Early Socialization Triggered ROS-Mediated Activation of Canonical NF-κB Pathway Leading to Inflammation of Spleen in Suckling Piglets
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The current manuscript, “Early socialization triggered ROS-mediated activation of canonical NF-κB pathway leading to inflammation of spleen in suckling piglets” evaluated the effects of early socialization on the oxidative stress in the spleen of piglets and the inflammatory responses involved in the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway.
Weaning in piglets is the most stressful event in the life of a pig and early socialization during the lactation is recommended as a strategy to reduce the weaning stress. However, some recent literature suggests that early socialization may increase the frequency of aggressive behavior in piglets leading to injury and may results in reduced growth rate. In this context, the current manuscript is extremely interesting as it claims that early socialization increases the ROS level in piglet spleen, leading to the oxidative stress and inflammatory response.
Overall, this work is important, rigorous, and well presented. The authors pointed out the research gap as ‘effects of early socialization on the immune and inflammatory responses of piglets are yet to be studied in detail’ and addressed the research gap. The writing is very good. I do not have many major concerns with this work.
Below are some comments in the spirit of helping the authors improve their manuscript.
Introduction
Introduction is brief and to the point.
M & M
The authors mentioned that 89 YDM piglets participated in the study, in which 44 acted as control and 45 as intermittent contact group. The authors are requested to provide the male female ratio of the piglets in each group.
For spleen sampling, the authors selected 6 female piglets from each group. Why only female piglets were selected?
Table 1. Main dietary nutrition composition of sows and suckling piglets. I suggest specifying whether nutritional composition values are calculated or analyzed.
Results and Discussion look fine.
Conclusions
The authors mentioned that “although early socialization was a relatively conservative form of mixing for piglets, it may still cause negative effects on the immune system of piglet to some extent.”
This is not supported by the current study, so may be avoided.
Overall, the manuscript has merit to be accepted for publication after minor modification.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Minor editing is required.
Author Response
Reply to reviewer’s comments:
Thank you for your support and recognition of our work, and we also tend to continuously optimize this work in production practice. We are also very grateful for your valuable comments on our manuscript to help us improve the quality of the manuscript.
The authors mentioned that 89 YDM piglets participated in the study, in which 44 acted as control and 45 as intermittent contact group. The authors are requested to provide the male female ratio of the piglets in each group.
Response: According to your suggestion, we have added information about the male female ratio in each group.
For spleen sampling, the authors selected 6 female piglets from each group. Why only female piglets were selected?
Response: Since the male piglets involved in this study were castrated at 7 days of age, we selected female piglets for sampling in order to avoid the influence of castration on the experimental results.
Table 1. Main dietary nutrition composition of sows and suckling piglets. I suggest specifying whether nutritional composition values are calculated or analyzed.
Response: We have stated in the text that ‘Nutritional information of feed was provided by Wellhope Food Co., LTD and was shown in Table 1.’
The authors mentioned that “although early socialization was a relatively conservative form of mixing for piglets, it may still cause negative effects on the immune system of piglet to some extent.”
This is not supported by the current study, so may be avoided.
Response: Thanks for your suggestion, we've removed that part.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Please see the attachment.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Minor editing of English language required.
Author Response
Reply to reviewer’s comments:
Thank you for your support and recognition of our work, and we also tend to continuously optimize this work in production practice. We are also very grateful for your valuable comments on our manuscript to help us improve the quality of the manuscript.
Specific comments:
- Abstract: Clarify any abbreviations when first used (e.g. ROS, NF-κB).
Response: All abbreviations have been defined in the abstract.
- Introduction:
- Provide more context on how early socialization practices are implemented.
Response: The description of the implementation of ' early socialization' in practice has been added to the Introduction.
- Results:
- Figure 1a Please make clearer.
Response: We uploaded the Figure 1, which meets the journal's requirements for image resolution, to the system separately for consideration by the editorial department.
- Discussion
- Lines 286-289: Please check if these are necessary.
Response: This is a mistake on our part, which has been corrected now .
- Line 293-297: “Similarly, under the ….” Please rewrite to make it clearer and more readable
Response: This part has been corrected to ‘Without increasing the breeding density, we provide piglets with a more comfortable activity area and an enriched social environment, which provides opportunities for the behavior development of piglets. In this study, compared with the control group, socialized piglets showed more frequent fighting and head knocking during lactation…’.
- Please check the referencing style and ensure consistency, for example
Line 315: “Rammal et al.”
Response: It has been corrected.
- Broader Implications:
- Discuss any potential long-term effects on pig health and productivity that might result from early socialization.
Response: According to your suggestion, we added some potential long-term effects of early socialization on pigs’ later life in the discussion. (Line 312-320)
- Conclusion
- Implications:
- Address the potential negative impacts of early socialization on the piglets' immune systems.
Response: According to your suggestion, we've removed that part.
- Recommendations:
- Based on your findings, provide recommendations for practitioners in pig farming. This might include suggestions for optimizing socialization practices to balance behavioral development with minimizing stress and immune system impacts.
Response: We added the following comment at the end of the conclusion: ‘In addition, we suggest to fully develop the adaptability of piglets by increasing the socialization time to balance the influence of early socialization on the behavior development and immune system of piglets.’
