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Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Neonatal Dietary Cholesterol and Alleles of Cholesterol 7- Hydroxylase Affect Piglet Cerebrum Weight, Cholesterol Concentration, and Behavior^1,2

³ USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030; ⁴ Pork Industry Institute, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2141; and ⁵ Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: wgp3{at}cornell.edu.

This experiment was designed to test the effect of polymorphism in the cholesterol 7- hydroxylase (CYP7) gene locus and dietary cholesterol (C) on cerebrum C in neonatal pigs fed sow's milk formulas. Thirty-six pigs (18 male and 18 female) genetically selected for high (HG) or low (LG) plasma total C were weaned at 24–36 h after birth and assigned in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 diets (0 or 0.5% C), 2 sexes, and 2 genotypes (HG and LG). Individually housed pigs consumed diets ad libitum for 42 d. Open-field behavior was tested at wk 2 and 4. All pigs were killed at 42 d of age, the cerebrum was weighed, and C content and concentration measured. All data were analyzed by general linear model ANOVA. Cerebrum weight was greater in HG than LG pigs (P < 0.03) but was not affected by diet or sex. Pigs fed C tended to have a higher cerebrum C concentration than those deprived (P = 0.12). At 2 wk, LG pigs explored a novel open-field environment less often (P < 0.001) than did HG pigs. At 4 wk, some LG pigs explored the open field but fewer (P < 0.001) vs. HG pigs retreated back to the safe area. There were no genotype x diet, genotype x sex, or diet x sex interactions affecting cerebrum weight, or C content or concentration. Polymorphism in the CYP7 gene locus affected cerebrum weight and behavior and dietary C tended to increase cerebrum C concentration in neonatal pigs. These findings in neonatal pigs have considerable potential importance in human infant nutrition and behavioral development.