Development and adaptation of protein digestion

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Developmental Biology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Protein digestion is a complex physiological process.
• Key digestive functions, including gastric pH, enzyme activity, and nutrient transport, exhibit developmental variations.
• A comprehensive understanding of protein digestion across different species and developmental stages remains incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the developmental patterns of various protein digestion aspects.
• To analyze changes in gastric pH, enzyme activities (pepsinogen, trypsin, chymotrypsin, enterokinase, dipeptidases), and nutrient transport during development.
• To explore the influence of diet on protein digestion during development.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of developmental changes in protein digestion across different species (pigs, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens).
• Observation of changes in gastric pH and specific enzyme activities post-birth.
• Assessment of peptide and amino acid transport system activity in the small intestine.
• Evaluation of dietary influences on digestive enzyme activity and nutrient uptake.

Main Results:

• Gastric pH declines, while peptic and pancreatic protease activities increase post-birth in pigs and rats.
• Peptide and amino acid transport systems are generally active at birth, often peaking neonatally and declining postnatally.
• Dietary protein and individual amino acids influence pancreatic proteases, intestinal peptidases, and amino acid uptake.

Conclusions:

• Most protein digestion processes undergo significant prenatal and postnatal developmental changes.
• Digestive enzyme activity and nutrient transport are dynamic and species-specific during development.
• Feeding levels and diet composition play a crucial role in modulating protein digestion during development.