Intestinal resection affects whole-body arginine synthesis in neonatal piglets.

Background: Previous studies in piglets show a direct relationship between intestinal mass and arginine (Arg) synthesis. We aimed to study the effects of 75% intestinal resection on whole-body Arg synthesis.

Methods: Piglets were allocated to sham or jejunocolic (JC) surgery and to enteral nutrition (EN) at 20% [sham (n = 8), JC (n = 10)], or 40% [sham (n = 4), JC (n = 5)].

Plasma citrulline is not a biomarker for intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome, studied in piglets: a model for human neonates.

Background: There are no in vivo methods to measure adaptation in neonatal short bowel syndrome (SBS). We evaluated citrulline (Cit) levels in neonatal piglet surgical models of SBS.

Methods: Piglets underwent 75% mid-intestinal resection with jejunoileal anastomosis (JI), 75% distal resection of ileum with jejunocolic anastomosis (JC) or sham surgery.

Exogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 improves outcomes of intestinal adaptation in a distal-intestinal resection neonatal piglet model of short bowel syndrome.

Background: Endogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) levels and intestinal adaptation are reduced in distal-intestinal resection animal models of short bowel syndrome (SBS) that lack remnant ileum. We hypothesized that exogenous GLP-2 would improve intestinal adaptation in a distal-intestinal resection neonatal piglet model of SBS.

Methods: In all, 35 piglets were randomized to 2 treatment and 3 surgical groups: control (sham), 75% mid-intestinal resection (JI), and 75% distal-intestinal resection (JC).

Effects of polymeric formula vs elemental formula in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome.

Background: Intestinal adaptation is important for recovery in short bowel syndrome (SBS). This process is dependent on the presence of enteral nutrition (EN) and trophic factors, such as glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2). In clinical practice, elemental formula is often used to feed neonates with SBS, whereas animal studies suggest polymeric formula promotes better intestinal adaptation.

Role of glucagon-like peptide-2 deficiency in neonatal short-bowel syndrome using neonatal piglets.

Background: Short-bowel syndrome (SBS) is the most common cause of neonatal intestinal failure. Recovery requires intestinal adaptation, dependent on enteral nutrition (EN) and growth factors such as glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), which is secreted from L cells in the ileum. Neonatal SBS often results in loss of ileum; therefore, we hypothesized that without ileum, endogenous GLP-2 production would be inadequate to promote adaptation.

Hepatic ultrastructure in a neonatal piglet model of intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD).

This study was designed to evaluate liver disease in neonatal piglets with surgical short bowel syndrome causing intestinal failure with partial parenteral nutrition dependence. The short bowel piglets had 75% surgical resection of distal small intestine, including all ileum and cecum, and were compared with sham controls, without resection, and to healthy sow-reared controls. After 18 days of combined parenteral and enteral nutrition in short bowel and sham piglets, liver tissue was collected for quantitative and semi-quantitative histological and ultrastructural evaluation.

Novel neonatal piglet models of surgical short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure.

Objectives: Short bowel syndrome occurring after surgery for acquired or congenital intestinal abnormalities causes considerable neonatal morbidity and mortality. Animal models are a valuable research tool for this problem; however, few successful neonatal models have been developed and most do not include distal intestinal resection as seen commonly in human babies. We report novel piglet models addressing these gaps.

Glutamine supplementation influences immune development in the newly weaned piglet.

A study was conducted to determine changes that occur in immune function during the early post-weaning period and the effect of supplementing glutamine (gln, 4% w/w) to the weaning diet of piglets. Dutch-Landrace piglets (n=10/group) were killed prior to weaning (21 d) or randomized to one of two nutritionally complete weaning diets with or without gln. With age there was an increased ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) cells to proliferate (rate of (3)H-thymidine uptake) to T cell mitogens (P<0.