title: Effects of feeding an herbal preparation to sows on immunological performance of offspring.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding Chinese herbal ultra-fine (CHU) powder to sows during the last week of gestation and during the lactation period on immunological performance of the offspring. In this experiment, 15 pregnant sows (mean BW = 235.6 ± 3.7 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments including no additive (Control), 0.75% CHU powder (Group A), or 1.5% CHU powder (Group B) added to a maize- and soybean meal-based diet. Blood from 10 piglets per group was collected at d 7, d 14, or d 21 of age to measure serum metabolites, lymphocyte proliferating activity, and serum antibody and cytokine concentrations. Dietary supplementation of sows with CHU powder increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, and triglycerides of offspring, whereas the concentration of glucose was reduced (P < 0.05) compared with Controls. The CHU powder enhanced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of IgG in Group B offspring on d 7 and IgM in Group A offspring on d 7 and d 14, increased IL-10 in Group A offspring on d 7, as well as IL-2 in offspring from Groups A and B on all days of determination. The CHU powder increased interferon gamma in Group A offspring on d 14 and in Group B offspring on d 14 and d 21, and increased tumor necrosis factor alpha in offspring of Group A on d 14 and in Group B on all days surveyed. Compared with Controls, a greater number (P < 0.05) of T lymphocyte subpopulations were detected in Group A and B offspring including CD4+ cells in Group A on d 7 and d 21, CD4+ cells in Group B on d 14 and d 21, and CD8+ cells in Group A on d 7 and d 14. Collectively, these findings indicate a beneficial effect of CHU powder treatment of sows in later gestation and during lactation on serum metabolism and cellular and humoral immune responses of their offspring.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Z X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000187:drug effects*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations