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Enterally but not parenterally administered Phaseolus vulgaris lectin induces growth and precocious maturation of the gut in suckling rats

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Author

Summary, in English

Background: The lectin, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) has been shown to induce growth and functional maturation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in suckling rats. Objectives: To investigate the effect of the administration route, and whether enteral exposure to PHA was necessary to induce functional maturation. Methods: Fourteen-day-old rats were daily administered PHA via orogastric feeding (0.05 mg PHA/g BW) or via subcutaneous injection (0.05 or 0.005 mg PHA/g BW) for 3 days, while the controls received saline orogastrically. At 17 days of age, organ weight, intestinal and pancreatic function, and plasma corticosterone levels were analyzed. Moreover, 14-days old pups receiving a single dose of PHA, enterally or parenterally, were sacrificed after 12 h and examined for organ PHA binding using immunohistochemistry. Results: Enteral PHA exposure resulted in PHA binding in the epithelial lining of the small intestine, increased gastrointestinal growth, reduced intestinal macromolecular absorption, altered the disaccharidase expression towards an adult-like pattern, and increased the pancreatic protein and trypsin contents. In contrast, parenteral PHA exposure (high dose) resulted in PHA-binding in extra-intestinal organs, increased liver and spleen weight, and decreased thymus weight. Moreover, the intestinal maltase activity increased moderately, and the transfer of BSA to blood plasma was partially reduced. Both PHA treatments led to elevated plasma corticosterone levels. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that enteral exposure to PHA was necessary to induce the precocious maturation of the GI tract and the pancreas, while parenteral administration affects the extra-intestinal organs. Furthermore, the enteral effects were probably not mediated via a corticosteroid dependent pathway.

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

60-68

Publication/Series

Biology of the Neonate

Volume

89

Issue

1-3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Karger

Topic

  • Zoology

Keywords

  • Pancreas
  • Endocytosis
  • Disaccharidases
  • Corticosterone
  • Phytohemagglutinin
  • Red kidney bean lectin

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1421-9727