Effect of oral polyamine supplementation pre-weaning on piglet growth and intestinal characteristics

A high proportion of piglets fail to adapt to the changing composition of their diet at weaning, resulting in weight loss and increased susceptibility to pathogens. Polyamines are present in sow milk and promote neonatal maturation of the gut. We hypothesised that oral spermine and spermidine supple...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal (Cambridge, England) England), 2016-10, Vol.10 (10), p.1655-1659
Main Authors: van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Willson, N.-L., Pain, S. J., Forder, R. E. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration, Oral
Animals
Body Weight - drug effects
Diet - veterinary
Dietary Supplements
Duodenum - anatomy & histology
Duodenum - drug effects
Female
gastrointestinal tract
growth
Intestinal Mucosa - anatomy & histology
Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects
Jejunum - anatomy & histology
Jejunum - drug effects
Male
Milk - chemistry
Nutrition
piglets
polyamines
Polyamines - administration & dosage
Polyamines - pharmacology
Short Communication
Swine - growth & development
Weaning
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Summary:A high proportion of piglets fail to adapt to the changing composition of their diet at weaning, resulting in weight loss and increased susceptibility to pathogens. Polyamines are present in sow milk and promote neonatal maturation of the gut. We hypothesised that oral spermine and spermidine supplementation before weaning would increase piglet growth and promote gastrointestinal development at weaning. In Experiment One, one pair of liveweight (LW)-matched piglets per litter from first and third lactation sows received 2 ml of a 0 (Control) or 463 nmol/ml spermine solution at 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 days of age (n=6 piglets/treatment per parity). Villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum were measured at weaning (day 23 postpartum). In Experiment Two, piglets suckling 18 first and 18 third lactation sows were used. Within each litter, piglets received 2 ml of either water (Control), 463 nmol/ml spermine solution or 2013 nmol/ml spermidine solution at 14, 16, 18, 22 and 24 days of age (n=54 piglets/treatment per sow parity). Piglets were weighed individually at 14, 18, 24 (weaning) and 61 days of age. In Experiment One, oral spermine supplementation resulted in a 41% increase in villus height, a 21% decrease in crypt depth and 79% decrease in the villus height : crypt depth ratio compared with control piglets (P
ISSN:1751-7311
1751-732X
DOI:10.1017/S1751731116000446