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In the present study, 5% powders of Tenebrio molitor (TM), Musca domestica larvae (MDL), or Zophobas morio (ZM) were used as a source of dietary protein in piglets weaned at 14 ± 2 d of age instead of 5% plasma protein powder in the basal diet (4 groups with 6 replicates of 6 piglets). Growth performance, diarrhea rate, plasma biochemical parameters, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) were determined on Days 28 and 56 after the initiation of treatment. The ADFI in the TM and MDL groups on Day 7 were decreased (P < 0.05) whereas the ADFI in the ZM group on Days 28 and 56 were increased (P < 0.05) compared with the respective values in the control group. Diarrhea rates in all of the insect groups from Days 15 through 28 were decreased (P < 0.05) compared with those in the control group. On Day 28, the plasma ammonia concentration in all of the insect groups was decreased (P < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. On Day 56, plasma concentrations of total protein and albumin were decreased (P < 0.05) in the ZM group whereas the Met AID in all of the insect groups was increased (P < 0.05) compared with those in the control group. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in nutrient AID on Day 28 compared with the control group, except for Ile and Met. Collectively, these findings indicate that the use of insect powder as a source of dietary protein is associated with apparent good bioavailability of several AA and a reduced diarrhea rate in early-weaned piglets without affecting growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamines are necessary for normal integrity and the restitution after injury of the gastrointestinal epithelium. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of putrescine and proline during the suckling period on epithelial restitution after early weaning in piglets. Eighteen neonatal piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) from 3 litters (6 piglets per litter) were assigned to 3 groups, representing oral administration with an equal volume of saline (control), putrescine (5 mg/kg BW), and proline (25 mg/kg BW) twice daily from d 1 to weaning at 14 d of age. Plasma and intestinal samples were obtained 3 d after weaning. The results showed that oral administration of putrescine or proline increased the final BW and ADG of piglets compared with the control (P < 0.05). Proline treatment decreased plasma D-lactate concentration but increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum, as well as the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity in the jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05). The protein expressions for zonula occludens (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-3 (P < 0.05) but not mRNA were increased in the jejunum of putrescine-and proline-treated piglets compared with those of control piglets. The voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) 1.1 protein expression in the jejunum of piglets administrated with putrescine and the Kv1.5 mRNA and Kv1.1 protein levels in the ileum of piglets administrated with proline were greater than those in control piglets (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that polyamine or its precursor could improve mucosal proliferation, intestinal morphology, as well as tight junction and potassium channel protein expressions in early-weaned piglets, with implications for epithelial restitution and barrier function after stress injury.` [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to evaluate the effects of feeding resistant potato starch (RPS) as a natural source of resistant starch to weaned pigs for 28 d immediately after weaning. Sixty piglets (Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc) weaned at 21 ± 2 d ( 1:1 male:female) with an initial BW of 7.2 ± 0.78 kg were assigned in a completely randomized design to 1 of 5 dietary treatments to give 6 observations per treatment and 2 pigs per pen. Dietary treatments consisted of a negative control corn soybean meal-wheatwheat middlings-based diet (NC; no antimicrobial agents added) or the NC supplemented with RPS either as powder or in capsules and each included at 0.5 or 1.0% as a top-dressing on each day. Diets were fonnulated to meet 1998 NRC specifications. Pigs were offered the experimental diets on an ad libitum basis for 28 d and water was available at all times. The ADG, ADFI, and G:F were determined weekly. Fecal score was determined daily for 14 d after weaning. At the conclusion of study, 1 pig from each pen was randomly selected and euthanized (n = 6 per treatment) to determine visceral organ weight, digesta pH, VFA, and ammonia N (NH3-N) concentrations. Resistant potato starch supplementation improved (P< 0.001) fecal score, and pigs offered 1.0% RPS had more solid feces (P < 0.05) than those offered 0.5% RPS during the first 14 d after weaning, independent of the form of RPS. Resistant potato starch supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) ileal and cecal digesta pH regardless of the levels of RPS or mode of delivery. The total VFA concentrations in cecal digesta were greater (P < 0.05) but the molar proportion of branched-chain fatty acids were lower (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the RPS-containing diets compared with those fed the NC, irrespective of the RPS levels or the form of RPS. However, there were no differences (P > 0.10) in visceral organ weights, growth perfonnance, and digestibilities of DM, CP, Ca, and P among treatments. The results of this experiment indicate that supplementing a weaner pig diet with at least 0.5% RPS independent of mode of delivery has the potential to enhance outcomes characteristic of a functional gut in weaned pigs without adverse effects on growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to investigate oxidative injury and the development of an antioxidant system after early weaning in piglets. A total of 40 piglets (Landracex Large White, weaned at 14 d after birth) were randomly slaughtered 0 (wOd), 1 (wld), 3 (w3d), 5 (w5d), or 7 d (w7d; n = 8) after weaning. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and protein carbonyl and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase were measured in plasma. Gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis. The mediation of transcription factor 65 (p65) and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 {Nrf2) signaling pathways by oxidative stress was determined by Western blot analysis. Results showed that the plasma MDA level was significantly higher at 3 d (P< 0.05) and that the protein carbonyl level increased at 1, 3, and 5 d {P < 0.05) compared with wOd. In addition, early weaning suppressed the plasma activity of SOD at 1 d (P< 0.05) and reduced the GSH-Px activity at 3 d (P < 0.05). The expression results in the jejunum indicate that the genes related to antioxidant enzymes were downregulated (P < 0.05) at 3 and 5 d after weaning. Uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2), which is considered to be a feedback regulation on reactive oxygen species generation, tended to decrease in the ileum (P < 0.05) after weaning. Tumor protein 53 (p53), which regulates reactive oxygen species generation, was enhanced (P < 0.05) in the jejunum after weaning. Meanwhile, early weaning suppressed p65 (at 3, 5, and 7 d; P < 0.05) and Nrfi (at 5 and 7 d; P < 0.05) signals in the jejunum, which might feedback-regulate antioxidant gene expression and promote the development of the antioxidant system. Therefore, we speculate that weaning disrupted oxidative balance and caused oxidative injury in piglets, and this imbalance can recover with the development of an antioxidant system via feedback regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weaning is associated with reduced intestinal absorptive capacity in piglets. Our previous study indicated that dietary supplementation with N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) enhanced growth performance and improved intestinal function in weaned piglets. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with NCG may increase the growth performance of weaned piglets by regulating the expression of intestinal nutrient transporters, thus enhancing nutrient absorption. Twenty-four Huanjiang mini-pig piglets weaned at 21 d of age (3.17 ± 0.21 kg average BW) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments consisting of a basal diet and the basal diet with 0.1% NCG supplementation for a 14-d period with 6 pens per treatment and 1 male and 1 female per pen. On d 14, 1 piglet was randomly selected from each pen for blood and tissue sampling. Dietary NCG supplementation enhanced (P < 0.05) growth rate and the efficiency of feed use in weaned Huanjiang mini-pig piglets. The NCG-supplemented diet increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression levels of Slc6a19, Slc7a9, and Slc1a1 and the protein abundance of ASCT2, B0AT1, b0,+AT, y+LAT1, and EAAC1 in the jejunum. Furthermore, the contents of low density lipoprotein, ammonia, urea nitrogen, and AA as well as the activity of alkaline phosphatase in plasma were all altered (P < 0.05) by supplementation with NCG. These findings indicate that dietary supplementation with NCG may improve intestinal absorptive function in weaned piglets by increasing the expression of AA transporters in the intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanolamine (Etn) is the base constituent of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a major phospholipid in animal cell membranes. Although Etn is toxic at relatively high levels, many types of epithelial cells require Etn for proliferation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Etn on intestine development and growth performance of weaned piglets. A total of 180 piglets were weaned at age 21 d and assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments, consisting of a basal diet, the basal diet with 100 ppm Etn supplementation, or the basal diet with 150 ppm Etn supplementation, for a 14-d period with 6 pens per treatment and 10 piglets per pen. On d 14, 1 piglet was randomly selected from each pen for tissue sampling. Dietary supplementation with Etn enhanced stomach weight, small intestine (SI) weight, SI length, SI weight/SI length, and SI weight/BW of weaned piglets. Moreover, dietary supplementation with Etn improved ADG and ADFI of weaned piglets. In conclusion, the results of the present experiment indicated that Etn benefited intestine development and growth performance of weaned piglets, which suggests that Etn can be explored as a feed additive to improve intestine development of weaned animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are marked decreases in both plasma cortisol concentrations and intestinal activity of N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS; a key enzyme in arginine synthesis) in piglets during the suckling period. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that cortisol may play an important role in regulating intestinal NAGS expression in sowreared piglets. Thirty-two 7-day-old suckling pigs were randomly assigned to one of four groups with seven animals each, and received intramuscular injections of vehicle solution (sesame oil) (control group), hydrocortisone-21-acetate (HYD) (25 mg/kg body wt), RU486 (10 mg/kg body wt) (a potent blocker of glucocorticoid receptors), or HYD plus RU486. During the entire experimental period, pigs were nursed by sows. At 14 days of age, pigs were sacrificed for preparation of jejunal enterocytes for measurements of synthesis of citrulline and arginine from glutamine and proline, mitochondrial activity of NAGS, and mitochondrial concentration of N-acetylglutamate (NAG), using established methodologies (Wu, Am J Physiol 272: G1382, 1997; Bush et al. J Nutr 132: 59, 2002). Cortsiol administration had no effect (P > 0.05) on body weight but increased (P < 0.05) jejunal weight and villus height, compared with the control group. The cortisol treatment enhanced 1) NAGS activity and prevented the postnatal decline in NAGS activity during the suckling period; 2) increased NAG concentration as well as citrulline and arginine synthesis from glutamine and proline in enterocytes (P < 0.01), in comparison with the control group. The stimulatory effects of cortisol on intestinal NAGS activity and arginine synthesis were abolished (P < 0.01) by co-administration of RU486. Our results indicate that cortisol treatment provides a novel and effective means to prevent the marked declines in intestinal NAGS expression and arginine synthesis in suckling piglets via a glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mechanism. Supported by funds from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China NSF, and USDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]