This study aimed to investigate the effect of enterally administered crude red kidney bean <i>(Phaseolus vulgaris)</i> lectin, PHA, on the expression of brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) proteins, in particular Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> exchangers (NHEs), in the small intestine of suckling rats. Gavage of PHA to 14-day-old rats for 3 days resulted in altered protein/glycoprotein patterns as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Immunoblots demonstrated the appearance of two 71- and 27-kD protein bands indicative for NHE3 – one of the NHE isoforms – and PHA, respectively. PHA treatment also resulted in an augmented uptake of <sup>22</sup>Na<sup>+</sup> by the BBMV indicating an increase in NHE activity. Overall, the data suggests that enteral PHA exposure may induce maturational changes in enterocyte membrane proteins in young rats. In view of these findings, an investigation into the addition of PHA to infant formulas and weaning diets is warranted.
Some dietary components that may not be required for human existence may markedly infl uence the quality of life by modifying physiologic processes. These compounds can infl uence, in combination or alone, numerous biological functions by serving as antioxidants, immunoregulators, regulators of gene expression, modulators of several cellular processes, including growth and apoptosis. Many diseases are associated with impaired cell proliferation or diff erentiation and, what is most important, also with deregulations in programmed cell death, which, in the end, can lead to the promotion of the diseases such as cancer. Biologically-active molecules are capable of modifying the biochemical pathways and/or infl uencing specifi c proteins regulating apoptosis in gastrointestinal cells, which can be used for both prevention and treatment. Dietary fi bres, cruciferous vegetables, fl ax and curcumin showed positive eff ect in the protection of colon cancer. Similarly, a strong inverse relationship between stomach as well as colon cancer risk and allium vegetables intake has been proved. Limonoids from citrus fruits are also considered as promising molecules with anticancer activity, such as perrillyl alcohol, which was tested in patients with advanced malignant tumours. Although the relationship between soy intake and cancer risk has not so far been clearly elucidated, it is known that isofl avones from soy may reduce the risk of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. Although functional foods of animal origin are not that well recognized, some of them, however, seem to be worthy of particular interest. Although interactions among nutrients have been inadequately examined, a few examples of negative and positive interactions exist, e.g. some components may provide benefi cial eff ects by infl uencing the structure and functions of the wall as well as environment of the gastrointestinal tract, including phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and other components, such as alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG).
Zusammenfassung Eine Methode zur langfristigen Lymphsammlung aus der jejunalen Lymphbahn bei Schweinen und Schafen Es wird eine Methode zur langfristigen Lymphsammlung im Dünndarmbereich von Schweinen und Schafen vorgestellt. Mit Hilfe eines chirurgischen Eingriffs wurde ein Silikon‐Katheder im truncus lymphaticus jejunalis implantiert. Zusätzlich wurde ein zweiter Katheter in die hintere vena cava in Richtung Herz eingesetzt. Beide Katheter wurden sofort miteinander verbunden, um die Wiedereinführung der jejunalen Lymphe in den Blutkreislauf zu gewährleisten. Der negative Druck in der hinteren vena cava im Thoraxteil förderte den Lymphfluß durch das Katheter im truncus lymphaticus jejunalis. Der preprandiale Lymphfluß des Jéjunums betrug bei Schweinen 0,3 ml/h/kg Körpergewicht und stieg postprandial auf 0,78 ml/h/kg an. Beim Schaf betrug der Basiswert 0,75 ml/h/kg. Er stieg nach intraduodenaler Infusion von Rapsöl auf 4,75 ml/h/kg. Eine mechanische Stimulation der intestinalen Receptoren durch 0,9% NaCl‐Lösung stimulierte ebenfalls den Lymphfluß.
The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of porcine pancreatic enzymes (Creon® pancrelipase) in comparison to microbial-derived alpha amylase (MD amylase) on the small intestine wall structure, mucosal glycogen accumulation, and enterocyte turnover. The impact of enzyme supplementation on the small intestine was explored in 18 pigs with surgically induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Four healthy pigs served as the control group. EPI led to reduced villus length, crypt depth, and thickness of the mucosa and muscularis layers compared to those of healthy pigs. All these changes appeared to be reversible after enzyme supplementation. Brush border thickness was decreased in EPI and increased with both enzyme preparations, with MD amylase treatment leading to the highest values in the proximal jejunum. No EPI-induced changes were observed in the goblet cell (GC) population, but significant increases in GC number and area were observed following MD amylase treatment. Glycogen accumulation within the duodenal mucosa was significantly increased in EPI pigs. EPI was also shown to significantly increase apoptotic activity and decrease proliferative activity in comparison to healthy animals, while both enzyme preparations resulted in the complete recovery of both proliferative and apoptotic activity in all investigated intestinal segments. Creon® influenced the morphology of the small intestine. However, supplementation of exogenous microbial amylase alone also affected gut morphology in a similar way to that of the complex host pancreatic enzymes offered orally. These data indicate that in addition to their role in digestion of nutrients in EPI, intraluminal pancreatic enzymes, especially amylase, contribute to gut health through maintenance of the intestinal wall architecture and physiological enterocyte turnover.
The present investigation characterized the effect of red kidney bean lectin exposure on gut maturation and function in young piglets. Eleven suckling pigs were given by stomach tube a crude red kidney bean lectin preparation (containing about 25% lectin, 400 mg/kg BW) (lectin-treated pigs) at 10, 11, and 12 d of life, and an additional 16 pigs (control pigs) were given saline instead. On the next day, the intestinal absorptive capacity was determined in vivo, and on the 14th d of life the piglets were killed and organs and small intestine samples were collected for analyses and in vitro permeability experiments. The lectin-treated pigs showed an increase in stomach weights and mucosa thickness, whereas no weight effect was found for the small intestine, spleen, liver, or adrenals. Morphometric analyses of the small intestine in lectin-treated pigs showed a decrease in villus heights, an increase in crypt depths and crypt cell mitotic indices, and fewer vacuolated enterocytes per villus and reduced vacuole size. Lectin treatment also resulted in a decrease in the absorption of different-sized marker molecules after gavage feeding, a decrease in intestinal marker permeability, and a change in small intestinal disaccharidase activities, with increased maltase and sucrase activities. The size of the pancreatic acini was also greater in the lectin-treated pigs, but no increases in enzyme content or pancreatic weight could be determined. In addition, the blood plasma levels of cholecystokinin were higher in the lectin-treated than in the control pigs. The results indicate that exposure to crude red kidney bean lectin induces structural and functional maturation of the gut and pancreatic growth in young suckling piglets. This possibility of inducing gut maturation may lead to an improvement in the piglets' ability to adapt to weaning and to an increase in the growth and health of these animals.
Abstract The purpose of this review was to analyze the scientific literature on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs and cats and our own research on porcine model to compare animal‐ and microbial‐derived enzymes in the treatment of animals with this disease. Clinical signs of EPI occur when more than 85% of the pancreatic parenchyma is non‐functional. EPI can be a consequence of various diseases. The insufficient activity or deficiency of pancreatic enzymes leads to impaired digestion and absorption, and consequently, to malnutrition. The primary treatment for enzyme insufficiency is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). PERT in animals with EPI is a lifetime therapy. Most commercially available products are of animal origin (processed pancreata obtained from a slaughter house) and contain lipases, alpha‐amylase, and proteases. Enzymes of microbial and plant origin seem to be a promising alternative to animal‐derived enzymes, but to date there are no registered preparations containing all enzymes simultaneously for use in clinical practice to treat EPI. Results from some previous studies have highlighted the “extra‐digestive” functions of pancreatic enzymes, as well as the actions of pancreatic‐like microbial enzymes. For example, trypsin activates protease‐activated receptor and provokes maturation of enterocytes and enterostatin inhibits fat absorption. It has been postulated that intrapancreatic amylase is the main component of the acini‐islet‐acinar axis—the reflex which down regulates insulin release, while gut and blood amylase exhibit anti‐incretin actions “per se.” Additionally, high but still physiological blood amylase activity coincide with physiological glucose homeostasis and a lack of obesity.
Abstract: Foetal and neonatal time is very important for the growth and development of the mechanisms involved in the programming of metabolic processes in adult life. In foetal life, critical developmental time-windows for different key factors determining the programming of metabolic processes persisting for a longer time in later life were discovered. Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid is administered in pregnancy to reduce mortality in preterm infants. However, other studies did not examine the effects of maternal simultaneous dexamethasone treatment with alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and other metabolic markers in the blood serum of newborns. This study shows that exposure to maternal dexamethasone excess during the last 45 days of pregnancy resulted in reduced body weight by 26% in newborns. Moreover, when dexamethasone was administered with AKG, body weight was reduced by only 13.5% when compared with the control group. Total cholesterol concentrations in sows and their newborns in the Dex groups were higher by 81% and 79% compared with the control values in sows and in newborns, respectively. Triacylglycerol serum concentrations were higher by 54% in sows from the Dex group and 58% in newborn piglets born by these mothers. Glucose concentration was higher by 142% in newborns after maternal dexamethasone treatment, compared with the control group. Serum glucose concentration remained unchanged in sows after simultaneous dexamethasone administration with AKG, but in newborns a 2-fold increase was observed. These foetal metabolic changes after maternal treatment with dexamethasone might be linked not only with long lasting metabolic disturbances, but also with more frequent coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases in later life. Our results indicate that maternal AKG administration to sows during the last 45 days of pregnancy protects newborns from metabolic disturbances induced by dexamethasone acting at this time and influencing developmental programming of metabolic processes which may persist or appear in later life.
