Effect of IGF-rich colostrum on bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a polypeptide growth factor with mitogenic effects on intestinal epithelial crypt cells occurs naturally in high concentrations in colostrum. The hypothesis for this study was that colostrum rich in IGF-1 could promote small bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome.


METHODS
Twenty-four piglets, aged 7 days, underwent 75% small bowel resection and were fed 525 kJ x kg(-1) x d(-1) (125 kcal) of colostrum-based formula (Rs(+)) or placebo formula (Rs(-)). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) accounted for 35% of the protein and was compensated with casein and whey protein in the control feed. The piglets were weighed daily and killed 28 days after surgery. Bowel samples were taken at surgery and at death.


RESULTS
Relative body-weight increase did not differ between the Rs(+) and Rs(-) group (84% +/- 9% vs. 90% +/- 12%, P = 0.83). There was a significant relative increase in crypt depth in the Rs - compared with the Rs + group (201% +/- 15% vs. 147% +/- 17%, P = 0.02) and total protein (mg/cm bowel) (482 +/- 51 vs. 278 +/- 46, P = 0.008). Increase in villus length, DNA/RNA content, and mitotic index did not differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Colostrum supplement rich in IGF-1 has no benefits over protein-enriched feed with respect to growth and bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome.
Heemskerk
V H
VH
Department of Surgery, the University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
van Heurn
L W E
LW
Farla
P
P
Buurman
W A
WA
Piersma
F
F
ter Riet
G
G
Heineman
E
E
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013552:Swine
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I