Postnatal administration of 2-oxoglutaric acid improves the intestinal barrier affected by the prenatal action of dexamethasone in pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The potential effects of the prenatal administration of dexamethasone and the postnatal treatment with 2-oxoglutaric acid on postnatal development of the small intestine of farm animals have not been examined experimentally. The aim of this study was to establish the changes in morphologic parameters of the small intestine damaged by the prenatal action of dexamethasone in piglets supplemented with 2-oxoglutaric acid.


METHODS
Three milligrams dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly every second day from day 70 of pregnancy to parturition and then piglets were supplemented with 2-oxoglutaric acid for 35 d of postnatal life (0.4 g/kg of body weight). The histomorphometry of the pig duodenum and jejunum was determined. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-Ki-67, CD3, null T cells, cadherin, claudin, and neurofilament antibodies was performed.


RESULTS
Maternal treatment with dexamethasone decreased and limited the expression of claudin and cadherin in the epithelium. Dexamethasone led to thinning of the myenteron of the duodenum and the middle part of the jejunum in weaned piglets and influenced duodenal glands that became more elongated compared with control glands. Moreover, 2-oxoglutaric acid increased cell proliferation and the amount and maturity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the duodenum and jejunum. It supported epithelial integrity and changed the circularity of the nerve plexuses.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2-oxoglutaric acid administered to piglets while suckling induced a complete recovery from intestinal damage caused by the prenatal action of dexamethasone.
Department of Biochemistry and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, Lublin, Poland. ewaRST@interia.pl
Ewa
E
Tomaszewska
Piotr
P
Dobrowolski
Iwona
I
Puzio
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D057167:Claudins / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine
D015820:Cadherins; D057167:Claudins; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D003907:Dexamethasone