Chitosan oligosaccharide affects antioxidant defense capacity and placental amino acids transport of sows.

Chunyan Xie,Cimin Long,Xin Wu,Siming Li,Zhiyong Fan,Qinhua Wang,Yulong Yin

doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0872-8

Abstract

BackgroundChitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is widely consumed as a functional food due to its multiple health effects, but few studies about COS supplement on placental antioxidant and nutrition transport capacity were reported. Taken pregnant sow as a model, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary COS supplementation during late gestation on placental amino acids transport and antioxidant defense capacity of sows. From day (d) 85 of gestation to parturition, sixteen pregnant sows were divided into a control group (basal diet without COS supplementation) and a COS group (30 mg COS/kg basal diet). Plasma sample of sow was collected on d 110 of gestation, and placenta tissue was obtained during parturition. Then plasma antioxidant enzyme’s activities, the relative level of oxidant stress related genes, amino acids transport related genes and mTOR pathway molecules in placenta were determined.ResultsResults showed that maternal dietary supplementation with COS increased (P < 0.05) plasma total SOD, caused a downtrend in plasma MDA (0.05 < P < 0.10) on d 110 of gestation. Interestingly, the mRNA expression of some antioxidant genes in the placenta were increased (P < 0.05) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced (P < 0.05) by COS supplement, whereas no significant difference was observed in the activities of placental total SOD and CAT between two groups. Additionally, further study demonstrated that COS feeding stimulated mTOR signaling pathway, increased amino acids transporters expression in placenta.ConclusionsThese observations suggested that COS supplement in sow’s diet during late gestation enhanced antioxidant defense capacity of sows, promoted placental amino acids transport, which may contribute to the health of sows and development of fetus during gestation.

Highlights

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is widely consumed as a functional food due to its multiple health effects, but few studies about COS supplement on placental antioxidant and nutrition transport capacity were reported
Nutrients pass from the maternal to the fetal blood across the syncytiotrophoblast and the endothelium of the fetal capillaries, main determinant of fetal growth is placental nutrient transport, which is essential for fetal growth and development [10]
Sows were randomly divided into two groups, 1) all sows were fed with basal diet (Control) (n =20), 2) all sows were fed with basal diet containing 0.03 ‰ COS

Summary

Introduction

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is widely consumed as a functional food due to its multiple health effects, but few studies about COS supplement on placental antioxidant and nutrition transport capacity were reported. Taken pregnant sow as a model, we aimed to investigate the effects of dietary COS supplementation during late gestation on placental amino acids transport and antioxidant defense capacity of sows. Plasma antioxidant enzyme’s activities, the relative level of oxidant stress related genes, amino acids transport related genes and mTOR pathway molecules in placenta were determined. Xie et al BMC Veterinary Research (2016) 12:243 placenta, as the main interface between the mother and the fetus, has many functions to perform, including producing and secrete hormones and cytokines, and mediatting the transfer of nutrients, oxygen and waste products [9]. Jansson et al (2006) found the pregnant rats subjected to protein malnutrition during gestation down-regulated placental amino acid transport, which may contribute directly to the development of IUGR [11]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion