Effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on growth performance, immune function, and intestinal microbiota in weaned kittens.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the effects of yeast-derived nucleotides on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, apparent digestibility, growth hormones, immune function, and intestinal microbiota in weaned kittens.

METHODS

Sixteen 4-month-old healthy weaned kittens were randomly assigned into two groups with 8 kittens each. The control group (CON) was fed a basal dry food diet, the experimental group (TREAT) was fed the basal dry food diet supplemented with 0.03% yeast-derived nucleotides.

RESULTS

After 42 days of feeding, the levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), creatinine (Crea) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in TREAT group. The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) in the TREAT group was significantly higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the TREAT group were significantly increased (p < 0.01) and were significantly higher than CON group (p < 0.01). The concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were significantly higher than CON group (p < 0.01). At the genus level, compared with the CON group, the relative abundances of Sellimonas and Acutalibacter in the TREAT group were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while those of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Sarcina were significantly decreased (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION: In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.03% yeast-derived nucleotides improved the nutrient utilization efficiency and presents a potential to maintain relatively higher humoral immunity and improve health condition of weaned kittens.