Diet-related adaptation of the small intestine at weaning in pigs is functional rather than structural.
BACKGROUND
Incidence of diarrhea at weaning in commercial pigs is an important problem, and diet is thought to be a predisposing factor. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of switching from milk-based to cereal-based diets on the morphology and function of the small intestine of piglets using a model of delayed weaning to isolate the influence of the diet from that of environmental and social factors.


METHODS
Forty-five piglets received a milk-based diet for 5 weeks after weaning. Thirty piglets were then switched from milk-based to wheat- or barley-based diets, mimicking the dietary change that occurs at weaning. The last 15 piglets remained on the milk-based diet. Piglets were killed 4 days after the dietary switch. Jejunal mucosa morphometry and enzyme activities were measured. Ussing chambers were used to measure intestinal permeability to macromolecules, basal electrical properties, glucose absorption, and induced chloride-secretion.


RESULTS
Alkaline phosphatase- and sucrase-specific activities were higher in both groups of cereal-fed piglets than in milk-fed piglets. Dipeptidylpeptidase IV activity was higher in wheat-fed piglets than in the other groups. Na + -dependent glucose absorption was 1.7-fold higher in cereals-fed piglets than in milk-fed piglets. Serotonin-induced and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-induced chloride secretion was doubled in cereals-fed piglets. Dietary transition did not influence the other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that switching from milk to cereals increased some mucosal enzyme activities, intestinal Na + -dependent glucose absorption, and response to secretagogues. This supports the hypothesis that dietary factors could initiate diarrhea in the presence of other aggravating factors, such as pathogens or environmental stress.
Boudry
Gaëlle
G
Unité Mixte de Recherche sur le Veau et le Porc, INRA, Saint Gilles, France. boudry@st-gilles.rennes.inra.fr
Lallès
Jean Paul
JP
Malbert
Charles Henri
CH
Bobillier
Eric
E
Sève
Bernard
B
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014886:Weaning
D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013393:Sucrase; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4; D005947:Glucose