Dietary zinc restriction affects the expression of genes related to immunity and stress response in the small intestine of pigs.

ABSTRACT: Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral and its deficiency manifests in non-specific clinical signs that require long time to develop. The response of swine intestine to Zn restriction was evaluated to identify early changes that can be indicative of Zn deficiency. Twenty-seven pigs (body weight = 77⋅5 ± 2⋅5 kg) were assigned to one of three diets: diet without added Zn (Zn-restricted diet, ZnR), and ZnR-supplemented with either 50 (Zn50) or 100 mg of Zn/kg of diet (Zn100) of Zn supplied by ZnCl₂. After 32 d consuming the diets, serum Zn concentration in ZnR pigs was below the range of 0⋅59-1⋅37 μg/ml considered sufficient, thereby confirming subclinical Zn deficiency. Pigs showed no obvious health or growth changes. RNA-seq analysis followed by qPCR showed decreased expression of

SUBMITTER: Medida RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9705703 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature