Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are non-digestible food ingredients that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This study investigated the protective effect of the early-life GOS supplement on the piglets’ gut function against the oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenge. Eighteen neonatal piglets were assigned to three groups including CON, LPS and LPS + GOS groups. The piglets in CON group and LPS group received physiological saline, while those in LPS + GOS group received GOS solution for 13 d after birth. On d 14, the piglets in LPS group and LPS + GOS group were injected with LPS solutions, while the piglets in CON group were injected with the same volume of physiological saline. The results showed that the early-life GOS supplement blocked the LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) secretion, malondialdehyde (MDA) production and the increase of pro-apoptotic factor expression. Meanwhile, the early-life GOS supplement improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes, disaccharidase enzymes activities, and digestive enzymes activities, and increased the mRNA abundance of the gene related to nutrient digestion and absorption and the relative protein expression of tight junction. The study also showed that the early-life GOS supplement improved the expression of Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H/quinone acceptor oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). These results suggested that GOS enhanced the gut function, reduced the ROS production and pro-apoptotic factors gene expression, and activated the AMPK signaling pathway in LPS-challenged piglets.

中文翻译：

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生命早期补充低聚半乳糖可减轻脂多糖攻击乳猪的小肠氧化应激和功能障碍

低聚半乳糖 (GOS) 是一种不易消化的食物成分，可促进肠道中有益细菌的生长。本研究调查了生命早期 GOS 补充剂对仔猪肠道功能对脂多糖 (LPS) 挑战诱导的氧化应激的保护作用。18头新生仔猪被分配到三组，包括CON组、LPS组和LPS+GOS组。CON组和LPS组仔猪出生后给予生理盐水，LPS+GOS组仔猪出生后13 d给予GOS溶液。第14天，LPS组和LPS+GOS组仔猪注射LPS溶液，CON组仔猪注射等量生理盐水。结果表明，生命早期的 GOS 补充剂阻断了 LPS 诱导的活性氧 (ROS) 分泌，丙二醛（MDA）的产生和促凋亡因子表达的增加。同时，生命早期的GOS补充剂提高了抗氧化酶、双糖酶和消化酶的活性，增加了营养消化吸收相关基因的mRNA丰度和紧密连接相关蛋白的表达。研究还表明，生命早期的 GOS 补充剂改善了 Hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) 和 NAD(P)H/醌受体氧化还原酶-1 (NQO-1) 的表达，并激活了 AMP 激活的蛋白激酶。 AMPK）。这些结果表明，GOS 增强了肠道功能，减少了 ROS 的产生和促凋亡因子基因的表达，并激活了 LPS 攻击仔猪的 AMPK 信号通路。