Dietary Bovine Lactoferrin Stimulates Intestinal Proliferation in Piglets

Human milk contains factors, such as lactoferrin(LF), that stimulate gastrointestinal growth and maturation. Herein, proliferative properties of bovine LF(bLF) were explored through 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine(EdU) incorporation in vivo. Colostrum‐deprived pigs were fed formula containing 0.4(CON), 1(LF1) or 3.6(LF3) g bLF/L. On d7 or 14, pigs were intraperitoneally injected with 10mM EdU(1ml/kg body weight) 2h prior to euthanasia. Proliferation was assessed ex vivo in formalin‐fixed jejunal sections using Click‐iT EdU Alexa Fluor 555 Kit. Sections were imaged with a confocal microscope. Staining was quantified with AxioVision, where area positive for EdU(proliferation) was normalized by the area positive for DAPI(total nuclei). Formalin‐fixed jejunum sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for villus and crypt measurements. bLF did not affect body weight gain or intestinal weight or length. LF1 and LF3 pigs had a 1.5‐ fold increase in crypt cell proliferation compared to CON pigs. In LF3 pigs, crypt depth and area were greater(1.5‐fold on d7, 1.3‐ fold on d14) than in CON pigs. This study supports in vitro studies that showed LF could stimulate proliferation and is the first to show that physiologically‐relevant concentrations of milk‐borne bLF stimulate crypt cell proliferation in pigs suggesting LF plays a role in healthy GI development.(Funded by Pfizer Nutrition) Grant Funding Source : Pfizer Nutrition