Quantitative feed restriction rather than caloric restriction modulates the immune response of growing rabbits.

TitleQuantitative feed restriction rather than caloric restriction modulates the immune response of growing rabbits.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsKnudsen, C, Combes, S, Briens, C, Duperray, J, Rebours, G, Salaun, J-M, Travel, A, Weissman, D, Gidenne, T, Oswald, IP
JournalJ Nutr
Volume145
Issue3
Pagination483-9
Date Published2015 Mar
ISSN1541-6100
KeywordsAnimal Feed, Animals, Body Weight, Caloric Restriction, Diet, Energy Intake, Female, Ileum, Immunity, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, Interleukin-1beta, Interleukin-2, Male, Ovalbumin, Rabbits, Spleen, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Weaning
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Short-term feed restriction strategies are used in rabbits to reduce postweaning digestive disorders, but little is known about the involvement of the immune system in these beneficial effects.OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the consequences of feed and energy restriction on immune response were investigated.METHODS: At weaning, 320 male and female rabbits were assigned to 4 groups differing in dietary digestible energy (DE) concentrations and intake levels: a low-energy ad libitum-feed (LE100) group, a low-energy restricted-feed (LE75) group, a high-energy ad libitum-feed (HE100) group, and a high-energy restricted-feed (HE75) group. The high-energy groups consumed 10.13 MJ DE/kg of feed, whereas the low-energy groups consumed 9.08 MJ DE/kg (formulated values). Intake amounts for the restricted groups were 75% those of the ad libitum groups. Rabbits consumed these diets until age 63 d, after which they consumed feed ad libitum for 9 d. Ten rabbits per group and per age were killed at ages 42, 50, 63, and 72 d. Spleens and appendixes were weighed; Peyer's patch surface area was determined by image analysis; plasma total immunoglobulin (Ig) G and anti-ovalbumin IgG; and fecal and plasma IgA concentrations were determined by ELISA; and ileal expressions of cytokines were measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction at ages 50 and 63 d.RESULTS: The relative weight and size of the lymphoid organs were not affected by treatments. Concentrations of plasma total IgA (-41% at 63 d and -29% at 72 d), IgG (-22% at 72 d), and anti-ovalbumin IgG (-41% at 63 d) were lower with feed restriction. Fecal IgA concentrations were lower with quantitative restriction (-40%, -52%, and -65% at age 42, 50, and 63 d, respectively) and energy restriction (-56%, -46%, and -73% at ages 50, 63, and 72 d, respectively). Feed-restricted rabbits tended to have greater expressions of interleukin (IL) 1β and IL-2 and lower expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (P < 0.1).CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that, in rabbits, restriction and, to a lesser extent, dietary energy concentration modulate gut immunity.

DOI10.3945/jn.114.197871
Alternate JournalJ. Nutr.
PubMed ID25733463
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