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Changes, with age, in the phospholipid content of the intestinal mucus layer of the newborn rabbit
1Section of Pediatric Surgery, CS Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0245, USA.
Insights
Intestinal mucus phospholipids (PL) decrease with age in newborn rabbits, impacting the gut barrier. This study quantifies age-related changes in rabbit intestinal mucus PL composition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Newborn bacterial translocation is linked to immature intestinal mucosal barriers.
- Intestinal mucus phospholipids (PL) are crucial for mucosal barrier function.
- Age-related changes in PL may influence barrier development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify age-dependent changes in rabbit intestinal mucus phospholipids (PL).
- To investigate the role of PL in the developing intestinal barrier of newborn rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Mucus collected from rabbit small intestines across various age groups (0-28 days, adult).
- Phospholipids (PL) extracted and separated using two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography.
- Phosphorus content quantified to determine PL levels.
Main Results:
- Total mucus PL significantly decreased with age (P = .0001).
- Specific PLs like phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine decreased, while lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine increased with age.
- Phosphatidylinositol + phosphatidylserine levels were higher in 7-day-old rabbits than adults.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal mucus PL content and composition undergo significant changes during the first month of rabbit life.
- These age-related alterations in PL likely play a role in the maturation of the intestinal mucosal barrier.
Background/Purpose:
The high incidence of bacterial translocation in newborns is thought to be caused, in part, by the immaturity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Recently, intestinal mucus phospholipids (PL) have been reported to be important factors in the function of this mucosal barrier. The aim of this study was to quantify changes, with age, in the intestinal mucus PL of the newborn rabbit.
Methods:
Mucus was gently scraped from the small intestinal mucosal surface of rabbits of different ages (0, 7, 14, and 28 days old and adult; n = 6 for all groups). PL was extracted from the mucus and was separated by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The isolated phospholipid spots were quantified for their phosphorus content.
Results:
Total PL content of the mucus decreased significantly with age (day 0, 21+/-2; day 7, 16+/-4; day 14, 9+/-3; day 28, 2+/-1; adult, 1+/-1 micromol/g wet mucus; P = .0001). Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine levels in the adult rabbits were significantly lower in comparison with the 0-, 7-, and 14-day-old pups (P < .05). In contrast, lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine were significantly higher in the 28-day-old and adult rabbits in comparison with the 0-, 7-, and 14-day-old pups (P < .05). Phosphatidylinositol + phosphatidylserine levels in 7-day-old rabbits was significantly higher compared with adult rabbits. There was no significant difference in the composition of sphingomyeline between groups.
Conclusion:
Significant changes in the content and composition of the intestinal mucus phospholipids were observed during the first month of life in rabbits.