Comparison of growth and development of the exocrine pancreas in pigs and rats during the immediate postnatal period

This study compared pancreatic tissue growth and functional changes during the first 3 postnatal days in piglets and rat pups. In piglets the absolute weight and the relative weight per unit body weight of the pancreas increased by 97 and 70%, respectively, while in rat pups the same parameters decr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology Molecular & integrative physiology, 1998-08, Vol.120 (4), p.699-703
Main Authors: Mubiru, James N, Xu, Ruo-Jun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Suckling
Body Weight
Exocrine pancreas
Growth factors
Milk
Pancreas - growth & development
Pancreatic enzymes
Pig
Postnatal development
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Swine
Time Factors
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Summary:This study compared pancreatic tissue growth and functional changes during the first 3 postnatal days in piglets and rat pups. In piglets the absolute weight and the relative weight per unit body weight of the pancreas increased by 97 and 70%, respectively, while in rat pups the same parameters decreased by 33 and 48%, respectively, during this period. The specific activity of pancreatic amylase rose by 336% while that of trypsin, chymotrypsin and lipase remained at newborn level in piglets. In rat pups the specific activities of all enzymes measured declined by 61 to 92% during the first 3 postnatal days. The rate of postnatal pancreatic growth in the two species coincide with the levels of epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factors in maternal milk as reported in the literature, suggesting that milk-borne growth factors may stimulate pancreatic development in newborn animals.
ISSN:1095-6433
1531-4332
DOI:10.1016/S1095-6433(98)10089-2