Glucagon-like peptide 2 enhances maltase-glucoamylase and sucrase-isomaltase gene expression and activity in parenterally fed premature neonatal piglets.

Exogenous glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) mimics the stimulatory effect of enteral nutrition on intestinal mucosal growth in preterm neonatal pigs. Little is known about its effects on small intestinal function. In this study, we investigated whether the trophic actions of GLP-2 and enteral nutrition are paralleled by effects on small intestinal function. Cesarean-delivered piglets (92% of gestation) were given either a parenteral nutrient infusion [total parenteral nutrition (TPN), n = 7], TPN + human GLP-2 (25 nmol/kg/d, n = 8), or enteral nutrition (ENT, n = 6) for 6 d. Gene expression (mRNA) and activities of lactase phlorizin hydrolase (LPH), maltase-glucoamylase (MGA), sucrase-isomaltase (SI), aminopeptidase N (ApN), and A (ApA) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) were measured. Both GLP-2 and enteral nutrition increased mucosal weight (+30-40%, p < 0.05) relative to TPN. GLP-2 stimulated jejunal MGA and SI mRNA abundance and activity levels but did not change LPH in parenterally fed pigs (p < 0.05). Enteral nutrition decreased jejunal LPH and MGA mRNA abundance and activity and increased ileal ApN, ApA, and DPP IV activities relative to TPN (p < 0.05). We conclude that GLP-2 and enteral nutrition exert different effects on intestinal enzyme function despite similar effects on intestinal growth. In addition, the effects of GLP-2 on intestinal function in these parenterally fed, premature neonatal pigs differed from those previously reported for similarly fed term neonates.