title: Intrauterine growth restriction in neonatal piglets affects small intestinal mucosal permeability and mRNA expression of redox-sensitive genes.
abstract: Neonates with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) show lower efficiency of nutrient utilization compared to normal birth weight (NBW) newborns. This study was conducted using neonatal piglets as a model to test the hypothesis that IUGR affects the intestinal barrier function, intestinal structure, and antioxidant system development during the suckling period. The small intestinal mucosae were obtained from IUGR and NBW littermates in the suckling period (d 0, 3, 8, and 19 postnatal). The epithelial barrier function was assessed by FITC-dextran 4 (FD4) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) fluxes across the epithelium, histomorphologic measurements, and expression of tight-junction proteins. Redox status represented by the glutathione disulfide/glutathione ratio and malondialdehyde concentrations was determined, whereas mRNA expressions of some redox-sensitive proteins were quantified. Results showed that IUGR piglets exhibited a 2-fold higher intestinal permeability in the proximal small intestine on d 0 (P < 0.05), and this difference between IUGR and NBW piglets was widened to 3 and 4 times for FD4 and HRP, respectively (P < 0.05), on d 3. In accordance, expression of occludin was down-regulated at the transcriptional level in IUGR piglets at d 0 and 19 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the transcription of heme oxygenase 1, catalase, and thioredoxin reductase genes was down-regulated in IUGR piglets, mainly on postnatal d 0 and 19 (P < 0.01). It appears that IUGR subjects have a lower capacity to mount an antioxidant response in the early postnatal period. Collectively, these results add to our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for intestinal dysfunction in IUGR neonates.
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Degroote
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Ginneken
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Poucke
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vergauwen
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thi Minh Tho
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanrompay
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Peelman
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.affiliation: *Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle, Belgium; Department of Applied Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, and Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Veterinary Morphology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium joris.michiels@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010539:Permeability; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013552:Swine; D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D013880:Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase
keywords: IUGR; antioxidant capacity; intestinal tight junction; occludin