Perinatal growth restriction is not related to higher intestinal distribution and increased serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamin in piglets.
Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamin (5-HT)] is abundantly present in intestinal enteroendocrine cells and neurons and plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal functions (i.e., motility and mucosal secretion). Increased concentrations of 5-HT and its precursor l-Trp are present in plasma and brain tissues in case of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Therefore, 5-HT might be involved in the impaired gastrointestinal function associated with IUGR. Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) piglets have been widely used as animal model for IUGR. Hence, the density of intestinal 5-HT cells in fetal and neonatal SGA piglets was compared with serotonergic cell density in normal weight (NW) littermates. Furthermore, 5-HT serum concentrations of the neonatal piglets were analyzed. Stereological analysis showed that fetal piglets have higher (P < 0.01) volume densities of 5-HT enteroendocrine cells compared to 3-d-old piglets irrespective of BW. Serum concentrations did not differ in relation to postnatal age (P = 0.637) and BW (P = 0.892). These results contrast with serum and brain 5-HT and l-Trp levels in human and guinea pig SGA individuals and seemingly contest the fact that 5-HT plays an important role in gut impairment in SGA.
Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
S
S
Willemen
L
L
Che
M
M
De Vos
V
V
Huygelen
B
B
Tambuyzer
C
C
Casteleyn
S
S
Van Cruchten
K
K
Zhang
C
C
Van Ginneken
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan