Effect of Formula vs Sow's Milk Feeding on the Gut Morphology in Neonatal Piglets

摘要

The aim of the present study was to assess both the short- and mid-term effects of feeding sow's colostrum followed by sow's milk or formula deprived of growth factors on small intestinal morphometry and mucosa maturation in neonatal piglets. Jejunumsamples were collected for light microscopy from piglets killed at birth, 20 h or day 7. At 7 days, feeding sow's milk or formula has no effect on tissue morphometry. However, data on crypt cell mitotic index and enterocyte vacuolation suggest that feeding formula results in a marked delay in the maturation of intestinal mucosa.