To investigate what factors lead to rapid postnatal tissue growth and functional maturation in the newborn intestine, we compared intestinal tissue mass and digestive enzyme activities between newborn unsuckled piglets and piglets bottle fed for 3 days with either 5% lactose solution, intact porcine colostrum or trypsinized porcine colostrum. Bottle feeding of colostrum or trypsinized colostrum, but not lactose solution, led to a significant increase in the weight and length of the small intestine (p < 0.01) and a significant increase in the mucosal weight of the large intestine (p < 0.05). The mucosal protein content in the small and large intestine and the mucosal DNA content in the large intestine increased significantly following 3 days of bottle feeding of porcine colostrum or trypsinized colostrum. The total mucosal DNA contents in the small intestine of piglets fed colostrum or trypsinized colostrum were, respectively, 39 and 64% greater than that in the newborn unsuckled piglets. Intestinal digestive enzymes showed a differential response to the dietary treatment. Bottle feeding of intact porcine colostrum, but not trypsinized porcine colostrum led to a significant increase in lactase- and alkaline phosphatase-specific activities in the small intestine, while bottle feeding of lactose solution led to a significant decrease in the specific activity of lactase. In contrast, the specific activity of maltase in the small intestine increased significantly with age irrespective of dietary treatment. These results indicate that genetic and dietary factors are involved in regulating postnatal intestinal development, and porcine colostrum contains a trypsin-labile component which can increase lactase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the newborn intestine.

Keywords:
Colostrum, Growth factor, Intestine Enzyme
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel
1996
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.