Postnatal developlnent of Peyer's patches in small intestine of pigs: A histomorphological study

Abstract

The postnatal development of the jejunal Peyer's patches (jej-PP) and ileal Peyer's patches (il-PP) was studied in day-old old adult life in dum variety pigs. The discrete jej-PP numbers increased from 20 in day-old to 24 in adult pigs. The continous il-PP increased 4 times in length in adult pigs than that of day-old piglets. Histomorphologically jej-PP and il-PP grew differently in the postnatal life. With the increase of gut antigens the size of the follicles and inter follicular areas (IFA) increased in adult pigs. The average length and breadth of the follicle of jej-PP in day-old (0.14 mm ± 0.06; 0.19 mm ± 0.05 respectively) increased up to adult age (0.63 mm ± 0.48; 0.47 mm ± 0.39 respectively). The il-PP grew actively up to 3 months of age (0.56mm ± 0.17 in length) but reduced in length in adult pigs (0.44 mm ± 0.20 in length). The IFA in jej-PP was wider than that of il-PP. The morphological difference between 2 types of PP is an indication that they develop differently in postnatal life.