Pancreatic exocrine secretions as a source of luminal polyamines in pigs

Abstract

The goal of the present study was twofold: (1) to detect the possible storage of dietary polyamines (PAs) in various tissues and (2) to investigate the role of dietary PAs in the differentiation of the pig intestinal epithelium. A first experimental series was designed to assess the accumulation of either milk PAs (mostly spermidine) or orally administered spermine (SPM) in piglet red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma, a preliminary stage in their distribution to growing and storage organs. Though PA concentrations of piglet RBCs and plasma were generally significantly higher than their sow counterparts, our experimental conditions failed to demonstrate that this increase could stem from ingested PAs. A second experimental series dealt with the determination of disaccharidase specific activities in proximal and distal parts of piglet gut on the 26th and 29th days after birth (preweaning time). In agreement with observations made previously on rat pups, we observed an increase in maltase specific activity (SA) at the end of the suckling period (the observed increase in sucrase SA was not significant). However, orally administered SPM did not affect this activity. Compared to the constant protein concentrations observed in both parts of the gut, the pancreatic protein content decreased sharply between the 26th and 29th postnatal days. At the same time pancreatic concentrations of spermidine (SPD) also decreased, suggesting that some pancreatic PAs were released as the organ secreted its proteins. In accordance with this hypothesis, we recorded SPM and SPD in pancreatic juice. The increases in PA concentrations seemed to follow the protein secretion pattern (i.e. PA concentrations reached a maximal value when the protein concentration was highest). The presence of PAs in pancreatic juice could be indicative of a control mechanism exerted by the pancreas on PA-induced growth and differentiation of porcine intestinal epithelium.

Modulatory effect of intestinal polyamines and trace amines on the spontaneous phasic contractions of the isolated ileum and colon rings of mice

“…These come from the ingestion of a wide variety of foods [4,5], biliary and pancreatic secretions [6], and are produced by gut microbiota [7]. The dietary polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are transiently found after meals in the intestinal lumen, being rapidly absorbed by the epithelial cells, where their homeostasis is regulated by biosynthesis, interconversion and release [8,9].…”

Polyamine Metabolism as Chemotherapeutic Target in Protozoan Parasites

“…The activity of the enzymes involved in polyamine retro-conversion are 20-fold greater than the lead enzyme of the forward pathway. This information coupled with the fact that the mammalian gut has a high content of spermine [30,31] leads one to believe that in situ the synthesis of spermidine via the retroconversion pathway is more significant to parasite survival than the forward directed pathway.…”

Amine variations in faecal content in the first weeks of life of newborns in relation to breast-feeding or infant formulas

“…A wide range of polyamine concentrations exists in human breast milk between different mothers depending on several factors, such as age, race, obesity (35) , type of nutrition (36,37) , mode of delivery (37) , premature birth (34,36) and mastitis (38) . In the newborns, besides oral intake, biliary and pancreatic exocrine secretion (39) , cell exfoliation and intestinal microbiota (40)(41)(42) are additional intestinal sources of polyamines, which, in turn, may contribute to the establishment of the microbiota (43)(44)(45) . Absorption capability also determines the homeostasis of intestinal polyamines (46) , which is mainly carried out in the duodenum and ileum.…”