Effect of the supplementation with a symbiotic in pregnant and lactating rats

Identifier:  TFM:1414

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM1414

Authors:  Gironès i Garreta, Aina

Abstract:
The immune system is influenced by different components of the diet. Pregnancy and lactation are periods of lifetime where nutritional requirements are increased, and the immune system undergoes different changes throughout both periods. It has been demonstrated that supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics has a positive impact on the immune system and is useful in different situations such as the prevention or amelioration of intestinal disorders. However, few studies address the impact of the supplementation during pregnancy and lactation and even less on the offspring. We hypothesize that the supplementation with a symbiotic during gestation and lactation has an impact on the immune system of the mothers and the offspring and is able to prevent the RV-induced diarrhoea in early life. For this study, Lewis rats were administered with a symbiotic (SYM group) or with the vehicle (REF group) during gestation and lactation. The effect on the dams of this supplementation was evaluated in different morphometric, hematologic and immune variables. Supplementation did not alter the weight evolution during pregnancy and lactation, although it did increase the relative weights of the small intestine and the cecum. With regard to immune variables, an increase in IgG2c and in total IgG as well as a reduction in IgG1, IgG2b was observed in plasma, milk serum and salivary gland. Overall, an increase in Th1 associated IgG subclasses was observed without altering the Th1/Th2 ratio. Finally, supplementation did not change the proportion of MLN lymphocyte populations. In conclusion, this study shows that the maternal supplementation with a symbiotic during gestation and lactation is safe and promotes changes at the immune level, thus being able to have a positive impact on the maturation of the immune system of its offspring