Effect of supplementing sows’ feed with α-tocopherol acetate and vitamin C on transfer of α-tocopherol to piglet tissues, colostrum, and milk: Aspects of immune status of piglets

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 92 - 100
• Main Authors: Pinelli-Saavedra, A., Calderón de la Barca, A.M., Hernández, J., Valenzuela, R., Scaife, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01-08-2008
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - analogs & derivatives; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacology; Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn - immunology; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Cell Proliferation; Colostrum - chemistry; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Immune response; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired - drug effects; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Milk - chemistry; Piglet tissues; Pregnancy; Sow; Swine - immunology; Tocopherols; Vitamin C; Vitamin E; Sow; Immune response; Vitamin E; Piglet tissues; Vitamin C
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.08.007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of sows with α-tocopherol acetate (ATA) and vitamin C on deposition of α-tocopherol (AT) in piglet lymphoid organs, such as bone marrow, thymus, and spleen at birth and at weaning, as well as on indicators of immune response in piglets. Sows were given the following treatment diets: control, vitamin C 10
g/day, ATA 500
mg/kg feed, and combined vitamins (ATA 500
+
Vit-C 10). Supplementation with vitamins started at the beginning of pregnancy and lasted until weaning at 21
±
3 days of age. AT was determined in colostrum, milk, piglet plasma (cord blood) and tissues at birth and on day 21. Immunoglobulins were measured in piglet plasma, milk, and colostrum. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to PHA and ConA was determined in sow and piglet blood. ATA supplementation resulted in a significant increase (
P
<
0.001) in the AT content of colostrum, milk, piglet plasma, liver, thymus, bone marrow, and spleen at weaning. The AT content of colostrum and milk significantly (
P
<
0.001) influenced the AT content of piglet plasma and tissues at weaning (day 21). Total Ig and IgG concentrations in piglet plasma were significantly increased in piglets given the combined vitamin treatment. No effect of AT supplementation was observed on IgG and IgA in colostrum and milk. In sows, vitamin C given alone significantly increased lymphocyte response to ConA and PHA; whereas, in piglets, there was no significant effect of treatments on lymphocyte response to PHA and ConA.