Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
processes in skeletal muscle. Corino et al. (2002) reported that dietary CLA enhanced
serum IgG and lysozyme production, but had no effect on serum α-1-acylglycoprotein
(AGP) levels in weaned piglets fed CLA for 4 wks. This finding is in agreement with the
work of Sugano et al. (1998) where rats fed diets supplemented with 0.5 and 1% CLA
had increased serum IgG. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with CLA may help
attenuate the inflammation in LPS-injected piglets by improving the production and
expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (i.e. IL-6 and TNF-α) and up-regulating PPARγ
expression (Lai et al. , 2005). However, the potential benefits of CLA to lactating sows and
piglets are currently not well understood. Evidence suggests that adult immune defenses
develop during the postnatal period and are influenced by the intake of PUFA (Field et al. ,
2001). Perhaps, exposure to PUFA during this period of rapid growth and development,
as well as a greater colostral intake of immunoglobulins may enhance immune function
and decrease the risk of a variety of diseases.
Passive immunity or a sufficient intake of colostral immunoglobulins by piglets plays an
important role in the first weeks of their postnatal life. An inadequate transfer of maternal
immunoglobulins to the newborn animal increases the susceptibility to infection, not
only in the immediate postnatal period (Drew and Owen, 1988), but also after weaning
(Varley et al. , 1986). Rooke and Bland (2002) suggested that IgG synthesis by piglets
is positively correlated to the amount of maternal IgG absorbed, thus reinforcing the
importance of an adequate IgG intake from colostrum. Krakowski et al. (2002) also
reported that increased IgG content in colostrum determined the immunity of piglets
not only during the suckling period, but also after weaning. Table 16.3 shows results
from studies investigating the effects of CLA supplementation in sows' diets on colostral
and serum immunoglobulins of sows and their piglets. Bontempo et al. (2004) reported
that dietary supplementation with 0.5% CLA to sows during late gestation and lactation
increased IgG concentrations in colostrum, serum IgG and lysozyme levels of sows, as
well as serum concentrations of IgG and lysozyme of piglets during the suckling period
(Table 16.4), and may therefore have a positive influence on the immune response in sows
and suckling piglets. Piglets weaned from CLA-supplemented sows showed improved
markers of immune status as indicated by reduced intestinal mucosal inflammation and
elevated serum IgG and IgA (Patterson et al. , 2008). Corino et al. (2009) observed that
Table 16.3. Studies investigating the effects of supplementing sow diets with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on
colostral and serum immunoglobulins of sows and their piglets.
CLA supplementation
Colostral immunoglobulins
Serum immunoglobulins
Reference
Sows
0.5%
Increased IgG, IgA and IgM
--
Corino et al., 2009
0.5%
Increased IgG
Increased IgG
Bontempo et al., 2004
Piglets
0.5%
--
Increased IgG
Bontempo et al., 2004; Corino et al., 2009
2%
--
Increased IgA and IgG
Patterson et al., 2008
Search WWH ::




Custom Search