97 The effects of excess iron on growth performance, intestinal and liver morphology and antioxidant capacity in weaned piglets

Abstract

Abstract Iron is one of the essential trace elements for animals and involved in many important physiological processes, thus exogenous iron is often supplemented as feed additive. However, the addition of excess iron may have adverse effects on animals and the environment. To investigate the effects of excess iron on growth performance, intestinal and liver morphology and antioxidant capacity in weaned piglets, in this study, forty 23-day-old weaned piglets were allotted to 4 treatments，respectively received the basal diet containing 100, 400, 3000 or 10000 mg Fe/kg as FeSO4. The experiment lasted for 28 days and then the piglets were euthanized and sampled. Lower average daily gain and higher diarrhea rate were detected in the piglets received the diet with 3000 or 10000 mg Fe/kg. Iron excretion in piglets’ feces was dependent on the iron concentration in the diet. In addition, iron overload induced mitochondrial swelling and cell death in the duodenum and liver of piglets. Excessive iron also increased piglets’ serum malondialdehyde content and reduced glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, significant increase of malondialdehydecontent and protein carbonyl content in the intestine and decrease of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase activity and superoxide dismutase activity in the liver were observed in the piglets received diet containing high concentrations of iron. In conclusion, the results indicated that excess iron would reduce the growth performance of weaned piglets and increase the iron excretion in feces which adversely affect the environment. It may also negatively affect intestine and liver morphology and reduce the antioxidant capacity of piglets.