Maternal obesity is associated with placental oxidative stress. However, the mechanism underlying this association remains poorly understood. In the present study, a gilt obesity model was developed by exposure to different energy diets and used to investigate the role of NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) in the placenta. Specifically, 99 gilts (Guangdong Small-ear Spotted pig) at day 60 of gestation were randomly assigned to one of the following three treatments: low-energy group (L, DE = 11.50 MJ/kg), medium-energy group (M, DE = 12.41 MJ/kg), and high-energy group (H, DE = 13.42 MJ/kg), with 11 replicate pens per treatment and 3 gilts per pen. At the start of the study, maternal body weight and backfat thickness were not significantly different in the three treatments. After the study, data indicated that the H group had higher body weight and backfat thickness gain for gilts during gestation and lower piglet birth weight compared with the other two groups. Additionally, the H group showed glucolipid metabolic disorders and increased triglyceride and nonesterified fatty acid contents in the placenta of gilts. Compared with the L group, the H group exhibited lower mitochondrial biogenesis and increased oxidative damage in the placenta. Importantly, increased mRNA expression and protein abundance of Nox2 were observed for the first time in H group placentae. Furthermore, compared with the L group, the H group showed a decrease in the density of placental vessels and the protein levels of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (p-VEGFR2) as well as the immunostaining intensity of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31). Our findings suggest that maternal high-energy diet-induced obesity increases placental oxidative stress and decreases placental angiogenesis possibly through the upregulation of Nox2.

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This study investigated the effects of different amounts of wheat aleurone (WA) (0, 15%, 30%) inclusion in gestation diets on the reproductive performance, postprandial satiety, stress status and stereotypic behaviors of sows. A total of 84 Landrace × Yorkshire sows (parity 4.87 ± 1.32) at breeding were randomly allotted to one of the three isoenergetic and isonitrogenous dietary treatments based on parity and body weight. The results showed that, compared with the control (0), sows fed the WA diet had a higher serum concentration of peptide YY (PYY) ( P < 0.05) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) ( P < 0.05) and a lower concentration of saliva cortisol ( P < 0.01). Importantly, compared with the control group, only the 15% WA group had a higher concentration of the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) ( P < 0.05), lower proportions of sitting ( P = 0.05) and stillbirth rates ( P < 0.01). Accordingly, the production cost per piglet born alive ($ 6.9 vs. $ 7.6) or per piglet born healthy ($ 7.4 vs. $ 7.9) declined in the 15% WA group versus the control group. Overall, 15% WA inclusion in gestation diets contributed to enhancing postprandial satiety, alleviating stress status and decreasing stillbirth rate of sows. This study provides a reference for the application of WA as a partial substitute for conventional feed ingredients to improve sows’ reproductive performance.

Background This study aimed to investigate the hydration properties of different-source fibrous materials by comparing their water-binding capacity (WBC), water swelling capacity (WSC), viscosity, and in vivo effects of selected samples on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, diarrhea, and intestinal health in weaned piglets. Methods A total of 13 commercially available fibrous materials were first compared in chemical composition and in vitro hydration property. Subsequently, 40 weaned piglets were randomized to five experimental dietary groups (8 piglets per group): control diet (a basal diet without dietary fiber, CON), basal diet supplemented with 5% microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), 5% wheat bran (WB), 5% Moringaoleifera leaf powder (MOLP), or 5% sugar beet pulp (SBP), followed by analyzing their growth performance and diarrhea rate in a 28-d experiment. After the feeding experiment, anaesthetized piglets were killed, and their intestinal and colon content or plasma samples were analyzed in nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, intestinal barrier, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bacterial population. Results In vitro studies showed low hydration properties for WB and MCC, while medium hydration properties for MOLP and SBP. In vivo studies indicated that compared with medium hydration property groups, low hydration property groups showed (1) exacerbated diarrhea, impaired intestinal health, and reduced apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber; (2) decreased SCFAs concentration and relative levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, but increased levels of Escherichia coli and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in colon contents. Additionally, SBP showed optimal performance in reducing diarrhea and increasing SCFAs production. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation of fiber hydration properties with in vitro SCFAs production, and diarrhea index and nutrient digestibility were negatively and positively correlated with SCFAs levels in the colon contents of weaned piglets, respectively. Conclusions Different-source dietary fibers varied in their hydration properties and impacts on diarrhea, microbial composition and SCFAs production in weaned piglets. WB and MCC could exacerbate diarrhea and impair nutrient digestibility, probably because their low hydration properties were detrimental to gut microbial homeostasis and fermentation. Our findings provide new ideas for rational use of fiber resources in weaned piglets.

Background This study was aimed to investigate the hydration and fermentation characteristics of fibrous materials through an in vitro study to screen out dietary fibers with varying water binding capacity (WBC) / fermentability, and evaluate their effects on the growth, diarrhea, and intestinal health of weaned piglets. Methods The hydration properties of 13 commercially available fibrous materials were first compared in terms of in vitro viscosity, WBC and water swelling capacity, followed by enzymatically hydrolysis of all the fibrous materials with pepsin and pancreatin, and in vitro fermentation of the enzymolyzed residues, during which gas and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production were monitored. Subsequently, 40 weaned piglets were randomized to five experimental dietary groups (8 piglets per group): (1) the control diet (a basal diet without dietary fiber, CON), a basal diet supplemented with (2) 5% microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), (3) 5% wheat bran (WB), (4) 5% moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP), and (5) 5% sugar beet pulp (SBP), and their growth performance and diarrhea rate were calculated. At the end of feeding experiments, anaesthetized piglets were killed, and their intestinal and colonic digesta or plasma samples were analyzed in terms of intestinal morphology, intestinal barrier, inflammatory cytokines, SCFAs, and bacterial population. Results In vitro studies revealed a similar low WBC (2.1–2.3 g/g), but different fermentability (MCC < WB) for MCC (low WBC, low fermentability) and WB (low WBC, high fermentability) as well as a similar medium WBC (4.4–4.9 g/g), but different fermentability (MOLP < SBP) for MOLP (medium WBC, low fermentability) and SBP (medium WBC, high fermentability). In vivo studies showed that: 1) Compared with the MOLP group, the SBP group showed improved G/F ratio and reduced diarrhea rate in the first two weeks after weaning. Moreover, the SBP-fed weaned piglets were higher than the MOLP-fed weaned piglets in total SCFA concentration as well as the relative levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, but lower in the level of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae in colonic digesta. 2) Compared with the medium WBC groups (MOLP and SBP), the low WBC (MCC and WB) groups were showed increased diarrhea and reduced apparent fecal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, and crude protein. 3) Compared with the WB group, the MCC group showed increased crypt depth and mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-α, but impaired jejunum barrier. Conclusions Both the WBC and fermentability of fibrous materials affected the intestinal health and growth performance of weaned piglets. The overall