Regional and kinetic changes in gut permeability and the mechanisms of transport across the piglet gut wall

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The uterus of a pig (sow) does not share circulation with the fetus. Therefore piglets are born immunologically naïve. They must ingest colostrum to receive passive immunity or they will die from infectious diseases. The piglet gut is reported to be semi-permeable for the first two days after birth to facilitate uptake of colostrum-derived cells and macromolecules (i.e. antibodies, cytokines, antimicrobial peptides, etc.). After this brief period of time, the gut undergoes a maturation process so that it is no longer semi-permeable. We intend to understand the basic physiological and biological changes that take place in the piglet gut during the transition from a semi-permeable to a 'closed' state.