Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets

Wang, Li; Jin, Long; Zhang, Liulian; Huang, Xuankai; Li, Ziyu; Li, Zhimin; Li, Ke; Xu, Yuan; Di, Shengwei; Cui, Shiquan; Wang, Xibiao

doi:10.3390/ijms26020599

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets

by

Li Wang

^1,†,

Long Jin

^1,†,

Liulian Zhang

¹,

Xuankai Huang

²,

Ziyu Li

¹,

Zhimin Li

¹,

Ke Li

¹,

Yuan Xu

¹,

Shengwei Di

¹,

Shiquan Cui

^1,* and

Xibiao Wang

^1,*

¹

College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China

²

Branch of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2 Heyi St., Longsha District, Qiqihaer 161005, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020599

Submission received: 7 December 2024 / Revised: 1 January 2025 / Accepted: 10 January 2025 / Published: 12 January 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Progression of Genetics in Breeding of Farm Animals)

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Abstract

To explore the relationship between intestinal mucin 2 (MUC2) and weaning-induced diarrhoea in piglets, we analysed Min and Landrace piglets. The piglets were divided into a healthy weaned group, a weaned diarrhoea group, and a healthy unweaned control group. Intestinal tissues were collected, and goblet cell numbers, sizes, and degrees of intestinal injury were observed and recorded. Intestinal tissue MUC2 mRNA and protein expression were analysed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT–PCR) and Western blotting. Min pigs presented significantly lower diarrhoea rates and intestinal injury scores than Landrace pigs (p < 0.01). The intestinal injury scores in the weaned diarrhoea group were significantly greater than those in the unweaned groups (p < 0.05), with Min pigs consistently exhibiting lower injury scores than Landrace pigs. Specifically, unweaned Min pigs presented significantly greater duodenal MUC2 mRNA (p < 0.05), and weaned healthy Min pigs presented notably greater expression in both the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.01). These findings reveal enhanced intestinal protection against weaning stress and diarrhoea in Min pigs, with elevated MUC2 levels likely contributing to lower injury scores and milder symptoms, thus highlighting the influence of genetic differences.

Keywords: weaning stress; diarrhoea; MUC2; piglets; intestinal injury

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, L.; Jin, L.; Zhang, L.; Huang, X.; Li, Z.; Li, Z.; Li, K.; Xu, Y.; Di, S.; Cui, S.; et al. Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 599. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020599

AMA Style

Wang L, Jin L, Zhang L, Huang X, Li Z, Li Z, Li K, Xu Y, Di S, Cui S, et al. Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(2):599. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020599

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Li, Long Jin, Liulian Zhang, Xuankai Huang, Ziyu Li, Zhimin Li, Ke Li, Yuan Xu, Shengwei Di, Shiquan Cui, and et al. 2025. "Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 2: 599. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020599

APA Style

Wang, L., Jin, L., Zhang, L., Huang, X., Li, Z., Li, Z., Li, K., Xu, Y., Di, S., Cui, S., & Wang, X. (2025). Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(2), 599. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020599

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Exploring the Link Between Mucin 2 and Weaning Stress-Related Diarrhoea in Piglets

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