Impacts of Intrauterine Growth Retardation on Development of Small Intestinal Tissue in Newborn Piglets

The objective of the study is to determine impacts of intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR) on development of small intestine in newborn piglets.The small intestinal tissue weight,length,morphology,mucosal DNA,RNA and protein between normal piglets and IUGR piglets among newborn group(D0),group naturally suckled for 3 days(D3) and group naturally suckled for 7 days(D7) were compared.Results showed at birth(group D0),the weight of small intestine,mucosal weight,mucosal RNA and protein in normal newborn piglets were significantly higher than those in IUGR piglets(P0.05).Small intestinal wall thickness and villus height in newborn IUGR piglets were significantly lower than those in normal piglets(P0.05).However,relative length of small intestine in piglets with IUGR was significantly higher than that in normal ones(P0.01).After naturally suckled for 3 days(group D3),the length of small intestine and mucosal weight((P0.05),) the weight of small intestine and muscular weight(P0.01) in normal piglets were significantly higher than those in IUGR piglets.Small intestinal wall thickness and villus height in intrauterine relative length of small intestine in piglets with IUGR and in normal ones were the same status as group D0(P0.05).On 7 days of age,mucosal RNA of small intestine in normal piglets was significantly higher than that in piglets with IUGR(P0.05).There were no significances in other observed parameters between them.All results suggest that IUGR has disadvantage impacts on development of small intestinal tissue,which leads to reductions in mucosal weight,mucosal protein,wall thickness and villus height.IUGR piglet partly realized compensation growth during postnatal 1 week,and the compensation growth increased with age.