Dietary Fiber Supplementation in Gestating Sow Diet Improved Fetal Growth and Placental Development and Function Through Serotonin Signaling Pathway

Yang Li; Min Yang; Lijia Zhang; Zhengyu Mao; Yan Lin; Shengyu Xu; Zhengfeng Fang; Lianqiang Che; Bin Feng; Jian Li; Yong Zhuo; De Wu

doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.831703

Dietary Fiber Supplementation in Gestating Sow Diet Improved Fetal Growth and Placental Development and Function Through Serotonin Signaling Pathway

Front Vet Sci. 2022 May 12:9:831703. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.831703. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yang Li^{1

2}, Min Yang^{1

3}, Lijia Zhang¹, Zhengyu Mao¹, Yan Lin¹, Shengyu Xu¹, Zhengfeng Fang¹, Lianqiang Che¹, Bin Feng¹, Jian Li¹, Yong Zhuo¹, De Wu¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
² Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Animal Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.
³ Pet Nutrition and Health Research Center, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber (DF) supplementation in gestation diet on fetal growth and placental development and function and explore the possible mechanism of DF improving sow reproductive performance. A total of 16 Large White × Landrace crossbred gilts were randomly allotted to two groups and fed a semi-purified basal diet [non-fiber (NF) group, 0.1% total DF] or a basal diet supplemented with 8.33 g/kg inulin and 200 g/kg cellulose [Fiber (F) group] during the gestation period. On day 106 of gestation, five sows per group were chosen and slaughtered for sample collection. Results showed that DF supplementation during gestation increased the total fetal weight and placental weight on day 106 of gestation; elevated serum serotonin concentration; increased concentrations of serotonin and short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate), as well as tryptophan hydroxylase 1 expression, in colon; elevated serotonin and progesterone concentrations and up-regulated the serotonin transporter, cytochrome P450 11A1, and insulin-like growth factor 2 expressions in the placenta. Besides, the sows in the F group had microbial community structures distinct from those in the NF group. Supplementation of DF in gestation diet increased the Coprococcus 3 abundance that was positively correlated with colonic serotonin concentration, while significantly decreasing the Family XIII AD3011 group abundance which was negatively correlated with colonic serotonin concentration. Above all, DF supplementation in the gestation diet could increase placental serotonin levels by promoting maternal serotonin synthesis in the colon and the transport from the mother to the placenta in sows, and then improve placental development and function, finally promoting fetal growth. Our findings provided insight into the mechanisms of DF improving sow reproductive performance.

Keywords: 5-HT; fiber; gestation; gut microbiota; placenta; reproductive performance.