Developmental changes in intercellular junctions and Kv channels in the intestine of piglets during the suckling and post-weaning periods. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jing; Zeng, Liming; Tan, Bie; Li, Guangran; Huang, Bo; Xiong, Xia; Li, Fengna; Kong, Xiangfeng; Liu, Gang; Yin, Yulong
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science and biotechnology. Volume 7:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Intercellular junctions -- Kv channels -- Small intestine -- Piglets -- Weaning; Animal biotechnology -- Periodicals; Animal culture -- Periodicals; Domestic animals -- Periodicals; Livestock -- Periodicals; 636.08
• DOI: 10.1186/s40104-016-0063-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-1891

Abstract

Abstract Background The intestinal epithelium is an important barrier that depends on a complex mixture of proteins and these proteins comprise different intercellular junctions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the postnatal and developmental changes in morphology, intercellular junctions and voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels in the intestine of piglets during the suckling and post-weaning periods. Results Samples of the small intestine were obtained from 1-, 7-, 14-, and 21-d-old suckling piglets and piglets on d 1, 3, 5, and 7 after weaning at 14 d of age. The results showed that the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, as well as the abundances of E-cadherin, occludin, and Kv1.5 mRNA and claudin-1, claudin-3, and occludin protein in the jejunum were increased from d 1 to d 21 during the suckling period (P < 0.05). Weaning induced decreases in the percentage of PCNA-positive cells, AKP activity and the abundances of E-cadherin, occludin and zonula occludens (ZO)-1 mRNA or protein in the jejunum on d 1, 3 and 5 post-weaning (P < 0.05). There were lower abundances of E-cadherin, occludin and ZO-1 mRNA as well as claudin-1, claudin-3 and ZO-1 protein in the jejunum of weanling piglets than in 21-d-old suckling piglets (P < 0.05). The abundances of E-cadherin, occludin, ZO-1 and integrin mRNA were positively related to the percentage of PCNA-positive cells. Conclusion Weaning at 14 d of age induced damage to the intestinal morphology and barrier. While there was an adaptive restoration on d 7 post-weaning, the measured values did not return to the pre-weaning levels, which reflected the impairment of intercellular junctions and Kv channels.