Preterm as Compared with Full-Term Neonatal Calves Are Characterized by Morphological and Functional Immaturity of the Small Intestine

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 1786 - 1795
• Main Authors: Bittrich, S., Philipona, C., Hammon, H.M., Romé, V., Guilloteau, P., Blum, J.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Elsevier Inc 01.06.2004; Am Dairy Sci Assoc; American Dairy Science Association
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; aminopeptidases; Animal productions; Animals; Animals, Newborn - anatomy & histology; Animals, Newborn - growth & development; Animals, Newborn - physiology; Apoptosis - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; calves; calving; Cattle - anatomy & histology; Cattle - growth & development; Cattle - physiology; Cell Division - physiology; Colostrum; dipeptidyl-peptidase IV; duodenum; enzyme activity; Enzymes - metabolism; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; glutamyl aminopeptidase; ileum; induced calving; intestinal crypts; Intestinal Mucosa - anatomy & histology; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - growth & development; intestine; Intestine, Small - anatomy & histology; Intestine, Small - enzymology; Intestine, Small - growth & development; Intestine, Small - physiology; jejunum; Life Sciences; Male; membrane alanyl aminopeptidase; microvilli; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; neonatal development; neonates; nutrition; peptidases; premature birth; preterm calf; Random Allocation; Terrestrial animal productions; Time Factors; Vertebrates; villi; P0; nutrition; F8; intestine; preterm calf; GIT; colostrum; MR; P8; F0; BrdU; Neonatal; Farming animal; Calf; Ox; Small intestine; Vertebrata; Meat animals; Mammalia; Morphology; Dairy industry; Artiodactyla; Ungulata; NOUVEAU-NE
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73334-2

Intestinal diseases in neonatal calves may be due to morphological and functional immaturity. We have studied histomorphology, crypt cell proliferation rates (based on incorporation of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine into DNA), presence of apoptotic cells (based on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling), and brush border enzyme activities in preterm calves (277 d of gestation), euthanized on d 1 (P0) or 8 (P8), and in full-term calves (290 d of gestation), euthanized on d 1 (F0) or 8 (F8). Vacuolated epithelial cells were present in ileum of P0 and F0 but not in P8 and F8. During the first 8 d, villus sizes, crypt depths, and proliferation rates of crypt cells in the small intestine of preterm calves did not significantly change. In contrast, in full-term calves during the first 8 d, villus sizes in jejunum decreased, crypt depths increased in small intestine and colon, and crypt cell proliferation increased in duodenum and jejunum. Submucosal thickness in jejunum was highest in P0, but in ileum it increased with gestational age and feeding. Gestational age×feeding interactions indicated increased activities of aminopeptidase N and reduced lactase activities only in F8 and reduced dipeptidylpeptidase IV activities only in P8. In conclusion, in preterm calves the small intestinal epithelium was immature and brush border enzyme activities differed in part from those in full-term calves.