Effect Of Grape Seed Procyanidins On Intestinal Function And Intestinal Microbiota In Weaned Piglets

The trail was conducted to investigate the effect of grape seed procyanidins(GSPs)on intestinal function and composition and change of intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.A total of 72 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshine piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 3 replicate pens per group and 6 piglets per pen according to the principle of similar body weight and normal development.Each group fed with a basal corn-soybean meal diet,and the basal diet supplemented with 50,100 or 150 mg/kg GSPs respectively.The trial lasted for 28 d.Blood samples were collected on d 14 and d 28 for detecting the intestinal barrier function.On the 28 th day of the trial,the piglets that had been collected blood were slaughtered and sampled.The duodenum,jejunum and ileum tissues were taken to determine the intestinal morphology and expression of genes related to intestinal development,and the contents of the cecal,colon and rectum were used for 16 Sr DNA sequencing to detect the effect of GSPs on composition and change of intestinal microbiota.The results of morphological observation by optical microscope showed that the villus height of duodenum and ileum increased in all GSPs groups and increased significantly in 100 mg/kg GSPs group as compared with the control group(P<0.05).The crypt depth of the jejunum in GSPs group at 100 mg/kg was significantly lowered(P<0.05).What's more,the villus height/crypt depth ratio(VH/CD)of each small intestinal segment in GSPs group at 100 mg/kg increased significantly(P<0.05).The results of morphological observation by scanning electron microscopy indicated that supplementation with different levels of GSPs was favorable for growth of small intestinal villi.Specifically,the villi of small intestinal in 100 mg/kg GSPs group were most closely aligned,most uniform in size and clearest in structure.Furthermore,dietary supplementation with GSPs increased the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor(IGF-1R)in duodenum,and the GSPs group of 100 mg/kg showed a signif icant rise(P<0.05).The serum diamine oxidase(DAO)activity and endotoxin levels were decreased by GSPs supplementation in piglets diets.The results 16 Sr DNA sequencing showed that dietary supplementation with GSPs has some impact on the richness and diversity of gut microbiota.And dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg GSP could increase simultaneous ly richness and diversity of bacterical community in cecum,colon and rectum.Dietary supplementation with GSPs increased the relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and Actinobacteria in cecum microbiota.And high numbers of Lactobacillus and Steptococcus in cecum microbiota in the groups supplementation with GSPs.In addition,the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes of colon or rectum microbiota was increased in the group supplemented 100 mg/kg GSPs.Based on the above results,it was found that addition of GSPs to the diet of weaned piglets could increase the height of small intestine villi,decrease the depth of crypts and improve the morphology of small intestine;could decrease intestinal permeability and improve intestinal barrier function;could enhance the expression of genes related to intestinal development and promote the development of small intestine;could increase the abundance and diversity of the intestinal microbiota and affect the composition of the intestinal mirobiota in weaned piglets.In addition,it was also found that dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg GSPs was most effective to improve the intestinal development and increase the abundance of intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets.