Maternal Probiotic or Synbiotic Supplementation Modulates Jejunal and Colonic Antioxidant Capacity, Mitochondrial Function, and Microbial Abundance in Bama Mini-piglets.

Kai Wang,Liang Xiong,Yulong Yin,Qian Zhu,Xiangfeng Kong,Md Abul Kalam Azad,Qinghua He,Zhangli Hu,Yuzhong Zheng,Julia M Dos Santos

doi:10.1155/2021/6618874

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation on antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function, and intestinal microbiota abundance in offspring weaned piglets. A total of 64 pregnant Bama mini-sows were randomly allocated into the control group (basal diet), antibiotic group (basal diet + 50 g/t virginiamycin), probiotic group (basal diet + 200 mL/d probiotics per pig), or synbiotic group (basal diet + 200 mL/d probiotics per pig + 500 g/t xylo-oligosaccharides). On day 30 of post-weaning, eight piglets per group with average body weight were selected for sample collection. The results showed that maternal probiotic supplementation increased the catalase (CAT) activity in plasma and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in plasma, jejunum, and colon of piglets while decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 concentrations in plasma compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, maternal synbiotic supplementation increased the plasma CAT activity, jejunal glutathione and GSH-Px activities, jejunal and colonic total antioxidant capacity activity, and plasma and colonic SOD activity while decreased the colonic MDA concentration of offspring piglets compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of antioxidant enzyme-related genes (copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) and mitochondrial-related genes (adenosine triphosphate synthase alpha subunit, adenosine triphosphate synthase β, and mitochondrial transcription factor A) in the jejunal mucosa were significantly upregulated, while the level of colonic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α was downregulated by maternal synbiotic supplementation (P < 0.05). Maternal probiotic supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the Bacteroidetes abundance in the jejunum and Bifidobacterium abundance in the jejunum and colon, and synbiotic supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the abundances of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus in the jejunum of piglets. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed that intestinal microbiota abundances were significantly correlated with antioxidant enzyme activities and mitochondrial-related indexes. These findings indicated that maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation might be a promising strategy to improve the antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function of offspring weaned piglets by altering the intestinal microbiota.

Highlights

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of mammalian animals has been known as a harbor of microbes [1]
A total of 64 pregnant Bama mini–sows with similar physical conditions with 3-5 parities were randomly assigned to the control group, antibiotic group, probiotic group, or synbiotic group
To explore whether maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation contributes to the systemic redox status, we determined the antioxidant and oxidative parameters in plasma

Summary

Introduction

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of mammalian animals has been known as a harbor of microbes [1]. Accumulating evidence showed that healthy maternal gut microbes are essential for the growth and health of their offspring. Microbes can be transmitted to the offspring through direct contact with the birth canal during parturition and colostrum or milk during lactation, which contributes to long-term health benefits in offspring [4,5,6]. Maternal gut microbes and milk or colostrum quality are influenced by maternal diet compositions, and maternal dietary intervention may be an effective way to improve offspring’s overall health. Oxidative stress occurs under a condition when the production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and their elimination by the antioxidant mechanism is imbalanced. The sows undergo systematic oxidative stress during late pregnancy and lactation, which does not fully recover until weaned and could affect their offspring’s health [7]. Late gestation and early postnatal periods are the critical window periods for oxidative stress regulation [9]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion