Early weaning is a stressful event characterized by a transient period of intestinal
atrophy that may be mediated by reduced secretion of
glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 2. We tested whether enterally fed
bile acids or
plant sterols could increase nutrient-dependent GLP-2 secretion and improve intestinal adaptation in weanling pigs. During the first 6 d after weaning, piglets were intragastrically infused once daily with either deionized water (control),
chenodeoxycholic acid (CDC; 60 mg/kg
body weight), or β-sitoesterol (BSE; 100 mg/kg
body weight). Infusing CDC increased plasma GLP-2 (P < 0.05) but did not affect plasma
GLP-1 and feed intake. The intestinal expression of
glucagon-like peptide 2 receptor,
sodium-dependent
bile acid transporter, farnesoid X receptor, and
guanosine protein-coupled
bile acid receptor genes were not affected by CDC treatment. The intragastric administration of CDC did not alter the weight and length of the intestine, yet increased the activation of
caspase-3 in ileal villi (P < 0.02) and the expression of
interleukin 6 (P < 0.002) in the jejunum. In contrast, infusing BSE did not affect any of the variables that were measured. Our results show that the enteral administration of the
bile acid CDC potentiates the nutrient-induced secretion of endogenous GLP-2 in early-weaned pigs.
Bile acid-enhanced release of GLP-2, however, did not result in improved intestinal growth, morphology, or
inflammation during the postweaning degenerative phase.