title: Effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on growth performance and hormonal and immune responses of piglets.
abstract: The effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation from 9 days of age until the end of post-weaning on piglets hormonal and immune responses and on growth performance were investigated. During lactation (days 9 to 21) and post-weaning (days 22 to 55) 10 [HBI Fomeva11 × (Large White × Landrace)] litters (n = 108 piglets) had ad libitum access to two standard diets, both supplemented with 0% (T0 group) or 0.1% (T1 group) of yeast extract nucleotides. BW of piglets at days 21 (P < 0.10), 35 and 55 (P < 0.05) was greater in T1 compared with T0. Feed intake was not different between groups (P > 0.05). Cortisol content was lower in T1 than in T0 at days 28 and 35 (P < 0.05), whereas growth hormone was lower at day 35 (P < 0.05). Levels of IGF-1 were similar across groups (P > 0.05). Nucleotide-supplemented diets increased lymphocyte subpopulation CD4-CD8+high at days 21 and 35 (P < 0.05), whereas CD4+CD8- cells were higher in T1 than in T0 at day 21 (P < 0.05). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells cytokine expression was influenced by dietary nucleotide supplementation. At weaning, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β expression was lower (P < 0.05) in T1 compared with T0, whereas the expression of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-10 was higher (P < 0.05). At day 28, piglets in T1 showed higher values of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression than T0 and lower values of IL-10 expression (P < 0.05). Dietary nucleotide supplementation had a suppressive effect on IL-6 and IL-10 expression (P < 0.05) at day 35. On the contrary, the expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β was enhanced (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that starting a dietary nucleotide supplementation before weaning can improve the adaptive capabilities of weaned piglets to the stressors, enhancing the growth performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Veterinary Biotechnologies, Food Quality and Safety, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy. paola.superchi@unipr.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Superchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saleri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borghetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amicucci
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ossiprandi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabbioni
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning; D015003:Yeasts / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D009711:Nucleotides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone