Supplementation of Dietary Angelica Sinensis Extracts to Wuzhishan Lactating Sows: Effects on Milk Composition, Immune Function, Milk-Derived Hormones and Related Gene Expression

Hongzhi Wu ¹ Xilong Yu ² Xiaoyu Zhang ³ Weiqi Peng ¹ Fengjie Ji ¹ Qian Shen ⁴ Renlong Lv ^1*

• ¹ Tropical Crop Genetic Resource Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Haikou, Hainan Province, China
• ² College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
• ³ College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan Province, China
• ⁴ Hainan Xuhuai Technology Co. Ltd, Haikou, Hainan Province, China

The milk provided by sows plays an essential role in the growth and development of the piglets. This study aimed to explore the effects of Angelica sinensis extracts on milk composition, immune function, milk-derived hormones, and related gene expression of lactating sows. Fortyeight sows were randomly allocated into four groups, with six replicates and two sows per replicate.The control group (CON) was fed basal experimental diets, and the experimental groups were fed 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg Angelica sinensis extracts in powder (AS1, AS2, and AS3, respectively).Compared with CON, (1) the lactoprotein and milk fat contents were higher (p < 0.05) in AS1, AS2 and AS3 at 12, 24 hours and on the 7th day; (2) the IgA, IgG, and IL-2 levels were higher (p < 0.05), the TNF-α levels were lower (p < 0.05) in AS1, AS2 and AS3 at 12, 24 hours; the IgG, IgM, and IL-2 levels were higher (p < 0.05) in AS1, AS2 and AS3 on the 7 th day; (3) the progesterone, prolactin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 contents were higher (p < 0.05) in AS1, AS2 and AS3 at 12 and 24 hours; the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 contents were higher (p < 0.05) in AS2 and AS3 on the 7th day; (4) The relative expressions of PRLP, LALBA, AKT1, FASN, GLUT1 and CSN2 in mammary tissue were higher (p < 0.05) in groups treated with Angelica sinensis extracts; (5) The serum IgA, IgM, IL-6, growth hormone, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 contents were higher (p < 0.05) in AS2 and AS3 in piglets; (6) the relative expressions of PRLP and IL-10 in umbilical cord were higher (p < 0.05) in groups treated with Angelica sinensis extracts. Incorporating 600 mg/kg Angelica sinensis extracts into the diets of lactating Wuzhishan sows elicited differential responses regarding milk composition, immune function, hormonal profiles, and associated gene expression across distinct postpartum periods.