Profiling development of abdominal organs in the pig

Authors: GABRIEL, GEORGE - University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine; DEVINE, WILLIAM - University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine; Redel, Bethany; WHITWORTH, KRISTIN - University Of Missouri; SAMUEL, MELISSA - University Of Missouri; SPATE, LEE - University Of Missouri; CECIL, RAISSA - University Of Missouri; PRATHER, RANDALL - University Of Missouri; WU, YIJEN - University Of Missouri; WELLS, KEVIN - University Of Missouri; LO, CECILIA - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2022
Publication Date: 9/28/2022
Citation: Gabriel, G., Devine, W., Redel, B.K., Whitworth, K., Samuel, M., Spate, L., Cecil, R., Prather, R., Wu, Y., Wells, K., Lo, C. 2022. Profiling development of abdominal organs in the pig. Scientific Reports. 12. Article number 16245. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19960-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19960-5

Interpretive Summary: The pig is an ideal model for human development and disease due to its similarities to human anatomy, physiology, size, and genome. Recent advances in gene editing technology have made pigs a viable model to study human diseases and congenital anomalies. However, a detailed atlas illustrating normal pig development is necessary for identifying and modeling developmental defects. Here we describe normal development of the pig abdominal system and show examples of congenital defects that can arise in gene edited pigs. Normal pigs at different gestational ages from day 20 to new born were examined and the configuration of the abdominal organs was studied. This atlas and the methods used are excellent tools for identifying developmental diseases of the abdominal organs in the pig at different stages of development.

Technical Abstract: The pig is an ideal model system for studying human development and disease due to its similarities to human anatomy, physiology, size, and genome. Further, advances in CRISPR gene editing have made genetically engineered pigs viable models for the study of human pathologies and congenital anomalies. However, a detailed atlas illustrating pig development is necessary for identifying and modeling developmental defects. Here we describe normal development of the pig abdominal system and show examples of congenital defects that can arise in CRISPR gene edited SAP130 mutant pigs. Normal pigs at different gestational ages from day 20 (D20) to term were examined and the configuration of the abdominal organs was studied using 3D histological reconstructions with episcopic confocal microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and necropsy. This revealed prominent mesonephros, a transient embryonic organ present only during embryogenesis, at D20, while the developing metanephros that will form the permanent kidney are noted at D26. By D64 the mesonephori are absent and only the metanephroi remain. The formation of the liver and pancreas was observed by D20 and complete by D30 and D35 respectively. The spleen and adrenal glands are first identified at D26 and completed by D42. The developing bowel and the gonads are identified at D20. The bowel appears completely rotated by D42, and testes in the male were descended at D64. This atlas and the methods used are excellent tools for identifying developmental pathologies of the abdominal organs in the pig at different stages of development.