Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
15. Development of gut and gut-associated
lymphoid tissues in piglets: role of maternal
environment
I. Le Huërou-Luron
*
and S. Ferret-Bernard
INRA, UR1341 ADNC, 35590 Saint-Gilles, France;
isabelle.luron@rennes.inra.fr
Abstract
Gut development is a phenomenon that starts early during the foetal period and continues
during the first months of postnatal life. Structural and functional competences acquired
during prenatal development prepare the foetus for extra-uterine life and adaptation to
nutritional and microbial challenges. The development of the mucosal immune system
occurs early after birth. Passive, innate and adaptive immune systems confer appropriate
protection from harmful pathogens along with tolerance to ubiquitous dietary antigens
and microbiota. A number of factors related to maternal environment during gestation
and lactation are likely to influence the developmental profile of gut functions in young
piglets. Compromised maternal-foetal relations, which are the primary causes of intra-
uterine growth restriction, induce digestive disorders due to gut immaturity. Moreover,
establishment of the intestinal microbiota after birth plays an important role in the
development of the neonatal gut and its immune system. Factors of maternal environment
(diet composition, antibiotic treatment, etc.) that induce changes in maternal microbiota
have huge effects on offspring gut physiology. Finally, there is a body of evidence that
maternal diet composition may influence colostrum and milk composition, leading to
changes in gut functions in piglets. Long-term impacts of early modifications of gut
physiology in piglets are prospectively discussed in the conclusion.
Keywords:
digestive development, intestinal physiology, mucosal immune system,
epithelial barrier, microbiota
15.1
Introduction
There is considerable evidence that the neonatal gut and its immune system are functionally
different from that of adults. Gut development is a phenomenon that starts early during
the foetal period and continues during the first months of postnatal life. During prenatal
development the gut acquires structural and functional competences that prepare the
foetus for extra-uterine life and neonatal challenges. Among challenges that will trigger
changes in gut characteristics, dietary inputs at birth and weaning as well as colonization
of the gut by bacteria are major promoters. At birth, the gut is ready to process the first
food. Nevertheless, it exhibits subtle flexibility to adapt to changes in diet composition
during the suckling phase, while it gradually acquires the ability to process weaning diet
until just before weaning. On the other hand, due to the relative impermeable placenta of
