Development of Digestive Enzymes in the Piglet from Birth to 8 Weeks

Abstract

The development of pancreatic tissue (fresh weight, total proteins, RNA and DNA) and of the level of pancreatic enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase) of the piglet has been followed from birth to the age of 8 weeks in 10 animals at each of 7 stages. There was an increase with age and body weight of the total fresh weight of the exocrine pancreas. From birth until 4 weeks the development of the pancreatic gland was due to hyperplasia; from the 4th week till the 8th week of age, it was due both to hyperplasia and hypertrophy. There was a specific period, at the age of 3–4 weeks, from which total enzymatic activities markedly increased. Furthermore, from the 4th week of age there was a rise in the intake of total dietary proteins, fat and carbohydrates, due to the intake of solid food.

Development of gastrointestinal and pancreatic functions in mammalians (mainly bovine and porcine species): influence of age and ingested food

“…The [ 126]. Therefore, in calves, most of the pancreatic enzymes are present at birth, except for amylase [30,75], while in newborn pigs enzyme activities are relatively low, except for elastase II which exhibits a maximum activity [12,29].…”

“…Based on DNA and RNA measurements in pancreas, Corring et al [12] ascribe the increase in pancreas weight before 4 weeks of age to a hyperplasia of pancreatic cells; subsequent increases involve both hyperplasia and hypertrophy. In lambs, the pancreas shows an extensive hyperplasia without growth until day 2; its weight increases thereafter owing to hypertrophy [37], as also observed in calves [30].…”

“…While elastase II and chymotrypsin are probably the predominant pancreatic proteases during the neonatal period, elastase I, trypsin and amylase are probably more specifically expressed after weaning [29]. Studies on pigs showed that changes in cathodal trypsin and chymotrypsin are apparently related to the weaning time, thus the change of diet from milk to solid food could contribute to the differences [12,103]. In calves, weaning induces a large increase in all pancreatic enzyme activities ( figure 3).…”

The Contribution of Weaning Foods to Protein–Energy Malnutrition

“…While information on babies is limited, comparisons can be drawn with other mammals. In pigs, there is a specific period at the age of 3-4 weeks when digestive enzyme activities are markedly increased, including amylase (Corring et al 1978). However, on the question of substrate induction, Corring et al (1972) found no change in age of the appearance of amylase activity in rabbits weaned suddenly onto a highstarch diet at 21 d, compared with 30 d. These authors concluded that in the rabbit, feed is not a factor stimulating pancreatic enzyme development.…”

Adição de enzimas exôgenas para leitões dos 10 aos 30 kg de peso

“…A suplementação de amilase em rações para os leitões após a desmama melhorou a digestibilidade de amido contido nos cereais (OFFICER, 1993;ACAMOVIC e McCLEARY, 1966;e CLASSEN, 1996), enquanto a suplementação de lipase melhorou o aproveitamento de gordura pelos suínos em recria (CERA et al, 1988), em que a adição de protease melhorou a digestibilidade de proteína (CORRING et al, 1978).…”