Tryptophan Supplementation Increases Reproduction Performance, Milk Yield, and Milk Composition in Lactating Sows and Growth Performance of Their Piglets

Abstract

Tryptophan (Trp) can produce bioactive compounds for appetite regulation, calcium mobilization, and mammary gland homeostasis via a serotonin pathway. This study evaluated the effects of Trp supplementation on the reproduction performance, milk yield, and composition of lactating sows, growth performance of their piglets, and the secretion function of porcine mammary epithelial cells (PMECs). The infrared emulsion analyzer and ELISA analyses revealed that feeding sows with a 0.12% Trp addition increased (P < 0.05) sow average daily feed intake, milk yield, milk calcium concentration, average daily gain of piglets, fatty acid synthase (FAS) and lactose synthase (LS), β-casein secretion, intracellular Ca2+ level, the expression of calcium binding protein CaM, and the activity of CaMKII. In a cellular experiment of PMECs treated with Trp, ELISA and flow cytometry analyses revealed that the pretreatment of a Trp hydroxylase inhibitor reduced (P < 0.05) FAS and LS synthesis, the intracellular Ca2+ level, and the activity of CaMKII. In conclusion, Trp supplementation at 0.12% increased sows’ reproductive performance, milk yield, and calcium concentration and piglets’ growth performance. Milk yield increased by Trp was linked to 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated synthesis of FAS, LS, and β-casein in PMECs, while the increase in calcium concentration was attributed to increasing CaM expression and CAMKII activity.

Flavor supplementation during late gestation and lactation periods increases the reproductive performance and alters fecal microbiota of the sows

“…Insufficient feed intake during lactation resulted in a decrease in the provision of nutrients for milk production, which could limit the growth and development of piglets ( Zijlstra et al., 1996 ; Kim et al., 2004 ). It has been reported that flavor compounds as palatability enhancers and feed attractants increase the feed intake of the sow, which is correlated with increased milk production as previously described ( Strathe et al., 2017 ), and support piglet growth ( Laws et al., 2018 ; Miao et al., 2019 ). In the current study, flavor supplementation at a level of 0.1% in the maternal diet increased the average daily feed intake of the sow, litter weight gain, and average daily gain of the piglet.…”

Yeast-based nucleotide supplementation in mother sows modifies the intestinal barrier function and immune response of neonatal pigs

“…A daily examination was carried out in all piglets, especially for fecal appearance on rectal swabs. No faeces present (the rectal swab was dry and clean), watery, liquid, creamy and firm or solid (solid bulbs on the rectal swab) were 6 categories during each evaluation ( Che et al., 2016 ; Miao et al, 2019 ). A piglet was defined as diarrhoeic when those had watery or liquid consistency of faeces on a special day ( Adams et al., 2019 ).…”

From gut microbiota to host appetite: gut microbiota-derived metabolites as key regulators

“…Amounting studies have been performed to explore the effects of dietary supplementation and reduction of Trp on appetite control, whereas the results are inconsistent and contradictory. For example, animal studies showed that Trp administration can stimulate food intake by enhancing ghrelin, 5-HT, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and the pituitary growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF) signaling [112,113]. However, intragastric or intraduodenal Trp dose dependently inhibits appetite and promotes the production of CCK, GLP-1, and PYY in the healthy men, whereas failed to affect appetite in the obese men [114][115][116].…”