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During current research, the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) exposure on cerebral lipid peroxidation, neurotransmitter secretion and calcium homeostasis in chicks were evaluated. One hundred and twenty Hailan chicks (male, 1-day-old) were randomly divided into four groups. Chicks in low, medium and high dose groups were fed with 0.27, 1.68 and 12.21 mg/kg−1 DON respectively by gavage according to feed intake. Chicks in control group were fed with physiological saline by gavage. The trials were conducted for 36 d. At the end of the trials, twenty chicks per group were sacrificed, and the cerebra were collected for measuring the brain indices. Compared with the control group, the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased in treatment groups (P

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soybean antigen proteins on serum cytokine levels and claudin-1 distribution in the intestine of weaned piglets. Seventy piglets (24 d of age) were randomly divided into seven groups. Piglets in group A were fed a basal diet, in groups B, C and D were fed the basal diet supplemented with β-conglycinin; and in groups E, F, G were fed the basal diet supplemented with glycinin. Blood samples were collected and analysed for IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 levels on day 24, 26, 28 and 30. At the end of the trial, five piglets per group were sacrificed and the small intestine was collected to evaluate intestinal claudin-1 distribution and OD of the relative staining positivity. β-Conglycinin and glycinin decreased the growth performance in piglets by decreasing ADFI, ADG and increasing F/G. Serum levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in β-conglycinin and glycinin groups ranged from 126.067 to 144.067 ng • L−1, 31.798 to 44.360 ng • L−1 and 36.360 to 40.482 ng • L−1 on day 24, 26 and 30. However, serum IFN-γ levels were negatively correlated with soybean antigen proteins supplementation levels ranged from 6.956 to 15.361 ng • L−1. The treatment groups had lower OD values of claudin-1 than those of the control group. The β-conglycinin groups had lower distribution and OD values than the glycinin groups at similar antigen protein supplementation levels. These results suggest that β-conglycinin and glycinin damage the intestinal mucosal immune barrier in weaned piglets.

Glycinin, an antigenic glycoprotein found in soybeans, is the major cause of allergic reactions in young animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a prior immunisation of sucking piglets with glycinin on their post-weaning growth performance, serum immunoglobulin contents, small intestinal histamine release and mucosal histology. Forty piglets (7 d of age) were randomly divided into four groups of 10 piglets each. Piglets of Group C (Control) received a physiological saline solution, Groups Im (Immunised) and Im + S (Sensitised) were immunised twice with 500 μg/kg of glycinin at 7 and 21-d-old. All piglets were weaned at 23 d; Groups Im + S and S were sensitised with 2500 μg/kg of glycinin at weaning. Compared with Group C, in Group S the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake and gain:feed ratio were decreased, and serum levels of IgG and IgE were increased. Furthermore, in this group, the histamine levels in the duodenum and ileum were significantly decreased, and the structure of duodenal and ileal mucosa was severely damaged. On the contrary, in Groups Im and Im + S the ADG was increased, serum IgE levels were decreased, intestinal histamine levels were increased and the intestinal mucosa was not damaged. These findings suggest that prior immunisation with glycinin can protect the structural integrity of the intestinal mucosal epithelia and alleviate allergic reactions in piglets.

In this experiment, the effects of soybean antigen proteins on intestinal permeability, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels and secretory IgA (sIgA) distribution in the intestine of weaned piglets were evaluated. Thirty piglets (21 d of age) were randomly divided into three groups: control group, glycinin-sensitised group and β-conglycinin-sensitised group. Piglets in the control group were fed a basal diet, and in two sensitised groups were fed the diet with 4% glycinin or β-conglycinin. Piglets in glycinin and β-conglycinin groups were sensitised twice on 21–27 d and 32–34 d period, respectively. Blood samples were collected and analysed for D-lactic acid, diamine oxidase (DAO) and 5-HT levels on d 21, 28 and 35. At the end of the trial, five piglets per group were sacrificed and the small intestine was collected to evaluate intestinal sIgA distribution and the optical density (OD) of the relative staining positivity. The results revealed that the piglets in glycinin and β-conglycinin groups had higher D-lactic acid, DAO and 5-HT levels than those of the control group (p duodenum > proximal jejunum and distal ileum > distal jejunum. These results suggest that soybean antigen proteins induce allergic reactions, damage the intestinal mucosa, increase intestinal permeability and promote sIgA synthesis in weaned piglets.