Effects of NCG and L-arginine on immune function and HSP70 expression of intestinal mucosa in weaning piglets

摘要

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and L-arginine (Arg) on immune function and HSP70 expression of intestinal mucosa in early-weaned piglets. Eighty-nine healthy Landrace×Yorkshine piglets weaned at 21 d (average pen weight 5.56±0.51 kg) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, supplying with one of the following diets for 7 days: a standard diet (SD), SD+NCG (0.08%), or SD+Arg (0.6%), respectively. Six piglets were selected from each treatment randomly for serum samples. Then the selected piglets were slaughtered for intestinal and mucosa samples. Results showed that serum IgM concentration in the NCG group was lower than that in the Arg group (P<0.05). HSP70 mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of mucous membrane, and was higher in the NCG and Arg groups. Both of Arg and NCG increased intraepithelial leucocyte (IEL) counts along the villous mucosal epithelium of the ileum significantly (P<0.05), compared with control piglets. However, IEL counts were similar between the three groups in the duodenum and jejunum. Western blotting further confirmed that CD4 expression was higher in ileum mucosa (P<0.05), and had a high trend in jejunum (P>0.05) in the Arg and NCG group. Also, the results showed that NCG increased TNF-α in jejunum and ileum mucosa (P>0.05). The results indicated that dietary supplementation with 0.08% NCG or 0.6% Arg could induce HSP70 expression and improve immune function of intestinal mucosa in weanling piglets.