Evaluation of a Dietary Grape Extract on Oxidative Status, Intestinal Morphology, Plasma Acute-Phase Proteins and Inflammation Parameters of Weaning Piglets at Various Points of Time

Abstract

Reports of the underlying mechanisms of dietary grape extract (GE) in overcoming weaning challenges in piglets have been partly inconsistent. Furthermore, evaluations of the effects of GE at weaning in comparison to those of widely used therapeutic antibiotics have been scarce. To explore the mode of action of GE in selected tissues and plasma, we evaluated gut morphology, antioxidant and inflammation indices. Accordingly, 180 weaning piglets were allocated to three treatment groups: negative control (NC), NC and antibiotic treatment for the first 5 days of the trial (positive control, PC), and NC and GE (entire trial). The villus surface was positively affected by GE and PC on day 27/28 of the trial in the jejunum and on day 55/56 of the trial in the ileum. In the colon, NC tended (p < 0.10) to increase crypt parameters compared to PC on day 55/56. The PC group tended (p < 0.10) to increase catalase activity in the ileum and decrease Cu/Zn-SOD activity in the jejunum, both compared to NC. There were no additional effects on antioxidant measurements of tissue and plasma, tissue gene expression, or plasma acute-phase proteins. In conclusion, GE supplementation beneficially affected the villus surface of the small intestine. However, these changes were not linked to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of GE.

Grape Pomace Polyphenols as a Source of Compounds for Management of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation—A Possible Alternative for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs?

“…Therefore, in Rajković et al (2022), GP was given to piglets to assess their positive effects on the animal organism without antibiotics side effects [ 96 ]. During the experiment tissue samplings (liver, jejunum, ileum) were collected on days 27/28 and 55/56, while blood samples were taken on days 6, days 27/28, and 55/56.…”

“…During the experiment tissue samplings (liver, jejunum, ileum) were collected on days 27/28 and 55/56, while blood samples were taken on days 6, days 27/28, and 55/56. Regarding antioxidant enzymes, GPx (GPx1-liver, GPx-2 jejunum, and ileum) wasn’t different between diets, but the enzyme activity was significantly increased on days 55/56 compared to 27/28 [ 96 ]. About, SOD and Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (Mn-SOD) enzymes, there weren’t any differences between diets in jejunum, ileum, and liver, but there was an increase between sampling dates, in days 55/56 compared to 27/28 in the liver.…”

“…In the liver, the authors have observed differences between samples for SOD1, CAT, and GPx1 in the liver, with a higher expression on days 27/28 compared to 55/56. In terms of inflammation, pig major acute phase-protein serum levels presented a decrease on days 55/56 and 27/28 compared to day 6 [ 96 ]. MDA serum levels decreased through sampling days while for SOD different fluctuations were noticed, without showing any significant values on day 55/56 versus other time points.…”

“…MDA serum levels decreased through sampling days while for SOD different fluctuations were noticed, without showing any significant values on day 55/56 versus other time points. As a speculative explanation for the variation of antioxidant enzymes decreasing it can be stated that the systemic presence of antioxidant substances can lead to a decreasing need for endogenous antioxidant enzymes production [ 96 ].…”

Beneficial Effects of Phytogenic Feed Additives on Epithelial Barrier Integrity in an In Vitro Co-Culture Model of the Piglet Gut

“…Hence, it must be of utmost interest for individual small-scale farmers, as well as bigger farming conglomerates, and any dependent connected business and industry, to improve animal welfare and health at the farm level and continuously improve feed and feed additives. Phytochemicals and plant-derived feed additives (PFA or so-called phytogenics) [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], probiotics [ 4 , 13 , 14 ], as well as other substances of natural or synthetic origin, and optimized feeding strategies [ 3 ] can be used to improve piglet GI health and growth performance during all rearing stages, e.g., during [ 15 , 16 ] and after weaning [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Livestock should be enabled to better deal with the numerous challenges of industrial farming, rather than solely rely on reactive treatment of illnesses, underperformance, and poor animal welfare.…”