Maternal Live Yeast Supplementation Improved Gut Health in Suckling and Weaned Piglets.

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of maternal nutritional intervention in modulating the gastrointestinal development and health of offspring. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of live yeast supplementation to sows during late gestation and lactation periods on the gut health of piglets pre-weaning and immediately post-weaning. Based on parity and expected farrowing dates, on d 77 of gestation, 40 sows were allotted to 2 dietary treatments: without (CON) or with (LY) live yeast supplementation at 0.05% of diet during gestation and 0.1% during lactation. On postnatal days (PND) 0, 10, 18, and post-weaning days (PWD) 7 and 14, one piglet from 10 sows per treatment was selected for intestinal tissue collection (n = 10). Results showed that maternal LY supplementation increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 on PND 18 and IL-1ß on PWD 14 in the ileal mucosa (P < 0.05), with a tendency for greater IL-10 on PND 18 (P = 0.08). Additionally, LY piglets had increased mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 on PND 10, 18, and PWD 14 (P < 0.05) and tended to have a greater mRNA abundance of catalase on PND 14 in the ileal mucosa (P = 0.09). Compared with CON piglets, LY piglets had an increased protein abundance of E-cadherin on PND 0, PWD 7, and 14 in the jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05). The LY piglets also had a greater protein abundance of occludin and claudin-4 in the jejunal mucosa on PWD 14 (P < 0.05). However, no differences were found for jejunal histomorphological measurements between treatments (P > 0.05). In conclusion, maternal LY supplementation may have a long-term protective effect on gut health of offspring by regulating the expression of tight junction proteins, inflammatory response, and antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]