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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305222
Title: Viscera and muscle protein synthesis in neonatal pigs is increased more by intermittent bolus than by continuous feeding

Author
item EL-KADI, SAMER - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item GAZZANEO, MARIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SURYAWAN, AGUS - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item ORELLANA, RENAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item TORRAZZA, ROBERTO - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SRIVASTAVA, NEERAJ - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item KIMBALL, SCOT - Pennsylvania State College Of Medicine
item NGUYEN, HANH - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FIOROTTO, MARTA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item DAVIS, TERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Pediatric Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2013
Publication Date: 7/3/2013
Citation: El-Kadi, S.W., Gazzaneo, M.C., Suryawan, A., Orellana, R.A., Torrazza, R.M., Srivastava, N., Kimball, S.R., Nguyen, H.V., Fiorotto, M.L., Davis, T.A. 2013. Viscera and muscle protein synthesis in neonatal pigs is increased more by intermittent bolus than by continuous feeding. Pediatric Research. 74(2):154-162.

Interpretive Summary: Babies who are unable to tolerate normal feedings are usually fed using continuous and intermittent feeding tubes. Using baby pigs, we performed a study to determine which of these two feeding types better supports protein synthesis in muscles and organ tissues. We found that piglets which received intermittent feeding tubes have higher protein synthesis, suggesting that this type of feeding will support better growth. Our finding provides important information on the type of feeding that supports baby growth in hospitals.

Technical Abstract: Continuous and intermittent bolus orogastric feedings are strategies used in infants unable to tolerate normal feeds. To determine the effects of feeding modality on protein synthesis in different tissues, neonatal pigs received a balanced formula by orogastric tube as an intermittent bolus feed every 4 h or as a continuous infusion, or were fasted overnight. As compared with fasting, protein synthesis in gastrocnemius, masseter, and soleus muscles; left ventricle; liver; pancreas; jejunum; and kidney increased in bolus- and continuously fed pigs, but the greatest increase occurred after a bolus meal. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC2), the proline-rich AKT substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40), eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E binding protein (4EBP1), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) phosphorylation in all tissues, and the proportion of ribosomal protein S4 in liver polysomes were enhanced 90 min following the bolus meal but not immediately before the meal or during continuous feeding. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and eIF2a phosphorylation were unaffected by feeding. These results suggest that intermittent bolus feeding increases protein synthesis in muscles of different fiber types and visceral tissues to a greater extent than continuous feeding by stimulating translation initiation.