Lactase Specific Activity Research Articles

Feeding Colostrum Rapidly Alters Enzymatic Activity and the Relative Isoform Abundance of Jejunal Lactase in Neonatal Pigs ,

Our objective was to determine the short-term effects of feeding colostrum and mature milk on the enzyme activity and relative isoform abundance of lactase in neonatal pigs. We studied newborn pigs that were fed colostrum, mature milk and water for 6 h (Study 1). We also studied unfed pigs shortly after birth, and newborn pigs fed either colostrum or mature milk for 24 h (Study 2). The specific activity (micromol x min(-1) x g protein(-1)) of lactase in ajejunal mucosal homogenate and a purified membrane fraction was lower in pigs fed colostrum than in unfed newborns or those fed either milk or water. However, after 24 h, total jejunal lactase activity (micromol x mol(-1)), jejunal mass and protein content were higher in the colostrum- and milk-fed pigs than in the unfed newborns. In colostrum-fed pigs, the reduction in lactase specific activity after 6 h was associated with 1) a marked increase in the relative abundance of a 180-kDa protein, which was shown to be one of three pro-lactase isoforms, and 2) a lower relative abundance of the 160-kDa isoform, considered to be the mature form of the enzyme. Our evidence suggests that feeding either colostrum or mature milk increases total jejunal lactase activity. The reduction in both the specific activity and abundance of the mature isoform in conjunction with an increased relative abundance of the 180-kDa pro-lactase isoform suggests that feeding colostrum alters the post-translational processing of intestinal lactase in neonatal pigs.

The effects of creep feed composition and form and nursery diet complexity on small intestinal morphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities after weaning in pigs.

Fifty-six litters from first-parity sows standardized to 12 piglets were used to determine the effects of creep feed composition and form and the provision of low- or high-complexity nursery diets on the evolution of small intestinal histomorphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities postweaning. At 5 d of age, litters (initial bodyweight [BW] 2.31 ± 0.61 kg) were assigned to one of four creep feeding regimens (n = 14): 1) commercial creep feed (COM), 2) liquid milk replacer (LMR), 3) pelleted milk replacer (PMR), or 4) no creep feed (NO). At weaning (21 d of age), six pigs per litter were provided a HIGH- (contained highly digestible animal proteins) or LOW- (contained corn and soybean meal as main protein sources) complexity nursery diet (n = 7). At 21, 28, and 59 d of age, two pigs per pen (one castrated male and one female) were euthanized, and ileal and jejunal segments for histomorphological measurements and jejunal mucosal scrapings were collected to determine specific mucosa enzyme activities. At weaning, pigs provided COM had a greater ileal absorptive capacity (M) than LMR or NO, which were not different (14.1 vs. 10.4 and 10.5 ± 0.9 μm2; P < 0.05); PMR was intermediate. On days 28 and 59, M was not different among pigs regardless of creep feed treatments. Pigs fed LOW had reduced jejunal villus height (VH; P < 0.001) and M (P < 0.001) on day 28 vs. day 21. The VH and M were not different for pigs fed HIGH or LOW by the end of the nursery period. For all dietary treatments except COM-HIGH and COM-LOW, jejunal mucosal maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21 and 28 of age but greater on day 59 (P < 0.05). For pigs that received COM-HIGH, maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21 and 28 but greater on day 59 than day 28 (P < 0.05). For pigs that received COM-LOW, maltase-specific activity was not different between days 21, 28, and 59. Regardless of creep or nursery treatment, sucrase-specific activity was the greatest on day 59, followed by days 21 and 28 (P < 0.001), and lactase-specific activity was greater on day 21 than on days 28 and 59 (P < 0.001), which were not different. Therefore, pigs that provided LOW diet had greater villus atrophy and reduced M during the first week after weaning vs. pigs that provided HIGH, regardless of creep feeding regimen, but were able to recover by the end of the nursery period.

219 Effects of maternal nutrient restriction and rumen-protected arginine supplementation on post-ruminal digestive enzyme activities of lamb offspring

Abstract To determine the effects of maternal nutrient restriction and rumen-protected arginine supplementation on post-ruminal digestive enzymes in lambs, 31 multiparous, Rambouillet ewes were allocated to one of three dietary treatments at 54 d of gestation. Dietary treatments were 100% of nutrient requirements (control, CON; n=11), 60% of control (restricted, RES; n=10), or RES plus a rumen-protected arginine supplement dosed at 180 mg/kg BW once daily (RES-ARG; n=10). At parturition, lambs were immediately removed from dams and reared independently. Milk-replacer and alfalfa hay + creep feed was offered for ad libitum intake. At day 54 of age, lambs were slaughtered and the pancreas and small intestine were collected. Pancreatic (α-amylase, trypsin) and small intestinal (maltase, glucoamylase, sucrase, isomaltase, lactase) digestive enzyme activities were assayed. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS with treatment and fetal sex included in the model statement. Contrast statements were used to determine differences between means for effects of restriction (CON vs. RES and RES-ARG) and rumen-protected arginine supplementation (RES vs. RES-ARG). There was no influence (P≥0.32) of maternal nutrient restriction or rumen-protected arginine supplementation on pancreatic or small intestinal protein concentrations. No treatment effects were observed (P≥0.14) for enzymes involved in starch digestion including pancreatic α-amylase and small intestinal maltase, glucoamylase, and isomaltase. Sucrase activity was undetected in the small intestine of lambs across all treatments. Maternal nutrient restriction tended to increase (P=0.09) pancreatic trypsin specific activity in lambs. Lactase specific activity in the small intestine of lambs tended to decrease (P=0.08) with maternal nutrient restriction. Rumen-protected arginine supplementation to gestating ewes did not influence (P≥0.19) digestive enzyme activities of lamb offspring. These data suggest that maternal nutrient restriction may result in increased pancreatic trypsin activity of lambs to potentially compensate for inadequate pre-natal nutrient supply.

Impact of Enterococcus faecium on specific activity of disaccharidases in small intestine of gnotobiotic pigs

The aim of the present work was to study the changes in the activity of disaccharidase enzymes (lactase. maltase, saccharase) in the small intestine of gnotobiotic pigs aged 0–35 days and inoculated with Enterococcus faecium. The continual decrease of lactase activity was observed from the 14th day of age up to the end of the experiment. The most significant decrease of specific lactase activity in the duodenum (2.1 µmol/mg protein/hour) was noted from the 21st to the 28th day of age. On the other hand, the specific saccharase activity increased moderately during the post weaning period and maltase activity maintained a constant level.

Intestinal ribosomal p70S6Ksignaling is increased in piglet rotavirus enteritis

Recent identification of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway as an amino acid-sensing mechanism that regulates protein synthesis led us to investigate its role in rotavirus diarrhea. We hypothesized that malnutrition would reduce the jejunal protein synthetic rate and mTOR signaling via its target, ribosomal p70 S6 kinase (p70(S6K)). Newborn piglets were artificially fed from birth and infected with porcine rotavirus on day 5 of life. Study groups included infected (fully fed and 50% protein calorie malnourished) and noninfected fully fed controls. Initially, in "worst-case scenario studies," malnourished infected piglets were killed on days 1, 3, 5, and 11 postinoculation, and jejunal samples were compared with controls to determine the time course of injury and p70(S6K) activation. Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, we subsequently determined if infection and/or malnutrition affected mTOR activation on day 3. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to measure total and phosphorylated p70(S6K); [(3)H]phenylalanine incorporation was used to measure protein synthesis; and lactase specific activity and villus-crypt dimensions were used to quantify injury. At the peak of diarrhea, the in vitro jejunal protein synthetic rate increased twofold (compared with the rate in the uninfected pig jejunum), concomitant with increased jejunal p70(S6K) phosphorylation (4-fold) and an increased p70(S6K) level (3-fold, P < 0.05). Malnutrition did not alter the magnitude of p70(S6K) activation. Immunolocalization revealed that infection produced a major induction of cytoplasmic p70(S6K) and nuclear phospho-p70(S6K), mainly in the crypt. A downregulation of semitendinosus muscle p70(S6K) phosphorylation was seen at days 1-3 postinoculation. In conclusion, intestinal activation of p70(S6K) was not inhibited by malnutrition but was strongly activated during an active state of mucosal regeneration.

Oral administration of spermine advances intestinal maturation in sucking piglets

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of orally administered spermine at various doses on intestinal maturation in sucking piglets. Thirty-six 11-day-old sucking piglets were assigned randomly to one of six treatments to receive via a stomach tube 0, 0·1, 0·2, 0·3, 0·4, or 0·5 mmol spermine per kg live weight (LW) per day for 3 days. At day 14 of age, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were obtained for biochemical and morphological analysis. Increasing the dose of orally administered spermine increased intestinal weight (linear effect, P&lt;0·01), mucosal weight (linear effect, P&lt;0·05), and mucosal protein, DNA and RNA contents of the duodenum (linear effect, P≤0·01) and jejunum (linear effect, P&lt;0·01). Elevating spermine doses also enhanced (linear effect, P≤0·02) the specific activities of maltase and sucrase but decreased (linear effect, P&lt;0·01) lactase specific activity in the jejunum and duodenum. Furthermore, augmenting oral doses of spermine increased crypt depth and villus width but reduced villus height in the jejunum (linear effect, P&lt;0·05) and duodenum (linear effect, P&lt;0·01). For most measurements, the effects were observed at the oral spermine doses of 0·3 to 0·5 mmol/kg LW per day. Collectively, the results show that oral administration of optimal doses of spermine to 11-day-old sucking piglets induces precocious intestinal maturation and promotes intestinal growth.

Feeding an Elemental Diet vs a Milk‐Based Formula Does Not Decrease Intestinal Mucosal Growth in Infant Pigs

We previously showed that the level of enteral nutrient intake determines the rate of intestinal growth in piglets. Our objective was to determine whether providing enteral nutrition in the form of elemental nutrients (glucose, amino acids, lipid [ED]) rather than cow's milk formula (lactose, protein, lipid [FORM]) reduces small intestinal growth and lactase activity. Three-week-old piglets were fed either ED (n = 7) intragastrically or FORM (n = 6) orally for 6 days. Intestinal protein and DNA masses, villus height, and crypt depth were not different in ED and FORM pigs. Crypt cell proliferation, measured by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling, was significantly (p < .05) higher (+37%) in ED than in FORM pigs. Rates of mucosal protein synthesis (%/d), measured by in vivo 2H-leucine incorporation, were higher (p < .05) in ED than FORM (147 vs 89) pigs. Circulating concentrations (pmol/L) of the intestinotrophic peptide, glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), were also higher (p < .05) in ED than in FORM (148 vs 87) pigs. The mean lactase-specific activity (micromol/min/g) in proximal and distal segments was higher (p < .05) in FORM than in ED (124 vs 58) pigs. We conclude that intestinal mucosal growth and villus morphology are similar in pigs fed ED and FORM, despite higher cell proliferation and protein synthesis rates and lower lactase activity with ED. This implies that elemental diets may be as trophic as polymeric formulas to simultaneously provide nutrition and a stimulus for intestinal growth during bowel rest.

Intestinal effects of long‐lasting spermine ingestion by suckling rats

Spermine ingestion induces the precocious maturation of the small intestine in suckling rats. Previous observations suggest that spermine-induced intestinal maturation is a two-step phenomenon. The first step is the elimination of immature enterocytes (4-10 h post spermine ingestion) and the second step is the replacement of previous immature cells by adult-type enterocytes (2-3 days post initial spermine administration). The spermine-induced maturation is reversible when spermine administration is stopped. This work was undertaken in order to check whether the extension of polyamine administration (for 3-7 days) after the appearance of spermine-induced maturation can retain the mature state of the small intestine. Our results indicate that extension of spermine administration does not prevent some parameters (sucrase and maltase specific activities) reverting to a typical 'immature' value while others remain at a typical 'mature' level (mucosal weight and lactase specific activity). Our results show that there are at least two different mechanisms in required for the control of spermine-induced maturation of the small intestine.

N-3 PUFA DURING PREGNANCY IMPROVES HYDROLYSIS CAPACITY WITHOUT ALTERING BARRIER FUNCTION OF NEWBORNS PIGLETS INTESTINE AND LIMITS THE SMALL INTESTINE IMMATURITY OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INDIVIDUALS

Aim: At birth, the small intestine of neonates has to fulfil many roles: to provide nutrients for growth, to allow passage of immunoglobulins from mother's milk but at the same time to avoid entrance of harmful antigens and bacteria. The immaturity of the neonate small intestine physiology enhances risks of developing intestinal diseases, especially in very low birth weight individuals. Beneficial role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on small intestine has been established in adult animal models. However, the effect of n-3 PUFA via the maternal diet on neonates intestinal physiology has not been investigated yet. We examined the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation during gestation on hydrolysis capacity and barrier properties of the small intestine in normal birth weight (NBW) and on immaturity signs of the gut in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborn piglets. Methods: Sixteen pregnant sows were allocated to two different diets during their gestation: a diet containing either 5% of lard (LAR) or 2% of lard and 3% of linseed oil, rich in n-3 PUFA (LSO). At birth, piglets (NBW and VLBW, i.e. weight < 50% of the average litter BW) from each litter were sacrificed. Digestive tissue mass and jejunal lactase specific activity were measured in NBW and VLBW piglets whereas permeability to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) of the NBW ileum was determined in Ussing chambers. Results: There was no difference in the gestation characteristics of the two groups of sows (duration, number of piglets…). Lactase activity was increased in the LSO group (LSO 23 ± 2 vs LAR 18 ± 2 IU, P < 0.05). Permeability to HRP tended to be enhanced in the LSO group (LSO 13 ± 4 vs LAR 5 ± 2 ng.cm−2.h−1, P = 0.08) but not after degranulation of mastocytes. In addition, signs of immaturity measured in VLBW piglets of LAR group (pancreas weight, intestinal mucosa/muscularis ratio, lactase activity) were suppressed in VLBW LSO piglets. Conclusion: Supplementation with n-3 PUFA during pregnancy could be beneficial to newborns by increasing hydrolysis capacity of the intestine without altering its barrier function and by limiting immaturity of the gut of VLBW individuals.

Influence of changes in lactase activity and small-intestinal mucosal growth on lactose digestion and absorption in preterm infants2–

Feeding intolerance (ie, achieving and maintaining full enteral feedings) is a significant problem in preterm infants. A relation exists between feeding intolerance and incomplete lactose digestion. We sought to identify the factors relating to lactose digestion and absorption, lactase activity, and small-intestinal mucosal growth. Lactose digestion and absorption, lactase-specific activity, and lumen-to-mucosa water flux as a measure of small-intestinal mucosal surface area were determined by using the triple-lumen perfusion technique on 2 occasions 3 wk apart in 10 preterm infants (x+/-SEM gestational age: 28.0+/-0.2 wk). Lactose digestion and absorption and lactase activity doubled between studies (P=0.035 and P=0.041, respectively). The change in digestion and absorption was related to lactase activity (P=0.034, R2=0.38). Lactase activity correlated with gestational age at birth (P=0.012, R2=0.51). The number of days of feeding explained 80% of the variability in small-intestinal mucosal surface area (P=0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure directly lactose digestion and absorption, lactase activity, and small-intestinal surface area in preterm infants. Changes in lactose absorption relate primarily to lactase activity rather than to mucosal growth. We showed directly a relation between enteral feeding and small-intestinal mucosal growth.

Spermine-induced maturation in wistar rat intestine: a cytokine-dependent mechanism.

Polyamines are of great importance in biologic processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation. The ingestion of spermidine or spermine by suckling rats induces the precocious maturation of the small intestine. In a previous article, the authors hypothesized that this phenomenon could be mediated by interleukins. This work was performed to examine the role of IL-1, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha in the spermine-induced maturation of the small intestine. Wistar suckling rats were treated with spermine, FR167653 (inhibitor of IL-1beta/TNF-alpha production), IL-1beta/TNF-alpha neutralizing antibodies, lipopolysaccharide, or IL-2. Intestinal disaccharidase-specific activities, polyamine content, and IL-2 plasma concentration were analyzed. Comparisons were made with untreated control animals. Spermine-induced maturation of the small intestine was decreased by FR167653 but not by the neutralizing antibodies. Lipopolysaccharide injection induced an increase in disaccharidase-specific activity. IL-2 induced a decrease of the intestinal lactase-specific activity. Spermine administration led to a similar decrease of lactase activity and to an increase of IL-2 plasma concentration. The authors conclude that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are involved in the spermine effects on maltase- and sucrase-specific activities and suggest that IL-2 is involved in the spermine-induced decrease of lactase activity.

Age, sex, and weight at weaning influence organ weight and gastrointestinal development of weanling pigs

The present study was designed to determine the interrelationships between sex, weaning age, and weaning weight on aspects of physiological and gastrointestinal development in pigs. Forty-eight Large White × Landrace pigs were used in a factorial arrangement with the respective factors being: age at weaning (14 or 28 days), weight at weaning (heavy or light), sex (boar or gilt), and time after weaning (1, 7, and 14 days). At weaning, 48 pigs were removed from the sow: 16 pigs were then fasted for 24 h before euthanasia for determination of organ weights, gut histology, and enzymology, and 32 pigs were offered a high quality pelleted weaner diet ad libitum for subsequent assessment of organ weights, histology, and enzymology at 7 and 14 d after weaning. On Day 6 and 13 after weaning, 2 pigs from each group had their feed removed, and 24 h later were euthanased and similar measurements were taken. In general, the data highlighted the overall gastrointestinal underdevelopment of pigs weaned at 2 weeks of age and of pigs weaned light-for-age at either 2 or 4 weeks. Heavier body organs, gastrointestinal organs, and accessory digestive organs observed after weaning, except for the spleen, presumably reflected the increase in substrates available for cellular growth as feed intake increased after weaning, and the development of organs required to process this feed. Interestingly, the relative weights (% of liveweight) of the stomach and small intestine and, to a lesser extent, the caecum and colon, were greater in the light, 14-day-old weaned pigs, but these differences diminished with increasing time after weaning. Consistent effects due to age, weight, and sex were not observed for villous height and crypt depth, or for the specific activities of the brush-border and pancreatic enzymes measured. However, increases (P &lt; 0.001) in the activities of maltase (P�&lt;�0.001), glucoamylase (P &lt; 0.001), and sucrase (P = 0.020) (all expressed per gram of mucosa), and that of trypsin (per gram of pancreas), occurred by 14 days after weaning. This most likely reflected the inducible nature of these enzymes in response to the increasing intake of substrates provided in the diet. In contrast, the specific activity of lactase declined (P = 0.012) in the first 14 days after weaning. These data suggest that pigs weaned at 2 weeks of age and pigs weaned light-for-age at either 2 or 4 weeks have a less developed gastrointestinal tract, and that its development after weaning might proceed differently to that of pigs weaned older and heavier.

Oral bovine serum concentrate improves cryptosporidial enteritis in calves.

Cryptosporidium parvum produces a prolonged watery diarrhea unresponsive to conventional antimicrobials. Because of reported efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapy, we studied the effect of inexpensive, commercially available oral bovine serum concentrate (BSC) in experimental cryptosporidiosis. Twenty-four calves were treated with 57 g/d BSC (n = 12) or soy protein (n = 12) added to their standard whey protein-based milk replacer (227 g/2 L twice daily). Of the 24, 9 were also treated with L-glutamine (GLN), 8 g/L (50 mM) in the milk (5 calves in the BSC group and 4 in the soy group). Animals were inoculated with 10(8) cryptosporidium oocysts per os on d 8 of life and received oral rehydration on d 12-14. Eight uninfected controls were treated with BSC or soy protein. Fecal and urine volume and urinary Cr-EDTA excretion were measured. Animals were killed on d 18 of life. Cryptosporidiosis induced severe watery diarrhea lasting >9 d and produced a 25% increase in intestinal permeability, a 33% decrease in villous surface area, and a 40% reduction in mucosal lactase specific activity. Glutamine treatment had no effect on the diarrhea or any of the intestinal tests; and therefore pooled data were used to compare the 12 calves treated with BSC with the 12 treated with soy. In animals receiving BSC, peak diarrheal volume and intestinal permeability were reduced 33%, fewer oocysts were shed, intestinal crypts were significantly deeper, and villous surface area returned to normal by 9 d after infection (all p <or= 0.05). BSC should be studied as a treatment for human cryptosporidiosis.

Improvement of intracellular β-galactosidase production in fed-batch culture of Kluyveromyces fragilis

Four fed-batch control strategies were evaluated to improve the specific lactase activity of Kluyveromyces fragilis. Control strategies tested included DO-stat control, exponential feeding, exponential feeding with manual feedback control and corrected feed-forward control. Each was implemented with standard sensors (i.e., temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH sensors) commonly installed in fermenters. The highest specific activity was obtained using the corrected feed-forward control strategy, a strategy incorporating a novel method for on-line estimation of specific growth rate. The control strategy was able to operate effectively to a final cell density of 69 g dry wt l−1 with a specific lactase activity of 2 U mg−1 cell dry wt.

Relation of the disaccharidases in the small intestine of the rat to the degree of experimentally induced iron-deficiency anemia.

Hypolactasia associated with severe iron-deficiency anemia has been reported in several studies. The objective of the present study was to determine whether hypolactasia is associated with the degree and duration of iron-deficiency anemia. Newly weaned male Wistar rats were divided into a control group receiving a diet supplemented with iron (C) and an experimental group (E) receiving a diet not supplemented with iron (iron-deficiency diet). The animals were studied on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days of the experiment, when overall and iron nutritional status and disaccharidase activity in the small intestine were determined by the Dahlqvist method. A reduction in weight occurred in the anemic animals starting on the 5th day of the study. Anemia was present in the experimental animals, with a progressive worsening up to the 14th day (hemoglobin: C = 13.27 and E = 5.37) and stabilizing thereafter. Saccharase and maltase activities did not differ significantly between groups, whereas lactase showed a significant reduction in total (TA) and specific activity (SA) in the anemic animals starting on the 21st day of the study. Median lactase TA for the C and E groups was 2.27 and 1.25 U on the 21st day, 2.87 and 1. 88 U on the 28th day, and 4.20 and 1.59 U on the 35th day, respectively. Median lactase SA was 0.31 and 0.20 U/g wet weight on the 21st day, 0.39 and 0.24 U/g wet weight on the 28th day, and 0.42 and 0.23 U/g wet weight on the 35th day, respectively. These findings suggest a relationship between the enzymatic alterations observed and both the degree and duration of the anemic process. Analysis of other studies on intestinal disaccharidases in anemia suggests that the mechanism of these changes may be functional, i.e., that the enterocytes may suffer a reduction in their ability to synthesize these enzymes.

Cyclosporine A inhibits partially spermine-induced differentiation but not cell loss of suckling rat small intestine.

The polyamines are of great importance in several biological processes, such as cell proliferation, and differentiation. The ingestion of spermine by suckling rats induces the precocious maturation of their small intestine. This phenomenon is preceded by a cell elimination at the villus tip. We hypothesize that these two phenomena could be mediated by the immune system and thus inhibited by an immunosuppressive agent such as cyclosporine A. Cyclosporine A inhibits, at least partially, the spermine-induced increase of the maltase- and sucrase-specific activities in the small intestine but failed to inhibit lactase-specific activity decrease and cell loss. Spermine does not act by the same mechanism in differentiation and in cell loss. Moreover, spermine acts in a different way on lactase-specific activity compared to maltase- or sucrase-specific activity. We hypothesize that spermine acts on differentiation by a T-cell/IL-2-dependent mechanism.

Effect of segregated early weaning on postweaning small intestinal development in pigs.

The effect of segregated early weaning (SEW) on postweaning small intestinal development was investigated in SEW and control (CON) pigs. Small intestines were collected from a total of 15 pigs killed at 11 (preweaning), 15 (3 d postweaning), and 34 d of age. At 3 d postweaning, the SEW and CON pigs had shorter villi (P<.01), deeper crypts (P<.01), and reduced (P<.01) ratios of villus height:crypt depth (V:C) compared with preweaning. Weaning also reduced specific activities of lactase (P<.01) in duodenum and ileum and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P<.05) in duodenum and jejunum. Sucrase activity in the three regions of the small intestine marginally decreased in both groups at 3 d postweaning. The mucosal protein:DNA ratio in duodenum and jejunum increased (P<.05) in SEW and CON pigs at 3 d postweaning compared with preweaning pigs. The SEW and CON treatments resulted in differences in postweaning gut development. At 15 d of age in SEW pigs, the mucosal protein:DNA ratio in duodenum and jejunum were 20 and 25.5% (P<.05) less, respectively, than those in CON pigs. However, at 34 d, these ratios in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were 43.5 (P<.05), 24.3, and 32.9% (P<.05) greater, respectively, in SEW pigs than in CON pigs. Longer villi, shorter crypts (P<.01), and higher V:C ratios (P<.01) in jejunum and ileum were observed in SEW pigs vs CON pigs at 34 d of age. The specific activities of lactase in duodenum (P<.01) and jejunum (P<.05) and of ALP in duodenum (P<.01) were higher in SEW pigs. Sucrase activity in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was 21.7, 46.3 (P<.05), and 11.2% greater in SEW pigs at 34 d of age. These results demonstrate differences in postweaning gut development between SEW and CON pigs. Furthermore, the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in jejunum was greater (P<.001) in 34-d-old SEW pigs compared with CON pigs. Microscopy revealed a thick mucus coating over epithelial cells in the ileum of 34-d-old CON pigs that was not apparent in the SEW pigs. These observations are consistent with reduced pathogen exposure associated with SEW. We suggest that segregated early weaning advances postweaning gut maturation, which is consistent with improved growth and feed efficiency observed in SEW pigs.

Diet Supplemented with Yoghurt or Milk Fermented by Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 Stimulates Growth and Brush-Border Enzyme Activities in Mouse Small Intestine

The nutritional benefits of lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy products have been well documented, especially in terms of weight gain and feed efficiency, but not in terms of small intestine adaptation. The effects of a diet supplemented (30% wt/wt) with milk fermented either by Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 or yoghurt for 3 or 15 days were investigated in the small intestine of mice by morphometry, kinetic analysis and determination of brush-border enzyme activities. Results were compared with those obtained with standard or milk isocaloric diets. Cell proliferation and villous area were significantly increased in the proximal intestine of mice fed the fermented-milk-supplemented diets for 3 days and were associated with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Paneth and goblet cells. Lactase-specific activity was increased by fermented-milk diets at days 3 and 15, whereas there was no variation in maltase-specific activity. Alkaline phosphatase-specific activity was increased after 3 days of the three tested diets in the whole intestine, and after 15 days in the proximal intestine. Aminopeptidase activity was increased in the distal part of the intestine after 3 days of the 3 diets. Our findings suggest that diets supplemented with fermented milks have a positive effect on the trophicity of the mucosa in the small intestine of mice.

Involvement of bombesin in spermine-induced corticosterone secretion and intestinal maturation in suckling rats.

In this study we investigated whether brain-gut peptides are implicated in the activation of the hypophysial-adrenal axis (HAA) in suckling rats treated orally with spermine. The first group of rats received i.p. injections of bombesin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin or neurotensin, starting on day 11 of life, and killed on day 14. The small intestine was removed and analysed for its content of proteins, DNA, polyamines and for its specific activity (SA) of disaccharidases. The second group of rats received one of the hormones cited above and was killed 45 min after the treatment for determination of corticosterone plasma concentration. Rats of the third group were adrenalectomised then treated with bombesin as the first group. The fourth group of rats was orally treated with spermine and sacrificed 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h thereafter for analysis of plasma and intestinal concentrations of bombesin. The i.p. injection of bombesin increased the sucrase and maltase SA in the whole small intestine, while it decreased the lactase SA in the distal part. Intestinal weight and length, contents of DNA, protein, spermidine and spermine, and corticosterone plasma levels were enhanced by bombesin treatment. Somatostatin, neurotensin and VIP were ineffective on all the parameters studied. Adrenalectomy, in bombesin-treated rats, decreased the sucrase and maltase SA in the whole intestine, and decreased the lactase SA in the proximal intestine. It has no effect on intestinal weight and length, and protein content. Oral administration of spermine had no effect on plasma concentration of bombesin, whereas it decreased the content of this peptide in the whole small intestine. It is possible that bombesin may control intestinal development in suckling rats and be a link between the ingestion of spermine and the liberation of corticosterone by the adrenal glands.

Chronic lactose intake modifies the gastric emptying of monosaccharides but not of disaccharides in weanling rats.

Ninety-six weanling male Wistar rats were fed for four weeks one of two different chows: a normal rat chow containing 55.5% (w/w) starch (control group, N = 48) or a rat chow in which starch was partially replaced by lactose, in such a way that the experimental group (N = 48) received 35.5% (w/w) starch and 20% (w/w) lactose. The gastric emptying of fluid was then studied by measuring the gastric retention of four test meals containing lactose (5% or 10%, w/v) or glucose+galactose (5% or 10%, w/v). Homogenates of the small intestine were assayed for lactase activity. The gastric retention values were obtained 15 min after orogastric infusion of the liquid meals. The median values for gastric retention of the 5% lactose solutions were 37.7% for the control group and 37.0% for the experimental group (P > 0.02). For the 10% lactose solution the median values were 51.2% and 47.9% (P > 0.02) for the control and experimental groups, respectively. However, for the 2.5% glucose +2.5% galactose meal the median gastric retention was lower (P < 0.02) in the group fed a lactose-enriched chow (38.5%) than in the control group (41.6%). For the 5% glucose +5% galactose solution the median values were not statistically different between groups, 65.0% for the control group and 58.8% for the experimental group. The median values of the specific lactase activity in the small intestine homogenate was 0.74 U/g in the control group and 0.91 U/g in the experimental group. These values were not statistically different (P > 0.05). These results suggest that the prolonged ingestion of lactose by young adult rats changes the gastric emptying of a solution containing 5% monosaccharides. This adaptation may reflect the desensitization of intestinal nutrient receptors, possibly by an osmotic effect of lactose present in the chow.