Inflammatory response, growth, and thyroid hormone concentrations are affected by long-term boron supplementation in gilts.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the long-term effects of dietary boron (B) on growth performance, immune function, and plasma and serum characteristics in gilts. Fifty weanling gilts were allotted to 10 pens based on weaning weight and litter origin. Pens were randomly assigned to receive one of two dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a basal diet low in B (control) and the basal diet supplemented with 5 mg B/kg diet as sodium borate. Gilts remained on their respective experimental diets and with their penmates throughout the nursery, growing, and finishing phases. The B concentration of the basal diet was 0.98, 2.1, and 2.2 mg/kg diet during the nursery, growing, and finishing phases, respectively. At the end of each production phase, animals were weighed and feed consumption was determined to assess growth performance variables. In addition, blood samples were obtained from three randomly selected gilts per pen at the completion of each phase. Boron had no affect (P > 0.58) on growth performance during the nursery phase, but gilts receiving supplemental B had increased (P < 0.05) ADG at the end of the finishing phase and over the entire growing-finishing period. Serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) tended (P < 0.07) to be reduced by dietary B at the end of the nursery phase, but serum thyroxine (T4) was not affected (P = 0.46) by B. At the completion of the growing phase, supplemental B decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of T3 and T4 in the serum. In addition, serum concentrations of total cholesterol and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were increased (P < 0.05) by dietary B at the end of the growing phase. Serum concentrations of urea N tended (P < 0.09) to be increased by B at the end of the growing phase. Beginning at d 95 of the experimental period, measures of immune function were assessed in randomly selected gilts. Boron decreased (P < 0.05) the inflammatory response to an intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin. Boron did not affect (P > 0.30) the blastogenic response of isolated lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation or the humoral immune response against a sheep red blood cell suspension. Results indicate that B may affect serum thyroid hormone concentrations, the inflammatory response, and growth in pigs.

Influence of dietary boron supplementation on some serum metabolites and egg-yolk cholesterol in laying hens

“…Although Armstrong et al (2001) showed that serum urea nitrogen level was increased by 5 mg/kg supplemental B in growing pigs, in this study 10 mg/kg or higher levels of B were needed to increase serum urea levels.…”

“…It is reported that B is required for bone (Wilson and Ruszler, 1998), mineral (Hunt, 1989;Eren et al, 2004), lipid (Hall et al, 1989;Naghii and Samman, 1997;Başoğlu et al, 2000) and energy metabolism (Hunt andHerbel, 1991-1992) as well as for immune (Armstrong et al, 2001) and endocrine functions (Beattie and Peace, 1993). Boron reacts with biological substances containing cis-hydroxyl groups that maintain proper cell membrane function or stability, and it influences hormone reception and transmembrane signalling (Nielsen, 1991).…”

Anti-inflammatory effects of boron alone or as adjuvant with dexamethasone in animal models of chronic and granulomatous inflammation

“…Although these results are clear within the limitations of the utilized method, previously reported data raises many doubts about the effect of boron in this regard, where dietary boron supplementation increases production of cytokines following stress, which indicates a role for boron in the immune system. 25 However, these data do not explain the reduction in localized inflammation following an antigen challenge in pigs. 22 Such discrepancy in the behavior of boron may be attributed to the variation in the doses and methods of administration followed during the experiments.…”

Effects of Borax and Sleeve Gastrectomy on mRNA Expression of Antioxidant Genes in Substantia Nigra Tissue of Obese Rats

“…Inconsistent results regarding the effect of boron on body weight were showed in animal studies. Although the supplementation of boron reported to cause weight gain in some studies [6,9], conflicting results were also reported [8,10]. These results are believed to be the results of heterogeneity in type and dosage of the boron compound and duration of the exposure.…”

“…Even though the precise role of boron has not been exactly revealed, nutritional intake in human was shown to activate numerous significant inflammatory modifications. Yet, there are still contradictory outcomes on metabolic outcomes both in humans and animals [8,9]. Kucukkurt et al revealed that borax is able to scavenge free oxygen radicals [10].…”