Objective To investigate the effects of Taishan Panshi San (TSPSS) supplementation on foal growth and immunity. Methods Twelve pregnant mares and their foals were divided into three groups: control (NC), TSPSS every other month (GY), and TSPSS monthly (MY) from gestation day 30. Maternal blood was sampled on days 65, 185, and 305 for hormone analysis. Foals were assessed for growth, cytokines, antioxidants, and immunoglobulins at birth, and onset of diarrhea (FQ), from 30 to 120 days after birth. Intestinal microbiota and metabolites were analyzed. Results GY foals showed elevated levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, GH, IGF-I, insulin, IgA, IgG, IgM, SOD, and T-AOC ( p 0.05 or p 0.01), with reduced MDA ( p 0.01). TSPSS upregulated placental nutrient transporters, vascular genes, and hormone receptors. GY foals exhibited increased abundance of Synergistetes spp. and decreased abundance of Chlamydiae spp. and Phascolarctobacterium spp., which correlated with enhanced bile acid synthesis. MY foals showed enrichment of Odoribacter spp. and Akkermansia spp. at FQ and Ruminococcus spp. at 90 d, which were linked to steroid and amino acid metabolism. Short-chain fatty acids (such as acetate, etc.) decreased at FQ/30 d, with group-specific correlations. Conclusion Maternal TSPSS supplementation during pregnancy may modulate placental gene expression and improve gut microbiota and metabolism, thereby promoting the growth and development of foals.
Fu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.