Effects of dietary tributyrin on intestinal mucosa development, mitochondrial function and AMPK-mTOR pathway in weaned pigs

Abstract

Abstract Background The objective of this experiment was to investigate the influence of dietary tributyrin on intestinal mucosa development, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway. Methods Seventy-two pigs were divided into two treatments and received either a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 750 mg/kg tributyrin. Each treatment has six replicates of six pigs. After 14 days, 6 pigs from each treatment were selected and the jejunal samples were collected. Results Results showed that supplemental tributyrin increased (P < 0.05) villus height and villus height: crypt depth of weaned pigs. Pigs fed tributyrin had greater (P < 0.05) RNA/DNA and protein/DNA ratios than pigs on the control group. The mRNA levels of sodium glucose transport protein-1 and glucose transporter-2 in the jejunum were upregulated (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the tributyrin diet. Dietary tributyrin supplementation lowered (P < 0.05) the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in jejunum, enhanced (P < 0.05) the mitochondrial function, as demonstrated by decreased (P < 0.05) reactive oxygen species level and increased (P < 0.05) mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, tributyrin increased (P < 0.05) mitochondrial DNA content and the mRNA abundance of genes related to mitochondrial functions, including peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, mitochondrial transcription factor A, nuclear respiratory factor-1 in the jejunum. Supplementation with tributyrin elevated (P < 0.05) the phosphorylation level of AMPK and inhibited (P < 0.05) the phosphorylation level of mTOR in jejunum compared with the control group. Conclusions These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with tributyrin promotes intestinal mucosa growth, extenuates oxidative stress, improves mitochondrial function and modulates the AMPK-mTOR signal pathway of weaned pigs.