Diet Influences Development of the Pig (Sus scrofa) Intestine during the First 6 Hours after Birth

Manuscript received 16 April 1997. Initial reviews completed 30 May 1997. Revision accepted 17 April 1998.

Hongzheng Zhang, Christiane Malo^*, Carolyn R. Boyle, and Randal K. Buddington

Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5759; ^* Membrane Transport Research Group, Department of Physiology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC Canada, H3C 3J7; and  College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9825

Structural and functional responses of the intestine to colostrum, milk replacer, oral electrolyte solution and food deprivation were examined during the first 6 h after birth in pigs. Total intestinal weight, surface area and mucosal mass were highest (P < 0.05) in pigs fed colostrum. The other diet groups did not differ, except that food-deprived pigs had lower surface area than the other groups. Feeding colostrum was associated with higher mucosal protein content (P < 0.05). Total intestinal brush border membrane protein content of pigs fed milk replacer, oral electrolyte solution and food-deprived pigs were 61, 44 and 56%, respectively, of those fed colostrum (P < 0.05). Pigs fed colostrum had higher total mucosal maltase activities than those that were food deprived, and total brush border membrane activities were higher than in those fed oral electrolyte solution. Total intestinal brush border membrane aminooligopeptidase activity was higher in pigs fed colostrum than in those given oral electrolyte solution or deprived of food, but total intestinal homogenate activities did not differ among groups. Diet influenced lactase activity only in the mid-region, and sucrase was not responsive to diet. Intestinal glucose transport capacity by intact intestinal tissues did not differ among diet groups. The ability of brush border membrane vesicles to actively accumulate glucose was lost when pigs were fed colostrum and milk replacer, but not when fed oral electrolyte solution or deprived of food. Our findings reveal how diet during the first 6 h after birth influences the structure and functional characteristics of the intestine. The responses vary between brush border membrane proteins and intestinal regions, and appear to differ from those described for older animals.

The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 128 No. 8 August 1998, pp. 1302-1310
Copyright ©1998 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

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