Maternal cysteine intake influenced oxidative status and lipid-related gut microbiota and plasma metabolomics in male suckling piglets

Abstract Cysteine (Cys), a nutritionally semi-essential amino acid, can regulate oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. Since maternal nutrient intake has an impact on offspring, this study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal Cys intake on male suckling piglets. Twenty-four sows in late pregnancy (85–90 days of gestation) were randomly allotted to three groups and fed diets containing 0.3 %, 0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys. The pregnant sows were fed twice daily (06:00 and 14:00) but the feed supply was withheld near delivery. After delivery, the sows were fed the same diet as before, and the amount of feed supply was gradually increased. During lactation, the piglets were not provided with supplemental feed. On day 21 after partitioning, eight piglets per group (one male piglet per little) and a total of 24 piglets were sampled. The birth weight and weaning weight of the piglets in each litter were recorded. Blood samples and intestinal digesta samples of the piglets were collected. The results showed that the birth weight and weaning weight of the piglets were not affected by the treatment. For the plasma metabolomics analysis, 16 differential metabolites were identified among the groups and were involved in the metabolism of proteins (methionyl-histidine, lysyl-leucine), amino acids (L-homocysteine sulfonic acid, selenomethionine) and nucleic acids (5′-deoxyadenosine, 5-methyldeoxycytidine). In addition, compared with 0.3 % Cys, increased maternal Cys intake (0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys) led to lower serum malondialdehyde levels and plasma levels of estradiol and mevalonate and increased plasma methionyl-histidine levels in the male piglets. Intestinal microbial analysis showed an increase in the phylum Bacteroidetes, and a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the colon of the male piglets in the 0.4 % and 0.5 % Cys groups compared with the 0.3 % Cys group. A positive correlation between the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and plasma metabolites (mevalonate and estradiol) was observed; these changes were associated with the inhibition of fat synthesis. Taken together, increased maternal Cys intake during late gestation and lactation reduces oxidative stress and influences the lipid-related plasma metabolomics and intestinal microbiota in male piglets.