Effect of butyrate on gut development and intestinal mucosa morphology of piglets

Abstract

Thirty six piglets, aged 21 days, were used to test the effect of two different sources of butyrate on gut development, dry matter (DM) and pH of intestinal contents and intestinal mucosa morphology. Animals were assigned to 3 different diets. Diet A was a control diet, diet B was supplemented with one source of butyrate which contained sodium, potassium and calcium salts of butyric acid, and diet C contained another source of butyrate containing sodium salt of butyric acid. The inclusion of either sources of butyrate in piglet's diet significantly reduced the empty weight (g/kg BW) of the small and large intestine (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Diet B compared to diet C decreased the empty weight (g/kg BW) of the stomach (P < 0.1). The weight of the spleen was 2.00, 2.14 and 2.35 g/kg for diets A, B and C respectively (P < 0.05). Ileal contents DM was 6.67, 5.33, and 5.10% for diets A, B and C respectively (P < 0.05). On the contrary, none of the butyrate sources had significant effects on DM level of ceacal or colon contents and pH values of stomach, ileum, caecum or colon contents. Ileal villus height was 295, 312, and 280 μm for diets A, B and C respectively (P < 0.10). Moreover diet, C increased the villus width in jejunum compared to diets A and B (P < 0.1 and P < 0.05, respectively). There were no significant effects of diets on crypt depth of the mucosa in the duodenum, jejunum or ileum. The inclusion of butyrate in the piglet diet had little effects on intestinal contents and intestinal mucosa morphology, but the relative empty weight of the small and large intestine was reduced.