Organ data from the developing Göttingen minipig: first steps towards a juvenile PBPK model

Area of Science:

• Preclinical drug development
• Pharmacokinetic modeling
• Comparative physiology

Background:

• Göttingen minipigs are widely used in European preclinical drug development.
• Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models require data from juvenile animals for pediatric drug development.
• Limited physiological data exists for Göttingen minipigs across developmental stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document body and organ weights, intestinal lengths, and gastrointestinal pH in Göttingen minipigs.
• To cover the developmental period from fetal stage to 5 months of age.
• To establish regression models for estimating organ weights based on body weight in neonates and juveniles.

Main Methods:

• Collection of body weight, organ weights (brain, heart, lungs, liver, GI tract, spleen, kidney), and intestinal lengths.
• Measurement of gastrointestinal pH values.
• Application of regression models to postnatal growth data.

Main Results:

• Most organs exhibited non-linear growth curves during the first 5 months of life.
• Relative organ weights were generally highest in the first week of life.
• Gastric pH was more alkaline in the first week compared to 28 days of age.

Conclusions:

• The documented physiological data and regression models are valuable for developing physiologically based pharmacokinetic models in Göttingen minipigs.
• Understanding developmental changes in organ growth and GI physiology is critical for accurate preclinical assessments.
• This data supports the use of juvenile Göttingen minipigs in pediatric drug development studies.