Effects of tissue-specific biomolecules on piglets after-weaning period

Background and Aim

Now-a-days antibiotics are the main tool for correcting the pathological conditions of pigs; unfortunately, antibiotics are a potential threat to the environment, as they lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections. This study aimed to study the immunomodulatory encapsulated biomolecules on piglets in the post-weaning period.

Materials and Methods

An immunomodulator based on biomolecules obtained from animal raw materials included in alginate capsules to improve absorption has been developed. The study presents the results of a study on 25 weaned piglets (25-30 days old) which received biomolecules at a dose of 200 mg/piglet for 14 days, followed by 400 mg/piglet from days 15 to 28. Blood was taken from animals for analysis (biochemical, hematological, cytometric, and enzyme immunoassay) and the integral index of blood serum antimicrobial activity was determined.

Results

Experimental animals, whose initial weight was 1.6 times less than that of the control animals, were able to bridge this gap and, on the 28^th day, there were no differences in weight. Stimulation of the production of cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 was observed and the antimicrobial resistance of blood serum to Escherichia coli also increased. A positive effect on the metabolism of piglets was noted, which helped them adapt to a change in diet (from colostrum to solid food).

Conclusion

The results show that the immunomodulation at the dose of 150 mg/kg body weight has a great potential for improving weaned pigs.

[The study of biological effects of different geographical origin goji berries in rats with alimentary hypercholesterolemia]

Food and medicinal plants as well as its' fruits, used in traditional medicine, are now widely used as sources of bioactive phytochemical compounds to impart functional properties to products. Due to the significant variation in phytonutrient content depending on geoclimatic conditions, a comparative study of goji berries collected in different regions seems to be relevant. The aim - comparative study of L. barbarum and L. chinense berries and its biological effects when inclusion in the diet of rats with experimental hyperlipidemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the berries of L. barbarum (China) and L. chinense (Kazakhstan), the composition of monosaccharides, the content of vitamins (D, E, C), minerals (Mg, Ca, Se), phenolic compounds and steroid substances as well as catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant activity was determined. Biological experiment lasted 186 days, it was carried out on Wistar rats, divided into intact (n=10) and experimental animals (n=48), in which alimentary hyperlipidemia was reproduced for 100 days (diet containing animal fats 5.0-19.0% and cholesterol 0.5-2.0%), further animals were divided in control rats with hyperlipidemia, consuming a standard diet (group 1) and experimental rats, which were supplemented for 86 days with L. barbarum (group 2) and L. chinense (group 3) in an amount of 20% of the diet carbohydrate component. On the 128th and 186th days of the experiment, rats' blood serum was analyzed for total protein, albumin, creatinine and urea, triacylglycerides, total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, malondialdehyde and the total antioxidant activity of blood serum was measured.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

L. chinense berries, which are characterized by a high content of phenolic compounds (20% higher than in L. barbarum berries), when administered to rats with alimentary hyperlipidemia on the 28th day, reduced the concentration of total cholesterol by 44.1% and low-density lipoproteins by 35.8% relative to control animals, on day 86 contributed to an increase in the concentration of high density lipoproteins to 79.6%. The effect of L. barbarum berries, characterized by an increase in high density lipoproteins in rat blood (by 62.3%), may be due to a higher content of vitamins C, E and selenium (35, 11 and 22% more than in L. chinense), the presence of phytosterols and phytostanols, in particular dodecanoic acid.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained indicate a pronounced antioxidant effect of L. barbarum and L. chinense berries and the possibility of their use in the diet to correct lipid metabolism disorders.

[In vivo study of plant protein products from soybeans and non-alkaloid lupine Dega variety]

Research on finding additional sources of vegetable protein as an alternative to soy has shown a great prospect of using lupine. The study of biological effects of flour of nonalkaloid lupine Dega variety will assess the future prospects for its use in food industry. The aim - a comparative study of protein products - soybean flour and non-alkaloid lupine flour (Dega-1 variety), added to laboratory rats' diet. Material and methods. Experiment was carried out on three groups of Wistar rats (n=30, 210±5 g) for 28 days: 1st group - rats that consumed the standard vivarium diet (control); 2nd group and 3rd group - animals, that consumed standard diet with addition of lupine flour (protein content - 42.1%) and soy flour (protein content - 50.2%), replacing 26 and 23% protein in standard diet, respectively. Results. As a result of the experiment, fluctuations in body weight of rats in 2nd group and 3rd group were observed from the 11th day; the weight gain of rats in 1st group was 7.74%, 2nd group and 3rd group - 3.32 and 2.04%. Noted changes could be explained by food adaptation of organism to the main nutrients of protein products. The blood test showed minor changes in the hematological and biochemical parameters within physiological reference values. Consumption of lupine flour led to a slight increase of leukocytes (by 14.2%) and lymphocytes (by 24.5%), an increase in the activity of certain enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase by 18.4%, alanine aminotransferase by 26.2% and lactate dehydrogenase by 21.6%, p≥0.05), while alkaline phosphatase activity decreased (14.4%, p<0.05) in comparison with control. Incorporation of soy flour into the diet of rats showed a statistically significant increase in the concentration of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and immature cells (by 57.1% in comparison with 1st group and 83.3% in comparison with 2nd group), while relative content of granulocytes reduced (by 15.1% relative to the control). Conclusion. The inclusion of plant proteins into the rat's diet did not cause significant deviations in physiological (motor activity), biochemical, hematological parameters in experimental animals. However, the identified features in animals of the experimental groups, possibly related to biologically active substances and anti-alimentary factors in soybean and lupine, indicate the need to improve technological approaches to lupine protein products production in order to improve functional characteristics and completely remove substances that deteriorate nutrients absorption. A possible solution is lupine proteins' proteolysis, the use of various methods of fractionation, isolation and purification in combination with pretreatment to obtain protein concentrates or isolates with improved nutritional, technological and functional properties.

Assessment of antimicrobial potential of substances isolated from some wastes of meat processing industry

The slaughter of farm animals generates a large number of by-products. Meat waste management includes various methods, but cost-effective technologies are still in priority. This manuscript reports the results of the study of antimicrobial activity of substances isolated from such wastes of meat processing industry as bovine and pork mucous membranes and epithelial tissues. Proteomic study included two-dimensional electrophoresis with following mass spectrometric identification. Antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus of neutralized native extracts and after enzymatic treatment as well as its ultrafiltrates was determined by flow cytometry with EvaGreen and PI dyes. It was shown that a large number of histones were found in bovine mucous membranes as well as several tissue-specific proteins, which would be a precursor of bioactive peptides. Bovine mucous membranes of the tongue and nasal cavity possessed the greatest activity in relation to P. aeruginosa, the rate of surviving cells decreased to 22.0%. Bovine mucous membranes of the rectum and the oral cavity, submandibular lymph nodes, pig mucous membranes of the larynx, tongue, lips, and rectum increased dead cells count up to 40% of all cells. Bovine nasal mucosa and pork mucous of labial cavity possessed the greatest activity against S. aureus, the rate of surviving cells did not exceed 10.0%. Determination of antimicrobial action against L. monocytogenes of native samples and treated with trypsin showed that bovine mucous membranes of the rectum and oral cavity, pork mucosa of the lips and submandibular glands were the most active. Treatment with trypsin or ultrafiltration demonstrated different effects on activity of samples. It was shown the perspectivity of recycling of such type of by-products into effective and demanded substances which can be used, for example, in the food industry as an alternative to chemical preservatives.

[Milk raw materials from retrovirus infected cows: questions of safety and quality of produced products]

The comparative evaluation of protein biological value of curd manufactured by the traditional technology and using microbial transglutaminase has been carried out. The biological experiment was conducted at Wistar laboratory rats fed by the analyzed curd samples as the protein (in the amount of 10% of the total calorie content of the diet) composed of semisynthetic diet. Within 22 days the individual rates of feed eating and the rat's body weight gain have been analyzed. During the exchanged period (from 23 to 24 days) besides the listed readings the amount of nitrogen egested with faeces and urine has been considered. The protein biological value of curd produced with transglutaminase and according to the traditional technology was evaluated by determination of protein efficiency coefficient, true nitrogen absorbency, nitrogenous balance. Besides, at the end of the exchanged period the blood immune component and protein catabolism by means of biochemical blood serum analysis has been evaluated. The results of in vitro analyses make it possible to state the assumption regarding the curd biological value improvement and digestibility of curd protein by means of milk proteins fermentative modification. The revealed reliable increase of the total protein concentration (by 4%), urea nitrogen (over 20%) and creatinine level correlated with high protein amount in the tested product consumed by rats within the exchanged period. The detected reduction of leucocytes and lymphocytes amount in blood of rats consuming the tested curd samples testified the reasonability of the additional investigation of immune reactions. The calculation of the indicators characterizing the biological value of curd protein based on its amino acid composition showed the increase of amino acid imbalance in curd produced with transglutaminase mainly due to lysine excess and the corresponding reduction of assimilability by 1.7%.

Comparative study of biocorrective protein-peptide agent to improve quality and safety of livestock products

Water with modified isotopic composition (D/H = 40 ppm) as a solubilizing agent for biologically active substances extraction from immune organs Sus Scrofa increases protein yield in thymus to 20%, in spleen up to 38%, mesenteric lymph nodes up to 35% in comparison with distilled water (D/H = 150 ppm). It was found a significant amount of neurotransmitter amino acids, such as aspartic and glutamic acids, glycine (thymus - 10.5; 13.7; 7.6%; spleen - 12.2; 10.7; 7.8% lymph nodes - 11.0; 13.3; 11.1%, respectively) having the immunological and adaptogenic activity, in extracts of Sus scrofa immunocompetent organs (thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes). Application of water with modified isotopic composition as solubilizing agent (D / H = 40 ppm) for extraction of immunocompetent organs' biologically active compounds led to increased amino acid content, including hydrophilic amino acids, in thymus extracts - up to 22%, in spleen extracts - up to 15% , in lymph nodes exctracts - up to 8%, in comparison to distilled water (D / H = 150 ppm). Peptide profile analysis revealed positive effect of water (D/H = 40 ppm) on a quality protein content extracts in molecular weight range from 10 to 20 kDa and from 30 to 45 kDa and peptide composition (2 kDa), at the same time quantitative content of compounds adaptogenic and immunocorrective action increased. Reducing of deuterium content in the solubilizing agent enhances quantitative amino acid content, i.e. extraction in an aqueous- salt solution based on deuterium depleted water of animal tissues with a high content of amino acids with hydrophilic radicals proceeded more completely.

[The effect of water with modified isotope (D/H) composition on the reproductive function and postnatal development in rats]

Reproductive parameters and postnatal progeny development were evaluated in 4 generations of Wistar rats treated with deuterium depleted water (DDW): parental (F0), first (F1), second (F2) and third (F3). The experiment was carried out on 2 groups of animals: experimental group consumed DDW (50 ppm) and control group consumed purified tap water (150 ppm). Experiment was consist of a preparatory stage, the stage of studying the F0, F1, F2 reproductive parameters and F1, F2, F3 postnatal progeny development Reproductive parameters was assessed by F0, F1, F2 fertility index and F1, F2, F3 offspring viability and development. Fertility index was assessed as the male's ability to fertilize females in the percentage of pregnant females/fertilized males to the total number females and males placed together for mating. Offspring maturing were evaluated by pups viability, development of physical and sexual parameters, emotional and locomotors reflexes within the 1st month of life. Group 1 fertility index in F0 females was 100%, in F1 and F2 females - 99%, in males all generations - 89-100%. Group 1 F1, F2 and F3 offspring viability was high. Number of pups in group 1 F2 offspring was higher by 20% than in group 2. Pups of the 1st group F1, F2 and F3 were less intensively gained weight from the 1st to the 21st day of life compared with group 2, the final weight of the animals in group 1 was higher than in group 2 by 4-6% from 25th to 30th days of life. Assessment of physical parameters development as well as emotional and locomotors reflexes formation did not reveal any difference between group 1 and group 2 F1, F2 and F3 offspring. Obtained results confirmed that DDW did not effect on rat fertility, viability and development of offspring.