Department of Animal Science, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P. R. China.
J Anim Sci. 2019 Apr 3;97(4):1693-1700. doi: 10.1093/jas/skz047.
The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Artemisia argyi on the production performance and intestinal barrier of rabbits. Weaned Hyla rabbits (30 d, n = 160) of similar body weight were divided into 4 groups (40 rabbits per treatment), and they were fed a control diet or fed an experimental diet supplemented with 3%, 6%, or 9% A. argyi. The results showed that the dietary supplementation with A. argyi did not affect the rabbits' food intake and body weight gain regardless of the inclusion level but decreased the diarrhea rate and diarrhea index (P < 0.05). Dietary addition of A. argyi increased the small intestine length and villus height/crypt depth, regardless of the inclusion level (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, the A. argyi supplementation increased the gene expression of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and claudin 1 in all segments of the small intestine and regardless of the level of A. argyi (P < 0.05). In the duodenum, a dietary supplementation with 6% and 9% A. argyi increased the immunoglobulins A (IgA) content (P < 0.05). In the jejunum, the A. argyi supplementation decreased interleukin 2 (IL2) and IL6 content regardless of the inclusion level (P < 0.05). In the ileum, a 3% A. argyi addition decreased IL2 content, whereas a 6% A. argyi addition decreased IL6 content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 6%-9% A. argyi supplementation increased the IgA content in the ileum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary addition of A. argyi reduces diarrhea and modulates the gut immune function without affecting growth performances of rabbits.
本研究旨在探讨艾蒿对兔生产性能和肠道屏障的影响。选择体重相近的断奶海狸兔（30 日龄，n = 160）分为 4 组（每组 40 只），分别饲喂基础日粮或添加 3%、6%和 9%艾蒿的试验日粮。结果表明，日粮中添加艾蒿对兔的采食量和体重增长没有影响，但降低了腹泻率和腹泻指数（P < 0.05）。无论添加水平如何，日粮添加艾蒿均可增加小肠长度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度（P < 0.05）。与对照组相比，艾蒿添加组所有肠段的闭锁蛋白 1（ZO-1）和紧密连接蛋白 1（claudin 1）基因表达均增加，且不受艾蒿添加水平的影响（P < 0.05）。在十二指肠，6%和 9%艾蒿添加组增加了免疫球蛋白 A（IgA）含量（P < 0.05）。在空肠，艾蒿添加组降低了白细胞介素 2（IL2）和 IL6 含量，无论添加水平如何（P < 0.05）。在回肠中，3%艾蒿添加组降低了 IL2 含量，而 6%艾蒿添加组降低了 IL6 含量（P < 0.05）。此外，6%-9%艾蒿添加组增加了回肠 IgA 含量（P < 0.05）。综上所述，日粮添加艾蒿可减少腹泻，调节肠道免疫功能，而不影响兔的生长性能。
