EFFECT OF COLOSTRUM ON GROWTH OF INTESTINAL MUCOSA

Abstract

Recently, Widdowson et al. (Biol. Neonate 28:272, 1976) reported that jejunal mucosal mass of piglets suckled by their mother increased 45% in the first 24 hours of life whereas the mass of those fed only water did not change. This impressive finding could be due specifically to colostrum or to feeding per se. To differentiate the role of each, small intestinal mucosal mass (MM), DNA and protein (Pr) content, plus disaccharidase activities were determined in groups of beagle puppies at birth (Controls; n=6) and after 24 hours of either suckling (n=5) or artificial feeding with simulated bitch milk (n=5). Body weights of the latter 2 groups increased similarly. While neither MM, DNA nor Pr of the artificially fed group were different from controls, MM of the suckled group was 82.1% greater (p<0.001), DNA content was 60% greater (p<0.001), and protein content was 91.3% greater (p<0.001). These differences were apparent in all segments of the intestine. The increased DNA, Pr and Pr/DNA ratio in this group suggest that the rapid increase in mucosal mass was due to both hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Specific activities of lactase, sucrase, and maltase were similar in the 3 groups but because of increased MM total activity of all was greater in the suckled group. These results extend the findings of Widdowson et al. to another species and demonstrate that the rapid early mucosal growth results specifically from colostrum, not merely feeding. They strongly suggest that colostrum contains a growth factor specific for intestinal mucosa.

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