Influence of 2′-Fucosyllactose and Bifidobacterium longum Subspecies infantis Supplementation on Cognitive and Structural Brain Development in Young Pigs

Abstract

Development of the gut-brain axis during early-life is an important contributor of brain structural and functional development. Human milk oligosaccharides and gut microbiota have potential beneficial effects on various aspects of development; however, the effects of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Bi-26 (Bi-26) administration during infancy separately and combined are still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of early administration of dietary 2′-FL and Bi-26 on brain structural and functional development in the young pig. From postnatal day (PND) 2–34 or 35, fifty-two intact male pigs were randomly assigned to treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and provided ad libitum access to a nutritionally adequate milk replacer without or with 1.0 g of 2′-FL/L of reconstituted liquid. Pigs within each diet group were further stratified to receive a daily oral dose of glycerol stock without or with Bi-26 (109 CFU). Pigs were subjected to the novel object recognition (NOR) task from PND 27–31 to assess recognition memory and subsequently underwent magnetic resonance imaging procedures at PND 32 or 33 to assess brain macrostructure and microstructure. Pigs that received Bi-26 had smaller absolute brain volumes for 9 of 27 brain regions of interest, and smaller relative volumes for 2 regions associated with kinesthesia (P < 0.05). Synbiotic administration of 2′-FL and Bi-26 elicited interactive effects (P < 0.05) on several microstructural brain components, where dual supplementation negated the effects of each test article alone. Behavioral outcomes indicated that pigs did not express novelty preference, regardless of treatment group, demonstrating no effects of 2′-FL and Bi-26 on recognition memory when supplemented alone or in combination. Interactive effects (P < 0.05) were observed for the number of all object visits, latency to the first object visit, and number of familiar object visits. Pigs that did not receive Bi-26 supplementation exhibited less time interacting with the familiar object in total (P = 0.002) and on average (P = 0.005). In conclusion, supplementation of 2′-FL and/or Bi-26 elicited some alterations in object exploratory behaviors and macro/micro-structures of the brain, but changes in recognition memory were not observed. Specifically in brain microstructure, synbiotic administration of 2′-FL and Bi-26 appeared to negate effects observed when each dietary article was supplemented separately.

Effect of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Learning and Memory in Mice with Alzheimer’s Disease

“…20 Some studies showed that dietary intervention with 2′-FL significantly influenced cognitive domains, thereby enhancing learning and memory in rodents. 21−23 tiation in young pigs, 24 indicating a direct impact on neurons within the central nervous system, which is consistent with the observed enhancement of memory consolidation in rodent studies.…”

Determining the metabolic fate of human milk oligosaccharides: it may just be more complex than you think?

“…In a study on the 2'fl, solely or in combination with Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (Bi-26), on cognitive and structural development in young pigs (Sutkus et al, 2022), the authors noted that synbiotic administration of 2'FL and Bi-26 had several interactive effects on microstructural brain components, however it appeared to have no effect on memory. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies propose that both 2′FL and LNnT promote the growth of several Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides species, strains, and subspecies including Bifidobacterium longum subsp.…”

Effects of 2'‐fucosyllactose on the composition and metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota from piglets after in vitro fermentation

“…9 A recent study has indicated that supplementation with 2'-FL could promote cognitive and structural brain development in young piglets. 10 Overall, these studies hinted that 2'-FL could be used to modulate gut microbiota and maintain gut health in pig production. Generally, 2'-FL cannot be degraded by the enzymes secreted by the host but can be utilized by the large intestinal microbiota.…”

“…In mice, 2'‐FL could ameliorate chemotherapy‐induced intestinal mucositis by protecting intestinal epithelial cells against apoptosis 9 . A recent study has indicated that supplementation with 2'‐FL could promote cognitive and structural brain development in young piglets 10 . Overall, these studies hinted that 2'‐FL could be used to modulate gut microbiota and maintain gut health in pig production.…”