Dietary stimulation of the endogenous somatotropic axis in weaner and grower-finisher pigs using medium chain triglycerides and cysteamine hydrochloride

Abstract

BackgroundThree experiments were conducted to examine the overall hypothesis that addition of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) into the diets of young and growing pigs would stimulate the endogenous somatotropic axis to improve growth and performance.ResultsIn Experiment 1, weaner pigs were given either a 5 d dietary supplement of 5 % MCT (n = 8) or a control diet (n = 8). MCT increased the plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH; P < 0.05) and the GH secretagogue, ghrelin (P < 0.05). Additionally, the MCT treatment reduced scouring (P < 0.05), maintained villous height in the small intestine (P < 0.05) and stabilised daily weight gain (P < 0.05), compared to the controls. Experiment 2 compared the effects of 4 levels (0, 1, 3 and 6 % v/v) of MCT supplementation in grower-finisher male pigs, of approximately 35 kg live weight (n = 15 per treatment). Blood samples taken after 7 wk of treatment showed that the MCT supplementation increased circulating ghrelin (P < 0.001), GH (P < 0.01) and insulin (P < 0.05) concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the MCT diets. In Experiment 3, 64 female pigs of approximately 60 kg live weight were allocated to one of three dietary treatments: control (n = 20); 6 % MCT (n = 21); and 70 mg/kg CSH (n = 21). After 3 wk of supplementation, the MCT treated pigs had a higher plasma concentration of ghrelin compared to the control and CSH pigs (P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of GH and weight were not affected by any of the dietary treatments.ConclusionsEvidence is provided in Experiment 1 to support the use of dietary MCT supplements, perhaps acting via stimulation of somatotropic endocrine pathways, to minimise weaning-associated disorders such as slowing of growth and diarrhoea. In Experiments 2 and 3, although there was no effect on weight gain or feed conversion ratio in either experiment, MCT and CSH increased endocrine components of the somatotropic axis.

Sodium salt medium-chain fatty acids andBacillus-based probiotic strategies to improve growth and intestinal health of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

“…This growth-promoting action was supported by histological and gene expression data at the intestine level (see below) and by a slight, although non-significant, increase of the circulating IGF/GH quotient, which can be viewed as an increased liver GH-responsiveness to the anabolic action of GH. This agrees with the observation that dietary medium-chain triglycerides act in young and growing pigs via stimulation of somatotropic endocrine pathways, minimizing weaning-associated disorders such as slow growth and diarrhea ( Miller et al, 2016 ). Other potential benefits could be mediated by changes in the intestinal microbiota ( Lai et al, 2014 ), although the therapeutic potential of MCFAs and their potential benefits on feed intake and key performance indicators seems to be highly dependent on the intake dose and age of piglets ( Lai et al, 2014 : Zhang et al, 2016 ).…”

Feeding Conjugated Linoleic Acid without a Combination of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids during Late Gestation and Lactation Improves Pre-Weaning Survival Rates of Gilt and Sow Progeny

“…Mechanisms may include anionic surfactant function [34], destabilization of bacterial cell walls and membranes by incorporation into the membrane itself and (or) inhibition of bacterial lipase [46,47,48], initiating cell death via disassociating within the bacterial cell and lowering pH [49,50], or by triggering cell autolysis by activation of bacterial enzymes [51]. Dietary MCTs have also been shown to stimulate growth hormone (GH) release in pigs, most likely through increased bioactivation of ghrelin [52]. Moreover, due to their positive effects on energy homeostasis and gut health [53,54], MCFA may be effective in improving FA metabolism in sows, increasing milk FA content and suckling piglet energy levels as a result [55,56,57].…”

Dietary cysteamine hydrochloride protects against oxidation, inflammation, and mucosal barrier disruption of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

“…In the present study, C. perfringens challenge depressed the ADG and G:F of broiler chickens, which was consistent with the report by Liu et al (2018), while these negative effects were attenuated by CSH supplementation, indicating that the CSH can partially protect broiler chickens from C. perfringens infection. It was reported that the CSH added at 70 mg/kg of feed improved the growth of grower or finisher pigs (Dunshea, 2007;Miller et al, 2016). In broiler chickens, cysteamine supplemented at 60 and 80 mg/kg (equal to CSH at 75 and 100 mg/kg) of feed improved feed conversion along the rearing cycle, but did not affect feed intake and weight gain (Nunes et al, 2012).…”