Study On The Roles And Mechanisms Of Taurine On Growth Performance And Intestinal Development Of Post-weaning Piglets

The objective of this study was conducted to investigate the effects of taurine (Tau), glutamine (Gln) and combination treatments on growth performance, serum parameters, intestinal mucosa morphology and the expression of intestinal mucosa gene in post-weaning piglets.Trial 1 was conducted to study the effects of Tau and Gln on growth perfor mance, serum parameters, intestinal mucosa morphology and the expression of int estinal mucosa gene in post-weaning piglets. Thirty post-weaning piglets were ran domly divided into three groups (10 piglets per group):control group (CON), T group (0.1% Tau), G group (1.0% Gln). The experiment lasted 17 d including 3 d adaptation period.The results showed:(1) The average daily gain and dry matter intake of post-weaning piglets were significantly increased by supplementing Tau or Gln (P<0.05); feed conversion of T group and G group were decreased 13.01% compared with CON group but not significantly difference (P>0.05). (2) The thymu index of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), however, there were no significant difference between T group and G group (P>0.05); Compared with CON group, the T group and G group were improved the relative weight index of jejunum 10.79% and 10.90%, the relative length index of ileuml 0.79% and 10.90% respectively. (3) The activity of alkaline phosphatase in serum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), the concentration of albumin in serum of T group was significant higher than CON group and G group (P<0.05), the concentration of calcium in serum was improved 24.89% and 14.12% respectively but not significantly difference; compared with CON group, the activity aspartate aminotransferase in serum of T group and G group were decreased 7.51% and 11.17%, the concentration of phosphonium in serum were decreased 17.85% and 12.50% respectively. (4) The concentration of total cholesterol in serum was not significant differences among treatments (P>0.05); the concentration of triglyceride in serum of T group and G group was significant lower than CON group.(5) The activity of superoxide dismutase in serum of T group was significantly higher than CON group and G group (P<0.05), the activity of catalase in serum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group; compared with CON group, the activity of total antioxidant capacity in serum of T group and G group had a tendency of rising, the concentration of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in serum had a tendency of descend but not significant differences.(6) Compared with CON group, the concentration of essential amino acid in serum of T group and G group had a tendency of rising, the concentration of non-essential amino acid in serum had a tendency of descend, supplementing taurine had a better effective than glutamine on the concentration of lysine, methionine and Arginine in serum. (7) The villus height and villus height / crypt depth of jejunum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), the crypt depth were significantly decreased than CON group, there were not differences among T group and G group (P>0.05); compared with CON group, the villus height of ileum of T group and G group improved 6.19% and 6.58% respectively but not significantly difference (P>0.05). (8) the expression of cadherin associated protein beta in jejunum and ileum of T group and G group were significantly decreased than CON group (P＜0.05).Trial 2 was conducted to study the effects of Tau and G1n combination treatments on growth performance, serum parameters, intestinal mucosa morphology and the expression of intestinal mucosa gene in post-weaning piglets. Forty Post-weaning Piglets were randomly divided into four groups (10 piglets per group):control group (CON), Ⅰ group (0.1% Tau+0.4% G1n), Ⅱgroup (0.1% Tau+0.6% G1n), Ⅲ group (0.1% Tau+0.8% G1n). The experiment lasted 17 d including 3d adaptation period.The results showed:(1) Average daily gain and dry matter intake of post-weaning piglets were significantly increased by supplementing Tau or G1n (P＜0.05); feed conversion of T group and G group were decreased 13.01% compared with CON group but not significantly difference (P>0.05). (2) The thymu index of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), however, there were no significant difference between T group and G group (P>0.05); compared with CON group, the T group and G group were improved the relative weight index of jejunum 10.79% and 10.90%, the relative length index of ileum 10.79% and 10.90% respectively. (3) The activity of alkaline phosphatase in serum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), the concentration of albumin in serum of T group was significant higher than CON group and G group (P<0.05), the concentration of calcium in serum was improved 24.89% and 14.12% respectively but not significantly difference; compared with CON group, the activity aspartate aminotransferase in serum of T group and G group were decreased 7.51% and 11.17%, the concentration of phosphonium in serum were decreased 17.85% and 12.50% respectively. (4) The concentration of total cholesterol in serum was not significant differences among treatments (P＜0.05); the concentration of triglyceride in serum of T group and G group was significant decreased than CON group. (5) The activity of superoxide dismutase in serum of T group was significantly higher than CON group and G group (P<0.05), The activity of catalase in serum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group; compared with CON group, the activity of total antioxidant capacity in serum of T group and G group had a tendency of rising, the concentration of and nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in serum had a tendency of descend but not significant differences. (6) Compared with CON group, the concentration of essential amino acid in serum of T group and G group had a tendency of rising, the concentration of non-essential amino acid in serum had a tendency of descend, supplementing taurine had a better effective than glutamine on the concentration of lysine, methionine and arginine in serum. (7) The villus height and villus height / crypt depth of jejunum of T group and G group were significantly higher than CON group (P<0.05), the crypt depth were significantly decreased than CON group, there were not differences among T group and G group (P>0.05); compared with CON group, the villus height of ileum of T group and G group improved 6.19% and 6.58% respectively but not significantly difference (P>0.05). (8) the expression of cadherin associated protein beta in jejunum and ileum of T group and G group were significantly decreased than CON group (P<0.05).