Induced Functional Maturation of the Gut Mucosa due to Red Kidney Bean Lectin in Suckling Pigs

摘要

The possibility of inducing gastrointestinal tract maturation in suckling piglets by the administration of red kidney bean lectin was studied. Piglets, 10 days of age, were gavage-fed either a crude preparation of lectin or saline on each of 3 days. Decreased absorption/permeation of different-sized markers and changes in small intestinal disaccharidase activities were found after the lectin treatment. These results indicated that lectin exposure had induced functional maturation of the gut in youngpigs before weaning.