Morphometric features of the duodenal wall in piglets during different periods of postnatal and neonatal ontogenesis under the influence of the ‘Globigen Jump Start’ feed additive

Abstract

The morphological parameters of the small intestinal mucosa, such as villi size and crypts, play a key role in the formation of the intestinal tube’s absorption surface. The number of goblet and enterochromaffin cells indicates the epithelium’s functional condition in terms of mucus secretion and production of catecholamines and hormones (serotonin, dopamine). That is why it is important to study and determine certain morphometric parameters of the duodenal wall in piglets during different periods of neonatal and postnatal development, especially during stress situations, namely weaning and transition to protein feeding. The article presents the resulting effect studies of ‘Globigen Jump Start’ feed additive on the histo-morphological parameters of the piglets’ duodenal mucosa on day 7, 14 and 28 of life. A positive effect on mitigating weaning stress was manifested by a decrease in the quantitative and linear indicators of histoarchitectonics of intestinal wall’s individual morphological components. A significant increase in goblet cells, especially in the experimental group, had a positive impact on the mucopolysaccharide synthesis. The piglets’ gastrointestinal tract physiology involves a complex interaction between the central nervous system, metasympathetic nervous system, APUD system, and endocrine system. Due to these systems, the information is transmitted according to the direct and reverse communication mechanisms in the regulation of the gastrointestinal tract function. An increase in the number of enterochromaffin cells and their nuclei diameter in the experimental group of piglets indicated an increased synthesis of catecholamines and hormones. It has an extremely positive effect on the immune and physiological status of piglets, thus emphasizing the crucial role of serotonin in neuronal metabolism and the formation of stress resistance. The increase in the thickness of the duodenal wall muscle layer, in our opinion, occured due to the active peristalsis, which was enhanced by the action of some catecholamines, which were synthesized in a slightly larger amount under the influence of nutrients making up the ‘Globigen Jump Start’ feed additive.