Effect of Weaning on Small Intestinal Structure and Function in the Piglet
- 1 August 2002
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Archives of Animal Nutrition
- Vol. 56 (4), 275-286
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00039420214345
Abstract
Fifty-four piglets were selected from 12 litters weaned at 17 (Treatment 1), 21 (Treatment 2), 28 (Treatment 3) and 35 (Treatment 4) days old, respectively, to determine the effect of weaning age on small intestinal villus morphology, immunology and histochemistry. From proximal duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum and middle ileum, intestinal samples with three replicates (piglets) in each treatment were taken at 18, 22, 28 and 36; 22, 28, 36 and 43; 28, 36, 43, and 50; and 18, 22, 28, 36, 43 and 50d of age in Treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This was equivalent to 12h, 3d, 1 week, 2 week postweaning in Treatment 1; 12h, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week postweaning in Treatment 2 and 3, and all the same age in Treatment 4 as in Treatment 1, 2, 3, respectively. The results showed that villous height of duodenum and proximal jejunum decreased significantly in Treatment 1 and 3. Crypt depth in the duodenum, proximal jejunum and ileum also decreased significantly in Treatment 1. Date had significant effect on villous height of the duodenum, distal jejunum and ileum with the shortest on day 29 and crypt depth of all positions increased with piglet age except the crypt depth in proximal jejunum decreased on day 50. Weaning age and day of age had significant effects on intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) number and goblet cell (GC) number at all positions of small intestinal mucosa in piglets. The number of IEL at all segments of small intestinal mucosa in Treatment 3 increased significantly compared to those in other treatments, but IEL number at all locations of small intestinal mucosa in Treatment 2 decreased significantly compared to those in other treatments. The number of GC in small intestinal mucosa increased significantly in early-weaned (< day 21) piglets. It appears that providing fluid milk replacer for a few days postweaning could dramatically reduce the negative impact of weaning on villous morphology and digestive and absorptive function, especially in pigs weaned prior to 3 week of age. Finally, as weaning age was reduced, GC had a greater role in intestinal duct protection.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mucosal immune network in the gut for the control of infectious diseasesReviews in Medical Virology, 2001
- Factors influencing the structure and function of the small intestine in the weaned pig: a reviewLivestock Production Science, 1997
- Interrelationship between hypersensitivity to soybean proteins and growth performance in early-weaned pigsJournal of Animal Science, 1991
- Measuring suitability of soybean products for early-weaned pigs with immunological criteria.Journal of Animal Science, 1991
- Transient hypersensitivity to soybean meal in the early-weaned pig.Journal of Animal Science, 1990
- Effect of Dietary Soybean Meal on the Microscopic Anatomy of the Small Intestine in the Early-Weaned PigJournal of Animal Science, 1989
- Effect of Age, Weaning and Postweaning Diet on Small Intestinal Growth and Jejunal Morphology in Young SwineJournal of Animal Science, 1987
- Effect of weaning on the capacity of pig intestinal villi to digest and absorb nutrientsThe Journal of Agricultural Science, 1986
- Effect of postnatal development and weaning upon the capacity of pig intestinal villi to transport alanineThe Journal of Agricultural Science, 1984
- The Development of Digestive Capacity in Young Pigs: Effects of Age and Weaning SystemJournal of Animal Science, 1982