Maintenance of villus height and crypt depth, and enhancement of disaccharide digestion and monosaccharide absorption, in piglets fed on cows' whole milk after weaning

Abstract

The aims of the present study were (a) to maintain the structure and function of the small intestine of the piglet after weaning, and (b) to compare the capacity in vivo of sucking and weaned piglets to digest oral boluses of lactose and sucrose and absorb their monosaccharide products. Piglets were fed on cows' whole milk ad libitum every 2 h for 5 d after weaning. Physiological doses of lactose plus fructose (treatment LAC + FRU) and sucrose plus galactose (treatment SUC + GAL) were administered on day 27 of lactation and on the fifth day after weaning, after which time piglets were killed. Villus height and crypt depth were maintained (P > 0.05) by feeding cows' milk after weaning. The areas under the curves (AUC) for galactose and glucose, adjusted for live weight and plasma volume, increased (P < 0-05) after weaning. Despite the enhancement of gut function after weaning, the galactose index (Gall: AUC for galactose ingested as lactose divided by the AUC for the same dose of galactose ingested as the monosaccharide) and fructose index (FruI: AUC for fructose ingested as sucrose divided by the AUC for the same dose of fructose ingested as the monosaccharide), which are indices of digestive and absorptive efficiency, both decreased after weaning. This apparent anomaly may be reconciled by increased growth, and hence surface area, of the small intestine between weaning and slaughter such that 'total' digestion and absorption most probably increased despite apparent decreases in GalI and FrnI.Positive correlations (P < 0.05) between villus height and GalI are consistent with the maximum activity of lactase occurring more apically along the villus. Significant linear relationships (P < 0.05) were recorded between villus height at the proximal jejunum and adjusted AUC for galactose and glucose following treatment LAC + FRU, and between villus height at the proximal jejunum and adjusted glucose AUC following treatment SUC + GAL. These relationships suggest that maximum digestion and absorption occurs at increasing distances along the crypt:villus axis in the weaned pig.

Increasing weaning age of piglets from 4 to 7 weeks reduces stress, increases post-weaning feed intake but does not improve intestinal functionality

“…The reduction in the size of both villous height and crypt depth from the cranial to the caudal part of the small intestine, the reduction in villous height on day 4 after weaning followed by a recovery on day 7 and the increase in crypt depth on day 7 after weaning correspond with earlier studies (Kelly et al, 1991;Nabuurs et al, 1993a;Pluske et al, 1996b). The higher villi in piglets offered creep feed is consistent with the higher feed intake of these piglets after weaning, as in underfed piglets villous height is decreased (Kelly et al, 1991;Pluske et al, 1996a;Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al, 2004).…”

Effects of dietary bamboo charcoal powder including vinegar liquid on chicken performance and histological alterations of intestine

“…It has been suggested that there is a strong correlation between gut structure and feed nutrients, and that villus height can be used to predict weight gain (Pluske et al, 1996). Onderci et al (2006) suggested that increased height of intestinal villi means a greater surface area for nutrient absorption.…”

Effects of Coriander Essential Oil on the Performance, Blood Characteristics, Intestinal Microbiota and Histological of Broilers

“…In contrast, increases in villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio are directly correlated with increased epithelial cell turnover (Fan et al, 1997), and longer villi are associated with activated cell mitosis (Samanya & Yamauchi, 2002). It is assumed that increased villus height is paralleled by enhanced digestive and absorptive functions of the intestine due to larger absorptive surface area and higher expression of brush border enzymes and nutrient transport systems (Pluske et al, 1996). In the present study, the supplementation of broilers with coriander oil increased villus height, crypt depth, and decreased the number of goblet cells and epithelial thickness in the small intestine (p<0.01).…”