Therapeutic effects of glutamic acid in piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 1;9(7):e100591. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100591. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most common food contaminants, primarily targets the gastrointestinal tract to affect animal and human health. This study was conducted to examine the protective function of glutamic acid on intestinal injury and oxidative stress caused by DON in piglets. Twenty-eight piglets were assigned randomly into 4 dietary treatments (7 pigs/treatment): 1) uncontaminated control diet (NC), 2) NC+DON at 4 mg/kg (DON), 3) NC+2% glutamic acid (GLU), and 4) NC+2% glutamic acid + DON at 4 mg/kg (DG). At day 15, 30 and 37, blood samples were collected to determine serum concentrations of CAT (catalase), T-AOC (total antioxidant capacity), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), NO (nitric oxide), MDA (maleic dialdehyde), DAO (diamine oxidase) and D-lactate. Intestinal morphology, and the activation of Akt/mTOR/4EBP1 signal pathway, as well as the concentrations of H2O2, MDA, and DAO in kidney, liver and small intestine, were analyzed at day 37. Results showed that DON significantly (P<0.05) induced oxidative stress in piglets, while this stress was remarkably reduced with glutamic acid supplementation according to the change of oxidative parameters in blood and tissues. Meanwhile, DON caused obvious intestinal injury from microscopic observations and permeability indicators, which was alleviated by glutamic acid supplementation. Moreover, the inhibition of DON on Akt/mTOR/4EBP1 signal pathway was reduced by glutamic acid supplementation. Collectively, these data suggest that glutamic acid may be a useful nutritional regulator for DON-induced damage manifested as oxidative stress, intestinal injury and signaling inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / blood
  • Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) / blood
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Catalase / blood
  • Glutamic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / blood
  • Intestinal Diseases / blood*
  • Intestinal Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Intestinal Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Lactic Acid / blood
  • Nitric Oxide / blood
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Swine
  • Trichothecenes / toxicity*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Antioxidants
  • Trichothecenes
  • malealdehyde
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Lactic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Catalase
  • Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)
  • deoxynivalenol

Grants and funding

This research was jointly supported by grants from the National Key Basic Research of China (NO. 2009CB118806), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 31272463 and NO.31072042), Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 12JJ2014, 13JJ2034) and Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists Grant No. 2011T2S15. Meanwhile, the authors also give their profound admiration and respect to the many researchers in this field and in their lab, whose dedication and hard work make it. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.