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Transient changes of transforming growth factor-β expression in the small intestine of the pig in association with weaning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Jie Mei  and
Ruo-Jun Xu
Jie Mei
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
Ruo-Jun Xu*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Ruo-Jen Xu, fax +852 2559 9114, email xuruojun@hku.hk
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Abstract

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It is well known that early weaning causes marked changes in intestinal structure and function, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is believed to play an important regulatory role in post-weaning adaptation of the small intestine. The present study examined the distribution and expression intensity of TGF-β in the small intestinal mucosa of pre- and post-weaning pigs using a specific immunostaining technique and Western blot analysis. The level of TGF-β in the intestinal mucosa, as estimated by Western blot analysis, did not change significantly during weaning. However, when examined by the immunostaining technique, TGF-β1 (one of the TGF-β isoforms dominantly expressed in the tissue) at the intestinal villus epithelium, particularly at the apical membrane of the epithelium, decreased significantly 4 d after weaning, while the staining intensity increased significantly at the intestinal crypts compared with that in pre-weaning pigs. These changes were transient, with the immunostaining intensity for TGF-β1 at the intestinal villi and the crypts returning to the pre-weaning level by 8 d post-weaning. The transient decrease in TGF-β1 level at the intestinal villus epithelium was associated with obvious intestinal villus atrophy and marked reduction of mucosal digestive enzyme activities. Furthermore, the number of leucocytes staining positively for TGF-β1 increased significantly in the pig intestinal lamina propria 4 d after weaning. These findings strongly suggest that TGF-β plays an important role in the post-weaning adaptation process in the intestine of the pig.

Keywords

Transforming growth factor-βIntestineWeaning pig
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 93 , Issue 1 , January 2005 , pp. 37 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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