Effects of soluble glucomannan and insoluble cellulose treatment on mucin secretion and mucin glycosylation-related gene expression in the colons of mice.

BACKGROUND: Fiber added to the diet can promote intestinal mucin secretion, relieve intestinal inflammation, and enhance the intestinal barrier function. Glycosylation is the key to mucin function. However, there are few studies on the correlation between dietary fiber and mucin glycosylation, especially two kinds of dietary fiber with different solubility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soluble glucomannan (GM) and insoluble cellulose (CL) treatment on mucin secretion and mucin glycosylation-related gene expression in the colons of mice. RESULTS: The GM group significantly increased the goblet cell number, crypt depth, and the expression of mucin 2 (Muc2) and mucin 3a (Muc3a) genes in the colon. At the same time, the analysis of the colon transcriptome showed that the GM group changed the expression of genes related to the mucin glycosylation process, and the GM group up-regulated the expression of Gcnt3, Gcnt4, St3gal1, Galnt13, and B3gnt6 genes involved in the O-glycosylation process. Similarly, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that differentially glycosylated genes in the GM group were mainly related to the biosynthesis of mucin type O-glycans, while the genes in the CL group were related to the biosynthesis of various types of N-glycans. The correlation analysis between colonic microbes and differentially glycosylated genes also showed that the abundance of Alistipes in the GM group was significantly associated with the expression of Gcnt3, a key glycosylation gene. CONCLUSION: Glucomannan treatment was more favorable for colonic Muc2 and Muc3a secretion and mucin O-glycosylation gene expression. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Compound organic acid could improve the growth performance, immunity and antioxidant properties, and intestinal health by altering the microbiota profile of weaned piglets.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of compound organic acid (COA) and chlortetracycline (CTC) on serum biochemical parameters, intestinal health, and growth performance of weaned piglets. Twenty-four piglets (24 d of age) were randomly allocated into three treatments with eight replicate pens (one piglet per pen). Feed the basal diet or a diet containing 3,000 mg/kg COA or 75 mg/kg CTC, respectively. Results showed that both COA and CTC significantly increased average daily gain and reduced diarrhea rates (P < 0.05). They also upregulated serum total antioxidant capacity and downregulated serum interleukin (IL-10) levels (P < 0.05), increased crude protein digestibility and propionic acid concentration in the colon, and decreased spermidine and putrescine contents (P < 0.05). Intestinal microbiota analysis revealed that both COA and CTC increased the Shannon and Chao1 index and decreased the relative abundance of Blautia and Roseburia, but increased the relative abundance of Clostridium-sensu-stricto-1. Correlation analysis indicated that Clostridium-sensu-stricto-1 may be closely related to inflammation levels and microbial metabolites in piglets. Based on the results, COA may be a potential substitute for CTC to reduce antibiotic use and biogenic amine emission while improving piglet growth and intestinal health.

Weaned piglets face challenges due to their underdeveloped digestive system, resulting in high gastrointestinal tract pH and insufficient enzyme secretion. To address this issue, we found supplementing piglet diets with 3,000 mg/kg of compound organic acid positively impacted the immune and antioxidant levels of piglets, promoted their intestinal health, improved nutrient digestibility, and enhanced their overall growth performance. These benefits were attributed to the regulation of intestinal microbiota by the compound organic acid. By improving piglet health and growth, this research offers a potential solution to the challenges of piglet weaning stress.

Effects of different starch diets on growth performance, intestinal health and faecal microbiota of growing pigs.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different starch source diets on growth performance, intestinal health, and, microbiota of growing pigs. Eighteen healthy "Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire" pigs (50 ± 0.61 kg, Castrated boar) were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates and one pig per replicate. The pigs in the three treatments were fed diets prepared with cassava flour (CF), rice bran (RB) and sorghum flour (SF), respectively, and the nutritional levels of the three treatments were the same. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed that pigs in the RB group had significantly increased average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) compared with pigs in CF and SF groups. Compared with pigs in the CF group, the final body weight (FBW) of growing pigs in the RB group was increased and the ratio of feed to gain (F: G) was decreased (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between FBW and F: G between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with the CF group, the RB group significantly increased the jejunum amylase activity (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the SF group and the other two groups. Compared with growing pigs in the CF group and SF group, the duodenal villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio of growing pigs in the RB group were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total VFA in the colon and caecum of piglets in the SF group were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to piglets in CF and RB groups, and there was no significant difference between the CF group and RB group. Compared with the RB group, caecal butyric acid concentration was significantly increased in SF and CF groups (p < 0.05). Seven dominant phyla were identified at the phylum level, among which Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota were dominant phyla, accounting for 74.18%, 14.87% and 6.56% of the RB group respectively. Cassava flour group accounted for 80.22%, 9.64% and 3.71%; Accounting for 65.33%, 17.34% and 13.07% of the SF group. Through the comparative analysis of microbial differences among the treatment groups, it was found that at the phylum level, compared with the SF group, the abundance of Synergistota in the diet of the CF group and the diet of the RB group was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The abundance decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The quantity of Desulfobacterota in the RB group was significantly higher than that in the CF group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, compared with sorghum starch and cassava starch, RB starch can improve the activity of digestive enzymes and villus height in the small intestine of growing pigs and promote the growth of pigs by protecting the intestinal health of growing pigs.