Abstract

The impact of nutrition on pig growth and development has been investigated in various contexts, yet much remains unknown about specific mechanisms by which manipulation of the intestinal microbiota may influence brain structure and function. The hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has emerged as one of the main modulators of the microbiotagut-brain axis, and may serve as one of the most important mechanisms driving stress responses. As pigs experience various environmental stressors in commercial production settings, regulating HPA axis activation and accurately measuring stress levels in pigs has become crucial to successful pork production. Detailed in this chapter is organization of the HPA axis, a description of physiological and behavioural changes following exposure to environmental stressors, and potential beneficial effects of nutritional supplementation in relation to the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Moreover, diet can profoundly influence the timing and rate of myelination as part of cognitive development and this chapter further discusses the importance of myelin, and the effects of maternal environment and nutrition on brain structural and cognitive development in pigs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationEnvironmental effects on gut health in production animals
Subtitle of host publicationEnvironmental Effects on Gut Health in Production Animals
PublisherBrill
Pages327-364
Number of pages38
ISBN (Electronic)9789004695467
ISBN (Print)9789004695450
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 22 2024

Keywords

  • Diet
  • HPA axis
  • Learning and memory
  • Myelin
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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