Changes in pig small intestinal absorptive area during the first 14 days of life

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in small intestine absorptive area during the first 14 days of life in the pig. The duodenum and mid-jejunum were studied in a total of 16 piglets. Tissue samples were prepared for light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (ScEM) at days 0, 3, 7 and 14 of life. The changes in villi density, height and width, crypt depth, mucosa thickness and amount of transversal furrows were used to appraise the surface of absorptive area. According to LM data, villus length and width, crypt depth and mucosa thickness increases from day 0 to day 3, and decreases from day 3 to day 14. ScEM study showed that the villus density reduced from day 0 to day 14 in duodenum, and from day 0 to day 3 in mid-jejunum. The surface of absorptive area was increased almost 3-fold in the duodenum from day 3 to day 7 and more than 2-fold in the jejunum in the same period.