The Effects Of Alpha-ketoglutarate On Liver Morphological Structure And Physiological Function In Lipopolysaccharide Challenged Piglets

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate(AKG) on liver morphological structure and physiological function inlipopolysaccharide challenged piglets.Twenty-four piglets (Duroc×Landrace×Large White) weaned at 21 d of age(BW 7.25±1.13 kg) were randomly assigned into three treatment groups (8replicates per group and one pig per replicate): control group, LPS group and AKGgroup. The control group and LPS group were fed with the basal diet + 1% starch,and the AKG group was fed with the basal diet +1% AKG. The whole trial periodwas 16 d. At d 10, 12, 14 and 16, the piglets in the LPS group and AKG group wereinjected LPS (80μg/kg·BW) intraperitoneally, and the control group were injectedwith same dose of physiological saline. At d 16, after 3 h of LPS or physiologicalsaline injection, blood samples were collected from precava vein. At d 17, all of thepigs were anaesthetized (by injected with sodium pentobarbital, 50μg/kg·BW) andslaughtered, the liver tissue were rapidly removed and quick freezing in liquidnitrogen, then stored in -80℃fridge.The results were showed as follows:(1) Effects of AKG on liver histology morphological structure and proteinsynthesis in LPS challenged piglets. The results showed that LPS challeng causedliver morphological changes, increased liver protein content (P<0.05)and the ratioof RNA/DNA(P<0.01), while supplemention of 1% AKG to the ration of pigletscould alleviate liver injury and inhibited the increase of liver protein synthesisinduced by LPS challeng to some extent.(2) Effects of AKG on hepatocyte injury and liver antioxidative in LPSchallenged piglets. The results showed that LPS challeng caused increases ofplasma ADA activity (P<0.05); Liver MDA content was increased (P<0.05) andGSH-Px activity was decreased (P<0.05). While supplemention of 1% AKG to theration of piglets could alleviate hepatocyte injury induced by LPS challeng, decreased liver lipid peroxidation injury and protect liver antioxidative capacityeffectively.(3) Effects of AKG on liver energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism inLPS challenged piglets. The results showed that LPS challeng caused liver ADPcontent decreas (P<0.01), AMP content was increased (P<0.05) and TAN contenthad an increased trend (P<0.1). Meanwhile, liver Tyr content was decreased(P<0.05) and Lys content had a decreased trend (P<0.1). While supplementation of1% AKG to the diet could improve liver energy metabolism effectively, and couldalleviate the change of liver amino acid metabolism induced by LPS challeng.In conclusion, LPS challenged caused liver morphological and physiologicalinjury, and supplementation of 1% AKG could relieve liver injury induced by LPSchalleng.