Effects of Glutamate and Aspartate on Serum Antioxidative Enzyme, Sex Hormones, and Genital Inflammation in Boars Challenged with Hydrogen Peroxide

Background. Oxidative stress is associated with infertility. This study was conducted to determine the effects of glutamate and aspartate on serum antioxidative enzymes, sex hormones, and genital inflammation in boars suffering from oxidative stress. Methods. Boars were randomly divided into 4 groups: the nonchallenged control (CON) and H2O2-challenged control (BD) groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 2% alanine; the other two groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% glutamate (GLU) or 2% aspartate (ASP). The BD, GLU, and ASP groups were injected with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on day 15. The CON group was injected with 0.9% sodium chloride solution on the same day. Results. Dietary aspartate decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum (P<0.05) compared with the BD group. Additionally, aspartate maintained serum luteinizing hormone (LH) at a relatively stable level. Moreover, glutamate and aspartate increased transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the epididymis and testis (P<0.05) compared with the BD group. Conclusion. Both glutamate and aspartate promoted genital mRNA expressions of anti-inflammatory factors after oxidative stress. Aspartate more effectively decreased serum MDA and prevented fluctuations in serum sex hormones after H2O2 challenge than did glutamate

The Effects of Phytase and Non-Starch Polysaccharide-Hydrolyzing Enzymes on Trace Element Deposition, Intestinal Morphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Growing&ndash;Finishing Pigs

This study investigated the effects of supplementing phytase and non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (NSPases) to corn&ndash;soybean meal-based diet on the growth performance, trace element deposition, and intestinal health of growing&ndash;finishing pigs. Fifty pigs were randomly assigned into the control (basal diet), phytase (basal diet + 100 g/t of phytase), &beta;-mannanase (basal diet + 40 g/t of &beta;-mannanase), &beta;-glucanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of &beta;-glucanase), and xylanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of xylanase) groups. The results show that the supplementation of phytase and NSPases had no impacts (p&thinsp; &gt; &thinsp;0.05) on the growth performance of pigs. Compared with the control group, pigs fed with xylanase had higher (p &lt; 0.05) Zn concentrations in the ileum and muscle and those fed with phytase had higher (p &lt; 0.05) Zn concentrations in the ileum. Phytase and xylanase supplementation decreased (p &lt; 0.05) fecal Zn concentrations in pigs compared with the control group (p &lt; 0.05). In addition, phytase, &beta;-mannanase, &beta;-glucanase, and xylanase supplementation up-regulated (p &lt; 0.05) the FPN1 expression, whereas xylanase up-regulated (p &lt; 0.05) the Znt1 expression in the duodenum of pigs compared with the control group. Moreover, phytase, &beta;-glucanase, and xylanase supplementation up-regulated (p &lt; 0.05) the jejunal Znt1 expression compared with the control group. The intestinal morphology results show that the phytase, &beta;-mannanase, and xylanase groups had increased villus heights (VHs), an increased villus height&ndash;crypt depth ratio (VH:CD), and decreased crypt depths (CDs) in the duodenum, whereas phytase, &beta;-mannanase, &beta;-glucanase, and xylanase groups had decreased VH and VH:CD, and increased CD in the jejunum compared with the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Pigs fed with exogenous enzymes had decreased bacterial diversity in the cecum. The dietary supplementation of NSPases increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreased spirochaetes (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with the control group, dietary NSPase treatment decreased (p &lt; 0.05) the opportunistic pathogens, such as Treponema_2 and Eubacterium_ruminantium. Moreover, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014 and Lachnospiraceae were enriched in the &beta;-glucanase and &beta;-mannanase groups (p &lt; 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, phytase and xylanase supplementation may promote zinc deposition in pigs. Additionally, the supplementation of NSPases may improve the gut health of pigs by modulating the intestinal morphology and microbiota

The Effects of Phytase and Non-Starch Polysaccharide-Hydrolyzing Enzymes on Trace Element Deposition, Intestinal Morphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Growing–Finishing Pigs

This study investigated the effects of supplementing phytase and non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (NSPases) to corn–soybean meal-based diet on the growth performance, trace element deposition, and intestinal health of growing–finishing pigs. Fifty pigs were randomly assigned into the control (basal diet), phytase (basal diet + 100 g/t of phytase), β-mannanase (basal diet + 40 g/t of β-mannanase), β-glucanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of β-glucanase), and xylanase (basal diet + 100 g/t of xylanase) groups. The results show that the supplementation of phytase and NSPases had no impacts (p  >  0.05) on the growth performance of pigs. Compared with the control group, pigs fed with xylanase had higher (p p p p p FPN1 expression, whereas xylanase up-regulated (p Znt1 expression in the duodenum of pigs compared with the control group. Moreover, phytase, β-glucanase, and xylanase supplementation up-regulated (p Znt1 expression compared with the control group. The intestinal morphology results show that the phytase, β-mannanase, and xylanase groups had increased villus heights (VHs), an increased villus height–crypt depth ratio (VH:CD), and decreased crypt depths (CDs) in the duodenum, whereas phytase, β-mannanase, β-glucanase, and xylanase groups had decreased VH and VH:CD, and increased CD in the jejunum compared with the control group (p p p Treponema_2 and Eubacterium_ruminantium. Moreover, the relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014 and Lachnospiraceae were enriched in the β-glucanase and β-mannanase groups (p < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, phytase and xylanase supplementation may promote zinc deposition in pigs. Additionally, the supplementation of NSPases may improve the gut health of pigs by modulating the intestinal morphology and microbiota

Determination of Enrofloxacin in Bovine Milk by a Novel Single-Stranded DNA Aptamer Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay

<div><p>Enrofloxacin, a widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotic, may be a cause of bacterial drug resistance and is forbidden in poultry. Consequently, a sensitive and rapid method is required for its determination. Aptamers, which are more stable and easily synthesized than antibodies, may serve as alternatives in the development of methods for rapid detection. Six single-strand DNA aptamers binding to enrofloxacin were selected by in vitro selection. Aptamer number 17 showed the highest affinity for enrofloxacin with a dissociation constant of 188 nM and the highest guanine concentration (35%), which was predicted to be crucial for strong affinity of the aptamer to enrofloxacin, and successfully distinguished enrofloxacin from its structure analogs. Using aptamer number 17, a novel chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay associating with biotin-streptavidin was developed that allowed the determination of enrofloxacin to 2.26 ng/mL. Due to its capability to determine enrofloxacin in bovine milk, this newly selected aptamer may find broad application in food and environmental monitoring.</p> </div

Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall Extract Supplementation Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Modulates Serum Amino Acids Profiles in Weaned Piglets

This research aims to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall extract (SCCWE) on growth performance, oxidative stress, intestinal morphology, and serum amino acid concentration in weaned piglets. Utilizing a completely randomized design, 40 healthy piglets weaned at 21 d were grouped into 4 experimental treatments with 10 pigs per treatment group. Treatments consisted of a basal diet (T0), a basal diet with a 0.05% SCCWE (T1), a basal diet with a 0.10% SCCWE (T2), and a basal diet with a 0.15% SCCWE (T3). SCCWE supplementation increased the average daily gain and final body weight compared with T0 (P<0.05). SCCWE in T2 and T3 improved the average daily feed intake and decreased the feed/gain ratio compared with T1 and T2 (P<0.05). SCCWE decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly compared to T0 (P<0.05). SCCWE increased the concentration of Ile compared to T0 (P<0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of Leu, Phe, and Arg were higher in T2 and T3 (P<0.05). These findings indicate beneficial effects of SCCWE supplementation on growth performance, the concentration of some essential amino acids, and alleviation of oxidative stress in weaned piglets

Intestinal relative mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines.

<p>IL-1, interleukin 1; IL-6, interleukin 6; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; IFN-γ, interferon γ; TFF3, trefoil factor 3; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. Data were shown as the mean ± SEM, n = 8. ^a,bMean values within different letters were significantly different (P<0.05).</p

Comparison of porous and nano zinc oxide for replacing high-dose dietary regular zinc oxide in weaning piglets

<div><p>The aim of this study was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation with low dose of porous and nano zinc oxide (ZnO) on weaning piglets, and to evaluate the possibility of using them as an alternative to high dose of regular ZnO. Piglets were randomly allocated into four treatment groups fed with four diets: (1) basal diet (NC), (2) NC+ 3000 mg/kg ZnO (PC), (3) NC + 500 mg/kg porous ZnO (HiZ) and (4) NC + 500 mg/kg nano ZnO (ZNP). The result showed that piglets in HiZ group had less diarrhea than ZNP group (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference between PC, HiZ and ZNP groups in terms of serum malondialdeyhde (MDA) concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (<i>P</i> > 0.05). Analysis of trace metal elements revealed that piglets fed with high dose of regular ZnO had the highest Zn level in kidney (<i>P</i> < 0.05), which may induce kidney stone formation. Additionally, a decrease in ileal crypt depth was observed in PC, HiZ and ZNP group, suggesting an effective protection against intestinal injury. Results of mRNA analysis in intestine showed that ZNP supplementation had better effects on up-regulated trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in duodenum and jejunum than HiZ did (<i>P</i> < 0.05), implying that nano ZnO may possess higher anti-inflammatory capacity than porous ZnO. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with low dose of porous and nano ZnO had similar (even better) effect on improving growth performance and intestinal morphology, reducing diarrhea and intestinal inflammatory as high dose of regular ZnO in weaning piglets. Compared with nano ZnO, porous ZnO had better performance on reducing diarrhea but less effect on up-regulation of intestinal TFF3 and Nrf2.</p></div

Growth performance and the incidence rate of diarrhea.

<p>Growth performance and the incidence rate of diarrhea.</p

Effect of different sources of ZnO on intestinal morphology of weanling pigs¹.

<p>Effect of different sources of ZnO on intestinal morphology of weanling pigs<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0182550#t005fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p