Antioxidant status and expression of inflammatory genes in gut and liver of piglets fed different dietary methionine concentrations

This study investigated the hypothesis that dietary concentrations of methionine (Met), as a precursor of cysteine which is a constituent of glutathione (GSH), affect tissue antioxidant concentrations and the antioxidant defence system in pigs. Forty‐five piglets (DanZucht × Pietrain) were allotted to three groups of similar mean body weight (11.0 ± 0.9 kg). The basal diet was composed of barley, wheat, corn starch, soybean oil, sucrose, cellulose and a mineral supplement with suboptimal concentrations of Met and was supplemented with dl ‐Met to reach 0.16%, 0.20% and 0.24% of dietary Met and 0.40%, 0.44% and 0.48% of dietary Met and cysteine in groups 0.16, 0.20 and 0.24 respectively. After 3 weeks, at slaughter, samples of liver, jejunum mucosa and plasma were collected. Feed intake and weight gains increased and feed:gain ratio decreased when dietary Met concentrations increased. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), concentrations of GSH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA‐RS) and the activity of the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver and jejunum mucosa were similar in all groups (p > 0.05). Relative mRNA concentrations of selected target genes of the nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2), the master regulator of the antioxidant response, and of the nuclear factor ‘kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer’ of activated B‐cells (NF‐κB), the master regulator of inflammation, were largely unaffected both in jejunum and liver. In conclusion, inflammation‐ and oxidative stress‐related pathways on the molecular level, and concentrations of lipid peroxidation products, of antioxidants and of enzymes involved in the antioxidant defence system were mostly unaffected by dietary Met concentration in gut and liver. These findings suggest that suboptimal dietary Met concentrations did not influence the antioxidant defence system of gut and liver in healthy piglets.     

Effects of dietary methionine supplementation on growth performance,intestinal morphology,antioxidant capacity and immune function in intra‐uterine growth‐retarded suckling piglets

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with _L‐methionine (_L‐Met), _DL‐methionine (_DL‐Met) and calcium salt of the methionine hydroxyl analog (MHA‐Ca) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and immune function in intra‐uterine growth‐retarded (IUGR) suckling piglets. Six normal birthweight (NBW) female piglets and 24 same‐sex IUGR piglets were selected at birth. Piglets were fed nutrient adequate basal diet supplemented with 0.08% _L‐alanine (NBW‐CON), 0.08% _L‐alanine (IUGR‐CON), 0.12% _L‐Met (IUGR‐LM), 0.12% _DL‐Met (IUGR‐DLM) and 0.16% MHA‐Ca (IUGR‐MHA‐Ca) from 7 to 21 days of age respectively (n = 6). The results indicated that IUGR decreased average daily milk (dry matter) intake and average daily gain and increased feed conversion ratio of suckling piglets (p < 0.05). Compared with the NBW‐CON piglets, IUGR also impaired villus morphology and reduced antioxidant capacity and immune homeostasis in the intestine of IUGR‐CON piglets (p < 0.05). Supplementation with _L‐Met enhanced jejunal villus height (VH) and villus area and ileal VH of IUGR piglets compared with IUGR‐CON piglets (p < 0.05). Similarly, _DL‐Met supplementation increased VH and the ratio of VH to crypt depth in the jejunum compared with IUGR‐CON pigs (p < 0.05). Supplementation with _L‐Met and _DL‐Met (0.12%) tended to increase reduced glutathione content and reduced glutathione: oxidized glutathione ratio and decrease protein carbonyl concentration in the jejunum of piglets when compared with the IUGR‐CON group (p < 0.10). However, supplementation with MHA‐Ca had no effect on the intestinal redox status of IUGR piglets (p > 0.10). In conclusion, supplementation with either _L‐Met or _DL‐Met has a beneficial effect on the intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity of IUGR suckling piglets.     

Tissue and plasma antioxidant status in response to dietary methionine concentration and source in broilers

This study hypothesized that plasma and tissue antioxidant status of broilers is positively influenced when dietary Met concentrations exceed, and negatively when they go below NRC recommendations. In addition, different Met sources are hypothesized to affect the antioxidant defence system differently. Day‐old male Cobb‐500 broilers (n  = 336) were allotted to seven groups and phase‐fed three wheat–soya bean meal‐based basal diets during days 1‐10, 11‐21 and 22‐35. The basal diets (Met? group, Met + Cys concentration 15% below NRC recommendations) were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.40% Met either as DL ‐Met (DLM ) or DL ‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL ‐HMTBA ) (equimolar comparison). Growth performance and carcass weights were lower in the Met? group compared to the groups whose diets met or exceeded Met requirements. The antioxidant defence system was not influenced by the Met source. However, in the liver, concentrations of glutathione increased with increasing dietary Met concentrations. Tocopherol concentrations in the liver at days 10 and 21 were lower in the Met? group than in the groups supplemented with Met. However, liver concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA ‐RS ) and protein carbonyls (PC ) were largely not influenced by dietary Met concentration. Plasma tocopherol concentrations at day 35 were lower, and those of TBA ‐RS and PC at day 35 were higher in Met? group than in the groups fed the Met‐supplemented diets. In jejunum, but not in liver, relative mRNA abundances and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher in the Met? group than in the groups fed Met‐supplemented diets. These data indicate that suboptimum supply of Met results in decreased antioxidant concentrations in plasma and body tissues, and increases oxidative stress in the jejunum mucosa. However, supplementation of Met in excess of the requirements (based on NRC ) compared to diets adequate in Met + Cys did not influence the antioxidant defence system.     

香菇多糖对仔猪生产性能、营养物质消化率及抗氧化能力的影响

通过在玉米-豆粕型基础日粮中添加香菇多糖,研究其对仔猪生产性能、营养物质消化率及抗氧化能力的影响。选取120头(长白×大白,体重11.34 kg左右)仔猪,随机分为4组,每组设5个重复,每个重复6头猪,试验期28 d。第Ⅰ组为对照组,饲喂基础日粮,第Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别在基础日粮中添加150 mg/kg、300 mg/kg、450 mg/kg的香菇多糖。结果显示:添加香菇多糖能够显著提高仔猪0 d~14 d、14 d~28 d及试验全期的平均日增重(ADG);试验各组的平均日采食量(ADFI)在0 d~14 d及试验全期均得到显著提高;而料重比(F/G)在各时期并没有显著降低。第Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组粗蛋白(CP)消化率分别相对提高了3.16%(P<0.05)、2.64%(P>0.05)、0.13%(P>0.05),第Ⅱ、Ⅲ组粗脂肪(EE)消化率分别相对提高了1.53%(P>0.05)、1.37%(P>0.05),较第Ⅳ组分别相对提高了1.80%(P>0.05)、1.65%(P>0.05)。第Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组血清总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(ALB)、球蛋白(GLO)、血糖(GLU)水平较第Ⅰ组有所提高,第Ⅲ组血清尿素氮(SUN)相对降低了0.32%(P>0.05),但均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。第Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组丙二醛(MDA)含量较第Ⅰ组分别相对下降了13.22%(P>0.05)、23.42%(P<0.05)、31.54%(P<0.01),超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活力分别相对提高了4.13%(P>0.05)、13.13%(P<0.05)、24.69%(P<0.01),谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活力分别相对提高了5.54%(P>0.05)、10.43%(P<0.05)、12.13%(P<0.05)。     

Digestibility,ruminal fermentation,blood metabolites and antioxidant status in ewes supplemented with DL‐methionine or hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester

The effects of supplementing ewe diets with either DL‐methionine (DL‐Met) or 2‐hydroxy‐4 (methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) were investigated on ruminal in situ degradability of grain and forage diets, in vivo digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and antioxidant status. Six ruminally cannulated ewes were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28‐day periods. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) no supplemental Met (control; CON), (ii) DL‐Met at 1.2 g/kg DM intake and (iii) HMBi at 1.8 g/kg dry matter (DM) intake. Corn grain, barley grain and alfalfa hay were evaluated for their ruminal degradability by both in situ incubation and effective degradability measurements of DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Compared to other treatments, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein and NDF and also tended (p = 0.08) to increase the digestibility of DM and ADF. Moreover, HMBi supplementation increased (p < 0.01) total VFA concentrations, the molar proportions of valerate and iso‐butyrate in the rumen. Compared to the CON treatment, DL‐Met and HMBi treatments tended (p = 0.08) to increase the molar proportion of acetate but decreased (p < 0.05) ruminal ammonia‐N concentration. Ewes supplemented with HMBi and DL‐Met recorded greater (p < 0.05) serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase than the CON treatment. Serum concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, high‐density lipoprotein and very low‐density lipoprotein were greater (p < 0.01) and serum urea nitrogen (p < 0.05), malonyl dialdehyde and triglyceride were lower (p < 0.02) in the HMBi and DL‐Met animals than in the CON ewes. The results concluded that HMBi is a very effective form of dietary Met supplementation for ewes with a positive effect on digestion, rumen fermentation and serum antioxidant function.     

Gene expression differences in the methionine remethylation and transsulphuration pathways under methionine restriction and recovery with D,L‐methionine or D,L‐HMTBA in meat‐type chickens

This study examined the molecular mechanisms of methionine pathways in meat‐type chickens where birds were provided with a diet deficient in methionine from 3 to 5 weeks of age. The birds on the deficient diet were then provided with a diet supplemented with either D,L‐methionine or D,L‐HMTBA from 5 to 7 weeks. The diet of the control birds was supplemented with L‐methionine from hatch till 7 weeks of age. We studied the mRNA expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1, alpha, methionine adenosyltransferase 1, beta, 5‐methyltetrahydrofolate‐homocysteine methyltransferase, 5‐methyltetrahydrofolate‐homocysteine methyltransferase reductase, betaine‐homocysteine S‐methyltransferase, glycine N‐methyltransferase, S‐adenosyl‐L‐homocysteine hydrolase and cystathionine beta synthase genes in the liver, duodenum, Pectoralis (P.) major and the gastrocnemius muscle at 5 and 7 weeks. Feeding a diet deficient in dietary methionine affected body composition. Birds that were fed a methionine‐deficient diet expressed genes that indicated that remethylation occurred via the one‐carbon pathway in the liver and duodenum; however, in the P. major and the gastrocnemius muscles, gene expression levels suggested that homocysteine received methyl from both folate and betaine for remethylation. Birds who were switched from a methionine deficiency diet to one supplemented with either D,L‐methionine or D,L‐HMTBA showed a downregulation of all the genes studied in the liver. However, depending on the tissue or methionine form, either folate or betaine was elicited for remethylation. Thus, mRNA expressions show that genes in the remethylation and transsulphuration pathways were regulated according to tissue need, and there were some differences in the methionine form.     

日粮中添加茴香和大蒜素对母猪初乳抗氧化特性及仔猪早期生长性能的影响

通过在母猪妊娠后期和哺乳前期的日粮中添加茴香或大蒜素,来研究茴香和大蒜素对母猪初乳抗氧化特性及仔猪早期生长的影响。选取健康的经产母猪36头,将母猪随机地分为3组,其中对照组母猪21头,茴香组母猪7头,大蒜组母猪8头。从母猪的妊娠后期(产前第30天)至哺乳前期(产后第7天),日粮中分别添加300 mg/kg的茴香或大蒜素。结果显示:茴香组和大蒜素组母猪初乳中的T-SOD含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),茴香组母猪初乳中的MDA含量显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。同时,茴香组母猪所产仔猪的出生重极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),7日龄时的体重也显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。试验表明,茴香能够增强母猪初乳的抗氧化性能,改善仔猪的早期生长性能。     

中药添加剂对高温下猪血清抗氧化功能的影响

为探讨中药添加剂对高温应激仔猪抗氧化功能的调控效果,选用35日龄中国实验用小型猪64头,分为对照组、应激组和2个中药添加剂组(方1、方2),分别于试验第1,2,4,6,10天采血清,测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量变化。结果发现:与对照组相比,应激组猪血清SOD活力在第1天显著升高;MDA含量在第6天显著升高;GSH-Px活力在第6和10天显著高于常温组(P<0.05)。与应激组相比,方2组的GSH-Px活力在第2天显著升高,方1和方2组MDA含量在第10天显著降低(P<0.05)。表明高温状态下,猪体内MDA含量增加,GSH-Px活性增强;中药添加剂能促进热应激仔猪抗氧化功能的恢复和提高,且方2效果优于方1。     

Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance,intestinal morphology,non‐specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non‐specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non‐specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.     

Effects of supplemental d-methionine in comparison to l-methionine on nitrogen retention,gut morphology,antioxidant status,and mRNA abundance of amino acid transporters in weanling pigs

An N-balance experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that d-Methionine (d-Met) has the same bioavailability and efficacy as l-Methionine (l-Met) when fed to weanling pigs. A Met-deficient basal diet containing 0.24% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Met was formulated. Six additional diets were formulated by adding 0.036%, 0.072%, or 0.108% d-Met or l-Met to the basal diet, and these diets, therefore, contained 77%, 87%, or 97% of the requirement for SID Met. Fifty-six barrows (10.53 ± 1.17 kg) were housed in metabolism crates and allotted to the seven diets with eight replicate pigs per diet. Feces and urine were collected quantitatively with 7-d adaptation and 5-d collection periods. Blood and tissue samples from pigs fed the basal diet and pigs fed diets containing 0.108% supplemental Met were collected on the last day. Results indicated that N retention (%) linearly increased (P < 0.01) as supplemental d-Met or l-Met increased in diets. Based on N retention (%) as a response, the linear slope-ratio regression estimated the bioavailability of d-Met relative to l-Met to be 101% (95% confidence interval: 57%–146%). The villus height and crypt depth in the jejunum were not affected by the Met level or Met source. Total antioxidant capacity or thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentrations in plasma or tissue samples from pigs fed the control diet or diets containing 0.108% supplemental d-Met or l-Met were not different. Abundance of mRNA for some AA transporters analyzed in intestinal mucosa of pigs also did not differ. Therefore, it is concluded that d-Met and l-Met are equally bioavailable for weanling pigs.     

Effects of different dietary protein levels and DL‐methionine supplementation on hair growth and pelt quality in mink (Neovision vision)

The effect of different dietary protein levels and DL‐methionine (Met) supplementation on hair growth and the resulting pelt quality in mink was studied. Four groups of male mink were fed with four isocaloric diets containing 32% (P32), 24% (P24), 16% (P16) or P24+Met (0.8%) crude protein of dry matter (DM) from September to December. Skin biopsies were taken at the pelting. Histological techniques and computer‐assisted light microscopy were used to determine the ratio of activity (ROA) of under hairs and guard hairs respectively. The results showed that when the dietary protein level reduced from 32% to 16%, body length, number and diameter of under hairs and guard hairs of minks declined, and pelt length and pelt weight of minks decreased significantly (p < 0.05). These parameters were similar between P32 and P24 with Met supplementation (p > 0.05). The hair follicle density of the winter coat was not influenced by the dietary protein levels and Met supplementation (p > 0.05). Low‐protein diets content led to a reduction of hair follicle developing to next phase. It was documented that 24% crude protein of DM with Met supplementation during growing‐furring period was sufficient for minks to express their genetic capacity to develop hair follicles and achieve the prime fur characteristics. Overall this study demonstrated that hair growth and hair properties in pelts are very dependent on the dietary protein and Met supply in the growing‐furring period of minks.     

谷氨酰胺对早期断奶仔猪生长性能及肠道形态发育的影响

选21日龄断奶的杜大长仔猪72头,按试验要求分为2组,每组3个重复,每重复12头。分别饲喂基础日粮和含1%谷氨酰胺(Gln)日粮,试验期21 d,在断奶后0 d、7 d和14 d分别屠宰取小肠测重,并取十二指肠、空肠、回肠测定绒毛高度和隐窝深度。试验结果表明:断奶后7 d,日粮中添加Gln可显著提高仔猪的平均日增重和小肠相对重量,提高十二指肠和空肠绒毛的高度,降低十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度;断奶后14 d,日粮中添加Gln对断奶仔猪的生长和肠道形态发育影响与基础日粮组相比差异不显著。     

Effects of dietary leucine on antioxidant activity and expression of antioxidant and mitochondrial‐related genes in longissimus dorsi muscle and liver of piglets

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary leucine on antioxidant activity and expression of antioxidant‐ and mitochondrial‐related genes in longissimus dorsi muscle and liver of piglets. Three diets were formulated with different levels of supplemented leucine (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%). Results showed that supplementation of 0.25% leucine significantly increased antisuperoxide anion (ASA) and antihydroxyl radical (AHR) levels and activities of total superoxide dismutade (T‐SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) in serum, longissimus dorsi muscle and liver of piglets as compared with the control group. The SOD2, catalase (CAT), GPx, GST, glutathione reductase (GR), and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA levels in longissimus dorsi muscle and liver were significantly increased by 0.25% leucine supplementation. However, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the mRNA level of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) exhibited an opposite tendency. Additionally, supplementation of 0.25% leucine significantly increased the mRNA levels of mitochondrial‐related genes in longissimus dorsi muscle and liver of piglets. Results suggested that supplementation of 0.25% leucine improved antioxidant activity and mitochondrial biogenesis and function of piglets, which was related to the increase in antioxidant enzymes activities and upregulation of expression of antioxidant‐ and mitochondrial‐related genes.     

Effects of adding liquid dl‐methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid to drinking water on growth performance and small intestinal morphology of nursery pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding liquid dl ‐methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (LMA) to drinking water on growth performance, small intestinal morphology and volatile fatty acids in the caecum of nursery pigs. Twenty‐four crossbred pigs (Large White × Landrace, BW ～18 kg) were divided into three groups with four replications of two piglets each. The piglets received drinking water without (control), with 0.05 or 0.10% LMA. The results indicated that adding LMA at 0.10% to drinking water significantly increased their weight gain, average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) and tended to improve the feed conversion ratio. Adding LMA to drinking water significantly increased their water intake and significantly reduced the pH of drinking water (p < 0.01), thus total plate count (p < 0.01) and Escherichia coli in drinking water was reduced (p < 0.05), while the total number of bacteria in the caecum was not significantly affected. Liquid dl ‐methionine hydroxy analogue free acid supplementation in drinking water tended to decrease pH in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, colon and rectum. Furthermore, adding LMA at 0.10% significantly increased villous height in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05), and the villous height:crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01) was higher, whereas acetic acid concentration in the caecum was significantly lower than in the control group. It could be concluded that adding LMA to drinking water improved growth performance of the nursery pigs because of high water quality and high nutrient utilization caused by an improvement of small intestinal morphology (not from nutritional effect of methionine source).     

Effects of methionine partially replaced by methionyl‐methionine dipeptide on intestinal function in methionine‐deficient pregnant mice

This study was to compare the effects of parenteral supplementation of methionyl‐methionine (Met‐Met) or Met on intestinal barrier function in Met‐deficient pregnant mice. Pregnant mice were randomly divided into three groups. The Control group was provided a diet containing Met and received i.p. injection of saline. The Met group was fed the same diet but without Met and received daily i.p. injection of 35% of the Met contained in the control diet. The Met‐Met group was treated the same as the Met group, except that 25% of the Met injected was replaced with Met‐Met. Met‐Met promoted villus surface area in ileum compared with Met alone. In addition, the mRNA abundance of amino acid and glucose transporters in the small intestine was altered with Met‐Met. Moreover, Met‐Met increased tight junction protein and decreased apoptosis‐related proteins expression in the jejunum and ileum. These results suggest that Met‐Met can promote intestinal function over Met alone in Met‐deficient mice.     

Intact brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) in diets of weaned piglets: effects on performance, gut bacteria and morphology and plasma oxidative status

The aim was to assess the effects of intact dried Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed on piglet performances, gut bacteria and function and plasma oxidative status. A total of 160 weaned piglets (21 days, 6.59 ± 0.91 kg) were allocated to four dietary treatments with eight pen replicates of five animals each for 28 days: a control diet; based on cereals, soybean meal and milk products, and three basal diets supplemented with either 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g dried seaweed per kg. At day 12/13 one piglet from each pen was sacrificed. Plasma samples were taken to determine parameters of oxidative status. Digesta were sampled for microbiological plate countings onto selective media and molecular analysis using PCR‐DGGE. Small intestinal tissue was taken for morphological and electro‐physiological determinations. Data were analysed by a linear model with treatment as fixed effect. A. nodosum supplementation had no effect on daily weight gain, nor did it alter feed conversion ratio. Plate countings failed to reveal differences among treatments. Dendograms prepared using PCR‐DGGE banding patterns did not indicate clustering of microbial profiles based on diet supplement. Plasma oxidative status and outcome of morphology and of electro‐physiological measurements from gut tissues were similar for all treatments. Thus, the addition of A. nodosum seaweed to well digestible diets did not enhance performances of piglets nor some gut health parameters and plasma oxidative status.     

不同抗氧化剂和添加水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和抗氧化性影响的研究

为了研究不同抗氧化剂产品和添加水平对肉仔鸡生产性能和抗氧化性能的影响,本研究选用1日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡96只,随机分为3个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复8只鸡。对照组(CTR)饲喂不添加任何抗氧化剂的基础日粮;SQM6组饲喂基础日粮+48mg/kgSQM6;SQMax组饲喂基础日粮+80mg/kgSQMax。记录肉仔鸡的日均采食量和平均日增重,并于28日龄时,随机在每个重复中选取1只鸡进行翅静脉采血,测定血清抗氧化指标。研究结果表明:与CTR相比,肉仔鸡日粮中添加抗氧化剂有改善饲料转化率的趋势(P>0.05);添加SQM6显著提高了血清中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性(P<0.05),并显著降低了丙二醛(MDA)的含量(P<0.05);日粮中添加SQMax显著提高了肉仔鸡血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05)。以上结果表明,肉仔鸡日粮中添加抗氧化剂SQM6和SQMax能够提高血清中超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性,降低丙二醛含量,改善肉仔鸡机体抗氧化功能。     

无抗生素微生物发酵饲料对仔猪免疫及抗氧化功能的影响

本试验研究了日粮添加发酵饲料、抗生素对仔猪免疫及抗氧化功能的影响。试验选用72头平均体重为(14.17±0.24)kg的杜×长×大仔猪,随机分成3个处理,每个处理3个重复,每个重复8头猪。试验采用玉米-豆粕型基础日粮,对照组饲喂基础日粮;抗生素组日粮为基础日粮+150 mg金霉素;发酵料组日粮为基础日粮+10%的发酵饲料。试验期21 d。结果表明,日粮添加发酵饲料可增加仔猪血液白细胞数量和淋巴细胞转化率及免疫球蛋白IgA的含量和提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性,这表明,发酵饲料能加强仔猪机体的免疫功能和抗应激能力。     

Effect of L‐theanine on meat quality,muscle amino acid profiles,and antioxidant status of broilers

This study investigated the effect of L ‐theanine on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle antioxidant capacity, and amino acid (AA) profiles of broilers. Three hundred 1‐day‐old Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allotted to five groups with six replicates. Birds were fed the basal diet or basal diet with 300, 600, 900, or 1,500 mg/kg L ‐theanine for 42 consecutive days. The results showed that L ‐theanine quadratically increased dressing percentage, eviscerated percentage, and leg muscle yield (p < .05). Meanwhile, drip loss, cooking loss, shear force, L*_24h, and muscle lactate content decreased quadratically in response to dietary L ‐theanine supplementation (p < .05), while pH_24h and muscle glycogen content were quadratically improved by L ‐theanine (p < .05). Notably, the contents of muscle malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl, and the activities of muscle total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased quadratically in response to dietary L ‐theanine supplementation (p < .05), suggesting that the oxidative stress level of muscle was decreased quadratically. Moreover, L ‐theanine quadratically increased the concentrations of most of muscle essential AA, nonessential AA, and flavor AA (p < .05). In conclusion, L ‐theanine can be used as a valuable feed additive to modulate carcass traits, meat quality, muscle antioxidant status, and AA profiles of boilers, and its optimum addition level is 600 mg/kg based on the present study.     

Water extract of Artemisia ordosica enhances antioxidant capability and immune response without affecting growth performance in weanling piglets

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of water extract of Artemisia ordosica (WEAO) on growth performance, antioxidant capability and immune response in weanling piglets. Seventy‐two 28‐day‐old weanling piglets were randomly allocated into four treatments with six replicate pens per treatment and three piglets per pen (n = 18). These four treatment diets were formulated by adding 0, 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg WEAO to the basal diet. The experiment lasted for 28 days. Body weight and feed intake were measured. Blood samples were collected to determine immune and antioxidative parameters. The experimental results showed that WEAO supplementation improved the apparent nutrient digestibility of piglets in a linear or quadratic dose‐dependent manner. In addition, dietary WEAO quadratically increased serum concentrations of cytokines interleukin (IL)‐1, IL‐4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, soluble surface antigen CD8 (sCD8), immunoglobulins (Ig)‐A and linearly increased serum concentrations of IL‐2, IL‐6, IgG, IgM. Furthermore, dietary WEAO linearly or quadratically decreased serum concentrations of malondialdehyde but quadratically increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidative capacity. These results suggested that WEAO may prove useful as a natural phytogenic feed additive with antioxidative potential and could be incorporated into diets of piglets.