Effects of Dietary Fat Sources during Late Gestation on Colostrum Quality and Mammary Gland Inflammation in Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Sows

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge and dietary fat sources on colostrum quality and inflammatory response in sows. Sixty Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments supplemented with 3% soybean oil (SO), 3% coconut oil (CO) or 3% fish oil (FO), respectively, from Day 90 of gestation until parturition. On Day 112 of gestation, half the sows from each dietary treatment were challenged with LPS (10 μg/kg BW) or saline. The results showed that maternal LPS challenge decreased colostrum yield and dry matter content. A similar pattern of changes was observed for body weight gain and colostrum intake in piglets from LPS-challenged sows. Maternal LPS challenge increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 1β (IL1β) and IL6 in colostum, and the mRNA abundance of IL6, IL1β and TNFα and the phosphorylation level of p65 in mammary glands. However, the responses of these variables to LPS treatment were lower in sows fed a FO diet. In conclusion, maternal immune challenge reduced the growth performance of piglets by decreasing colostrum yield and intake by piglets, and dietary supplementation with FO in sows attenuates the LPS-induced inflammatory response in mammary glands.

Keywords: colostrum; fat; inflammatory response; lipopolysaccharide; mammary gland.

Figure 1

Effect of dietary fat sources during late gestation on mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mammary gland of lipopolysaccharide-challenged sow. (A) TLR4, toll-like receptor 4; (B) IL6, interleukin 6; (C) IL1β, interleukin 1β; (D) TNFα, tumor necrosis factor α. Data are represented as means ± standard error (n = 10). SO, group fed the diet supplemented with soybean oil; CO, group fed the diet supplemented with coconut oil; FO, group fed the diet supplemented with fish oil.

Figure 2

Effect of dietary fat sources during late gestation on nuclear factor-κB inflammatory pathway in mammary gland of lipopolysaccharide-challenged sow. p-NFκB p65, phosphorylated NFκB p65; NFκB p65, nuclear factor κB p65. Data are represented as means ± standard error (n = 10); SO, group fed the diet supplemented with soybean oil; CO, group fed the diet supplemented with coconut oil; FO, group fed the diet supplemented with fish oil.