Gastric Infusion of Short-chain Fatty Acids Can Improve Intestinal Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets

Overview

Journal Genes Nutr

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2019 Feb 15

PMID 30761185

Citations 60

Authors

H Diao

A R Jiao

B Yu

X B Mao

D W Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of gastric infusion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on gut barrier function in a pig model. In this study, 21 DLY barrows with an average initial body weight of (8.31 ± 0.72) kg were randomly allotted into three treatments: (1) control, (2) infusing low SCFA, S1, (3) infusing high SCFA, S2. The experimental period lasted for 7 days.

Results: Gastric infusion of SCFA increased the concentrations of SCFA in serum and digesta, and enhanced the mRNA and protein abundances of SCFA receptors in pig intestine ( < 0.05). Moreover, gastric infusion of SCFA led to alteration of intestinal morphology, elevation of intestinal development-related gene abundances, and decrease of apoptotic cell percentage, as well as reduction of pro-apoptosis gene and protein abundances ( < 0.05). Besides, the jejunal SLCA and ileal DMT1 mRNA abundances in the SCFA infusion groups were higher than those in the control group ( < 0.05). Additionally, gastric infusion of SCFA increased the mRNA abundances of Occludin and Claudin-1 in the duodenum and ileum, enhanced spp counts in the ileal digesta, decreased the mRNA and protein abundances of IL-1β in the colon, and reduced count in the ileal digesta ( < 0.05).

Conclusions: These data indicated that gastric infusion of SCFA, especially high SCFA concentration, may be beneficial to gut development of piglets via improving gut morphology, decreasing apoptotic cell percentage, and maintaining intestinal barrier function.

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