Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microbial fermentation facilitate the differentiation and proliferation of intestinal epithelium. However, the role of individual SCFAs, such as propionate, on intestinal development is still unclear. In the present study, sixteen barrows fitted with a cec...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanan Zhang, Huizi Chen, Weiyun Zhu, Kaifan Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/284
_version_ 1818278258535301120
author Yanan Zhang
Huizi Chen
Weiyun Zhu
Kaifan Yu
author_facet Yanan Zhang
Huizi Chen
Weiyun Zhu
Kaifan Yu
author_sort Yanan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microbial fermentation facilitate the differentiation and proliferation of intestinal epithelium. However, the role of individual SCFAs, such as propionate, on intestinal development is still unclear. In the present study, sixteen barrows fitted with a cecal fistula were randomly divided into two groups for cecal infusion of either saline (control group) or sodium propionate (propionate group). After 28 days, the length and the relative weight of intestinal segments were calculated, the intestinal morphology was assessed, and the expression of tight junction protein was measured using qPCR and Western blotting. Compared to the saline group, the length of the colon was significantly increased in the propionate group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The jejunal villi length and villi/crypt ratio in the propionate group were significantly higher than in the saline group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, propionate infusion significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of <i>Claudin-4</i> and the expression of Claudin-1, Claudin-4, and Occludin protein in the jejunal mucosa (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Collectively, these findings revealed that the short-chain fatty acid propionate in the hindgut contributed to intestinal development, and selectively enhanced jejunal tight junction protein expression.
first_indexed 2024-12-12T23:14:35Z
format Article
id doaj.art-da916e24e084496d996b2ea1aa9c8d9e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-2615
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T23:14:35Z
publishDate 2019-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj.art-da916e24e084496d996b2ea1aa9c8d9e2022-12-22T00:08:31ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-05-019628410.3390/ani9060284ani9060284Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing PigsYanan Zhang0Huizi Chen1Weiyun Zhu2Kaifan Yu3Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaLaboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaLaboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaLaboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaShort-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by microbial fermentation facilitate the differentiation and proliferation of intestinal epithelium. However, the role of individual SCFAs, such as propionate, on intestinal development is still unclear. In the present study, sixteen barrows fitted with a cecal fistula were randomly divided into two groups for cecal infusion of either saline (control group) or sodium propionate (propionate group). After 28 days, the length and the relative weight of intestinal segments were calculated, the intestinal morphology was assessed, and the expression of tight junction protein was measured using qPCR and Western blotting. Compared to the saline group, the length of the colon was significantly increased in the propionate group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The jejunal villi length and villi/crypt ratio in the propionate group were significantly higher than in the saline group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, propionate infusion significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of <i>Claudin-4</i> and the expression of Claudin-1, Claudin-4, and Occludin protein in the jejunal mucosa (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Collectively, these findings revealed that the short-chain fatty acid propionate in the hindgut contributed to intestinal development, and selectively enhanced jejunal tight junction protein expression.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/284propionateintestinal developmenttight junctionpigs
spellingShingle Yanan Zhang
Huizi Chen
Weiyun Zhu
Kaifan Yu
Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
Animals
propionate
intestinal development
tight junction
pigs
title Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
title_full Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
title_fullStr Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
title_short Cecal Infusion of Sodium Propionate Promotes Intestinal Development and Jejunal Barrier Function in Growing Pigs
title_sort cecal infusion of sodium propionate promotes intestinal development and jejunal barrier function in growing pigs
topic propionate
intestinal development
tight junction
pigs
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/284
work_keys_str_mv AT yananzhang cecalinfusionofsodiumpropionatepromotesintestinaldevelopmentandjejunalbarrierfunctioningrowingpigs
AT huizichen cecalinfusionofsodiumpropionatepromotesintestinaldevelopmentandjejunalbarrierfunctioningrowingpigs
AT weiyunzhu cecalinfusionofsodiumpropionatepromotesintestinaldevelopmentandjejunalbarrierfunctioningrowingpigs
AT kaifanyu cecalinfusionofsodiumpropionatepromotesintestinaldevelopmentandjejunalbarrierfunctioningrowingpigs