Metabolic and Intestinal Immune Responses During Neonatal and Weaning Periods in Pigs

Together these experiments address metabolic and intestinal responses to diet in pigs during the weaning and neonatal periods. Significant findings include the observation that soy-based diets do not result in intestinal inflammation in neonatal pigs supporting the use of soy proteins as alternatives to milk protein in infant formulas. Evidence that reduced feed intake post-weaning causes local inflammatory responses that may lead to villus atrophy is presented. Further, results presented demonstrate a possible relationship between enzymes responsible for normal extracellular matrix turnover and increased T-cell numbers in the intestine suggesting that T-cell-mediated inflammation may induce expression of these enzymes resulting in weaning- associated structural changes in the intestine.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• McCracken, Barbara Anne

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gaskins, H. Rex

• Biology, Animal Physiology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9904538

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83643