DIGESTIVE ENZYME DEVELOPMENT IN NEWBORN PIGLETS BORN OF SOWS IMMUNIZED AGAINST SOMATOSTATIN AND OR RECEIVING GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING FACTOR DURING GESTATION/

Thirty-eight second parity sows were either immunized (IMM) against so matostatin (SRIF) and/or injected with growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) during gestation. Treatment effects on pancreatic, gastric and duodenal development as well as on digestive enzyme activity of piglet s at birth (before suckling) or at 24 h postpartum were investigated. Birth weights of piglets were similar across treatments (p > 0.1). Wei ght, DNA, RNA, total protein content and enzyme activity for all three organs increased between birth and 24 h postpartum (p < 0.01), except for pancreatic RNA and chymotrypsin which decreased (p < 0.01), and p rotein content of the pancreas which was unaltered (pprotein content o f the pancreas which was unaltered (p > 0.1). Gastric RNA, pancreatic weight:DNA, RNA:DNA and amylase:DNA ratios were increased in 1-day-old piglets from SRIF-IMM sows (p less than or equal to 0.05). GRF only h ad significant effects (p < 0.05) on the maltase:DNA ratio, which it d ecreased. Yet, there were tendencies (p < 0.1) for duodenal weight, DN A and total protein content to be increased in piglets from GRF-inject ed dams. It is therefore apparent that major developmental changes of the pancreas, stomach and duodenum of piglets take place during the fi rst 24 h postpartum Injections of GRF and/or immunization against SRIF during gestation in swine also have several effects on digestive enzy me activity of neonatal pigs. Yet, the physiological implications of t hese early changes are not clear at the present time.