Abstract
This study elucidated the function role of dietary selenium-enriched yeast (SeY) supplementation on growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in weaned pigs exposure to oxidative stress. Thirty-two similarity weight pigs were randomly divided into four treatments: (1) nonchallenged control, (2) control+SeY, (3) control+diquat, and (4) control+SeY+diquat. The period of experiment was 21 days; on day 16, pigs were injected with diquat or sterile saline. Results revealed that oxidative stress was notably detrimental to the growth performance of piglets, but SeY supplementation ameliorated this phenomenon, which might be regarding the increasing of body antioxidant capacity and immune functions. In details, SeY supplementation improved the digestibility of crude protein (CP), ash, and gross energy (GE). Moreover, the serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase(GPT), and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were reduced via SeY supplemented, and serum concentrations of immunoglobulins A (IgA), IgG, and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) ,and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were improved in the diquat-challenged pigs (P < 0.05). In addition, SeY supplementation acutely enhanced the activities of these antioxidant enzymes in the liver and thymus upon diquat challenge, which involved with the upregulation of the critical genes related antioxidant signaling such as the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) (P < 0.05). Importantly, we also found that SeY supplementation apparently reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the liver, thymus, and serum (P < 0.05). Specifically, the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver and thymus were downregulated by SeY upon diquat challenge. These results suggested that SeY can attenuate oxidative stress-induced growth retardation, which was associated with elevating body antioxidant capacity, immune functions, and suppressed inflammatory response.
Highlights
Recent studies have shown that neonatal animals such as the weaning pigs are more prone to gastrointestinal diseases, infections, and diarrhea because of incomplete development of immune and digestive systems [1]
To clarify the role of selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), we investigated the effect of dietary SeY supplementation on growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in weaned pigs upon oxidative stress
In parallel with our study, diquat injected was adverse to the growth performance indicating conspicuously dropped down the Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), which are consistent with previous observations showing that the performance of weaned pigs are negatively affected by diquat challenge [19]
Summary
Recent studies have shown that neonatal animals such as the weaning pigs (approximately 3-5 weeks of age) are more prone to gastrointestinal diseases, infections, and diarrhea because of incomplete development of immune and digestive systems [1]. Weaning can cause a variety of oxidative stress-induced injuries, including growth retardation, disease, and even death, resulting in considerable economic losses [2]. Selenium is an essential trace element in the animal body [8], which exerts various functions in improving antioxidant capacity, immunity, growth, and meat quality [9]. Previous study indicated that selenium-enriched yeast can relieve various oxidative stress-induced damages through improving the body antioxidant enzymes activities [12]. Our understanding of the precise growth-promoting function of SeY remains indistinct, especially weaned pigs in the oxidative stress. To clarify the role of SeY, we investigated the effect of dietary SeY supplementation on growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in weaned pigs upon oxidative stress. This study could provide novel insights into the application of SeY for the livestock industry
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