title: Chitosan-Zn chelate increases antioxidant enzyme activity and improves immune function in weaned piglets.
abstract: This experiment was performed in order to investigate the effects of chitosan-Zn chelate (CS-Zn) on activities of antioxidant enzymes and immune function in weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with 7.12 ± 0.25 kg body weight were allotted to four treatments. A basal diet without Zn supplementation was used as control group. The other three treatments were fed the control diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4, 100 mg/kg Zn as CS-Zn, 100 mg/kg Zn as ZnSO4 and chitosan (the content of chitosan was the same as that of CS-Zn), respectively. The feeding trial lasted 30 days. Spleen index of pigs fed dietary CS-Zn was higher (p < 0.05) than that of control pigs. Thymus index and lymph node index did not differ among the pigs fed any diets (p > 0.05). T-AOC levels, Cu-ZnSOD, and GSH-PX activities in serum or liver of the pigs receiving CS-Zn diet were higher than those of the pigs fed CS+ZnSO4 or ZnSO4 diets (p < 0.05). These pigs fed dietary CS-Zn also showed lower MDA content in liver compared with the pigs fed other diets (p < 0.05). Serum IgA, complement 3, and complement 4 levels of pig fed dietary CS-Zn was higher than those of the pigs fed other diets (p < 0.05). Supplemental dietary Zn did not change serum IgG and IgM levels (p > 0.05). The ALP activity of pigs fed dietary CS-Zn was higher than those of the pigs fed other three diets (p < 0.05). No significant differences were founded in serum GOT or GPT activities of pigs fed dietary Zn (p > 0.05). The results of the present study indicated that chitosan-Zn chelate could increase antioxidant capacity and improve immune function in weaned piglets compared with ZnSO4 or chitosan.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in East China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qichun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mengyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhengjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xinyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yizhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D048271:Chitosan; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D015032:Zinc