The Changes of Intestinal Morphology and Immune-Related Protein Gene Expressions in Piglets before and after Weaning

REN Man; HUO Yingfeng; YANG Fengjuan; LIU Ling; LUO Yanhong; QIAO Shiyan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2014.03.009

Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition >

2014 , Vol. 26 >Issue 3: 614 - 619

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2014.03.009

Swine Nutrition

The Changes of Intestinal Morphology and Immune-Related Protein Gene Expressions in Piglets before and after Weaning

REN Man ,
HUO Yingfeng ,
YANG Fengjuan ,
LIU Ling ,
LUO Yanhong ,
QIAO Shiyan

Expand

1. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
2. Beijing Tonglixingke Agricultural Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100193, China

Received date: 2013-09-05

Online published: 2014-03-04

Fold

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of intestinal morphology and immune-related protein gene expressions in piglets before and after weaning. A total of 24 healthy piglets from 6 litters with 1 piglet per litter were slaughtered at 7, 14, 21 and 35 days of age (weaned at 21 days of age), then duodenum and jejunum were collected. The intestinal morphology, intra-epithelial lymphocytes number and goblet cells number, jejunal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration and defensin gene expressions were tested using haematoxylin and eosin staining, ELISA or real time quantitative PCR, respectively. The results showed as follows: during 7 d to 21 d after born, we found that the villous height of duodenum and jejunum was shorter in 14 and 21 d compared with 7 d (P<0.05), meanwhile the crypt depth in duodenum tended to be gradually decreased following age, but the intestinal epithelial goblet cells number and intra-epithelial lymphocytes number were not significantly changed (P>0.05). After weaning (35 d after born), in jejunum, the villous height was significantly decreased compared with 7 d (P<0.05) and the crypt depth was significantly increased compared with that before weaning (during 7 d to 21 d after born) (P<0.05). Compared with that before weaning, the intra-epithelial lymphocytes number of duodenum and jejunum was significantly increased after weaning (P<0.05). The sIgA concentration (P=0.001) and defensin gene expressions in jejunum of weaned piglets were significantly higher than those of before-weaning piglets (P<0.05). From the results, we can find that piglets have a healthy intestinal barrier and low-expression levels of sIgA and defensins before weaning. After weaning, the weaning stress disturbances the intestinal mucosal integrity because of the atrophy of the villi and the proliferation of crypt, and intestinal barrier is destroyed, meanwhile, the number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes is increased. The infection of bacteria stimulates the expressions of immunoglobulin and defensins after weaning.

Key words： piglet; weaning; intestinal morphology; sIgA; defensin

Cite this article

REN Man , HUO Yingfeng , YANG Fengjuan , LIU Ling , LUO Yanhong , QIAO Shiyan . The Changes of Intestinal Morphology and Immune-Related Protein Gene Expressions in Piglets before and after Weaning[J]. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2014 , 26(3) : 614 -619 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-267x.2014.03.009

References

[1] CUMMINS A G, THOMPSON F M.Effect of breast milk and weaning on epithelial growth of the small intestine in human[J].Gut, 2002, 51(5):748-754.

[2] MAO X, ZENG X, QIAO S, et al.Specific roles of threonine in intestinal mucosal integrity and barrier function[J].Frontiers in Bioscience, 2011, E3:1192-1200.

[3] 李德发.猪的营养[M].2版.北京:中国农业科学技术出版社, 2003:18-21.

[4] ROSE N, LAROUR G, DIGUERHER L G, et al.Risk factors for porcine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in 149 f French farrow-to finish herds[J].Prewentive Veterinary Medicine, 2003, 61(3):209-225.

[5] GALLO R L, HOOPER L V.Epithelial antimicrobial defence of the skin and intestine[J].Nature Reviews Immunology, 2012, 12(7):503-516.

[6] SANG Y, PATIL A A, ZHANG G, et al.Bioinformatic and expression analysis of novel porcine beta-defensins[J].Mammalian Genome, 2006, 17(4):332-339.

[7] SANTAOLALLA R, FUKATA M, ABREU T M.Innate immunity in the small intestine[J].Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 2011, 27(2):125-131.

[8] 霍永久, 王恬, 许若军.新生仔猪小肠生长发育及肠粘膜部分基因的表达[J].南京农业大学学报, 2005, 28(3):129-132.

[9] CERA K R, MAHAN D C CROSS R F, et al.Effect of age, weaning and postweaning diet on small intestinal growth and jejunal morphology in young swine[J].Journal of Animal Science, 1988, 66(2):574-584.

[10] NABUURS M J A, HOOGENDOORN A, MOLEN VANDER E J, et al.Villus height and crypt depth in weaned and unweaned pigs, reared under various circumstances in the Netherlands[J].Research in Veterinary Science, 1993, 55(1):78-84.

[11] PLUSKE J R, THOMPSON M J, ATWOOD C S, et al.Maintenance of villus height and crypt depth, and enhancement of disaccharide digestion and monosaccharide absorption, in piglets fed on cows' whole milk after weaning[J].British Journal of Nutrition, 1996, 76(3):409-422.

[12] 范骏.肠道黏膜免疫[J].国际免疫学杂志, 2006, 29(2):111-115.

[13] NOFRARIAS M, MANZANILLA E G, PUJOLS J, et al.Effects of spray-dried porcine plasma and plant exreacts on intestinal morphology and on leukocyte cell subsets of weaned pigs[J].Journal of Animal Science, 2006, 84(10): 2735-2742.

[14] KINNEBREW M A, PAMER E G.Innate immune signaling in defense against intestinal microbes[J].Immunological Reviews, 2012, 245(1):113-131.

[15] 印遇龙.仔猪营养学[M].北京:中国农业出版社, 2010:35-41.

[16] ZHANG G, ROSS C R, BLECHA F.Porcine antimicrobial peptides:new peospects for ancient molecules of host defense[J].Veterinary Research, 2000, 31(3):277-296.

[17] MNARD S, FRSTER V, LOTZ M, et al.Developmental switch of intestinal antimicrobial peptide expression[J].Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2008, 205(1):183-193.

[18] CASH H L, WHITHAM C V, BEHRENDT C L, et al.Symbiotic bacteria direct expression of an intestinal bactericidal lectin[J].Science, 2006, 313:1126-1130.

Options

Outlines

模态框（Modal）标题

Abstract

Cite this article

References