Biochemical and morphological developments are partially impaired in intestinal mucosa from growing pigs fed reduced-protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids.

The objective of this study was to determine if a reduction in dietary CP, with partial replacement of the intact protein with crystalline AA (CAA), would alter growth, morphology, and free or peptide-bound AA concentrations of intestinal mucosa in growing pigs. Twenty-four barrows (37.0 +/- 1.5 kg of BW) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 24 d: 16.1% CP with no CAA, or 12.8, 10.1, or 7.8% CP (analyzed values, as-fed) containing CAA. As CP decreased, CAA were gradually increased to meet requirements on a true ileal digestible basis. Pigs were euthanized 2 h postmeal on d 24, and mucosal samples from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected. Reducing dietary CP decreased ADG, G:F, and final weight (linear, P < 0.05). With reduced dietary CP, mucosal protein concentration decreased in the jejunum (quadratic, P < 0.05) and tended to decrease in the ileum (linear, P = 0.062). Reduction of the dietary CP concentration from 16.1 to 7.8% tended to decrease the crypt depth (linear, P < 0.10) and decreased villus width (linear, P < 0.05) in duodenum and jejunum mucosa but did not reduce villus height or villus surface area in any regions of the small intestine. In the duodenum, a reduction in dietary CP increased free Lys, Met, and Thr (linear, P < 0.05) and peptide-bound Lys and Thr (quadratic, P < 0.10). In the jejunum, reducing CP decreased free Cys (linear P < 0.05) and tended to decrease free Asn and His (linear, P < 0.10) and peptide-bound His (quadratic, P = 0.061) and Ile, Leu, and Val (linear, P < 0.10). In the ileum, reducing CP decreased free Asn, Ser, Tyr, Arg, His, Phe (linear, P < 0.05), and Leu (linear, P = 0.054) and peptide-bound Gly and Ser (linear, P < 0.05) and tended to decrease peptide-bound Ile, Leu, Phe, Val (linear, P < 0.10), and Lys (linear P < 0.05). In conclusion, reduced-CP diets supplemented with CAA lead to a reduction in growth performance, associated with biochemical and morphological modifications of the intestinal mucosa.