Authors : De-Bing Li, Shan-Shan Shao, Gong-Wei Zhang, Ding-Gang Zhou and Xue-Wei Li
Abstract: To investigate the effects of dietary Vitamin D3 (VD3) on the apoptosis, morphological structure and antibacterial peptide hepcidin gene expression in the spleen of Monopterus albus (M. albus), so as to provide theoretical basis for investigating the immunoregulatory functions and mechanisms of VD3. A total of 540 healthy M. albus (weigh, 21.7±2.1 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (3 replicates per group, 30 M. albus per replicate) and fed with dietary VD3 at various concentrations (0 (control), 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 IU kg-1). The experiment lasted for 60 days. After feeding experiment, the spleen was collected from 6 M. albus selected randomly from each group for the detection of apoptosis using FCM and antibacterial peptide hepcidin gene using fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR, besides morphological structure was observed using histological method. The Proliferation Index (PI) was significantly increased (p<0.05), the apoptotic rate was significantly reduced (p<0.05), hepcidin gene expression was significantly up-regulated (p<0.05), the percentage of white pulp was increased and more splenic corpuscles were clearly visible in the 1000 IU kg-1 group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in hepcidin gene expression in the 4000 IU kg-1 group and the number of splenic corpuscle was reduced, gradually degenerating and disappearing. The results demonstrate that appropriate dose dietary provision of VD3 significantly reduced the cell apoptosis rate in the spleen of M. albus whereas promoted the growth of peripheral lymphoid organ and significantly increased hepcidin gene expression, enhancing immunity. However, when the dietary provision of VD3 was excessive or deficient, the apoptosis was increased, cell proliferation was blocked, growth of spleen was inhibited, hepcidin gene expression was down-regulated and immune function was impaired.
De-Bing Li, Shan-Shan Shao, Gong-Wei Zhang, Ding-Gang Zhou and Xue-Wei Li, 2013. Effects of Dietary Vitamin D3 on the Apoptosis, Morphological Structure and Antibacterial Peptide Hepcidin Gene Expression in the Spleen of Monopterus albus. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 316-322.