Publication
Title
Formula induces intestinal apoptosis in preterm pigs within a few hours of feeding
Author
Abstract
Background: Nutrition regimens influence postnatal small intestinal development, which shows prominent changes after 6 hours of suckling. Such influences are particularly important in preterm neonates as inappropriate feeding responses may predispose to gastrointestinal disorders such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The authors investigated the early morphological responses to enteral feeding, prior to the time period when a large proportion of preterm pigs normally develop clinical NEC symptoms. Methods: Preterm piglets (106-107 days of gestation) were fed parenteral nutrition (PN) for 2 days with or without a subsequent 8-hour or 17-hour period of enteral nutrition (EN) with sows colostrum or formula. Another group of piglets was delivered at 108109 days of gestation and used for comparison to PN pigs before enteral feeding. Stereological measurements of the mucosal surface density and the volume densities of the tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis, proliferative, and apoptotic cells were made and related to microscopical NEC-lesion score. In addition, villus length and crypt depth were measured. Results: PN-fed piglets showed minimal PN-induced mucosal atrophy, although their crypts were deeper, together with lower cell proliferation and higher apoptotic indices, than newborn (NB) unfed piglets. After PN, enteral feeding with colostrum, for just 8 hours, induced a rapid increase in the mucosal volume density while formula feeding was associated with an elevated number of both proliferating and apoptotic cells and a higher NEC lesion score than PN- or colostrum-fed pigs. Conclusion: Enteral feeding of formula, for only a few hours, induces rapid enterocyte turnover and mucosal structural changes that may predispose to later development of NEC.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition / American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition [Silver Spring, Md]; ASPEN [Silver Spring, Md] - Silver Spring, Md
Publication
Silver Spring, Md : 2010
ISSN
0148-6071 [print]
1941-2444 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0148607109337540
Volume/pages
34 :3 (2010) , p. 271-279
ISI
000278093900004
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.08.2010
Last edited 23.08.2022
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