Department of Animal and Food Science, Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service (SNIBA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, Ecuador.
J Anim Sci. 2022 Jun 1;100(6). doi: 10.1093/jas/skac161.
Modern hyperprolific sows must deal with large litters (16-20 piglets) which reduce piglet birthweight with a concomitant increase in the proportion of small and intrauterine growth retarded piglets. However, larger litters do not only have a greater variation of piglet weights, but also a greater variation in colostrum and milk consumption within the litter. To further understand the impact that body weight has on piglets, the present study aimed to evaluate the degree of physiological weakness of the smallest piglets at birth and during the suckling period (20 d) compared to their middle-weight littermates through their jejunal gene expression. At birth, light piglets showed a downregulation of genes related to immune response (FAXDC2, HSPB1, PPARGC1α), antioxidant enzymes (SOD2m), digestive enzymes (ANPEP, IDO1, SI), and nutrient transporter (SLC39A4) (P < 0.05) but also a tendency for a higher mRNA expression of GBP1 (inflammatory regulator) and HSD11β1 (stress hormone) genes compared to their heavier littermates (P < 0.10). Excluding HSD11β1 gene, all these intestinal gene expression differences initially observed at birth between light and middle-weight piglets were stabilized at the end of the suckling period, when others appeared. Genes involved in barrier function (CLDN1), pro-inflammatory response (CXCL2, IL6, IDO1), and stress hormone signaling (HSD11β1) over-expressed compared to their middle-weight littermates (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at birth and at the end of suckling period, light body weight piglets seem to have a compromised gene expression and therefore impaired nutrient absorption, immune and stress responses compared to their heavier littermates.
现代高产母猪必须应对较大的产仔数（16-20 头仔猪），这会降低仔猪初生重，并伴随着更多的小仔猪和宫内生长迟缓仔猪。然而，较大的产仔数不仅会导致仔猪体重差异更大，而且同一窝仔猪的初乳和乳汁消耗也会有更大的差异。为了进一步了解体重对仔猪的影响，本研究旨在通过仔猪空肠基因表达，评估出生时和哺乳期（20 天）最小仔猪相对于中等体重同窝仔猪的生理脆弱程度。出生时，轻仔猪表现出与免疫反应（FAXDC2、HSPB1、PPARGC1α）、抗氧化酶（SOD2m）、消化酶（ANPEP、IDO1、SI）和营养转运体（SLC39A4）相关基因下调（P < 0.05），但也表现出更高的炎症调节因子 GBP1 和应激激素 HSD11β1 基因的 mRNA 表达趋势（P < 0.10），与较重的同窝仔猪相比。除 HSD11β1 基因外，在哺乳期结束时，这些最初在出生时观察到的轻仔猪和中等体重仔猪之间的肠道基因表达差异得到稳定，此时又出现了其他基因的差异。参与屏障功能（CLDN1）、促炎反应（CXCL2、IL6、IDO1）和应激激素信号转导（HSD11β1）的基因表达上调（P < 0.05）。综上所述，在出生时和哺乳期结束时，与较重的同窝仔猪相比，轻体重仔猪的基因表达似乎受损，因此在营养吸收、免疫和应激反应方面受到损害。
