Treatment of immune dysfunction in intrauterine growth restriction piglets via supplementation with dimethylglycine sodium salt during the suckling period

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of small intestinal immune dysfunction in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) newborn piglets and relieve this dysfunction via dimethylglycine sodium salt (DMG-Na) supplementation during the suckling period. Thirty sows (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire]) were selected, and one normal birth weight (NBW) and one IUGR newborn male were obtained from each sow. Among them, 10 NBW and 10 IUGR newborns were euthanized without suckling. The other 20 NBW newborns were allocated to the group named NCON, which means NBW newborns fed a basic milk diet (BMD) ( n = 10), and the group named ND, which means NBW newborns fed BMD supplemented with 0.1% DMG-Na ( n = 10); the other 20 IUGR newborns were assigned to the group named ICON, which means IUGR newborns fed BMD ( n = 10), and the group named ID, which means IUGR newborns fed BMD supplemented with 0.1% DMG-Na ( n = 10). The newborns were fed BMD from 7 to 21 d of age and euthanized at 21 d of age to collect serum and small intestinal samples. The growth performance, small intestinal histological morphology and sub-organelle ultrastructure, serum immunoglobulin, small intestinal digestive enzyme activity, inflammatory cytokine level, and jejunum mRNA and protein expression of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein (NOD)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) network deteriorated in the ICON group compared to that in the NCON group. The small intestinal histological morphology and sub-organelle ultrastructure, serum immunoglobulin, small intestinal digestive enzyme activity, and inflammatory cytokine level improved ( P < 0.05) in the ID group compared to those in the ICON group. The jejunum mRNA and protein expression of the TLR4/NOD/NF-κB network improved ( P < 0.05) in the ID group compared to that in the ICON group. In conclusion, the activity of the TLR4/NOD/NF-κB pathway was inhibited in the IUGR newborns, which in turn led to their jejunum immune dysfunction and reduced their performance. By ingesting DMG-Na, the IUGR newborns activated the TLR4/NOD/NF-κB pathway, thereby improving their unfavorable body state during the suckling period. - The TLR4/NOD/NF-κB was inhibited in IUGR newborns. - IUGR newborns exerted small intestinal dysfunction during the suckling period. - DMG-Na could enhance the immune function of newborns via the TLR4/NOD/NF-κB network. - DMG-Na was beneficial in the prevention of newborn intestinal disorders.