Effect of orally administered epidermal growth factor on the jejunal mucosa of weaned pigs

Abstract

SUMMARY The effect of ingested epidermal growth factor (egf) on the small intestinal mucosa of conventionally weaned pigs was determined. At 21 days of age, 39 pigs were randomly distributed into suckling and weaned treatment groups that were administered 124 μg of egf, 372 μg of egf, or the dosing compound daily. Fecal water content was determined daily. On postweaning days 0, 3, 6, and 9, representative pigs from each group were euthanatized, and jejunal mucosa samples were collected for determination of villus-to-crypt ratio, total protein content, disaccharidase activities, and microbiological populations. At postweaning day 3, the 372-μg dose of egf significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased jejunal lactase and sucrase activities in the weaned pigs. Increased lactase activity was not greater than that of the suckling pig controls, whereas sucrase activity was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than that of the suckling pig controls. Significant changes were not observed in villus-to-crypt ratio, mucosal protein content, or disaccharidase activities on other collection days.