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Citrulline and I-FABP: Longitudinal markers of postweaning small intestinal function in pigs?

M. Berkeveld^*, P. Langendijk, J. H. M. Verheijden^*, M. A. M. Taverne^*, A. van Nes^*, P. van Haard and A. P. Koets^*

^* Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands , Adaptation Physiology, Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 336, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands Diagnostic Centre SSDZ, Department Medical Laboratories / Association Clinical Chemistry, P.O. Box 5011, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

m.berkeveld{at}uu.nl

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to investigate whether plasma citrulline or intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) concentrations might be used as longitudinal markers for small intestinal function in piglets after weaning. Plasma citrulline and I-FABP concentrations were measured longitudinally in weaned and unweaned piglets, and related to intestinal absorption values, i.e. plasma mannitol and D-xylose concentrations in a sugar absorption test. Within each litter (n = 10), 2 piglets with a close-to-litter-average BW were selected. At 20.8 ± 0.4 d of age, the selected piglets per litter were either weaned conventionally (CW) or remained with the sow (UNW). One day before, and 0.5, 2, 4, and 7 d after weaning of the CW piglets, the selected piglets of both groups were subjected to a sugar absorption test. After a 2 h fast, an oral dose of 2 mL/kg sugar solution was administered, containing 50 mg/kg mannitol and 100 mg/kg D-xylose. One hour after administration, a blood sample was taken from the jugular vein for determination of plasma I-FABP, citrulline, mannitol, and D-xylose concentrations. Plasma I-FABP concentration showed great variation within treatments, and no difference in plasma I-FABP concentrations between the CW and UNW treatment (P = 0.63) was observed. D-xylose absorption was not different between treatments (P = 0.83). Mannitol absorption, however, was less in the weaned CW piglets compared with the UNW piglets (P = 0.003), with the nadir on d 4 postweaning. Weaning also reduced plasma citrulline concentrations in the CW compared with the UNW treatment (P < 0.001). On d 4 and 7 postweaning, plasma citrulline concentrations of CW piglets were less (P < 0.001 and P = 0.0013) than preweaning values. Furthermore, in the CW treatment, plasma citrulline concentrations correlated to plasma mannitol concentrations at d 4 postweaning (r = 0.89, P = 0.008) and overall (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). Based on these results, plasma citrulline concentration seems to be a possible marker for monitoring intestinal function in pigs after weaning.

Key Words: biological marker • citrulline • intestinal fatty acid binding protein • pig • sugar absorption • weaning

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