Effects of tributyrin on the development and immune function of the liver in the intrauterine growth restricted suckling piglets

[Objectives]This experiment was conducted to study the effects of tributyrin on the development and immune function of the liver in the intrauterine growth restricted( IUGR) suckling piglets. [Methods]24 new born piglets( Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshine)were chosen and assigned to three treatment groups. 8 normal birth weight piglets were allocated to normal birth weight( NBW)group,and 16 IUGR piglets were randomly assigned into IUGR group and IT( IUGR + tributyrin) group. All piglets were weaned at7 day of age,and were fed with the artificial milk diets from day 7 to 21. Piglets in the NBW group and the IUGR group were fed with basic milk diets,while piglets in the IT group were fed with basic milk diets supplemented with 0.10% tributyrin. 6 piglets in each group were selected and sacrificed on day 21. [Results]The results showed that: 1) The liver weight of the piglets in the IUGR group was smaller than that of the NBW group( P0.05); the liver weight of the piglets in the IT group was higher than that of IUGR group( P0.05) and the liver index of IT group was significantly higher than that of IUGR group and NBW group( P0.05). 2) The content of insulin growth factor-1( IGF-1) in the liver of the piglets in the IUGR group was significantly lower than that in NBW group and IT group( P0.05),but the content of IGF-1 in IT group was higher than that in NBW group( P0.05). The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α),interleukin-4( IL-4) in the liver of the piglets in the IUGR group were significantly higher than those of NBW group and IT group( P0.05),but there were no significant differences between IT and NBW groups( P0.05). 3) The expression of IGF-1 mRNA in the liver of the piglets in the IUGR group was significantly lower than that in the NBW group and IT group( P0.05). The expression of Ghrelin mRNA in the liver of the piglets in the IUGR group was significantly higher than that of NBW and IT group( P0.05),but there was no significant difference between IT group and NBW group( P 0. 05). 4) The expression of interleukin-1β( IL-1β) and IL-4 mRNA in the liver of the piglets in the IUGR group was very significantly higher than that in the NBW group( P0.01). But the expression of IL-1β mRNA in the liver of the piglets in the IT group was significantly lower than thatin the NBW group( P0.01). The expression of IL-4 mRNA in the liver of the piglets in the IT group was significantly higher than that in the NBW group( P0.01). [Conclusions]These results indicated that the development of liver may be hindered by IUGR.Tributyrin could promote liver development by increasing the contents of liver insulin growth factor-1 and could improve the index of liver. IUGR may strengthen liver inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response at the same time. Tributyrin could effectively alleviate the inflammation of the liver and enhance the immune function of IUGR piglets liver.