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

• 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
• ISSN: 1751-7311; 1751-732X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1751731116000446

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