Changes in digestive enzyme activity, intestine morphology, mucin characteristics and tocopherol status in mink kits (Mustela neovision) during the weaning period

Abstract

Weaning of livestock mammals is often associated with digestive problems related to profound changes in the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. This study was undertaken to study the developmental changes in the gastrointestinal tract of mink kits during the period of 34 to 59 days of age. Twenty-four mink kits from eight litters were included in the experiment. The dams and their litters were kept under standard farm conditions. The dams and the kits were fed a diet consisting of 48.1% protein, 40.7% fat and 11.1% carbohydrate of metabolizable energy. The mink kits were weaned at 42 days of age. At 34, 47 and 59 days of age, one male mink kit from each litter was euthanized. The activity of amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and lipase in the pancreatic tissue increased during the experimental period, whereas the activity of carboxyl ester hydrolase remained constant. The vitamin E concentration in plasma was stable from 34 to 59 days of age, whereas the concentration decreased in the liver. The stereochemical composition of a-tocopherol showed a steep decrease in the concentration of the biologically most active natural isomer in both plasma and liver through the whole weaning period, whereas the biologically less active 2S isomers showed a clear increase. The concentration of bile salts did not change during the experimental period. The villous height increased in the proximal part of the small intestine and decreased in the distal part, whereas the crypt depth was doubled in both the proximal and distal part of the small intestine. The mucin-staining area on the villi was markedly reduced during the experimental period but no change in the mucin-staining area in the crypts was observed.

Screening for anti‐nutritional compounds in complementary foods and food aid products for infants and young children

“…; Hedemann et al . ). In piglets, the pancreatic activity, including trypsin and chymotrypsin activity, tends to drop during the critical weaning period (Thymann et al .…”

“…The pancreatic enzyme inhibitors bind strongly to their corresponding enzymes in a 1:1 ratio (Arentoft et al 1993;Soerensen et al 1999). The levels of pancreatic enzymes in newborn or very young mammals are low and increase with age (Arentoft et al 1993;Elnif et al 1988;Hedemann et al 2011). In piglets, the pancreatic activity, including trypsin and chymotrypsin activity, tends to drop during the critical weaning period (Thymann et al 2007).…”

Distribution ofα-tocopherol stereoisomers in mink (Mustela vison) organs varies with the amount ofall-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate in the diet

“…In the study by Ingold et al ( 13 ) , the strongest discrimination of all organs against the SRR - α -tocopherol stereoisomer was found in rat brain in agreement with the findings of the present study. In rats, the discrimination against the SRR - α -tocopherol stereoisomer was shown by Ingold et al ( 13 ) to be initiated already in the gut, probably owing to incomplete hydrolysis of the acetate group of α -tocopheryl acetate ( 4 ) , a step that, in previous studies, has been shown not to be limiting in mink ( 4 , 5 ) .…”

“…This acetylated form of α-tocopherol must be hydrolysed before it can be absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract (2) , but in mink hydrolysis is not the limiting factor in the absorption of α-tocopherol as opposed to, for example, newly weaned piglets (4,5) .…”

“…In commercial vitamin mixtures, all - rac - α -tocopherol is typically acetylated, in order to stabilise its functional phenol group during storage, and added to rations as all - rac - α -tocopheryl acetate. This acetylated form of α -tocopherol must be hydrolysed before it can be absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract ( 2 ) , but in mink hydrolysis is not the limiting factor in the absorption of α -tocopherol as opposed to, for example, newly weaned piglets ( 4 , 5 ) .…”