Dietary Supplementation with Puerarin Improves Intestinal Function in Piglets Challenged with Escherichia coli K88

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of puerarin supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal function of piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88. Twenty-four ternary crossbred piglets were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control group, ETEC group (challenged with ETEC K88 on day 8), and ETEC + Puerarin group (supplemented with 5 mg/kg puerarin and challenged with ETEC K88 on day 8). All piglets were orally administered D-xylose (0.1 g/kg body weight) on day 10, and blood samples were collected after 1 h. Subsequently, piglets were killed and intestinal samples were collected for further analysis. The results showed that puerarin supplementation significantly decreased the adverse effects of ETEC K88-challenged piglets; significantly improved growth performance; increased the number of Bifidobacterium in the colon and Lactobacillus in the jejunum, cecum and colon; decreased the number of Escherichia coli in the jejunum and cecum; reduced the hydrogen peroxide content in the jejunum and myeloperoxidase activity in the jejunum and ileum; and increased the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the jejunum and ileum. In addition, puerarin supplementation alleviated ETEC K88-induced intestinal injury in piglets, significantly downregulated the mRNA level of Interleukin-1β and upregulated the mRNA levels of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, myxovirus resistance protein 1, myxovirus resistance protein 2, and guanylate-binding protein-1 in the small intestine of piglets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with puerarin could attenuate ETEC K88-induced intestinal injury by increasing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity and the number of beneficial intestinal bacteria in piglets.

Keywords: enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; growth performance; intestinal function; piglets; puerarin.

Figure 1

Effects of PR supplementation on the plasma biochemical indices in piglets challenged with ETEC. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) Activities of plasma glutamate (AST); (B) triglyceride (TG); (C) glucose (GLU); (D) blood urine nitrogen (BUN); (E) creatine kinase (CK); (F) glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT).

Figure 2

Effects of PR supplementation on the blood cell counts of piglets after ETEC K88 infection. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) White blood cells (WBCs); (B) mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC); (C) corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mensuration (CHCM); (D) hemoglobin distribution width (HDW); (E) percentage of lymphocyte (LYMPHR); (F) percentage of monocyte (MONOR); (G) percentage of blood basophils (BASOR); (H) neutrophil (NEUT); (I) monocyte (MONO); (J) eosinophilic granulocyte (EOS); (K) basophils (BASO); (L) large unstained cell (LUC).

Figure 3

Effects of PR supplementation on DAO activity and D-xylose concentration in piglets after ETEC K88 infection. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b} Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05.

Figure 4

Effects of PR supplementation on the redox status in piglets after ETEC K88 infection in the jejunum and ileum. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) Jejunum; (B) ileum.

Figure 5

Effects of PR supplementation on the intestinal mucosal morphology of pigs after ETEC K88 infection. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) Jejunum; (B) ileum.

Figure 6

Histopathological analysis of jejunum and ileum from different groups. (A) Jejunum in the control group; (B) jejunum in the ETEC group; (C) jejunum in the PR + ETEC group; (D) ileum in the control group; (E) ileum in the ETEC group; (F) ileum in the PR + ETEC group.

Figure 7

Effects of PR supplementation on the intestinal microflora of piglets. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c} Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) Jejunum; (B) caecum; (C) colon.

Figure 8

Effects of PR supplementation on cytokines in the plasma of piglets after ETEC infection. Values are represented as the mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05.

Figure 9

Effects of PR supplementation on mRNA levels of genes associated in the jejunum and ileum of piglets after ETEC K88 infection. Values mean ± SD, n = 8. ^{a, b, c}: Values within a column not sharing a common superscript letter indicate a significant difference at p < 0.05. (A) Jejunum; (B) ileum.