Effect of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium in sows on intestinal health of the offspring

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na₂) supplementation in sows during gestation and lactation on intestinal health in offspring. A total of 40 cross-bred (landrace × large white crossed with Duroc boar) multiparity gestation sows with an average parity of 4.3 were used in this study. Forty sows were allotted to 2 dietary treatments after breeding. One group was the control sows, which were fed a corn–soybean meal control diet (Con treatment, n = 20), and the other group was the treatment sows fed a control diet with 20 mg kg⁻¹ PQQ·Na₂ after breeding and through gestation and lactation (PQQ treatment, n = 20). The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by PQQ·Na₂ supplementation, and MDA activity was decreased (P < 0.05) in the plasma of piglets. CAT, SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, and MDA activity was decreased (P < 0.05) in the small intestine of piglets. The mRNA expression levels of SOD1, CAT and MGST1 in the jejunum were increased in newborn piglets (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression levels of HO1, SOD1, CAT, SOD2, GPX4, GPX1 and GCLC in the jejunum were increased in weaned piglets (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of ZO-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in the jejunum of newborn piglets, and the mRNA expression of Occludin and ZO-1 was increased (P < 0.05) in the jejunum of weaned piglets. The villous height of the duodenum and jejunum of weaned piglets was increased (P < 0.05) by dietary PQQ·Na₂. In weaned piglets, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most prevalent phyla in both the Con and PQQ·Na₂ treatment groups, and the most prevalent genera were Alloprevotella and Bacteroides. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Alloprevotella was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Actinobacillus and Escherichia was decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na₂ in sows during gestation and lactation had positive effects on intestinal health in offspring.