XII - 12th International Symposium - Digestive Physiology of Pigs

Digestive
Physiology
of Pigs
aged 3 d, were selected and randomized in 3 experimental
groups: a control group euthanized at d 3 of age (SOW3),
sow fed piglets until d 10 (SOW10) and formula fed piglets
from d 3 until d 10 (FOR10). To measure gut permeability,
piglets were dosed intragastrically with 0.75 g lactulose/
kg body weight (bwt) and 0.3 g mannitol/kg bwt, 4h before
euthanasia. After euthanasia, small intestinal samples were
snap frozen for protein analysis. Urinary sugar excretion
was measured using an enzymatic spectrophotometric
method. Low lactulose levels in urine of FOR10 (4.43 ±
2.29 mmol/l) versus SOW10 (26.40 ± 10.22 mmol/l) piglets
are suggestive for a reduction in paracellular permeability
of the intestinal mucosa of FOR10 piglets. This was further
evidenced by the 6-fold elevated protein expression of
occludin in FOR10 versus SOW10 (P < 0.01). In addition,
the expression of occludin, an important tight junction
protein, correlated with the lactulose levels (R 2 = 0.32; P <
0.01). Mannitol levels in the FOR10 group (30.99 ± 18.15
mmol/l) were lower compared with SOW10 piglets (61.11
± 10.24 mmol/l), indicating a reduced absorptive capacity.
This effect could be related to the shorter villi (P < 0.01).
These results suggest a reduced absorptive capacity and
a decrease in permeability of the small intestine of formula
fed compared with sow fed piglets irrespective of their birth
weight.
Key words: small intestine, permeability, low birth weight
2041 Insoluble nonstarch polysaccharides (iNSP) in
diets for weaned piglets. R. Gerritsen* and P. van der Aar,
Schothorst Feed Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
During the post-weaning period, diet composition can
reduce intestinal damage or stimulate recovery. We
examined effects of the inclusion of insoluble non-starch
polysaccharides in weaner diets on post-weaning piglet
performance and intestinal integrity in 2 experiments.
In Exp. 1, 180 piglets were weaned at 28 d of age and
divided over 3 treatments: positive control (PC; highly
digestible protein), negative control (NC; standard diet) and
an experimental diet (iNSP; standard+ 15% iNSP (wheat
straw, oat hulls). The experimental diets were fed during
14 d post-weaning. From d 14 onwards all piglets were fed
the same phase 2 diet. Feed intake, average daily gain
(ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined.
In Exp. 2, the same diets were fed to 6 individuallyhoused
piglets. On d 5 and 15 post-weaning, 18 piglets
were euthanized to determine enzyme activity, intestinal
morphology, microbiology and organ development. To
determine intestinal permeability, a sugar absorption test
was performed on d 1, 4 and 12 post-weaning. Data were
analyzed as a randomized design by ANOVA (ANOVA). The
inclusion of iNSP increased (P < 0.05)feed intake during the
first week post-weaning (173 g/d) compared with the PC
(149 g/d) and NC (147 g/d) diets. The ADG of piglets fed
the iNSP diet was higher (P < 0.05) than of piglets fed the
PC diet. The FCR did not differ during the first week postweaning.
Fecal consistency during the first 2 weeks was
improved when piglets were fed the iNSP diet. Compared
with the NC diet, the iNSP diet increased activity of the brush
border enzymes, especially in the jejunum. Also the iNSP
diet reduced the concentration of E. coli bacteria (3.96 10
XII INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
DIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY OF PIGS
110
Session IV
log/g vs. 5.63; P < 0.01). The iNSP diet stimulated physical
adaptation of the GIT, because the stomach as percentage
of the body weight was heavier than of pigs fed the negative
control diet (0.89% vs. 0.76%; P < 0.01). Liver, pancreas
and intestinal weight were not affected. In conclusion, iNSP
in weaner diets stimulates digestive adaptation in weaned
piglets without reducing post-weaning performance.
Key words: iNSP, intestinal integrity, microflora
2042 The juvenile pig as a model for exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency (EPI) in children: How to achieve sufficient
vitamin A and vitamin E supply in EPI-patients
? A. Moesseler* 1 , T. Schwarzmaier 1 , J. Grunemann 2 , PC
Gregory 2 , and J. Kamphues 1 , 1 1Institute of Animal Nutrition,
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation,
Hannover, Germany, 2 Abbott Products GmbH Germany,
Hannover, Germany.
Patients suffering from EPI are susceptible to deficiencies
in fat soluble vitamins. EPI is common in children with cystic
fibrosis (CF) and the aspect of achieving sufficient vitamin
supply in the young is of special interest. The aim of this
study was to test, which application form is best to maintain
normal vit A and E levels in growing pigs with EPI - used as
a model for children. In 12 pigs aged 8 weeks the pancreatic
duct was ligated (PL), 4 sham operated pigs served as
controls (C). The pigs (n = 16) were individually housed and
pair fed (13393 IU vit A, 122 mg vit E/kg dm of diet); from d
47 onwards, the diet was fed ad libitum. All PL (n = 12) were
supplemented with CREON (19.8g (1.048727 IU lipase)/kg
feed and divided into 3 groups (n = 4): PL-i.m.: 5250 IU vit A
and 3.15 mg vit E/kg bw/week i.m. (aqueous) plus 700 mg
vit E/animal/wk i.m. (oily); PL-oral: 90000 IU vit A and 600
mg vit E/kg dm added to the diet plus an emulsifier (E 484)
beginning 2 weeks post OP; PL-0: no extra vitamin supply.
Pigs were killed at the age of 16 weeks. Most vit A levels in
serum were within the reference values (0.24–0.48 mg/L)
and did not differ from C, but higher values (mean 0.52)
were found at wk 8 post OP in PL-i.m. (P ≤ 0.05). In all
PL-pigs serum tocopherol levels decreased within 2 weeks
post OP. After 7 weeks, tocopherol levels were reduced
in PL-i.m. and PL-0 but at C level in PL-oral. Tocopherol
levels in liver were reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in PL-0 and PL-i.m
(6.91 resp. 8.61 mg/kgDM) while PL-oral did not differ from
C (27.4 resp. 25.8 mg/kg DM; P ≥ 0.05). Liver vit A levels
were lower (P ≤ 0.05) in PL-0 (136 mg/kgDM) but higher
in PL-oral (375) compared with C (241). Extra oral supply
of high doses of vit A and E with a high efficient emulsifier
was adequate to maintain vit A and E in liver tissue within
reference values. The fact that this non-invasive application
form (tested in a very high dose) is highly effective is of
great benefit, when thinking about the need to treat children
with CF regularly (avoiding injections).
Key words: vitamin A, vitamin E, EPI
2043 Kidney bean lectin extract induces gut maturation
resembling weaning. R. Zabielski* 1 , M. M. Godlewski 1 ,
P. Matyba 2 , J. L. Valverde Piedra 3 , B. Westrom 4 , and S. G.
Pierzynowski 4,5 , 1 Department of Physiological Sciences
and Veterinary Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary