piglets was significant higher than that of Yorkshire piglets （ P 〈 0.05）. Effects of immunological stress on the level of antibodies against classical swine fever were not significantly different among different breeds of pig lets. [ Conclusion] LPS can effectively stimulate cellular immunity response in different breeds of piglets, and the immune response ability is different among various breeds of piglets.展开更多
In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets...In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets with simiIar bogy weights and body fats and cIose birth dates were seIected. They were randomIy divided into three groups, incIuding controI group （CK）, antibiotic group （A） and microbial ecoIogical agent group （MEA）. The growth performance, health status and economic benefits of the weaned pigIets were measured. The resuIts showed that the A and MEA groups couId better enhance the immunity of weaned pigIets and improve the economic benefits in the whoIe experimental period compared to the CK group （P〈0.01）. How-ever, there were no significant differences in pigIet immunity and economic benefits between the A and MEA groups （P〉0.05）. It is indicated that the Rujunbao, a mi-crobial ecoIogical agent, can be promoted in weaned pigIet production as a repIace-ment for antibiotic.展开更多
[ Objective] To profile the differentially expressed genes in small intestine between piglets with intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, describe the relationships between growth performance and gene expression in...[ Objective] To profile the differentially expressed genes in small intestine between piglets with intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, describe the relationships between growth performance and gene expression in IUGR piglets, and thus provide a theoretical basis for further research. [Metbed] Eight suckling piglets at the age of 21 d Efour with normal body weight （NBW） of （1 503 ± 310） g and four with low BW of （806 ±35） g] were killed, and the intestinal samples were collected. Gene expression was detected by Affymetrix Porcine GeneChip and further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. [ ReseltJ Microarray analysis showed that there were 156 differentially expressed genes in the small intestine between the IUGR piglets and the age-matched NBW piglets, including 61 down-regulated genes and 95 up-regulated genes, The up-regulated genes included protein tyrosine phosphatase, myosin, troponin, heat shock protein, metallothionein, arginine vasopressin-induced 1, ribosomal protein L6, apoptosls antagonizing transcription factor, muscle creatine kinase, mannosidase, lysozyme, folliculin, urate transporterchannel protein, pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductese-like, and adenine phosphor-dbosyltransferase. The down-regulated genes included protein kinase, arachidohate 12-1ipoxygenase, transcription factor A, GTP-GDP dissociation stimulator 1, serine （or cysteine） proteinase inhibitor, fetuin, dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase, apolipoprotein H, argininosuccinate synthetase 1, iron-regulated transporter, alpha-2-macroglobulin, immunoglobulin superfamily, thioltransferase, and guanylate binding protein 2. The gene expression profile changed in the small intestine of piglets with intrauterine growth restriction, providing a theoretical basis for eady intervention in growth restriction.展开更多
[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on the parenchymatous organs in experiment piglets with spleen weakness. [Method] For the 12 healthy piglets, 0.5 ml of reserpi...[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on the parenchymatous organs in experiment piglets with spleen weakness. [Method] For the 12 healthy piglets, 0.5 ml of reserpine was injected at their jugular muscle once every day for 10 days. Afterwards, the 12 piglets with diarrhea were divided into two groups, namely the Guchangcuzhang powder group and the control group, six in each. In the former group, 6 g of Guchangcuzhang powder was brewed with 20 ml of boiling water and then the piglets were drenched with the medication solution for 7 d once every day; in the latter group, each piglet was drenched with 20 ml of normal saline once every day for 7 d. On two and eight days after the drug discontinuance respectively, three piglets were selected from each of the group and killed by bloodletting from the jugular vein. Afterwards, paraffin sections of heart, liver, lungs and kidney was made and then stained respectively, followed by observation of the histological changes.[Result] The histological structure of each parenchymatous organ in piglets drenched with Guchangcuzhang powder restored or approached to normal. [Conlusion]Guchangcuzhang powder has a good therapeutic against diarrhea in piglets.展开更多
[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on intestine and spleen in experiment piglets with spleen weakness.[Method] The 12 piglets with diarrhea were divided into two ...[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on intestine and spleen in experiment piglets with spleen weakness.[Method] The 12 piglets with diarrhea were divided into two groups,namely the Guchangcuzhang powder group and the control group,six in each.On two and eight days after the drug discontinuance respectively,three piglets were selected from each of the group and killed by bloodletting from the jugular vein.Afterwards,paraffin sections of intestine and spleen were made and stained by HE staining solution,followed by observation of the histological changes.[Result] The structures of intestine and spleen in piglets drenched with Guchangcuzhang powder restored or approachedto normal.[Conlusion] Guchangcuzhang powder has the function of healing piglet diarrhea.展开更多
Background: Resveratrol, a plant phenol, affords protection against inflammation and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy...Background: Resveratrol, a plant phenol, affords protection against inflammation and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the antioxidant status of sows and piglets and on antioxidant gene expression and pathway in placenta.Methods: Forty sows were allotted to 2 dietary treatments 20 d after breeding. Sows were fed a control diet and a control diet with 300 mg/kg resveratrol. Oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes were measured in the placenta, milk, and plasma of sows and piglets. Antioxidant gene expression and protein expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Keap1-Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa B-p65(NFκB-p65) and sirtuin1(Sirt1) were quantified in the placenta.Results: Dietary resveratrol increased the litter and piglets weaning weights. Antioxidant status in the milk, placenta and plasma of sows and piglets was partially improved by dietary resveratrol. In placenta, Nrf2 protein expression was increased and Keap1 protein expression was decreased by dietary resveratrol. The m RNA expression of antioxidant genes including catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1(GPX1), GPX4, superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO1), and phase 2 detoxification genes, including glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier(GCLM), microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1(MGST1) and UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1(UGT1 A1), was increased by dietary resveratrol. Dietary resveratrol also increased Sirt1 and phosphorylated NFκB-p65 protein expression in the placenta. We failed to observe any influences of dietary resveratrol on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, including those of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α). However, we observed that the m RNA expression of IL-8 in placenta was reduced by maternal resveratrol. In addition, dietary resveratrol showed interactive effects with day of lactation on activities of SOD and CAT and levels of malonaldehyde(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide(H2 O2) in milk.Conclusions: Dietary resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy and lactation improves the antioxidant status of sows and piglets, which is beneficial to the reproductive performance of sows. Dietary resveratrol regulates placental antioxidant gene expression by the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and Sirt1 in placenta.展开更多
基金Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2021ZDZX0009).
文摘Background Oxidative stress significantly impacts growth performance and liver function in piglets.Ferulic acid(FA)works as an antioxidant,however,the role and mechanism of FA in the regulation of diquat-induced oxidative stress in piglets are less known.This study was designed to investigate the effects of FA on growth performance and antioxi-dant capacity in piglets with diquat challenge.Methods Thirty-two healthy DLY(Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)piglets(13.24±0.19 kg)were randomly divided into one of two diets including 0 or 4 g/kg FA for 14 d.On d 15,all pigs were intraperitoneally injected diquat or sterile saline.Results Dietary supplementation with ferulic acid(FA)significantly improved the average daily gain(ADG)and decreased feed-gain ratio(F/G)of piglets.Here,dietary FA supplementation reduced serum aspartate aminotrans-ferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)activities in diquat challenged piglets.Furthermore,diquat infusion increased reactive oxygen radicals(ROS)level in liver,decreased the activities of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)and increased malondialdehyde(MDA)con-tent in the liver and serum.Supplementation with FA significantly increased T-AOC and T-SOD activities and decreased MDA and ROS levels.FA down-regulated gene and protein expression of Keap1,and up-regulated protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the liver of piglets with diquat challenge.Importantly,diquat challenge increased the ratio of late apoptosis,increased serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18 and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and up-regulated pyroptosis-related genes in the liver.FA supplementation reduced the ratio of late apoptosis and down-regulated mRNA expression of Caspase-1.Accordingly,FA addition reduced concentration of IL-1β,IL-18,and LDH under diquat challenge.Conclusions Diquat-induced oxidative stress reduced growth performance and impaired liver function in piglets.Dietary FA supplementation enhanced the antioxidant capacity and reduced the degree of hepatocyte pyroptosis,thereby alleviating the oxidative damage in the liver and mitigating the impact of diquat on growth performance of piglets.
基金financially supported by the Green Development and Demonstration Programme(GUDP)(case number 34009-19-1585)。
文摘Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.
基金supported by grant from the Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province 2022C04034(to Jinzhi Zhang,Junli Zhu and Haifeng Wang)the Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFD1300602(to Haifeng Wang)。
文摘Background Aflatoxins have been reported as a significant pollutant in feed,capable of causing harm to the liver,gastrointestinal tract and kidneys of piglets.However,research on the interactions among aflatoxin B1(AFB1),bile acid(BA)metabolism and gut microbiota is limited.Methods In this study,piglets were treated with AFB1 and antibiotics(ABX)to evaluate the interaction between AFB1 and gut microbiota.Subsequently,the roles of the farnesoid X receptor(FXR)and sterol 12α-hydroxylase(CYP8B1)in AFB1 absorption were studied by using FXR agonists obeticholic acid(OCA)and Cyp8b1-knockout(KO)mice,respectively.Result AFB1 inhibited bile salt hydrolase(BSH)activity in ileal microbiota,downregulated ileal FXR expression,and upregulated CYP8B1 expression in liver,increasing the proportion of 12α-OH BAs and potentially enhancing AFB1 absorption.ABX treatment reduced AFB1 absorption and liver damage,and unexpectedly increased BSH activity,counteracting the AFB1-induced downregulation of FXR and upregulation of CYP8B1.OCA reactivated ileal FXR,reduced AFB1 absorption,and alleviated liver damage.Furthermore,Cyp8b1-KO mice showed increased resistance to AFB1-induced liver damage by lowering AFB1 absorption.Conclusions These results underscore the significance of gut microbiota and BAs in AFB1 absorption,suggesting new strategies to mitigate health risks from AFB1 in piglets.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372894)Key Project of Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(KJZD-K202300209)+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for National Key R&D Program of China(SQ2022YFD1300007)Innovation Research 2035 Pilot Program of Southwest University(SWU-XDPY22005).
文摘Background Oxidative stress can impair intestinal barrier function and cause liver damage,resulting in reduced animal productivity.Paraquat(PQ)induces significant oxidative stress in weaned piglets.The antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and metabolic regulatory functions of taurine(Tau),a free amino acid that is widely distributed in the body,have been extensively studied.However,the mechanisms by which dietary Tau alleviates oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage in weaned piglets remain unclear.Methods Forty weaned piglets(20 males and 20 females;6.41±0.11 kg;25 days old;Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire)were used in a 2×2 factorial design to investigate the mechanism by which dietary Tau(0%or 0.4%)alleviates PQ-induced oxidative stress and gut-liver axis damage.We analyzed key biomarkers related to gut barrier function,mucosal damage repair,liver damage,gut-liver immunity,antioxidant capacity,systemic immune homeostasis,antioxidant levels,and gut microbiota diversity in piglets under normal and acute oxidative stress.In particular,we evaluated the coordinated regulation of gut-liver axis function mediated by Tau through the Nrf2/Keap1(antioxidant)and TLR4/NF-κB(immune modulation)signaling pathways.Partial least squares path modeling and molecular docking were used to explore the intrinsic relationship between PQ,Tau,and the gut-liver axis.Results PQ exposure impaired gut barrier function,increased the liver fibrosis area,and markedly affected gut microbial diversity(P<0.05).Tau effectively alleviated PQ-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.This enhanced gut barrier function,promoted mucosal repair,and significantly suppressed the concentration and circulation of lipopolysaccharides in the blood,consequently reducing liver damage(P<0.05).This further facilitated the optimization of gut microbiota composition,thereby supporting the positive regulation of the gut-liver axis and improving systemic immune and antioxidant functions.Conclusions Tau improved the health status of weaned piglets under both normal and stressed conditions by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathways,offering a potential new nutritional strategy for alleviating gut-liver damage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372924)the Major Industrialisation of Scientific and Technological Achievements in Heilongjiang Province(CG24019).
文摘Background Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is closely associated with intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction.The aim of this study was to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of the probiotic Bacillus velezensis MZ09,which produces branched-chain short-chain fatty acids(BSCFAs),against the dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis in piglets.Results In this study,a DSS-induced piglet colitis model was established to explore the impact of MZ09.Pretreatment with MZ09 significantly alleviated the symptoms of colitis in piglets.For example,the disease activity index(DAI)score decreased,the length of the colon was restored,and splenomegaly was alleviated.MZ09 enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins such as Claudin-1,Occludin,and ZO-1.Using 16S rRNA analysis,we found that MZ09 could remodel the intestinal microbiota.MZ09 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes and Lactobacillus while suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella.MZ09 also increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in the colon.The increased SCFA content activated G-protein-coupled receptor 43(GPR43),which increased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)and promoted the production of the antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-10(IL-10).Mechanistically,MZ09 mitigated mitochondrial damage via the STAT3/hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)axis.This action inhibits nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain,leucinerich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3)inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis,thus reducing the release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-18.Conclusions B.velezensis MZ09 alleviates DSS-induced colitis in piglets through multiple pathways,including gut microbiota remodeling,SCFAs–GPR43–STAT3 axis activation,and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis suppression.These findings provide a new theoretical basis for the development of targeted intervention strategies for IBD,suggesting that MZ09 represents a potentially promising therapeutic agent for IBD treatment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32102582)the Youth innovation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Y2023QC09)+1 种基金Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and technology Project(2022ZB270)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(ASTIPIAS07,cxgc-ias-16)。
文摘Background Intestinal inflammation is a common and serious health problem in piglet production,especially enteritis caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli(E.coli).This condition often leads to high mortality,slow weight gain,and significant economic losses.Results In this study,we isolated an E.coli strain,SKLAN202302,from the colon of diarrheal piglets to create an intestinal inflammation model for evaluating the protective effects of baicalin.Piglets infected with E.coli exhibited significant reductions in body weight,feed intake,small intestine length,and ileal goblet cell count(P<0.05),along with deteriorated ileal morphology.However,baicalin supplementation resulted in body weights,feed intake,and intestinal morphology similar to those of the control group.Notably,there was a significant increase in the colonization of Lactobacillus species,particularly Lactobacillus_reuteri,Lactobacillus_amylovorus,and Lactobacillus_johnii,compared to the E.coli group(P<0.05).At the metabolic and transcriptional levels,E.coli infection increased inflammatory mediators,including eicosanoids(leukotriene F4,prostaglandin F1a,leukotriene E4,thromboxane B2,prostaglandin G2,and PGH2),monosaccharides,and TCA cycle intermediates(oxoglutaric acid,glutaric acid,adipic acid,citric acid,and isocitric acid)in the ileum.It also promoted the expression of genes related to autoimmune diseases and the Th17 differentiation signaling pathway(CTLA4,IFN-ALPHA-8,IL12RB2,TRAV3,TRAV16,FOS,and VEGFA),as well as inflammatory factors.Conversely,baicalin supplementation not only counteracted these effects but also enhanced the presence of metabolites such as phospholipids[including lyso PC(P-18:1(9Z)/0:0),PC(17:0/0:0),lyso PC(16:1(9Z)/0:0),PC(18:0/0:0),lyso PC(18:0/0:0),PA(10:0/i-16:0),and PA(10:0/8:0)]and amino acids.It also regulated genes within the IL-17 signaling pathway(IL4,CCL17,CXCL10,IFNG,and CXCL2),suggesting a mechanism by which baicalin mitigates E.coli-induced intestinal and microbial disturbances.Subsequent flow cytometry analysis showed that E.coli infection increased the numbers of CD3+and Foxp3+cells,decreased IL-17A+cells,and reduced Th17/Treg ratios.Baicalin supplementation restored these parameters to control levels.Conclusions Baicalin supplementation effectively alleviates E.coli-induced intestinal inflammation and microbial disturbances in piglets by enhancing beneficial Lactobacillus colonization,counteracting inflammatory mediators,and regulating immune-related gene expression and the Th17/Treg balance.These findings highlight baicalin's potential in alleviating intestinal inflammation.
文摘Background Based on observations in feral pigs,the role of dietary fibre and structure may be underestimated in suckling piglet nutrition.This study investigated the effect of grass hay offered to suckling piglets either separately or included in their creep feed,combined with nursery diets with or without grass pellet inclusion on growth performance and gastrointestinal development.Methods Thirty-six litters(14–15 piglets per litter)were divided into three equal groups of 12 litters per treatment during the suckling phase:control group(CON)received regular creep feed;GH group received chopped grass hay as-is in separate feeders alongside regular creep feed;PGH group received regular creep feed but barley and wheat were replaced by 28%grass pellets.After weaning(d 23),each litter was split into two dietary treatments in a splitplot design(pre-wean treatment as main plot).Two of the pre-wean diets were also offered until d 14 post-weaning,i.e.,CON(CON nursery diet,CON-C,GH-C,PGH-C)and PGH(GH nursery diet,CON-GH,GH-GH,PGH-GH).Thereafter,transitioning to a diet containing 13%wheat/barley or grass pellets,respectively,until d 39 post-weaning.Gastrointestinal morphology,gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and barrier proteins,metabolite profile and microbiota were assessed on the day before weaning,d 10 and d 38 post-weaning.A total of 24 piglets were sacrificed at each dissection point.Results At weaning,GH group had consumed 7 g/piglet grass hay,and PGH group had consumed 46 g/piglet creep feed.One day before weaning,GH piglets showed heavier emptied small intestine(P=0.044)and colon(P=0.065),higher SCFA production in proximal segments and lower SCFA production in colon(P<0.05).Higher abundance of Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group was observed in caecal and colonic content of PGH compared to GH group(P<0.05),and PGH group showed a lower energy conversion ratio(net energy intake/gain,P=0.035).Following weaning,GH nursery group had a reduced average daily gain(226 vs.183 g,P<0.001)during d 0–14,while this group showed compensatory growth afterwards(P=0.056).Main plot effects on increased expressions of CLDN3 and FFAR2 were observed in GH and PGH by d 38 post-weaning(P<0.05).An interaction effect showed greater luminal abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3b31 group in GH-GH and PGH-GH groups compared to CON-GH on d 38.The GH nursery diet showed a better energy conversion ratio(P=0.006)with no influence on body weight and their SCFA production shifted towards proximal segments.Conclusion In conclusion, feeding a structured and fibre-rich diet to suckling piglets enhance their digestive tractdevelopment and adapt their microbiome to fibre digestion in later life. Maintaining a fibre-rich diet from sucklingto nursery is recommended, though this come with a transient reduction in weight gain caused by lower feed intakethat, however, can be recovered afterwards accompanied with an optimized energy conversion ratio.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172763,U22A20514)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD130040302)+1 种基金the Hubei Provincial Key R&D Program(2023BBB040)the Hubei Important Science and Technology Project(2024BBA004).
文摘Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)infection poses a significant challenge to the swine industry,with limited effective control measures available.Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP)is the primary active ingredient of Poria cocos,and has been demonstrated to show beneficial effects on intestinal damage in previous studies.However,its mechanism has not been fully understood.In the present study,18 seven-day-old piglets were divided into 3 groups:Control group,PEDV group,and PCP+PEDV group.After three days of adaptation,piglets in the PCP+PEDV group were orally administered 10 mg/kg body weight/d PCP from d 4 to 10.On d 8,piglets were orally administered with PEDV at the dose of 104.5 TCID50/piglet.This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of PCP on PEDVinduced intestinal injury and explored the underlying mechanisms.Results The results showed that PCP administration effectively alleviated diarrhea,reduced PEDV replication in the small intestine and colon of piglets,and significantly improved intestinal mucosal morphology.Specifically,PCP increased the villus height in both the jejunum and ileum and increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum(P<0.05).Improved intestinal function was further evidenced by elevated plasma D-xylose levels and decreased diamine oxidase activity(P<0.05).Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that lipid metabolism is a key pathway regulated by PCP during PEDV infection.Notably,PCP significantly upregulated sphingolipid metabolism-related genes,including ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 7 and N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2.Metabolomic analysis revealed that PCP primarily modulated the levels of plasmanylphosphoethanolamine,lysophosphatidylcholine,and carnitine.Additionally,PCP reversed the expression of key genes involved in fatty acid uptake,intracellular lipid transport,and fatty acid synthesis,such as fatty acid binding protein 2,fatty acid transport protein 4,apolipoprotein B,apolipoprotein C3,fatty acid synthase,long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase 3,lipoprotein lipase and acyl-CoA thioesterases 12(P<0.05).Conclusions These findings demonstrate that PCP mitigates PEDV-induced intestinal injury by modulating lipid metabolism and highlight its potential as a dietary supplement for enhancing anti-PEDV defenses and promoting intestinal health in piglets.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372830 and 31972528).
文摘Background Weaning stress-induced diarrhea is widely recognized as being associated with gut microbiota dysbio-sis.However,it has been challenging to clarify which specific intestinal microbiota and their metabolites play a crucial role in the antidiarrhea process of weaned piglets.Results In this study,we first observed that piglets with diarrhea exhibited a lower average daily gain and higher diarrhea score,and elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and D-lactate(D-LA)compared to healthy piglets.Subsequently,we analyzed the differences in intestinal microbial composition and metabolite levels between healthy and diarrheal weaned piglets.Diarrheal piglets demonstrated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis,characterized pri-marily by a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio,a deficiency of Lactobacillus amylovorus and Lactobacillus reuteri,and an increased abundance of Bacteroides sp.HF-5287 and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.Functional pro-filing of the gut microbiota based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)data was performed,and the results showed that tryptophan metabolism was the most significantly inhibited pathway in piglets with diar-rhea.Most tryptophan metabolites were detected at lower concentrations in diarrheal piglets than in healthy piglets.Furthermore,we explored the effects of dietary indole-3-aldehyde(IAld),a key tryptophan metabolite,on intestinal development and gut barrier function in weaned piglets.Supplementation with 100 mg/kg IAld in the diet increased the small intestine index and improved intestinal barrier function by promoting intestinal stem cell(ISC)expansion in piglets.The promotion of ISC expansion by IAld was also confirmed in porcine intestinal organoids.Conclusions These findings revealed that intestinal microbial tryptophan metabolite IAld alleviates impaired intesti-nal development by promoting ISC expansion in weaned piglets.
文摘[Objective] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mycotoxin from moldy maize on immune response of piglets.[Method] ELISA method was used to determine the content of Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in maize; after the piglets were fed with the moldy maize,the corresponding antibody titers in the serums of piglets were measured.[Result] Antibody levels of tested group were obvious lower than that of the control,while the histological section of immune organs also suggested that mycotoxin could significantly inhibit the immune response of piglets.[Conclusion] Mycotoxin in maize had important effects on the internal organs and immune response of piglets.
文摘In this study, feed-grade proteinase was added into conventional diets of three-line crossbred （Duroc x Landrace x Large White） piglets, to investigate the effects of feed-grade proteinase on anti-diarrhea capacity, daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of piglets. The results showed that adding feed-grade proteinase in diets enhanced anti-diarrhea capacity of piglets and improved signifi- cantly production performance and breeding efficiency of piglets. This study provided the reference for rational utilization of feed-grade proteinase in actual production.
基金Supported by grants from the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences ( KSCX2-YW-N-051 and SW-323)NSFC(30901040, 30901041, 30928018, 30828025, 30700581, and 30771558 )+2 种基金National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB118800)National 863 Project ( 2008AA10Z316)National Scientific and Technological Supporting Project(2007BAQ01047 and 2006BAD12B07)~~
文摘Dietary arginine supplementation enhances the immune status and protein synthesis in early-weaned pigs. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. To investigate how arginine affects the expression of key proteins that regulate growth and nutrient transport of jejunum, a total of 12 healthy piglets （21 day-old, similar body weight, Landrace x Yorkshire） delivered by four sows were randomly divided into two groups. Piglets in the test group were reared with feed supplemented L-arginine at a concentration of 6.0 g/kg, while piglets in the control group were fed with feed supplemented L-alanine at a concentration of 12.3 g/kg （isonitrogenous control）. After 7 d, jejunum mucosae was collected and analyzed with the 2-D PAGE MS technology. Compared with the control pigs, arginine decreased the levels of proteins that regulate the protein syn- thesis, intermediary metabolism and tissue growth （ similar to anterior gradient 2 homolog, cyclophilin_ABHJike, hypothetical protein FLJ39502 and tetratrioopeptide repeat domain 16, similar to KIAA0156, mitechondrial ATP synthase, hydrion transporting F1 complex, beta subunit and alpha-tu- bulin ubiquitous isoform 19, prolyl 4-hydroxylase, beta subunit precursor）. In addition, arginine increased the levels of proteins that are involved in proteolysis and immune response （ PGAM1, T cell receptor beta variable 20, membrane steroid binding protein, similar to myomesin-1, and chain A, structure of pig muscle Pgk complexed with MgATP）. Therefore, arginine influences the immune response and protein synthesis mechanisms as well as improves eady weaned stress syndrome of piglets.
基金Supported by grants from Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-YW-N-051 and SW-323)NSFC(30901040, 30901041, 30928018, 30828025, 30700581, and 30771558)+2 种基金National Basic Research Program of China(2009CB118800)National 863 project (2008AA10Z316)National Scientific and Technological Supporting Project(2007BAQ01047 and 2006BAD12B07)~~
文摘Weaning of piglets is generally considered as a stressor which changes intestinal ecosystem and leads to clinical implications. Microbiota inhabiting in small intestine （especially ileum） are assumed to promote health, but their functional properties are yet poody dascdbed. As indicated by the 16S rRNA gene sequences of ileal micrebiota in nursing piglets （at the age of 21 and 28 d） and 28-day-old weaned piglets （weaned at 21 d of age）, the microbiota were mainly comprised of gram-positive bacteria. There were 40 operational taxonomic units （OTUs） （from 171 clones） in the ileum of nursing piglets aged 21 d, 61 OTUs （from 194 clones） in the ileum of nursing piglets aged 28 d, and 56 OTUs （from 171 clones） in the ileum of weaned piglets aged 28 d. The flea of nursing piglets aged 21 d were dominantly occupied by Lactobacilli （87.7%） as well as Streptococ cus （ 3.5 % ）. Lactobacillus amy/ovorus （41.5 % ）, Lactobaci/lus sp. （ 19.3 % ）, Lactobaci/lus reuteri （ 12.3 % ）, Lactobacillus salivarius （ 9.4 % ） and L. mucosae （4.7%） were the predominant species among Lactobacil/L Similar results were obtained in the nursing piglets at 28 d of age ex- cept that Lactobaci/li decreased to 71.1% and Streptococcus increased to 21.1% significantly. Lactobacillus （52.0%） and Streptococcus （26.3%） were the two major groups in the ileum of weaned piglets aged 28 d. Lactobacillus amylovorus （31.6%） and Lactobaci/lus reuteri （ 16.4% ） was the two most important species in Lactobacillus. Therefore, Lactobacilli were predominant in the ileum of nursing and weaned piglets, and they had the highest diversity, followed by Streptococcus. The diversity of ileal microbiota was not different remarkably between the nursing piglets and the weaned piglets, but the composition changed significantly. These findings are helpful to understand ileal bacterial ecophysiology and further develop nutritional regimes to prevent or counteract complications during the weaning transition.
文摘[ Objective] The study aimed to explore the function mechanism of microbial ecological agent DUAN-NAI-AN on controlling weaned piglet diarrhea. E Method] DUAN-NAI-AN was given to the weaned piglets by oral administration and its effects on diarrhea rate, growth performance, in- testinal microflora, pH values of different parts of the intestine and intestinal mucosal morphology were observed. [ Result] DUAN-NAI-AN could im- prove the growth performance of weaned piglets by increasing the growth rate and phase weight gain, showing as higher livability, average daily gain and daily feed intake as well as lower diarrhea rate with 19.24% decline by contrast to the control. In addition, DUAN-NAI-AN could keep the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier and normal digestive function by strengthening intestinal resistance and thus enhance the intestinal mucosal im- mune level. It could also decrease the proportion of potential pathogens and their toxicity effects inside the intestine to help the piglets transfer to and then maintain the dynamic balance of intestinal microflora in a very short period, and it also showed a trend of decreasing the pH value of piglet in- testinal contents. [ Conclusion] DUAN-NAI-AN is an effective microbial ecological agent for the control of weaned piglet diarrhea.
文摘[ Objective] The research aimed to explore effects of an immunological stress on immune response in different breeds of piglets （ Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig）. [Method] All the 12 weaning pigs （Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig） weighing （12.6 ±0.5） kg were used in a 2 x3 factorial design. The main factors consisted of immunological challenge （ LPS or saline） and breeds （ Lulai pig, Laiwu pig and Yorkshire pig）. On Day 1, six piglets of each breed were injected with LPS at the usage of 200 μg/kg BW or an equivalent amount of sterile saline, and in jected classical swine fever vaccine at the same time. Blood sample were collected on Day 2, 7 and 14 post injection to analyze the blood lympho cyte proliferation. The levels of antibodies against classical swine fever were tested on Day 1 prior to injection and on Day 7 and 14 post injection. [ Result] On Day 2 after injection, the lymphocyte transformation rate of piglets injected with LPS were significantly （P〈O. 01 ） increased compared with piglets injected with saline. The lymphocyte transformation rate of Laiwu piglets was significant higher than that of Yorkshire piglets （ P 〈 0.05）. Effects of immunological stress on the level of antibodies against classical swine fever were not significantly different among different breeds of pig lets. [ Conclusion] LPS can effectively stimulate cellular immunity response in different breeds of piglets, and the immune response ability is different among various breeds of piglets.
基金Vegetable Basket Projects of Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture for Improving Scientific and Technological Capabilities of New Business Entities~~
文摘In order to investigate the appIication effects of microbial ecoIogical agents as repIacements for antibiotics in weaned pigIets, a total of 120 28 d oId healthy Duroc ＆#215;Landrace ＆#215;Large White weaned pigIets with simiIar bogy weights and body fats and cIose birth dates were seIected. They were randomIy divided into three groups, incIuding controI group （CK）, antibiotic group （A） and microbial ecoIogical agent group （MEA）. The growth performance, health status and economic benefits of the weaned pigIets were measured. The resuIts showed that the A and MEA groups couId better enhance the immunity of weaned pigIets and improve the economic benefits in the whoIe experimental period compared to the CK group （P〈0.01）. How-ever, there were no significant differences in pigIet immunity and economic benefits between the A and MEA groups （P〉0.05）. It is indicated that the Rujunbao, a mi-crobial ecoIogical agent, can be promoted in weaned pigIet production as a repIace-ment for antibiotic.
基金Supported by grants from Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences ( KSCX2-YW-N-051 and SW-323)NSFC ( 30901040,30901041,30928018,30828025,30700581,and 30771558)+2 种基金National Basic Research Program of China ( 2009CB118800)National 863 project(2008AA10Z316)National Scientific and Technological Supporting Project ( 2007BAQ01047,and 2006BAD12B07)~~
文摘[ Objective] To profile the differentially expressed genes in small intestine between piglets with intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, describe the relationships between growth performance and gene expression in IUGR piglets, and thus provide a theoretical basis for further research. [Metbed] Eight suckling piglets at the age of 21 d Efour with normal body weight （NBW） of （1 503 ± 310） g and four with low BW of （806 ±35） g] were killed, and the intestinal samples were collected. Gene expression was detected by Affymetrix Porcine GeneChip and further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. [ ReseltJ Microarray analysis showed that there were 156 differentially expressed genes in the small intestine between the IUGR piglets and the age-matched NBW piglets, including 61 down-regulated genes and 95 up-regulated genes, The up-regulated genes included protein tyrosine phosphatase, myosin, troponin, heat shock protein, metallothionein, arginine vasopressin-induced 1, ribosomal protein L6, apoptosls antagonizing transcription factor, muscle creatine kinase, mannosidase, lysozyme, folliculin, urate transporterchannel protein, pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductese-like, and adenine phosphor-dbosyltransferase. The down-regulated genes included protein kinase, arachidohate 12-1ipoxygenase, transcription factor A, GTP-GDP dissociation stimulator 1, serine （or cysteine） proteinase inhibitor, fetuin, dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase, apolipoprotein H, argininosuccinate synthetase 1, iron-regulated transporter, alpha-2-macroglobulin, immunoglobulin superfamily, thioltransferase, and guanylate binding protein 2. The gene expression profile changed in the small intestine of piglets with intrauterine growth restriction, providing a theoretical basis for eady intervention in growth restriction.
基金Supported by the Agricultural Achievement Transformation Program of Ministry of Science and Technology(2012GB2A200044)Science and Technology Development Plan of Shijiazhuang Municipal Science and Technology Bureau(08150132A-3)Qinhuangdao Municipal Science and Technology Development Plan(NO.201101A183)~~
文摘[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on the parenchymatous organs in experiment piglets with spleen weakness. [Method] For the 12 healthy piglets, 0.5 ml of reserpine was injected at their jugular muscle once every day for 10 days. Afterwards, the 12 piglets with diarrhea were divided into two groups, namely the Guchangcuzhang powder group and the control group, six in each. In the former group, 6 g of Guchangcuzhang powder was brewed with 20 ml of boiling water and then the piglets were drenched with the medication solution for 7 d once every day; in the latter group, each piglet was drenched with 20 ml of normal saline once every day for 7 d. On two and eight days after the drug discontinuance respectively, three piglets were selected from each of the group and killed by bloodletting from the jugular vein. Afterwards, paraffin sections of heart, liver, lungs and kidney was made and then stained respectively, followed by observation of the histological changes.[Result] The histological structure of each parenchymatous organ in piglets drenched with Guchangcuzhang powder restored or approached to normal. [Conlusion]Guchangcuzhang powder has a good therapeutic against diarrhea in piglets.
文摘[Objective] This study aimed to explore the histological effects of Guchangcuzhang powder on intestine and spleen in experiment piglets with spleen weakness.[Method] The 12 piglets with diarrhea were divided into two groups,namely the Guchangcuzhang powder group and the control group,six in each.On two and eight days after the drug discontinuance respectively,three piglets were selected from each of the group and killed by bloodletting from the jugular vein.Afterwards,paraffin sections of intestine and spleen were made and stained by HE staining solution,followed by observation of the histological changes.[Result] The structures of intestine and spleen in piglets drenched with Guchangcuzhang powder restored or approachedto normal.[Conlusion] Guchangcuzhang powder has the function of healing piglet diarrhea.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Plan of China(2016YFD0501207)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-36)the National Basic Research Program(2012CB124703)
文摘Background: Resveratrol, a plant phenol, affords protection against inflammation and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the antioxidant status of sows and piglets and on antioxidant gene expression and pathway in placenta.Methods: Forty sows were allotted to 2 dietary treatments 20 d after breeding. Sows were fed a control diet and a control diet with 300 mg/kg resveratrol. Oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes were measured in the placenta, milk, and plasma of sows and piglets. Antioxidant gene expression and protein expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Keap1-Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa B-p65(NFκB-p65) and sirtuin1(Sirt1) were quantified in the placenta.Results: Dietary resveratrol increased the litter and piglets weaning weights. Antioxidant status in the milk, placenta and plasma of sows and piglets was partially improved by dietary resveratrol. In placenta, Nrf2 protein expression was increased and Keap1 protein expression was decreased by dietary resveratrol. The m RNA expression of antioxidant genes including catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1(GPX1), GPX4, superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO1), and phase 2 detoxification genes, including glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier(GCLM), microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1(MGST1) and UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1(UGT1 A1), was increased by dietary resveratrol. Dietary resveratrol also increased Sirt1 and phosphorylated NFκB-p65 protein expression in the placenta. We failed to observe any influences of dietary resveratrol on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, including those of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α). However, we observed that the m RNA expression of IL-8 in placenta was reduced by maternal resveratrol. In addition, dietary resveratrol showed interactive effects with day of lactation on activities of SOD and CAT and levels of malonaldehyde(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide(H2 O2) in milk.Conclusions: Dietary resveratrol supplementation during pregnancy and lactation improves the antioxidant status of sows and piglets, which is beneficial to the reproductive performance of sows. Dietary resveratrol regulates placental antioxidant gene expression by the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and Sirt1 in placenta.
