Small Intestinal Morphology Research Articles

Impact of a dietary challenge with peroxidized oil on the glutathione redox status and integrity of the small intestine in weaned piglets

Glutathione (GSH) is considered to play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the small intestine. In piglets, altered mucosal GSH levels might therefore be involved in weaning-induced changes of the small intestinal morphology and barrier function. To test this hypothesis, we aimed to challenge the mucosal GSH redox status during the first 28 days after weaning, by feeding diets containing 5% fresh linseed oil (CON), or 2.5% (OF1) or 5% (OF2) peroxidized linseed oil (peroxide value 225 mEq O2/kg oil) and exploring the effects on gut integrity. Piglets were pair-fed and had a total daily feed allowance of 32 g/kg BW. A fourth treatment included animals that were fed the control diet ad libitum (ACON). Animals were sampled at days 5 and 28 post-weaning. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and GSH redox status (GSH/GSSG Eh) were determined in blood, liver and small intestinal mucosa. Histomorphology of the duodenal and jejunal mucosa was determined, and Ussing chambers were used to assess fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD4) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) fluxes across the mucosa. Results show that peroxidized linseed oil imposed an oxidative challenge at day 28, but not at day 5 post-weaning. At day 28, increasing levels of dietary peroxides to pair-fed pigs linearly increased MDA levels in duodenal and jejunal mucosa. Moreover, FD4 fluxes were significantly increased in OF1 (+75%) and OF2 (+64%) in the duodenum, and HRP fluxes tended (P=0.099) to show similar differences, as compared to CON. This co-occurred with a significant 11 mV increase of the hepatic GSH/GSSG Eh, potentiated by a significantly increased GSH peroxidase activity for treatments OF1 (+47%) and OF2 (+63%) in liver as compared to CON. Furthermore; duodenal HRP flux significantly correlated with the hepatic glutathione disulphide (GSSG) level (r=0.650), as also observed in the jejunum for hepatic GSSG (r=0.627) and GSH/GSSG Eh (r=0.547). The jejunal permeability was not affected, but FD4 and HRP fluxes significantly correlated with the local GSH (r=0.619; r=0.733) and GSSG (r=0.635; r=0586) levels. Small intestinal histomorphology was not affected by dietary lipid peroxides, nor were there any correlations found with the GSH redox system. To conclude, under oxidative stress conditions, jejunal barrier function is related to the local and hepatic GSH redox system. It is suggested that the hepatic GSH system participates in the elimination of luminal peroxides, and thereby impacts on duodenal barrier function.

Effects of Different Sources and Particle Size of Dietary Fiber on Performance, Small Intestine Morphology, Secum Bacteria and Digestive Enzymes in Broiler Chickens

Effects of Different Sources and Particle Size of Dietary Fiber on Performance, Small Intestine Morphology, Secum Bacteria and Digestive Enzymes in Broiler Chickens

Gut health and serum growth hormone levels of broiler chickens fed dietary chitin and chitosan from cricket and shrimp.

ABSTRACTGrowth hormones (GH) alone does not explain the growth rate in the chicken as growth in an animal is multi-factorial. Normal morphology of the intestinal villus and crypt, with adequate regulation of intestinal nutrient transporters, is essential to a healthy gut. Nutrition plays a significant role in gut health management, but information on the effect of dietary chitin and chitosan on gut morphology, gene expression of nutrient transporter, and serum levels of GH in broiler chickens is scanty. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the comparative effect of dietary chitin and chitosan from cricket and shrimp on the small intestinal morphology, relative gene expression of intestinal nutrient transporters and serum level of GH in the broiler. A total of 150 day-old male Cobb500 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to one of the five treatment groups (n = 30). Treatment 1 was fed basal diet only, treatments 2 to 5 were fed a basal diet with 0.5 g cricket chitin, cricket chitosan, shrimp chitin, and shrimp chitosan, respectively, per kg diet. At days 21 and 42, duodenal and jejunal samples were assessed for structural morphology and jejunum for the relative gene expression of PepT1, EAAT3, SGLT1, and SGLT5 using quantitative real-time PCR. Results bared that dietary cricket chitosan and shrimp chitosan significantly (P < 0.05) improved jejunal villus height and reduced crypt depth without improving the body weight (BW). The gut morphology of birds under cricket chitin was poor and significantly (P < 0.05) different from other treated groups. Both the dietary chitin and chitosan at day 21 and only dietary chitosan at day 42 significantly (P < 0.05) down-regulated the relative mRNA expression of PepT1, EAAT3, SGLT1, and SGLT5 of broiler chickens. Treated groups differ non-significantly at both phases, while cricket chitin numerically increased the relative expression of PepT1, EAAT3, and SGLT1. Therefore, the potential of cricket chitin to improve BW and to up-regulate nutrient transporters is worthy of further exploration.

Effect of Fluoride on Small Intestine Morphology and Serum Cytokine Contents in Rats.

This study aimed to determine the effect of excessive fluoride (F) on the morphological characteristics of the small intestine and the contents of serum cytokines in rats. A total of 48 3-week-old healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12). The control group was given deionized distilled water, while the F treatment groups were treated with water containing 25, 50, and 100mgF-/L. After 70days of treatment, the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum were collected to measure the developmental parameters and the distribution of intestinal glycoproteins, goblet cells, and mast cells through Pannoramic Viewer, Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining, and toluidine blue staining, respectively. The contents of cytokines, namely, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in serum were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that the villus height, crypt depth, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells, glycoproteins, and mast cells of the small intestine significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in the F treatment group. The contents of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly lower in the F treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In summary, excessive F intake impaired intestinal development and immune function by decreasing the developmental parameters and the distribution of immune cells, glycoproteins, and cytokines.

Effects of sugar beet pulp and roasted canola seed, on performance, rumen and small intestine digesta volatile fatty acid concentrations, and small intestine morphology of Arabian lambs

The effects of partial replacement of barley (B) with sugar beet pulp (SBP) with and without roasted canola seed (RCS) on performance, rumen fluids and small intestine digesta volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations, digesta viscosity, and small intestine morphology were investigated. Twenty-four Arabian male lambs (118 ± 10 d, 23.7 ± 2.5 kg BW) were fed with diets containing 1) 68% barley (B-RCS); 2) 68% B plus 7% RCS (B + RCS); 3) 36% SBP (SBP-RCS); 4) 36% SBP plus 7% RCS (SBP + RCS). Feeding (fattening) was undertaken for 99 days including 14 day adaptation period. Rumen fluid was collected on d 27, 54, and 81 of fattening period. At slaughter, small intestine tissue samples and digesta were collected. Results showed that lamb performance was not affected (P > 0.05) by carbohydrate source, however it was improved by inclusion of RCS. Lambs fed with SBP had higher (P < 0.05) total VFA and molar proportions of acetate, isobutyrate, and acetate to propionate ratio compared to those lambs fed without SBP diet. Inclusion of RCS increased (P < 0.05) propionate and decreased acetate and isobutyrate in the rumen fluid but there was no interaction of SBP × RCS treatments observed for any of the time points measured. In duodenum and jejunum digesta, lambs fed SBP had higher (P < 0.05) acetate, total VFA molar concentrations, and acetate to propionate ratio than lambs fed without SBP diet. Inclusion of RCS increased (P < 0.05) acetate, total VFA concentration in duodenum and jejunum. Both pH and viscosity of the small intestine digesta in duodenum and jejunum were higher (P < 0.05) in lambs fed SBP than those fed without SBP diet. Partial replacement of barley with SBP increased crypt depth throughout small intestine and also increased thickness of tunica muscularis and villus height in jejunum and ilium. Feeding lambs with diets containing SBP + RCS increased (P < 0.05) number of Brunner's glands, number of villi, and epithelium thickness. In conclusion, partial replacement of barley by SBP along with RCS altered molar proportion of VFA in the rumen, intestine and improved small intestinal morphology of fattening Arabian lambs.

The effect of cashew leaf extract on small intestine morphology and growth performance of Jawa Super chicken.

Aim:This research aimed to study the effect of leaf extract of cashew as a bioactive compound in feed on the morphology of the small intestine in Jawa Super chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus).Materials and Methods:This study used 72 1-day-old Jawa Super chicks reared for a further 16 days. We used a randomized complete design, in which basal feed was supplemented with ethanolic extract of cashew leaves at 0 g/kg feed (control), 1.25 g/kg feed (P1), 2.5 g/kg feed (P2), 5 g/kg feed (P3), 10 g/kg feed (P4), and 20 g/kg feed (P5). Parameters observed included growth performance, chicken morphometry, and morphology of the small intestine, comprising the length and width of the villi, the depth of the crypt, and the number and size of goblet cells in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test, with significance defined as p<0.05.Results:Ethanolic extract of cashew leaf significantly increased body weight, feed efficiency, body morphometry, villus length, crypt depth, number of goblet cells, and extent of goblet cell area of the small intestine at 16 days. The morphological results from the small intestine showed that P4 and P5 were significantly better than control.Conclusions:Cashew leaf ethanolic extract mixed with 10 g/kg basal feed is effective as a natural feed supplement for Jawa Super chickens.

Role of MAPKs in HSP70's Protection against Heat Stress-Induced Injury in Rat Small Intestine.

Aim To evaluate the role of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on the MAPK pathway activation with quercetin treatment and its protection against small intestine impairments of heat stressed rats. Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were randomized to three groups (n=16/group), namely, control (CON), heat stress (HS), and heat stress + quercetin (HQ). The experiment lasted for 14 days with daily 50 min of heat stress treatment (43°C) for the HS and HQ groups. Rats of HQ group were intragastrically given 0.5 ml quercetin solution (50 mg/kg body weight) before the heat stress treatment. Half of the animals were sacrificed on day 7 and the rest on day 14 for tissue sampling. Intestinal morphology, small intestine morphology and permeability, protein expression of HSP70, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and caspase-3 activity were examined. Results Heat stress caused morphological damage to the small intestine and increased intestinal permeability. HSP70 expression and MAPK activity in the small intestine were increased by heat stress. Inhibition of HSP70 by quercetin did not change intestinal permeability compared with the HS group but aggravated intestinal injury and affected the activation of MAPKs and caspase-3. Conclusions HSP70 may modulate stress-activated signaling and acts in a protective manner via MAPK signaling. Affecting HSP70 protective mechanisms could be useful for protection against heat stress-induced injury in rat small intestine.

Beneficial Effects of Human Anti-Interleukin-15 Antibody in Gluten-Sensitive Rhesus Macaques with Celiac Disease.

Overexpression of interleukin-15 (IL-15) is linked with immunopathology of several autoimmune disorders including celiac disease. Here, we utilized an anti-human IL-15 antibody 04H04 (anti-IL-15) to reverse immunopathogenesis of celiac disease. Anti-IL-15 was administered to six gluten-sensitive rhesus macaques with celiac disease characteristics including gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE), and the following celiac-related metrics were evaluated: morphology (villous height/crypt depth ratio) of small intestine, counts of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, IFN-γ-producing CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, plasma levels of anti-gliadin and anti-intestinal tissue transglutaminase IgG antibodies, as well as peripheral effector memory (CD3+CD28−CD95+) T cells. Anti-IL-15 treatment reversed the clinically relevant disease endpoints, intraepithelial lymphocyte counts, and villous height/crypt depth ratios within jejunal biopsies to normal levels (P < 0.001). Additionally, intestinal CD8+ and CD4+ T cell IFN-γ production was reduced (P < 0.05). Extra-intestinally, anti-IL-15 treatment reduced peripheral NK cell counts (P < 0.001), but otherwise, non-NK peripheral lymphocytes including effector memory T cells and serum blood chemistry were unaffected. Overall, providing the beneficial disease-modulatory and immunomodulatory effects observed, anti-IL-15 treatment might be considered as a novel therapy to normalize intestinal lymphocyte function in celiac disease patients with GSE.

Low dose of coated zinc oxide is as effective as pharmacological zinc oxide in promoting growth performance, reducing fecal scores, and improving nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology in weaned pigs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of coated zinc oxide on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal scores, minerals concentrations in serum, fecal zinc, intestinal morphology, and selected microbial population in weaned pigs. A total of 192 crossbred [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] weaned pigs (7.42 ± 0.97 kg) were randomly assigned into one of the following dietary treatments: (1) negative control (NC): basal diet; (2) positive control (PC): NC + 2500 mg/kg conventional zinc oxide; (3) CZO300: NC + 300 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (4) CZO500: NC + 500 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (5) CZO1000: NC + 1000 mg/kg coated zinc oxide; (6) CZO2000: NC + 2000 mg/kg coated zinc oxide. Each treatment had 8 replicate pens, with 4 pigs per pen. Pigs fed PC, CZO500, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets had higher (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) than those fed NC diet during days 0–21. During days 0–42, supplementation of coated zinc oxide at levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg increased ADG compared with NC treatment (P < 0.05). Pigs fed PC, CZO300, CZO500, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets had lower (P < 0.01) fecal scores compared with those fed NC diet during weeks 1, 2, and 3, but no significant difference was observed among coated zinc oxide-supplemented diets. Pigs fed the PC, CZO1000, or CZO2000 diet had greater (P < 0.05) coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility of dry matter than pigs fed NC diet. Compared with pigs fed NC diets, pigs fed the PC diet or coated zinc oxide-supplemented diets had increased (P < 0.01) serum and fecal zinc concentrations. Duodenal villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt depth of pigs fed PC, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets were higher (P < 0.05) than those of pigs fed NC diet, whereas no significant differences were observed between pigs fed the PC, CZO1000, and CZO2000 diets. In conclusion, supplementing low doses (500–1000 mg/kg) of coated zinc oxide were as effective in stimulating growth, alleviating post-weaning diarrhea, and improving small intestinal morphology and nutrient digestibility as when a pharmacological level of zinc oxide (2500 mg/kg) was included. Additionally, low doses of coated zinc oxide reduced the amount of zinc excreted into the feces compared with 2500 mg/kg conventional zinc oxide.

Dietary effects of Bacillus subtilis fmbj on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and its antioxidant capacity of broilers

This paper aimed to study the dietary effects of Bacillus subtilis fmbj (BS fmbj) on growth performance, small intestinal histomorphology, and its antioxidant capacity of broilers at 21 d of raising. A total of 300 1-d old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to 5 groups: broilers fed the basal diets with 0g/kg BS fmbj (CON), 0.2g/kg BS fmbj (BS-1), 0.3g/kg BS fmbj (BS-2), 0.4g/kg BS fmbj (BS-3), and 0.5g/kg BS fmbj (BS-4). The results showed that there were no differences in the growth performance among treatments during the trail. Dietary BS fmbj in broiler diets increased (P < 0.05) the serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, and enhanced the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) level of small intestine (jejunum and ileum) compared with those in the CON group. The BS groups could improve (P < 0.05) the values of villus length, villus width, crypt depth, and villus area of small intestine compared with that in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the BS group increased (P < 0.05) small intestinal antioxidant capacity and its mitochondrial antioxidant capacity, and also improved the antioxidant related-gene expression. The BS group exerted a lower (P < 0.05) level of oxidative damages in small intestine than that of the CON group. In conclusion, dietary BS fmbj in broiler diets was potential to improve the small intestinal histomorphology, small intestinal antioxidant capacity, and its mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. Thus this BS fmbj might be considered to be an important additive for the poultry industry.

The effect of creep feed intake and starter diet allowance on piglets' gut structure and growth performance after weaning.

Diets offered to lactating and weaned piglets are the most expensive diets within pig production; however, the effect of these diets on lifetime pig performance is inconsistent. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of creep feed consumption during lactation and different starter diet allowances on piglets' gut structure and lifetime growth performance. In total, 320 pigs and 80 pigs (Landrace × Large White) were used after weaning in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to study growth performance and gut structure, respectively. At weaning, piglets that ate creep feed and piglets that were not offered creep feed during lactation were allocated to 2 kg/pig [low level (LL)] or 6 kg/pig [high level (HL)] of starter 1 diet (16.5 MJ DE/kg, 22.5% CP, and 1.7% total Lys) allowance. At weaning and at 1 and 3 wk after weaning, 8 piglets per treatment were sacrificed, and their small intestine morphology was evaluated (villus height and crypt depth). Piglets that ate creep feed had increased feed intake during the first week after weaning (P < 0.05), but no effect of creep feed intake was observed on piglets growth or gut structure during the postweaning period (both P > 0.05). Piglets that were fed HL after weaning had higher ADG and BW from weaning to 16 wk after weaning (both P < 0.05) and had lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) from weaning to 6 wk after weaning (P < 0.05). Piglets fed HL after weaning also had higher villi height and greater crypt depth than LL piglets at 3 wk after weaning (both P < 0.05). Creep feed consumption during lactation increases feed intake early after weaning, suggesting an improved capacity of piglets to cope with weaning, but did not influence their growth performance. Offering piglets 6 kg of starter diet enhances piglets' growth performance during the growing and finishing phase, probably by improving gut structure after weaning.

Influence of Sago in Improving a Weight Gain of Rats and the Health Profile of the Small Intestine of Rats Infected by Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli (O127:H6)

Background: Sago is one potential source of traditional food contain carbohydrates and have benefits as an anti-diarrheal. Escherichia coli are a member of the normal intestinal flora. However, one of the serotypes of this bacterium, E. coli (O127: H6) can be an important cause of diarrhea in infants. Objective: To analyze the sago effect on weight gain of rats and the profile morphology of small intestine that infected by E. coli (O127: H6). Methods: An experimental research using 20 wistar rats from April to June 2015. Rats were divided into four groups; Negative control 14 days (A), giving sago for 14 days (B), giving E. coli (O127: H6) and body weight lowered 20% from baseline weight for 7 days (C), giving E. coli (O127: H6) and body weight lowered 20% from baseline weight for 7 days simultanly with giving sago for 14 days (D). Weight gain measured daily, tissue biopsy of the small intestine is processed by using paraffin embedding and stained with hematoxylin eosin. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Varian (ANOVA) and to determine the differences in respectively group continued with the Last Significant Different (LSD). Results: Total body weight increase: (A) 19.80gr ± 1.64, (B) 12.80gr ± 1.64, (C) 27.40gr ± 2.40, (D) 14.20gr ± 0.44. Percentage villi damage (%): (A) 1.80 ± 0.44, (B) 1.60 ± 0.54, (C) 28.00 ±6.70, (D) 3.80 ± 0.83. Sago decreased percentage of small intestine villi damage 24.20%. Conclusion: Sago can increase the body weight and protect the small intestine villi damage from E.coli.

Fermented soybean meal exhibits probiotic properties when included in Japanese quail diet in replacement of soybean meal.

This study was conducted to investigate and compare the effect of dietary probiotic mixture (PM) and organic acid (OA) mixture with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on performance, crop, and ceca microbiota, small intestine morphology, and serum lipid profile in Japanese quails. A total of 800 day-old Japanese quails was randomly allotted to 5 treatments with 8 replicate pens of 20 birds each, for 35 days. The experimental diets consisted of a control corn-soybean meal diet and 4 test diets: 1) control diet + 0.1% PM; 2) control diet + 0.2% OA mixture; 3) control diet + the combination of both PM and OA; and 4) an additives-free diet in which the soybean meal in the control diet was replaced with FSBM. The results indicated that in starter and the entire rearing periods, FSBM, PM, and PM+OA diets had significantly lower FCR compared to control or OA diets (P < 0.05). Birds in the FSBM group gained higher weight than control and OA birds (P < 0.05; 1 to 35 d). At d 21 and 35, birds fed the control diet showed significantly lower numbers of lactic acid bacteria in the crop, while coliforms were higher in the cecal content compared to the other diets (P < 0.05). At d 21, the villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and jejunum of birds fed PM, PM+OA, and FSBM diets were greater than in other treatments (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of birds fed PM, PM+OA, and FSBM diets were significantly lower than birds in control and AO groups (P < 0.05). The results obtained herein suggest that FSBM exhibits probiotic properties and, when used in substitution of SBM in Japanese quail diet, can improve growth performance, balance of desirable gastrointestinal microbiota in crop and ceca, small intestinal morphology, and serum lipid profile-likewise, a probiotic supplement.

Body growth, intestinal morphology and microflora of quail on diets supplemented with micronised wheat fibre

ABSTRACT1. Particle size reductions of fibre-rich materials alter structure, functional and digestive properties. To determine the effects of using fibre as an additive in Japanese quail rations on performance and gut physiology, a trial using micronised wheat fibre (MWF) at levels of 0.0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg in feed was conducted.2. Growth rate and feed efficiency were significantly improved when diets contained MWF while feed intake was not affected by levels of the fibre. As MWF content increased, the relative weight of gizzard and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) significantly increased whereas liver relative weight significantly decreased.3. MWF inclusion significantly increased relative length of gut segments, villi height, villus thickness, the villi height to crypt depth proportion in jejunum and ileum and the number of goblet cells in different parts of intestine.4. Tibia weight, length and ash content were increased linearly with rising MWF inclusion. Litter moisture was affected by MWF inclusions in a quadratic manner. The colony forming unit (CFU/g) of Streptococci spp. in ileal digesta was decreased with increasing MWF inclusion levels in the diet.5. In conclusion, MWF can be used as a feed additive in quail diets and its inclusion in feed resulted in better performance, beneficial changes in intestinal microbial counts and improvements in small intestine morphology.

Effects of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on Growth Performance, Small Intestine Morphology and Antioxidant Status in Ducks Under Heat Stress Conditions

Effects of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on Growth Performance, Small Intestine Morphology and Antioxidant Status in Ducks Under Heat Stress Conditions

Effects of isovalerate supplementation on morphology and functional gene expression of small intestine mucosa in pre- and post-weaned dairy calves

AbstractThe present study evaluated the effects of isovalerate supplementation on the development of the small intestinal mucosa in dairy calves. Forty-eight Chinese Holstein bull calves at 15 days of age and 45.1 ± 0.36 kg of body weight were assigned randomly to four groups. The treatments were control, low-isovalerate, moderate-isovalerate and high-isovalerate with 0, 3, 6 and 9 g isovalerate per calf per day, respectively. The study comprised 75 days with a 15-day adaptation period followed by a 60-day sampling period. Calves were weaned at 60 days of age. Six calves were chosen from each treatment at random and slaughtered at 30 and 90 days of age. The small intestine morphology and activities of amylase and trypsin improved significantly with increasing age. No interaction between treatments and age was observed. The small intestine length, mucosa layer thickness, villus height and crypt depth increased linearly with increasing isovalerate supplementation. However, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth was not affected by treatment. Activities of amylase and trypsin increased linearly. The lactase activity increased linearly during the 75-day period and for pre-weaned calves but was unaltered for post-weaned calves. The relative mRNA expressions of growth hormone receptor, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and sodium-glucose co-transporter-1 in the small intestine mucosa increased linearly, and a similar pattern was observed for the expression of peptide transporter-1 in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. The results suggested that small intestine development was promoted by isovalerate in a dose-dependent manner.

Effects of chito-oligosaccharide supplementation with low or medium molecular weight and high degree of deacetylation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and small intestinal morphology in weaned pigs

Chito-oligosaccharide (COS) supplementation in nursery diets has been found to improve piglets’ performance. However, little is known on which COS characteristics are responsible for its effect. The present study was designed to further study how COS characteristics: molecular weight (MW) and degree of deacetylation (DD); affect the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and small intestinal modifications in weaning pigs. For this purpose, 48 weanling pigs were divided into 4 groups (12 animals per group) and received either a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg of COS which differed in MW and DD: 8 kDa and ~90% DD (8 kDa~90%), 65 kDa and ~80% DD (65 kDa~80%), and 65 kDa and ~90% DD (65 kDa~90%). The experiment lasted 56 days. There were treatment effects on pigs’ body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), digestibility of crude protein, fat and calcium, small intestinal morphology and crypt cell proliferation (P < .05, respectively). Throughout the study, pigs supplemented with 8 kDa~90% COS showed significantly enhanced BWG, ADG, and ADFI when compared to those supplemented with 65 kDa~80% COS (P < .05, respectively). The enhanced growth performances in pigs supplemented with 8 kDa~90% COS was supported by an increase in ADFI (P < .05), and improved ileal digestibility of crude protein and crude fat (P < .01, respectively). Pigs supplemented with 8 kDa~90% COS also had increased absorption capacity as indicated by elongated villus height and increased villus height to crypt depth ratio of the small intestinal segments (P < .05, respectively), and more active cell division as indicated by increased Ki-67 marker at jejunal crypt cells (P < .05) on day 28 and 56 of the experiment. These data suggest that 8 kDa~90% might be the most effective form of COS to improve feed intake, and promote nutrient digestibility and absorption when supplemented at 150 mg/kg in the diet.

Pakan Aditif Ekstrak Etanol Lumut Hati Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan Morfologi Duodenum dan Perkembangan Otot Dada Ayam Pedaging (SUPPLEMENTATION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MARCHANTIA IN PRE-STARTER DIET IMPROVES THE GROWTH OF DUODENUM AND PECTORALIS THORACICUS

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of ethanolic extract of Marchantia as an alternative additive in broiler’s chicken feed. The research was designed by using 5 treatment groups with 20 day-old chick broilers in each group and the treatment was done until the sample aged 14 days. The treatment groups consisted of basal feed and ethanolic extract of Marchantia in 0; 62.5; 250; 500; 1000 mg/kg basal feed. Data were analyzed by using one way ANOVA test followed by Tukey test with significance P&lt;0.05. The results showed that at 14 days old of the sample, the weight gain of the broilers in the treatment group 1, 2, 3, and 4 were higher than the control group; Feed Conversion Ratio of treatment group 4 was better than the control group and other treatments; the small intestine morphology of villus heights, crypt depth, and villus/crypt ratio showed that the treatment group 3 and 4 were better than the control group; the pectoralis muscle’s weight, muscle’s area, and myofiber’s area showed that the treatment group 1 and 3 were better than the control group. The study indicates that the ethanolic extract of Marchantia spp. with concentration of 750-1000 mg/kg basal feed has effective ability as an alternative additive in broiler’s chicken feed.

Effect of probiotic and vinegar on growth performance, meat yields, immune responses, and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of probiotic and drinking water (DW) supplemented with different levels of vinegar on performance, meat yields, immune responses, and small intestine histology of broiler chickens. Three hundred thirty day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks assigned to six treatments in a completely randomised design experiment with a factorial arrangement (2 × 3) and five replicates of 11 chicks each. The treatments included two levels of dietary probiotic supplementation (0 and 1 × 1010 CFU lactic acid/kg of diet) and three levels (0%, 1%, and 2%) of DW supplemented with vinegar (5% acetic acid concentration). The study lasted from 1 to 42 d. Growth performance, meat yields and lymphoid organs relative weight, humoral and cellular immune responses, and small intestine histomorphometry were measured. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 1–10 days of age significantly decreased in the birds that fed supplemented diet with probiotic and drunk supplemented water with vinegar than the birds fed and drunk free of any additive. Experimental treatments did not have a significant effect on performance during other growth periods, carcase yields, and lymphoid organs relative weight. DW supplemented with vinegar significantly increased villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD) and decreased small intestine muscular thickness (MT) and abdominal fat. Dietary supplementation of probiotic significantly improved immune response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) inoculation. In conclusion, this study confirms beneficial effects of probiotic and vinegar on 1–10 d performance, immune and intestine health of broiler chickens.

Growth Performance, Mucin2 Gene Expression, Morphology of Small Intestine and Intestinal Lactobacillus Population of Broiler Chicks Fed with Triticale-Based Diets: Effects of Dietary Physical Form and Dietary Inclusion of Enzyme and Probiotic

Growth Performance, Mucin2 Gene Expression, Morphology of Small Intestine and Intestinal Lactobacillus Population of Broiler Chicks Fed with Triticale-Based Diets: Effects of Dietary Physical Form and Dietary Inclusion of Enzyme and Probiotic