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Polyamine metabolism in enterocytes isolated from newborn pigs
F Blachier1, H M'Rabet-Touil, L Posho
1Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|December 15, 1992
Summary
Pig intestinal enterocytes maintain polyamine levels after birth primarily through uptake, not de novo synthesis. Polyamines are crucial for cell growth and differentiation during this rapid intestinal development phase.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Intestinal mucosa growth is intense in neonatal pigs.
- Polyamines are vital for cell proliferation and differentiation.
- Postnatal intestinal development involves significant changes in cell metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of polyamine metabolism in pig enterocyte adaptation after birth.
- To determine if postnatal intestinal hypertrophy is linked to polyamine synthesis or uptake.
- To understand how polyamine content is regulated in developing enterocytes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of pig villus enterocytes at birth and 2 days postpartum.
- Measurement of intracellular polyamine content (putrescine, spermidine, spermine).
- Assay of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and polyamine synthesis from L-arginine and L-glutamine.
- Assessment of polyamine uptake by enterocytes.
Main Results:
- Enterocytes showed similar polyamine levels at birth and 2 days later.
- Low de novo synthesis of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine was observed at birth, despite high ODC activity.
- Polyamine synthesis remained low at 2 days postpartum, with decreased ODC activity.
- Enterocytes demonstrated temperature-dependent uptake of extracellular polyamines at both time points.
Conclusions:
- De novo polyamine synthesis from L-arginine or L-glutamine is not a major factor in controlling pig enterocyte polyamine content post-birth.
- Polyamine uptake by enterocytes is crucial for maintaining steady-state polyamine levels during the critical postnatal period.
- This suggests an adaptive strategy for rapid intestinal growth and development in neonatal pigs.