Resveratrol protects intestinal integrity, alleviates intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating AhR/Nrf2 pathways in weaned piglets challenged with diquat.

This study investigated the effects of resveratrol (RES) on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, intestinal inflammation, and barrier function in weaned piglets challenged with diquat (DIQ). Thirty weaned piglets were randomly assigned to 5 treatments: non-challenged group (CON), DIQ-challenged group (DIQ), and DIQ-challenged group with 10, 30, or 90 mg/kg of RES, respectively. The trail lasted 21 days, and piglets were intraperitoneally injected with DIQ or the same amount of saline on day 15. The results showed that supplementation with 90 mg/kg RES increased (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio, and decreased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, plasma D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) compared with the DIQ group. Piglets fed with 30 or 90 mg/kg RES prevented the diquat-induced decrease (P < 0.05) of mRNA expression of occludin, claudin-1, ZO-1, and IL-10, and increase (P < 0.05) of TNF-α mRNA expression. Moreover, addition of 90 mg/kg RES increased (P < 0.05) the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT and decreased (P < 0.05) the MDA levels in jejunal mucosa compared with the DIQ group. Finally, addition of 90 mg/kg RES enhanced (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GPx1, and HO-1, and increased (P < 0.05) mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, NQO1, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and cytochrome P450 family 1 member A1 (CYP1A1). These data indicated that supplementation with 90 mg/kg RES was effective in protecting the intestinal integrity, alleviating intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress by activating AhR/Nrf2 pathways in diquat-challenged piglets.