Expression of the sodium‐glucose cotransporter SGLT1 gene along the jejunal crypt‐villus axis measured by quantitative real time RT‐PCR in the formula‐fed neonatal pig

This study was conducted to quantify the SGLT1 mRNA expression along the jejunal crypt‐villus axis in fed neonatal pigs. Six Yorkshire gilts were removed from sows at d 5 of age and fed a milk‐based liquid formula in until 14–16 d of age before being sacrificed for tissue collection. Three epithelial cell fractions, representing cells from the upper villus, the middle villus and the crypt regions, were sequentially isolated, with cell viability of 92–95% as assessed by trypan blue exclusion, along the crypt‐villus axis from the entire jejunum by the distended sac method. Real time RT‐PCR analyses (SmartCycler) with SYBR Green‐I detection kit were used to examine SGLT1 mRNA abundance using β‐actin as the house‐keeping control. No differences (P>0.05) were observed in SGLT1 mRNA abundance between the upper and the middle villus cells but a lower (P<0.05) SGLT1 mRNA level was observed in the crypt cells. These results suggest that the SGLT1 gene expression is low in crypt cells and increases with cell differentiation in the villus cells in the formula‐fed neonatal pigs.