GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREAS IN NEWBORN PIGS - THEEFFECT OF COLOSTRUM FEEDING

This study examined the growth and development of the pancreas in natu rally suckled piglets during the first 3 postnatal days and the effect s of colostrum feeding on the pancreatic development. The results show ed that in naturally suckled piglets, the absolute weight of the pancr eas increased 51% during the first day and 86% by the 3rd day, and the relative weight per unit body weight increased 37% during the first d ay and 47% by the 3rd day. Associated with the rapid weight gain was a significant increase in pancreatic DNA content and enlargement of pan creatic exocrine acinar units, the latter apparently resulted from an increase in number rather than size of acinar cells, It was further sh own that the rapid pancreatic growth was related to colostrum ingestio n as significant pancreatic weight gain was observed in piglets bottle -fed porcine colostrum or trypsinized porcine colostrum but not in pig lets bottle-fed 5% lactose solution. Trypsinized porcine colostrum was apparently more potent than native porcine colostrum in stimulating p ancreatic growth in newborn pigs. It is speculated that colostrum-born e growth factors and/or postnatal surge of gut hormones following onse t of oral feeding are the major factors responsible for the rapid post natal pancreatic growth in newborns.