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Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Orally Administered Ovine Serum Immunoglobulins Influence Growth Performance, Organ Weights, and Gut Morphology in Growing Rats¹

Riddet Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, 4442, Palmerston North, New Zealand

In this study, our aim was to determine whether orally administered ovine serum Ig improved growth performance, organ weights, and gut morphology in growing rats and whether the method of manufacture of ovine serum Ig affected its bioactivity. Ninety Sprague-Dawley male rats were used in a 21-d growth study and were fed a basal control diet (BD; no Ig) and 5 test diets: spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP), freeze-dried ovine Ig (FDOI), 2 concentrations of spray-dried ovine Ig (SDOI₁₀₀ and SDOI₁₅₀), and inactivated ovine Ig (IOI). Diets were isocaloric and contained the same amount of the first limiting amino acids, methionine plus cysteine. The body weight gain:feed ratio was higher (P < 0.05) for the FDOI-fed rats than for the BD- and IOI-fed groups. FDOI rats had higher jejunum (P < 0.05) and colon weights (P < 0.05) at the end of the study than rats in the BD group. Compared with the SDOI₁₀₀-fed group, the FDOI group supported higher (P < 0.05) duodenum and colon weights. For gut morphology, the FDOI and the BD and IOI groups differed (P < 0.05). The FDOI-fed rats had longer (P < 0.05) villi and greater villi surface areas in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum than the rats fed SDOI₁₀₀. An ovine Ig fraction selectively improved growth performance, organ weight, and gut morphology in growing rats. Compared with spray-drying, a freeze-drying procedure appears to preserve a higher degree of immunological activity.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: p.j.moughan{at}massey.ac.nz.

Manuscript received 15 September 2008. Initial review completed 16 October 2008. Revision accepted 30 November 2008.