Intrauterine Growth Retardation Affects Intestinal Health of Suckling Piglets via Altering Intestinal Antioxidant Capacity, Glucose Uptake, Tight Junction, and Immune Responses

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) on the intestinal morphology, intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, intestinal antioxidant capacity, intestinal glucose absorption capacity, and intestinal barrier function of piglets during the suckling period. A total of eight normal-birth-weight (NBW) piglets and eight IUGR newborn piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were selected from eight litters, one NBW and one IUGR newborn piglet per litter. In each litter, piglets with birth weight of 1.54 ± 0.04 kg (within one SD of the mean birth weight) were selected as NBW piglets and piglets with birth weight of 0.82 ± 0.03 kg (two SD below the mean birth weight) were selected as IUGR piglets. At 21 days of age, all piglets were killed by exsanguinations for sampling. The results showed the body weight (BW) of IUGR piglets on day 0, day 7, day 14, and day 21, and the body weight gain (BWG) of IUGR piglets was significantly lower than that of NBW piglets. IUGR piglets exhibited impaired intestinal morphology, raised enterocyte apoptosis, and increased oxidative damage. It showed that IUGR leads to a lower antioxidant capacity and glucose absorption in the jejunum. In accordance, IUGR caused the intestinal barrier dysfunction by impairing tight junctions and increasing intestinal inflammatory injury. Collectively, these results add to our understanding that IUGR affects intestinal health of suckling piglets via altering intestinal antioxidant capacity, glucose uptake, tight junction, and immune responses, and the slow growth of piglets with IUGR may be associated with intestinal injury.

Fecal Microbial Changes in Response to Finishing Pigs Directly Fed With Fermented Feed

“…The gut microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host and regulates several important functions including host metabolism, nutrients digestion and absorption, immunity, and intestinal barrier function (5,29). So, the dynamic balance of intestinal microbiota is crucial for animal intestinal health, while optimum intestinal health is crucial to animal growth and health (30,31). Growing shreds of evidence demonstrated that many factors including diets can affect the gut microbiota community and function (6,7,29,32,33).…”

Characteristics of tRNA-Derived Small RNAs and microRNAs Associated with Immunocompromise in an Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Pig Model

“…It has been reported that the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway [ 67 ], tight junction [ 17 ] and MAPK signaling pathway [ 68 ] are related to the occurrence of IUGR.…”

“…The spleen is the largest body immune organ and contains both lymphocytes and macrophages, comprising a quarter of the lymphatic tissue [ 15 ]. Currently, there are not many researches about the IUGR, and the majority of studies on IUGR focus on certain tissues, such as the intestine [ 16 , 17 ], placenta [ 18 ], liver [ 19 , 20 ] and muscles [ 21 ], whereas studies referring to the spleen are relatively scarce. Spleen development is essential for establishing the acquired immunity of newborns.…”

Dietary Epidermal Growth Factor Supplementation Alleviates Intestinal Injury in Piglets with Intrauterine Growth Retardation via Reducing Oxidative Stress and Enhancing Intestinal Glucose Transport and Barrier Function

“…IUGR usually refers to impaired growth and development of the embryo and/or its organs during pregnancy [ 1 , 2 ]. Pigs, a kind of multifetal mammal, exhibit a high incidence of IUGR, which seriously affects the postnatal growth and intestinal health of piglets and ultimately affects the economic benefit of pig production [ 3 , 4 ]. Studies have confirmed that piglets with IUGR are associated with feeding intolerance and intestinal dysfunction [ 4 , 5 ], which leads to a retard growth and poor health status of pigs.…”

“…Pigs, a kind of multifetal mammal, exhibit a high incidence of IUGR, which seriously affects the postnatal growth and intestinal health of piglets and ultimately affects the economic benefit of pig production [ 3 , 4 ]. Studies have confirmed that piglets with IUGR are associated with feeding intolerance and intestinal dysfunction [ 4 , 5 ], which leads to a retard growth and poor health status of pigs. Therefore, strategies to alleviate intestinal injury and promote intestinal development may help to reverse the growth retardation in IUGR pigs.…”