Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profile in the Colon of Newborn Piglets Using Fecal Water Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Short-chain fatty acid production and assimilation is unlikely to occur a t significant levels in the newborn because the colon at birth is sterile, and only gradually acquires an anaerobic flora. This study profiled short-chain fatty acid levels in the colon lumen over the initial 21 days of life. Fecal samples were removed surgically from the cecum, right, and left colon from 36 York piglets, 0-21 days of life. Samples were subjected to in vitro dialysis and centrifugation methods to quantitate fecal water short-chain fatty acids, electrolytes, osmolality, and pH. A three-way analysis of variance examined piglet age, colon site of fecal samples, and method of fecal water analysis, for each variable. No differences were found between techniques of fecal water collection. Newborns showed production of short-chain fatty acids a s early a s the 1st day of life in limited amounts. Levels were stable between days 5 and 14, and then abruptly accumulated in the lumen. Acetate was predominant early, with propionate and butyrate responsible for late peaks. The production and assimilation of short-chain fatty acids was nearly complete proximal to the left colon. Age and colon site showed significant interactions for each fatty acid (p < 0.001). The combined osmolar contributions of short-chain fatty acids and electrolytes accounted completely for the luminal osmolality after the 2nd wk of life. Previously there was an "osmolar gap" suggesting that lactose or its breakdown products were present in the lumen and were being removed by pathways other than through short-chain fatty acid production. (Pediatr Res 22:720-724, 1987) Abbreviations SCFA, short-chain fatty acids CEN, centrifugation DIA, in vitro dialysis POST-DIA, postdialysis centrifugation ANOVA, analysis of variance ip, intraperitonealThe passage of carbohydrates across the ileocecal valve is a normal phenomenon throughout life. A metabolic pathway for carbohydrate digestion in the colon has been well established (1). In the anaerobic environment of the colon, fecal organisms ferment carbohydrate to gasses (H2, C02, CH4) and SCFA (acetate, butyrate, and propionate). The presence of SCFA is critical to the normal physiology of the colon. SCFA absorption from the lumen of the colon is rapid and efficient, and their

Development of the intestinal microbiota in the piglet

“…2). On a parallel with this result, all major short chain fatty acids in the pig colon such as acetate, propionate and butyrate remarkably increased from days 13 to 16 after birth in Murray et al (1987). The introduction of the milk replacer on day 14 might be a potential reason of this change.…”

Postnatal Changes in Selected Bacterial Groups of the Pig Colonic Microflora

“…During the first phase, from immediately af ter birth to the end of the 1st week, aerobes and facultative anaerobes are gradually sup planted by strict and obligate anaerobes. These changes parallel postnatal increases in concentrations of short chain fatty acids in the pig colon [18], with similar events re ported for humans and other mammals [5], During the second phase, from the end of the 1 st week to conclusion of suckling (day 21), increasing differences between percentages of total anaerobes minus the sum of the two anaerobic groups we quantified (Clostridium spp. and Bacteroides spp.)…”

Colonic Acetate in the Circulating Acetate Pool of the Infant Pig

“…in addition to a lower contribution of acetate by the colon (26,27). It is possible, however, that our experimental design produced artifacts based on the potential antilipolytic effects of the anesthetics used during the perfusion.…”

“…Because the development and function of the colon are similar in pigs and humans (17)(18)(19)26,27), we examined acetate metabolism in infant pigs, specifically the absorptive efficiency of colonic acetate. In most studies of acetate utilization, however, the colon is cleansed of fecal material before the infusion.…”