PSIII-17 Effects of Dietary Tributyrin in Young Pigs Experiencing Colitis

Disruption of intestinal integrity and function due to inflammatory mediators in young pigs has economic implications for swine producers. In this study, we investigated the effects of oral gamma-cyclodextrin-encapsulated tributyrin (TBCD) in young pigs experiencing dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Pigs (n = 32 boars) were weaned at postnatal day (PND) 2, allotted to treatment based on litter of origin and body weight (BW), and reared artificially over a 28-d period. Treatment groups included: 1) control (nutritionally adequate milk replacer, no DSS), 2) DSS (control diet plus oral DSS), and 3) DSS+TBCD (control diet supplemented with 8.3g of TBCD per kg reconstituted milk replacer plus oral DSS). Colitis was induced by orally administering DSS at 1.25 g/kg BW/d from PND 14-18. Milk replacer and water were provided ad libitum throughout the study. At study conclusion, pigs were euthanized for collection of samples to measure intestinal morphology and volatile fatty acids. All data were analyzed by ANOVA using the MIXED procedures of SAS. Control and DSS pigs had similar BW throughout the study, while DSS+TBCD pigs exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) BW starting around PND 15. Additionally, BW gain was decreased (P < 0.05) in DSS+TBCD compared with control, and milk disappearance was decreased (P < 0.05) in DSS+TBCD when compared with control and DSS. Relative cecal butyrate was increased (P < 0.05) in DSS+TBCD pigs, compared with the control. DSS and DSS+TBCD treatments had increased (P < 0.05) absolute butyrate in the ascending colon compared with the control. Mucosal width and total lesion scores were responsive to treatment, with DSS+TBCD pigs exhibiting increased (P < 0.05) values in the ascending and descending colon compared with control. Overall, the negative effects of DSS-induced colitis were not mitigated by dietary encapsulated tributyrin in young pigs.