Birth Weight and Nutrient Restriction Affect Jejunal Enzyme Activity and Gene Markers for Nutrient Transport and Intestinal Function in Piglets

Significant variation in the birth weight of piglets has arisen due to increased sow prolificacy. Intestinal development and function may be affected by weight. Low (LBW) pigs also have reduced feed intake, leading further impairment intestinal development. The objective this study was examine pattern LBW normal (NBW) with nutrition (NN) or restricted (RN) pre-weaning period. Jejunal samples were analyzed for target gene expression enzyme activity at d 28 (weaning) 56 (post-weaning). At 28, excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAC1) sodium-dependent neutral (B0AT1) downregulated compared NBW (p < 0.05). On 56, B0AT1 ASCT2 (glutamine transporter) RN NN 0.05), regardless Peptide 1 (PepT1) no effects treatments d. Sodium-glucose transporter-1 (SGLT1) upregulated NBW-NN LBW-NN 0.05) Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) LBW-RN 28. claudin-3 (CLDN-3) Zonular occludin-1 (ZO-1) There treatment on ALP, maltase, sucrase However, d, ALP while results demonstrate differences jejunal associated weight, transporters (PepT1, EAAC1, B0AT1) While neonatal nutrient restriction had minimal tight junction protein transcript abundance, abundance