The developmental changes in intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and shedding in weaning piglets

Intestinal epithelial homeostasis plays an important role in intestinal morphology and function. However, the developmental changes in intestinal epithelial cell turnover in piglets during early weaning are unknown so far. Thus, the aim of this work was to detect changes in piglet gut development from weaning to post-weaning d 14. Accordingly, 40 piglets were used in the present study, and 8 piglets were randomly selected for sampling at d 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-weaning, respectively. The results showed that weaning stress significantly affected small intestinal morphological architecture, and this impact was the worst on d 3, and then returned to normal on d 14. Furthermore, the number of the marker of proliferation Ki-67 (Ki67) positive cells was decreased on d 1 and 3, and then recovered on d 14 (P