Effects of dietary methionine supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and immune function in intra‐uterine growth‐retarded suckling piglets. Issue 3 (2nd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Hao; Li, Yue; Chen, Yueping; Ying, Zhixiong; Su, Weipeng; Zhang, Tao; Dong, Yan; Htoo, John K.; Zhang, Lili; Wang, Tian
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition. Volume 103:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 868
• Page End: 881
• Publication Date: 2019-04-02
• Subjects: antioxidant capacity -- immune function -- intestinal morphology -- intra‐uterine growth retardation -- methionine -- piglet; Animal nutrition -- Periodicals; Feeds -- Periodicals; 636.085
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0931-2439

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation withL ‐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 withL ‐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 withL ‐Met andDL ‐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 eitherL ‐Met orDL ‐Met has a beneficial effect on the intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity of IUGR suckling piglets.