Weaning anorexia may contribute to local inflammation in the piglet small intestine

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 129; no. 3; pp. 613 - 619
• Main Authors: MCCRACKEN, B. A, SPURLOCK, M. E, ROOS, M. A, ZUCKERMANN, F. A, GASKINS, H. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.03.1999; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: Animals; Anorexia; Anorexia - etiology; Anorexia - veterinary; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system; Dinoprostone - analysis; Enteritis - etiology; Enteritis - pathology; Enteritis - veterinary; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Goblet Cells - pathology; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - genetics; Hogs; Intestine, Small - chemistry; Intestine, Small - pathology; Intestine. Mesentery; Jejunum - chemistry; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - analysis; RNA - analysis; Swine; Swine Diseases - etiology; Swine Diseases - pathology; T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Vertebrates: digestive system; Weaning; Digestive system; Weaning; Inflammation; Small intestine; Feeding; Pig; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Diet; Morphology; Development; Artiodactyla; Villi; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/129.3.613

Compromising alterations in villus-crypt structure are common in pigs postweaning. Possible contributions of local inflammatory reactions to villus-crypt alterations during the weaning transition have not been described. This study evaluated local inflammatory responses and their relationship with morphological changes in the intestine in 21-d-old pigs (n = 112) killed either at weaning (Day 0) or 0.5, 1, 2, 4 or 7 d after weaning to either milk- or soy-based pelleted diets. Cumulative intake averaged <100 g during the first 2 d postweaning, regardless of diet. During this period of weaning anorexia, inflammatory T-cell numbers and local expression of the matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin increased while jejunal villus height, crypt depth and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I RNA expression decreased. Upon resumption of feed intake by the fourth d postweaning, villus height and crypt depth, CD8(+) T cell numbers, MHC class I RNA expression and local expression of stromelysin returned to Day 0 values. Together the results indicate that inadequate feed intake during the immediate postweaning period may contribute to intestinal inflammation and thereby compromise villus-crypt structure and function.