title: Postnatal nutritional restriction affects growth and immune function of piglets with intra-uterine growth restriction.
abstract: Postnatal rapid growth by excess intake of nutrients has been associated with an increased susceptibility to diseases in neonates with intra-uterine growth restricted (IUGR). The aim of the present study was to determine whether postnatal nutritional restriction could improve intestinal development and immune function of neonates with IUGR using piglets as model. A total of twelve pairs of normal-birth weight (NBW) and IUGR piglets (7 d old) were randomly assigned to receive adequate nutrient intake or restricted nutrient intake (RNI) by artificially liquid feeding for a period of 21 d. Blood samples and intestinal tissues were collected at necropsy and were analysed for morphology, digestive enzyme activities, immune cells and expression of innate immunity-related genes. The results indicated that both IUGR and postnatal nutritional restriction delayed the growth rate during the sucking period. Irrespective of nutrient intake, piglets with IUGR had a significantly lower villous height and crypt depth in the ileum than the NBW piglets. Moreover, IUGR decreased alkaline phosphatase activity while enhanced lactase activity in the jejunum and mRNA expressions of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9) and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the ileum of piglets. Irrespective of body weight, RNI significantly decreased the number and/or percentage of peripheral leucocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes of piglets, whereas the percentage of neutrophils and the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ were increased. Furthermore, RNI markedly enhanced the mRNA expression of TLR-9 and DNMT1, but decreased the expression of NOD2 and TRAF-6 in the ileum of piglets. In summary, postnatal nutritional restriction led to abnormal cellular and innate immune response, as well as delayed the growth and intestinal development of IUGR piglets.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shengyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Keying
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Daiwen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: De
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University,No. 211, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District,Chengdu,Sichuan611130,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lianqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Che
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development; D001724:Birth Weight; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007082:Ileum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / Q000235:genetics; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D008780:Methyltransferases
keywords: Birth weight; Innate immunity; Intestine; Nutritional intake