Effects Of Eucommia Ulmoides Leaves And Illicium Verum Extracts On The Expression Of Ghrelin,Hsp70 And PCNA In Small Intestine Of Weaned Piglets

As a disease-resistant and growth-promoting additive,antibiotics are widely used in breeding farm.However,recently,it has led to the enhancement of drug resistance of bacteria strains,poor treatment effect,and food safety event due to the abuse of antibiotics.The development of Chinese herbal medicine as a feed additive is because of the fact that the nutrients and biologically active substances in the herbs can play a dual role of nutrition and drugs,and have no drug-resistance,and residues,and low toxicity and side effects,so they become a focus in research fields.The aim of the research is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of the two sorts of Chinese herbal medicine as a feed additive for livestock breeding by studying the effects of Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Illicium verum extracts on the small intestinal health and expression of ghrelin,Hsp70,and PCNA in the small intestine of weaned piglets as compared with aureomycin effect.In the experiment,Duroc×Landrace×Large White piglets(n ? 48)and Licha black piglets(n?48)with the body weight of 11.22 ± 0.32 kg were used.They were randomly divided into four groups,respectively,the control group fed with the basal diet,Eucommia ulmoides group: the basal diet supplemented with Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract(250mg/kg),Illicium verum group: the basal diet supplemented with Illicium verum extract(500mg/kg),aureomycin group: the basal diet supplemented with aureomycin(50 mg/kg).Trial lasted for 42 days after 7 days adaptation.To observe the morphological change of small intestine,the distribution of ghrelin,Hsp70 and PCNA in small intestine,the relative expression of three proteins and its mRNA.The results showed that:(1)Licha black piglets in Eucommia ulmoides and aureomycin groups significantly increased average daily gain(P<0.05),but no difference was observed in average daily feed intake(P >0.05);Average daily gain and average daily feed intake were no significant impact on Licha black piglets in Illicium verum group(P >0.05).There was no difference in average daily gain and averagedaily feed intake between Duroc×Landrace×Large White piglets fed Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Illicium verum extract or aureomycin(P >0.05).(2)Compared with the control group,villi length of small intestine and the thicknese of the mucosa had increased in treatment groups(P >0.05),especially Eucommia ulmoides group.(3)In three groups treated by Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Illicium verum extracts and aureomycin,the self-secreted ability of ghrelin in piglets intestinal epithelial cells was increased,especially the duodenum of Duroc×Landrace×Large White piglets in Eucommia ulmoides group.Compared to control group,the expression of Hsp70 had been remarkly enhanced in treatment groups.The results by Western blot and qRT-PCR suggested contents and m RNA expression of ghrelin,Hsp70 and PCNA were increased in Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Illicium verum extracts.In conclusion,Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Illicium verum extracts can promote the development of the small intestine in piglets,and increase villi length of small intestine and the thicknese of the mucosa,enhance the self-secretion or expression of ghrelin,Hsp70 and PCNA in intestinal epithelial cells of piglets,and promote the digestive and absorptive ability of nutrients in the small intestine,thereby to provide abound evidences for two herbs as feed additive in piglets.