Author:
Trahair Jeff F.,Sangild Per T.
Abstract
The hypothesis of the present study was that the infusion of the biological
fluids to which the develop-ing gut is normally exposed (i.e. amniotic fluid,
colostrum, milk) and a single growth factor (gastrin-releasing peptide), which
is found in high concentrations in fetal fluids and milk, could ameliorate the
altered growth induced by the elimination of swallowed input secondary to
ligation of the oesophagus. At 108–110 days of gestation the fetal
oesophagus was ligated and a catheter inserted towards the stomach (32
fetuses). At 117–119 days of gestation saline (n
= 5), amniotic fluid (n = 5), colostral
whey (n = 5), milk whey
(n= 5) or gastrin-releasing peptide (3.6 nmol day
–1 , n = 6), was
infused for 7 days (4 ¥ 20mL day –1 ), or no
infusion was given (ligated group, n = 6). A
further 15 fetuses ere not ligated (normal group, n
= 15). All fetuses had carotid artery and/or jugular vein catheters
implanted. At 124–126 days of gestation the fetus was delivered and
fetal body and organ weights recorded. Analysing the results by ANOVA, there
were no effects of either ligation alone or infusion after ligation on fetal
weight, crown–rump length, or weight relative to bodyweight of heart,
adrenal, pancreas, large intestine and cecum. There were significant
differences between the infusion groups for lungs, kidney, pancreas, total
gut, abomasum, small intestine, spleen, chest and neck thymus, and mesenteric
lymph nodes. Ligation alone significantly reduced small intestinal growth and
increased kidney and spleen growth. Colostrum infusion enhanced growth of most
organs. Gastrin-releasing peptide significantly increased growth of all the
immune organs studied. It was concluded that at an age when premature delivery
could be encountered, the fetal gut is capable of significant adaptive growth,
to varying degrees, depending on the enteral diet. Growth effects in organs
distant to the gut suggest that either gastrointestinal uptake and transport
of growth factors or altered nutrient uptake and/or availability can
affect the growth of other major fetal organs.
Subject
Developmental Biology,Endocrinology,Genetics,Molecular Biology,Animal Science and Zoology,Reproductive Medicine,Biotechnology