Effect of IGF-rich colostrum on bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome

Background: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a polypeptide growth factor with mitogenic effects on intestinal epithelial crypt cells occurs naturally in high concentrations in colostrum. The hypothesis for this study was that colostrum rich in IGF-l could promote small bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome. Methods: Twenty-four piglets, aged 7 days, underwent 75% small bowel resection and were fed 525 kJ . kg(-1) . d(-1) (125 kcal) of colostrum-based formula (Rs') or placebo formula (Rs(-)). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) accounted for 35% of the protein and was compensated with casein and whey protein in the control feed. The piglets were weighed daily and killed 28 days after surgery. Bowel samples were taken at surgery and at death. Results: Relative body-weight increase did not differ between the Rs(+) and Rs(-) group (84% +/- 9% vs. 90% +/- 12%, P = 0.83). There was a significant relative increase in crypt depth in the Rs(-) compared with the Rs(+) group (201% +/- 15% vs. 147% +/- 17%, P = 0.02) and total protein (mg/cm bowel) (482 +/- 51 vs. 278 +/- 46, P = 0.008). Increase in villus length, DNA/RNA content, and mitotic index did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Colostrum supplement rich in IGF-l has no benefits over protein-enriched feed with respect to growth and bowel adaptation in neonatal piglets with short bowel syndrome.