lactoferrin and Weight-Gain

Human milk provides necessary macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat) required for infant nutrition. Lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional iron-binding protein predominant in human milk, shares similar protein sequence, structure, and bioactivity with bovine Lf (bLf). This large-scale pediatric nutrition study was designed to evaluate growth and tolerance in healthy infants who received study formulas with bLf at concentrations within the range of mature human milk.. In this multi-center, double-blind, parallel-designed, gender-stratified prospective study 480 infants were randomized to receive a marketed routine cow's milk-based infant formula (Control; n = 155) or one of two investigational formulas with bLf at 0.6 g/L (LF-0.6; n = 165) or 1.0 g/L (LF-1.0; n = 160) from 14-365 days of age. Investigational formulas also had a prebiotic blend of polydextrose (PDX) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and adjusted arachidonic acid (ARA). The primary outcome was weight growth rate from 14-120 days of age. Anthropometric measurements were taken at 14, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 275, and 365 days of age. Parental recall of formula intake, tolerance, and stool characteristics was collected at each time point. Medically-confirmed adverse events were collected throughout the study period.. There were no group differences in growth rate (g/day) from 14-120 days of age; 353 infants completed the study through 365 days of age (. 110; LF-0.6: 127; LF-1.0: 116). Few differences in growth, formula intake, and infant fussiness or gassiness were observed through 365 day of age. Group discontinuation rates and the overall group incidence of medically-confirmed adverse events were not significantly different. From 30 through 180 days of age, group differences in stool consistency (P < 0.005) were detected with softer stools for infants in the LF-0.6 and LF-1.0 groups versus CONTROL.. Compared to the Control, infants who received investigational formulas with bLf and the prebiotic blend of PDX and GOS experienced a softer stooling pattern similar to that reported in breastfed infants. This study demonstrated routine infant formulas with bLf, a blend of PDX and GOS, and adjusted ARA were safe, well-tolerated, and associated with normal growth when fed to healthy term infants through 365 days of age.. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01122654 . Registered 10 May 2010.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Infant Formula; Infant, Newborn; Lactoferrin; Male; Milk; Prebiotics; Prospective Studies; Weight Gain

The inherent disease susceptibility of veal calves results in frequent antimicrobial use. Improvements in antimicrobial stewardship necessitate alternative therapies to improve calf health and growth, while reducing the need for antimicrobials important to human health. This study investigated the effect of 2 alternative therapies, lactoferrin (an iron-binding protein found in colostrum) and cinnamaldehyde (an essential oil of the cinnamon plant) on growth, disease incidence, and mortality risk in special-fed veal calves. On the day of arrival to the growing facility (3 to 7 d of age), calves (n = 80 per treatment) were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments: (1) control (no supplement), (2) lactoferrin (1 g/d in milk replacer for 7 d), or (3) cinnamaldehyde (1 g/d in milk replacer for 21 d). Body weight was measured on the day of arrival (d 0), 21, and 42 d postarrival. Health assessments were performed twice weekly through 21 d, and mortality records were obtained through 6 wk postarrival. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare growth between treatment groups, and a Poisson regression model (PROC GENMOD, SAS v. 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) was used to test differences between groups in the incidence of diarrhea (fecal score ≥2 with and without depression and temperature) and disease through 3 wk postarrival. Body weight and average daily gain were similar between treatments. Neither lactoferrin nor cinnamaldehyde had an effect on diarrhea incidence. However, the risk of navel inflammation was significantly lower for calves that received cinnamaldehyde compared with calves in the control group. Mortality through 6 wk postarrival was low, with 4, 1, and 0 deaths from the control, lactoferrin, and cinnamaldehyde treatment groups, respectively. Additional research is needed to investigate various doses of these alternative therapies on calf health and growth, in addition to different routes of administration.

Topics: Acrolein; Animal Feed; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Colostrum; Diarrhea; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Female; Health Status; Inflammation; Lactoferrin; Milk; Weight Gain

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major risk factor for both perinatal and long-term morbidity. Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) is a major milk glycoprotein considered as a pleiotropic functional nutrient. The impact of maternal supplementation with bLf on IUGR-induced sequelae, including inadequate growth and altered cerebral development, remains unknown.. IUGR was induced through maternal dexamethasone infusion (100 μg/kg during last gestational week) in rats. Maternal supplementation with bLf (0.85% in food pellet) was provided during both gestation and lactation. Pup growth was monitored, and Pup brain metabolism and gene expression were studied using in vivo (1)H NMR spectroscopy, quantitative PCR, and microarray in the hippocampus at postnatal day (PND)7.. Maternal bLf supplementation did not change gestational weight but increased the birth body weight of control pups (4%) with no effect on the IUGR pups. Maternal bLf supplementation allowed IUGR pups to recover a normalized weight at PND21 (weaning) improving catch-up growth. Significantly altered levels of brain metabolites (γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, N-acetylaspartate, and N-acetylaspartylglutamate) and transcripts (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), and glutamate receptors) in IUGR pups were normalized with maternal bLf supplementation.. Our data suggest that maternal bLf supplementation is a beneficial nutritional intervention able to revert some of the IUGR-induced sequelae, including brain hippocampal changes.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Brain; Dexamethasone; Dietary Supplements; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Gene Expression; Growth; Lactation; Lactoferrin; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Rats; Weight Gain

Previous studies have shown that bovine lactoferrin (bLF) exerts antibacterial, immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of enteral bLF supplementation on intestinal adaptation and barrier function in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks were randomised into three groups (n 10 per group): Sham group (rats submitted to bowel transection and reanastomosis); SBS group (rats submitted to 80 % small-bowel resection); SBS-bLF group (rats submitted to 80 % small-bowel resection plus treatment with bLF (0·5 g/kg per d) by oral administration from day 2 to day 20). Despite similar food intake, both the SBS and SBS-bLF groups exhibited significantly lower body weight gain, but increased villus height and crypt depth and a higher intestinal epithelial cell proliferation index (P< 0·05) when compared with the Sham group. Compared with that in the SBS group, in the SBS-bLF group, bacterial translocation to regional organs was low and intestinal permeability was significantly reduced. The SBS-bLF group also had increased secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations in ileal contents (29·9 (23·8-33·0) ng/ml), when compared with the other two groups having similar sIgA concentrations (17·5 (12·6-29·1) and 19·3 (11·5-27·0) ng/ml, respectively). The relative expression levels of two tight junction (TJ) proteins, occludin and claudin-4, in the SBS-bLF group were significantly higher than those in the SBS group (P< 0·05), but did not exhibit any significant differences when compared with those in the Sham group. In conclusion, enteral bLF supplementation up-regulates small-bowel sIgA concentrations and TJ protein expression and reduces intestinal permeability and could thus support intestinal barrier integrity and protect against bacterial infections in SBS.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Translocation; Cattle; Cell Proliferation; Claudin-4; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Enterocytes; Gastrointestinal Agents; Gastrointestinal Contents; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestine, Small; Lactoferrin; Male; Occludin; Permeability; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Short Bowel Syndrome; Weight Gain

Lactoferrin (LF) is a beneficial multifunctional protein in milk. The objective of this study was to determine whether bovine transgenic milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) can modulate intestinal flora in the neonatal pig as an animal model for the human infant. We fed 7-day-old piglets (i) ordinary whole milk (OM), (ii) a 1:1 mixture of OM and rhLF milk (MM), or (iii) rhLF milk (LFM). LFM provided better average daily mass gain than OM (P = 0.007). PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that the LFM piglets exhibited more diversity of the intestinal flora than the OM group. Except for the colon in the LFM group, an increasing trend in microbial diversity occurred from the duodenum to the colon. Fecal flora was not different across different ages or different treatment groups, but a cluster analysis showed that the fecal flora of OM- and MM-fed piglets had a higher degree of similarity than that of LFM-fed piglets. Based on culture-based bacterial counts of intestinal content samples, concentrations of Salmonella spp. in the colon and of Escherichia coli throughout the intestine were reduced with LFM (P < 0.01). Concentrations of Bifidobacterium spp. in the ileum and of Lactobacillus spp. throughout the intestine were also increased with LFM (P ≤ 0.01). We suggest that rhLF can modulate the intestinal flora in piglets.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Cattle; Cluster Analysis; Colon; Feces; Female; Food, Genetically Modified; Humans; Intestine, Small; Lactobacillus; Lactoferrin; Male; Metagenome; Milk; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Typing; Phylogeny; Pseudomonas; Recombinant Proteins; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Sus scrofa; Weight Gain

Lactoferrin (LF) exhibits a broad spectrum of anti-microbial properties and may have regulatory functions in the immune system. In the present study, 40 calves (20 males, 20 females) were used to examine the effects of supplemental bovine LF added to colostrum and milk replacer (at 0.16%) on health, weight development and feed intake during a 70-day experimental period. The calves were allocated to a treatment group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20); the groups were balanced in terms of sex, live weight and date of birth. Body weight and feed intake were measured at regular intervals. Blood and colostrum samples were collected to determine the content of IgG. In addition, colostrum and milk replacer samples were analysed for their LF concentrations. Significantly higher IgG values were observed in the LF treated than in the control group during the entire feeding experiment from week 2 to week 6. Calves receiving LF had less days of disease with less serious cases of diarrhoea than the control group. Body weight and feed intake were not significantly different between the treatments; in male calves LF-treated animals tended towards higher weight gains. This study indicates that LF is advantageous for health and may therefore be a beneficial supplement in the diets for neonatal calves.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Colostrum; Dietary Supplements; Energy Intake; Female; Health Status; Immunoglobulin G; Lactoferrin; Male; Random Allocation; Weight Gain

The European Commission has proposed a permanent ban on the use of antibiotics as an ingredient in animal feed to promote growth. Lactoferrin is a globular multifunctional protein that has been shown to play a role in iron absorption and to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, lactoferrin may serve as a nontherapeutic alternative to antibiotics in livestock husbandry. As a pilot study toward this goal, transgenic mice have been generated harboring a porcine lactoferrin (pLF) gene driven by the mammary gland-specific promoter of the bovine alpha-lactalbumin (alphaLA) gene. The alphaLA-pLF hybrid gene was confirmed to have been successfully integrated and transmitted stably through the germ-line in 9 (5 females and 4 males) of 14 transgenic founders. In the female progenies of six lines analyzed, the transgene copy numbers ranged from 1 to 20 with 1-4 integration sites. Significant levels of pLF protein in milk ranging from 40 to 106 microg/mL with physical characteristics similar to those of native pLF in sow's milk were achieved in three of the transgenic lines obtained. Tissue- and stage-specific pLF expressions were restricted to the mammary gland of the transgenic female mice during lactation. It was further demonstrated that the growth performance of animal pups is enhanced by directly feeding the genetically engineered milk containing enriched pLF protein in transgenic mice. Furthermore, this enhanced growth performance in suckling mice was proportional to the concentration of pLF present in milk.

Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; Body Weight; Cattle; Duodenum; Female; Food, Genetically Modified; Intestinal Mucosa; Lactalbumin; Lactation; Lactoferrin; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Microvilli; Milk; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Swine; Weight Gain

A total of 90 weanling female pigs (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire) were used in a 30-d growth experiment to investigate the effect of lactoferrin (LF) on growth performance, immune function, and serum iron concentrations. The pigs were allocated on the basis of BW and litter to 3 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. The dietary treatments were: control group (basal diet), antibiotics group (basal diet + 20 mg/kg of flavomycin + 110 mg/kg of aureomycin), and LF group (basal diet + 1.0 g/kg of LF). There were 3 replicate pens per treatment, and pigs were grouped with 10 pigs per pen. Six pigs, randomly selected from each treatment (2 pigs/pen), were slaughtered for serum and spleen samples on d 15 and 30. Supplementation with LF improved the phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral lymphocyte proliferation by 36% (P < 0.01), increased concanavalin A (ConA)- and PHA-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation by 332% (P < 0.01) and 258% (P < 0.01), enhanced serum IgG by 20% (P < 0.05), IgA by 13% (P < 0.05), IgM by 15% (P < 0.05), complement 4 (C4) by 29% (P < 0.05), IL-2 by 12% (P < 0.01), and serum iron values by 22% (P < 0.05) on d 15 compared with the control. Lactoferrin supplementation increased PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (P < 0.01), serum IgG by 16% (P < 0.05), IgA by 17% (P < 0.05), C4 by 11% (P < 0.05), IL-2 by 14% (P < 0.05), and serum iron values by 23% (P < 0.01), and decreased the diarrhea ratio (P < 0.05) relative to the control on d 30. Compared with the controls, supplementation with antibiotic increased ConA- and PHA-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation (P < 0.05) on d 15, decreased the diarrhea ratio (P < 0.05), and increased the PHA-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation (P < 0.05) and serum iron values (P < 0.01) on d 30. These results support the possible use LF as an immunostimulant to improve immune functions and strengthen host defenses and would seem to be a good method for defending weanling piglets from infections and weanling stress.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Body Weight; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines; Diarrhea; Female; Immunoglobulins; Iron; Lactoferrin; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Random Allocation; Spleen; Swine; Swine Diseases; Weaning; Weight Gain

Induction of protein expression in a tissue-specific manner by gene transfer over-expression techniques has been one means to define the function of a protein in a biological paradigm. Studies with retinoid reporter constructs transfected in mammary cell lines suggests that lactoferrin (Lf) affects retinoid signaling pathways and alters apoptosis. We tested the effects and interactions of over-expressed mammary-specific human lactoferrin (hLf) and dietary retinol palmitate on lactation and mammary gland development in mice. Increased retinol palmitate in the diet increased daily retinol equivalents (RE) to 2.6-fold over the normal mouse control diet. Transgene (Tg) expression in the dam fed control diet depressed pup weight gain. Severe depression of pup weight gain was observed when homozygote TgTg dams were fed the RE diet. Normal weight gain was restored when pups were placed with a wild type dam fed the RE diet; conversely, normal growing pups from the wild type dams showed declining weight gains when fostered to the TgTg RE-fed dams. Northern analysis of mammary tissue extracts showed a reduction in WAP and an increase in IGFBP-3 mRNA that was associated with the presence of the transgene. Histological evaluation of 3 days lactating mammary tissue showed mammary epithelial cells from TgTg animals contained excessive secretory products, suggesting a block in cellular secretion mechanisms. In addition, the mammary cells displayed a cellular apical membrane puckering that extended into the alveoli lumens. These studies demonstrate an in vivo interaction of Tg-hLf expression and dietary retinoids in mouse mammary glands. While normal mammary gland physiology may not be representative by these experiments because high Lf concentrations during early lactation are abnormal, the demonstrated biological interaction suggests that typical periods of high Lf concentrations may have impact upon developing and involuting mammary glands.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blotting, Northern; Blotting, Southern; Diet; Diterpenes; Female; Humans; Lactation; Lactoferrin; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Organogenesis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retinyl Esters; Signal Transduction; Transgenes; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin addition to milk replacer varying in crude protein (CP) on dry matter intake, growth, and days medicated. Thirty-four Holstein heifer calves were assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were as follows: 562 g daily of a nonmedicated conventional milk replacer (20% CP:20% fat) feeding regimen with or without 1 g of supplemental bovine lactoferrin (n = 9 for both treatments) or a nonmedicated intensified milk replacer feeding regimen (28% CP:20% fat) fed on a metabolizable energy basis (0.2 Mcal/kg BW(0.75)) from d 2 to 9, and at 0.27 Mcal/kg BW(0.75) from d 10 to 42 with or without 1g supplemental bovine lactoferrin (n = 8 for both treatments). Calves were fed pelleted starter (25% CP) in 227.5-g increments beginning on d 2 and had free access to water. Calves remained on the study for 14 d postweaning. Dry matter intake was determined daily. Growth measurements were taken weekly. Blood samples were taken twice weekly for determination of blood urea N. On d 10 of life, calves were subjected to a xylose challenge. Calves on conventional treatments ate more starter preweaning, during weaning, and postweaning. Preweaning, intensively fed calves had higher dry matter intakes. Weights of intensified-fed calves were greater at weaning. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves had greater average daily gain preweaning and overall and higher gain:feed ratios preweaning, but conventionally fed calves had higher gain:feed ratios during weaning. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves had greater hip heights during weaning and postweaning and greater heart girths preweaning, weaning, and postweaning. Days medicated were greater preweaning and overall for intensified-fed calves. There were no differences among treatments for xylose absorption. Calves on conventional treatments had increased blood urea nitrogen concentrations preweaning. There were no effects of lactoferrin on any experimental variable. Intensified milk replacer-fed calves consumed less starter but had higher average daily gains overall and larger frames and greater BW than conventionally fed calves. An intensified milk replacer feeding regimen promotes faster growth during the preweaning period when compared with calves fed conventional treatments, but supplemental bovine lactoferrin was not beneficial under these experimental conditions.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Feces; Female; Lactoferrin; Random Allocation; Time Factors; Weight Gain

There are reports of important interactions among vitamin A, lactoferrin (Lf), and components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. Newborn calves are deficient in vitamin A and have a low Lf status. Colostrum contains vitamin A, Lf, and members of the IGF system, including IGF binding proteins (IGFBP), and these compounds may exert mutual interactions in neonatal calves. Effects of feeding different amounts of vitamin A and Lf on hematological, metabolic, and endocrine traits during the first 5 d of life were studied in neonatal calves. Calves were fed a milk-based formula without (F) or with added vitamin A [F(A); 351, 402, 490, and 490 micromol/kg dry matter (DM) on d 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively], Lf (F(L); 3850, 1990, 660, and 660 mg/kg DM on d 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively), or vitamin A + Lf (F(AL)) and colostrum (C). Blood samples were taken preprandially on d 1 to 5 and postprandially on d 1, 2, and 4 for the study of hematological, metabolic, and endocrine traits. As intestinal absorption of Lf in formula-fed calves was obviously lower than in colostrum-fed calves, Lf supplementation did not influence the metabolic and endocrine status. Plasma vitamin A concentrations increased from d 1 to 5 in F(A), F(AL), and C, but remained low in F and F(L). Addition of vitamin A to F affected concentrations of vitamin A from d 2 to 5; hemoglobin and triglycerides on d 3; and tended to influence IGFBP-3 levels on d 5. On d 1, preprandial insulin concentrations in F and F(L) were higher than those in F(A) and F(AL) and growth hormone concentrations on d 3 in F(A) were higher than in F(AL). In C, plasma Lf concentrations increased on d 1 and then decreased until d 5, whereas plasma urea and IGF-I concentrations remained stable. Compared with F-fed calves, C-fed calves had higher plasma concentrations of Lf from d 1 to 4, higher concentrations of vitamin A on d 5, higher concentrations of total protein from d 2 to 5, higher concentrations of triglycerides on d 3 and 4, and higher concentrations of IGF-I on d 4 and 5, but lower urea concentrations on d 4 and 5 and lower basal growth hormone concentrations than in F, F(L), and F(A). In conclusion, metabolite and hormone concentrations were influenced by differences in feeding. Addition of vitamin A influenced concentrations of vitamin A, hemoglobin, and triglycerides and tended to affect IGFBP-3 levels. Lactoferrin and vitamin A did not interact with respect to the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 status.

Topics: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cattle; Colostrum; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Health Status; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Intestinal Absorption; Lactoferrin; Male; Random Allocation; Somatomedins; Vitamin A; Weight Gain

Lactoferrin is a milk protein that exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Previous studies indicated that supplemental lactoferrin may alter the microbial populations in the gut of nonruminants and increase preweaning weight gains in calves. In the present study, 40 Holstein calves were used to examine the effects of supplemental lactoferrin (0, 1, 2, or 3 g/d) on health, growth, and feed intake from 3 d of age to 2 wk postweaning. Lactoferrin was mixed and fed with a nonmedicated milk replacer. Calves were housed in individual pens and offered a textured, nonmedicated starter and water for ad libitum consumption. Body weight and heart girth were measuredweekly. Intakes of milk replacer and starter were determined daily. Fecal consistency was monitored three times per week. Calves were weaned when they met certain criteria based on body weight gain and starter intake. Preweaning fecal score responded quadratically, with the group fed 1 g/d of lactoferrin having the lowest score. Overall and preweaning number of days medicated responded in the same manner as fecal score. Preweaning average daily gain and gain-to-feed ratio increased linearly with lactoferrin supplementation, whereas postweaning gain-to-feed ratio decreased linearly with lactoferrin. Overall average daily heart girth gain increased linearly with lactoferrin. Body weight, weaning age, and dry matter intake were not different among treatments. Based on the observed improved gain-to-feed ratios, increased average daily gains, improved fecal scores, and reduced morbidity in preweaned calves, it appears that lactoferrin may be a beneficial supplement in the diets of neonatal calves prior to weaning.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Colostrum; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Feces; Female; Health Status; Heart; Lactoferrin; Male; Milk; Weaning; Weight Gain

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether rice that has been genetically produced to express human lactoferrin (LF) or lysozyme (LZ) protects the intestinal tract similarly to subtherapeutic antibiotics (bacitracin + roxarsone; Antibiotics). Experiment 1 compared 10 corn-soy diets containing 20% of various proportions of LF, LZ or conventional rice (CONV). Chicks fed 5% LF + 10% LZ + 5% CONV had significantly better feed efficiency and thinner lamina propria in the duodenum than those fed 20% CONV. Experiment 2 compared five corn-soy diets containing experimental rice combinations totaling 15% rice. Chicks fed 10% LZ + 5% CONV or 5% LF + 10% LZ had significantly lower feed intake and significantly better feed efficiency than those fed 15% CONV. Chicks fed 10% LZ + 5% CONV, 5% LF + 10% LZ or Antibiotics had significantly greater villous height in the duodenum compared with chicks fed 15% CONV. The lamina propria of the ileum was thinner and contained fewer leukocytes in chicks fed 10% LZ + 5% CONV or Antibiotics compared with those fed 15% CONV. The results from these experiments demonstrate a potential of genetically produced LF and LZ rice to be used as a substitute for antibiotics in broiler diets.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Chickens; Digestive System; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Energy Intake; Lactoferrin; Male; Muramidase; Oryza; Plants, Genetically Modified; Random Allocation; Weight Gain

Twenty-one Holstein calves (12 bulls, 9 heifers) were used to evaluate the effects of supplemental lactoferrin (0, 1, and 10 g/d) added to colostrum, milk, and milk replacer in a 56-d study. Calves fed lactoferrin (LF) weighed more during wk 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 than control calves. Calves fed LF had increased preweaning daily weight gains and heart girth gains compared with calves not fed lactoferrin. Calves fed 1 g/d LF had a greater preweaning average daily gain than calves fed 10 g/d of lactoferrin. Hematocrit and serum Fe were unaffected by treatments. Calves were weaned when they had consumed 0.7 kg of calf starter grain for 2 consecutive d and were at least 28 d of age. All calves were weaned by 35 d of age, regardless of starter intake. Calves fed LF consumed more calf starter grain during the preweaning period and met weaning criteria at a younger age. This study indicates that supplementing calf diets with LF is advantageous to calf performance.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Colostrum; Dietary Supplements; Female; Heart; Hematocrit; Iron; Lactoferrin; Male; Milk; Weaning; Weight Gain

Lactoferrin (Lf) systemically suppresses tumor growth and metastasis by unknown mechanisms. We have studied the effect of orally administered iron-unsaturated bovine Lf on angiogenesis induced by VEGF(165) and IL-1-alpha in adult rats using the mesenteric-window angiogenesis assay. VEGF(165) is a major angiogenic factor in most, if not all, tumors and other angiogenesis diseases of clinical relevance. A number of objective angiogenesis variables were analyzed using microscopic morphometry and image analysis. Lf treatment significantly inhibited the VEGF(165)-mediated response in terms of microvessel spatial extension, overall vascularity and incidence of crossover. The response to IL-1-alpha decreased significantly only in terms of microvessel crossover. In vitro, Lf exerted an antiproliferative effect on endothelial cells. To our knowledge, Lf is the first endogenous protein that has been shown to be antiangiogenic following oral administration. The oral administration of Lf thus appears to be of potential interest as an antiangiogenesis treatment modality in the clinical setting. Since tumor growth is angiogenesis dependent, the extensive therapeutic potential warrants further study to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the angiostatic effect of Lf.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Cattle; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Endothelial Growth Factors; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Interleukin-1; Lactoferrin; Lymphokines; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; Weight Gain

Breast milk has been shown to prevent gut-origin infections in neonates through undefined mechanisms. Putative protective factors in breast milk include immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and lactoferrin. We examined their role in bacterial translocation in neonatal rabbits.. IgA, IgG, and lactoferrin were isolated from rabbit breast milk through gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Neonates were randomized to receive breast milk, formula alone, or formula supplemented with IgA, IgG, or lactoferrin. Quantitative cultures were performed on day 7 for bacterial translocation. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections of distal ileum were examined by light microscopy. Transmucosal bacterial passage was determined in vitro, and the ileal mucosal membranes were examined by confocal microscopy.. IgA supplementation abrogated bacterial translocation. IgG and lactoferrin had no significant effect. Neonates that received IgA or breast milk gained more weight than those in the other groups. IgA reduced transmucosal bacterial passage in vitro. In contrast to the normal-appearing distal ileum of neonates fed breast milk, intestinal epithelium from neonates that received formula or formula with IgG or IgA demonstrated prominent vacuoles by light microscopy. Those fed formula alone or formula with lactoferrin had slightly shortened villi.. IgA supplementation prevents bacterial translocation by enhancing gut mucosal barrier function.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Animals, Suckling; Bacteria; Biological Transport; Female; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Infant Food; Intestinal Mucosa; Lactoferrin; Lymph Nodes; Mesentery; Milk; Rabbits; Sepsis; Weight Gain