Ays 7 to 21 of age (Table 6). The muscle content of all measured NAA, Pentagastrin excepting Gly and Pro, in piglets was increased (P,0.001) from days 0 to 21 of age. An age6BW interaction effect was noted for muscle content of Gly in suckling Huanjiang mini-piglets (P,0.05; Table 6). No interaction effects of age6BW were observed on other detected NAA.Results Body Weight and Plasma Contents of NAA in Huanjiang Mini-piglets with LBW or HBWThe LBW piglets showed lower body weight than the HBW pigs during the whole suckling order Salmon calcitonin period (Table 3). Compared with the HBW piglets, LBW piglets had a lower (P,0.05) plasma content of Met on day 0 of age, as well as of Ser and Ala on day 12926553 7 of age. No significant differences in plasma contents of other NAA between HBW and LBW piglets were noted from days 0 to 21 of age (Table 4). The plasma content of Ser, Cys and Met in piglet was decreased (P,0.05) with the increase of age. Age6BW interaction effects were noted for plasma content of Ser and Met in suckling Huanjiang mini-piglets (P,0.05; Table 4). No interaction effects of age6BW were observed on other detected NAA. Table 2. Antibodies and dilution used for Western blot analyses.Expression Profiles of Jejunal Slc6a19 (B0AT1) and Slc1a5 (ASCT2) in Huanjiang Mini-piglets with LBW or HBWThe mRNA expression levels of both Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 were changed with age (P,0.001). Compared with the HBW piglets, the mRNA expression level of Slc6a19 in the LBW was lower (P,0.05) on days 0, 7 and 14 of age, as well as of Slc1a5 on days 0 and 7 of age. The differences of mRNA expression levels of Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 between the LBW and HBW piglets declined gradually from days 0 to 21 of age. No differences in mRNA expression level of Slc6a19 were observed on days 14 and 21 of age, as well as of Slc1a5 on day 21 of age. Age6BW interaction effects were observed for both Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 mRNA expression (P,0.001; Fig. 1). The protein abundances of both B0AT1 and ASCT2 were different from the mRNA expression levels. The protein expression of B0AT1 and ASCT2 was declined from days 0 to 21 of age (P,0.001). Compared with the HBW piglets, the LBW piglets had a lower (P,0.05) protein abundance of B0AT1 on days 0 and 7, as well as of ASCT2 on day 7 of age. No statistical differences inAntibody ASCT2 B0AT1 b-actinCompany Santa Cruz, CA, USA Santa Cruz, CA, USA Santa Cruz, CA, USACatalog Number Dilution sc130963 sc160811 sc47778 1:500 1:1000 1:doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050921.tNeutral Amino Acids in Mini-PigletsTable 4. Plasma contents (mmol/L) of neutral amino acids in Huanjiang mini-piglets with HBW1 and LBW2.ItemDay of age 0 HBW LBW 582.bcP-value7 HBW 813.c14 LBW 642.a21 LBW 395.4 190.5 688.3 410.9 141.7 284.2 45.8 88.4 170.3 78.3 112.7 457.d dHBW 358.8 198.1d 739.4 454.9 15755315 137.9 250.3 38.2 74.6 150.2 77.0 113.4 484.dHBW 380.6 167.5 782.9 452.2 153.8 303.3 49.d dLBW 377.8 165.5d 731.2 465.0 145.6 297.7 46.4 99.8 179.1 81.4 130.3 449.dSEM 97.69 36.91 33.41 24.43 7.13 16.03 7.74 7.54 7.49 5.13 8.47 12.Age 0.330 0.001 0.136 0.693 ,0.001 0.079 0.009 0.144 0.484 0.712 0.124 0.BW 0.362 0.038 0.113 0.009 0.276 0.415 0.015 0.836 0.504 0.827 0.266 0.Age6BW 0.829 0.046 0.660 0.776 0.393 0.568 0.037 0.385 0.736 0.943 0.449 0.Thr Ser Gly Ala Cys Val Met Ile Leu Tyr Phe Proa-d 1757.9 347.8 624.4 446.7 151.9 406.0 140.7 78.2 239.8 114.0 171.2 506.a279.7 539.5 421.7 138.1 370.6 96.4 54.1 238.8 110.8 151.5 495.b474.c1127.8 674.1 148.9 355.4 81.bc a776.9b147.1 359.9 62.cd115.9 217.0 111.0 151.4 465.140.3.Ays 7 to 21 of age (Table 6). The muscle content of all measured NAA, excepting Gly and Pro, in piglets was increased (P,0.001) from days 0 to 21 of age. An age6BW interaction effect was noted for muscle content of Gly in suckling Huanjiang mini-piglets (P,0.05; Table 6). No interaction effects of age6BW were observed on other detected NAA.Results Body Weight and Plasma Contents of NAA in Huanjiang Mini-piglets with LBW or HBWThe LBW piglets showed lower body weight than the HBW pigs during the whole suckling period (Table 3). Compared with the HBW piglets, LBW piglets had a lower (P,0.05) plasma content of Met on day 0 of age, as well as of Ser and Ala on day 12926553 7 of age. No significant differences in plasma contents of other NAA between HBW and LBW piglets were noted from days 0 to 21 of age (Table 4). The plasma content of Ser, Cys and Met in piglet was decreased (P,0.05) with the increase of age. Age6BW interaction effects were noted for plasma content of Ser and Met in suckling Huanjiang mini-piglets (P,0.05; Table 4). No interaction effects of age6BW were observed on other detected NAA. Table 2. Antibodies and dilution used for Western blot analyses.Expression Profiles of Jejunal Slc6a19 (B0AT1) and Slc1a5 (ASCT2) in Huanjiang Mini-piglets with LBW or HBWThe mRNA expression levels of both Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 were changed with age (P,0.001). Compared with the HBW piglets, the mRNA expression level of Slc6a19 in the LBW was lower (P,0.05) on days 0, 7 and 14 of age, as well as of Slc1a5 on days 0 and 7 of age. The differences of mRNA expression levels of Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 between the LBW and HBW piglets declined gradually from days 0 to 21 of age. No differences in mRNA expression level of Slc6a19 were observed on days 14 and 21 of age, as well as of Slc1a5 on day 21 of age. Age6BW interaction effects were observed for both Slc6a19 and Slc1a5 mRNA expression (P,0.001; Fig. 1). The protein abundances of both B0AT1 and ASCT2 were different from the mRNA expression levels. The protein expression of B0AT1 and ASCT2 was declined from days 0 to 21 of age (P,0.001). Compared with the HBW piglets, the LBW piglets had a lower (P,0.05) protein abundance of B0AT1 on days 0 and 7, as well as of ASCT2 on day 7 of age. No statistical differences inAntibody ASCT2 B0AT1 b-actinCompany Santa Cruz, CA, USA Santa Cruz, CA, USA Santa Cruz, CA, USACatalog Number Dilution sc130963 sc160811 sc47778 1:500 1:1000 1:doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050921.tNeutral Amino Acids in Mini-PigletsTable 4. Plasma contents (mmol/L) of neutral amino acids in Huanjiang mini-piglets with HBW1 and LBW2.ItemDay of age 0 HBW LBW 582.bcP-value7 HBW 813.c14 LBW 642.a21 LBW 395.4 190.5 688.3 410.9 141.7 284.2 45.8 88.4 170.3 78.3 112.7 457.d dHBW 358.8 198.1d 739.4 454.9 15755315 137.9 250.3 38.2 74.6 150.2 77.0 113.4 484.dHBW 380.6 167.5 782.9 452.2 153.8 303.3 49.d dLBW 377.8 165.5d 731.2 465.0 145.6 297.7 46.4 99.8 179.1 81.4 130.3 449.dSEM 97.69 36.91 33.41 24.43 7.13 16.03 7.74 7.54 7.49 5.13 8.47 12.Age 0.330 0.001 0.136 0.693 ,0.001 0.079 0.009 0.144 0.484 0.712 0.124 0.BW 0.362 0.038 0.113 0.009 0.276 0.415 0.015 0.836 0.504 0.827 0.266 0.Age6BW 0.829 0.046 0.660 0.776 0.393 0.568 0.037 0.385 0.736 0.943 0.449 0.Thr Ser Gly Ala Cys Val Met Ile Leu Tyr Phe Proa-d 1757.9 347.8 624.4 446.7 151.9 406.0 140.7 78.2 239.8 114.0 171.2 506.a279.7 539.5 421.7 138.1 370.6 96.4 54.1 238.8 110.8 151.5 495.b474.c1127.8 674.1 148.9 355.4 81.bc a776.9b147.1 359.9 62.cd115.9 217.0 111.0 151.4 465.140.3.