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Effect of weaning on the capacity of pig intestinal villi to digest and absorb nutrients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

B. G. Miller ,
P. S. James ,
M. W. Smith  and
F. J. Bourne
B. G. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol, Longford, Bristol, BSIS 7DU
P. S. James
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Cambridge, CB2 4AT
M. W. Smith
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Cambridge, CB2 4AT
F. J. Bourne
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol, Longford, Bristol, BSIS 7DU
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Summary

A comprehensive study of how age and weaning affect intestinal structure and enterocyte ability to digest and absorb nutrients has been carried out in 4- and 6-week-old piglets.

Villus length, which did not change significantly in unweaned piglets 4–6 weeks after birth, was halved 5 days after weaning. Crypt depth, which increased normally in unweaned piglets, is further increased by weaning in both 4- and 6-week-old animals.

Lactase activity, which decreased normally with age, was inhibited more than a-glucosidase by weaning. Weaning of 6-week-old piglets also caused a significant increase in maltase II and III activities. Alkaline phosphatase activity was unaffected by age or weaning in 4- and 6-week-old piglet intestine.

Na-dependent alanine transport was reduced in 6- compared with 4-week-old unweaned piglet intestine. Weaning inhibited Na-dependent alanine transport in 4- but not 6-week-old pigs. Na-independent alanine transport, which was considerably less than that found in the presence of Na, was not noticeably affected by age or weaning.

Weaning-induced problems in intestinal function appear from the present results to be caused more by changes in intestinal structure and specific loss of digestive enzymes rather than by any gross change in absorptive function. The possible role of immune as well as nutritional factors in causing these weaning-dependent changes in intestinal function is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 107 , Issue 3 , December 1986 , pp. 579 - 590
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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