Post-natal Growth Retardation Associated With Impaired Gut Hormone Profiles, Immune and Antioxidant Function in Pigs

Abstract

The factors that cause post-natal growth retardation (PGR) in pigs are complicated; however, metabolic and immune system impairment seem to be involved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of blood parameters, hormone profiles, antioxidant capacity, and immune responses in PGR pigs. Blood and small intestinal mucosa samples were collected from 42-days-old PGR and healthy pigs. The results showed that compared with the healthy group, the relative weight of spleen and kidney were greater, but the liver was lighter in PGR pigs (P < 0.05). The PGR pigs had increased serum alanine transaminase, urea nitrogen, blood ammonia, IgG, and complement 4, but decreased glucose and albumin (P < 0.05). The higher levels of serum leptin (LEP) and thyroxin (T4), and the lower levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), somatostatin (SS), and agouti gene-related protein (AgRP) were observed in PGR pigs (P < 0.05). Consistent with the serum levels of hormones, the mRNA levels of gut hormones and their receptors were also altered in intestinal mucosa from PGR pigs (P < 0.05). The PGR pigs exhibited higher plasma concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and transformed growth factor beta (TGFβ) (P < 0.05). However, the mRNA expressions of several cytokines were lower in the small intestinal mucosa of PGR pigs (P < 0.05). Abnormal antioxidant indexes in serum of PGR pigs were observed, which was in accordance with the reduced mRNA expression of several anti-oxidative genes in the small intestinal mucosa of PGR pigs (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that an abnormal gut hormone system, immune dysfunction, and decreased antioxidant capacity may contribute to PGR in pigs. These changes could provide a valuable target in the regulation of post-natal growth retardation in animals and humans.

Functional bioactive substance improves the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of growth retardation pigs

“…Postnatal growth retardation is associated with lifelong consequences beyond reduced weight, including metabolic disturbance and impaired immune and anti-oxidant functions in pigs has been confirmed in the previous studies (Qi et al, 2019a(Qi et al, , 2019b. Composited functional bioactive substance packages including complex-probiotic-preparation, herb complex extract and multi-enzyme complex were used to alleviate the growth retardation s induced by complicated factors in the postnatal days of pigs in the present study.…”

“…In addition, we observed significantly higher serum concentrations of TGF-β1, TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF in FP than the control group, possibly because the increased concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF promoted the production of TGF-β1, while TGF-β1 inhibited the production of TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF (Seckin, Kalayci, Turan, Yilmaz, & Yilmaz, 2018;Zhao et al, 2020). The down-regulated cytokines showing immunosuppression were observed in the PGR piglets and IUGR piglet neonates (Qi et al, 2019b ;Dong et al, 2014), but supplementation with functional bioactive substances could regulate the activity of serum cytokines and stimulate the immune function of growth retardation piglets.…”

“…Suffering from variety of challenges and severe stress, young pigs are experienced damage of parenchymal organs, a sub-health status and poor digestion or conversion (Zhang, Li, & Wang, 2015). In addition, the previous study has demonstrated that the relative weight of the liver was decreased and serum alanine transaminase was increased in PGR pigs (Qi et al, 2019b). Although the FP administration didn't improve the average daily gain, the feed:gain ratio was significantly reduced that accompanied with the increased serum concentrations of aspartic acid, cysteine, arginine, proline and taurine.…”

“…Immature immune system and oxidative imbalance in pigs may be responsible for their growth retardation (Qi et al, 2019a(Qi et al, , 2019b. The PGR pigs exhibited higher plasma concentrations of IgG and some inflammatory cytokines indicating toxic or oxidative damage in organisms (Qi et al, 2019b). But supplementation with functional bioactive substances increased the serum GSH concentration, SOD and CAT activities.…”

“…In the previous study, small intestinal transcriptome analysis has revealed changes of genes involved in nutrition metabolism and immune responses in growth retardation (GR) of piglets (Qi et al, 2019a). GR was associated with the impaired intestinal mucosal barrier function, gut hormone profiles, immune and antioxidant function (Qi et al, 2019b). The causes resulting in growth retardation (GR) of piglets are very complicated, including intrauterine growth retardation, diseases, parasites, and so on.…”