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Effects of intrauterine growth retardation and Bacillus subtilis PB6 supplementation on growth performance, intestinal development and immune function of piglets during the suckling period

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and Bacillus subtilis PB6 supplementation in formula milk (FORM) on growth performance, intestinal development and immune function of neonates using a porcine model.

Methods

Fourteen pairs of normal birth weight and IUGR piglets (7 days old) were randomly assigned to receive FORM or FORM supplemented with B. subtilis PB6 (FORM-BsPB6) for a period of 21 days. Blood samples, intestinal tissues and digesta were collected at necropsy and analysed for morphology, digestive enzyme activities, immune cell abundance, expression of genes associated with innate immunity and barrier function and microbial populations.

Results

Regardless of diet, IUGR significantly decreased average daily dry matter intake and average daily weight gain (P < 0.05). Moreover, IUGR significantly decreased plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin A, interleukin 1β, count and percentage of blood lymphocytes (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, IUGR markedly decreased villous height and maltase activity, as well as mRNA abundance of Toll-like receptor 9 and Toll-interacting protein in the ileum (P < 0.05). Regardless of body weight, FORM-BsPB6 markedly decreased the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), due to better intestinal development, as indicated by increased villous height (P < 0.05), activities of maltase and sucrase in the intestine (P < 0.10). Moreover, both mRNA and protein abundances of zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1 in the ileum as well as the copy number of Bacillus in colonic digesta were increased (P < 0.05) in piglets fed FORM-BsPB6 relative to FORM.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that IUGR delayed growth, intestinal development and immune function of piglets, while FORM-BsPB6 improved digestive capability and intestinal barrier function.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31101727); the International Cooperation in Science and Technology Project of Sichuan Province (2014HH0034); the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT13083); and the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (12ZA110).

Author contributions

The authors’ contributions are as follows: L. H. and L. C. designed the study; L. H., X. P., C. Y., Y. L. and Q. X. carried out the study; L. H., L. Q., Z. F., Y. L., S. X., B. F., J. L. and D. W. performed the analysis and analysed the data; L. H. wrote the paper; and L. C. and H. C. made some modifications in the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya’an, 625014, Sichuan, China

    Liang Hu, Xie Peng, Chuan Yan, Yan Liu, Qin Xu, Zhengfeng Fang, Yan Lin, Shengyu Xu, Bin Feng, Jian Li, De Wu & Lianqiang Che

  2. Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya’an, 625014, Sichuan, China

    Liang Hu, Xie Peng, Chuan Yan, Yan Liu, Qin Xu, Zhengfeng Fang, Yan Lin, Shengyu Xu, Bin Feng, Jian Li, De Wu & Lianqiang Che

  3. College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya’an, 625014, Sichuan, China

    Hong Chen

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  1. Liang Hu
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  2. Xie Peng
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Correspondence to Lianqiang Che.

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Hu, L., Peng, X., Chen, H. et al. Effects of intrauterine growth retardation and Bacillus subtilis PB6 supplementation on growth performance, intestinal development and immune function of piglets during the suckling period. Eur J Nutr 56, 1753–1765 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1223-z

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