Production of toxic glucosinolate derivatives from rapeseed meal by intestinal microflora of rat and chicken

Abstract

AbstractThis work was based on a comparison between rats and chickens with different bacteriological status and fed rapeseed meal diets (DARMOR 00,39·0 % and 32·8%, respectively).Results obtained with conventional vs axenic animals show that the rat intestinal microflora is responsible for the dramatic growth depression and for the slight hypertrophy of glucosinolate target organs (thyroid, liver, kidneys). Only a strong goitrogenic effect is seen with young conventional birds.Chimera animal models (axenic animals inoculated with the whole faecal flora of another animal species) prove that the nature of the recipient host (rat) does not influence the expression of chicken intestinal microjlora in our experimental conditions. The rat whole faecal flora does not interfere with chicken growth rate, and thyroid hypertrophy is very moderate compared with conventional birds.Finally, of the two molecules responsible for the goitrogenicity, one is destroyed by the feed irradiation required for axenic experiments.