TY - JOUR
T1 - Inulin and probiotics in newly weaned piglets
T2 - Effects on intestinal morphology, mRNA expression levels of inflammatory marker genes and haematology
AU - Mair, Christiane
AU - Plitzner, Christian
AU - Pfaffl, Michael W.
AU - Schedle, Karl
AU - Meyer, Heinrich H.D.
AU - Windisch, Wilhelm
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - The study aimed at determining the effect of inulin and/or a multispecies probiotic formulation on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) morphology, immunological and haematological parameters. Forty-eight newly weaned piglets were assigned to four feeding groups, receiving a standard basal diet (control), supplemented with 0.4% inulin, probiotics (1·109 CFU/kg as fed, enterococci, lactobacilli, bifidobacteria) or a combination of both (synbiotic). After four weeks of ad libitum feeding piglets were slaughtered and intestinal tissue samples were obtained for histometry. Additional tissue samples of the GIT, mesenteric lymph nodes, blood, liver and spleen were taken for mRNA expression analysis of cell turnover (CDK4, caspase3, IGF I), transcription factor NFκB and inflammatory marker genes (TNFα, TGFβ). Changes in histometry occurred predominantly in the small intestine, showing higher jejunal villi when probiotics were administered alone (p < 0.10). Inulin decreased the number of acidic goblet cells in jejunal villi (p < 0.05), whereas probiotics increased neutral goblet cells in ileal villi (p < 0.05). Though inflammatory marker genes were uninfluenced by treatment in the proximal GIT, the colon showed downregulations induced by inulin (TNFα: p < 0.10, TGFβ: p < 0.05). Gene expression of CDK4 was upregulated in the jejunum and of TGFβ in the mesenteric lymph nodes in the probiotic groups. Interestingly, the probiotic group alone exhibited upregulations in cell turnover marker genes in the colon and blood. Furthermore, for numerous parameters, inulin and probiotics led to no synergistic but antagonistic interactions.
AB - The study aimed at determining the effect of inulin and/or a multispecies probiotic formulation on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) morphology, immunological and haematological parameters. Forty-eight newly weaned piglets were assigned to four feeding groups, receiving a standard basal diet (control), supplemented with 0.4% inulin, probiotics (1·109 CFU/kg as fed, enterococci, lactobacilli, bifidobacteria) or a combination of both (synbiotic). After four weeks of ad libitum feeding piglets were slaughtered and intestinal tissue samples were obtained for histometry. Additional tissue samples of the GIT, mesenteric lymph nodes, blood, liver and spleen were taken for mRNA expression analysis of cell turnover (CDK4, caspase3, IGF I), transcription factor NFκB and inflammatory marker genes (TNFα, TGFβ). Changes in histometry occurred predominantly in the small intestine, showing higher jejunal villi when probiotics were administered alone (p < 0.10). Inulin decreased the number of acidic goblet cells in jejunal villi (p < 0.05), whereas probiotics increased neutral goblet cells in ileal villi (p < 0.05). Though inflammatory marker genes were uninfluenced by treatment in the proximal GIT, the colon showed downregulations induced by inulin (TNFα: p < 0.10, TGFβ: p < 0.05). Gene expression of CDK4 was upregulated in the jejunum and of TGFβ in the mesenteric lymph nodes in the probiotic groups. Interestingly, the probiotic group alone exhibited upregulations in cell turnover marker genes in the colon and blood. Furthermore, for numerous parameters, inulin and probiotics led to no synergistic but antagonistic interactions.
KW - Gene expression
KW - Haematology
KW - Intestine
KW - Inulin
KW - Morphology
KW - Piglets
KW - Probiotics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77954274259&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/1745039X.2010.492137
DO - 10.1080/1745039X.2010.492137
M3 - Article
C2 - 20722301
AN - SCOPUS:77954274259
SN - 1745-039X
VL - 64
SP - 304
EP - 321
JO - Archives of Animal Nutrition
JF - Archives of Animal Nutrition
IS - 4
ER -