Sources and levels of copper affect liver copper profile, intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota population of broiler chickens fed wheat-soybean meal diets.

Super dosing copper (Cu) has long been used as an alternative to antibiotic growth-promoters in broiler chickens' diet to improve gut health. This study was designed to compare nutritional and growth-promoting levels of Cu hydroxychloride (CH) with CuSO4 on gut health bio-markers and liver mineral profile of broiler chickens. Ross 308 chicks (n = 864) were randomly assigned to eight treatments, as basal diet containing no supplemental Cu; the basal diet with 15 or 200 mg/kg Cu as CuSO4; or 15, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg Cu from CH. The highest liver Cu content was observed in birds fed the diets with 200 mg/kg CuSO4 (P < 0.01). Serum FITC-d concentration as the leaky gut marker, and liver malondialdehyde concentration were not affected. Copper level or source had no effect on cecal short chain fatty acid and the mRNA expression of five jejunal genes involved in gut integrity. Negative linear responses of Cu were observed on Lactobacillus (P = 0.032), Bacteroides (P = 0.033), and Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.028) counts. The jejunal villus height increased in birds fed CH at 200 and 100 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Increasing Cu levels, linearly and quadratically (P < 0.001), increased Cu excretion.

Effect of enterocin M and durancin ED26E/7 supplementation on blood parameters, immune response and jejunal morphometry in rabbits.

Natural feed additives application in rabbit nutrition can help to control and prevent digestive disturbances and improve gut health and immunity around the critical weaning period. While probiotics are frequently used in rabbits, in vivo administration of bacteriocins is often limited. Therefore, the present study evaluates the effect of enterocin EntM, durancin EntED26E/7 and their combination on serum biochemistry, phagocytic activity and jejunal morphometry of rabbits. Eighty rabbits (aged 35 days, meat line M91, both sexes) were divided into experimental groups E (EntM; dose 50 µl/animal/day, activity 25,600 AU/ml), D (EntED26E/7; 50 µl/animal/day, 12,800 AU/ml), E + D (50 µl EntM + 50 µl EntED26E/7 /animal/day) and control group (C). Additives were administrated in drinking water for 21 days. Both enterocins positively influenced tested serum parameters, with emphasis on durancin EntED26E/7 administration, alone and/or in combination with EntM. Increased total proteins (E, D: p < 0.001), urea (D: p < 0.001), albumin (D: p < 0.05) and triglycerids (E, D, E+D: p < 0.001) were found. Hypocholesterolaemic effect of both additives was recorded (p < 0.001), with the lowest HDL concentration in E + D. The most of tested hepatic enzymes were positively influenced by enterocins combination (E + D; p < 0.001). The lowest AST was noted in group D (p < 0.001). Mineral profile was also improved (p < 0.001), with the highest values in D. Oxidative stress, was not evoked during enterocins application. Both additives showed a tendency to improve phagocytic activity (prolonged effect of EntED26D/7; D, E+D: p < 0.05) and jejunal morphometry parameters (increased villus cut surface; E, D, E+D; p < 0.001). Diet supplementation with EntM and mostly with EntED26E/7 can improve serum biochemistry, phagocytic activity and jejunal morphometry.

Enterococcus faecium PNC01 isolated from the intestinal mucosa of chicken as an alternative for antibiotics to reduce feed conversion rate in broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: The development and utilization of probiotics had many environmental benefits for replacing antibiotics in animal production. Bacteria in the intestinal mucosa have better adhesion to the host intestinal epithelial cells compared to bacteria in the intestinal contents. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens and investigated as the substitution to antibiotic in broiler production. RESULTS: In addition to acid resistance, high temperature resistance, antimicrobial sensitivity tests, and intestinal epithelial cell adhesion, Enterococcus faecium PNC01 (E. faecium PNC01) was showed to be non-cytotoxic to epithelial cells. Draft genome sequence of E. faecium PNC01 predicted that it synthesized bacteriocin to perform probiotic functions and bacteriocin activity assay showed it inhibited Salmonella typhimurium from invading intestinal epithelial cells. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the ileal villus height and crypt depth in broiler chickens, reduced the relative length of the cecum at day 21, and reduced the relative length of jejunum and ileum at day 42. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroides in the cecal microbiota. CONCLUSION: E. faecium PNC01 replaced antibiotics to reduce the feed conversion rate. Furthermore, E. faecium PNC01 improved intestinal morphology and altered the composition of microbiota in the cecum to reduce feed conversion rate. Thus, it can be used as an alternative for antibiotics in broiler production to avoid the adverse impact of antibiotics by altering the gut microbiota.

Comparison of intestinal permeability, morphology, and ileal microbial communities of commercial hens housed in conventional cages and cage-free housing systems.

The gastrointestinal health of poultry can be impacted by a variety of factors including their environment. As egg production moves from conventional cage housing (CC) toward cage-free housing (CF), it is important to understand this impact on intestinal health. This study was conducted to determine if housing type impacted intestinal permeability, morphology, and microbial communities in commercial hens across housing systems. Hens were randomly selected from 2 rooms of CC (n = 25) and CF (n = 25) at a commercial facility. Birds were given fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D) by oral gavage to measure intestinal permeability. Jejunal and ileal samples were collected to evaluate villus height, crypt depth, and their ratio. Ileal contents were collected for bacterial DNA isolation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Serum FITC-D was similar between housing type (P = 0.709). Hens housed in the CF had increased jejunal villus height and crypt depth compared with hens from the CC (P < 0.002). Hens from the CC tended to have a greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in both the jejunum and ileum compared with the CF (P = 0.064; P = 0.091, respectively). Microbial community diversity measurements favored hens housed in the CC as ileal contents tended to have increased species richness (P = 0.059), had greater alpha diversity (P = 0.044), and had an increased number of over represented operational taxonomic units (46/64), including Romboutsia sp. (30.80%), Lactobacillus kitasatonis (17.16%), and Lactobacillus aviarius (11.15%). Correlations between microbial communities with intestinal traits identified significant association with the greatest number of correlations with FITC-D and ileal morphology. Many of these correlations identified microbial communities associated with expected traits; thus, providing limited functional data to microbial communities with limited information. The greater number of correlations of ileal morphology with ileal microbial communities suggesting local microbial communities contribute to the intestinal environment distant. In this limited study, several parameters favored hens from CC suggesting an advantage of this system for intestinal health. However, the lower intestinal health parameters observed in CF were not at levels to indicate detrimental effects.

Ligament of Treitz: Anatomy, Relevance of Radiologic Findings, and Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to discuss the anatomy, embryonic origin, normal variants, and various attachments of the ligament of Treitz. We also describe the pathologic processes that develop along the ligament of Treitz and the role of cross-sectional imaging in identifying these conditions. CONCLUSION. The ligament of Treitz, also known as the suspensory ligament of the duodenum, is an important anatomic landmark in the abdomen. It is essential that radiologists understand the anatomic attachments, normal variants, and various pathologic conditions involving the ligament of Treitz as well as the role of cross-sectional imaging in the assessment of these conditions.

Preservation and Processing of Intestinal Tissue for the Assessment of Histopathology.

The intestine is often examined histologically in connection with allergies and in search for pathological changes. To be able to examine the intestine histologically with a microscope, it must be sampled and processed correctly. For microscopic analysis, the samples have to be cut into thin sections, stained, and mounted on slides. Since it is not possible to cut fresh samples without damaging them, they must first be fixed. The most common method, which is described herein, is the fixation in formalin with subsequent embedding in paraffin and staining of the slides with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Hematoxylin solutions (in this case Mayer's hemalum solution) stain the acidic components of the cell, i.e., cell nuclei, blue. The staining with eosin gives a pink staining of cytoplasm. This chapter describes the method of processing intestinal tissue for paraffin-embedding, sectioning, and staining with H&E. Tissue processing can be done in tissue processing machines or manually. We describe the manual processing that is often used for smaller batches of samples.

Impact of aluminosilicates on productivity, carcass traits, meat quality, and jejunum morphology of broiler chickens.

The aim of the study was to compare production results and quality of meat, as well as histological features of the jejunum in broiler chickens administered feed with 1% addition of zeolite or halloysite, with the addition of aluminosilicates to litter (4.50 kg/m2) throughout the rearing. In the experiment, 300 male broilers were used for 6 wk. They were divided into 3 groups, each of 10 repetitions (10 birds each). Group 1 was a control, halloysite was added to feed and litter in group 2, while zeolite was applied instead of halloysite in group 3. After rearing, 10 selected birds from each group were slaughtered. Selected production properties and degree of footpad dermatitis were examined, and histomorphometric examination of the jejunum was performed. The lowest yield and the highest proportion of neck with skin in the carcass were demonstrated in group 2 (P < 0.05). The lowest percentage of skin with subcutaneous fat was found in group 3 (P < 0.05). A decrease in lightness (L∗) and yellowness (b∗) was demonstrated in group 2, while redness (a∗) was the lowest in group 3 (P < 0.05). Group 2 was characterized by the lowest water-holding capacity in breast muscles, and in group 3, in leg muscles (P < 0.05). In group 3, the highest fat content and the lowest water content in the breast muscles (P < 0.05) were found. The leg muscles in groups 2 and 3 were characterized by the highest a∗, and in group 2, by b∗. The control group had the lowest protein and the highest fat content in leg muscles. In the intestine from group 2, a higher height (P < 0.05) and surface area (P < 0.01) of intestinal villi were found, in comparison to group 3. The width of intestinal villi was higher in groups 2 and 1 than in group 3 (P < 0.05), similarly the depth of intestinal crypts. The addition of zeolite could be proposed because of the obtained production results, while the halloysite had a positive effect on the histomorphometric features of the jejunum.

Jejunum: The understudied meeting place of dietary lipids and the microbiota.

Although the jejunum is the main intestinal compartment responsible for lipid digestion and absorption, most of the studies assessing the impact of dietary lipids on the intestinal microbiota have been performed in the ileum, colon and faeces. This lack of interest in the jejunum is due to the much lower number of microbes present in this intestinal region and to the difficulty in accessing its lumen, which requires invasive methods. Recently, several recent publications highlighted that the whole jejunal microbiota or specific bacterial members are able to modulate lipid absorption and metabolism in enterocytes. This information reveals new strategies in the development of bacterial- and metabolite-based therapeutic interventions or nutraceutical recommendations to treat or prevent metabolic-related disorders, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases and malnutrition. This review is strictly focused on the following triad: dietary lipids, the jejunal epithelium and the jejunal microbiota. First, we will describe each member of the triad: the structure and functions of the jejunum, the composition of the jejunal microbiota, and dietary lipid handling by enterocytes and by microorganisms. Then, we will present the mechanisms leading to lipid malabsorption in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a disease in which the jejunal microbiota is altered and which highlights the strong interactions among this triad. We will finally review the recent literature about the interactions among members of the triad, which should encourage research teams to further explore the mechanisms by which specific microbial strains or metabolites, alone or in concert, can mediate, control or modulate lipid absorption in the jejunum.

Feeding dihydroquercetin and vitamin E to broiler chickens reared at standard and high ambient temperatures.

The use of natural antioxidants, in particular polyphenols such as dihydroquercetin (DHQ), in animal nutrition has recently increased in popularity. This may partly be due to the risk of increased incidences of heat stress associated with raising livestock in warmer ambient temperatures, facilitated by global warming, reducing antioxidant capacity. The current research demonstrates the effect of dietary DHQ, vitaminEand standard or high ambient temperatures on growth performance, energy and nutrient metabolism, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, jejunal villus morphometry and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. Each of the four experimental diets was fed to 16 pens of five birds, which were allocated to four rooms (four pens in each room). The temperature in two rooms was maintained at aconstant 35°C (high temperature; HT), and the temperature in the other two rooms was gradually reduced from 27°C at 7 dof age to 22°C at 20 dof age (standard temperature; ST). Rearing birds at HT reduced feed intake, weight gain, weight of small intestine, total GIT, liver, spleen, heart, villus height, villus surface area and lowered blood glutationperoxidase (GSH-Px). Dietary DHQ increased blood GSH-Px and total antioxidant status, increased heart weight and reduced caecal size. When fed separately, DHQ and vitamin E improved hepatic vitamin E concentration. Feeding vitamin Eincreased spleen and liver weights. When fed together, DHQ and vitamin Ereduced villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus surface area. Temperature and antioxidants did not affect energy and nutrient metabolism. There were no effects of dietary antioxidants on growth performance of broiler chickens and there were no mortalities. At present, it is unclear if feeding antioxidants (in particular DHQ) at different levels, using different dietary formulations, and rearing birds under arange of environmental conditions may be effective at enhancing production performance and bird health in hot ambient climates.

The Effects of Dietary Porous Zinc Oxide Supplementation on Growth Performance, Inflammatory Cytokines and Tight Junction's Gene Expression in Early-Weaned Piglets.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary porous ZnO supplementation on the growth performance, inflammatory cytokines and tight junction's gene expression in weaned piglets. A total of 192 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to 4 experimental groups (n=48/group) and fed, during 14 d, with one of the following dietary treatments: 1) basal diet (NC); 2) basal diet with 3,000 mg/kg of conventional ZnO (PC); 3) basal diet with 750 mg/kg of porous ZnO (low inclusion porous ZnO, LP-ZnO); 4) basal diet with 1,500 mg/kg porous ZnO (high inclusion porous ZnO, HP-ZnO). Results showed that dietary supplementation with regular ZnO or porous ZnO (750 and 1,500 mg/kg) improved average daily gain (ADG), feed to gain ratio (F/G) and jejunum morphology, while decreasing diarrhea incidence. Compared with the NC group, porous ZnO at both doses (750 or 1,500 mg/kg) increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations, but decreased serum glucose (GLU). Moreover, the mRNA expression of anti-inflammation cytokine (TGF-ß), tight junction (Occludin, ZO-1) in the jejunum by different ZnO administration were significantly increased compared with the NC group, while mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory (IL-8), membrane channels that transport water (AQP3) and miR-122a were significantly decreased. It can be concluded that porous ZnO even at low dose (750 mg/kg) can be an effective alternative to pharmacological (3,000 mg/kg) conventional ZnO in reducing diarrhea, promoting the growth performance, increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and tight junctions, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines of weaned piglets.

Influence of the effective microorganisms (EM) on performance, intestinal morphology and gene expression in the jejunal mucosa of pigs fed different diets.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the effective microorganisms (EM) on performance parameters, intestinal morphology and gene expression in the jejunal mucosa in pigs under different feeding regimes. The study group comprised of 150 piglets divided into three feeding groups: C, E1 and E2. Feeding groups included: C-standard fodder, blend with a full share of post-extracted soy meal, E1-in the phase I of fattening: pea and lupin/soybean 50/50%; in the phase II of fattening: pea and lupin/soybean 75/25%, and E2-in the phase I of fattening: pea and lupin/soybean 50/50%; in the phase II of fattening: pea and lupin 100%. The experimental factor was addition of a probiotic EM Carbon Bokashi to the diets (C + EM, E1 + EM and E2 + EM). After slaughter, histological evaluation and gene expression analysis were performed. The highest intestinal villi were reported in E2 + EM. A higher intestinal absorption area was demonstrated in groups C + EM and E2 + EM. An interaction between feeding and EM Bokashi supplementation was found in villus surface area crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth and number of goblet cells. Mucosa thickness and number of goblet cells was the largest in E2 + EM. Gene expression of FABP4 increased in E1, and GLUT2 decreased in E2. Gene expression of IL10 and FABP4 increased in E2 + EM. The results indicate that the E2 diet is more optimal for EM Bokashi supplementation, because in this group, EM positively influenced the morphological characteristics of the porcine jejunum and caused an increase in the expression of genes related to the metabolism and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The effects of lignocellulose supplementation on laying performance, egg quality parameters, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of lignocellulose supplementation (LS) on performance parameters, egg quality, aerobic bacterial load of eggshell, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunal histomorphological traits of laying hens between 18 and 38 wk of age. A total of 640 pullets at 16 wk of age were allotted to 4 treatment groups as 0 kg (control, CONT), 0.5 kg, 1 kg, and 2 kg LS per ton of feed. Body weight (BW), daily feed intake, egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), and efficiency of feed utilization (EF) were determined as the mean of each 3-wk period between 18 and 38 wk of age. Laying hens in the 1 kg LS group had a higher BW mean (1632.1 g, P < 0.001). The highest mean value of EP and EW were observed in 1 kg LS group (81.8% and 57.3 g, respectively), whereas the lowest values were found in the 2 kg LS group (78.6% and 54.4 g, respectively, P < 0.001). The mean of EF was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (2.72, P < 0.001). There was a decline in eggshell breaking strength and eggshell thickness in the 2 kg LS, when compared with the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). The total aerobic bacterial load of the eggshell was the lowest in the 1 kg LS group (4.7 log10 cfu/mL). The level of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase showed an increment in both the CONT and 2 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). The high level of LS (2 kg per ton of feed) caused a decline in the levels of IgY, IgA and IgM, when compared to the 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups (P < 0.001). Laying hens in 0.5 and 1 kg LS groups had longer villus height (1335.9 µm) in the jejunum than the others (P < 0.001). These findings showed that the 1 kg LS per ton of feed improved EP and EW, eggshell quality, immunoglobulin levels and intestinal morphology, and decreased the total aerobic bacterial load.

Effects of laying breeder hens dietary ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, and jejunum morphology of their offspring chicks.

This study evaluated the growth performance, immunity, and jejunum morphology of chicks hatched from laying breeder hens given dietary additive supplementation, as well as chicks receiving direct antibiotic supplementation in early life. Hy-line breeder hens were allotted to 2 groups with 3 replicates. A control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, and the treatment group (CCAB) received ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate in addition to basal diet for 5 wk. Breeder-hen eggs were collected and hatched. The chicks hatched from the CON group were assigned to 2 treatments: a chick control group (cCON) and a chick treatment group (Cipro) given ciprofloxacin lactate into drinking water; the cCON group, Cipro group, and the chicks hatched from the CCAB group (cCCAB) were fed the same diet for 4 wk. The results demonstrated that there were significant differences between the CON and CCAB groups in the serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgM (triple P < 0.01), lysozyme (P < 0.05), and ß-defensin (P < 0.05). The body weights of the cCCAB group's chicks increased at 1, 7, and 28 D of age (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), and those of the Cipro group's chicks increased at 7 and 21 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The tibial lengths of the cCCAB group's chicks increased at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, triple P < 0.01), and the lengths in the Cipro group increased at 7 and 14 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). Intestinal development, including intestinal length, jejunum morphology, and IgA positive cells, helps to explain these results. The breeder eggs from the CCAB group had higher IgG (P < 0.05) and IgM (P < 0.05) levels in the egg whites and higher IgA, IgG, and IgM levels (triple P < 0.01) in the egg yolks. In conclusion, ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate supplementation of laying breeder hen diets produced more advantages in growth performance and intestinal development in offspring than in chicks directly supplemented with antibiotics.

The size of intestines in Vietnamese adults

The length of the small intestine of the Westerner is about 5-9 m long, whereas data on the intestinal length of Vietnamese patients is lacking in the liter-ature. This study aims to determine the size of in-testines in Vietnamese and the difference between fixed cadavers, autopsies and in operative patients. There were 130 subjects examined in this study: intestine from 40 formalin fixed cadavers, 30 autopsies and 60 living patients. The cohort includ-ed 91 males and 39 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 75 years-old and origin from various social levels. Subjects were excluded from this study if there was current or prior GI disease, GI surgery, or any other abdominal surgery. The length of the duodenum was 24.3 ± 1.2 cm in for-malin fixed cadavers and 25.60 ± 1.4 cm in autop-sies. The length of the small intestine was 382.5 ± 45.5 cm in preserved cadavers, 442.3 ± 62.5 cm in autopsies and 556.2 ± 74.4 cm in operative pa-tients. The length of the large intestine was meas-ured to be 132.5 ± 17.6 cm in preserved subjects, 149.3 ± 12.1 cm in autopsies and 156.3 ± 14.5 cm in operative patients. The greatest diameter was the jejunum in autopsies, or 4.1 ± 0.37 cm, and the smallest diameter was the ileum in autopsies, or 2.5 ± 0.30 cm. In Vietnamese, the length of the intestine in surgical patients was the longest; in theformalin-preserved group was the shortest, and in autopsies group was in the average range. The length of the Vietnamese small intestine was short-er than that of the European and American sub-jects. Surgeons need to be aware of variations in intestine length so that resection resulting in small bowel syndrome can be anticipated or avoided

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Effects of grape seed extract on performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in Pekin ducks.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, relative organ weight, jejunum morphology, ileal microflora, and meat quality in Pekin ducks. A total of 1,500 female 1-day-old Pekin ducklings (52.0 ± 0.2 g) were blocked based on body weight (BW) and randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 10 replicates of 50 birds each. The experiment lasted for 6 wk, and dietary treatments included corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 0.01, and 0.02% GSE. The supplementation of GSE increased (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and final BW linearly but decreased (P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) linearly during day (D) 22 to 42 and the entire experiment. The inclusion of GSE increased (P < 0.05) serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, catalase, complement4, immunoglobin G, interleukin-2, and interferon-γ linearly but decreased (P < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde linearly. The relative weight of carcass, breast meat, and spleen in GSE treatments was increased (P < 0.05) linearly, whereas the relative weight of abdominal fat was decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Birds fed GSE1 and GSE2 diets had lower (P < 0.05) cook loss, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and drip loss on day 3 and 5 linearly but higher (P < 0.05) pH24h and water-holding capacity. The addition of GSE decreased (P < 0.05) jejunum crypt depth and ileal Escherichia coli counts linearly but increased (P < 0.05) jejunum villus height: crypt depth ratio and ileal Lactobacilli linearly. Taken together, the inclusion of GSE increased final BW and BWG, decreased F/G during day 22 to 42 and day 1 to 42, partially improved antioxidant activities, immunity, meat quality, and gut health in Pekin ducks.

New insights into the role of dietary marine-derived polysaccharides on productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology in late-phase laying hens.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary marine-derived polysaccharides (MDP) from seaweed Enteromorpha on productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology in late-phase laying hens. A total of 240 Lohmann white laying hens (62 wk of age) were assigned to 4 dietary treatments that included MDP at concentrations of 0, 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg for 6 wk. Each treatment had 6 replicates with 5 cages (2 birds/cage). The results showed that dietary MDP quadratically improved egg production (P < 0.05) during 5 to 6 wk and 1 to 6 wk. There was a linear reduction in cracked egg rate (P < 0.05) with dietary MDP levels increased during 3 to 4 wk and 1 to 6 wk. After 4 wk of feeding trial, the egg shell thickness, yolk color, and Haugh unit showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) in response to increasing dietary MDP levels. Besides, the egg shell breaking strength, egg shell thickness, yolk color, and Haugh unit were improved linearly (P < 0.05) by dietary MDP at the end of the experiment. Moreover, dietary MDP showed a linear and quadratic reduction in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content (P < 0.05) at the end of third week. At the end of experiment, the activity of total superoxide dismutase in serum was increased quadratically (P < 0.05) by dietary MDP, and dietary MDP quadratically improved the liver catalase (CAT) activity (P < 0.05) and linearly enhanced jejunal CAT activity (P < 0.05), whereas linearly decreased jejunal MDA concentration (P < 0.05). Furthermore, supplemental MDP linearly improved the villus height (P < 0.05) and quadratically increased villus height/crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) of jejunum. However, dietary MDP had no effect on jejunal trypsin, amylase, and protease activity (P > 0.10). Taken together, these findings provided new insights into the role of MDP in improving the productive performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and jejunal morphology of late-phase laying hens.

Tocol Prophylaxis for Total-body Irradiation: A Proteomic Analysis in Murine Model.

The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in mouse jejunum protein expression in response to prophylactic administration of two promising tocols, γ-tocotrienol (GT3) and α-tocopherol succinate (TS), as radiation countermeasures before irradiation to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) of their radioprotective efficacy. Mice were administered GT3 or TS (200 mg kg) subcutaneously 24 h prior to exposure to 11 Gy Co γ-radiation, a supralethal dose for mice. Jejunum was harvested 24 h post-irradiation. Results of the two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), coupled with mass spectrometry, and advanced bioinformatics tools suggest that the tocols have a corresponding impact on expression of 13 proteins as identified by mass spectrometry. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) reveals a network of associated proteins involved in inflammatory response, organismal injury and abnormalities, and cellular development. Relevant signaling pathways including actin cytoskeleton signaling, RhoA signaling, and Rho family GTPase were identified. This study reveals the major proteins, pathways, and networks involved in preventing the radiation-induced injury in gut that may be contributing to enhanced survival.

Impact of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide and its effects on coccidia challenge in broiler chickens.

1. Two experiments were conducted, the first to determine the optimum inclusion of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) in broiler diets to support growth performance, digestive functions, intestinal morphology, and immune organs. The second experiment evaluated the immune-protective properties of COS on broiler chickens during coccidia challenge (CC).2. Experiment 1 investigated the effect of graded dietary concentration of COS in the diets of broiler chickens using eight cage replicates for each of the six diets. A corn-soybean meal-based diet was used as the basal diet and supplemented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 g of COS/kg feed to form the six treatments.3. The diet supplemented with 1.0 g COS/kg of feed provided the optimal inclusion level for broiler chickens regarding body weight (BW) gain, jejunal villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, and ileal energy digestibility at d 22 of age.4. Experiment 2 investigated the immune-protective properties of COS in broiler chickens during CC. A total of 224 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight replicate cages in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two COS concentrations (0 or 1 g of COS/kg of diet), with or without CC.5. On d 18 of age, birds in the CC group received twice the recommended coccidia vaccine dose of 30 doses/kg BW.6. Coccidia challenge reduced (P < 0.05) and dietary COS increased (P < 0.05) BW gain, and feed intake. Dietary COS mitigated (P < 0.05) the CC-induced effects on gain:feed. Dietary COS supplementation attenuated the CC-induced effects (P < 0.05) on the expression of occludin genes.7. In conclusion, dietary COS improved performance, and the immune-related beneficial impact of COS supplementation was associated with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.

Dietary supplementation with the extract from Eucommia ulmoides leaves changed epithelial restitution and gut microbial community and composition of weanling piglets.

This study was conducted to compare the effects of Eucommia ulmoides leaves (EL) in different forms (EL extract, fermented EL, and EL powder) with antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and the microbiota composition and diversity of weanling piglets. Compared to the control group, the antibiotics and EL extract significantly increased the average daily gain and decreased the feed: gain ratio as well as the diarrhea rate (P < 0.05). The EL extract significantly decreased the crypt depth and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05), while the fermented EL group did the opposite (P < 0.05). The crypt depth in the antibiotics group was of similar value to the EL extract group, and was lower than the fermented EL and EL powder groups (P < 0.05). Compared to the control and antibiotics groups, the jejunul claudin-3 mRNA expression and the concentrations of total VFA, Chao 1, and ACE were significantly augmented in the EL extract group of piglets (P < 0.05). The EL extract groups also showed elevated Shannon (P < 0.05) and Simpson (P = 0.07) values relative to the control and antibiotics groups. At the phylum level, the EL extract group exhibited a reduced abundance of Bacteroidetes and an enhanced abundance of Firmicutes. At the genus level, the abundance of Prevotella was augmented in the EL extract group. Moreover, compared with the antibiotic group, the acetate concentration was enhanced in the EL extract and fermented EL groups. Overall, dietary supplementation with the EL extract, but not the fermented EL or EL powder, improved growth performance, jejunul morphology and function, as well as changed colonic microbial composition and diversity, which might be an alternative to confer protection against weanling stress in weanling piglets.