Effects of Acanthopanax senticosus Polysaccharide on Immune Organ Indexes,Counts of Fecal Microflora and Gastrointestinal pH of Immune Challenged Weaner Piglets

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide( ASPS) on immune organ indexes,counts of fecal microflora and gastrointestinal pH of weaner piglets challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide( LPS). A total of 64 Duroc×Large White×Landrace weaner piglets aged of 28 days with average initial body weight of( 7.22±0.46) kg in a 2×2 factorial experiment were randomly allotted to 4 groups with 4 replications per group and 4 pigs per replication. Weaner piglets in 1and 2 groups were fed basal diet,and those in 3,4 groups were fed the basal diet added with 800 mg /kg ASPS. On 14 days,weaner piglets in 2 and 4 groups were injected with LPS and the other groups were given equivalent amount of saline. This experiment lasted for 21 days. The results showed as follows: compared with weaner piglets fed basal diet,dietary ASPS significantly increased the spleen,thymus indexes and the count of Lactobacillus in fecal by 20.06%( P = 0.012),35.38%( P = 0.019) and 5.07%( P = 0.043),respectively.Furthermore,ASPS supplementation significantly reducing effect on the count of Escherichia coli in fecal,the pH of ileum and cecum contents by 6.04%( P = 0.036),3.62%( P = 0.041) and 2.74%( P = 0.037),respectively. In addition,significant interactions were observed between ASPS and LPS in spleen( P = 0.031),thymus indexes( P = 0.047),the count of Lactobacillu in fecal( P = 0.050) and the pH of cecum content( P =0.033). For the LPS challenge pigs,fed ASPS significantly reduced the count of Escherichia coli in fecal,the pH of ileum and cecum contents( P 0. 05),while significantly increased the spleen and thymus indexes as well as the count of Lactobacillu in fecal compared with weaner piglets fed basal diet( P0.05). It is concluded that dietary ASPS can improve the development of immune organ and modulate the health of intestinal tract of immune challenged weaner piglets.