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The blood vessels of the placenta are crucial for fetal growth. Here, lower vessel density and ornithine (Orn) content were observed in placentae for low-birth-weight fetuses versus normal-birth-weight fetuses at day 75 of gestation. Furthermore, the Orn content in placentae decreased from day 75 to 110 of gestation. To investigate the role of Orn in placental angiogenesis, 48 gilts (Bama pig) were allocated into four groups. The gilts in the control group were fed a basal diet (CON group), while those in the experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.05% Orn (0.05% Orn group), 0.10% Orn (0.10% Orn group), and 0.15% Orn (0.15% Orn group), respectively. The results showed that 0.15% Orn and 0.10% Orn groups exhibited increased birth weight of piglets compared with the CON group. Moreover, the 0.15% Orn group was higher than the CON group in the blood vessel densities of placenta. Mechanistically, Orn facilitated placental angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Furthermore, maternal supplementation with 0.15% Orn during gestation increased the jejunal and ileal villi height and the concentrations of colonic propionate and butyrate in suckling piglets. Collectively, these results showed that maternal supplementation with Orn promotes placental angiogenesis and improves intestinal development of suckling piglets.

Weaning imposes simultaneous stress, resulting in reduced feed intake, and growth rate, and increased morbidity and mortality of weaned pigs. Weaning impairs the intestinal integrity, disturbs digestive and absorptive capacity, and increases the intestinal oxidative stress, and susceptibility of diseases in piglets. The improvement of intestinal development and health is critically important for enhancing nutrient digestibility capacity and disease resistance of weaned pigs, therefore, increasing their survival rate at this most vulnerable stage, and overall productive performance during later stages. A healthy gut may include but not limited several important features: a healthy proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, an integrated gut barrier function, a preferable or balanced gut microbiota, and a well-developed intestinal mucosa immunity. Burgeoning evidence suggested nutritional intervention are one of promising measures to enhance intestinal health of weaned pigs, although the exact protective mechanisms may vary and are still not completely understood. Previous research indicated that functional amino acids, such as arginine, cysteine, glutamine, or glutamate, may enhance intestinal mucosa immunity (i.e., increased sIgA secretion), reduce oxidative damage, stimulate proliferation of enterocytes, and enhance gut barrier function (i.e., enhanced expression of tight junction protein) of weaned pigs. A number of feed additives are marketed to assist in boosting intestinal immunity and regulating gut microbiota, therefore, reducing the negative impacts of weaning, and other environmental challenges on piglets. The promising results have been demonstrated in antimicrobial peptides, clays, direct-fed microbials, micro-minerals, milk components, oligosaccharides, organic acids, phytochemicals, and many other feed additives. This review summarizes our current understanding of nutritional intervention on intestinal health and development of weaned pigs and the importance of mechanistic studies focusing on this research area.

ABSTRACT: Colostrum stimulates gastrointestinal development. Similar to colostrum, transition milk (TM; the first few milkings after colostrum) contains elevated nutrient levels and bioactive components not found in milk replacer (MR), albeit at lower levels than the first colostrum. We hypothesized that feeding neonatal calves TM, compared with MR, for 4 d following colostrum at birth would further stimulate intestinal development. Holstein bull calves were fed 2.8 L of colostrum within 20 min of birth, allocated to 1 of 11 blocks based on birth date and body weight (BW), randomly assigned to MR (n = 12) or TM (n = 11) treatments within block, and fed treatments 3 times per day. Milk from milkings 2, 3, and 4 (TM) of cows milked 2 times daily was pooled by milking number and fed at 1.89 L per feeding; milking 2 was fed at feedings 2 through 5, milking 3 at feedings 6 through 8, and milking 4 at feedings 9 through 12. TM was not pasteurized and contained 17% solids, 5% fat, 7% protein, 4% lactose, and 20 g of IgG per liter on average, whereas MR (as fed) contained 15% solids, 4% protein, 3% fat, 6% carbohydrate, and no IgG. Refusals were similar, so calves fed TM consumed 1.0 Mcal of metabolizable energy per day more than those fed MR. On the morning of d 5, calves were injected i.v. with 5 mg of bromodeoxyuridine per kg of BW and slaughtered 130 min later; then, intestinal sections were excised. Feeding TM, instead of MR, doubled villus length, villus width, villus to crypt ratio, and mucosal length in all intestinal sections, increased submucosal thickness 70% in the proximal and mid jejunum, and tended to increase submucosal thickness in duodenum and ileum. Mucosal surface area was also increased in both the ileum and mid jejunum when feeding TM by 19 and 36%, respectively. Treatment did not alter crypt depth. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling was increased 50% by TM compared with MR in the cells along the epithelium of the crypts and within the villi of all sections, indicating that TM increased cell proliferation compared with MR. Calves fed TM gained more BW than calves fed MR and had improved cough, fecal, nose, and ear scores. We conclude that feeding TM for 4 d following an initial feeding of colostrum stimulates villus, mucosal, and submucosal development in all sections of the small intestine in the first few days of life and improves health and growth.

Abstract Background Emerging data indicate that prenatal exposure to air pollution may lead to higher susceptibility to several non-communicable diseases. Limited research has been conducted due to difficulties in modelling realistic air pollution exposure. In this study, pregnant mice were exposed from gestational day 10–17 to an atmosphere representative of a 2017 pollution event in Beijing, China. Intestinal homeostasis and microbiota were assessed in both male and female offspring during the suckling-to-weaning transition. Results Sex-specific differences were observed in progeny of gestationally-exposed mice. In utero exposed males exhibited decreased villus and crypt length, vacuolation abnormalities, and lower levels of tight junction protein ZO-1 in ileum. They showed an upregulation of absorptive cell markers and a downregulation of neonatal markers in colon. Cecum of in utero exposed male mice also presented a deeply unbalanced inflammatory pattern. By contrast, in utero exposed female mice displayed less severe intestinal alterations, but included dysregulated expression of Lgr5 in colon, Tjp1 in cecum, and Epcam, Car2 and Sis in ileum. Moreover, exposed female mice showed dysbiosis characterized by a decreased weighted UniFrac β-diversity index, a higher abundance of Bacteroidales and Coriobacteriales orders, and a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Conclusion Prenatal realistic modelling of an urban air pollution event induced sex-specific precocious alterations of structural and immune intestinal development in mice.

Microbes commonly administered to chickens facilitate development of a beneficial microbiome that improves gut function, feed conversion and reduces pathogen colonization. Competitive exclusion products, derived from the cecal contents of hens and shown to reduce Salmonella colonization in chicks, possess important pioneer-colonizing bacteria needed for proper intestinal development and animal growth. We hypothesized that inoculation of these pioneer-colonizing bacteria to day of hatch chicks would enhance the development of their intestinal anatomy and microbiome. A competitive exclusion product was administered to broiler chickens, in their drinking water, at day of hatch, and its impact on intestinal morphometrics, intestinal microbiome, and production parameters, was assessed relative to a control, no treatment group. 16S rRNA gene, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was used to assess ileal community composition. The competitive exclusion product, administered on day of hatch, increased villus height, villus height/width ratio and goblet cell production ∼1.25-fold and expression of enterocyte sugar transporters 1.25 to 1.5-fold in chickens at 3 days of age, compared to the control group. As a next step, chicks were inoculated with a defined formulation, containing Bacteroidia and Clostridia representing pioneer-colonizing bacteria of the two major bacterial phyla present in the competitive exclusion product. The defined formulation, containing both groups of bacteria, were shown, dependent on age, to improve villus height (jejunum: 1.14 to 1.46-fold; ileum: 1.17-fold), goblet cell numbers (ileum 1.32 to 2.51-fold), and feed efficiency (1.18-fold, day 1) while decreasing Lactobacillus ileal abundance by one-third to half in birds at 16 and 42 days of age, respectively; compared to the phosphate buffered saline treatment group. Therefore, specific probiotic formulations containing pioneer colonizing species can provide benefits in intestinal development, feed efficiency and body weight gain.

The study was to investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on organ development, intestinal development and intestinal microbial diversity of Chahua chickens. A total of 450 one-day-old Chahua chickens were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates in each group and 15 chickens in each replicate. Chahua chickens in control group 1 (CK1 group) were fed with basal diet, while those in control group 2 (CK2 group) were fed with commercial diet. MOLP5 group, MOLP15 group and MOLP20 group were fed with basal diet supplemented with 5%, 15% and 20% Moringa oleifera leaf powder, respectively. The experiment lasted for 63 d. The results showed that the addition of Moringa oleifera leaf powder in broiler diet could promote intestinal and organ development, improve intestinal index and organ index, reduce the abundance of Campylobacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Verrucomicrobiota, increased the colonization of beneficial bacteria genera such as Alistipes, Mucispirillum, and Akkermansia in intestines, reduced the amount of harmful bacteria Campylobacter and Desulfovibrio. The experiment indicates that the addition of Moringa oleifera leaf powder can improve intestinal health and promote intestinal development of poultry, and the effect is better at 5% supplemental level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitable supplement pattern affects the digestion and absorption of trace minerals by ruminants. This study aimed to compare the effects of coated and uncoated trace elements on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development and microbial diversity in growing sheep. Thirty 4- month-old male Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments (n = 10) and fed with following diets: basal diet without adding exogenous trace elements (CON), basal diet plus 400 mg/kg coated trace elements (CTE, the rumen passage rate was 65.87%) and basal diet plus an equal amount of trace elements in uncoated form (UTE). Compared with the CON group, the average daily weight gain and apparent digestibility of crude protein were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups, while there was no difference between the CTE and UTE groups. The serum levels of selenium, iodine and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups than those in the CON group, the serum levels of selenium and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE group than those in the UTE group. Compared with the CON and UTE groups, the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum and ileum were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE groups. The addition of trace minerals in diet upregulated most of the relative gene expression of Ocludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-2, ZO-1, and ZO-2 in the duodenum and jejunum and metal ion transporters (FPN1 and ZNT4) in small intestine. The relative abundance of the genera Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcus 1, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, and Ruminococcaceae in ileum, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Lactobacillus in colon was higher in the CTE group that in the CON group. These results indicated that dietary trace mineral addition improved the growth performance and intestinal development, and altered the structure of intestinal bacteria in growing sheep. Compared to uncoated form, offering trace mineral elements to sheep in coated form had a higher absorption efficiency, however, had little effect on improving growth performance of growing sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional stimulation of the developing small intestine of chick embryos can be conducted by in-ovo feeding (IOF). We hypothesized that IOF of glutamine and leucine can enhance small intestinal development by promoting proliferation and differentiation of multipotent small intestinal epithelial cells. Broiler embryos (n = 128) were subject to IOF of glutamine (IOF-Gln), leucine (IOF-Leu), NaCl (IOF-NaCl) or no injection (control) at embryonic d 17 (E 17). Multipotent, progenitor and differentiated cells were located and quantified in the small intestinal epithelium between E 17 and d 7 after hatch (D 7) in all treatment groups by immunofluorescence of SRY-box transcription factor 9 (Sox9) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), in-situ hybridization of leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) and peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) and histochemical goblet cell staining. The effects of IOF treatments at E 19 (48 h post-IOF), in comparison to control embryos, were as follows: total cell counts increased by 40%, 33% and 19%, and multipotent cell counts increased by 52%, 50% and 38%, in IOF-Gln, IOF-Leu and IOF-NaCl embryos, respectively. Only IOF-Gln embryos exhibited a significance, 36% increase in progenitor cell counts. All IOF treatments shifted Lgr5+ stem cell localizations to villus bottoms. The differentiated, PepT1+ region of the villi was 1.9 and 1.3-fold longer in IOF-Gln and IOF-Leu embryos, respectively, while goblet cell densities decreased by 20% in IOF-Gln embryos. Post–hatch, crypt and villi epithelial cell counts were significantly higher IOF-Gln chicks, compared to control chicks (P

Intestinal development has a crucial role in the absorption of nutrients and the ability to resist infections in the early stages of life. This study utilized a 3-week-old C57BL/6 mice model to evaluate the beneficial impacts of sulfated fucans from Saccharina japonica (SJ-FUC) on the growth and development of the intestines. SJ-FUC enhanced the dimensions of the intestine, specifically the length, height of villi, and depth of the crypts. Additionally, it raised the mRNA expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, hence enhancing the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelium. SJ-FUC significantly increased mRNA expression of Lyz1, Muc2, and Math1, which resulted in the promotion of intestinal epithelial development. Furthermore, SJ-FUC augmented the mRNA levels of the ISC markers (Lgr5, Olfm4, and Ascl2). Our further research uncovered that SJ-FUC has a positive impact on the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia , Dubosiella , and Lactobacillus , which in turn promotes epithelial development of the intestine. In summary, our research indicates that SJ-FUC has a beneficial impact on the growth of the intestines in young mice. This is achieved by enhancing the stemness of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and promoting the formation of the intestinal epithelium through the regulation of gut bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, although the high-carbohydrate (HC) feed has been extensively adopted in the aquaculture industry, its effects on the intestinal function and development of aquatic animals still remain unclear. In addition, the corresponding nutritional intervention is still barely reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on the intestinal health of Megalobrama amblycephala subjected to a HC feeding. Fish (average weight: 44.55 ± 0.15 g) were randomly offered 3 diets, including a control one (29 % carbohydrate), a HC one (41 % carbohydrate), and a XOS supplemented one (HC + 1.0 % XOS, HCX) respectively for 12 weeks. The HC feeding caused morphological abnormalities of intestine, an increased intestinal permeability, and the intestinal immunosuppression, all of which were markedly reversed by XOS administration. In addition, compared with the HC group, HCX feeding remarkably promoted the intestinal activities of digestive and brush border enzymes, and the expressions of cell proliferation-related proteins (Wnt10b and Cyclin D1). The 16s rDNA sequencing also revealed that XOS administration increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and decreased that of pathogenic ones. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of XOS improved the intestinal histomorphology, barrier function, cell proliferation and bacterial communities of carbohydrate-overloaded fish Megalobrama amblycephala. • High-carbohydrate diet impairs intestinal mucosal immune function in fish. • High-carbohydrate diet increases intestinal permeability. • XOS stimulates the growth of SCFAs-producing bacteria in the intestine. • XOS promotes intestinal development by triggering the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic disorders in maternal generation during the late egg-laying period have adverse effects on neonatal development. The study was conducted to clarify the effects of maternal feeding of hawthorn-leaf flavonoid (HF) on the microbial community and intestinal development of chicks. Breeder hens were fed a basic corn-soybean diet, while the treatment groups were supplemented with 30 or 60 mg/kg HF. The offspring chicks were divided into CON, LHF, and HHF groups according to the maternal treatments. Maternal HF supplementation at 60 mg/kg increased the average daily gain and decreased the feed conversion rate of chicks (P < 0.05), but did not affect the average daily feed intake. HF treatments increased the villus height to crypt depth ratio and up-regulated the protein expressions of PCNA, IGF-1R, PI3K and p-mTOR in the jejunum (P < 0.05) of 1-day-old and 14-day-old chicks. Additionally, maternal HF treatment up-regulated the mRNA expression of tight junction transmembrane proteins (occludin) and scaffolding proteins (ZO-1 and ZO-2) in the jejunum of 1-day-old chicks (P < 0.05). Moreover, the maternal effects of HF on ZO-1 expression could last for 14 d (P < 0.05). Interestingly, dietary HF supplementation altered the vertically transmitted microbial community from breeder hens to chicks, especially increased the relative abundance of probiotics (i.e., Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1) in the meconium of chicks (P < 0.05), which may help with early gut microbiota colonization and intestinal development. In summary, dietary HF supplementation for breeder hens altered the bacterial community of neonates and might promote intestinal development of chicks through the IGF-1R/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effective alternatives are urgently needed to prevent diarrhoea in early−weaned farm animals. • Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 reduces diarrhoea rates of weaned piglets. • Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 enhances barrier function in the intestine of piglets. • Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 reshapes the colonic microbiota and increases the production of acetate. • Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 is beneficial for the intestinal health of weaned piglets. Early weaning-induced stress precipitates diarrhoea, significantly curtailing the growth performance of piglets. A pivotal contributor to this postweaning affliction is the emergence of gut bacterial dysbiosis. Enterococcus hirae , a promising probiotic, has indicated unclear effects and mechanisms on intestinal health. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of oral supplementation with Ningxiang pig-derived Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 orally supplementation on the gut bacterial community, immune response and gut barrier function in piglets. 21 d age Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets with a similar BW were randomly allocated to two groups. The Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 administration group was inoculated orally with Ningxiang pig-derived Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 throughout the trial period. Conversely, the control group received the same volume of physiological saline. Our findings revealed that Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 supplementation effectively reduced diarrhoea rates of piglets (P = 0.010). Notably, this probiotic promoted intestinal development and enhanced intestinal barrier function. It also showed potential anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 supplementation significantly remodelled the colonic microbiota and increased the production of acetate (P = 0.007). In conclusion, our study highlights that Ningxiang pig-derived Enterococcus hirae HNAU0516 improves postweaning diarrhoea by promoting intestinal development, enhancing intestinal barrier function, decreasing intestinal permeability, modulating intestinal microbiota, and increasing short-chain fatty acids production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emulsifier and bioactive substance, bile acids (BAs) participate in the absorption of nutrients and in various physiological processes. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of non-12α-hydroxylated BAs (including hyocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, from now on referred to as NBAs) on growth performance, BAs metabolism and the intestinal flora of piglets. The experiment included four groups, with eight piglets per group. The four groups of pigs were fed 0, 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of NBAs, respectively. The results show that adding NBAs significantly increased the final weight (FW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and digestibility of crude fat (EE) and organic matter (OM) in piglets (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs significantly increased the villus height (VH) of the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05). In addition, NBAs supplementation increased the content of urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) as well as the ratio of urea nitrogen to creatinine (BUN/CREA) in serum (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs can affect the genes related to BAs enterohepatic circulation. Specifically, adding NBAs significantly decreased the relative mRNA abundance of FXR in the liver (p < 0.05), significantly increased the relative mRNA abundance of CYP27A1 (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the relative mRNA abundance of NTCP (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs also significantly decreased the relative mRNA abundance of FXR in the ileum (p < 0.05). In the full-length 16S rDNA sequencing analysis, ten biomarkers were found from the gate to the species level. NBAs mainly enriched Lactobacillus_Johnsonii and decreased the abundance of Streptococcus_alactolyticus. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content in the colon was significantly increased (p < 0.05). These results indicate that NBAs supplementation can improve the growth performance of piglets, promote the development of the bile acid replacement pathway and improve intestinal flora.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating, multifactorial disease mainly affecting the intestine of premature infants. Recent discoveries have significantly enhanced our understanding of risk factors, as well as, cellular and genetic mechanisms of this complex disease. Despite these advancements, no essential, single risk factor, nor the mechanism by which each risk factor affects NEC has been elucidated. Nonetheless, recent research indicates that maternal factors, antibiotic exposure, feeding, hypoxia, and altered gut microbiota pose a threat to the underdeveloped immunity of preterm infants. Here we review predisposing factors, status of unwarranted immune responses, and microbial pathogenesis in NEC based on currently available scientific evidence. We additionally discuss novel techniques and models used to study NEC and how this research translates from the bench to the bedside into potential treatment strategies.

Little is known about the modulatory capacity of the microbiota in early intestinal development. We examined various intestinal models that respond to gut microbial metabolites based on human pluripotent stem cell-derived human intestinal organoids (hIOs): physiologically relevant in vitro fetal-like intestine, intestinal stem cell, and intestinal disease models. We found that a newly isolated Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain DS0384 accelerated maturation of the fetal intestine using 3D hIO with immature fetal characteristics. Comparative metabolomic profiling analysis revealed that the secreted metabolite N-carbamyl glutamic acid (NCG) is involved in the beneficial effect of DS0384 cell-free supernatants on the intestinal maturation of hIOs. Experiments in an intestinal stem cell spheroid model and hIO-based intestinal inflamed model revealed that the cell-free supernatant from DS0384 comprising NCG promoted intestinal stem cell proliferation and was important for intestinal protection against cytokine-induced intestinal epithelial injury. The probiotic properties of DS0384 were also evaluated, including acid and bile tolerance and ability to adhere to human intestinal cells. Seven-day oral administration of DS0384 and cell-free supernatant promoted the intestinal development of newborn mice. Moreover, NCG exerted a protective effect on experimental colitis in mice. These results suggest that DS0384 is a useful agent for probiotic applications and therapeutic treatment for disorders of early gut development and for preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Weaning is considered to be one of the most critical periods in pig production, which is related to the economic benefits of pig farms. However, in actual production, many piglets are often subjected to weaning stress due to the sudden separation from the sow, the changes in diet and living environment, and other social challenges. Weaning stress often causes changes in the morphology and function of the small intestine of piglets, disrupts digestion and absorption capacity, destroys intestinal barrier function, and ultimately leads to reduced feed intake, increased diarrhea rate, and growth retardation. Therefore, correctly understanding the effects of weaning stress on intestinal health have important guiding significance for nutritional regulation of intestinal injury caused by weaning stress. In this review, we mainly reviewed the effects of weaning stress on the intestinal health of piglets, from the aspects of intestinal development, and intestinal barrier function, thereby providing a theoretical basis for nutritional strategies to alleviate weaning stress in mammals in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T Probiotics are widely used to promote performance and improve gut health in weaning piglets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. animalis) JYBR-190 on the growth performance, intestine health, and gut microbiota of weaning piglets. The results showed that the dietary addition of B. animalis significantly improved growth performance and decreased diarrhea incidence. B. animalis increased villus height in the duodenum and elevated goblet cell numbers and amylase activity in the jejunum. Additionally, B. animalis supplementation markedly increased total antioxidant capacity in jejunal mucosa but declined the malondialdehyde content. B. animalis treatment did not affect the mRNA expressions associated with the intestinal barrier and inflammatory cytokine in various intestinal segments. Microbiota analysis indicated that a diet supplemented with B. animalis significantly increased the relative abundances of health-promoting bacteria in the lumen, such as Streptococcus, Erysipelotrichaceae, Coprococcus, and Oscillibacter. There was a trend for B. animalis fed piglets to have a higher relative abundance of B. animalis in ileal digesta. Moreover, B. animalis-treated pigs decreased the abundance of Helicobacter and Escherichia-Shigella in ileal mucosaassociated microbiota. In summary, this study showed that B. animalis supplementation stimulated growth performance, improved gut development, enriched beneficial bacteria abundances, and declined intestinal pathogens populations, while B. animalis had limited effects on the intestinal barrier and immune function. IMPORTANCE In the modern swine industry, weaning is a critical period in the pig’s life cycle. Sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes can easily lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, diarrhea, and a decrease in growth performance. To stabilize intestinal microbiota and promote animal growth, antibiotics were widely applied in swine diets during the past few decades. However, the side effects of antibiotics posed a great threat to public health and food safety. Therefore, it is urgent to find and develop antibiotic alternatives. The growing evidence suggested that probiotics can be preferable alternatives to antibiotics because they can modulate microbiota composition and resist pathogens colonization. In this study, our results indicated that dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis promoted growth in weaning piglets by improving gut development, increasing beneficial bacteria abundances, and declining pathogens populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piglets with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) have poor small intestinal morphology and function, resulting in impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients and lower growth performance. Bile acids (BA) are important in regulating digestive enzyme activity, digestion and absorption of lipids, intestinal development, and protecting the liver. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary BA supplementation on plasma biochemical and hormone indicators, intestinal morphology and function, and microbial community in piglets with normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR. Weaned piglets (24 IUGR and 24 NBW) were allocated to four groups (12 piglets per group) and fed the following diets: (i) NBW group, NBW piglets fed a basal diet; (ii) NBW+BA group, NBW piglets fed a basal diet with 400 mg/kg BA; (iii) IUGR group, IUGR piglets fed a basal diet; and (iv) IUGR+BA group, IUGR piglets fed a basal diet with 400 mg/kg BA. The feeding trial lasted 28 days. The results showed that IUGR decreased the weight of the jejunum, whereas dietary BA supplementation decreased the jejunum weight and increased the length, weight, and index of ileum in NBW piglets (p<0.05). In addition, IUGR increased (p<0.05) the plasma choline esterase (CHE) and glucose levels of weaned piglets regardless of BA supplementation. Dietary BA supplementation increased the plasma albumin, triglyceride, and total protein concentrations while decreased plasma aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), CHE, lactate dehydrogenase, and NH3 levels regardless of IUGR (p<0.05). The IUGR increased trypsin level in the ileum, whereas dietary BA supplementation decreased jejunal trypsin and lipase and ileal lipase levels of weaned piglets regardless of IUGR (p<0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis revealed the potential link between the intestinal microbial community and intestinal health-related indices of weaned piglets. These findings suggest that IUGR could decrease small intestinal morphology and function, whereas dietary BA supplementation could promote the ileum development of NBW piglets, protect the liver by reducing plasma ALT and AST levels, and increase the proportion of potentially beneficial bacteria in the small intestine of NBW and IUGR piglets, contributing to intestinal development and health of weaned piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Bopu powder on intestinal development and bacterial community composition in broiler chickens. A total of 486 1-day-old arbor acres broilers were fed a basal diet (CON group), a basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg aureomycin (AB group), or a basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg Bopu powder (BP group). The results showed that the BP group had significantly lower serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and diamine oxidase concentrations and had significantly higher serum IL-10 concentrations than CON group (p < 0.05). Groups AB and BP had a significantly higher weight per unit length of the small intestine and villus height than the CON group (p < 0.05), and BP group had a significantly higher ratio of villus height to crypt depth than groups CON and AB (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, dietary Bopu powder or aureomycin supplementation significantly increased transforming growth factor-α concentration and mRNA expressions of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin, and decreased intestinal mucosal concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, caspase-3, and caspase-8 and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-kappa-B and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the intestinal mucosa (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, BP group had significantly higher ZO-1, secretory immunoglobulin A, interferon-γ concentrations, and mRNA expressions of glucose transporter type-2 and sirtuin-1, and significantly lower IL-1β concentration than groups CON and AB in intestinal mucosa (p < 0.05). Dietary Bopu powder supplementation significantly increased the concentration of trefoil factor family member and mRNA expressions of superoxide dismutase-1 and bcl-2 associated X, and significantly reduced casepase-9 concentration and myeloid differentiation primary response-88 expression in the intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens relative to CON group (p < 0.05). Moreover, results of high-throughput sequencing showed that broilers in the BP group had microbial community structure distinct from that in CON group, and the addition of Bopu powder increased the abundances of Faecalibacterium and Colidextribacter (p < 0.05). Therefore, our study suggests a synergic response of intestinal development and microbiota to the Bopu powder, and provides a theoretical basis as a potential substitute for antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to probiotics in early life contributes to host intestinal development and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii), an opportunistic pathogen, can cause NEC, bacteremia, and meningitis in neonates, but the research of probiotics against C. sakazakii is limited relative to other enteropathogens. Here, the protective effect and mechanism of a novel probiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) YL20 isolated from breast milk on C. sakazakii-induced intestinal injury were explored by using two in vitro models, including an C. sakazakii-infected intestinal organoid model and intestinal barrier model, as well as an in vivo experimental animal model. Our results revealed that L. salivarius YL20 could promote epithelial cell proliferation in intestinal organoids, rescue budding-impaired organoids, prevent the decrease of mRNA levels of leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) and Occludin, and reverse C. sakazakii-induced low level of Mucin 2 (MUC2) in intestinal organoids. Additionally, YL20 could inhibit C. sakazakii invasion, increase the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in C. sakazakii-infected HT-29 cells, and reverse TEER decrease and corresponding permeability increase across C. sakazakii-infected Caco-2 monolayers. Furthermore, YL20 administration could alleviate NEC in C. sakazakii-infected neonatal mice by increasing the mice survival ratio, decreasing pathology scores, and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, YL20 could also enhance intestinal barrier function in vivo by increasing the number of goblet cells, the level of MUC-2 and the expression of ZO-1. Our overall findings demonstrated for the first time the beneficial effects of L. salivarius YL20 against C. sakazakii-induced NEC by improving intestinal stem cell function and enhancing intestinal barrier integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on nutrition in early-life commonly focuses on the maturation of the intestine because the intestinal system is crucial for ensuring continued growth. To explore the importance of early nutrition regulation in animals, soy protein concentrate (SPC) was added to the early diet of broilers to investigate its effects on amino acid digestibility, intestinal development, especially intestinal microorganisms, and broiler metabolites. A total of 192 one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers were randomly assigned to two experimental treatments with 8 replicates of 12 birds. The control group was fed a basal diet (control), and the treatment group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 12% SPC (SPC12) during the first 10 d (starter phase). From d 11 to 21 (grower phase) and d 22 to 42 (finisher phase), a basal diet was fed to both treatment groups. Results: SPC reduced the pH value and acid-binding capacity of the starter diet (P < 0.05, d 10); SPC in the early diet enhanced the gizzard weight (P < 0.05, d 10 and d 42) and the ileum weight (P < 0.05, d 10) and decreased the weight and length of the jejunum (P < 0.05, d 10) and the relative length of the duodenum and jejunum (P < 0.05, d 10). At the same time, SPC enhanced villus height (P < 0.05, d 10) and muscle thickness in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05, d 10) and increased the number of goblet cells in the duodenum (P < 0.05, d 10). Meanwhile, SPC increased the Chao1 index and the ACE index (P < 0.05, d 10) and altered the composition of caecal microflora at d 10. SPC also increased the relative abundance of Alistipes, Anaerotruncus, Erysipelatoclostridium, Intestinimonas and Flavonifractor bacteria (P < 0.05, d 10). At the same time, the concentrations of caecal butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were also increased in the SPC12 group (P < 0.05, d 10). Conclusions: In summary, the results showed that supplementing the starter diet of broilers with SPC has a significant effect on the early development of the intestine and the microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin has been reported to affect intestinal function by targeting microbiome, morphological structure, barrier integrity and nutrient absorptive system. While the effect of melatonin on intestinal development in newborn infants is obscure, thus, this study firstly attempted to investigate the hypothesis that melatonin treatment improves intestinal development in sucking piglets. 14 healthy newborn piglets received 10 ml melatonin solution (1 mg/ml) or drinking water (n = 7) for 21 days. The results showed that oral administration of melatonin increased liver relative weight (p < 0.05) but failed to affect growth performance in sucking piglets (p > 0.05). Immunostaining jejunal samples from melatonin group showed high expressions of nnos and claudin1, indicating that melatonin improved intestinal neural development and barrier integrity. Also, melatonin promoted intestinal absorptive function evidenced by the increased serum proline concentration in melatonin‐treated piglets compared with the control (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota compositions were tested by 16S rDNA sequencing and the results showed that melatonin increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria compared with the control (p < 0.05) at the phylum level. However, Selenomonadales was markedly reduced compared with the control at the order level (p < 0.05). Gut and faecal volatile fatty acids were tested to evaluate the microbiota metabolism, but no difference was noticed in volatile fatty acid concentrations (p > 0.05). Melatonin improved intestinal development by affecting neural development, barrier integrity, nutrient absorption and microbiota in sucking piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of different vitamin B5 (VB5) levels on intestinal growth and function of weaned piglets. Twenty-one piglets (7.20 ± 1.11 kg) were included in a 28-day feeding trial with three treatments, including 0 mg/kg (L-VB5), 10 mg/kg (Control) and 50 mg/kg (H-VB5) of VB5 supplement. The results showed that: Large intestine weight/body weight was the highest in H-VB5 group, Control and H-VB5 groups had significantly higher villus height and villus height/crypt depth than the L-VB5 in the ileum ( p  < .05). Goblet cells (ileal crypt) and endocrine cells (ileal villus) significantly increased in Control and H-VB5 ( p  < .05). The H-VB5 group exhibited significantly higher levels of ki67 and crypt depth in the cecum and colon, colonic goblet cells and endocrine cells were both rising considerably ( p  < .05). Isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid were significantly reduced in the H-VB5 group ( p  < .05), and there was a decreasing trend in butyric acid ( p  = .073). At the genus level, the relative abundance of harmful bacteria such as Clostridium&#95;Sensu&#95;Structo&#95;1 Strecto&#95;1 , Terrisporbacter and Streptococcus decreased significantly and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria Turicibacter increased significantly in H-VB5 group ( p  < .05). Overall, the addition of 50 mg/kg VB5 primarily enhanced the morphological structure, cell proliferation and differentiation of the ileum, cecum and colon. It also had a significant impact on the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids.

Background: Prematurity or low birth weight (LBW), poses a significant challenge in global health. Exploring appropriate and effective nutritional interventions is crucial for the growth and development of LBW infants. Hydrolyzed protein formula has been suggested as a potential solution to prevent intestinal dysfunction and improve digestion and absorption in infants., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the benefits of hydrolyzed protein formula on feeding intolerance, intestinal morphological development, and microbiota in a LBW piglet model., Methods: A total of 24 male piglets (3 d of age, 0.95-1.25 kg average BW) were assigned (8 pens/diet; 1 pigs/pen) into three dietary treatments and fed with a basic formula (BF), standard premature infant formula (SF) and hydrolyzed protein formula (HF) respectively, for 7 d. After the piglets sacrifice, growth performance, amino acid metabolism and intestinal morphology were assessed. 16S rRNA sequencing and microbial metabolic phenotypes analyzed the effects of different formula treatments on intestinal flora structure of LBW piglets., Results: The HF diet reduced the rates of diarrhea and milk vomiting were reduced by 20.44% ( p  > 0.05) and 58.44% ( p  > 0.05), and decreased the crypt depth in the ileum while increasing the ratio of villus height/crypt depth and the mRNA expressions of y+ LAT1 and b0,+ AT in the ileum ( p  < 0.05). HF increased the final body weight, serum Thr and essential amino acid contents, and CAT2 and b0,+ AT mRNA expressions in ileal mucosa compared with the SF diet ( p  < 0.05). Microbiota sequencing results showed that the colonic microbial richness indices (Chao1, ACE, and observed species), the diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson), and the phyla Actinobacteriota, unidentified&#95;Bacteria, Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteria, the genus Rubrobacter and RB41 were reduced ( p  < 0.05) in SF and HF groups. Microbial metabolic phenotypes analysis showed a reduction in the richness of biofilm-forming bacteria ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: In summary, hydrolyzed protein formula had better nutrition and tolerance in LBW suckling piglets by improving amino acid transport and intestinal development, and regulating gut microbial communities., Competing Interests: YY, SD, IS, and JH were employed by the Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, Co., Ltd. and Inner Mongolia Dairy Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Bai, Liu, Yan, Duan, Szeto, He, Hu, Fu, Xu and Xiong.)

The application of artificial micro-diet is an effective way to improve and standardize the quality of aquatic animal larvae. However, the widespread adoption of micro-diet faces a bottleneck due to the limited utilization capacity of the larvae. A 30-day feeding experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary succinic acid (SA) on the growth performance, digestive ability, intestinal development, and immunity of large yellow croaker larvae (initial body weight 11.33 ± 0.57 mg). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated, incorporating 0.00 %, 0.01 %, 0.02 % and 0.03 % SA separately. The results showed that a diet with 0.02 % SA significantly increased both the final body weight and the specific growth rate of the larvae. Regarding digestive ability, 0.01 % SA supplementation significantly enhanced trypsin activity in both intestinal and pancreatic segments. In addition, 0.01 % SA supplementation notably improved amylase activity in the intestinal segment, while diets with 0.01%-0.02 % SA significantly improved lipase activity in the pancreatic segment. In terms of intestinal development, 0.01 % SA supplementation remarkably boosted the activities of alkaline-phosphatase and leucine-aminopeptidase on brush border membrane in intestine. Furthermore, 0.03 % SA supplementation significantly increased the expression of occludin. In terms of immunity, larvae fed diets with 0.01%-0.02 % SA exhibited significantly higher lysozyme activity compared to the control group. Supplementation with 0.01 % SA also significantly increased both iNOS activity and NO content. In summary, the findings of this study suggested that supplementing 0.02 % SA can improve the growth performance of large yellow croaker larvae by improving digestive enzymes activities, promoting intestinal development, and enhancing nonspecific immunity., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus extract (CA) on the growth performance, diarrhea rate, immune function, antioxidant capacity, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in weaned piglets., Methods: A total of forty-eight 31-day-old weaned piglets, were divided into four groups randomly based on the treatment type: control group (CON), low dose group (LCA, 0.5% CA), medium dose group (MCA, 1.0% CA), and high dose group (HCA, 1.5% CA), and were fed for a duration of 28 days. On the morning of the 1st and 29th day, the piglets were assessed by weighing them on an empty stomach, recording their daily feed intake and diarrhea rate., Results: CA increased the average daily weight gain and reduced F/G without significant differences, and the diarrhea rate was reduced in the LCA and MCA groups. Furthermore, the levels of T-AOC, SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA were increased. The levels of T-AOC in the LCA group and the MCA group, SOD in the MCA group, and GSH-Px in the HCA group were significantly higher compared with the CON group ( p < 0.05). Additionally, CA significantly increased IgM, IgG, and IgA levels ( p < 0.05). The results of gut microbiota analysis showed that the bacterial population and diversity of faeces were changed with the addition of CA to basal diets. CA increased the abundance of the beneficial bacterial Firmicutes and Lactobacillus. Additionally, Compared with the CON group, CA significantly increased the SCFAs content of weaned piglets ( p < 0.05)., Discussion: CA can alleviate oxidative stress, improve immunity and antioxidant capacity, increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and the content of SCFAs for improving the intestinal barrier of piglets, thus promoting growth and reducing diarrhea rate in weaned piglets., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guo, Zhang, Jiang, Niu, Chen, Yuan, Wei and Hua.)

This research aimed to study whether Enteromorpha polysaccharide-zinc (EP-Zn) can act as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned piglet feeds. Two hundred and twenty-four weaned piglets from 14 pens were randomly assigned into 1 of 2 groups according to their body weight and litter size (7 pens/group). The piglets in the antibiotics group were fed with olaquindox at 400 mg/kg and enduracidin at 800 mg/kg basal diet, and piglets in the EP-Zn group were fed with EP-Zn at 800 mg/kg basal diet. One piglet per pen was selected to collect samples after 14 d of feeding. Results showed that EP-Zn supplementation significantly increased the plasma anti-oxidants level compared with the antibiotics group. However, a nonsignificant difference was observed in growth performance between treatment groups. Additionally, the intestinal tight junction (TJ) protein expression and the histopathologic evaluation data showed that EP-Zn contributed to improving intestinal development. Further, piglets in the EP-Zn group had a lower level of intestinal inflammation-related cytokines including IL-6 (P

This study was designed to evaluate the optimum additional level of coated complex trace minerals (TMs) and its impacts on the growth performance of broilers through measurement of digestibility of nutrients and intestinal development. In a 56-day trial, a total of 360 one-day-old male yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into six dietary treatment groups. Each treatment contained six replicates, with 10 birds. The control group was supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg of uncoated complex TMs in the basal diet (UCCTM1000). The remaining 5 treatments were degressively supplemented with coated complex TMs from 1,000 to 200 mg/kg in the basal diet, which were considered as (CCTM1000), (CCTM800), (CCTM600), (CCTM400), (CCTM200), respectively. Results: On comparing the UCCTM1000 supplementation, the CCTM1000 supplementation decreased the feed to gain ratio (F/G) (P < 0.05), increased digestibility of crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05), crude fat (CF) (P < 0.05), villus height (VH) of duodenum (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression level of occludin in jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05). In addition, the F/G was lower in the CCTE600 group than that in the CCTE200 group (P < 0.05). The VH to crypt depth (CD) ratio (V/C) of jejunum and ileum in the CCTM400 and CCTM600 groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the CCTM1000 group. The serum endotoxin and D-lactate level and CP digestibility were increased by dietary coated complex TMs addition level. The mRNA expression levels of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the CCTM600 group were higher (P < 0.05) than that in the CCTM1000 group. In conclusion, adding 600 mg/kg of coated complex TMs showed the minimum F/G and the maximum crude protein digestibility and intestine development of yellow-feathered broilers compared with other treatments. This supplementation level of coated complex TMs could totally replace 1,000 mg/kg of uncoated complex TMs to further decrease the dose of TMs and raise economic benefit.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) on egg quality, serum biochemical, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal development in Roman laying hens. A total of 432 (34-week-old) Roman hens were randomly divided into control group and three experimental groups. The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed a basal diet with 1%, 2%, and 3% A. argyi powder, respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation of 2% A. argyi to the diet increased egg weight and egg white weight, and the daturic acid (C17:0), stearic acid (C18:0), eicosadienoic acid (C20:2), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3), a-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6c), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in egg yolk. Meanwhile, the addition of 1~3% A. argyi decreased serum urea. Moreover, dietary supplementation of 1% A. argyi promoted the antioxidative capacity of the hens by increasing hepatic T-SOD and CAT activities, as well as GSH-Px content. However, the addition of 3% A. argyi to the diet significantly increased the content of malondialdehyde in serum and liver and destroyed the intestinal morphology by increasing duodenal crypt depth. In conclusion, the addition level of A. argyi promoting egg quality and antioxidant capacity was at 2% and 1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early weaning technology can reduce the feeding cost by improving annual productivity of sows and feed utilization rate, and thus improve economic benefits of pig breeding, which is of great significance for pig breeding. However, early weaning technology also causes problems such as weaning stress and increased diarrhea rate, thus increases the morbidity and mortality of piglets. The paper reviews the main problems existing in early weaning piglets, discusses the coping strategies of early weaning stress in terms of feeding management, physiological regulation and nutritional regulation of piglets, to provide reference for relieving early weaning stress syndrome and further application of early weaning technology in animal husbandry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colostrum stimulates gastrointestinal development. Similar to colostrum, transition milk (TM; the first few milkings after colostrum) contains elevated nutrient levels and bioactive components not found in milk replacer (MR), albeit at lower levels than the first colostrum. We hypothesized that feeding neonatal calves TM, compared with MR, for 4 d following colostrum at birth would further stimulate intestinal development. Holstein bull calves were fed 2.8 L of colostrum within 20 min of birth, allocated to 1 of 11 blocks based on birth date and body weight (BW), randomly assigned to MR (n = 12) or TM (n = 11) treatments within block, and fed treatments 3 times per day. Milk from milkings 2, 3, and 4 (TM) of cows milked 2 times daily was pooled by milking number and fed at 1.89 L per feeding; milking 2 was fed at feedings 2 through 5, milking 3 at feedings 6 through 8, and milking 4 at feedings 9 through 12. TM was not pasteurized and contained 17% solids, 5% fat, 7% protein, 4% lactose, and 20 g of IgG per liter on average, whereas MR (as fed) contained 15% solids, 4% protein, 3% fat, 6% carbohydrate, and no IgG. Refusals were similar, so calves fed TM consumed 1.0 Mcal of metabolizable energy per day more than those fed MR. On the morning of d 5, calves were injected i.v. with 5 mg of bromodeoxyuridine per kg of BW and slaughtered 130 min later; then, intestinal sections were excised. Feeding TM, instead of MR, doubled villus length, villus width, villus to crypt ratio, and mucosal length in all intestinal sections, increased submucosal thickness 70% in the proximal and mid jejunum, and tended to increase submucosal thickness in duodenum and ileum. Mucosal surface area was also increased in both the ileum and mid jejunum when feeding TM by 19 and 36%, respectively. Treatment did not alter crypt depth. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling was increased 50% by TM compared with MR in the cells along the epithelium of the crypts and within the villi of all sections, indicating that TM increased cell proliferation compared with MR. Calves fed TM gained more BW than calves fed MR and had improved cough, fecal, nose, and ear scores. We conclude that feeding TM for 4 d following an initial feeding of colostrum stimulates villus, mucosal, and submucosal development in all sections of the small intestine in the first few days of life and improves health and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The intestinal microbiota contributes to infant's intestine homeostasis. This study aimed to analyse how probiotics derived from breast milk promote infant intestinal development in rat pups. Methods and results: The effect of potential probiotics derived from breast milk on development of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn rats' intestine was investigated. Limosilactobacillus oris ML‐329 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ML‐446 exhibited good hydrophobicity percentages (p < 0.05). ML‐446 showed a significant effect on intestinal length and weight (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the villus height of the IUGR newborn rats fed with ML‐329 was significantly higher compared with those fed with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (p < 0.05). Moreover, ML‐329 and ML‐446 both significantly stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells by increasing the number of ki67‐positive cells, goblet cells, and lysozyme‐positive Paneth cells (p < 0.05) through Wnt and Notch pathway. Conclusions: The proliferation and differentiation stimulating effects of ML‐329 and ML‐446 on IECs in the jejunum, ileum, and colon were mediated by activating the Wnt pathway with increased expression of wnt, lrp5, and β‐catenin genes and accumulation of β‐catenin, and by downregulating the Notch signalling pathway with decreased expression of the activated notch protein. Significance and Impact of the Study: Lactobacillus could facilitate IUGR rat pups' intestinal development and enhance the proliferation of Paneth cells and goblet cells. These findings provide further insights into promotion of the intestinal development by breast milk‐derived beneficial microbes in early life of the IUGR newborn rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Probiotics exhibit antibiotic properties and are capable of treating certain bacterial infections, including diarrhea. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with multispecies probiotic (MSP) on diarrhea, average daily gain (ADG) and intestinal development of neonatal calves challenged with Escherichia coli K99. RESULTS: Thirty‐six neonatal Holstein calves were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. After E. coli K99 challenge, calves in the control (C) and MSP treatment groups had significantly higher ADG and feed efficiency, and significantly lower fecal scores than those of calves in the diarrhea (D) group. The mean time of diarrhea resolution was 4.5 and 3.1 days for calves in the D and MSP treatment groups, respectively. Furthermore, the structures of the various segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) of the small intestine of the calves, activities of several small intestinal enzymes, and expression of several energy metabolism‐related genes in the small intestine segments were significantly affected by MSP treatments. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of MSP had a positive effect in treating calf diarrhea; it improved ADG and feed efficiency and promoted development of the small intestine. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of protein hydrolysates on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, protein metabolism, and intestinal health in larval largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The experimental feeding trial presented in this study was based on five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets formulated with graded inclusion levels of protein hydrolysates, and it showed that protein hydrolysates improved growth performance, reduced larval deformity rate, and increased the activity of digestive enzymes, including pepsin and trypsin. Gene expression results revealed that the supplementation of protein hydrolysates upregulated the expression of intestinal amino acid transporters LAT2 and peptide transporter 2 (PepT2), as well as the amino acid transporters LAT1 in muscle. Dietary provision of protein hydrolysates activated the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway including the up-regulation of TOR and AKT1, and down-regulation of 4EBP1. Additionally, the expression of genes involved in the amino acids response (AAR) pathway, ATF4 and REDD1, were inhibited. Protein hydrolysates inhibited the transcription of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8 and 5-LOX, but promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-b and IL-10. The 16S rRNA analysis, using V3-V4 region, indicated that dietary protein hydrolysates supplementation reduced the diversity of the intestine microbial community, increased the enrichment of Plesiomonas and reduced the enrichment of Staphylococcus at the genus level. In summary, protein hydrolysates have been shown to be an active and useful supplement to positively complement other protein sources in the diets for largemouth bass larvae, and this study provided novel insights on the beneficial roles and possible mechanisms of action of dietary protein hydrolysates in improving the overall performance of fish larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to investigate the effects of alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linn)-mixed silage fermentation material (AMSFM) on various aspects of growth, function, and carcass characteristics of Lande (meat) geese. Based on a previous study, we used the following AMSFM: 80% Alfalfa +10% soybean meal +10% DDGS ensiled for 45 days. Lande geese, n = 264, 77 days of age, were randomly allocated into four groups with six replicates in each group. Control geese were fed a basal diet, whereas experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 6, 12, or 24% AMSFM. The experiment lasted 21 days. The AMSFMpromoted some aspects of growth, with increase (p < 0.05) in leg muscle rate, lean meat rate, muscle protein content, and total energy content of leg muscle plus concurrent decreases (p < 0.05) in crude fat content and abdominal fat rate in chest muscle. In addition, AMSFM increased (p < 0.05) glutathione content in chest and leg muscles and serum superoxide dismutase activity, and it reduced (p < 0.05) muscle malondialdehyde content and serum concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, and aspartate aminotransferase, consistent with good liver and kidney function. Moreover, AMSFM improved (p < 0.05) ileum morphology. In conclusion, the optimal supplemented rate of AMSFM in the meat geese diet (12%) improved immunity and antioxidant status and enhanced growth performance and carcass characteristics of meat geese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging data indicate that prenatal exposure to air pollution may lead to higher susceptibility to several non-communicable diseases. Limited research has been conducted due to difficulties in modelling realistic air pollution exposure. In this study, pregnant mice were exposed from gestational day 10–17 to an atmosphere representative of a 2017 pollution event in Beijing, China. Intestinal homeostasis and microbiota were assessed in both male and female offspring during the suckling-to-weaning transition. Results: Sex-specific differences were observed in progeny of gestationally-exposed mice. In utero exposed males exhibited decreased villus and crypt length, vacuolation abnormalities, and lower levels of tight junction protein ZO-1 in ileum. They showed an upregulation of absorptive cell markers and a downregulation of neonatal markers in colon. Cecum of in utero exposed male mice also presented a deeply unbalanced inflammatory pattern. By contrast, in utero exposed female mice displayed less severe intestinal alterations, but included dysregulated expression of Lgr5 in colon, Tjp1 in cecum, and Epcam, Car2 and Sis in ileum. Moreover, exposed female mice showed dysbiosis characterized by a decreased weighted UniFrac β-diversity index, a higher abundance of Bacteroidales and Coriobacteriales orders, and a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Conclusion: Prenatal realistic modelling of an urban air pollution event induced sex-specific precocious alterations of structural and immune intestinal development in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowding stress (CS) is an inevitable abiotic stressor in intensified aquaculture, known to significantly impair fish species by compromising their growth performance. Our study indicated that CS hindered both the growth performance and intestinal development of largemouth bass. The growth performance of fish species is intricately linked to their intestinal development. To explore the underlying mechanism, we conducted a transcriptome analysis to elucidate the detrimental impact of crowding stress on intestinal development in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). We identified a total of 330 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the CS group. Subsequent gene ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed that a majority of these DEGs were significantly enriched in the cell cycle process (P < 0.05). Among the cell cycle-related DEGs, 4 were up-regulated (e.g. mat1a and soat1) and 58 were down-regulated (e.g. ccnb1 , cenpe and espl1). Additionally, we discovered 473 differentially alternatively spliced (DAS) genes through alternative splicing analysis in the CS group. Among these DAS genes, cntrl , ddx3xb , e2f4 , akt1 , npat , myb and LOC119914646 were associated with the regulation of cell cycle. The findings were validated through RT-qPCR, confirming the reliability of our bioinformatics analysis. In conclusion, our research has confirmed the adverse impact of crowding stress on the cell cycle process in the intestines of largemouth bass. The genes identified in this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of intestinal development caused by crowding stress. • Crowding stress inhibited the growth performance and intestinal development of largemouth bass. • The mRNA levels of many genes related to cell cycle regulation were decreased in crowding stress. • Many DAS genes involved in cell cycle process were also detected in crowding stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Genetic selection for increased growth rate in broilers makes feed restriction programs such as skip-a-day (SAD) feeding, for broiler breeders essential to managing body weight, flock uniformity, and reproductive performance. The objective of this experiment was to compare intestinal development, weight gain of breeder pullets, and reproductive performance (22–45 wk) when fed a high fiber diet (3.8% crude fiber) on either an every-day (ED) or SAD basis during rearing. The same developer ration and feed amounts were fed to both treatments. Day-old Ross 708 pullet chicks (n = 912) were randomly distributed into 4 floor pens (n = 228/pen, 2 pens/treatment). At 20 wk of age all birds were weighed, and the coefficient of variation (CV) and average body weight was calculated for each treatment. Birds were then distributed into 10 lay pens (n = 35 birds/pen, 5 pens/treatment) at 21.5 wk of age. Light was increased from 8 h to 15.25 h at move to the lay facility, and all birds were daily fed for the remainder of the study. Data were analyzed by SAS SLICE using a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. During lay, 25% of the birds from each treatment were weighed weekly to adjust feed and monitor body weight. At 21 wk the ED fed pullets were more uniform (P = 0.0007) than the SAD fed pullets. Eggs were collected daily and set for hatch every 4 wk from 28 to 42 wk of age. No significant difference in the hatch data were observed. The ED fed birds achieved first egg at 166 d of age while the SAD fed birds achieved first egg at 173 d of age. Specific gravity was measured every 2 wk from 30 to 40 wk, with ED reared birds having better overall eggshell quality (P = 0.02) and greater egg weight (P < 0.0001) than those fed SAD. Feeding a high fiber diet on an ED basis during rearing, improved body weight uniformity in rearing, encouraged early lay, improved eggshell quality and increased egg weight.

ABSTRACT In mammals, the introduction of solid food is pivotal for the establishment of the gut microbiota. However, the effects of the first food consumed on long-term microbiota trajectory and host response are still largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influences of (i) the timing of first solid food ingestion and (ii) the consumption of plant polysaccharides on bacterial community dynamics and host physiology using a rabbit model. To modulate the first exposure to solid nutrients, solid food was provided to suckling rabbits from two different time points (3 or 15 days of age). In parallel, food type was modulated with the provision of diets differing in carbohydrate content throughout life: the food either was formulated with a high proportion of rapidly fermentable fibers (RFF) or was starch-enriched. We found that access to solid food as of 3 days of age accelerated the gut microbiota maturation. Our data revealed differential effects according to the digestive segment: precocious solid food ingestion influenced to a greater extent the development of bacterial communities of the appendix vermiformis, whereas life course polysaccharides ingestion had marked effects on the cecal microbiota. Greater ingestion of RFF was assumed to promote pectin degradation as revealed by metabolomics analysis. However, transcriptomic and phenotypic host responses remained moderately affected by experimental treatments, suggesting little outcomes of the observed microbiome modulations on healthy subjects. In conclusion, our work highlighted the timing of solid food introduction and plant polysaccharides ingestion as two different tools to modulate microbiota implantation and functionality. IMPORTANCE Our study was designed to gain a better understanding of how different feeding patterns affect the dynamics of gut microbiomes and microbe–host interactions. This research showed that the timing of solid food introduction is a key component of the gut microbiota shaping in early developmental stages, though with lower impact on settled gut microbiota profiles in older individuals. This study also provided in-depth analysis of dietary polysaccharide effects on intestinal microbiota. The type of plant polysaccharides reaching the gut through the lifetime was described as an important modulator of the cecal microbiome and its activity. These findings will contribute to better define the interventions that can be employed for modulating the ecological succession of young mammal gut microbiota.

Objective This study aimed to determine the effects of soft pellet creep feed (SPCF) on growth performance and intestinal development in piglets. Methods A total of 18 sows and their litters of crossbred piglets (14±2 days, 3.73±0.72 kg) were assigned to one of three dietary groups receiving i) powder creep feed (PCF), ii) hard pellet creep feed (HPCF) or iii) SPCF during the pre-weaning period. After weaning, piglets were selected for continuous evaluation of the three diets on growth performance and intestinal health. Results In the pre-weaning period, the average daily feed intake and average daily dry matter intake were significantly higher in the SPCF group than the HPCF group (p

Effects of different feeding strategies on meat quality and intestinal development in pigeon squabs were investigated. 120 pairs of pigeons with two squabs each were assigned to five groups (four free-choice feeding systems and one complete feeding system): T1 (corn, pea, wheat, and pelleted feed), T2 (corn, wheat, and pelleted feed), T3 (corn, pea, and pelleted feed), T4 (corn and pelleted feed), and T5 (complete pelleted feed). Compared with T5, the diet in T4 made the breast meat redder and more yellow (p < 0.05). T2 and T4 resulted in an enhanced total superoxide dismutase activity of meat. Breast muscle in T1 and T2 was determined to have higher contents of nonessential amino acids, glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid (p < 0.05). The contents of the essential amino acids, lysine, threonine, valine, histidine, and arginine were also higher in T1 (p < 0.05). Villus height, surface area, and alkaline phosphatase activity of the duodenum and jejunum in T2 were the highest among the treatments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, free-choice feeding system can improve the meat quality and intestinal development of pigeon squabs, but which combination method of whole grains to use in the production depends on the feeding purpose.

The intestinal tract is a crucial part of the body for growth and development, and its dysregulation can cause several diseases. The lack of appropriate in vitro models hampers the development of effective preventions and treatments against these intestinal tract diseases. Intestinal organoids are three-dimensional (3D) polarized structures composed of different types of cells capable of self-organization and self-renewal, resembling their organ of origin in architecture and function. Porcine intestinal organoids (PIOs) have been cultured and are used widely in agricultural, veterinary, and biomedical research. Based on the similarity of the genomic sequence, anatomic morphology, and drug metabolism with humans and the difficulty in obtaining healthy human tissue, PIOs are also considered ideal models relative to rodents. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on PIOs, emphasizing their culturing, establishment and development, and applications in the study of host–microbe interactions, nutritional development, drug discovery, and gene editing potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) are prone to suffer from delayed postnatal growth and development during the early stages of life. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound that is abundantly present in fruits and vegetables and has various health benefits. Hence, we explored whether FA supplementation could favorably affect the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal development of piglets with IUGR. In total, eight normal-birth-weight (NBW) piglets and 16 piglets with IUGR (age, 7 d) were assigned to be fed either basic formula milk (NBW and IUGR groups, respectively) or basic formula milk supplemented with 100 mg/kg FA (IUGR + FA group) for 21 d. At necropsy, the serum and intestinal tissues were collected. FA supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the feed conversion ratio and serum total superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in piglets with IUGR. Moreover, FA supplementation elevated (P < 0.05) the duodenal lactase and maltase activities, jejunal villus height and jejunal maltase activity but reduced (P < 0.05) the duodenal crypt depth and duodenal and jejunal cell apoptosis, cleaved cysteinyl aspartic acid protease-3 (caspase-3) content and cleaved caspase-9 content in piglets with IUGR. In summary, FA supplementation could elevate antioxidant capacity and facilitate intestinal development, thus resulting in increased feed efficiency in piglets with IUGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placenta is critical for the regulation of fetal innate immune function. Maternal heat stress (HS) impairs the immune function and the intestinal barrier in the offspring. However, the effects of maternal HS on the placental immune response and the development of the fetal intestine and its innate immune system remain unclear. Fetal mice were divided into the utero control (IUTN) and heat stress (IUHS) groups according to the maternal ambient temperature. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the expressions of placental immune response–related genes such as macrophage antigen CD68 and Fc gamma receptors 1 and 3 (fcgγ1 and fcgγ3) were increased, but the mRNA expression and protein levels of colony-stimulating factor-1 (Csf1) were decreased in the HS group compared with the TN group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the intestinal length normalized to pup weight between the IUTN and IUHS groups. The expression of genes (such as alpi and ttr) involved in fetal duodenum and jejunum development was downregulated by maternal HS, whereas the expression of genes enriched in the cell cycle was increased. The mRNA expression and protein levels of cell division cycle 6 (Cdc6) in the fetal duodenum and jejunum were much higher in the IUHS group than in the IUTN group (p < 0.05). Maternal HS also down-regulated the expression of genes enriched in the innate immune system in the fetal duodenum and jejunum. The mRNA expression and protein levels of interleukin 1 alpha (IL1a) were reduced in the IUHS group compared with the IUTN group (p < 0.05). Taken together, these data demonstrated that maternal HS modulated the expression of genes in the placenta related to the immune response and inhibited the development of the fetal intestine and its innate immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. A better understanding of intestinal development is essential for the intestinal health of poultry. Intestinal villification starts on embryo day E15 and is generally completed before hatching (E21). The development of lymphoid organs in the intestine starts during embryogenesis. However, transcriptional information on the processing of intestinal morphogenesis and immune development during chick embryogenesis is limited. 2. In this work, RNA-sequencing was performed using 12 biological replicates to investigate Hy-Line brown chick embryonic small intestinal transcription at E15 and E21. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between E15 and E21 were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, based on the DEGs, were performed to identify key GO terms in the biological process category and key KEGG pathways. PPI networks were constructed based on the DEGs in the key pathways to screen hub genes. The embryonic small intestinal morphology and IgA distribution were observed by histological processing. The serum levels of IgA and lysozyme were measured by ELISA. 3. A total of 76.38 Gb of high-quality RNA-sequencing data were generated and uploaded. A total of 2,676 DEGs, between E15 and E21, were identified. Structural development and villification of the small intestine at E15 tended to proceed via the expression of nervous system development-related genes. A combination of the histological and serological results with the transcriptome data indicated that the identified genes and pathways may be strong candidates for intestinal morphogenesis-regulation. 4. The small intestine appears to have developed a relatively complete morphology and transport, metabolism, digestion and immunity functions by E21. This work provided a transcriptome profile of the chick embryonic small intestine and provided insights into the intestinal development and health of poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol monolaurate (GML), a member of medium-chain α-monoglycerides (MG), is proved to be beneficial for productive performance, feed efficiency, and health of broilers based on recent research. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of MG mixture rich in GML and glycerol monodecanoate on performance, intestinal development, serum parameters, carcass yield, and muscle composition in broilers. A total of 528 chicks were weighed and randomly assigned into 4 groups (22 chicks/replicate, 6 replicates/group) for a 56-d experiment. The control group received a basal diet containing 0 mg/kg MG (CON), and the treated groups fed basal diets containing 300 (MG300), 450 and 600 mg/kg MG. The results revealed that the BW (P

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oregano essential oil on the production performance and intestinal barrier in rabbits. One hundred and ninety-two weaned Hyla rabbits (35 days old) with similar body weight (1268.5 ± 25 g) were randomly divided into four groups (24 replicates per group, two rabbits per replicate): fed a basal diet (Control group), fed a basal diet containing 0.02% oregano essential oil (LO group, the purity of oregano essential oil was 5%), fed a basal diet containing 0.04% oregano essential oil (MO group), or fed a basal diet containing 0.08% oregano essential oil (HO group). The trial included 7 days of adaptation and 23 days of testing. Although dietary addition of oregano essential oil did not affect significantly the average daily body weight and final body weight (p > .05), dietary addition of 0.08% oregano essential oil decreased significantly feed intake and diarrhoea rate of the rabbits (p

Broiler embryonic development depends on the nutrients that are available in the egg, which includes mostly water, lipids, and proteins. Carbohydrates represent less than 1%, and free glucose only 0.3%, of the total nutrients. Considering that energy requirements increase during incubation and metabolism is shifted toward the use of glycogen stores and gluconeogenesis from amino acids, extensive muscle protein degradation in the end of incubation can compromise chick development in the initial days after hatch. Significant prehatch changes occur in embryonic metabolism to parallel the rapid embryonic development. Oral consumption of the amniotic fluid begins around 17 d of incubation and promotes rapid development of the intestinal mucosa, which is characterized by morphological changes and increased expression and activity of enzymes and transporters. Furthermore, ingested substrates are stored as nutritional reserves to be used during hatching and in the first week after hatch. At hatch, this limited-nutrient store is directed to the functional development of the gastrointestinal tract to enable assimilation of exogenous nutrients. In ovo feeding is an alternative to deliver essential nutrients to chick embryos at this critical and challenging phase. The improved nutritional status and physiological changes triggered by in ovo feeding can resonate throughout the entire rearing period with significant health and economic gains. The present review addresses the main changes in metabolism and intestinal development throughout incubation, and also addresses scientific advances, limitations and future perspectives associated with the use of in ovo feeding that has been regarded as an important technology by the poultry industry.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate as a substitute for antibiotics on the production performance and intestinal barrier of meat rabbits. Six hundred healthy weaned rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (40 replicates per group): fed a basal diet (control), fed a basal diet containing 0.5% sodium butyrate (sodium butyrate), or fed a basal diet containing 0.004% antibiotics (antibiotic). The trial included 7 days of adaptation and 28 days of testing. After adding sodium butyrate to the feed, the mortality and diarrhoea rates of the weaned meat rabbits were reduced, and the composition of their intestinal flora was improved. Treatment significantly increased the villus height of the ileum (p

AimsSmall peptides are more energy-saving and efficiently absorbed compared to amino acids. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Lys-Lys dipeptide on the improvement of growth performance, amino acid metabolism, and gut development in suckling piglets.Methods and ResultsTwenty-eight newborn suckling piglets were orally administrated with 0.1%, 1%, and 5% Lys-Lys dipeptide for 21 days. Our results showed that the Lys-Lys dipeptide has no significant effect on growth performance and intestinal morphology compared with the control group. We also found that the 1% Lys-Lys dipeptide significantly increased the concentrations of serum Lys, Thr, Phe, and Pro while decreasing Cys compared to the control group. Similarly, the 5% Lys-Lys dipeptide markedly increased the concentrations of serum Lys, Iso, Thr, Asp, Glu, and Pro compared to the control group. Moreover, the Lys-Lys dipeptide downregulated the expression of jejunal Slc7a1, Slc7a2, and Slc15a1 and ileal Slc7a2. Additionally, the Lys-Lys dipeptide decreased the microbiota richness indices and relative abundance of Bacteroidales.ConclusionIn this study, we found that the Lys-Lys dipeptide contributes to the metabolism of amino acids but failed to affect the growth performance of piglets. Additionally, the Lys-Lys dipeptide decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroidales. These results provide a theoretical for the future application and research of Lys-Lys dipeptide in intestinal development of suckling piglets.