It has been suggested that changes in diet at weaning in pigs induce intestinal inflammation which may be mediated through toll-like receptors (TLRs). We hypothesized that the use of antibiotics as growth promoters and subsequent changes in intestinal microbiota may mediate changes in the expression of TLRs in the intestine. Thus, this study was performed to assess the changes in intestinal TLRs in weanling pigs in response to the use of chlortetracycline as a growth promotant, and under gnotobiotic conditions. Eighteen cesarean-derived half-sib piglets were divided into three groups; antibiotic-fed, control (normal-fed) and gnotobiotic groups.TLR-2,-4,-5 and-9 gene expression and abundance of TLR-2 and-9 proteins in the ileum of pigs was assessed at 5 wk of age. No significant differences (p≥0.5) in TLR-2,-4,-5 and-9 transcript levels and an abundance of TLR-2 and-9 proteins among three groups of pigs were observed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.