Sophorolipid protects against early-weaning syndrome by improving the gut microenvironment in early-weaned piglets

BMC Veterinary Research

Yong-Soon Choi¹  Kwang-Youn Whang¹  Sun-Woo Choi¹  Min-Jin Kwak²  Hanbae Lee³ 

[1] Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, 02841, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, 02841, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Division of Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health (BK21 FOUR Program), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, 02841, Seoul, Republic of Korea;Pathway Intermediates, 02841, Seoul, Republic of Korea;

关键词: Pig;    Gut microbiota;    Gut morphology;    Local inflammation;    Mucus;    Sophorolipids;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12917-021-03105-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn animals, weaning stress is the first and most critical stress. Weaning can negatively affect the growth performance of animals physically, psychologically, and pathologically. Our previous studies on the HT-29 cell line and early-weaned rats demonstrated that adequate sophorolipid (SPL) supplementation in feed could enhance the mucin-producing and wound healing capacities of the gut defense system by modulating gut microbiota.MethodsWe conducted an experiment with one hundred forty 21-day-old early weaned piglets (L x Y x D). They were allocated into 4 treatment and 7 replications (4 pigs per pen) according to their initial body weight. Body weight and feed intake were measured biweekly during experimental period. After 6 weeks, 28 pigs were randomly selected and sacrificed to collect plasma, jejunum, and cecal content samples.ResultsDietary SPL supplementation at 5 and 10 mg/kg quadratically increased the average daily gain during the experimental period in the treatment groups when compared with the control group. The albumin levels of piglets fed with the SPL supplemented diet were downregulated to the normal range. Moreover, in feed, SPL supplementation at 5 and 10 mg/kg improved jejunal histological indices and gene expression levels related to mucin secretion and local inflammation markers. Consistent with these results, adequate SPL supplementation (5 and 10 mg/kg) increased the population of Prevotella, a beneficial bacterium, and its short-chain fatty acid production in the ceca of piglets.ConclusionsThe occurrence of diarrhea after weaning in piglets could be reduced by feeding a 10 ppm of SPL supplemented diet which improves the gut defense system by improving the microbial population and enhancing mucin layer integrity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY