Effects Of Astragalus Polysaccharide On Growth Performance And Immune Performance And Intestinal Health Of Bamboo Rats

The Bamboo rat is a kind of precious special animal with high economic value.Under the condition of artificial feeding,its resistance is poor and it is easy to cause a series of adverse sympton such as stress reaction and gastrointestinal diseases.Therefore,it is vital for its growth to improve the immunity,disease resistance and intestinal function of its.Astragalus Polysaccharide,as a feed additive,has been used in the production of various animals,which plays a role in promoting growth,enhancing immunity and regulating intestinal function.As the research object,3-month-old Yinxing bamboo rats were selected for studying the effects of Astragalus Polysaccharide on the growth performance,antioxidant capacity,immune performance and intestinal health of bamboo rats.Ninety-six healthy 3-month-old Yinxing bamboo rats of similar weight were randomly divided into 4groups with 6 replicates in each group and 4 bamboo rats in each replicate.Control group and experimental group were respectively set up in the four groups,and the three experimental groups were respectively referred to,200 mg APS,400 mg APS,600 mg APS group.The control group was fed with refined and coarse feed,while three experimental groups were additionally supplemented with Astragalus Polysaccharide of 200mg/kg,400mg/kg,600mg/kg on the basis of the refined feed.The preliminary period is 15 d,and the positive period is 60 d,at the end of the study the control group and the heaviest of experimental group of 600mg/kg group are selected for slaughter sampling.Six bamboo rats were selected for each group and then 1 bamboo rat was randomly selected from each replicate.The results are as follows:(1)Growth performance:With the increase of Astragalus Polysaccharide supplemental dose,the BW,ADG and survival rates of bamboo rats has been improved gradually,compared with the control group and the 200 mg APS group,the BW and ADG of bamboo rats in the 600 mg APS group were significantly increased(P<0.05);the ADFI of coarse feed rations in the 400 mg APS group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the ADFI of coarse feed rations extremely in the 600 mg APS group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),the F/G of the coarse feed rations in the 600 mg APS group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),and there was no significant in the ADFI and F/G of refined feed rations among all groups(P>0.05).(2)Serum biochemical indicators:Compared with the control group,the contents of ALT,ALP,LDL,HDL-C,TG,GLU,LDH,UA,CREA and ALB in serum of 600 mg APS group were not significantly different(P>0.05);but the contents of AST,TC,and UN in serum of 600 mg APS group were decreased by 21.74%,56.74%,22.91%,and the contents of TP was increased by 23.51%,all with significant differences(P<0.05).(3)Antioxidant capacity:Compared with the control group,the activity of SOD,and CAT in the serum of 600 mg APS group were respectively increased by 38.90%,34.22%(P<0.01),and the activity of MDA were decreased by 38.57%(P<0.01),the activity of T-AOC and GSH-Px in the serum of bamboo rats were increased by 49.25%,25.31%(P<0.05);The activity of T-AOC,GSH-Px and CAT in the liver were significantly increased(P<0.05),the activity of SOD in the liver were increased by 19.53%(P<0.01),and the MDA content was reduced by 35.81%(P<0.01).(4)Immune performance:About immunoglobulin,compared with the control group,the contents of Ig A,Ig G,and Ig M in the serum of bamboo rats of the 600 mg APS group were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);the contents of Ig A,Ig M in the jejunum were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the contents of Ig G in the jejunum was extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);the contents of Ig A,Ig G in the ileum were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01),and the contents of Ig G in the ileum was significantly increased(P<0.05).About immune cytokines,compared with the control group,the contents of IL-6,TNF-α,INF-γ,and IL-1β in the serum of bamboo rats of the600 mg APS group were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-2 was significantly increased(P<0.05);The levels of TNF-α,INF-γ and IL-1β in the jejunum were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);the contents of IL-6,TNF-α and INF-γ in the ileum of were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);There was no significant in the contents of IL-2 and IL-6 in the jejunum,IL-2 and IL-1β in the ileum(P>0.05).About Immune organ index,compared with the control group,the spleen index and thymus index of the 600 mg APS group were respectively increased by 33.33% and 25.56%(P<0.05).(5)Gene expression:Compared with the control group,the m RNA expression of TNF-α in the spleen of bamboo rats was increased by 18.10% in the 600 mg APS group(P<0.01),the m RNA expression of IL-1β was increased by 36.43%(P<0.05);and there was no significant in the m RNA expression of INF-γ(P>0.05).(6)Intestinal morphology:Compared with control group,the duodenal CD in600 mg APS group of bamboo rats was significantly reduced(P<0.05),VH/CD was extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);the jejunal VH and VH/CD were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);the ileal VH/CD was extremely significantly increased(P<0.01),and ileum CD was significantly decreased(P<0.05);there was no significant in duodenal VH,ileal VH and jejunal CD(P>0.05).(7)Intestinal flora:Compared with the control group,the Simpson index of Alpha diversity analysis in the 600 mg APS group was significantly increased(P<0.05);Beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes at the level of phylum and Lactobacillus at the level of genera were increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion:The addition of Astragalus Polysaccharide in the feed of bamboo rats can enhance the antioxidant capacity,immune performance and intestinal health of theirs,which thus improves the growth performance and survival rate of theirs.And adding 600mg/kg of Astragalus Polysaccharide in the feed of bamboo rats is best for the growth performance of theirs.