ARS | Publication request: Sulfur amino acids are necessary for normal intestinal mucosal growth in neonatal piglets

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2008
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Repository URL: http://www.fasebj.org
Citation: Bauchart-Thevret, C., Stoll, B., Chang, X., Cui, L., Burrin, D.G. 2008. Sulfur amino acids are necessary for normal intestinal mucosal growth in neonatal piglets [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 22:686.2

Technical Abstract: Sulfur amino acids (SAAs) methionine and cysteine play important metabolic and functional role in human health and disease. Gastrointestinal tract is an important site of transmethylation and transsulfuration of methionine and metabolizes approx. 20% of the dietary methionine intake (Riedijk et al. PNAS, 2007, 104: 3408). Our aim was to determine intestinal mucosal growth in neonatal piglets (3 d old) enterally fed a control diet (n=9) or SAA-free, elemental, isonitrogenous diet (n=7) for 7 days. After 7 d, both small intestine (jejunum and ileum) mass (-33%; g/kg body weight) and weight gain (-70%; g/kg/d) were decreased in SAA-free vs. control pigs. Also, protein and DNA mass in jejunum and ileum was lower in SAA-free pigs vs. control pigs (-50 to -60%). Histological analysis of jejunum, ileum, and colon showed lower (-20 to -40%) cross-section area, number of villi, villus height, and crypt depth in SAA-free pigs vs. control pigs. Moreover, absolute number of goblet cells and Ki-67 positive proliferative cells in jejunum and colon were lower in SAA-free vs. control pigs (-40 to -60%). These results show that SAA deficiency significantly alters intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and survival. We conclude that SAAs are necessary for normal intestinal mucosal growth in piglets.