Abstract：Abstract: Aim：Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) plays an important role in the regulation of intestinal epithelium growth. To investigate the patterns of GLP-2 expression in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of weaning piglets, to explore whether the low intestinal epithelial restitution rate in weaning piglets could be reflected, to some extent, by the expression of proglucagon that encoding GLP-2. Method: Nine litters of newborn piglets were employed in the present experiment to determine the temporal and spatial pattern of proglucagon mRNA expression using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Piglets were weaned at 35 days (d) of age. Six piglets were sacrificed respectively on 28, 35, 38, 42 and 45 d. Mucous membrane of duodenum, jejunum and ileum was taken and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Results: The proglucagon mRNA expression exhibited significant spatial-specific pattern. Duodenum expressed little, if any, proglucagon mRNA, while jejunum and ileum expressed remarkably higher proglucagon mRNA. Furthermore, proglucagon mRNA expression in jejunum and ileum followed different temporal (age-related) patterns. One week (42d) and 10 days (45d) after weaning, jejunum proglucagon mRNA expression decreased significantly compared with the levels of pre-weaning (28 and 35d) and 36 h post-weaning. However, this down-regulation was not observed in ileum where proglucagon mRNA expression kept constant during the whole period of observation. Conclusion: The results indicated that the expression of GLP-2 mRNA is spatio-temporal specific in small intestine of weaning piglets.
