Intrauterine growth restriction alters growth performance, plasma hormones, and small intestinal microbial communities in growing-finishing pigs

Liang Xiong,Francois Blachier,Wanghong Zhang,Xiangfeng Kong,Yulong Yin,Qian Zhu,Jinming You

doi:10.1186/s40104-020-00490-x

Abstract

BackgroundThe interaction of the gut microbiota with key metabolic and physiological processes may be associated with poor growth outcomes in animals born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).ResultsGrowth performance, plasma hormone concentrations, and intestinal microbiota composition were analyzed in IUGR pigs and in normal birth weight (NBW) pigs when the NBW pigs reached 25, 50, and 100 kg of body weight (BW). Compared to NBW pigs, IUGR pigs had lower initial, weaned, and final BW, and lower average daily gain and average daily feed intake in all the considered time points. In the 25 kg BW group, IUGR pigs had higher concentrations of plasma ghrelin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), but lower insulin concentration than NBW pigs, while the situation was reversed in the 50 kg BW group. As compared to NBW pigs, IUGR pigs had higher microbial alpha diversity in the jejunum and ileum; in the 50 and 100 kg BW groups, IUGR pigs had higher Firmicutes abundance but lower Proteobacteria abundance in the jejunum, and lower Lactobacillus abundance in the jejunum and ileum; in the 25 kg BW group, IUGR pigs showed higher unclassified Ruminococcaceae abundance in the ileum; and in 25 and 50 kg BW groups, IUGR pigs showed lower Ochrobactrum abundance in the jejunum. Spearman’s correlation revealed that Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with growth performance, while unclassified Ruminococcaceae was positively correlated. Predictive metagenomic analysis detected significantly different expression of genes in the intestinal microbiota between IUGR and NBW pigs, suggesting different metabolic capabilities between the two groups.ConclusionsGrowing-finishing IUGR pigs showed lower growth performance, higher microbial alpha diversity, and differences in plasma hormone concentrations compared to NBW pigs. Alterations in the abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, and Ochrobactrum in the small intestine may be associated with IUGR, and may therefore serve as a future target for gut microbiota intervention in growing-finishing IUGR pigs.

Highlights

The interaction of the gut microbiota with key metabolic and physiological processes may be associated with poor growth outcomes in animals born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
Growing-finishing IUGR pigs showed lower growth performance, higher microbial alpha diversity, and differences in plasma hormone concentrations compared to normal birth weight (NBW) pigs
Alterations in the abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, and Ochrobactrum in the small intestine may be associated with IUGR, and may serve as a future target for gut microbiota intervention in growing-finishing IUGR pigs

Summary

Introduction

The interaction of the gut microbiota with key metabolic and physiological processes may be associated with poor growth outcomes in animals born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), defined as the impaired growth and development of a mammalian embryo/fetus or fetal organs during pregnancy, is a major concern in pig farming [1]. IUGR occurs in 15– 20% of newborn piglets and causes considerable economic losses in large-scale pig production farms [3]. Previous studies confirmed that IUGR reduces the weight of the small intestine at birth and impairs its functions [5]. The delay and alteration of gut development in piglets by IUGR are likely to play a major role in the slower growth rate [8]

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