Effects of dietary iron content on visceral iron deposition and intestinal barrier function in Wujin pigs

LI Jintao; YU Chuntang; WANG Ping; LI Yunhang; XU Cong; ZHANG Chunyong; PAN Hongbin; AN Qingcong

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.03.007

Abstract：The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of dietary iron content on visceral iron deposition and intestinal barrier function in Wujin pigs.Eighteen 35-day-old Wujin piglets of similar body weight and in good health were selected and randomly divided into three groups,with six replicates per group and one piglets per replicate.The piglets in Group A were fed a basal diet,the piglets in Group B were fed a basal diet+100 mg/kg ferrous glycinate(as iron)and the piglets in Group C were fed a basal diet+200 mg/kg ferrous glycinate.The pre-test lasted for five days and the formal test lasted for 30 days.The results showed that the iron content in the duodenum and cecum of Wujin pigs in Group C was significantly higher than that in Group A(P＜0.05).The duodenal iron content in Group B was significantly lower than that in Group C(P＜0.05).The villus height in the duodenum of Group C was significantly higher than that in Groups A and B(P＜0.05).Compared with Group B,the crypt depth in Group C was significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the duodenal crypt depth in Group A was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with Group C,the relative mRNA expression levels of atresia zonulin-1(ZO-1),closure protein-5(Claudin-5),interleukin-10(IL-10),interferon-γ(IFNG),and glutathione peroxidase 1(GPX1)in the duodenum of Group A were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The relative mRNA expression levels of ZO-1,IFNG,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),mucin 2(MUC-2),and GPX1 in the duodenum of Group B were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).The relative mRNA expression level of IFNG in the duodenum of Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B(P＜0.05).The study indicates that the addition of 200 mg/kg ferrous glycinate to the diet can increase iron deposition in the duodenum and cecum,enhance duodenal villus height and crypt depth,upregulate the expression levels of intestinal barrier-related genes,and improve intestinal immunity barrier function of Wujin piglets.