Glucagon-like peptide 2 has limited efficacy to increase nutrient absorption in fetal and preterm pigs.
Exogenous glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) prevents intestinal atrophy and increases nutrient absorption in term newborn pigs receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). We tested the hypothesis that the immature intestine of fetuses and preterm neonates has a diminished nutrient absorption response to exogenous GLP-2. This was accomplished using catheterized fetal pigs infused for 6 days (87-91% of gestation) with GLP-2 (25 nmol.kg(-1).day(-1) iv; n = 7) or saline (n = 7), and cesarean-delivered preterm pigs (92% of gestation) that received TPN with GLP-2 (25 nmol.kg(-1).day(-1) iv; n = 8) or saline (n = 7) for 6 days after birth. Responses to GLP-2 were assessed by measuring intestinal dimensions, absorption of nutrients (glucose, leucine, lysine, proline) by intact tissues and brush border membrane vesicles, and abundance of sodium-glucose cotransporter mRNA. Infusion of GLP-2 increased circulating GLP-2 levels in fetuses, but did not increase intestinal mass or absorption of nutrients by intact tissues and brush border membrane vesicles, except for lysine. Administration of exogenous GLP-2 to preterm TPN-fed pigs similarly did not increase rates of nutrient absorption, yet nutrient absorption capacities of the entire small intestine tended to increase (+10-20%, P < 0.10) compared with TPN alone due to increased intestinal mass (+30%, P < 0.05). GLP-2 infusion did not increase sodium-glucose cotransporter-1 mRNA abundance in fetuses or postnatal preterm pigs. Hence, the efficacy of exogenous GLP-2 to improve nutrient absorption by the intestine of fetal and preterm pigs is limited compared with term pigs and more mature animals and humans.
Sangild
Per T
PT
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Malo
Christiane
C
Schmidt
Mette
M
Petersen
Yvette M
YM
Elnif
Jan
J
Holst
Jens J
JJ
Buddington
Randal K
RK
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine
D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2