COMPARISON OF ORAL MILK FEEDING AND TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION IN NEONATAL PIGS

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is widely used to provide nutritional support in human neonates, but since it bypasses the liver, serious questions arise about protein utilization. Eighteen neonatal pigs from six litters were randomly assigned to three treatments: sow-suckled (SF), oral milk feeding (OF)I and TPN for 8 days. The piglets were then killed, and their organ and body composition measured. Further, in vitro rates of protein synthesis were determined using tritiated phenylalanine. The OF piglets weighed less (2.43 vs 2.74 kg) and had lower liver weights than the TPN piglets (p < 0.05). Piglets on TPN were lighter (2.74 vs 3.56 kg) than SF piglets, but liver weights were similar. The SF piglets had higher carcass fat than either TPN or OF piglets (12.02 > 7.57 > 4.79%, respectively). Stomach weight was similar across treatments. Weights of small and large intestines were higher in SF than in OF piglets, and higher in OF than TPN. The fractional rates of in vitro protein synthesis in the sartorius muscle, heart, and liver were similar between TPN and OF piglets but higher in the kidneys of TPN than OF piglets. Absolute rates of in vitro protein synthesis were higher in the liver of SF than either TPN or OF piglets. The data indicate that the route of nutrient administration exerts an influence on organ growth and protein metabolism in piglets, similar to the effects in other neonates.