title: Effects of intrauterine growth retardation and Bacillus subtilis PB6 supplementation on growth performance, intestinal development and immune function of piglets during the suckling period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and Bacillus subtilis PB6 supplementation in formula milk (FORM) on growth performance, intestinal development and immune function of neonates using a porcine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen pairs of normal birth weight and IUGR piglets (7 days old) were randomly assigned to receive FORM or FORM supplemented with B. subtilis PB6 (FORM-BsPB6) for a period of 21 days. Blood samples, intestinal tissues and digesta were collected at necropsy and analysed for morphology, digestive enzyme activities, immune cell abundance, expression of genes associated with innate immunity and barrier function and microbial populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regardless of diet, IUGR significantly decreased average daily dry matter intake and average daily weight gain (P < 0.05). Moreover, IUGR significantly decreased plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin A, interleukin 1β, count and percentage of blood lymphocytes (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, IUGR markedly decreased villous height and maltase activity, as well as mRNA abundance of Toll-like receptor 9 and Toll-interacting protein in the ileum (P < 0.05). Regardless of body weight, FORM-BsPB6 markedly decreased the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), due to better intestinal development, as indicated by increased villous height (P < 0.05), activities of maltase and sucrase in the intestine (P < 0.10). Moreover, both mRNA and protein abundances of zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1 in the ileum as well as the copy number of Bacillus in colonic digesta were increased (P < 0.05) in piglets fed FORM-BsPB6 relative to FORM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that IUGR delayed growth, intestinal development and immune function of piglets, while FORM-BsPB6 improved digestive capability and intestinal barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Shengyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: De
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China. clianqiang@hotmail.com.|Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition, Ministry of Education, No. 46, Xinkang Road, Ya'an, 625014, Sichuan, China. clianqiang@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lianqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Che
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis; D062445:Claudin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000628:therapy*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D062445:Claudin-1; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
keywords: Barrier function; Birth weight; Immunity; Intestine; Probiotics