The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus-induced enteritis in preweaning piglets

The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV)-induced enteritis were examined in neonatal piglets. Six pregnant sows were randomly allocated to an infected (n=3) or control group (n=3). Three pregnant sows were inoculated intranasally with 6 mL of tissue culture fluid containing 1.2 x 10(5) tissue culture infective doses 50% (TCID(50))/mL of PCV2 strain SNUVR000470 three weeks before the expected farrowing date. Three control pregnant sows were similarly exposed to uninfected cell culture supernatants. Thirty piglets from PCV2-infected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B) of 15 piglets each. Another 30 piglets from noninfected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (C and D) of 15 piglets each. The piglets in groups A and C were dosed orally at three days of age with 2mL of virus stock (1 x 10(6.5) TCID(50)/mL) of the PEDV strain, SNUVR971496, at the third passage. The mean villous height and crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A) were significantly different from those of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) at 36, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) (P<0.05). In PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A), significantly more PEDV nucleic acid was detected in the jejunal tissues (P<0.05) at 24 hpi than in the same tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C). Thereafter, at 36, 48, 60, and 70 hpi significantly more PEDV nucleic acid (P<0.05) was detected in the jejunal tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) than those of the PEDV-infected piglets from the PCV2-infected sows (group A). It is concluded that the clinical course of PEDV disease was markedly affected by transplacental infection of PCV2.     

Decreased activity of brush border membrane-bound digestive enzymes in small intestines from pigs experimentally infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

Brush border membrane-bound digestive enzymes such as disaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, and maltase), leucine aminopeptidase N, and alkaline phosphatase were measured in jejunum from pigs experimentally infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Three piglets from the infected and control groups were euthanized by electrocution and subjected to necropsy at 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours post-inoculation (hpi). The infection of PEDV to jejunum resulted in significant decreases in brush border membrane-bound digestive enzymes such as disaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, and maltase), leucine aminopeptidase N, and alkaline phosphatase. PEDV replication results in massive destruction of villous enterocytes leading to a marked reduction of intestinal epithelial surface and brush border membrane-bound digestive enzyme activity. Reduced enzymatic activity and villous atrophy in the small intestine is thought to result in a maldigestive and malabsorptive diarrhea.     

仔猪小肠上皮细胞的体外培养及猪流行性腹泻病毒对其感染性研究

本研究旨在建立一种操作简单的仔猪小肠上皮细胞体外培养体系，为猪流行性腹泻病毒（porcine epidemic diarrhea virus，PEDV）的相关研究提供材料。研究以未吃初乳的新生仔猪作为肠道供体，采用肠腔面刮取肠黏膜和机械分离分散的方式进行原代细胞的体外分离。采用0.1%胰蛋白酶差速消化法进行仔猪小肠上皮细胞的纯化；比较新生弱仔猪和正常仔猪作为供体对原代小肠上皮细胞活性的影响；MTT法比较不同代次原代细胞的增殖活性；免疫荧光和实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法检测PEDV毒株CV777在原代小肠上皮细胞感染和增殖情况。结果显示，本研究建立的体外分离培养方法能获得增殖活性良好的原代小肠上皮细胞，具有明显的"S"型细胞增殖曲线。通过胰酶差速消化可得到纯度高、形态单一的小肠上皮细胞，同时细胞连续传代5次仍保持良好的增殖活性。弱仔猪和正常仔猪分离培养的小肠上皮细胞的增殖活性比较显示，两者并没有明显区别，这为降低原代细胞培养的成本提供新的思路。免疫荧光和实时荧光定量RT-PCR结果显示，PEDV可感染本方法分离培养的仔猪原代小肠上皮细胞，并在其中进行复制增殖。本研究建立了一种操作简单、实用性强、成本较低的仔猪原代小肠上皮细胞体外培养方法，该方法培养的原代细胞可作为PEDV分离培养和相关研究的基础材料。     

Culture of Piglet Intestinal Epithelial Cells in vitro and the Infectivity of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus on the Cells

The study was aimed to establish a simple in vitro culture system for piglet small intestinal epithelial cells,and to provide materials for researches on porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV).In this study,newborn piglets that did not eat colostrum were used as the initial donors,and the primary cells were separated in vitro by scraping the intestinal mucosa from the intestinal lumen and mechanical separation and dispersion.The piglet intestinal epithelial cells were purified using 0.1% trypsin differential digestion method.Compared the effects of newborn weak piglets and normal piglets as donors on the activity of primary intestinal epithelial cells.MTT method was used to compare the proliferation activity of primary cells of different generations.Immunofluorescence and Real-time RT-PCR were used to detect the infection and proliferation of PEDV strain CV777 in primary intestinal epithelial cells.The results showed that the isolation and culture method in vitro used in this study could obtain primary intestinal epithelial cells with good proliferation activity,with obvious S-type cell proliferation curves.The cells with high purity and single morphology could be obtained by differential digestion,and had good proliferation activity after five consecutive passages.The proliferative activity of intestinal epithelial cells isolated from weak piglets and normal piglets had no obvious difference,and provided new way for reducing the cost of primary cell culture.The results of immunofluorescence and Real-time RT-PCR showed that PEDV could infect the primary intestinal epithelial cells,and replicated and proliferated in them.In this study,we established a simple,practical and low-cost method for in vitro culture of piglet primary small intestinal epithelial cells.The primary cells cultured by this method could be used as basic materials for the isolation and culture of PEDV and related research.     

Impact of porcine group A rotavirus co-infection on porcine epidemic diarrhea virus pathogenicity in piglets

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine group A rotavirus (PGAR) are the main causative agents of acute diarrhea in piglets. In South Korea, PGAR is prevalent in piglets naturally infected with PEDV. Piglets naturally co-infected with PEDV and PGAR appeared to have severe and prolonged diarrhea that was distinct from that commonly observed. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of PGAR co-infection on PEDV pathogenicity in piglets. Thirty-six colostrum-deprived, one-day old, Large White-Duroc crossbred pigs were randomly divided into four equal groups: PEDV, PEDV/PGAR, PGAR, and control groups. The piglets were euthanized at 1, 2, or 3 days post-inoculation (DPI) to measure the villous height:crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio and to collect fecal samples for RT-PCR and virus isolation. No significant differences in mean VH:CD ratio and clinical symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and anorexia) were observed between the PEDV/PGAR-infected and PEDV-infected groups of piglets at 1, 2 and 3 DPI; however, at 2 and 3 DPI, PGAR was detected in all fecal samples by RT-PCR and virus isolation. These findings failed to detect any interaction between PEDV and porcine rotavirus in the small intestines of piglets, suggesting that concurrent infection of PGAR may not synergistically enhance intestinal villous atrophy of piglets with PEDV disease. We propose that the severe diarrhea exhibited in PEDV and PGAR co-infected piglets may be more associated with the immunity level of the host rather than to any synergistic effect of PGAR on PEDV enteritis.     

幼龄仔猪PEDV感染肠道损伤模型的建立

试验旨在建立猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）感染幼龄仔猪肠道损伤模型。试验选用16头7日龄健康幼龄仔猪（杜×长×大）,随机分为两个处理组：对照组和PEDV组,每个处理8个重复,每个重复1头猪。试验期为10 d,试验期间两个处理组饲喂相同的基础日粮。于试验第7天晚上对PEDV组仔猪口腔灌服PEDV病毒（剂量为10^4.5 TCID₅₀）,对照组灌服等量的生理盐水。于试验第10天早上空腹灌服D-木糖（0.1 g/kg体重）,1 h后前腔静脉采血,屠宰取样,取十二指肠、空肠、回肠等组织样品,测定平均日增重（ADG）、腹泻率（DR）、肠道形态结构、肠道黏膜损伤相关基因mRNA水平。试验结果表明：①PEDV感染显著降低了仔猪ADG（P<0.05）,极显著提高了仔猪腹泻率（P<0.01）;②PEDV感染极显著降低了血浆D-木糖含量、空肠和回肠绒毛高度、十二指肠、空肠和回肠绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值（P<0.01）,显著提高了十二指肠和空肠隐窝深度（P<0.05）;③PEDV感染极显著提高了仔猪空肠黏膜PEDV M基因的相对表达量（P<0.01）,极显著降低了肠绒毛蛋白（villin）和肠型脂肪酸结合蛋白（i-FABP）基因的相对表达量（P<0.01）。以上结果表明,口腔灌服PEDV可以成功诱导建立幼龄仔猪肠道损伤模型。     

槲皮素对PEDV感染幼龄仔猪肠道形态、抗氧化功能及空肠脂质代谢基因表达的影响

【目的】 通过研究槲皮素对猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）感染仔猪肠道形态、肠道抗氧化功能及空肠脂质代谢相关基因相对表达量的影响,旨在探讨槲皮素对PEDV感染仔猪肠道的保护作用。【方法】 选取18头健康的7日龄断奶仔猪,随机分为3组：对照组、PEDV组和槲皮素＋PEDV组,每组6个重复,每个重复1头猪。试验期8 d,于试验第0~7天,对槲皮素＋PEDV组仔猪每天口腔灌服10 mg/kg BW的槲皮素,其余组灌服等体积的人工奶。于试验第5天晚上给PEDV组和槲皮素＋PEDV组仔猪口腔灌服10^4.5TCID₅₀的PEDV,对照组仔猪灌服相同体积的PBS溶液。于试验第8天早上屠宰,取仔猪十二指肠、空肠、回肠及结肠组织样品进行检测。【结果】 与对照组相比,PEDV组仔猪空肠和回肠的绒毛高度以及绒毛高度与隐窝深度比值极显著降低（P<0.01）,空肠、回肠和结肠中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）和总超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）的活力显著降低（P<0.05）,十二指肠、空肠、回肠和结肠中过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活力显著降低（P<0.05）,回肠和结肠中丙二醛（MDA）的含量显著升高（P<0.05）,空肠中载脂蛋白A1（APOA1）、载脂蛋白B （APOB）、载脂蛋白C2（APOC2）、脂肪酸结合蛋白2（FABP2）、酰基辅酶A合成酶长链家族成员3（ACSL-3）和脂肪酸合酶（FASN）基因的相对表达量极显著下调（P<0.01）。与PEDV组相比,槲皮素＋PEDV组仔猪空肠和回肠的绒毛高度以及绒毛高度与隐窝深度比值极显著提高（P<0.01）,空肠、回肠和结肠中GSH-Px和T-SOD的活力显著提高（P<0.05）,十二指肠、空肠和结肠中CAT的活力显著提高（P<0.05）,回肠和结肠中MDA的含量显著降低（P<0.05）,空肠中APOB、FABP2和FASN基因的相对表达量极显著上调（P<0.01）。【结论】 添加槲皮素可有效缓解PEDV感染导致的仔猪肠道损伤,提高仔猪肠道抗氧化能力以及空肠脂质代谢的能力。     

Experimentally induced porcine proliferative enteritis in specific-pathogen-free pigs

Thirty-three, 10-week-old, specific-pathogen-free pigs were randomly allotted to 3 treatment groups: group 1--intragastrically given homogenized intestinal mucosa (crude inoculum) from pigs with naturally occurring proliferative enteritis; group 2--given cultures of Campylobacter sputorum subsp mucosalis; and group 3--controls. One pig from each group was killed 4, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31, 36, and 38 days after inoculation. The earliest intestinal lesion observed in groups 1 and 2 was leukocytic exudate within crypt lumina and focal inflammation of the surrounding lamina propria. The lesions occurred primarily over ileal aggregated lymphoid nodules (Peyer's patches). These changes were followed by focal proliferation of immature crypt epithelial cells and infiltration of increasing numbers of macrophages into the lamina propria. Campylobacter sp-like organisms were observed within the cytoplasm of affected epithelial cells by light and electron microscopies. Lesions progressed to diffuse crypt cell proliferation, elongation of crypts, and loss of villi. Mucosal necrosis was not a prominent feature.     

Expression of viral proteins in feline leukemia virus-associated enteritis

Fourteen cases of feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-associated enteritis were immunohistologically examined for the expression of FeLV proteins gp70, p27, and p15E in the jejunum, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Results were compared with those of FeLV-infected cats without intestinal alterations. Other viral infections and specific bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections were excluded by standard microbiologic methods, histopathology, immunohistology, and in situ hybridization. In FeLV-associated enteritis, FeLV gp70 and p15E were strongly expressed in intestinal crypt epithelial cells. In contrast, FeLV-positive cats without intestinal alterations showed only faint staining for gp70 and p15E and comparatively strong p27 expression in these cells. Findings suggest a direct relation between FeLV infection and alterations in intestinal crypt epithelial cells that may be attributed to the envelope proteins gp70 and p15E and/or their precursor protein. Distinct similarities to the intestinal changes in the experimentally induced FeLV-feline AIDS syndrome are obvious, suggesting that naturally occurring feline AIDS variants may be responsible for FeLV-associated enteritis.     

The pathogenesis of an enteric infection in pigs,experimentally induced by the coronavirus-like agent,CV 777

Sixteen 2–3-days-old caesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived piglets were each dosed oro-nasally with 2 ml of a bacteria-free filtrate containing 10⁴ pig-infectious-doses of CV 777. The piglets were killed at intervals of 12 to 120 h after infection. The coronvirus-like agent caused a local infection of the intestinal tract which resulted in villous atrophy, malabsorption and diarrhea. The pathogenesis of this infection was similar to that of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE), a known coronaviral infection of pigs. However, where were some differences. By immunofluorescent staining, CV 777 antigens were not only detected in the epithelial cells covering the small intestinal villi, but also in the cells of the colonic surface epithelium. Occasional fluorescence was also seen in the small intestinal crypt epithelium, but the regenerative capacity of the crypts was not affected. The progress of intestinal epithelial cell infection by CV 777 was much slower than that in TGE, resulting in a longer incubation period and in less drastic epithelial cell destruction. The infection of regenerating cells occurred to a much higher degree during the late stage of a CV 777 infection than has been observed in TGE.     

实验性流行性腹泻仔猪小肠粘膜上皮细胞及肠系膜淋巴结的超微结构

给8头生后3d的哺乳仔猪经口感染猪流行性腹泻病毒(PEDV)“吉”毒株,于感染后18、30、45和96h各扑杀2头,以透射电镜和扫描电镜观察了小肠粘膜上皮细胞及肠系膜淋巴结的超微结构。结果表明,小肠上皮细胞的病变因感染时间不同而有明显差异。上皮细胞的脱落和残留上皮细胞超微结构的破坏,以感染后30h最严重,病毒在这些上皮细胞内的增殖最显著。感染后45h,见有大量新生上皮细胞修补损伤的肠绒毛。感染后96h,小肠绒毛短缩、粗大乃至发生融合。实验仔猪肠系膜淋巴结内巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞的超微结构均遭到破坏,在巨噬细胞内见有PED冠状病毒粒子。     

Monoclonal antibody-based immunohistochemical detection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues.

An immunohistochemistry technique was developed for the diagnosis of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The technique was tested on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues from piglets naturally infected with PEDV. Five different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were tested in this study. PEDV antigen was consistently detected in the PLP (4% paraformaldehyde, 100 mM L-lysine dihydrochloride, 10 mM sodium m-periodate in phosphate-buffered saline)-fixed PEDV-infected Vero cells or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues from piglets naturally infected with PEDV. The C9-2-2 MAb gave the strongest reactivity and least background staining, detecting 10 of 10 infected pigs. The positive reaction was cytoplasmic. Positive enterocytes were distributed over the tip and along the sides of atrophied or fused villi in the jejunum and ileum. Positive-staining cells were not detected in the crypts. No staining was observed in cecum and colon. No positive cells were observed when the C9-2-2 MAb was reacted with the tissue sections from noninfected piglets or from transmissible gastroenteritus virus (TGEV)- and rotavirus-infected piglets. The selected anti-PEDV MAbs tested on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections are useful for diagnosis when virus isolation is not available. This method would be of particular value in countries where both PEDV and TGEV are epizootic and would aid in differentiating between PEDV and TGEV infection.     

槲皮素对PEDV感染幼龄仔猪的生长性能、血液生化指标和肠道吸收与屏障功能的影响

【目的】 试验旨在探讨槲皮素在防治仔猪感染猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）中的作用。【方法】 选取18头体重相近、健康的7日龄仔猪（杜×长×大）,随机分为3组（对照组、PEDV组和PEDV+槲皮素组）,每组6个重复,每个重复1头猪,试验期共11 d。经过3 d适应期后,于试验第4~10天给PEDV+槲皮素组仔猪口腔灌服10 mg/kg BW的槲皮素,其他组仔猪口腔灌服等体积的人工乳,于试验第8天给PEDV组与PEDV+槲皮素组仔猪口腔灌服1×10^4.5TCID₅₀的PEDV,对照组灌服等体积的PBS溶液。试验第11天早上空腹称重,全部仔猪灌服D-木糖（0.1 g/kg BW）,1 h后经前腔静脉采血,检测血液生化指标、血浆二胺氧化酶（DAO）活性和D-木糖含量;将所有仔猪屠宰取空肠黏膜,检测肠道屏障相关基因,包括肠绒毛蛋白（villin）,紧密连接蛋白-1（claudin-1）,闭合蛋白（occludin）和肠型脂肪酸结合蛋白（iFABP）的相对表达量。【结果】 与对照组相比,PEDV组仔猪平均日增重显著下降（P<0.05）,粪便评分显著升高（P<0.05）;血液中高密度脂蛋白含量显著降低（P<0.05）,肌酐和尿素氮的含量显著提高（P<0.05）;血浆中D-木糖含量显著降低（P<0.05）;空肠claudin-1、iFABP基因的相对表达量显著下调（P<0.05）。与PEDV组相比,PEDV+槲皮素组仔猪平均日增重和血浆D-木糖含量显著升高（P<0.05）;血液中肌酐和尿素氮的含量显著降低（P<0.05）;空肠claudin-1、villin和iFABP基因的相对表达量显著上调（P<0.05）。【结论】 10 mg/kg BW槲皮素可在一定程度上缓解PEDV感染导致的仔猪生长抑制和肾功能损伤,增强肠道吸收与屏障功能。     

Impact of Yersinia enterocolitica enteritis on disaccharidase activity and small intestinal morphology in colostrum-deprived newborn piglets

The effect of enteritis on the development of the small intestine was examined in newborn, colostrum-deprived piglets infected with a human isolate of Y. enterocolitica (serotype 0:3, biotype 4) soon after birth. The piglets were killed 3 days (n = 6) or 5 days (n = 8) after infection, or antibiotic therapy was commenced on day 5 and the animals killed on day 14 (n = 5). Compared with the non-infected controls, infected animals had reduced mucosal lactase and sucrase, but not maltase activity, while after antibiotic therapy, previously infected piglets had a lower lactase and a higher maltase and sucrase activity. Lactase activity was significantly reduced in the duodenum and jejunum, and mean values were lower in the ileum, but the difference did not reach significance; maltase activity was greater at all ages from the distal jejunum to the mid-ileum; sucrase activity was reduced in all segments up to day 5 but after antibiotic therapy was increased in the jejunum and appeared early in the ileum. Enzyme profiles were more mature along the crypt-villus axis in some segments of the intestine in previously infected piglets. Sodium-potassium-ATPase activity was unchanged. There was a reduced villus height:crypt depth ratio, crypt hyperplasia and increased crypt cell proliferation. Morphological maturation, indicated by loss of vacuoles and location of the nucleus at the base of the enterocyte, proceeded distally from the duodenum to ileum from 3 to 14 days of age when only the ileum remained immature. In infected piglets, there was reduced vacuolation and earlier location of the nucleus at the base of the cell in the distal intestine. Accelerated maturity of specific disaccharidases and enterocyte morphology in infected piglets appears to be due to physical damage to the mucosa resulting in faster proliferation of crypt cells and migration of enterocytes. It is suggested that this may reduce macromolecular internalisation and impair the ability to utilise dietary carbohydrate and may have long-term effects on growth and immunological responses of the gut.     

Immunohistochemical localisation of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus VP-60 antigen in early infection of young and adult rabbits

This study evaluated the time course distribution of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) structural protein VP60 in tissues from experimentally infected rabbits from three different age groups. Viral VP60 antigen could not be detected in tissue samples from animals under four weeks, and only a few hepatocytes (0.01 to 0.2 per cent) were stained in the 6-week-old animals. A 6-week-old rabbit euthanised at 72 hpi showed VP60-labelling in hepatocytes and macrophages close to areas of inflammation. Viral VP60 antigen was detected as early as 12 hpi in a few hepatocytes (0.03 per cent) from adult animals. Within this age group, the extent of hepatocyte labelling considerably increased at 18 (3.0 per cent), 24 (25.5 per cent), 36 (50 per cent) and 48 (60 per cent) hpi. Extrahepatic viral VP60 antigen was also detected at 36 and 48 hpi in spleen macrophages and lymphocytes from adult rabbits. These findings support the hypothesis that the hepatocyte is the only cell type in the liver able to support RHDV replication almost immediately after viral infection.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒、传染性胃肠炎病毒、A群轮状病毒和嵴病毒多重RTPCR检测方法的建立及临床应用

本研究建立了可同时检测猪流行性腹泻病毒（Porcineepidemicdiarrheavirus,PEDV）、传染性胃肠炎病毒（TransmissiblegastroenteritisVirus,TGEV）、A群轮状病毒（GroupArotavirus,GARV）和猪嵴病毒（Porcinekobu—virus）的多重RT—PCR方法。检测中,建立的多重RT—PCR方法能够检测到500Pg的TGEV、PEDV、GARV和猪嵴病毒等量混合RNA模板,与常规的单一RT—PCR检测结果基本相同（检测TGEV、PEDV、GARV和猪嵴病毒的灵敏性分别为1000A、1000／6、93．33％和96．67％,特异性均为i00％）。结果表明,建立的多重RTPCR方法敏感性和特异性良好,可作为临床上猪病毒性腹泻病因快速、高效的诊断工具。应用该方法对2010—2012年华中地区190份腹泻仔猪样本进行检测,PEDV、TGEV、GARV和猪嵴病毒的阳性率分别为62．11％、0．53％、7．37％和82．11％。混合感染方面,PEDV和猪嵴病毒混合感染率为47．89％,PEDV和GARV混合感染率为4．74％,GARV和猪嵴病毒混合感染率为7．37％,PEDV、GARV和猪嵴病毒混合感染率为4．74％,未发现TGEV与其它3种病毒的混合感染情况。另外,有27份样本中仅检出PEDV（14．21％）,57份样本只检出猪嵴病毒（30％）。分析表明,我国自2010年底大面积暴发的病毒性腹泻是多病原混合感染造成的,主要病原为PEDV,猪嵴病毒在其中所起作用尚待进一步验证和研究。     

Morphology of the small intestine of weaned piglets and a novel method for morphometric evaluation

The intestinal morphology of 7-week-old pigs was investigated by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The piglets were fed either a semisynthetic or a cereal-based diet. The shapes of the intestinal villi and crypts of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were examined. The villi were predominantly tongue-shaped. In the duodenum they were also ridged, branched and folded, and in the jejunum they were also leaf-like and ridged. At places with lymph follicles, the surface of the ileum was rugged with meandering fold-like villi. The crypts of the three segments of the small intestine were mainly coiled and sometimes branched. A novel morphometric evaluation method was introduced using the enlargement factors of each villus and crypt surface. The enlargement factor for the villus surface of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was 3.13, 3.72 and 2.71, respectively. The factor for the crypt surface of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was 9.07, 8.94 and 6.53, respectively. Furthermore, the relative proliferation rate and the epithelial renewal index were calculated for the first time. The relative proliferation rate of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was 32.88, 34.78 and 50.77 proliferations per mm crypt perimeter, respectively. The diets consumed had an influence on the epithelial renewal index being higher for piglets fed the cereal-based diets.     

Changes in progenitors and differentiated epithelial cells of neonatal piglets

This study aimed to assess the changes of small intestinal morphology,progenitors,differentiated epithelial cells,and potential mechanisms in neonatal piglets.Hematoxylin and eosin staining of samples from 36 piglets suggested that dramatic changes were observed in the jejunum crypts depth and crypt fission index of neonatal piglets(P<0.001).The number of intestinal stem cells(ISC)tended to increase(P<0.10),and a decreased number of enteroendocrine cells appeared in the jejunal crypt on d 7(P<0.05).Furthermore,the mRNA expression of jejunal chromogranin A(ChgA)was down-regulated in d 7 piglets(P<0.05).There was an up-regulation of the adult ISC marker gene of SPARC related modular calcium binding 2(Smoc2),and Wnt/b-catenin target genes on d 7(P<0.05).These results were further verified in vitro enteroid culture experiments.A mass of hollow spheroids was cultured from the fetal intestine of 0-d-old piglets(P<0.001),whereas substantial organoids with budding and branching structures were cultured from the intestine of 7-d-old piglets(P<0.001).The difference was reflected by the organoid budding efficiency,crypt domains per organoid,and the surface area of the organoid.Furthermore,spheroids on d 0 had more Ki67-positive cells and enteroendocrine cells(P<0.05)and showed a decreasing trend in the ISC and goblet cells(P<0.10).Moreover,the mRNA expression of spheroids differed markedly from that of organoids,with low expression of intestinal differentiation gene(Lysozyme;P<0.05),epithelial-specific markers(Villin,E-cadherin;P<0.05),and adult ISC markers(leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5[Lgr5],Smoc2;P<0.001),and upregulation of fetal marker(connexin 43[Cnx43];P<0.05).The mRNA expression of relevant genes was up-regulated,and involved in Wnt/b-catenin,epidermal growth factor(EGF),Notch,and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)signaling on d 7 organoids(P<0.05).Spheroids displayed low differentiated phenotype and high proliferation,while organoids exhibited strong differentiation potential.These results indicated that the conversion from the fetal progenitors(spheroids)to adult ISC(normal organoids)might largely be responsible for the fast development of intestinal epithelial cells in neonatal piglets.     

表皮生长因子和胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ对断奶仔猪免疫功能的影响

选取21日龄断奶长白仔猪37头,按表皮生长因子(EG F)、胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ(IG F-Ⅰ)、基础日粮、自然哺乳随机分为4组,每组3重复,每个重复3头。EG F和IG F-Ⅰ的剂量为17.86μg/d,研究其对早期断奶仔猪免疫功能的影响。结果表明:EG F组和IG F-Ⅰ组脾淋巴细胞转化率均极显著(P<0.01)高于基础日粮组,空肠后段肠黏膜SIgA含量极显著(P<0.01)高于基础日粮组而且EG F组脾淋巴细胞转化率高于IG F-Ⅰ组。EG F组小肠各段黏膜上皮间淋巴细胞数极显著(P<0.01)高于基础日粮组;IG F-Ⅰ组空肠和回肠黏膜上皮间淋巴细胞数极显著(P<0.01)高于基础日粮组;EG F组回肠黏膜上皮间杯状细胞数极显著(P<0.01)高于基础日粮组;IG F-Ⅰ组回肠黏膜上皮间杯状细胞数极显著(P<0.01)低于自然哺乳组。表皮生长因子和胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ能提高早期断奶仔猪的免疫功能。