The prolonged effect of glucagon-like peptide 2 pretreatment on growth performance and intestinal development of weaned piglets

摘要

Background Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a potent epithelium-specific intestinal growth factor. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the prolonged effect of GLP-2 on the growth performance of weaned piglets. Forty piglets weaned at the age of 28 d with an average BW of 6.8?±?0.4?kg were assigned to four treatments: (i) non-challenged control; (ii) LPS-challenged control; (iii) LPS?+?low GLP-2; and (iv) LPS?+?high GLP-2. Piglets in groups (i), (ii), and (iv) were s.c. injected with PBS supplemented with human [Gly2]GLP-2_1-34 at doses of 0, 2 and 10?nmol/kg BW per day for seven consecutive days. BW, gain:feed ratio (G:F), and plasma GLP-2 levels were determined on d 0, 7, and 14 after weaning. Piglets were challenged with i.p. administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose of 100?μg/kg on d 14 to induce intestinal damage. Twenty-four hours later, intestinal tract samples were collected to assess intestinal morphology and quantify enzyme activity. Results Plasma GLP-2 levels decreased after weaning, but in the high GLP-2 group, plasma GLP-2 was maintained on d 7 and even increased to a level higher than the preweaning level on d 14 ( P?Conclusions Exogenous GLP-2 improved the growth of weaned piglets and protected them against LPS-induced intestinal damage. These effects may be due to the ability of GLP-2 to promote the secretion of endogenous GLP-2 to stimulate the small intestinal development.