Piglets can secrete acidic mammalian chitinase from the pre weaning stage.

ABSTRACT: Fishmeal substitutes (such as insect-based feeds) in pig diets can promote sustainable pork production. Insect powders contain chitin, a nitrogen-containing indigestible material, and pigs must have the capacity to secrete chitin-degrading enzymes to benefit from these diets. The chitin-degrading enzyme (acidic mammalian chitinase; AMCase) and its gene expression have been detected in the stomach tissue of approximately 6-month-old fattening pigs; however, it remains unclear from which stage chitin-degrading enzymes are secreted. In the present study, the stomach tissue of piglets was collected from the suckling stage (14 d old) to 56 d to evaluate chitin-degrading enzymes and associated gene expression. AMCase mRNA and protein expression was detected in the stomach tissue of all piglets f

SUBMITTER: Kawasaki K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7809370 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature