Porcine Intestinal Apical-Out Organoid Model for Gut Function Study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Biomedical Science
• Animal Physiology

Background:

• Pig models are crucial for farm animal, veterinary, and biomedical research.
• Experimental pig gut models aid studies in physiology, nutrition, and disease.
• Intestinal organoids are valuable for investigating nutrient uptake and gut barrier function, but their basal-out structure hinders apical membrane research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish porcine intestinal organoids with both basal-out and apical-out structures.
• To evaluate the suitability of apical-out organoids for studying intestinal functions, including nutrient absorption and barrier integrity.

Main Methods:

• Porcine jejunum tissues were used to establish intestinal organoids.
• Different sub-culture methods were employed to develop both basal-out and apical-out organoids.
• Techniques included staining, quantitative real-time PCR, fatty acid uptake assays, and fluorescent dextran diffusion assays.

Main Results:

• Successful development of both basal-out and apical-out porcine intestinal organoids.
• Apical-out organoids demonstrated enhanced fatty acid absorption compared to basal-out organoids.
• Apical-out organoids exhibited functional epithelial barrier properties, as shown by dextran diffusion assays.

Conclusions:

• The developed apical-out porcine intestinal organoid model is ideal for investigating the intestinal environment.
• This model overcomes previous limitations and facilitates research on the intestinal apical membrane.
• Apical-out organoids offer a promising tool for future intestinal studies across various research fields.