Dietary resveratrol supplementation alleviates liver damage induced by intrauterine growth retardation in weaned piglets

Here, the effect of resveratrol (RSV) on hepatic redox status, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and mitophagy in weaned piglets with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was investigated. A total of 12 normal birth weight (NBW, ~1.59 kg), and 24 IUGR ( ~0.94 kg) newborn piglets were obtained from 12 sows. At 26 d of age, all piglets were weaned and allocated into three groups for a 21-d trial. Treatments included: (1) NBW piglets fed a basal diet; (2) IUGR piglets fed a basal diet; (3) IUGR piglets fed a RSV-supplemented basal diet. Serum and liver samples were collected at the end of this trial. Compared with NBW, IUGR reduced absolute liver weight and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (p < 0.05). RSV reversed the elevated serum AST activity in IUGR piglets (p < 0.05). RSV restored the reduced total superoxide dismutase activity, and increased interleukin 18 and interleukin 1 beta levels in the liver of IUGR piglets (p < 0.05). IUGR decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and complex I concentrations, and increased BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L) mRNA expression in the liver (p < 0.05). RSV increased (p < 0.05) ATP content and reduced (p = 0.086) BNIP3L transcriptional expression in the liver of IUGR piglets (p < 0.05). Results suggest that RSV alleviates liver damage in IUGR weaned piglets by improving redox status, inflammation, and mitochondrial function, providing a theoretical basis for future rational utilization of RSV in swine production.