Early life administration of milk fat globule membrane promoted SCFA-producing bacteria colonization, intestinal barriers and growth performance of neonatal piglets

Yujun Wu; Xiangyu Zhang; Dandan Han; Yu Pi; Shiyu Tao; Shiyi Zhang; Shilan Wang; Junying Zhao; Lijun Chen; Junjun Wang

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2020.07.012

Early life administration of milk fat globule membrane promoted SCFA-producing bacteria colonization, intestinal barriers and growth performance of neonatal piglets

Anim Nutr. 2021 Jun;7(2):346-355. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2020.07.012. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Authors

Yujun Wu¹, Xiangyu Zhang¹, Dandan Han¹, Yu Pi¹, Shiyu Tao¹, Shiyi Zhang¹, Shilan Wang¹, Junying Zhao², Lijun Chen², Junjun Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
² National Engineering Center of Dairy for Early Life Health, Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100163, China.

Abstract

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) possesses various nutritional and biological benefits for mammals, whereas its effects on neonatal gut microbiota and barrier integrity remained unclear. This study investigated the effects of MFGM administration on microbial compositions and intestinal barrier functions of neonatal piglets. Sixteen newborn piglets were randomly allocated into a CON group or MFGM group, orally administered with saline or MFGM solution (1 g/kg body weight) respectively during the first postnatal week, and all piglets were breastfed during the whole neonatal period. The present study found that the MFGM oral administration during the first postnatal week increased the plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G level, body weight and average daily gain of piglets (P < 0.05) on 21 d. Additionally, MFGM administration enriched fecal SCFA-producing bacteria (Ruminococ aceae_UCG-002, Ruminococ aceae_UCG-010, Ruminococ aceae_UCG-004, Ruminococ aceae_UCG-014 and [Ruminococcus]_gauvrearuii_group), SCFA concentrations (acetate, propionate and butyrate; P < 0.05) and their receptor (G-protein coupled receptor 41, GPR41). Furthermore, MFGM administration promoted intestinal villus morphology (P < 0.05) and barrier functions by upregulating genes of tight junctions (E-cadherin, claudin-1, occludin and zonula occludin 1 [ZO-1]), mucins (mucin-13 and mucin-20) and interleukin (IL)-22 (P < 0.05). Positive correlation was found between the beneficial microbes and SCFA levels pairwise with the intestinal barrier genes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, orally administrating MFGM during the first postnatal week stimulated SCFA-producing bacteria colonization and SCFA generation, enhanced intestinal barrier functions and consequently improved growth performance of neonatal piglets on 21 d. Our findings will provide new insights about MFGM intervention for microbial colonization and intestinal development of neonates during their early life.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Intestinal barrier; Milk fat globule membrane; Piglet; SCFA.