Response of the nuclear xenobiotic receptors to alleviate glyphosate-based herbicide-induced nephrotoxicity in weaned piglets.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are widely used worldwide. Glyphosate (GLP) is the main active component of GBHs. The presence of GBH residues in the environment has led to the exposure of animals to GBHs, but the mechanisms of GBH-induced nephrotoxicity are not clear. This study investigated the effects of GBHs on piglet kidneys. Twenty-eight healthy female hybrid weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average weight of 12.24 ± 0.61 kg were randomly divided into four treatment groups (n=7 piglets/group) that were supplemented with Roundup® (equivalent to GLP concentrations of 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) for a 35-day feeding trial. The results showed that the kidneys in the 40-mg/kg GLP group suffered slight damage. Roundup® significantly decreased the activity of catalase (CAT) (P=0.005) and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P=0.029). Roundup® increased the level of cystatin-C (Cys-C) in the plasma (linear, P=0.002 and quadratic, P=0.015). The levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in plasma increased linearly (P=0.007) and quadratically (P=0.003) as the dose of GLP increased. The mRNA expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the 20-mg/kg GLP group was increased significantly (P<0.05). There was a significant increase in the mRNA levels of pregnenolone X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A3 (UGT1A3) (P<0.05). Our findings found that kidney nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs) may play an important role in defense against GBHs.

Toxic effects of glyphosate on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and barrier function in weaned piglets.

At present, the public is paying more attention to the adverse effects of pesticides on human and animal health and the environment. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum pesticide that is widely used in agricultural production. In this manuscript, the effects of diets containing glyphosate on intestinal morphology, intestinal immune factors, intestinal antioxidant capacity and the mRNA expression associated with the Nrf2 signaling pathway were investigated in weaned piglets. Twenty-eight healthy female hybrid weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly selected with an average weight of 12.24 ±â€¯0.61 kg. Weaned piglets were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg glyphosate for a 35-day feeding trial. We found that glyphosate had no effect on intestinal morphology. In the duodenum, glyphosate increased the activities of CAT and SOD (linear, P < 0.05) and increased the levels of MDA (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). In the duodenum, glyphosate remarkably increased the relative mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and NQO1 (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and reduced the relative mRNA expression levels of GPx1, HO-1 and GCLM (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). In the jejunum, glyphosate remarkably increased the relative mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and decreased the relative mRNA expression levels of GCLM (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). Glyphosate increased the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 in the duodenum (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 in the jejunum (linear, P < 0.05). Glyphosate increased the mRNA expression of NF-κB in the jejunum (linear, P = 0.05). Additionally, the results demonstrated that glyphosate linearly decreased the ZO-1 mRNA expression levels in the jejunum and the mRNA expression of claudin-1 in the duodenum (P < 0.05). In the duodenum, glyphosate increased the protein expression levels of Nrf2 (linear, P = 0.025). Overall, glyphosate exposure may result in oxidative stress in the intestines of piglets, which can be alleviated by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and self-detoxification.

Effects of different emulsifiers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activity in weanling pigs1.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL), polyglycerol fatty acid ester (PGFE), and combined emulsifiers (0.02% SSL and 0.08% PGFE) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and plasma lipid profiles in weaned piglets and to further evaluate the possible effects of feeding exogenous emulsifiers on digestive enzyme activities and liver bile acid (BA) metabolism. Twenty-eight barrows (age at 35 d, Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an initial BW of 10.13 ± 0.16 kg were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatment groups (7 pigs/treatment). Dietary treatment groups included the following: 1) basal diet (Control, CTR); 2) basal diet with 0.1% SSL (SSL); 3) basal diet with 0.1% PGFE (PGFE); and 4) basal diet with 0.08% PGFE+0.02% SSL (PG-SL). SSL diet increased ADG and ADFI of piglets during day 0 to 17 (P < 0.05) compared with the CTR treatment. Piglets fed emulsifier diets experienced a significant improvement in the digestibility of nutrients (DM, CP, ether extract, energy, calcium, and phosphorus) during the first 17 d (P < 0.05). The level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was lower in the PGFE and PG-SL treatment groups than in the CTR treatment group (P < 0.05). Feeding emulsifier diets increased the lipase activity of the pancreas when compared with the CTR diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, the emulsifier diets significantly increased the mRNA expression of FXR (P < 0.05) and decreased the mRNA expression of CYP27A1 (P < 0.05) in the liver. In conclusion, the addition of emulsifiers improved nutrient digestibility and increased the mRNA expression of FXR BA receptors while inhibiting the mRNA expression of BA biosynthesis by CYP27A1 in weanling piglets.