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The preterm piglet - a model in the study of oesophageal development in preterm neonates
S Rasch1, P T Sangild, H Gregersen
1Department of Human Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Insights
Preterm infants struggle with oral feeding due to immature esophageal motility. The preterm piglet model shows promise for studying infant feeding development and esophageal function.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Physiology
- Gastrointestinal Motility
- Animal Models in Research
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience difficulties with independent oral feeding.
- Challenges in sucking, swallowing, and respiration, as well as immature esophageal motility, can impede feeding.
- Studying esophageal motility development in preterm infants is invasive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preterm piglet as a potential research model for human infant oral feeding.
- To assess esophageal motility in preterm and term piglets.
- To explore the relationship between esophageal motility and feeding performance.
Main Methods:
- Esophageal motility (EM) was monitored using manometry in term (n=6) and preterm (n=15) piglets.
- Monitoring occurred for 10 minutes post-bottle feeding on days 1-2 and 3-4 of life.
- Feeding performance was observed in both groups.
Main Results:
- Preterm piglets exhibited feeding difficulties compared to term piglets.
- Esophageal motility patterns in piglets mirrored those observed in human infants.
- Preterm piglets showed altered peristaltic activity, with increased synchronous and decreased incomplete motor activity over time.
- Preterm piglets with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-like symptoms displayed atypical esophageal activity.
Conclusions:
- Immature esophageal motility is a potential cause of oral feeding difficulties in preterm infants.
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)-like symptoms can negatively impact esophageal motility.
- The preterm piglet serves as a valid and valuable model for studying human infant oral feeding and esophageal development.
Aim:
Preterm infants have difficulty in attaining independent oral feeding. This can ensue from inadequate sucking, swallowing and/or respiration. In impeding bolus transport, immature oesophageal motility may also be a cause. As studies on the development of oesophageal motility are invasive in preterm infants, the preterm piglet was investigated as a potential research model.
Methods:
Oesophageal motility (EM) of term (n = 6) and preterm (n = 15) piglets were monitored by manometry for 10 min immediately following bottle feeding on days 1-2 and 3-4 of life.
Results:
Piglets' oral feeding performance and EM were similar to those of their human counterparts. Term piglets readily completed their feeding, whereas their preterm counterparts did not. They also presented with greater peristaltic activity and propagating velocity. Peristaltic activity remained unchanged over time in preterm piglets, but an increase in synchronous and decrease in incomplete motor activity were noted. Preterm piglets that developed symptoms analogous to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) demonstrated uncharacteristic oesophageal activity.
Conclusion:
Immature EM may cause oral feeding difficulties. NEC-like symptoms may adversely affect EM. The piglet is a valid research model for studying human infant oral feeding and oesophageal development.
