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PSXIII-28 Effects of Actigen in antibiotics-free diets on growth performance, intestinal barrier functions and inflammation in weaned piglets


 This study aimed to investigate the effects of ActigenTM, a second-generation mannan rich fraction, on growth performance, intestinal barrier functions and inflammation in weaned piglets. A total of 150 weaned piglets were randomly assigned to Control, antibiotics and Actigen groups and received 1 of 3 dietary treatments: a basal antibiotics-free diet to which 100 mg/kg antibiotics or 800 mg/kg Actigen were added. Body weight and feed intake were recorded. On day 28, 10 piglets per treatment were selected to collect blood, small intestinal segments and mucosa samples. Intestinal morphology and goblet cell number were determined. Expression of tight junction proteins and Toll Like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling were detected. D-lactic acid (DLA) and inflammatory cytokines in serum were also measured. Actigen or antibiotics supplemented diets significantly reduced incidence of diarrhea, with no effect on growth performance. Intestinal morphology revealed that antibiotics significantly decreased, while Actigen markedly increased the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. PAS staining demonstrated that the goblet cell number was markedly elevated in jejunum of the Actigen fed piglets. In addition, the expression of tight junction proteins was significantly decreased and increased by antibiotics and Actigen use, respectively. Accordingly, the intestinal permeability was elevated by antibiotics use, with the increased serum DLA. Furthermore, Actigen fed piglets had lower serum proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and higher serum anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In contrast, antibiotics use led to the increase of serum IL-1β. Moreover, the expression of TLR4, Myd88, and IKKβ phosphyorlation were enhanced by antibiotics use, suggesting the activation of TLR4 signaling pathway. However, Actigen supplemented diet had no effect on the TLR4 signaling pathway. In conclusion, compared with the control and antibiotics groups, Actigen supplemented diet had the similar or improved effects on growth performance, intestinal barrier functions and inflammation in weaned piglets.