Abstract:

Objective: The effect of tributyrin on liver antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function of sucking piglets
with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was observed in the present study. Methods: Totally 8 piglets with normal birth
weight and 16 IUGR piglets were selected. The IUGR piglets were randomly divided into 2 groups (IUGR group fed basic
artificial milk; IT group (IUGR + 0.1% tributyrin) fed basic artificial milk supplemented with 0.1% tributyrin). The piglets
with normal birth weight were provided with basic artificial milk (NBW group). The experiment started at the age from
7 to 21 days. Totally 6 piglets (similar body weight) were selected from each group and slaughtered, and liver histological
sections, antioxidant enzyme activities and mRNA expression were measured. Results: 1) Compared with NBW group,
liver histological sections from IUGR group revealed central venous congestion, but IT group had no significant change.
2) Compared with NBW group, IUGR group had lower glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05) and increased
malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P < 0.01) in liver, and lower malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and Mn-superoxide (Mn-SOD)
activities in mitochondria (P < 0.05). IT group had higher SOD and GSH-Px activities, glutathione (GSH) content and
total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (P < 0.05), and lower MDA content (P < 0.01) in liver, as well as higher activities of
MDH and Mn-SOD in mitochondria when compared to IUGR group. Compared with NBW group, the activities of GSH
and T-AOC were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the MDA content was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in IT
group. 3) Compare with NBW group, the mRNA expression levels of the SOD and CAT genes in liver of IUGR group were
significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the mRNA expression levels of SOD and PRDX3 in liver of IT group were also
significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared to IUGR group, the mRNA expression of CAT was significantly decreased
(P < 0.05) and the mRNA expression of PRDX3 was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in liver of IT group. Conclusion:
Piglets with IUGR exhibited decreased antioxidant capacity in liver and impaired mitochondrial function. Diets
supplemented with tributyrin could improve antioxidant capacity and protect mitochondria from damage in liver of IUGR
piglets. Tributyrin may be an efficient antioxidant.

Key words: intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), liver, antioxidant capacity, mitochondria, piglets