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Feed restriction as a model for small intestinal permeability in nursery pigs
Sarah C Pearce1, Brian J Kerr1
1USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Journal of Animal Science
|April 22, 2025
Summary
Feed restriction in pigs can impair intestinal barrier function and alter gut morphology. This study suggests feed restriction is a viable model for validating intestinal integrity markers, though duration may influence results.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
Background:
- Reduced feed intake is common in animal diseases and environmental stress, leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction.
- Evaluating intestinal integrity requires validated markers for in vivo, ex vivo, and tissue assessments.
- Feed restriction offers a potential model to compare these diverse intestinal function markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of feed restriction on intestinal barrier function and integrity markers in pigs.
- To assess the utility of feed restriction as a model for validating intestinal permeability and function assays.
- To compare various in vivo, ex vivo, and tissue-based markers of intestinal integrity under controlled feed restriction.
Main Methods:
- Forty-eight barrows were subjected to 7 days of feed restriction at 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% of ad libitum intake.
- In vivo analysis included urinary lactulose:mannitol ratio.
- Ex vivo and tissue analyses involved transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FD4) transport, villus height, crypt depth, and gene expression (IL17A).
Main Results:
- Feed restriction linearly affected feed intake and body weight changes, with significant differences observed across groups.
- Morphological changes (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) were noted at 25% and 50% restriction levels.
- Villus height was significantly reduced in pigs fed at 25% and 50% compared to 75% and 100% intake.
- Urinary lactulose:mannitol ratio tended to increase at 25% restriction, and IL17A expression was upregulated at 25% compared to 75% and 100% intake.
Conclusions:
- Feed restriction effectively modulates intestinal integrity markers in pigs.
- The study supports feed restriction as a valuable model for validating intestinal permeability and function assays.
- The duration of feed restriction may influence the magnitude of observed effects on intestinal function.
