Stimulation of intestinal growth with distal ileal infusion of short-chain fatty acid: a reevaluation in a pig model

Abstract

In this study, 18 barrows (Duroc × Landrance × Yorkshire) with average initial body weight of 30.72 (±1.48) kg fitted with a T-cannula in the terminal ileum were randomly allotted to 3 treatments to determine the underlying mechanisms of the regulation role of SCFAs on the intestinal development in a pig model. The treatment groups were: (1) control, (2) antibiotics, Ab, (3) antibiotics + SCFAs (acetic, propionic and butyric acids; 61.84, 18.62, and 12.55 mM, respectively), AS. Antibiotics administration decreased total viable bacteria in the porcine feces by 10 folds (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, pigs in the Ab group had lower SCFAs concentrations in the serum and digesta, as well as decreased SCFAs receptors abundances in the ileum and colon (P < 0.05). However, the SCFAs concentrations and SCFAs receptors abundances in the AS group were higher than those of Ab group (P < 0.05). SCFAs infusion led to alteration of the intestinal index, morphology and elevation of the intestinal development-related genes abundances and the nutrients digestibility and decreasing of the percentage of apoptotic cells when compared with the Ab group (P < 0.05). In addition, SCFAs infusion enhanced TJP1 and MUC-1 abundances and decreased the IL8 abundance in ileum and colon, which were accompanied by greater numbers of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., and less counts of Escherichia coli in these intestinal segments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study provides the systematic and potent evidences demonstrated that distal ileal infusion of SCFAs could stimulate intestinal growth and improve gut barrier function in a pig model.