Probiotic Combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum M1 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri K4 Alleviates Early Weaning-Induced Intestinal Injury in Lambs via Modulation of Oxidative and Inflammatory Pathways.

ABSTRACT: Early weaning in intensive lamb production improves reproductive efficiency but predisposes lambs to diarrhea, oxidative stress, and intestinal barrier dysfunction, highlighting the need for non-antibiotic strategies to protect gut health. This study evaluated whether a sheep-derived mixed probiotic could alleviate early weaning-induced intestinal injury and clarified its potential molecular mechanisms. Early weaning reduced body weight, average daily gain and feed efficiency, increased diarrhea, decreased plasma and colonic catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, increased malondialdehyde (MDA), elevated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), reduced interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), in

SUBMITTER: Lu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12837899 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature