Intestinal Mucosal Morphology Research Articles

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

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.

Morphology and enzymatic activity of the small intestinal mucosa of Iberian pigs as compared with a lean pig strain1

Castrated male Iberian (n = 12) and Landrace × Large White (n = 12) pigs were used to study histological structure and enzymatic activity in the small intestine at 3 points of the productive cycle (BW = 15, 50, and 115 kg). Both strains were fed the same cereal-based diets (DE = 2,799 kcal·kg(-1), and CP = 15%) throughout the entire experimental period. Differences (P < 0.05) in histometrical variables (villus height, width and surface, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth relationship, mucosal thickness, muscular layer thickness, and number of goblet cells) were found among samples of small intestinal sections (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) at the 3 productive stages studied. Also, differences (P < 0.05) in histometrical variables of small intestinal samples were found between Iberian and lean pigs at all productive stages, although these differences tended to disappear with age. Differences (P < 0.05) in enzymatic activities (lactase, sucrase, maltase, isomaltase, aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase) of small intestinal samples were found between the different intestinal sections at all productive stages studied. Although differences (P < 0.05) in enzymatic activities of small intestinal samples were found between Iberian and lean pigs at all productive stages, values tended to equalize with pig age. We concluded that differences previously found in dietary nutritional utilization between Iberian and lean strains are likely not due to differences in intestinal absorption or hydrolytic capacity.

Effect of brewers grain on intestinal microbial activity and mucosa morphology of weaned piglets

The effects of brewers grain on intestinal microbial activity and intestinal mucosa morphology were studied using 24 piglets, weaned at 21 days of age. Animals were assigned to 3 groups receiving a different diet. Diet C was a low fibre diet; diets WB and BG contained 15% of wheat bran (WB) or brewers grain (BG), respectively. The levels of total VFA in the caecum were 129.2, 181.4 and 173.0 mmol/l (P < 0.10) and in the colon were 165.9, 181.5 and 147.0 mmol/l (P > 0.05) for diets C, WB and BG, respectively. The molar proportions of acetic:total, propionic:total and butyric:total were not affected by diets in the caecum and colon contents. Increasing NDF level of piglet diets did not affect the xylanolitic, pectinolitic and celulolitic activities in the caecum and colon of piglets. Nevertheless, for WB and BG diets the xylanolitic and celulolitic activities in the caecum were 3.20 and 1.84 mmol l − 1 (P < 0.10) and 2.26 and 1.06 mmol l − 1 (P < 0.05), respectively. The replacement of WB by BG decreased the celulolitic (P < 0.05) and xylanolitic (P < 0.10) activities in the caecum. Comparing diets C and WB, WB had no significant effect on the mucosa intestinal morphology. The inclusion of BG to the control diet increased villus width in the duodenum and jejunum, villus height in the jejunum and crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. Considering the two fibre sources, piglets fed BG had greater villus width in the jejunum and deeper crypts in the jejunum and ileum. In conclusion the inclusion of WB or BG to the control diet increases VFA levels in the caecum but only the inclusion of BG has significantly affected the intestinal morphology.

Effects of different yeast cell wall supplements added to maize- or wheat-based diets for broiler chickens

1. Three experiments were carried out to study the effects of two experimental yeast cell wall (YCW) supplements, one from the yeast extract industry and the other from the brewery industry, added to maize or wheat based-diets, on performance and intestinal parameters of broiler chickens (Ross 308). 2. In the first and second experiments, a completely randomised block design with 4 experimental treatments was used: T-1) Negative control, no additives T-2) Positive control, avilamycin group (10 mg/kg feed), T-3) Yeast extract-YCW (500 mg/kg), and T-4) Brewery-YCW (500 mg/kg feed). There were 6 replicates of 20 (experiment 1) and 22 (experiment 2) chicks per treatment. 3. In experiment 1 (wheat based diets), yeast extract-YCW increased BW and daily feed intake (42 d). The effects were comparable to those of avilamycin. In experiment 2 (maize based diet), avilamycin, yeast extract-YCW and brewery-YCW treatments improved the feed conversion ratio with respect to the negative control group (0 to 14 d). 4. At 24 d, in both experiments, the ileal nutrient digestibility and ileal bacterial counts were not affected by any experimental treatment. In maize diets, lower intestinal viscosity was obtained with avilamycin, yeast extract-YCW and brewery-YCW than with the negative control. In wheat diets, yeast extract-YCW and brewery-YCW reduced intestinal viscosity. 5. A third experiment was conducted to study the effect of yeast extract-YCW on animal performance, intestinal mucosa morphology and intestinal viscosity. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used; one factor was the dietary yeast extract-YCW supplementation (0 or 500 mg/kg feed) and the other the cereal in the diet (maize or wheat). 6. At 43 d, the heaviest BW was in chickens fed on yeast extract-YCW compared to those given the negative control. At 22 d, yeast extract-YCW increased villus height, mucus thickness and number of goblet cells with respect to negative control. 7. Results of these experiments suggest that supplementation of yeast extract-YCW to broiler chicken diets increased animal performance by favouring intestinal mucosal development.

Enhancement of sodium caprate on intestine absorption and antidiabetic action of berberine.

Berberine, a plant alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine, has a wide spectrum of pharmacological actions, but the poor bioavailability limits its clinical use. The present aim was to observe the effects of sodium caprate on the intestinal absorption and antidiabetic action of berberine. The in situ, in vitro, and in vivo models were used to observe the effect of sodium caprate on the intestinal absorption of berberine. Intestinal mucosa morphology was measured to evaluate the toxic effect of sodium caprate. Diabetic model was used to evaluate antidiabetic effect of berberine coadministered with sodium caprate. The results showed that the absorption of berberine in the small intestine was poor and that sodium caprate could significantly improve the poor absorption of berberine in the small intestine. Sodium caprate stimulated mucosal-to-serosal transport of berberine; the enhancement ratios were 2.08, 1.49, and 3.49 in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively. After coadministration, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of berberine was increased 28% than that in the absence of sodium caprate. Furthermore, both berberine and coadministration with sodium caprate orally could significantly decrease fasting blood glucose and improve glucose tolerance in diabetic rats (P < 0.05). The hypoglycemic effect of coadministration group was remarkably stronger, and the areas under the glucose curves was decreased 22.5%, compared with berberine treatment group (P < 0.05). Morphologic analysis indicated that sodium caprate was not significantly injurious to the intestinal mucosa. The study demonstrates that sodium caprate could significantly promote the absorption of berberine in intestine and enhance its antidiabetic effect without any serious mucosal damage.

Effect of catch-up growth after food restriction on the entero-insular axis in rats

BackgroundCatch-up growth after food restriction (CUGFR) is characterized by a significant change in food intake which could theoretically lead to the change in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion that consequently results in altered functions of pancreatic islets.MethodsExperimental rats were divided into two groups. Rats in CUGFR group were put on food-restriction for 4 weeks, and then allowed full access to food for 0, 2, 4 weeks respectively while rats in the control group were offered ad libitum access to food. Plasma glucose, insulin and GLP-1 level during OGTT were measured in all the rats. Moreover, morphology of intestinal mucosa, number of L cells, beta cell mass, incretin effect and the expression of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) gene in the islets were also determined.ResultsThe size of pancreatic islets, insulin concentration, plasma GLP-1 concentration, incretin effect, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and L cells were all significantly decreased in CUGFR group at the end of a 4-week food-restriction period as compared with the controls. Insulin concentration and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio were increased and finally exceeded the level of the control group over a 4-week catch-up period. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of the study, islet size, L cells number, plasma GLP-1 concentration and incretin effect increased but failed to reach the levels of the controls.ConclusionCUGFR decreases incretin effect and disturbs the entero-insular axis partially by decreasing GLP-1 concentration, which might be responsible for the increased risk of metabolic disorder during CUGFR.

Effects of Xuebijing injection on intestinal mucosal morphology in rats with sepsis

Objective To observe the effect of injecting Xuebijing via different routes, as either treatment or pretreatment, on changes in intestinal mucosal morphology in a rat model of sepsis. Method Ninety-one healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1) control group ( n = 7) , 2) sepsis group ( n = 21) , 3) intragastric pretreatment group ( n = 21) , 4) intravenous pretreatment group (n = 21) , and 5) intravenous treatment group (n = 21) . Except for the control group, the other groups were further divided into three sub-groups for assessment at 3, 6 and 12 h post-operation ( n = 7 per group) . Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) . For the intragastric pretreatment group, Xuebijing injection (5 mL/kg) was administered via intragastric injection 2 hours before CLP. For the intravenous pretreatment group, Xuebijing injection (5 mL/kg)was administered via the caudal vein 2 hours before CLP. For the intravenous treatment group, Xuebijing injection (5 mL/kg) was intravenously infused 2 hours after CLP. The control group received no treatment. The ileum was removed from all rats for measurement. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 6 or 12 h after operation to obtain the ileum.Intestinal mucosal damage index and morphological changes in the intestinal mucosa were detected by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. P -values < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistically significant differences. Results Intestinal mucosal damage was significantly reduced in and the three treatment groups compared with the untreated sepsis group (3h, F =53.35; 6h, F =74.93; 12 h, F - 171.27; P =0.000). Intestinal damage was significantly reduced in the intravenous pretreatment group compared with the intragastric pretreatment group (3 h, F = 53.35,P =0.036; 6 h, F = 74.93,P =0.039; 12 h, F = 171.27, P =0.042). Conclusions Irrespective of the route, the administration of Xuebijing protected against intestinal mucosal damage and intravenous pretreatment exerted the most effective protection against intestinal mucosal damage in this rat model of sepsis. Key words: Xuebijing injection; Sepsis; Intestinal mucosa

Effects of galacto-oligosaccharide ingestion on the mucosa-associated mucins and sucrase activity in the small intestine of mice

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are non-digestible oligosaccharides with short galactosyl chain units produced by lactose fermentation which are considered as prebiotics. Only few studies have investigated the effects of GOS medium-term ingestion on the small intestinal epithelium characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the consequences of GOS ingestion on small intestinal mucosal morphology, on brush-border membrane enzyme activities and on mucin content in BALB/c mice. Mice received the experimental diets for 4 weeks and then the small intestine was collected to measure sucrase, lactase and alkaline phosphatase activities, to study the villus heights in the jejunum mucosa and to determine mucosal mucin content as well as MUC-2 and MUC-4 mRNAs expression by qRT-PCR. Our results showed that GOS has no detectable effect on the intestine villus height but increased the total protein content by twofold. Sucrase activity was significantly increased in the intestinal mucosa recovered from animals fed the GOS diet without any detectable modification of lactase and phosphatase activities. Interestingly, GOS was also able to increase sucrase activity in cultured Caco-2 cells raising the view that they likely act directly on these cells. Furthermore, GOS was found to markedly increase O-linked glycoproteins associated with the intestinal mucosa without modifying MUC-2, MUC-4 mRNAs expression. Lastly, TNF-alpha mRNA expression was also not modified after GOS ingestion. These results suggest that, in BALB/c mice, 4-week GOS ingestion is able to increase the small intestinal mucosa-associated mucin content and enterocyte-associated sucrase activity without modifying villus height.

Effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on intestinal mucosal morphology in the Rabbit Model of Endotoxin Shock

Objective To observe the effect of different doses of Penehyclidine Hydrochloride(PQN) on intestinal mucosal morphology in the rabbit model of endotoxin shock. Methods Thirty-five healthy White New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: control group, shock group, low dose PQN group (0.05 mg/kg), middle dose PQN group (0.15 mg/kg) and high dose PQN group (0.45 mg/kg). The endotoxin shock model was set up by the intravenous infusion with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Coincident with the injection of LPS, the different doses of PQN were immediately administered in the low, middle, high dose PQN group, respectively. The intestinal mucosal damage index and morphological changes of intestinal mucosa were observed and assayed under optics microscope and electric microscope at 6 hours after the injection of LPS. The differences among groups were statistically analyzed. Results Compared with the shock group, the intestinal mucosal damage of all PQN treat-ment groups were lessened (P<0.01), even more so in the middle dose PQN group (P<0.01).Conclusions Penehyclidine hydrochloride could relieve the intestinal mucosal damage in the rabbit model of endotoxin shock. Compared with the low and high dose, of PQN, the middle dose of PQN has better protective effect in the rabbit model of endotoxin shock. Key words: Penehyclidine hydrochloride; Endotoxin shock; Intestinal mucosa; Morphology

Influence of ecoimmunonutrition supplement on intestinal mucosa morphology and gut barrier function in rats after operative stress

To investigate the effects of ecoimmunonutrition supplement on intestinal microecology, epithelial tight junctions, and barrier function in rats with surgical stress. Seventy SD rats after surgical trauma were randomly divided into four groups:(1) placebo group,(2)total parenteral nutrition(TPN) group,(3)enteral nutrition(EN) group and (4)ecoimmunonutrition (EEN)group respectively. Rats received isocaloric and isonitrogenous nutrition. Nutrients were administered via the neck vein and the needle jejunostomy for five days. The homogenated tissues of liver, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured to determine the bacterial translocation rate. The transmembrane binding proteins(occludin) was measured by immunohistochemistry. The ultrastructure and morphology of intestinal epithelial tight junctions in the intestine were observed by electron microscope. The feces in cecum was cultured for anaerobic bacterial growth and analysed. The amounts of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria in EEN group were significantly higher than those in TPN group(P<0.05). The expression levels of occludin in the intestine was significantly higher in EEN group than that in TPN and EN group. Furthermore, the intestinal epithelial tight junction and microvilli of EEN group were more intact compared with those of TPN group. The bacterial translocation rates of liver, lung and mesenteric lymph nodes were significantly lower in EEN and EN group than those in TPN group(P<0.05). Application of ecoimmunonutrition can protect intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with operative stress, increase the expression of occludin, maintain the gut epithelial tight junction, and eliminate gut bacterial translocation.

Source and level of protein fed to mice may affect their intestinal mucin production

Mucins are large heavily glycosylated proteins which form the major component of mucus that protects epithelial surfaces of ducts in the body. The effect of the source and level of dietary protein on mucin production and intestinal mucosal morphology was investigated in mice. Thirty two male weanling ICR Swiss mice were randomized into 4 groups of 8 mice each. The four groups of mice were randomly assigned to four diets whose sources of protein were either from plant or animal origin and the level of each protein source was either 10% or 20% crude protein. Mice were provided the respective diets for 14 days and euthanized on the fifteenth day. Jejunal sections of their intestines were removed, fixed in methacarn, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with alcian blue‐periodic acid Schiff (AB‐PAS) stain to visualize mucins and quantify the goblet cells. AB‐PAS stained jejunal sections showed an increase in mucus in mice fed diets containing proteins of animal origin. The number of goblet cells was higher in diets containing protein of animal origin (p&lt;0.05). The increase in goblet cell number was greater for the higher protein level. The length of the villi did not seem to vary among the four different diets. It is concluded that the source and level of protein fed to mice may be influencing their intestinal mucin production.Research was supported by East Tennessee State University.

Oral supplementation with vitamin C improves intestinal mucosa morphology in the pulmonary hypertensive broiler chicken

1. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of added dietary vitamin C on the intestinal mucosa morphology in pulmonary hypertensive broiler chickens. 2. One-day-old chickens were reared at high altitude and treated with 400, 800 or 1200 mg vitamin C/l of drinking water for 48 d. Segments from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected for morphometric analysis. 3. The duodenum and jejunum villus height, width, surface area and lamina propria thickness were greater in the highest vitamin C-treated groups compared to controls. 4. There were significant variations only in villus types of the jejunum and ileum: increased proportions of leaf + tongue-like villi and decreased proportions of convoluted + ridge-like villi at day 36 at the groups with 400 and 800 mg vitamin C/l. 5. It was concluded that vitamin C improves the gut morphology of the pulmonary hypertensive broiler chickens.

Effects of Caloric Intake on Intestinal Mucosal Morphology and Immune Cells in Rats Treated with 5-Fluorouracil

Anticancer drugs have been reported to damage the intestinal mucosa. We evaluated the effects of caloric intake on the mucosal morphology and immune cells in rats treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Rats were received a liquid diet plus 5-FU treatment for 8 days as follows: Low calorie group (25 kcal/day with 5-FU), Normal calorie group (50 kcal/day with 5-FU), and Control group (50 kcal/day with saline). The mucosal morphology, cell numbers and phenotypes of spleen and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were assessed. As compared with the control group, the villus heights were significantly lower in the Low calorie group, but not significantly lower in the Normal calorie group. The total cell yield from the spleen, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased in the Low and Normal calorie group, but these changes were less pronounced in Normal calorie group. The total cell yield from the IEL also decreased in the Low calorie group, but not in the Normal calorie group. Our study demonstrated that sufficient caloric intake attenuated the damages in intestinal morphology and in the immune cell numbers. Clinically, nutritional support would be expected to be one approach to reducing the risk of bacterial translocation or infection induced by chemotherapy.

Effects of Xylanase on Growth and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens Given a Wheat-based Diet

To study the working mechanisms for non-starch polysaccharidases to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, a 21-day feeding trial was conducted. Two dietary treatments were included: 1) wheat diet (the control); 2) wheat+xylanase diet (xylanase, Allzyme PT, Alltech, Kentucky, USA). There were 8 replicates with 8 birds each for each treatment and the experimental diets were given to birds from hatch. Feed intake and body weight were measured on days 7 and 21. At the same ages, samples were taken for the determination of selected groups of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, mucosal morphology, brush-border membrane (BBM) bound enzyme activity and ileal nutrient digestibility. The xylanase supplement increased (p 0.05) by xylanase. Up to day 7, xylanase increased the counts of C. perfringens in the ileum and total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) in the caeca (p 0.05) by the supplement but crypt depth at the same site was reduced at day 7. Also, xylanase tended to increase the concentration of BBM protein (p = 0.09) and the specific activity of sucrase (p = 0.07) at day 21. (Key Words : Xylanase, Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Gut Microflora, Intestinal Mucosal Morphology, Specific Activity of BBM Bound Enzymes)

Morphology of small intestinal mucosa and intestinal weight change with metabolic type of cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate rumen fermentation, apparent digestibility of nutrients, and morphology of ruminal und intestinal mucosa in two cattle breeds of different metabolic type. From each breed six purebred German Holstein (H) bulls representing the secretion type and six Charolais (CH) bulls representing the accretion type were raised and fattened under identical conditions with &lt;I&gt;semi ad libitum&lt;/I&gt; feeding of a high energy diet. The animals were used for a digestion trial started at nine months of age and animals were slaughtered at 18 months of age. Body weight (668 vs. 764 kg, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.011), body weight gain (1 223 vs. 1 385 g/day, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.043), and body protein gain (93 vs. 128 g/day, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.001) were lower in H compared to CH bulls. Protein expense per kg protein accretion was higher in H bulls (13.8 vs. 10.2, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.001). No significant differences were found in concentration and pattern of ruminal short chain fatty acid and in apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude fibre, and N-free extracts. There were no significant differencs in all morphometric traits of rumen mucosa between both cattle breeds. Compared to H, the villi of CH bulls were higher in duodenum (586 vs. 495 &amp;mu;m, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.001) and proximal jejunum (598 vs. 518&amp;mu;m, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.001), the crypt were deeper in duodenum (295 vs. 358, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt;&lt; 0.001) and proximal jejunum (292 vs. 344 &amp;mu;m, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.020). In contrast, the villi in ileum were higher in H (522 vs. 471 &amp;mu;m, &lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.006). The weight of total small intestine, as percentage of total body weight, was 1.1 in H and 0.8 in CH (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.002). The utilization of food crude protein was positively related to the duodenal (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.001) and proximal jejunal villus height (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.003) and to the duodenal crypt depth (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; &lt; 0.001) and negatively related to weight of small intestine (&lt;I&gt;P&lt;/I&gt; = 0.004). It is concluded, that the higher growth potential and feed efficiency in CH bulls compared to H bulls is not caused by differences in digestion processes, but in size of small intestine, and morphology of small intestinal mucosa. Obviously the duodenum and proximal jejunum of CH bulls adapt to increase the absorptive surface due to the increase in nutrient demand.

Effects of dietary supplementation with an expressed fusion peptide bovine lactoferricin–lactoferrampin on performance, immune function and intestinal mucosal morphology in piglets weaned at age 21 d

Lactoferrin has antimicrobial activity associated with peptide fragments lactoferricin (LFC) and lactoferrampin (LFA) released on digestion. These two fragments have been expressed in Photorhabdus luminescens as a fusion peptide linked to protein cipB. The construct cipB-LFC-LFA was tested as an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters in pig production. Sixty piglets with an average live body weight of 5.42 (sem 0.59) kg were challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and randomly assigned to four treatment groups fed a maize-soyabean meal diet containing either no addition (C), cipB at 100 mg/kg (C+B), cipB-LFC-LFA at 100 mg/kg (C+L) or colistin sulfate at 100 mg/kg (C+CS) for 3 weeks. Compared with C, dietary supplementation with C+L for 3 weeks increased daily weight gain by 21 %, increased recovery from diarrhoea, enhanced serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx), peroxidase (POD) and total antioxidant content (T-AOC), liver GPx, POD, superoxide dismutase and T-AOC, Fe, total Fe-binding capacity, IgA, IgG and IgM levels (P < 0.05), decreased the concentration of E. coli in the ileum, caecum and colon (P < 0.05), increased the concentration of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the ileum, caecum and colon (P < 0.05), and promoted development of the villus-crypt architecture of the small intestine. Growth performance was similar between C+L- and C+CS-supplemented pigs. The present results indicate that LFC-LFA is an effective alternative to the feed antibiotic CS for enhancing growth performance in piglets weaned at age 21 d.

Effects of Yeast Culture in Broiler Diets on Performance and Immunomodulatory Functions

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental yeast culture (Diamond V XP Yeast Culture; YC) in broiler diets on performance, digestibility, mucosal development, and immunomodulatory functions. One-day-old Arbor Acres chicks (n = 960) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments based on corn and soybean meal and containing 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g/kg of YC in the diet for 42 d. Each treatment consisted of 12 replicates of 20 broilers each. Nutrient digestibility was determined on d 15 and 35 by total fecal collection. On d 21 and 42, 12 birds per treatment were sacrificed to evaluate gut morphology and secretory IgA. Broilers were vaccinated with Newcastle disease vaccine by eye drop on d 7 and 28 and antibody titer was determined on d 14, 21, 35, and 42. Dietary supplemental YC at 2.5 g/kg improved average daily gain and feed conversion during grower and overall periods (P ≤ 0.05). Yeast culture supplementation increased digestibility of Ca (linear and quadratic, P = 0.01) and P (linear, P = 0.01) on d 35, but did not affect (P > 0.05) protein retention and energy digestibility. Villus height to crypt depth ratios in the duodenum and jejunum (d 42) and ileum (d 21) were increased (P ≤ 0.05) in broilers fed 2.5 g/kg of YC. Yeast culture increased antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus (linear, P ≤ 0.05), serum lysozyme activity (linear and cubic, P ≤ 0.05), and IgM (linear, P ≤ 0.05) and secretary IgA concentrations in the duodenum (linear, P = 0.01). Results of this study indicate that dietary supplemental YC at 2.5 g/kg improved growth performance. Dietary YC affected immune functions, digestibility of Ca and P, and intestinal mucosal morphology of broilers. Growth performance was optimized at 2.5 g/kg of YC in the present study. Immune function could be modified with dietary YC supplementation.

Performance and morphology of intestinal mucosa of broilers fed mannan-oligosaccharides and enzymes

The performance and the morphology of intestinal mucosa of broilers fed mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and enzymes (E) from one to 21-day-old were evaluated using 750 one-day-old chicks, assigned to a 2 x 2 + 1 factorial design - two levels of MOS (0 and 0.1%), two levels of E (0 and 0.05%) plus an antibiotic positive control diet - performing five treatments of five replications each one. MOS x E interaction was significant for both duodenal (P&lt;0.002 and P&lt;0.002) and ileal (P&lt;0.04 and P&lt;0.05) perimeters and heights of villi, being the values lower in the mucosa of birds fed non-supplemented diets. MOS based-diet determined an increase on perimeter of jejunal villi (P&lt;0.05). Compared with antibiotic treatment group, villi perimeter (P&lt;0.02) and height (P&lt;0.005), and crypt depth (P&lt;0.02) of duodenum of broiler fed MOS were higher. Broilers fed MOS and/or E did not perform better, but higher villi perimeter and height were observed in the intestinal mucosa of those birds.

Influence of egg pre-storage heating period and storage length on the digestive tract of newly-hatched broiler chicks

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different heating times of settable eggs of Cobb 500® broiler breeders before submitting them to different storage periods on body weight, digestive tract organ weights, and intestinal mucosa morphology of newly-hatched chicks. Settable eggs were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement: pre-storage heating periods (0, 6, 12 hours at 36.92°C) and storage periods (4, 9, 14 days at 12.06°C). Body weight and relative weights of the yolk sac, heart, liver, proventriculus+gizzard, and intestinal segments were measured in chicks hatching at 480 and 498 hours of incubation. Villi height, width and perimeter, and crypt depth (ìm) were measured in duodenal histological sections. It was concluded that pre-storage heating for six hours of eggs stored for four or nine days increases small intestine weight of newly-hatched chicks, but does not influence the morphology of the duodenal mucosa. Pre-storage heating for 12 hours negatively influences body weight and duodenal mucosa development, and therefore this practice is not recommended. Storage length does not have consistent effect on body weight and development of the gastrointestinal tract.

IgA production, coliforms analysis and intestinal mucosa morphology of piglets that received probiotics with viable or inactivated cells

Two types of probiotics were used in piglets. One product is a mixed culture of viable Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium e Bifidobacterium bifidum. The second product is composed of inactivated Lactobacillus acidophilus cells. The piglets received two weekly oral doses for 30 days while a control group did not receive probiotics. All piglets were euthanized at the 30th day of life and the mesenteric lymph nodes, the small intestine, and blood samples were collected. The tissue samples were studied by light microscopy and the blood serum was analyzed by ELISA method. The treatment with the probiotic with viable cells produced higher serum levels of IgA (P&lt;0.05) and more IgA expressing cells were found in the mesenteric lymph nodes than observed in the inactivated cells treatment or control groups (P&lt;0.05). Also, intestinal villi were longer, crypts were deeper (P&lt;0.05) and fecal coliform count was lower than found in the inactivated product (P&lt;0.05). These results suggest that viable probiotics are more efficient than inactivated probiotics to induce immunostimulation and intestinal modifications in piglets, thus improving their health and development.