Physical activity level is impaired and diet dependent in preterm newborn pigs.
BACKGROUND
Preterm infants show delayed development of motor function after birth. This may relate to functional immaturity of many organs, including the gut and brain. Using pigs as model for preterm infants, we hypothesized that early initiation of enteral feeding stimulates both gut growth and neonatal physical activity.


METHODS
In experiment 1, preterm and term pigs were fed parenteral nutrition (PN) or PN plus bovine colostrum (BC, 16-64 ml/kg/d enterally) for 5 d. In experiment 2, preterm pigs were fed PN+BC or PN+formula for 5 d. In experiment 3, preterm pigs were fed BC, formula, or human milk (HM) for 10 d. Incubator home cage activity (HCA) was quantified by continuous camera recordings.


RESULTS
Preterm birth was associated with reduced intestinal weight and HCA (experiment 1), and BC or formula supplementation increased intestinal weights and HCA (experiments 1+2). Enteral BC and HM feeding increased HCA, intestinal weights, and necrotizing enteritis resistance, relative to formula (experiment 3).


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm pigs show decreased physical activity, and the first enteral feeds diet dependently stimulate both gut growth and physical activity. The effects may arise from maturation of digestive, metabolic, and neurological functions, including gut serotonin production, by the first enteral feeds and milk bioactive factors.
Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Muqing
M
Cao
1] Clinical and Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anders Daniel
AD
Andersen
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical & Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Chris
C
Van Ginneken
1] Clinical and Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
René Liang
RL
Shen
1] Clinical and Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Stine Ostenfeldt
SO
Petersen
1] Clinical and Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thomas
T
Thymann
Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Jin
J
Jing
1] Clinical and Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [2] Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Clinical Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [3] Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Per Torp
PT
Sangild
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine
D012701:Serotonin