PSVIII-7 - Isoquinoline alkaloids improve intestinal function of weanling pigs fed corn-soybean meal diets formulated below amino acid requirements

Abstract: An experiment tested the hypothesis that isoquinoline alkaloids (IQ) in diets for weanling pigs formulated below amino acid (AA) requirements improves intestinal health and maintains growth performance of pigs compared with pigs fed a diet formulated at AA requirements. Two-hundred weanling pigs (6.11 ± 0.61 kg) were allotted to 4 dietary treatments with 5 pigs per pen and 10 pens per treatment for a 27 d, 2-phase experiment. Diets were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with AA at or 10% below requirements and with IQ at 0 or 120 mg/kg. Growth performance was calculated and plasma (d 14 and 27) and tissue samples (d 27) were collected. Data were analyzed with Proc MIXED of SAS using AA level, IQ inclusion, and the interaction as main effects. Pigs fed diets with IQ tended to have greater (P < 0.10) ADFI, whereas G:F was reduced if dietary AA were reduced (P < 0.05; Table 1). If AA were at requirements, lamina propria thickness in the jejunum was not affected by IQ inclusion, but if AA were below requirements, IQ decreased lamina propria thickness (interaction, P < 0.05). Villus height also tended to increase with dietary IQ (P < 0.10). Adding IQ to the diet that met AA requirements resulted in decreased plasma interleukin 4 and 10 on d 14; however, if IQ was in the reduced AA diet, the opposite was true (interaction, P < 0.05). If AA were below requirements, IQ tended to increase occludin in the jejunal mucosa, whereas if AA were at requirements, IQ tended to reduce occludin (interaction, P < 0.10). On d 26, reducing AA in the diet reduced (P < 0.05) plasma albumin. In conclusion, if AA are provided below the requirement, dietary IQ modulates systemic inflammation and improves intestinal function of weanling pigs.