title: Causes of reduced survival of neonatal pigs by medium-chain triglycerides: blood metabolite and behavioral activity approaches.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to investigate the causes of the failure of orally dosed medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in improving the survival of neonatal pigs. In Exp. 1, four litters consisting of 24 unsuckled neonatal pigs were either dosed with 6 mL/kg BW.75 of MCT or the dosing process was mimicked by inserting and withdrawing the feeding tube at 10 and 18 h after birth. Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was increased (P < .06) and the depletion of liver glycogen was reduced (P < .05) by MCT. Plasma octanoate (C8) concentration peaked at 1 h and was minimized at 4 to 8 h after each MCT dosage; decanoate (C10) concentration increased (P < .001) gradually after each dosage. Activity of pigs was decreased (P < .01) by MCT. In Exp. 2, 94 litters consisting of 887 neonatal pigs were dosed with either 6 mL/kg BW.75 of MCT, coconut oil (CO), or saline at 10 to 14 and 20 to 28 h after birth. Milk intake (P < .05) and weight gain were reduced (P < .01) in 1- to 2-d-old pigs dosed with MCT compared with intake and gain of pigs dosed with saline. Mortality of large pigs (> 1 kg) was increased (P < .05) but mortality of small pigs (< 1 kg) was not affected by MCT. Mortality of small pigs was reduced (P < .05) but mortality of large pigs (> 1 kg) was not affected by CO. Standing, walking, and suckling behaviors of pigs were not affected by MCT or CO. Coma was evident in 9.7% of pigs dosed with MCT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000097:blood; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003651:Decanoates / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009026:Mortality; D009929:Organ Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D003651:Decanoates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid