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Activity of Enzymes Involved in Energy Production in the Small Intestine during Suckling-Weaning Transition of Pigs

The effect of weaning on a potential metabolic capacity of key enzymes involved in the energy production by porcine enterocytes was investigated. The activity of citrate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase was determined in the small intestine epithelium of piglets during suckling-weaning transition. Investigations were performed on 5-week-old (suckling), 6-week-old (1st week after weaning) and 7-week-old (2nd week after weaning) piglets. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase decreased (p < 0.05) during the 1st week after weaning, and remained numerically lower during the 2nd week after weaning than in suckling piglets. The activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase showed the same pattern as the glutamate dehydrogenase activity and decreased numerically during the 1st and 2nd weeks. The activities of citrate synthase and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase were numerically lower in post-weaned piglets (1st and 2nd weeks) than in suckling piglets. In contrast, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase was high and remained unchanged from week 5 to the 2nd week post-weaning. The activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were positively correlated in suckling piglets (r = 0.98, p < 0.05) and at the 1st week after weaning (r = 0.99, p < 0.01). Also, both aminotransferases were positively correlated to the activity of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in suckling piglets (r = 0.95, p < 0.05 and r = 0.95, p < 0.05) and to the activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase during the 1st week after weaning (r = 0.99, p < 0.001 and r = 0.99, p < 0.01). The results indicate additional capacity of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for transformation of α-ketoglutarate from other sources than acetyl-CoA such as glutamine, glutamate and other amino acids. Further, the high activity of aspartate aminotransferase also suggests a high capacity of porcine small intestinal epithelium to provide the TCA cycle with oxaloacetate during the suckling-weaning transition.