Norsesquiterpene glycosides in bracken ferns (Pteridium esculentum and Pteridium aquilinum subsp. wightianum) from Eastern Australia: reassessed poisoning risk to animals

Austral bracken Pteridium esculentum contains three unstable norsesquiterpene glycosides: ptaquiloside, ptesculentoside, and caudatoside, in variable proportions. The concentration of each of the glycosides was determined in this study as their respective degradation products, pterosin B, pterosin G and pterosin A, by HPLC-UV analysis. Samples of P. esculentum collected from six sites in eastern Australia contained up to 17 mg of total glycoside/g DW, with both ptaquiloside and ptesculentoside present as major components accompanied by smaller amounts of caudatoside. Ratios of ptaquiloside to ptesculentoside varied from 1:3 to 4:3, but in all Australian samples ptesculentoside was a significant component. This profile differed substantially from that of P. esculentum from New Zealand, which contained only small amounts of both ptesculentoside and caudatoside, with ptaquiloside as the dominant component. A similar profile with ptaquiloside as the dominant glycoside was obtained for Pteridium aquilinum subsp. wightianum (previously P. revolutum ) from northern Queensland and also P. aquilinum from European sources. Ptesculentoside has chemical reactivity similar to that of ptaquiloside and presumably biological activity similar to that of this potent carcinogen. The presence of this additional reactive glycoside in Australian P. esculentum implies greater toxicity for consuming animals than previously estimated from ptaquiloside content alone.     

Quantification of ptaquiloside and pterosin B in soil and groundwater using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

The carcinogenic compound ptaquiloside is produced by bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum L.). Ptaquiloside can enter the soil matrix and potentially leach to the aquatic environment, and methods for characterizing ptaquiloside content and fate in soil and groundwater are needed. A sensitive detection method has been developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for analyzing ptaquiloside and its transformation product pterosin B. Detection limits are 0.19 microg/L (ptaquiloside) and 0.15 microg/L (pterosin B), which are 300-650 times better than previously published LC-UV methods. Sequential soil extractions are made using 5 mM ammonium acetate for extraction of ptaquiloside, followed by 80% methanol extraction for pterosin B. Groundwater samples are cleaned-up and preconcentrated by a factor of 20 using solid-phase extraction. The LC-MS/MS method enables quantification of ptaquiloside and pterosin B in soil and groundwater samples at environmentally relevant concentrations and delivers a reliable identification because of the structure-specific detection method.     

C‐Glycosylflavone and Lignan Diglucoside Contents of Commercial,Regular, and Whole‐Wheat Spaghetti

Consumption of whole‐wheat products, including whole‐wheat spaghetti, is associated with beneficial health effects. Flavonoids and lignans are antioxidant phytochemicals that have received much attention from researchers. Investigations were conducted on the content of flavonoid glycosides, lignan diglucoside, and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) as contributors to the health‐promoting properties of whole‐wheat spaghetti. Flavonoid glycosides present in regular and whole‐wheat spaghetti samples were identified as 6‐C‐glucosyl‐8‐C‐arabinosyl apigenin and the sinapic acid ester of apigenin‐C‐diglycoside while, in a previous study, the sinapic acid ester of apigenin‐C‐diglycoside was found only in wheat germ tissues. The content of these compounds was significantly higher in whole‐wheat spaghetti (17.0 and 15.1 μg of apigenin equivalent/g) compared to the regular brands (9.5 and 5.8 μg apigenin equivalent/g). SDG content was also significantly higher in whole‐wheat spaghetti (41.8 μg/g) compared to the regular brands (12.9 μg/g). These findings lend further support to the notion that phenolic compounds, along with dietary fiber, are concentrated in the bran layers of the wheat kernel; hence, consumption of whole grain products is strongly recommended to obtain significant levels of health‐promoting phytochemicals.     

Isolation, characterization, and surfactant properties of the major triterpenoid glycosides from unripe tomato fruits

Various triterpenoid glycosides were extracted from whole unripe tomato fruits ( Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Cedrico), using aqueous 70% (v/v) ethanol to study their surfactant properties. Cation-exchange chromatography using a Source 15S column and subsequent semipreparative HPLC using an XTerra RP18 were employed to purify individual triterpenoid glycosides from the extract. The structure of the purified compounds was established by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The furostanol glycoside tomatoside A (749 mg/kg of DW) and the glycoalkaloids alpha-tomatine (196 mg/kg of DW) and esculeoside A (427 mg/kg of DW) were the major triterpenoid glycosides present. Furthermore, minor amounts of a new dehydrofurostanol glycoside, dehydrotomatoside, were found. The critical micelle concentrations of the major triterpenoid glycosides, alpha-tomatine, tomatoside A, and esculeoside A, were determined as 0.099, 0.144, and 0.412 g/L, respectively. The results show that tomatoside A, and not the more well-known alpha-tomatine, is the predominant triterpenoidal surfactant in unripe tomato fruits.     

Residue depletion of nitrovin in chicken after oral administration

In this study, the residue depletion of nitrovin in chicken was studied after feeding the birds with dietary feeds containing 10 mg/kg of nitrovin for 7 consecutive days. Tissues (muscle, fat, kidney, and liver) and plasma were collected at different withdrawal periods and determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method. The limit of detection for nitrovin in tissue and plasma samples was 0.1 ng/(g or mL), and the inter- and intrarecoveries from the blank fortified samples were in the range of 71.1-85.7%. At the withdrawal period of 0 days, the residue concentration of nitrovin in plasma was the highest (average of 84.98 ng/mL) compared to those in muscle, fat, liver, and kidney (average of 21.04, 61.18, 24.04, and 68.28 ng/g, respectively). At the withdrawal period of 28 days, the residue levels of nitrovin in muscle, fat, liver, and plasma were all higher than 1.0 ng/(g or mL) and the highest concentration was in liver (average of 5.8 ng/g). These data are in support of the ban of nitrovin as a feed additive in food-producing animals.     

Detection, accumulation, distribution, and depletion of furaltadone and nifursol residues in poultry muscle, liver, and gizzard

Nitrofurans were broadly used as an extremely effective veterinary antibiotic especially in pig and poultry production farms. Because of fears of the carcinogenic effects on humans, the nitrofurans were banned from use in livestock production in many countries, including the European Union. The present study examines the accumulation, distribution, and depletion of furaltadone and nifursol and of their tissue-bound metabolites [3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ) and 3,5-dinitro-salicylic acid hydrazine (DNSAH), respectively, in poultry edible tissues (muscle, liver, and gizzards) following administration to chickens of therapeutic and subtherapeutic concentrations of both compounds. Nitrofurans determination was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively, for feeds and for poultry tissues. Furaltadone and nifursol, in very low concentrations, were found in samples of muscle, liver, and chicken's gizzard collected from slaughtered animals after 5 weeks of treatment and no withdrawal time period. When a withdrawal time period of 3 weeks was respected, no detectable nitrofuran parent compounds was observed in all of the studied matrices. For AMOZ, concentrations of 270 μg/kg in meat, 80 μg/kg in liver, and 331 μg/kg in gizzard were determined after administration of a medicated feed with furaltadone (132 mg/kg), 3 weeks after withdrawal of treatment. For DNSAH, the concentration values obtained are much lower than those observed for AMOZ. For meat, liver, and gizzard, DNSAH concentrations of 2.5, 6.4, and 10.3 μg/kg, respectively, were determined, after administration of a medicated feed with nifursol (98 mg/kg), 3 weeks after withdrawal of treatment. The gizzard could be considered a selected matrix for nitrofuran residues evaluation in poultry, due to its capacity of retaining either nitrofuran parent compounds or metabolites in higher concentrations, regardless of the administered dose or of the respected withdrawal time period.     

Residue depletion of tilmicosin in chicken tissues

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with detection at 290 nm was modified and validated for the determination of tilmicosin residues in broiler chicken tissues. The limits of detection (LOD) of the method were 0.01 microg/g for muscle and 0.025 microg/g for liver and kidney. Average recoveries ranged from 80.4 to 88.3%. Relative standard deviation values ranged from 5.2 to 12.1%. Residue depletion of tilmicosin in broiler chickens was examined after dosing over a 5-day period by incorporation of the drug into drinking water at 37.5 and 75.0 mg/L. Tilmicosin concentrations in liver and kidney were highest on day 3 of medication and on day 5 in muscle, in both low- and high-dose groups. The residue levels in both groups were significantly higher in liver than in kidney or muscle. A minimum withdrawal time of 9 days was indicated for residue levels in muscle, liver, and kidney tissues below the maximum residue level (MRL).     

表面增强拉曼光谱快速检测生鲜肉中的瘦肉精

为了快速检测生鲜肉中的瘦肉精,该研究利用表面增强拉曼光谱技术,以沙丁胺醇为检测目标物,建立了一种快速检测肌肉组织和肝脏中瘦肉精含量的方法。在碱性环境下利用乙酸乙酯对样品中沙丁胺醇进行提取,采用Savitzky-Golay 5点平滑法和自适应迭代重加权惩罚最小二乘法消除光谱噪声以及荧光背景对分析建模的影响。为检测方法的重复性,对50个相同沙丁胺醇质量分数(1 mg/kg)的肌肉组织样品进行信号采集,对沙丁胺醇特征峰强度进行分析,621、814、1 253、1 489、1 609 cm~(-1) 5个特征峰强度的相对标准偏差(RSD)为6.54%、6.07%、8.65%、7.44%、6.81%,说明该方法具有较好的重复性。建立沙丁胺醇标准溶液的预测模型,沙丁胺醇浓度与其特征峰强度相关性较好,决定系数R~2为0.968。对肌肉组织和肝脏中沙丁胺醇含量进行检测,检测范围分别为0.01~5和0.02~5 mg/kg,检出限分别为0.01和0.02 mg/kg,其含量与预测实测值决定系数为0.912和0.921。研究表明,该方法可以实现肌肉组织和肝脏中沙丁胺醇含量的定量预测。     

Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls in striped bass (Morons saxatilis) from two nova Scotia Rivers

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) collected from the Annapolis and Shubenacadie Rivers in Nova Scotia, Canada, were analyzed for Hg in four tissues and for PCB's in two tissues. Average Hg concentrations in the muscle, liver, kidney, and gonad of 3.9 kg fish from Annapolis River were 0.77, 0.79, 0.26, and 0.07 μg g^?1, respectively, and the corresponding values for the much smaller, 1.5 kg, fish from the Shubenacadie River were 0.51, 0.27, 0.24, and 0.06 μg g^?1. The PCB concentrations in the muscle tissues of fish from Annapolis and Shubenacadie Rivers are 0.02 and 0.01 μg g^?1, respectively, while the concentrations in gonads are 1.4 and 0.04 μg g^?1 The observed lack of recruitment of striped bass in the Annapolis River may be related to high PCB concentrations in the gonad tissue.     

白酒糟水解液摇瓶发酵生产木糖醇的工艺优化

为充分利用白酒糟资源,探讨酸水解液作为碳源发酵生产木糖醇的可行性。采用热带假丝酵母(Candidatropicalis1779)发酵酒糟水解液生产木糖醇,分别利用单因素试验和正交试验考察了影响发酵的工艺条件。发酵在250mL摇瓶发酵瓶中进行。结果表明,当种子龄27h、接种量20mL、装液量100mL、氮源添加量20mL、氮源浓度48g/L时发酵效果最好。该条件下发酵液中木糖醇浓度为11.85mg/mL,木糖利用率和还原糖利用率分别为45.62%和74.81%,残留木糖浓度为463.51μg/mL。发酵试验表明酒糟水解液作为碳源发酵生产木糖醇具有可行性。     

Residue depletion of ractopamine and its metabolites in swine tissues, urine, and serum

Ractopamine hydrochloride is a beta-adrenergic leanness-enhancing agent approved for use in swine in the United States. Depletion of ractopamine and its metabolites from animal tissues, urine, and serum is of interest for the detection of illegal use. The objectives of this study were to measure the residues of ractopamine in swine incurred samples after treatment with dietary ractopamine for 28 consecutive days. An efficient and sensitive analytical method was developed for the detection of parent ractopamine and its metabolites in swine tissues, urine, and serum by HPLC-FLD. After extraction, enzymatic digestion, and solid-phase cleanup of the samples, ractopamine residues were determined by liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detector. The limits of detection (LOD) for tissues, urine, and serum were 1 ng g(-1), 0.5 ng mL(-1), and 0.5 ng mL(-1), respectively. Recoveries ranged from 70.5 to 94.5% for samples fortified at 1-50 ng g(-1) or ng mL(-1). Sixty pigs were fed twice daily for 28 consecutive days with feeds containing 18 mg kg(-1) ractopamine HCl. The residue concentrations in urine, liver, and kidney were 650.06 ng mL(-1), 46.09 ng g(-1), and 169.27 ng g(-1), respectively, compared with those in muscle, fat, and serum (4.94 ng g(-1), 3.28 ng g(-1), and 7.48 ng mL(-1), respectively) at the feeding period of 7 days. The residue concentrations at withdrawal period of 0 days in all edible tissues were lower than tolerance values established by the FDA and MRL values listed by the JECFA. These data support the withdrawal time of 0 days established by the FDA for ractopamine used as feed additive in swine.     

Simultaneous Determination of Furostanol, Pennogenyl, and Diosgenyl Glycosides in Taiwanese Rhizoma Paridis ( Paris formosana Hayata) by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) was developed to simultaneously determine 10 steroidal saponins, including 3 furostanol glycosides, 3 pennogenyl glycosides, and 4 diosgenyl glycosides in Taiwanese rhizoma paridis ( Paris formosana Hayata). The condition was a Cosmosil C18 column kept at 35 °C and a step-gradient solvent system consisting of acetonitrile and water (25:75, v/v) in the first 30 min, 45:55 (v/v) from 31 to 45 min, and 50:50 (v/v) from 45 to 65 min, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The separation factors (α) and resolutions (Rs) were better than 1, and the limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01-0.27 and 0.04-0.90 μg, respectively, for these saponins. Moreover, 203 nm UV detection was also used for comparison. The saponins in P. formosana Hayata gathered from various areas of Taiwan were determined by applying the established method.     

Development of a lateral flow colloidal gold immunoassay strip for the rapid detection of olaquindox residues

A rapid immunochromatographic lateral flow test strip of competitive format has been developed for the specific determination of olaquindox (OLA) residues in pig urine and muscle tissues. The sensitivity of the test strip was found to be 1.58 ± 0.27 μg/kg and 1.70 ± 0.26 μg/kg of OLA in pig urine and muscle tissues, and the lower detection limit was 0.27 ± 0.08 μg/kg and 0.31 ± 0.07 μg/kg respectively. For negative pig urine and muscle samples spiked with 4, 12, and 36 μg/kg, the recovery range was 83.0-94.0% and 78.8-87.4% and the coefficient of variation scope [CV (%)] was 3.17-7.41% and 4.66-7.64% respectively. Parallel analysis of OLA samples from pig urine and muscle tissue showed comparable results from the test strip and HPLC. Each test requires 5-8 min, and the test strip can provide a useful screening method for quantitative, semiquantitative, or qualitative detection of OLA residues.     

结合条件对羊抗兔抗体连接到细菌磁小体的影响

用羊抗兔抗体进行抗体连接到细菌磁小体(BMPs)实验，以探讨结合条件对抗体连接效率(以每毫克BMPs上连接抗体的微克数表示，单位为μg/mg)的影响。实验表明，冷冻干燥后的BMPs的抗体连接效率降低36%~55%；在液氮中(-196 ℃)预处理的抗体连接效率显著高于在-70 ℃和-20 ℃预处理的。室温(15 ℃)下反应18 h的抗体连接效率最高，为64.06 μg/mg，明显高于其它温度和连接时间的。反应体系中，BMPs用量由5 mg降到0.1 mg，抗体用量由10 μg增加到300 μg时，抗体连接效率逐渐上升，当BMPs用量为0.1 mg，抗体用量为300 μg时，抗体连接效率达762.37 μg/mg。PBS、HEPES、Tris-HCl、MOPS、VBS以及磷酸盐等溶液可用于抗体连接到BMPs体系中，在通常使用的缓冲液pH和浓度下，几种溶液的抗体连接效率变化范围为46.28±0.58 ~ 90.83±1.64 μg/mg；并且不同的溶液有相应的使抗体连接效率达到最高时的pH和溶液浓度，当HEPES的pH为3.5，浓度为20 mmol / L；Na3PO4的pH为5.6，浓度为5 mmol / L时，抗体连接效率分别为108.01和76.78 μg/mg。对连接到BMPs上的抗体进行SDS-PAGE定性检测结果表明，抗体连接到了BMPs的膜上。     

Determination of chlorophylls in Taraxacum formosanum by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry and preparation by column chromatography

Taraxacum formosanum, a well-known Chinese herb shown to be protective against hepatic cancer as well as liver and lung damage, may be attributed to the presence of abundant carotenoids and chlorophylls. However, the variety and content of chlorophylls remain uncertain. The objectives of this study were to develop an high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-mass spectrometry method for determination of chlorophylls in T. formosanum and preparation by column chromatography. An HyPURITY C18 column and a gradient mobile phase of water (A), methanol (B), acetonitrile (C), and acetone (D) could resolve 10 chlorophylls and an internal standard Fast Green FCF within 30 min with a flow rate at 1 mL/min and detection at 660 nm. Both chlorophylls a and a' were present in the largest amount (1389.6 μg/g), followed by chlorophylls b and b' (561.2 μg/g), pheophytins a and a' (31.7 μg/g), hydroxychlorophyll b (26.5 μg/g), hydroxychlorophylls a and a' (9.8 μg/g), and chlorophyllides a and a' (0.35 μg/g). A glass column containing 52 g of magnesium oxide-diatomaceous earth (1:3, w/w) could elute chlorophylls with 800 mL of acetone containing 50% ethanol at a flow rate of 10 mL/min. Some new chlorophyll derivatives including chlorophyllide b, pyropheophorbide b, hydroxypheophytin a, and hydroxypheophytin a' were generated during column chromatography but accompanied by a 63% loss in total chlorophylls. Thus, the possibility of chlorophyll fraction prepared from T. formosanum as a raw material for future production of functional food needs further investigation.     

Development and validation of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the screening of tylosin and tilmicosin in muscle, liver, milk, honey and eggs

Incorrect use of tylosin and tilmicosin could result in allergy and select resistance. To monitor the illegal use of these antibiotics in animals, a monoclonal-based indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) has been established. Several haptens were synthesized and conjugated to carrier protein. Female Balb/c mice were inoculated with the four different conjugates to produce monoclonal antibodies according to the schemes of immunization. Aftercell fusion and culture several times, nine hybridoma cell lines were isolated. Only one, 3C4 that has isotype IgG2a, was selected for detailed study. The cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibody 3C4 to tylosin and tilmicosin was 100% and 51% respectively. The standard curves based on the tylosin and tilmicosin matrix calibration ranged from 2.5 to 40 μg L(-1), with an IC(50) value of 6.1 μg L(-1) and 12.1 μg L(-1), respectively. The limits of detection of the ic-ELISA ranged from 5.1 μg kg(-1) to 13.8 μg kg(-1) in edible animal tissues. The recoveries were 74.1% to 120.7% with less than 18.6% of the coefficient of variation when tylosin and tilmicosin were spiked in various biological matrices with the concentrations of 25.0-200.0 μg kg(-1). Good correlations between the results of the ic-ELISA and high performance liquid chromatography were observed in the incurred tissues. These results suggest that the ic-ELISA is a sensitive, accurate and low-cost method that would be a useful tool for the screening of the residues of tylosin and tilmicosin in muscle, liver, milk, honey and eggs.     

Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry profiling of anthocyanins and flavonols in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) of varying genotypes

The structure of flavonoids in food plants affects bioactivity and important nutritional attributes, like micronutrient bioavailability. This study investigated flavonol and anthocyanin compositions of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) of varying genotypes. Black, red, green, white, light brown, and golden brown cowpea phenotypes were analyzed for anthocyanins and flavonols using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Eight anthocyanins and 23 flavonols (15 newly identified in cowpea) were characterized. Mono-, di-, and tri(acyl)glycosides of quercetin were predominant in most phenotypes; myricetin and kaempferol glycosides were present only in specific phenotypes. The red phenotypes had the highest flavonol content (880-1060 μg/g), whereas green and white phenotypes had the lowest (270-350 μg/g). Only black (1676-2094 μg/g) and green (875 μg/g) phenotypes had anthocyanins, predominantly delphinidin and cyanidin 3-O-glucosides. Cowpea phenotype influenced the type and amount of flavonoids accumulated in the seed; this may have implications in selecting varieties for nutrition and health applications.     

黑苦荞米黄酮提取工艺优化及其降血糖活性研究

为了获得合适的黑苦荞米黄酮提取工艺,该文采用单因素试验和响应面设计,选择乙醇体积分数、料液比、提取时间、提取温度4个因素,优化黑苦荞米黄酮提取工艺。试验结果表明,黑苦荞米黄酮的最佳提取条件是:乙醇体积分数54%,料液比1:24 g/m L,提取时间62 min,提取温度71℃。在此条件下,理论黄酮得率为2.21%,实际黄酮得率为2.20%,相对误差为0.45%。在此基础上进一步研究了黑苦荞米黄酮的α-淀粉酶抑制活性,结果表明7.5 mg/m L的黑苦荞米黄酮对α-淀粉酶活性的抑制率为54.05%,与二甲双胍(5 mg/m L)效果相当;此外,与空白对照相比,50μg/m L黑苦荞米黄酮能显著(P0.05)提高肝脏细胞Hep G2的葡萄糖消耗量(48.73%),并促进肝脏细胞糖原的合成。研究结果表明,黑苦荞米黄酮具有较好的辅助降血糖功效。     

Mercury contamination of the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena and other cetaceans from the North Sea and the kattegat

Total Hg levels were determined in 17 harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena collected in the North Sea and the Kattegat (muscle, liver and kidney), as well as in a sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus, a common dolphin Delphinus delphis and two bottle-nose dolphins Tursiops truncatus collected in Belgium. Juvenile porpoises (total body length less than 140 cm) were characterized by total Hg concentrations increasing with length (t.i. with age) with median values of 3.1 μg g^?1 dw in muscle, 6.2 in liver and 5.7 in kidney, and liver to muscle resp. liver to kidney ratios varying between 1 and 2. In adults, liver concentrations were higher (up to 500 μg g^?1 dw) with liver to muscle and to kidney ratios up to 20. Median McHg concentrations in 5 of the porpoises were 4.0 μg g^?1 dw in muscle and 6.9 in liver. These values did not increase as strongly with length (t.i. with age, at least for juveniles) as total Hg did; as a consequence, the relative McHg levels decreased from 100% in juveniles to 2 or 3 % in the liver of adults. Such results seem to reflect the existence of a slow mineralization phenomenon and storage of inorganic Hg, mainly in the liver.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with cysteamine on growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor system in finishing pigs

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that chronic cysteamine (CS) supplementation may affect serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I concentrations and growth hormone (GH) receptor (GHR), IGF-I, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, and insulin receptor (IR) mRNA levels in different tissues of finishing pigs. A total of 24 finishing pigs (60.05 +/- 1.24 kg; 12 gilts and 12 barrows) were assigned randomly to one of the three dietary groups, with four pens/group (per pen: one gilt, one barrow). The pigs were fed a basal diet containing 0 (control), 70, or 140 mg/kg cysteamine feed additive (containing 28% cysteamine hydrochloride) for 47 days. The results indicated that CS supplementation (70 mg/kg) increased the average daily gain (ADG) and serum IGF-I level, upregulated mRNA levels of GHR and IGF-I (liver, stomach, muscle), IGF-IR (stomach, duodenum, muscle), and IGFBP-3 (liver) but downregulated IGFBP-3 (stomach, duodenum, muscle). CS supplementation (70 mg/kg) did not affect mRNA levels of GHR and IGF-I (duodenum), IGF-IR (liver), and IR (liver, stomach, duodenum, muscle). CS supplementation (140 mg/kg) downregulated GHR (duodenum), IGF-I, and IGF-IR mRNA (liver, stomach, duodenum, muscle) but upregulated IGFBP-3 and IR mRNA (liver, stomach, duodenum, muscle) and did not affect ADG and serum IGF-I concentration. Collectively, the results suggest that dietary CS supplementation modulates the growth rate, serum IGF-I concentrations, and the gene expression of GHR, IGF-I, IGF-IR, IGFBP-3, and IR in a dose-dependent manner. CS supplementation has tissue-specific regulation of GHR, IGF-I, IGF-IR, and IGFBP-3 mRNA levels. Moreover, the results also imply the possible physiologic role of the GH-IGF axis in mediating the dietary CS supplementation-supported growth of finishing pigs.