ARS | Publication request: Intermittent bolus feeding increases visceral tissue protein synthesis more than continuous feeding in neonatal pigs

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 27, 2010
Publication Date: November 8, 2010
Repository URL: http://www.fasebj.org
Citation: Gazzaneo, M.C., Suryawan, A., El-Kadi, S.W., Srivastava, N., Orellana, R.A., Nguyen, H.V., Fiorotto, M.L., Davis, T.A. 2011. Intermittent bolus feeding increases visceral tissue protein synthesis more than continuous feeding in neonatal pigs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference, Session: Nutrient regulation of protein anabolism: Mechanism and metabolic effects, April 09-13, 2011, Washington, D.C. 25:233.1.

Technical Abstract: Orogastric tube feeding, using either continuous or intermittent bolus delivery, is commonly used in infants unable to feed orally. To compare the impact of different feeding strategies on visceral tissue protein synthesis, neonatal pigs (5–7 day old) received a balanced formula orally either by intermittent bolus every 4 h (n=13) or continuously (n=9), or they were overnight fasted (n=6). Fractional protein synthesis and translational mechanisms in visceral tissues were examined at 0, 24, and 25.5 h. Plasma amino acid and insulin levels modestly increased in the continuously fed group, whereas in the bolus meal group the pulsatile meal feeding pattern was mimicked. Compared to fasting, protein synthesis in the liver, pancreas, jejunum, and kidney increased in response to feeding in bolus and continuously fed pigs (P< 0.05), but the greatest increase occurred after a bolus meal (P< 0.001). Bolus meals, but not continuous feeds, increased the activation of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E binding protein (4EBP1) and rp S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) (P< 0.05). Eukariotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and eIF2 alpha phosphorylation were unaffected by both feeding modalities. These results suggest that intermittent bolus feeding increases protein synthesis in visceral tissues to a greater extent than continuous feeding by stimulating translation initiation.