Cysteine Attenuates the Impact of Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative Damage on Growth Performance and Intestinal Function in Piglets

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), a kind of environmental toxin, widely impacts daily life. Cysteine (Cys) is a nutritionally important amino acid for piglets. However, it remains unclear whether Cys can alleviate BPA-induced oxidative damage in piglets. The aim of the present study was to explore the protective effects of Cys in BPA-challenged piglets. A total of twenty-four piglets were divided into four groups that were further subdivided based on the type of exposure (with or without 0.1% BPA) in a basal or Cys diet for a 28 d feeding trial. The results showed that BPA exposure decreased the piglets’ average daily weight gain by 14.9%, and decreased dry matter, crude protein and ether extract digestibility by 3.3%, 4.5% and 2.3%, respectively; these decreases were attenuated by Cys supplementation. Additionally, Cys supplementation restored BPA-induced decreases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, in the serum and jejunum (p p p p < 0.05). Collectively, the results herein demonstrated that Cys supplementation attenuated the impact of BPA-induced oxidative damage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal function.

Keywords

• cysteine
• bisphenol A
• growth performance
• nutrient digestibility
• intestinal function
• antioxidant