This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Kien, C. L. Articles by Blauwiekel, R. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kien, C. L. Articles by Blauwiekel, R. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Cecal Infusion of Butyrate Does Not Alter Cecal Concentration of Butyrate in Piglets Fed Inulin

From the ¹ Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, College of Medicine, and the ² Office of Animal Care Management, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.

Address correspondence to: C. Lawrence Kien, E203 Given Building, 89 Beaumont Avenue, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405-0068; e-mail: cl.kien{at}uvm.edu.

Background: Cecal or distal colonic concentration of butyrate has been used as an index of butyrate production from various fermentable carbohydrates. However, we previously found that cecal concentration of butyrate does not correlate with the rate of synthesis of butyrate in the cecal lumen. As part of a larger study of the cellular effects of cecal infusions of butyrate, we sought to rule out the null hypothesis that cecal infusion of butyrate also would not alter butyrate concentration in the cecum. Methods: Piglets (n = 10) were fed sow milk replacement formula plus inulin (3 g x L^-1). After 6 days of oral feeding, the piglets were randomly assigned into 2 equal groups: (I) Cecal infusion of phosphate-buffered NaCl and (II) cecal infusion of butyrate (2.13 µmol x kg^-1 x min^-1). The concentration of butyrate was measured by gas chromatography in the cecum and distal colon. Results: There was no effect of cecal butyrate infusion on butyrate concentration (mM; I vs II) in the cecum (5.7 ± 0.4 vs 5.3 ± 1.1) or distal colon (3.3 ± 0.6 vs 4.1 ± 0.8) or on the ratio of cecal butyrate concentration to the sum of the concentrations of butyrate, acetate, propionate, and valerate (0.101 ± 0.004 vs 0.083 ± 0.011). There was no effect of cecal butyrate infusion on the concentration of any of these short chain fatty acids. Conclusions: At an entry rate into the cecum within the physiological range, butyrate had no effect on cecal or distal colonic luminal concentration of butyrate.

Key Words: butyrate • cecum • short chain fatty acids • colon • luminal concentration

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?