Effects of Alanyl-glutamine Dipeptide on Growth Performance,Small Intestinal Morphology and Serum Biochemical Indices of Suckling Piglets

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) dipeptide on growth performance, small intestinal morphology and serum biochemical indices of suckling piglets. The purpose was to explore the possible mechanisms of improving the health and growth potential of suckling piglets. Eighty-six 14-days-old piglets were from eight healthy pure Saba sows in Yunnan whose body weight, parity, litter size and milk yield were close to each other. One litter was a unit, and the piglets in eight litters were divided into two groups by a completely randomized design, and each group had four litters. The suckling piglets in control group were fed with a basal diet. The suckling piglets in test group were fed with an experimental diet (the basal diet+0.3% Ala-Gln dipeptide). The duration of the experiment was 21 d. The results showed as follows: 1) Ala-Gln dipeptide was added to the diet of suckling piglets, which significantly increased the average weanling weight of piglets aged 35 days (P0.05), and the average daily gain and the average daily feed intake during the whole period (14 to 35 d) by 17.25% and 31.66% (P0.01), while significantly decreased the diarrhea rate in every week during the whole period (P0.05 or P0.01). 2) At the age of 28 d, duodenal villus height in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P0.05), and crypt depth was significantly lower than that in the control group (P0.05); jejunal villus height in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P0.05); there was no difference in villus height and crypt depth in the ileum between the test group and the control group (P0.05). 3) Exogenous Ala-Gln dipeptide was added to the diet of suckling piglets, which significantly decreased serum urea nitrogen content (P0.05), while increased alanine aminotransferase (P0.01) and alkaline phosphatase activities (P0.05) in serum, and total disaccharidase activity (P0.01) in jejunal mucosa of piglets aged 28 days. Ala-Gln dipeptide had no significant effects on the contents of total protein, albumin, glucose and creatinine, and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and Na+-K+-ATPase in serum (P0.05). These results indicate that supplementation of Ala-Gln dipeptide can improve the structure and function of small intestine, and the growth potential of suckling piglets.