Effects ofβ-conglycinin on growth performance, immunoglobulins and intestinal mucosal morphology in piglets

Abstract

One of the main causes of allergic reactions in young animals is β-conglycinin, an antigenic glycoprotein found in soya beans. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effects of a prior immunisation with β-conglycinin on growth performance, serum immunoglobulin levels and intestinal histology in piglets. Forty piglets (7 d of age) were randomly divided into four groups of ten piglets each. Piglets of Groups Im and Im+S were immunised twice by hypodermic injection with β-conglycinin at 500 μg/kg body weight (BW) at day 7 and 21 of age. At day 23, Groups Im+S and S were intramuscularly injected with 5000 μg β-conglycinin per kg BW. The piglets of Group C received a physiological saline solution by hypodermic injection. All piglets were weaned at the age of 23 d and blood samples were taken on days 7, 21 and 35. At the end of the trial, five piglets per group were slaughtered and the intestine was collected for evaluating mucosal histology. Compared to Group C, in Group S the average daily gain (ADG), feed intake and gain:feed ratio were decreased (p < 0.01), and serum levels of IgG and IgE were increased (p < 0.01). Furthermore, in this group the structure of duodenal and jejunal mucosa was severely damaged. But in Groups Im and Im+S the ADG was increased (p < 0.05), serum IgE levels were decreased (p < 0.01) and the intestinal mucosa was not damaged. The results suggest that prior immunisation with β-conglycinin can increase ADG and serum IgG levels and decrease serum IgE levels. Therefore, this method is also potentially able to protect the structural integrity of the intestinal mucosal epithelia and alleviate allergic reactions in piglets.

N-Acetylcysteine improves intestinal function and attenuates intestinal autophagy in piglets challenged with β-conglycinin

“…Allergenic proteins and anti-nutritional factors in soybeans are well known to depress growth, impair the integrity of the intestine, and induce allergies in young animals [19][20][21] . However, the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of the allergens remain largely unknown.…”

Effects of Fermented Soybean Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance and Cecal Microbiota Community of Broiler Chickens

“…Our results are in agreement with the findings of Zhu et al [ 28 ], who noted a significant increase in serum concentrations of IgG and IgM in weaning piglets fed FSBM. Previous research showed that piglet immunity significantly decreased when β-conglycinin was not adequately deactivated during fermentation [ 35 , 36 ]. Our research revealed an increase in the immune function of broilers in the SC and TC groups that was directly related to the lower levels of glycinin and β-conglycinin in FSBM compared with SBM.…”

Effects of soybean meal fermented by L. plantarum, B. subtilis and S. cerevisieae on growth, immune function and intestinal morphology in weaned piglets

“…Lymphocyte proliferation is an important phase in the immune response of an animal and a proliferative response is antigen specific [ 44 ]. Piglet immunity is significantly reduced if β-conglycinin is not adequately inactivated during fermentation [ 45 , 46 ]. Our results indicated an improvement of immune function in piglets that directly correlated with reductions of glycinin (81.89%) and β-conglycinin (70.67%) in FSBM.…”

“…Standard histological procedures were performed as previously described [ 7 ] [ 28 ]. Briefly, longitudinal sections of duodenum, jejunum and ileum tissues (3 cm obtained from the proximal duodenum, middle jejunum and proximal ileum) were collected and flushed using physiological saline to remove the gut contents.…”