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. 2019 Sep 26:10:660.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00660. eCollection 2019.

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

Ming Qi  1   2 , Bie Tan  1   3 , Jing Wang  1 , Simeng Liao  1   2 , Jianjun Li  1 , Yanhong Liu  4 , Yulong Yin  1
Affiliations

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

Ming Qi et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). .

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.

Keywords: antioxidant capacity; appetite; blood parameters; hormone secretion; immune response; post-natal growth retardation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Concentrations of plasma cytokines in healthy pigs (Control) and post-natal growth retardation (PGR) pigs. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. n = 6. *P < 0.05 vs. healthy pigs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Serum antioxidant capacity of healthy pigs (Control) and post-natal growth retardation (PGR) pigs. Data are expressed as means ± SEM. n = 6. *P < 0.05 vs. healthy pigs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relative mRNA abundances of hormone-related genes in the jejunal and ileal mucosa of healthy pigs (Control) and post-natal growth retardation (PGR) pigs. Data are expressed as means ± SEM, n = 6. *P < 0.05 vs. healthy pigs; **P < 0.01 vs. healthy pigs.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relative mRNA abundances of cytokines in the jejunal and ileal mucosa of healthy pigs (Control) and post-natal growth retardation (PGR) pigs. Data are expressed as means ± SEM, n = 6. *P < 0.05 vs. healthy pigs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Relative mRNA abundances of antioxidant related genes and mTOR signaling pathway in the jejunal and ileal mucosa of healthy pigs (Control) and post-natal growth retardation (PGR) pigs. Data are expressed as means ± SEM, n = 6. *P < 0.05 vs. healthy pigs.
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