title: Endogenous praecaecal and total tract losses of nitrogen in pancreatic duct-ligated minipigs.
abstract: The pancreatic duct-ligated minipig (PL) is an established model of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) with a significant decrease of nutrient digestibility. This study aimed to quantify and compare endogenous losses of nitrogen (N) (ileal and faecal) in minipigs receiving an almost N-free diet. Altogether, 12 Göttingen minipigs (7 PL and 5 control animals) fitted with an re-entrant ileo-caecal fistula were used. In Study 1, ileal digesta was collected over a period of 12 h on seven consecutive days, including one 24 h collection, when animals were fed a diet containing 0.49 g N/kg dry matter (DM). In Study 2, faeces were collected for 10 consecutive days. In Group PL, the amount and DM content of ileal digesta were higher (p < 0.05), while N concentration was lower than in the Control. The ileo-caecal N flux [g/kg DM intake] was about 2.5 times higher in Group PL (5.47 ± 1.15) than in the Control (1.91 ± 0.59) (p < 0.05). The amount of faeces did not differ, but faecal N losses were higher in Group PL (p < 0.05). Endogenous faecal N losses [g N/kg DM intake] of the Control group (1.17 ± 0.72) were comparable with earlier studies, while those of Group PL were 2.6 times higher (3.09 ± 1.34). In contrast, urinary excretion of N did not differ between the Control and Group PL. In conclusion, PEI caused markedly increased endogenous N losses. Therefore, the impact of reduced digestibility of nutrients on endogenous N losses might be relevant for apparent protein digestibility rates and should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Animal Nutrition , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mößeler
authors.forename: Peter Colin
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loock
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyerbach
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamphues
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000502:physiology*; D008026:Ligation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: endogenous protein; minipigs; pancreas juice; pancreatic diseases; pancreatic exocrine insufficiency; pigs