Figure 5.

Impact of early weaning on long-term gut development in the pig. The early postnatal period is characterized by extensive development of critical system and gut functions (inset) and high plasticity. Development of gut function during this period shapes long-term gastrointestinal (GI) development, function and health (green line). Early weaning is a significant stressor causing intestinal injury (e.g. increased intestinal permeability, inflammation) that alters normal gut development leading to impaired performance and decreased disease resilience (red line). Proposed mechanisms underlying early weaning–induced intestinal dysfunction include increased mast cell activation, intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), heightened enteric nervous system activity and gut secretory pathways.