This study was conducted to determine the effects of soy isoflavones on changes in body and tissue weight and on insulin-like factor I (IGF-I) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPARg) gene and protein expression in muscle and adipose tissues in Chinese Guangxi minipig, as a model for studying human nutrition. A total of 72 male Chinese Guangxi minipigs were fed basal diet (control, Con), low dose of soy isoflavones and high dose of soy isoflavones (HSI). The results showed that HSI increased the body weight (BW) gain and fat percentage of minipigs (P , 0.05). In addition, the serum concentrations of IGF-I and interleukin-6 were increased by high levels of soy isoflavones (P , 0.05). Furthermore, a diet containing soy isoflavones enhanced IGF-I mRNA expression levels in longissimus muscle, but decreased these levels in perirenal fat. However, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARg in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue were both increased when compared with the Con. The data indicated that soy isoflavones regulated the BW gain and fat percentage of Chinese Guangxi minipigs, which also showed changes in IGF-I system and PPARg. However, further research is required to clarify the causative relationship.
The effects of dietary supplementation with lysine-yielding Bacillus subtilis on gut morphology, cecal microflora, and expression of intestinal cytokine mRNA of Linwu ducks (a Chinese local domesticated duck) were investigated after a 63-d feeding trial. Two hundred forty 1-d-old female ducklings were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, and there were 60 birds per treatment replicated 6 times with 10 birds each. The experimental diets consisted of a basal diet containing no antibiotic or growth promoters, the basal diet supplemented with 150 mg Aureomycin per kg feed, and 2 others supplemented with 5.0 × 108 and 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed, respectively. Birds fed the diets supplemented with B. subtilis had increased (P < 0.001) villi height in the jejunum and ileum and reduced (P < 0.001) crypt depth in the jejunum compared with birds fed the control diet. Greatest (P < 0.01) villus height:crypt depth ratio was obtained with the jejunum and ileum of birds fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed. Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis resulted in increased (P < 0.05) cecal counts of Megasphaera elsdenii. Greater cecal Lactobacillus counts were obtained in ducks fed the diets supplemented with Aureomycin and B. subtilis. Ducks fed the diets supplemented with B. subtilis showed suppressed (P < 0.001) expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, and IL-10 in their jejunum. When compared with the control, the expression of interferon (IFN)-γ in the jejunum of ducks fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 108 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis or Aureomycin reduced (P < 0.001) ileal expression of IL-10. When compared with the control, the expression of IL-2 and IL-8 in the ileum of ducks fed the diet supplemented with 5.0 × 1010 cfu B. subtilis/kg feed showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with lysine-yielding B. subtilis improved gut morphology, increased the population of beneficial gut microflora, and stimulated increased intestinal immune response of Linwu ducks.
SU MMARYThe present study was conducted to determine the effects of a polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrophala Koidz (PAM) as a dietary additive on growth performance, immunoglobulin concentration and IL-1b expression in weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty LandracerYorkshire piglets weaned at 28 days old (body weight 7 . 5¡0 . 07 kg) were assigned to five treatment groups (three pens/ group, eight piglets/pen) fed maize/soybean-based diets supplemented with 0, 3, 6 or 9 g of PAM/kg diet or antibiotics (0 . 4 g flavomycin/kg+0 . 13 g olaquindox/kg). The experimental period was 28 days. With increasing PAM supplementation levels, average daily gain was greater (quadratic, P<0 . 05) and the ratio of amount fed to live weight (LW) gain (feed/gain) improved (quadratic, P<0 . 05) during days 14-28 and overall, and diarrhoea incidence decreased (linear, P<0 . 05) during days 14-28. Supplementation of PAM also increased (quadratic, P<0 . 05) serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 on day 14, and increased (quadratic, P<0 . 05) IL-1b expression in jejunal mucosa and lymph nodes. Concentrations of PAM between 6 and 9 g/kg presented the strongest bioactivity compared to the control group or antibiotic-fed group. These findings indicate that PAM is effective in improving growth performance and cytokine response, which suggests that PAM can be used as a diet additive for weanling piglets.
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