Effects of cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) feeding on the pancreatic exocrine secretion of pigs

Abstract

Introduction Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a valuable protein source that can contribute towards overcoming a predicted protein deficit equivalent to more than 1 000 000 t oilcake in Southern Africa by the year 2000 (Nell et al. 1992). However, like most other legumes, cowpeas contain antinutritional factors (ANFs) (Makinde et al. 1996). It has also been shown that feeding raw cowpea causes reduced growth and histomorphometric changes in the various segments of the intestine (Makinde et al. 1997) attributable to ANFs. The major ANFs in the cowpea are trypsin inhibitors, tannins and phytates (Aletor and Aladetimi 1989). Although the protease inhibitors are found in most legumes, only soybean inhibitors have been thoroughly investigated (Liener and Kakade 1980), and trypsin inhibitors in other legumes have received little attention.

The effects of cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) feeding on basal, exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK33) and secretin stimulated pancreatic secretions of the anaesthetized rat

“…Dietary inclusion of faba beans (which are high in tannins) in pigs also had no effect on the pancreatic secretions (Gabert et al, 1996). In a study on the effects of cowpea feeding on exocrine pancreatic secretions in pigs, dietary cowpea significantly reduced volume of secretions and total protein but trypsin activity was increased (Umapathy et al, 1999). Even pancreatic homogenates from pigs fed cowpea did not show any differences in protein content and trypsin activity .…”

“…Some of the deleterious effects of cowpea seen in other studies have been attributed to effects on the pancreas either directly or indirectly (Umapathy et al, 1999). The enzyme secretion of the pancreas is highly dependant on the diet composition (Pierzynowski et al, 1990), feeding regimen , age and even circadian rhythm (Thaela et al, 1995).…”