Protein restriction and succedent realimentation affecting ileal morphology, ileal microbial composition and metabolites in weaned piglets

Abstract

Dietary protein restriction is one of the effective ways to reduce post-weaning diarrhoea and intestinal fermentation in piglets, but it may also reduce growth performance. The compensatory growth induced by subsequent protein realimentation may solve the issue. However, little research has been done on the impact of protein realimentation on the gut. In this study, the effects of protein restriction and realimentation on ileal morphology, ileal microbial composition and metabolites in weaned piglets were investigated. Thirty-six 28-day-old weaned piglets with an average body weight of 6.47 ± 0.04 kg were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. The CP level in the diet of the control group was 18.83% for the entire experimental period. The piglets in the treatment group were fed 13.05% CP between days 0 and 14 and restored to a diet of 18.83% CP for days 14 to 28. On day 14 and 28, six pigs from each group were sacrificed and sampled. It was found that the abundance of Lactobacillus and Salmonella in the ileal digesta was significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group on day 14, whereas the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Streptococcus, Halomonas and Pseudomonas significantly increased in the ileal digesta of the treatment group on day 14 compared with the control group. In addition, reduced concentrations of lactic acid, total short-chain fatty acids (total SCFAs), total branched chain fatty acids, ammonia and impaired ileal morphology and mucosal barrier were observed in the treatment group on day 14. However, diarrhoea levels decreased in the treatment group throughout the experiment. During the succedent protein realimentation stage, the treatment group demonstrated compensatory growth. Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed increased abundance of Lactobacillus and reduced abundance of Salmonella, Halomonas and Pseudomonas in the ileum on day 28. The concentrations of lactic acid and total SCFAs increased significantly, whereas the concentration of ammonia remained at a lower level in the treatment group on day 28 compared with the control group. Overall, protein realimentation could improve ileal morphology and barrier functions and promote ileal digestive and absorptive functions. In conclusion, ileal microbial composition and metabolites could change according to dietary protein restriction and realimentation and eventually influence ileal morphology and barrier functions.

Integrative Analysis of Vaginal Microorganisms and Serum Metabolomics in Rats With Estrous Cycle Disorder Induced by Long-Term Heat Exposure Based on 16S rDNA Gene Sequencing and LC/MS-Based Metabolomics

“…Thus, understanding the microbiota composition of rats with HEinduced ECD may help formulate microbial intervention strategies. Recent studies have focused on the effects of HE on the intestinal and fecal microbiota of economic animals, such as chickens, pigs, cows, buffalos, and so on (Chen et al, 2018;He et al, 2019;Shi et al, 2019;Zhu et al, 2019). They have promoted a comprehensive analysis of the vaginal microbiota of rats with HE-induced ECD.…”

Low Crude Protein Diet Affects the Intestinal Microbiome and Metabolome Differently in Barrows and Gilts

“…Moderate lowering of the dietary protein concentration also improved the α-diversity of that intestinal microbial community in growing pigs ( Peng et al, 2017 ; Chen X. et al, 2018 ). However, an excessive protein decrease, i.e., a very low protein intake, was detrimental to the microbiota structure ( Shi et al, 2019 ; Spring et al, 2020 ). Therefore, changes in microbiota upon dietary protein in pigs are dose- and site-dependent ( Zhang et al, 2020 ).…”

Impact of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran on serum biochemical profile, inflammatory responses and gut microbiota in sows during late gestation and lactation

“…Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 is usually considered as pathogenic bacteria as well as an indicator of a less healthy microbiota [56,57]. It has been reported that the enrichment of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 was associated with the high transcript levels of proin ammatory cytokines in the sheep colon, impaired intestinal barrier function in pigs and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants [58][59][60]. As a result, the decrease in the abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 may be an indicator of a healthy microbiota and a contributor to the reduced concentrations of in ammatory cytokines.…”