Temporal changes in carbohydrate digestive capacity and growth rate of piglets in response to glucocorticoid administration and weaning age.
Two experiments were conducted that demonstrated that a single injection of hydrocortisone 21-acetate (HYD, 25 mg/kg BW) administered to 6-d-old nursing piglets resulted in a twofold elevation (P less than .02) of pancreatic amylase within 2 d; activity was unaffected by an injection of 15 IU adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/kg BW (P greater than .20). Intestinal sucrase and maltase activity tended to be elevated (P less than .20) 2 and 4 d postinjection with HYD but returned to normal (uninjected) levels by 14 d of age. The normal decline of intestinal lactase activity was delayed by at least 4 d in response to both hormones (P less than .10). Organ weights were not affected by either hormone. In a separate experiment, postweaning mortality was reduced (12 vs 27%) and growth rate was substantially improved by administration of HYD to piglets 4 and 2 d prior to weaning at 14 d of age. Hydrocortisone resulted in a faster rate of gain the 1st wk postweaning for pigs weaned at 21 or 28 d. Subsequent gain by control and HYD piglets weaned on d 21 was similar, but HYD subsequently impaired growth rate of piglets weaned at 28 d of age. Growth rates of control and ACTH piglets were similar at each postweaning period regardless of weaning age (weaning age [lin.] x week postweaning [quad.] x treatment, P less than .07). This differential treatment response of daily gain may be due in part to effects on feed intake (weaning age [lin.] x week postweaning [lin.] x treatment, P less than .10). We conclude that a single injection of HYD to 6-d-old piglets precociously induces pancreatic amylase and that the sensitivity of piglets to HYD is age-dependent.
Chapple
R P
RP
Dept. of Anim. Sci., University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Cuaron
J A
JA
Easter
R A
RA
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000254:growth & development; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014886:Weaning
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C021650:hydrocortisone acetate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006854:Hydrocortisone