Effects Of SPM Supplemented To The Diet With Different Levels On The Early Development Of Gastrointestinal Function In Newborn And Suckling Piglets

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of administered spermine on gastrointestinal development and maturation in newborn and suckling piglets.(1) Spermine was added to the feed for late-pregnant sows at a level of O.Omg/kg,1.5mg/kg and3.0mg/kg, respectively, and offered randomly to one of the three groups of sows(Large white×Yorkshire)from day91after pregnancy to parturition for the purpose of studying the effect of spermine on the development of gastrointestinal tract in newborn piglets. One piglet with the average body weight was selected at8hours after birth from each sow, killed and collected samples from stomach and intestine. Results showed that, in contrast to the control group, spermine supplemented to the diet of pregnant sow at a level of1.5mg/kg significantly increased the specific activity of maltase in jejunum and ileum(P<0.01), increased the specific activity of maltase and sucrase, the crypt depth and the number of columnar cell in jejunum(P<0.05), decreased the specific activity of lactase in jejunum(P<0.01) and the height of villus in jejunum(P<0.05); spermine added to the diet of pregnant sow at a level of3.0mg/kg significantly increased the specific activity of maltase in jejunum and ileum(P<0.01), the specific activity of sucrase in jejunum(P<0.01), the specific activity of maltase in ileum(P<0.05), the specific activity of sucrase in jejunum and ileum(P<0.05), the number of goblet cells in duodenum and jejunum(P<0.05) and the crypt depth in jejunum(P<0.05), significantly decreased the specific activity of lactase in jejunum and ileum and the villus height in duodenum. Spermine offered to pregnant sow at1.5mg/kg or3.0mg/kg could also increase the weight of mucosa in gastrointestinal tract.(2) newborn piglets from control group, group I and group II were offered a diet supplemented spermine at an inclusion of0.0mg/kg,3.0mg/kg and6.0mg/kg respectively from day7after birth to d28at weaning to investigate the effect of spermine on the development of gastrointestinal tract in suckling piglets. Results indicated that compared with the level of spermine at0.0mg/kg, spermine added at a level of3.0mg/kg increased the weight of mucosa in duodenum and jejunum(P>0.05), the specific activity of maltase in ileum(P<0.01) and in jejunum(P<0.05), the crypt depth of duodenum and jejunum(P<0.05) and the number of columnar cells in duodenum and jejunum (P<0.05), decreased the villus height in duodenum and jejunum(P<0.05) and the specific activity of lactase in duodenum, jejunum and ileum(P<0.05); spermine offered at a level of6.0mg/kg increased (P<0.01)the specific activity of maltase in jejunum and ileum, the specific activity of sucrase in duodenum and the number of columnar cells and goblet cells in duodenum and jejunum, increased(P<0.05) the weight of mucosa in ileum, the length of duodenum, the specific activity of maltase in duodenum and of sucrase in jejunum and ileum, the crypt depth of duodenum and jejunum, decreased the specific activity of maltase in duodenum and jejunum(P<0.01), the specific activity of lactase in ileum(P<0.05) and the villus height in ileum(P<0.05). These data also demonstrated that supplementation of spermine to the diet of suckling piglets could make piglets have a better development in gastrointestinal tract.