This experiment was designed to determine the effect of the Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (paracasei) strain NSMJ27, isolated from Korean fermented vegetable food (home-made kimchi), on laying performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, cecal short-chain fatty acids, and ileal antioxidant/immunity indicators of laying hens. Ninety-six 55-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments with each treatment comprising eight replicates of six hens each. Experimental diets were prepared by mixing corn and soybean meal basal diets without or with L. paracasei NSMJ27 at 2.5 × 109 CFU/kg. The experiment lasted 4 weeks. Laying hens fed with the NSMJ27-supplemented diet were not affected (p > 0.05) in their laying performance or egg quality. With respect to ileal morphology, villus height: crypt depth ratio tended to be higher (p = 0.067) in laying hens fed with L. paracasei NSMJ27 vs. control diets. Dietary L. paracasei did not affect (p > 0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase, malondialdehyde contents, or secretory immunoglobulin A in ileal mucosa, but increased (p = 0.048) the activity of superoxide dismutase compared with the control diet-fed laying hens. Dietary L. paracasei elevated (p = 0.016) the relative percentage of butyrate but lowered (p = 0.057) that of isovalerate in cecal digesta. Dietary L. paracasei did not affect the percentages of cells expressing macrophages, B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, or TCRγδ T cell surface markers (p > 0.05). Overall, these results suggest that dietary L. paracasei NSMJ27 could enhance gut health via increasing gut antioxidant capacity and butyrate production in the cecal digesta of laying hens.

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids modulate meat quality and intestinal histology in high-density broiler production

Exposure scenarios modulate the combined toxicity of nanoplastics and Cd to Daphnia magna.

L-Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, precursor of serotonin, melatonin and niacin, has been implicated in glucose metabolism and gut hormone regulation. However, its role in diabetes remains obscure. This pilot study evaluated the effects of L-Tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on glycemic control, intestinal glucose absorption, biochemical markers and tissue histology in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Adult Wistar rats (n = 24) were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + Trp (50 mg/kg), and Trp control. Diabetes was induced by STZ (50 mg/kg). Trp was administered orally for 10 days. Blood glucose, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal glucose absorption, and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity were assessed. Qualitative histological analysis of pancreatic and hepatic tissues was performed. Trp treatment in diabetic rats significantly reduced blood glucose and intestinal glucose absorption compared to diabetic controls. Pancreatic and intestinal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase(NKA) remained statistically insignificant (p > 0.669 and 0.369). Improvements were observed in serum protein and cholesterol levels, pancreatic and hepatic histology as well as pancreatic GLP-1. L-Tryptophan demonstrated improved glycemia, metabolic benefits and tissue integrity in diabetic rats. These findings are preliminary and are interpreted within the limitations of a short duration. Further Mechanistic studies may elucidate Tryptophan-mediated mechanisms to evaluate its relevance in hyperglycemia.

Fish oil is a major source of energy and essential fatty acids for farmed fish; however, it is highly susceptible to oxidation during storage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oxidized anchovy oil on growth performance, body composition, and intestinal histology of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) fingerlings. Juvenile fish with an initial mean body weight of 15.07 ± 0.58 g were randomly stocked into nine fiberglass tanks, with three dietary treatment groups and a stocking density of 50 fish per tank. Experimental diets were prepared using fish oil with varying peroxide values: fresh oil (4.95 meq/kg) for the control group, and oxidized oil (50 and 100 meq/kg) for the second and third treatment groups, respectively. All diets were formulated to be isoproteic (35% crude protein) and isolipidic (8% crude lipid), and fish were fed at 3% of body biomass. Results indicated that fish fed with fresh anchovy oil exhibited significantly higher growth rates, increased body protein and unsaturated fatty acid content, and normal intestinal morphology compared to fish fed oxidized oil. In conclusion, the inclusion of oxidized fish oil negatively impacted growth performance, body composition, and gut histology in O. niloticus fingerlings.

Effects of dietary fermented sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) on intestinal histology, antioxidant capacity, and immune-related biomarkers of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Inactivation of Atp7b Copper Transporter in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Is Associated with Altered Lipid Processing and Cell Growth Machinery Independent from Hepatic Copper Accumulation and Severity of Liver Histology.

Abstract This study examined the effects of different food deprivation periods (0, 7, 14, 28, 42, and 84 days) on physical indexes, appetite gene expression, physiological and biochemical levels and intestinal histology in Japanese eel ( Anguilla japonica ). A total of 240 elvers (3.87 ± 0.06 g) were randomly divided into a starvation group (SG) and a feeding group (FG). The results showed that SG exhibited significant declines in body weight, condition factor, and hepatosomatic index with prolonged starvation. During the starvation period, appetite‐related genes exhibited dynamic regulation. Compared to FG, the mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y ( npy ) and ghrelin in SG increased significantly at days 7, 28, and 84, while corticotropin‐releasing hormone ( crh ), pro‐opiomelanocortin ( pomca ), cholecystokinin ( cck ), and peptide YY ( pyy ) decreased significantly at days 7, 14, and 84. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in SG peaked at days 7 and 14, respectively, significantly higher than FG, but declined below FG by day 84. Additionally, malondialdehyde levels increased by 85.46% and total antioxidant capacity decreased by 62.88% in SG at day 84 compared with FG. Intestinal histology revealed villus atrophy, goblet cell loss, and structural damage during prolonged food deprivation, while digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, and lipase) in SG were significantly lower than FG. Metabolically, SG exhibited significantly lower glucose and serum triglyceride levels than FG at the 84th day, whereas hepatic cholesterol content was markedly elevated. Furthermore, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen in SG gradually declined, reaching the lowest level at the 84th day. These findings highlighted a specific adaptation strategy, characterized by glycogenolysis and antioxidant activation during short‐term starvation, while long‐term food deprivation led to metabolic collapse, oxidative damage, and intestinal dysfunction. This study elucidated survival strategies under nutritional stress, offering insights for optimizing feeding regimes in A. japonica farming.

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication after abdominal operation, which is characterized by delayed gastrointestinal motility that can lead to prolonged hospitalization. Previous studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota and macrophages are involved in POI pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanism and the role of probiotics in it are still unclear. This work investigated the prophylactic effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) DSM 17938 administration on POI mice. Mice were supplemented with antibiotics or L. reuteri DSM 17938 for two weeks before intestinal manipulation surgery. One day after surgery, the small intestine transit rate was evaluated. Samples were collected to determine the intestinal macrophages, histology, cytokines, gut microbiota, and fecal metabolome. Results showed that gut microbiota alteration contributed to POI. L. reuteri DSM 17938 increased intestinal motility of POI mice, maintained the proportion of intestinal CX3CR1+ macrophage, reduced M1 macrophage, and modulated macrophage-associated cytokines. Additionally, L. reuteri DSM 17938 slightly alleviated gut metabolic disorders but had an effect on a portion of metabolites of fecal tryptophan metabolism, modulated gut microbiota composition and function, and specifically suppressed bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and the expansion of Escherichia coli, which had a negative correlation with the small intestine transit rate in POI mice. Our findings indicate that L. reuteri DSM 17938 is a promising probiotic for the prevention of POI, but it still needs further clinical validation.

Katsuwonus pelamis Liver Powder Supplementation in Broilers: Small Intestinal and Skeletal Muscle Histology in Relation to Growth Performance

Abstract BACKGROUND EP300 encodes p300, a histone acetyltransferase and essential regulator of chromatin accessibility and transcription. We describe a novel human mutation in EP300 causing very early onset IBD (VEOIBD)-like disease, and employ patient-derived organoids to characterize its effects on the intestinal epithelium and validate a precision therapy. RESULTS A 20-month-old female presented with secretory diarrhea and hypovolemic shock, necessitating prolonged intensive care and parenteral nutrition use. Intestinal histology exhibited striking abnormalities, with severe chronic mucosal injury in the colon, and foveolar metaplasia, with abnormal mucosal architecture in the duodenum, implicating defects in epithelial cell differentiation and identity. Whole genome sequencing revealed a novel, heterozygous truncating variant in EP300, which in combination with hallmark syndromic features, confirmed Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS). Gastrointestinal inflammation or metaplasia have not previously been described in RTS, but two additional subsequently identified cases displayed similar features. We therefore hypothesized that partial loss of p300 function induces decreased chromatin acetylation, leading to impaired cellular differentiation and abnormal epithelial maturation. Analysis of patient duodenoids from the index EP300 variant showed severely impaired viability, abnormal morphology, and reduced growth. Western blot revealed reduced histone H3 acetylation, consistent with defective p300 activity. Transcriptional analysis showed aberrant upregulation of Pepsinogen and reduced Epcam, Alpi, and Neurog3, suggestive of abnormal ectopic lineage differentiation. We hypothesized that treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) valproic acid (VPA) would compensate for reduced EP300 function by favoring a state of histone acetylation. VPA-treated EP300 variant duodenoids exhibited increased viability and H3 acetylation and normalization of morphology. VPA also modulated cell differentiation with reduction in pepsinogen expression. CONCLUSION We identified EP300 as a novel monogenic cause of VEOIBD/congenital enteropathy. p300 loss of function leads to significant epithelial disorganization, gastrointestinal metaplasia/dysplasia and altered cell identity in intestinal tissue and enteroids. In vitro application of VPA resulted in significant improvement in epithelial viability and a reduction in ectopic lineage differentiation, supporting its use as precision therapy for our EP300 patient. These results suggest that EP300 function is critical for defining intestinal epithelial differentiation programs and cellular identity. Our work supports a precision approach for epigenetic therapies in genetically defined GI disease and highlights the translational utility of organoids to guide individualized clinical care.

Penaeus monodon is widely cultured in Asia; however, intensive farming practices often result in water-quality deterioration and compromised production performance. Copper-loaded montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) is a functional additive with adsorption and antimicrobial properties, yet the relative effectiveness of different application strategies remains insufficiently evaluated. In this study, 270 shrimp were assigned to three treatments: a control group (KZ), water application of Cu-MMT (PZ), and dietary inclusion of Cu-MMT (BZ). Juvenile Penaeus monodon with an initial body weight of 3.25 ± 0.15 g were used in the trial. Growth performance, intestinal histology, and rearing-water quality were assessed over a 56-day culture period. Shrimp in the BZ group exhibited a significantly higher weight gain rate (311.88 ± 38.17%) and survival rate (88.04%) than those in the KZ (247.45 ± 32.82%; 76.67%) and PZ (286.49 ± 29.78%; 83.33%) groups (p < 0.05). Intestinal histological observations revealed treatment-associated differences in morphology, with more pronounced intestinal enlargement observed in the PZ group, whereas the BZ group exhibited a more moderate intestinal architecture. Water-quality analyses showed that dietary Cu-MMT supplementation was associated with higher dissolved oxygen levels and lower concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen, sulfide, and dissolved iron, particularly during the later stages of the experiment. Overall, these results indicate that dietary inclusion of Cu-MMT provides more favorable outcomes than water application in improving growth performance and rearing-water quality in P. monodon culture under the experimental conditions tested. These findings highlight the importance of application strategy when evaluating functional additives in shrimp aquaculture.

Effects of dietary umami taste stimulator on appetite, growth, antioxidant capacity, intestinal histology and target of rapamycin pathway related genes’ expression in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed a high plant protein diet

Effects of different soybean protein sources on growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, intestinal histology, and physiological gene expression of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in green water and indoor biofloc system.

Background: The use of plant-based feeds is increasing in the aquaculture industry. However, these diets have negative effects on fish, which must be addressed. Organic acids (OA) showed benefits in plant-based feed in aquaculture. Objectives: This project aimed to investigate the effect of adding cottonseed (CS) meal and a mixture of OA to the diet on blood immunity indices, histopathology, and gut microbial population in rainbow trout. Methods: To this end, 6 treatments consisting of 6 dietary formulations with 3 replications were designed in a 3×2 factorial arrangement. In this design, two levels of CS meal (0% and 15%) and three levels of the organic acid mixture (a mixture of lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium sorbate in equal proportions) at 0%, 0.5%, and 1% were added to the diet. A total of 270 rainbow trout with an Mean±SD weight of 0.14±0.35 g were stored in 18 aquariums containing 40 L of water, with a density of 15 fish per aquarium. The diets mentioned above were provided to the fish for 8 weeks at a daily rate of 3% to 4% of their biomass. After 8 weeks of rearing, blood and liver samples were collected from all treatments. Results: CS meal and OA had no significant effect on white blood cells, total immunoglobulin levels, or intestinal histology. CS meal did not significantly affect lysozyme, complement, total protein, albumin, or plasma globulin. However, the OA led to a significant increase in these parameters. The addition of CS meal increased lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Vibrio sp. in the fish’s gut but did not affect the total number of gut bacteria. OA resulted in a decrease in total bacteria and Vibrio abundance while increasing LAB abundance in the gut. Conclusion: In conclusion, adding 15% CS meal to the diet of rainbow trout does not impact blood immune responses or intestinal tissue structure. However, it increased both beneficial (lactic acid bacteria) and harmful (Vibrio sp.) gut populations. On the other hand, adding OA effectively addresses this issue by increasing LAB populations and decreasing Vibrio sp. population. Furthermore, regardless of the addition of CS meal to the diet, incorporating OA improves innate immune parameters in the blood.

Abstract Silkworm pupae meal (SWP) and fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) are promising alternative protein sources due to their high nutrient availability and sustainability, which contribute to improved growth performance in aquaculture species. This study evaluated the effects of dietary SWP individually and in combination with FPH on growth, nutrient utilization, antioxidant capacity, digestive and metabolic enzyme activities, histology, hemato-biochemical profile, and growth gene expression ( IGF-1 ) of striped murrel ( Channa striata ). Fish were fed ad libitum with five experimental diets: control (35% fishmeal (FM)), 25 SWP (25% FM replaced with SWP), 50 SWP (50% FM replaced with SWP), 25 SWP+FPH (25% FM replaced with a combination of SWP and 3.5% FPH) and 50 SWP+FPH (50% FM replaced with a combination of SWP and 3.5% FPH). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 30 fish per cage for a period of 60 days, following a completely randomized design (CRD). Among the dietary groups, replacing FM with up to 50% SWP supplemented with 3.5% FPH (50SWP+FPH) diet did not negatively affect the growth performance and nutrient utilization efficiency in striped murrel. Additionally, fish fed a diet containing up to 50% SWP supplemented with FPH showed no negative effects on amylase, protease, and lipase activities, as well as in catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), villi length, and villi width compared to the control diet. However, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in whole-body proximate composition, hemato-biochemical parameters, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and metabolic enzyme activities among fish fed different levels of SWP alone and supplemented with FPH diets. The relative mRNA expression of IGF-1 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in fish fed the control and 50 SWP+FPH diets compared to other dietary groups. In conclusion, replacing 50% of FM with SWP supplemented with FPH is feasible and does not negatively impact growth, nutrient utilization, whole-body composition, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal histology, hematological and serum biochemical profiles, and IGF-1 gene expression in striped murrel ( C. striata ).

Effect of fish meal replacement with guar meal concentrate on growth, food conversion, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal histology of Gilthead sea bream (Spars aurata)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that can induce chemical and physiological damage to various tissues in living organisms. Diabetes causes significant changes in the small intestine at both the histological level (villus-crypt structure, epithelial integrity, cell proliferation) and the physiological level (absorption, motility, hormone secretion). In the present study, histological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed to investigate potential damage induced by diabetes in small intestinal tissue and to assess the effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS). Male rats were divided into the following groups: control, diabetes (administered 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin intraperitoneally), COS (received 500 mg/kg through oral gavage), and diabetes+COS. After COS treatment, tissues were blocked and sectioned using routine histologic methods. Subsequently, these sections were prepared for histologic analyses (Crossman’s triple, hematoxylin and eosin) and immunohistochemical examinations including (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA], peptide YY [PYY], and cholecystokinin A receptor [CCKAR]). Histological examination revealed increased villus length in the duodenum due to diabetes. Immunohistochemical examination showed increased PCNA, PYY, and CCKAR immunoreactivity in diabetes patients. After COS administration, villus lengths, histological structure, and cellular organization in the intestinal tissue of diabetic rats were observed to be closer to those in the control group than to those in the diabetic group. The COS was identified as particularly influential in intestinal histology, demonstrating an increase in immunoreactivity for PCNA, PYY, and CCKAR. These findings suggest that COS may be a potential biological agent for alleviating diabetes-related intestinal disorders. Chitosan oligosaccharide, a natural biopolymer, may have the capacity to alleviate diabetes-induced intestinal damage.

BackgroundGastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome (GI-ARS) is characterized by disruption of the intestinal barrier function, leading to bacterial translocation and sepsis. Intestinal stem cells are highly radiosensitive and dramatically reduced after radiation injury. Clusterin (Clu)-positive revival stem cells contribute to the restoration of intestinal stem cells. Ghrelin, a gastric peptide hormone, has been shown to improve intestinal integrity in models of inflammatory enteropathy. In this study, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on intestinal stem cell recovery and its potential to mitigate radiation-induced intestinal injury.MethodsMice were subjected to 12 Gy partial body irradiation (PBI). Ghrelin at the doses of 2 to 6 nmol per mouse was administered daily for 4 consecutive days, starting at 24 h post-PBI, and survival was monitored for 30 days. To assess intestinal histology, cell proliferation, and intestinal stem cell markers, mice were treated with 6 nmol of ghrelin on days 1, 2, and 3 post-PBI, and on day 4 jejunal samples were collected for qPCR, immunofluorescence, and microcolony assays. Intestinal permeability was assessed in vivo by the leakage of gavage-fed 4-kDa FITC-dextran into the circulation.ResultsGhrelin administration significantly improved 30-day survival rate following 12-Gy PBI in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with ghrelin restored villus length and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. Ghrelin also significantly increased the expression of proliferation markers in the jejunum. Microcolony assays revealed that ghrelin reversed the decrease in BrdU-positive cells following PBI. The mRNA and protein expression of intestinal stem cell markers was decreased after PBI but was restored by ghrelin treatment. Finally, ghrelin significantly increased the population of Clu+ population following irradiation.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that ghrelin mitigates radiation-induced intestinal injury by promoting the expansion of Clu+ revival stem cells and the recovery of intestinal stem cells. This study highlights the therapeutic potential and identifies the mechanism of action of ghrelin as a medical countermeasure against GI-ARS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of incorporating Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (LP N1115) into the diet on growth, hepatic antioxidant and immune biomarkers, and intestinal microbiota and histology of hybrid sturgeon. Fish with an initial body weight of 12.07 ± 0.16 g were fed four experimental diets containing 0%, 0.03%, 0.30%, and 3.0% of LP N1115 (termed as control, 0.03% LP, 0.30% LP, and 3.0% LP, respectively) twice a day (9:00 and 16:00) until apparent satiation for 56 days. The four isonitrogenous (38.72% crude protein) and isolipidic (9.89% crude lipid) diets contained viable bacteria concentrations of 0, 1.41 × 107, 1.33 × 108, and 1.02 × 109 cfu/g diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly distributed into three tanks with 20 fish per tank (capacity: 312 L). At the end of feeding trial, whole fish was collected for body composition, and liver at postprandial 6 h was sampled for antioxidant and immune biomarkers. Mid‐duodenum was excised for morphological observation and intestinal digesta was gently squeezed for microbiota analysis. The remaining fish were exposed to 50 mg/L ammonia for 96 h post feeding trial; they were monitored every 12 h for mortality. The results indicated a significant increase in final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR) of 0.03% LP and 0.30% LP groups, along with a significant reduction in feed conversion ratio in the 0.03% LP group relative to control group (p < 0.05). Besides, dietary addition of 0.03% LP N1115 significantly improved hepatic activities of glutathione transferase, total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD), and glutathione content, as well as markedly decreased hepatic contents of H2O2 and malonaldehyde. Furthermore, mRNA levels of nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (nrf2) and glutathione peroxidase (gpx) and NRF2 protein expression in the liver were significantly increased in the 0.03% LP group compared to control group (p < 0.05). Both villi height and muscularis thickness in the duodenum reached their maxima in the 0.03% LP group and declined at dietary probiotic levels beyond 0.03% (p < 0.05). Moreover, the composition of the intestinal microbiota was altered by the addition of 0.03% LP and characterized by an increase in the proportions of beneficial microbes (Lactobacillus, Candidatus Arthromitus, and Bifidobacterium) and a reduction in harmful bacteria (Achromobacter) at the genus level. Fish fed 0.03% LP and 0.30% LP diets had significantly higher survival rates at 96 h under ammonia stress compared to the control group (77.78% and 66.67% versus 55.56%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary LP N1115 supplementation at the dose of 0.03% (1.41 × 107 cfu/g diet) could improve growth performance, hepatic antioxidant ability, ammonia‐resistant ability, and duodenal histology in juvenile sturgeon partly through altering gut microbiota.