Abstract
There is evidence that sea buckthorn, as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), possesses health-enhancing properties and may modulate neuroendocrine and immune functions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) supplementation in the diet of growing German Landrace pigs on fatty acids in the blood and hypothalamus, peripheral immune parameters and mRNA expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hypothalamus and spleen. Pigs were fed diets supplemented with 12% of dried SBP or 0% SBP (control group) over an intervention period of eight weeks. The fatty acid profiles in blood plasma were significantly affected by SBP supplementation only for C18:2n-6 and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio compared with the control group. SBP supplementation did not significantly affect the fatty acid concentrations in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in mRNA expression of CRH, MR and GR in the hypothalamus or of GR mRNA expression in the spleen. Concerning the immune status, the plasma IgG levels tended to be higher in SBP pigs, whereas the leukocyte distribution, mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, and serum IgM levels remained unchanged. In conclusion, the SBP supplementation of the diet only caused moderate effects on fatty acid metabolism, but no significant effects on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activity and immunity in growing pigs. It seems that a beneficial effect of dietary n-3 PUFA on health and welfare is more likely to be expected during stressful situations.
Highlights
There is ample evidence that sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated acids (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)), possesses health enhancing and therapeutic properties, and it may modulate neuroendocrine and immune functions
We investigated the effect of sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) supplementation in the diet of growing German Landrace pigs on fatty acids in the blood and hypothalamus, peripheral immune parameters and mRNA expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hypothalamus and spleen
Before the SBP intervention, there were no significant differences in any fatty acid values observed between control group (CG) and FG-SBP pigs
Summary
There is ample evidence that sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated acids (n-3 PUFA), possesses health enhancing and therapeutic properties, and it may modulate neuroendocrine and immune functions. The recognition that n-3 PUFAs exhibit stress-regulating and anti-inflammatory properties in human and animal models has prompted studies investigating their efficacy for growth, immunity and regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Pigs of two diet groups with maximally different diet composition—a control group (CG) and a feeding group (12% SBP over 8 weeks)—were selected for investigations of immune status, mRNA expression and fatty acid profile. We hypothesize that SBP supplementation, with lipids high in linolenic acid (18:3n-3), lead to an increase of precursor and de novo synthesized long-chain n-3 PUFAs in the hypothalamus combined with positive effects on immune responses in pigs. The focus of the present study was the investigation of fatty acid concentrations and mRNA expression of HPA-regulating hormones and receptors in the hypothalamus and peripheral immune responses as well as fatty acid profiles in blood plasma of SBP supplement-fed vs control-fed pigs
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