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Prenatal development of gastrointestinal function in the pig and the effects of fetal esophageal obstruction

Sangild, PT ; Schmidt, M ; Elnif, J ; Bjornvad, CR ; Weström, Björn LU and Buddington, RK (2002) In Pediatric Research 52(3). p.416-424
Abstract
Maturation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is influenced by both luminal stimuli (e.g. swallowed fluid) and hormonal factors (e.g. endogenous cortisol release). The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate GIT growth and maturation during the last 20% of gestation in pigs (term = 114 +/- 2 d), and 2) to investigate the effect of esophageal ligation, to prevent fetal swallowing, at 80% to 91% gestation. In normal fetuses, marked increases occurred during late gestation in body weight (+95%), relative intestinal weight (+79%, g kg(-1) body weight), activity of some digestive enzymes (1.5- to 10-fold), and absorption of glucose and intact proteins (3- to 6-fold). Fetuses with ligated esophagi had lowered body weight (-20%),... (More)
Maturation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is influenced by both luminal stimuli (e.g. swallowed fluid) and hormonal factors (e.g. endogenous cortisol release). The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate GIT growth and maturation during the last 20% of gestation in pigs (term = 114 +/- 2 d), and 2) to investigate the effect of esophageal ligation, to prevent fetal swallowing, at 80% to 91% gestation. In normal fetuses, marked increases occurred during late gestation in body weight (+95%), relative intestinal weight (+79%, g kg(-1) body weight), activity of some digestive enzymes (1.5- to 10-fold), and absorption of glucose and intact proteins (3- to 6-fold). Fetuses with ligated esophagi had lowered body weight (-20%), reduced intestinal weight (-43%), aminopeptidase A activity (-24%), and glucose absorption (-27%), while lactase, sucrase, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV activities were increased (+40-50%), compared with sham-operated fetuses (all p < 0.05). Other parameters of GIT function remained unchanged by esophageal obstruction (absorption of amino acids and immunoglobulin, activity of chymosin, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, maltase, aminopeptidase N - all expressed per gram GIT tissue). Ligated fetuses had elevated cortisol levels, which is known to stimulate fetal GIT maturation. We conclude that the rapid development of GIT function in late gestation is diminished by esophageal obstruction, mainly due to slower GIT growth and not inhibition of normal functional development of enterocytes. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Pediatric Research
volume
52
issue
3
pages
416 - 424
publisher
International Pediatric Foundation Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:12193678
  • wos:000177577000019
  • scopus:85047685035
ISSN
1530-0447
DOI
10.1203/01.PDR.0000025284.29777.E9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5409cf6f-fb69-4c69-8250-77071e349692 (old id 330000)
alternative location
http://www.pedresearch.org/pt/re/pedresearch/abstract.00006450-200209000-00019.htm
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:34:52
date last changed
2022-04-13 20:55:35
@article{5409cf6f-fb69-4c69-8250-77071e349692,
  abstract     = {{Maturation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is influenced by both luminal stimuli (e.g. swallowed fluid) and hormonal factors (e.g. endogenous cortisol release). The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate GIT growth and maturation during the last 20% of gestation in pigs (term = 114 +/- 2 d), and 2) to investigate the effect of esophageal ligation, to prevent fetal swallowing, at 80% to 91% gestation. In normal fetuses, marked increases occurred during late gestation in body weight (+95%), relative intestinal weight (+79%, g kg(-1) body weight), activity of some digestive enzymes (1.5- to 10-fold), and absorption of glucose and intact proteins (3- to 6-fold). Fetuses with ligated esophagi had lowered body weight (-20%), reduced intestinal weight (-43%), aminopeptidase A activity (-24%), and glucose absorption (-27%), while lactase, sucrase, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV activities were increased (+40-50%), compared with sham-operated fetuses (all p &lt; 0.05). Other parameters of GIT function remained unchanged by esophageal obstruction (absorption of amino acids and immunoglobulin, activity of chymosin, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, maltase, aminopeptidase N - all expressed per gram GIT tissue). Ligated fetuses had elevated cortisol levels, which is known to stimulate fetal GIT maturation. We conclude that the rapid development of GIT function in late gestation is diminished by esophageal obstruction, mainly due to slower GIT growth and not inhibition of normal functional development of enterocytes.}},
  author       = {{Sangild, PT and Schmidt, M and Elnif, J and Bjornvad, CR and Weström, Björn and Buddington, RK}},
  issn         = {{1530-0447}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{416--424}},
  publisher    = {{International Pediatric Foundation Inc.}},
  series       = {{Pediatric Research}},
  title        = {{Prenatal development of gastrointestinal function in the pig and the effects of fetal esophageal obstruction}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1203/01.PDR.0000025284.29777.E9}},
  doi          = {{10.1203/01.PDR.0000025284.29777.E9}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}