title: Effects of chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on growth, blood metabolites, immune traits and tissue chromium in finishing pigs.
abstract: Effects of chromium-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cr-CNP) on growth performance, blood metabolites, immune traits, and tissue chromium in finishing pigs were investigated. A total of 160 crossbred barrows (66.06 ± 1.01 kg initial weight) were randomly divided into four groups, each group with four pens, ten pigs per pen. Pigs were fed on the same basal diet supplemented with 0 (the control), 100, 200, and 400 μg/kg Cr from Cr-CNP. All pigs were given free access to feed and water. Eight pigs from each treatment were selected to collect blood and tissue samples after 35 days on trial for analysis of blood metabolites and immune traits and tissue chromium. The results of feeding trial showed that there were no significant difference in growth performance between control and Cr-CNP-treated groups. The supplementation of Cr-CNP decreased serum glucose (P < 0.001) in a linear and quadratic manner. Serum immunoglobulins A and M were linearly increased in Cr-CNP-treated groups (P < 0.001), and serum complement 4 in Cr-CNP-treated groups was also linearly increased (P < 0.05). Cr-CNP supplementation linearly increased the chromium content in the blood, longissimus muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas (P < 0.001). These results suggested that dietary supplementation of Cr as Cr-CNP affects serum glucose, influences immune status, and increases the tissue chromium content of blood, muscle, and selected organs in finishing pigs.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China. wangmq@zju.edu.cn
authors.forename: Min-Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wen-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yu-Dan
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002857:Chromium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013552:Swine; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D003181:Complement C4; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D002857:Chromium; D048271:Chitosan