Polyamines in the Gastro-intestinal Tract of Goat Kids and in the Regenerating Ruminal Epithelium of Sheep

• Published in: Journal of veterinary medicine. Series A 2000-06, Vol.47 (5), p.297-310
• Main Authors: Eliassen, K. A., Sjaastad, Ø.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abomasum - chemistry; Abomasum - enzymology; Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase - analysis; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Animals, Suckling; Digestive System - chemistry; Digestive System - enzymology; Duodenum - chemistry; Duodenum - enzymology; Female; Gastric Mucosa - chemistry; Gastric Mucosa - enzymology; Goats - physiology; Ornithine Decarboxylase - analysis; Polyamines - analysis; Putrescine - analysis; Radiography, Abdominal - veterinary; Rumen - chemistry; Rumen - enzymology; Sheep - physiology; Spermidine - analysis; Spermine - analysis
• ISSN: 0931-184X; 1439-0442
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0442.2000.00288.x

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate whether temporal changes in polyamine concentration and synthesis could be found in the luminal content and wall tissue of the rumen and abomasum, two organs which have entirely different growth patterns during the first month of life. In the abomasal mucosa there was a marked gradual decrease in the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity during the first month of life, while the ODC activity in the ruminal mucosa was low during the whole experimental period. However, injury of the rumen wall was followed by increased ODC activity. The ODC activity in duodenal mucosa was about 10 times higher than in the ileal mucosa and the ruminal epithelium. In ruminal liquid a clear peak in ODC activity was observed during the period 51–70 days after birth. The polyamine concentration did not parallel the ODC activity, in either the ruminal epithelium or the ruminal liquid. Of the polyamines, the spermine concentration was always highest, and with the exception of duodenal mucosa, the putrescine concentration was lowest. In liver a clear decrease in spermidine concentration from day 1 to about day 60 after birth was observed. Otherwise no marked temporal changes in tissue polyamine concentrations were observed. Two and a half hours after oral administration of 14C‐labelled spermine, nearly all of the radioactivity was found in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, 1 h after intravenous injection of polyamines the walls of the gastrointestinal tract were strongly labelled. In conclusion, the polyamines needed for ruminal epithelial development seem to come from sources other than the ruminal epithelium itself or the ruminal lumen.