Production, Absorption, and Blood Flow Dynamics of Short-Chain Fatty Acids Produced by Fermentation in Piglet Hindgut during the Suckling⁻Weaning Period.

Luminal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are rapidly absorbed from the intestine and subsequently utilized by the host as substrate for metabolic energy production. In pigs, the energy contribution of SCFA is thought to be 30⁻76%. However, since absorption and blood flow dynamics of SCFA in pigs, particularly during the suckling⁻weaning period, remain unclear, we aimed to elucidate these phenomena.

A preliminary study of gut dysbiosis in children with food allergy.

Gut microbiota of food allergic children was analyzed by high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Signs of gut dysbiosis, which is likely associated with gut inflammation, was observed in children with food allergies. For example, decreased abundance of genus Akkermansia but increased abundance of Veillonella was found in children with food allergy in comparison with healthy control children.

Weaning Markedly Affects Transcriptome Profiles and Peyer's Patch Development in Piglet Ileum.

Transcriptome analyses were conducted on the ileal mucosa of 14- to 35-day-old piglets to investigate postnatal gut development during suckling and postweaning. The transcriptome profiles of 14-day-old suckling piglets showed a considerably higher number of differentially expressed genes than did those of 21-, 28-, and 35-day olds, indicating an intensive gut development during the first 14-21 postnatal days. In addition, the analysis of biological pathways indicated that Chemotaxis Leucocyte chemotaxis was the most significantly affected pathway in suckling piglets between 14 and 21 days of age.

Influence of weaning age on the villous height and disaccharidase activities in the porcine small intestine.

Body weight gain after weaning is correlated with villous height and disaccharidase activity. This evidence suggests that the maintenance of the small intestinal structure and function after weaning is important for the growth of piglets. We demonstrated that the influence of weaning age was obtained by disaccharidase activities and villous height in eight sections of the porcine small intestine.

Evaluation of secretion volume and immunoglobulin A and G concentrations in sow colostrum from anterior to posterior teats.

Among domestic animals, teat order is only observed in the pig. In order to achieve the healthy growth and weaning of piglets, it is important to elucidate if volume of colostrum secretion and immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG concentrations differ among the teats of a sow. Nine sows were used to evaluate the difference in colostrum secretion volume (CSV) and four of these sows were assessed for IgA and IgG concentrations from each teat.

Shotgun proteomic analysis of porcine colostrum and mature milk.

The epitheliochorial nature of the porcine placenta prevents the transfer of maternal immunity. Therefore, ingestion of the colostrum immediately after birth is crucial for neonatal piglets to acquire passive immunity from the sow. We performed a shotgun proteomic analysis of porcine milk to reveal in detail the protein composition of porcine milk.