Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) may mediate in part the rapid growth effects of luminal nutrients in the small intestine of newborns. The objectives of this study were to determine plasma GLP-2 concentrations and small intestinal GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) mRNA abundance (measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) during pre- and postnatal development and the relationship between these variables and small intestinal growth in enterally and parenterally fed fetal and newborn pigs (premature and term-delivered, 92 and 100% gestation, respectively). Plasma GLP-2 concentrations increased before birth, peaked in suckling 1-d-old pigs (87 +/- 14 pmol/L, P < 0.05), decreased with weaning-related anorexia (34 +/- 5 pmol/L, P < 0.05) and increased when normal food intake resumed (81 +/- 9 pmol/L, P < 0.05). Plasma GLP-2 concentrations were increased 1 d after enteral infusion of colostrum in fetal pigs at 92% gestation compared with untreated controls (59 +/- 11 vs. 7 +/- 2 pmol/L, P < 0.05). In newborn pigs, plasma GLP-2 was increased 2-6 d after the enteral administration of a milk diet, compared with the parenteral infusion of elemental nutrients, but the time course of the response was delayed in premature newborn pigs. Small intestinal GLP-2R mRNA abundance was highest at birth and decreased with enteral food intake in fetal, suckling and weaned pigs (P < 0.05). In contrast, enteral feeding increased (P < 0.05) relative small intestinal weight and/or villous heights in these pigs. We conclude that the introduction of enteral feeding transiently increases plasma GLP-2 concentrations and decreases small intestinal GLP-2R mRNA levels during pig development. GLP-2 may play a role in the growth of the small intestine around birth and weaning via a response to enteral nutrition.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Nutrition |
Volume | 133 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 1781-6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 0022-3166 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2003 |
Keywords
- Aging
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Enteral Nutrition
- Fetus
- Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
- Glucagon-Like Peptides
- Intestine, Small
- Parenteral Nutrition
- Parturition
- Peptides
- RNA, Messenger
- Receptors, Glucagon
- Swine