TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effects of Dietary Vitamin D<SUB>3</SUB> on the Apoptosis, Morphological Structure and Antibacterial Peptide <I>Hepcidin</I> Gene Expression in the Spleen of <I>Monopterus albus</I>
AU - Zhou, Ding-Gang AU - Li, De-Bing AU - Shao, Shan-Shan AU - Zhang, Gong-Wei AU - Li, Xue-Wei 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 12
IS  - 3
SP  - 316
EP  - 322
PY  - 2013
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2013.316.322
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2013.316.322
KW  - Monopterus albus
KW  -vitamin D3
KW  -apoptosis
KW  -hepcidin gene
KW  -morphological structure
AB  - To investigate the effects of dietary Vitamin D<SUB>3</SUB> (VD<SUB>3</SUB>) on the apoptosis, morphological structure and antibacterial peptide <I>hepcidin</I> gene expression in the spleen of <I>Monopterus albus</I> (<I>M. albus</I>), so as to provide theoretical basis for investigating the immunoregulatory functions and mechanisms of VD<SUB>3</SUB>. A total of 540 healthy <I>M. albus</I> (weigh, 21.7&plusmn;2.1 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (3 replicates per group, 30 <I>M. albus</I> per replicate) and fed with dietary VD<SUB>3</SUB> at various concentrations (0 (control), 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 IU kg<SUP>-1</SUP>). The experiment lasted for 60 days. After feeding experiment, the spleen was collected from 6 <I>M. albus</I> selected randomly from each group for the detection of apoptosis using FCM and antibacterial peptide <I>hepcidin</I> gene using fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR, besides morphological structure was observed using histological method. The Proliferation Index (PI) was significantly increased (p&lt;0.05), the apoptotic rate was significantly reduced (p&lt;0.05), <I>hepcidin</I> gene expression was significantly up-regulated (p&lt;0.05), the percentage of white pulp was increased and more splenic corpuscles were clearly visible in the 1000 IU kg<SUP>-1</SUP> group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in <I>hepcidin</I> gene expression in the 4000 IU kg<SUP>-1</SUP> group and the number of splenic corpuscle was reduced, gradually degenerating and disappearing. The results demonstrate that appropriate dose dietary provision of VD<SUB>3</SUB> significantly reduced the cell apoptosis rate in the spleen of <I>M. albus</I> whereas promoted the growth of peripheral lymphoid organ and significantly increased <I>hepcidin</I> gene expression, enhancing immunity. However, when the dietary provision of VD<SUB>3</SUB> was excessive or deficient, the apoptosis was increased, cell proliferation was blocked, growth of spleen was inhibited, <I>hepcidin</I> gene expression was down-regulated and immune function was impaired.
ER  -