HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chapple, R. P. Articles by Easter, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chapple, R. P. Articles by Easter, R. A.

Temporal Changes in Carbohydrate Digestive Capacity and Growth Rate of Piglets in Response to Glucocorticoid Administration and Weaning Age

University of Illinois^,4, Urbana 61801

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted that demonstrated that a single injection of hydrocortisone 2l-acetate (HYD, 25 mg/kg BW) administered to 6-d-old nursing piglets resulted in a twofold elevation (P < .02) of pancreatic amylase within 2 d; activity was unaffected by an injection of 15 IU adrenocortitropic hormone (ACTH)/kg BW (P > .20). Intestinal sucrase and maltase activity tended to be elevated (P < .20) 2 and 4 d postinjection with HYD but returned to normal (uninjected) levels by 14 d of age. The normal decline of intestinal lactase activity was delayed by at least 4 d in response to both hormones (P < .10). Organ weights were not affected by either hormone. In a separate experiment, postweaning mortality was reduced (12 vs 27%) and growth rate was substantially improved by administration of HYD to piglets 4 and 2 d prior to weaning at 14 d of age. Hydrocortisone resulted in a faster rate of gain the 1st wk postweaning for pigs weaned at 21 or 28 d. Subsequent gain by control and HYD piglets weaned on d 21 was similar, but HYD subsequently impaired growth rate of piglets weaned at 28 d of age. Growth rates of control and ACTH piglets were similar at each postweaning period regardless of weaning age (weaning age [lin.] x week postweaning [quad.] x treatment, P < .07). This differential treatment response of daily gain may be due in part to effects on feed intake (weaning age [lin.] x week postweaning [lin.] x treatment, P < .10). We conclude that a single injection of HYD to 6-d- old piglets precociously induces pancreatic amylase and that the sensitivity of piglets to HYD is age-dependent.

¹ Current address: Monogastric Res. Dept. Purina Mills, Inc. 1401 S. Hanley, St. Louis, MO 63144.

² Current address: Centro Nacional de Investigaciones en Alimentation y Nutrition Fisiologia, Instituto Nacional de Forestals, Agricolas y Pecuarias, Apartado Postal 29A, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico 76020.

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci. The assistance of Scott Williamson, Howard Cook, Steve Heffernan and Dale Alexander with diet preparation and animal care is gratefully acknowledged.