Weaning Induced Hepatic Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Aminotransferases through MAPK Signaling Pathways in Piglets.
This study investigated the effects of weaning on the hepatic redox status, apoptosis, function, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways during the first week after weaning in piglets. A total of 12 litters of piglets were weaned at d 21 and divided into the weaning group (WG) and the control group (CG). Six piglets from each group were slaughtered at d 0 (d 20, referred to weaning), d 1, d 4, and d 7 after weaning. Results showed that weaning significantly increased the concentrations of hepatic free radicals H2O2and NO, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), while significantly decreasing the inhibitory hydroxyl ability (IHA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and altered the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The apoptosis results showed that weaning increased the concentrations of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. In addition, aspartate aminotransferase transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in liver homogenates increased after weaning. The phosphorylated JNK and ERK1/2 increased, while the activated p38 initially decreased and then increased. Our results suggested that weaning increased the hepatic oxidative stress and aminotransferases and initiated apoptosis, which may be related to the activated MAPK pathways in postweaning piglets.
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Zhen
Z
Luo
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Wei
W
Zhu
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Qi
Q
Guo
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Wenli
W
Luo
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Jing
J
Zhang
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Weina
W
Xu
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Shanghai 200240, China.
Jianxiong
0000-0003-2026-3791
J
Xu
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases