title: Maturation of digestive function is retarded and plasma antioxidant capacity lowered in fully weaned low birth weight piglets.
abstract: The digestive function of low birth weight (LBW) pigs post-weaning has been poorly studied. Therefore, newborns from eleven hyperprolific sows were weighed, weaned at 27·2 d and fed a starter diet until sampling. Sampling was done between 18 and 28 d post-weaning. An LBW piglet (n 19) was defined as a piglet having a birth weight less than 1 kg and less than the lower quartile of litter birth weights. Normal birth weight (NBW) piglets (n 13) were having a birth weight close to the mean litter birth weight. For each piglet, eighty-eight variables were determined. Data were analysed with linear models with type of piglet and litter as predictors. A principal component analysis was performed to determine the most important discriminating variables. In the LBW pig, the development of the digestive tract post-weaning was delayed: lower small-intestinal weight:length ratio due to a thinner tela submucosa and tunica muscularis and a higher secretory capacity, both in the distal jejunum. These observations might be a consequence of lower circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations (126 (se 10·0) v. 158 (se 12·0) ng/ml for LBW and NBW, respectively) and a lower density of IGF-1 receptors in the proximal small intestine. Additionally, the plasma antioxidant capacity was lower for the LBW pig. Taken together, in the LBW piglet, the normal gut maturation post-weaning was retarded and this did not seem to be related to the weaning transition as such.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Landscape Architecture, University College Ghent, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. joris.michiels@hogent.be
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michiels
authors.forename: Maartje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Missotten
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ovyn
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Ginneken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001724:Birth Weight; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004063:Digestion; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1