Citrulline and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein: longitudinal markers of postweaning small intestinal function in pigs?
The objective of the current study was to investigate whether plasma citrulline or intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) concentrations might be used as longitudinal markers for small intestinal function in piglets after weaning. Plasma citrulline and I-FABP concentrations were measured longitudinally in weaned and unweaned piglets, and related to intestinal absorption values (i.e., plasma mannitol and 3-xylose concentrations in a sugar absorption test). Within each litter (n = 10), 2 piglets with a close-to-litter-average BW were selected. At 20.8 +/- 0.4 d of age, the selected piglets per litter were either weaned conventionally (CW) or remained with the sow (UNW). One day before, and 0.5, 2, 4, and 7 d after weaning of the CW piglets, the selected piglets of both groups were subjected to a sugar absorption test. After a 2-h fast, piglets were administered an oral dose of 2 mL/kg of sugar solution, containing 50 mg/kg of mannitol and 100 mg/kg of 3-xylose. One hour after administration, a blood sample was collected from a jugular vein for determination of plasma I-FABP, citrulline, mannitol, and 3-xylose concentrations. Plasma I-FABP concentration showed great variation within treatments, and no difference was observed in plasma I-FABP concentrations between the CW and UNW treatments (P = 0.63). The absorption of 3-xylose was not different between treatments (P = 0.83). Mannitol absorption, however, was less in the weaned CW piglets compared with the UNW piglets (P = 0.003), with the nadir on d 4 postweaning. Weaning also reduced plasma citrulline concentrations in the CW treatment compared with the UNW treatment (P < 0.001). On d 4 and 7 postweaning, plasma citrulline concentrations of CW piglets were less (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0013) than preweaning values. Furthermore, in the CW treatment, plasma citrulline concentrations correlated with plasma mannitol concentrations at d 4 postweaning (r = 0.89, P = 0.008) and overall (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). Based on these results, plasma citrulline concentration seems to be a possible marker for monitoring intestinal function in pigs after weaning.
Berkeveld
M
M
Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, the Netherlands. Marieke.Abrahamse@danone.com
Langendijk
P
P
Verheijden
J H M
JH
Taverne
M A M
MA
van Nes
A
A
van Haard
P
P
Koets
A P
AP
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002956:Citrulline / Q000097:blood*; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D008353:Mannitol / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning; D014994:Xylose / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D002956:Citrulline; D008353:Mannitol; D014994:Xylose