• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.537-544
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• 2013

This study examined whether pre-treating palm kernel expeller (PKE) with exogenous enzyme would degrade its fiber content; thus improving its metabolizable energy (ME), growth performance, villus height and digesta viscosity in broiler chickens fed diets containing PKE. Our results showed that enzyme treatment decreased (p<0.05) hemicellulose and cellulose contents of PKE by 26.26 and 32.62%, respectively; and improved true ME (TME) and its nitrogen corrected value ($TME_n$) by 38% and 33%, respectively, compared to the raw sample. Average daily gain (ADG), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chickens fed on different dietary treatments in the grower period were not significantly different. Although there was no difference in feed intake (p>0.05) among treatment groups in the finisher period, ADG of chickens in the control (PKE-free diet) was higher (p<0.05) than in all treatment groups fed either 20 or 30% PKE, irrespective of with or without enzyme treatment. However, ADG of birds fed with 20% PKE was higher than those fed with 30% PKE. The FCR of chickens in the control was the lowest (2.20) but not significantly different from those fed 20% PKE diets while birds in the 30% PKE diets recorded higher (p>0.05) FCR. The intestinal villus height and crypt depth (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were not different (p>0.05) among treatments except for duodenal crypt depth. The villus height and crypt depth of birds in enzyme treated PKE diets were higher (p<0.05) than those in the raw PKE groups. Viscosity of the intestinal digesta was not different (p>0.05) among treatments. Results of this study suggest that exogenous enzyme is effective in hydrolyzing the fiber (hemicellulose and cellulose) component and improved the ME values of PKE, however, the above positive effects were not reflected in the growth performance in broiler chickens fed the enzyme treated PKE compared to those received raw PKE. The results suggest that PKE can be included up to 5% in the grower diet and 20% in the finisher diet without any significant negative effect on FCR in broiler chickens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1963-1973
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• 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of including L-glutamine along with glutamic acid as a supplement in weaned piglets' diets with and without whey powder. Methods: Two assays were carried out. A total of 40 piglets ([Landrace×Large White]×Pietrain) weaned at 24 days of age with an initial body weight of 6.6±0.6 kg were used in the first assay, and the following parameters were evaluated: growth performance, the incidence of diarrhea, morphometry, intestinal integrity, and hepatic glycogen index. The animals were then blocked into four groups according to different diets: diet all-grain feeding (G); diet all-grain feeding with whey powder (GW); and with vs without 1% supplementation of the commercial product containing L-glutamine and glutamic acid (A or NA). Whey powder was added according to the stage of life, corresponding to 17%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, in order to meet the need for lactose. The animals were evaluated at 24 to 42 days and at 24 to 55 days of age. The nutrient digestibility for the second assay was carried out by using 24 animals with an average weight of 11.49±1.6 kg, and the same diets were tested. Results: The supplementation of L-glutamine + glutamic acid or the addition of whey powder in diets for weaned piglets provided (p<0.05) greater feed intake, greater weight gain and improved feed conversion in the initial period (24 to 42 days age). However, in the whole period (24 to 55 days age) only amino acid supplementation affected (p<0.05) growth performance. There was a positive interaction (p<0.05) between the type of diet and L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation on villus height, crypt depth and the villus:crypt ratio in the duodenum. In addition, L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation reduced (p<0.05) the crypt depth and improved the villus:crypt ratio in the jejunum. The inclusion of whey powder affected (p<0.05) positively the digestibility coefficients analyzed except mineral matter digestibility coeficients. The supplementation of 1% the commercial product composed of L-glutamine and glutamic acid improved (p<0.05) only the digestibility coefficient of crude protein. Conclusion: These results indicate that supplementation of 1% commercial product containing L-glutamine + glutamic acid in diets for piglets from 24 to 55 days of age, dispenses with the use of whey powder when evaluating growth performance. Amino acid supplementation alone or associated with whey powder affects (p<0.05) positively the indicators of the intestinal integrity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used as probiotics in poultry. The present study employed in vitro and in vivo methods to select and test LAB isolated from Muscovy duck ceca as potential probiotics. In the in vitro study, 50 LAB were isolated from Muscovy duck ceca and tested for growth inhibition against Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis. Eleven isolates strongly inhibited S. Enteritidis and only 1 isolate (MD5-2) showing the strongest inhibition was selected for identification. This isolate was called as Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri MD5-2. For the in vivo investigation, 90 1-day-old Muscovy ducks were randomly assigned into three groups of 30 animals each (group 1, control; group 2, treated with $10^8$ colony-forming unit (CFU) of L. reuteri MD5-2 orally once on day 1; and group 3, treated with $10^8CFU$ of L. reuteri MD5-2 orally once daily from days 1 to 5). The ducks were housed in three large cages and raised for 50 days, after which body weight, duodenal villus height and crypt depth were measured. Both villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio were significantly greater in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. In conclusion, further investigation of L. reuteri MD5-2 as a potential probiotic strain is warranted.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1365-1374
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the synergistic effect of exogenous multienzyme and phytase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora, and morphology in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diets. Methods: A 2×2 factorial design was used in this study. Four dietary treatments consisted of i) basal diets (corn-wheat-soybean meal based diets without multi-enzyme and phytase), ii) basal diets with phytase (0.05%), iii) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme (0.05%), and iv) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme including phytase (0.05%). A total of 480 broiler chickens (Ross 308 - one day old) were weighed and allotted to thirty-two cages (15 birds per cage), and chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments. Results: The body weight gain and feed conversion rate were improved by supplementation of exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase during the finisher period (p<0.05). The birds fed diets with exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase had a significantly greater digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus compared with birds fed non-supplemented diets (p<0.05). The chickens fed diets with exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed a higher concentration of Ca and P in the serum (p<0.05). The population of Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia coli, and Clostridium were not affected in the ileum and cecum of chickens fed enzyme-supplemented diets. The dietary supplemental exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed a significant improvement in villus height, crypt depth, and villus height and crypt depth ratio, compared to basal diets or dietary supplemental phytase (p<0.05). Conclusion: The supplementation of the exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase synergistically improved the growth performance, nutrients digestibility, and villus height of the small intestine of broiler chickens fed a corn-wheat-soybean meal based diets.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1992

The turnover time of the mucosal epithelium in the small intestine(jejunum and ilium) and large interstine(cecum), and the cells in the lamina propria of the small intestine was investigated with the radioautography in mice at various times after single injection of $^3H$-thymidine. Twenty suckling mice were sacrified at each of the following time intervals after injection ; 2 hrs, 1, 3, 5. 7, 14 and 17 days. 1. The labeled index of the epithelial cells in the crypt and the villus of the small intestine averaged 98.7% and 1.3% at 2 hrs, 982% and 1.8% at 1 day, 18.7% and 81.3% at 3 days, 6.3% and 93.7% at 5 days, respectively. The labeled index of the epithelial cells of the crypt-base, the upper-crypt and the mucosal surface in the large intestine averaged 71.8%, 28.2% and 0% at 2 hrs, 45%. 54.2% and 0% at 1 day, 17.2%, 54.5% and 28.2% at 3 days, 10.2%, 32.4% and 57.4% at 5 days, respectively. This result suggested that the turnover time of all the epithelial cells migrating from crypts to villi in the direction of the villus tips was calculated to be less than 5 days, and also the longest turnover time was calculated to be no longer than 7 day. 2. The labeled index of the total cells in the lamina propria of the small intestine averaged 6.2-7% at 2 hrs to 5 days, 4.7% at 7 days 2.6% at 17 days and this index is tend to be decreased moderately at 7 days and severely at 17 days. So this result suggested that the turnover time of the cells with the shorter cycle duration in the lamina propria of the small intestine were less than 5 days and that of the cells with the longer cycle duration more than 17 days.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2018

A total of 90 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments, each consisting of six replicates (5 broilers/cage). The dietary treatments were 1) control (CON: fresh clean water with no supplement); 2) low dose [LD: CON + 1.56% extractions from the wooden chips (EWC)] and 3) high dose (HD: CON + 12.5% EWC). Drinking water supplemented with EWC was provided using specifically designed individual nipple drinker units. Average daily water intake (ADWI), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly for 21 days. One broiler from each cage was euthanized for measuring the visceral organ weights and collecting ileal tissue samples for ileal architecture analysis on day 21. Broilers assigned to the LD and HD watery groups showed higher ADWI than that in broilers consumed CON on day 7 (P<0.05). The broilers subjected to HD treatment showed a deeper crypt depth (P<0.05) than that in broilers subjected to LD and CON on day 21. Therefore, broilers consumed HD showed a lower (P<0.05) villus height:crypt depth ratio than that broilers consumed CON on day 21. Broilers provided drinking water containing any of the tested concentrations of EWC showed no effect (P > 0.05) on growth performance, ileal villus height, and visceral organ weights as compared with those in the CON from hatch to 21 days. In conclusion, broilers fed HD showed reduction in villus height:crypt depth ratio without impairing growth performance and visceral organ weights for the experimental period.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.151-160
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• 2024

Objective: The growing consumers' interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR) and cage system (CS). Methods: A total of forty weaned (35 days of age) male Italian White breed rabbits were allotted according to the rearing system, and at 91 days of age were randomly selected and slaughtered for the morphological evaluation of tissue from duodenum and longissimus lumborum. Morphometric analysis of the villus height, villus width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and villus surface was performed. The microbial loads on hind muscle was determined by total mesophilic aerobic count (TMAC), Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae; whereas, total anaerobic bacteria count (TABC) and TMAC, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae was determined on caecal content. Results: Rearing system did not interfere with the duodenum and muscle histomorphology in both rabbit groups. Similarly, microbial load of caecal content showed no significant differences on the TABC and TMAC. Conversely, significant difference was found for E. coli strains in caecal content, with the lower counts in FR compared to CS rabbits (p<0.01). Microbiological assay of muscle revealed significant lower TMAC in FR vs CS rabbits (p< 0.05). All rabbit meat samples were negative for E. Coli and Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion: Free-range could be considered a possible alternative and sustainable rearing system in rabbits to preserve gut environment and muscle quality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2010

Purpose: We examined the radioprotective effects of 5-androstendiol (5-AED), a natural hormone produced in the reticularis of the adrenal cortex, as a result of intestinal damage in gamma-irradiated C3H/HeN mice. Materials and Methods: Thirty mice (C3H/HeN) were divided into three groups; 1) non-irradiated control group, 2) irradiated group, and 3) 5-AED-treated group prior to irradiation. Next, 5-AED (50 mg/kg per body weight) was subcutaneously injected 24 hours before irradiation. The mice were whole-body irradiated with 10 Gy for the histological examination of jejunal crypt survival and the determination of the villus morphology including crypt depth, crypt size, number of villi, villus height, and length of basal lamina, as well as 5 Gy for the detection of apoptosis. Results: The 5-AED pre-treated group significantly increased the survival of the jejunal crypt, compared to irradiation controls (p<0.05 vs. irradiation controls at 3.5 days after 10 Gy). The evaluation of morphological changes revealed that the administration of 5-AED reduced the radiation-induced intestinal damages such as villus shortening and increased length of the basal lamina of enterocytes (p<0.05 vs irradiation controls on 3.5 day after 10 Gy, respectively). The administration of 5-AED decreased the radiation-induced apoptosis in the intestinal crypt, with no significant difference between the vehicle and 5-AED at 12 hours after 5 Gy. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the administration of 5-AED has a protective effect on intestinal damage induced by $\gamma$-irradiation. In turn, these results suggest that 5-AED could be a useful candidate for radioprotection against intestinal mucosal injury following irradiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1470-1477
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• 2006

One hundred and sixty crossbred pigs ($6.62{\pm}0.36kg$) weaned at day $18{\pm}1$ were used to investigate the effects of lactitol and tributyrin on performance, small intestinal morphology and enzyme activity. The pigs were assigned to one of five dietary groups (4 pens/diet with 8 pigs/pen) and were fed the negative control diet or the negative control diet supplemented with 10 g/kg glutamine (as a positive control), or 3 g/kg lactitol (${\beta}$-D-galactopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-D-sorbitol), or 5 g/kg tributyrin (butanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester), or 3 g/kg lactitol+5 g/kg tributyrin. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly during the 4-week study. On day 7, four pigs per dietary treatment were sacrificed to examine small intestinal morphology and enzyme activity. The results showed that: (1) Compared with the negative control diet, the positive control diet improved weight gain and feed efficiency during weeks 1-2 and over the entire study (p<0.05), and also decreased duodenal and ileal crypt depth (p<0.05), but did not alter intestinal enzyme activity (p>0.05). Lactitol improved feed efficiency during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study (p<0.05), but did not improve weight gain and feed intake, intestinal morphology or enzyme activity (p>0.05). Tributyrin improved weight gain and reduced feed/gain during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study. Tributyrin significantly decreased crypt depth in the duodenum and ileum, and increased duodenal lactase and ileal maltase activity (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin increased weight gain during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study, and improved feed efficiency during weeks 1-2 and 3-4 and over the entire study (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin increased the jejunal villus height, and decreased the duodenal and ileal crypt depth (p<0.05). Lactitol+tributyrin also increased jejunal lactase and sucrase activity (p<0.05). (2) Compared with the positive control, tributyrin improved weight gain and reduced feed/gain during weeks 3-4 (p<0.05), decreased the ileal crypt depth, and improved the duodenal lactase and sucrase activity (p<0.05). Lactitol+ tributyrin improved weight gain during weeks 3-4, improved feed efficiency during weeks 3-4 and over the entire study, increased the ileal villus height, and increased jejunal lactase, sucrase and maltase activity (p<0.05). These results showed that tributyrin improved performance, intestinal morphology and enzyme activity, while the effect of lactitol was very limited. These results also showed that, compared with glutamine, tributyrin was more effective in improving intestinal morphology and enzyme activity, and tributyrin exerted a superior effect in improving performance as weaning progressed. These observations suggest that, as a chemical for repairing intestinal atrophy, glutamine and tributyrin should be used in the first and second periods of the starter phase, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.692-700
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• 2008

A trial was conducted to study the influence of different levels of a commercial enzyme complex on performance, nutrient availability, blood parameters, digestive tract measurements, amylase and trypsin activity of the digestive tract and gut morphology in broilers fed the typical diets in north China. There were four treatments: the control diet and the other three enzyme complex supplemented diets which were 180 mg/kg, 360 mg/kg and 720 mg/kg enzyme complex supplemented to the control diet, respectively. The birds fed the diets supplemented with 180 mg/kg and 360 mg/kg enzyme complex had better performance and nutrient availability, the activities of amylase and trypsin in the digestive tract in the two treatments were improved, the villus height and surface area of villus in the small intestine increased and the crypt depth and epithelial thickness of small intestine decreased. Relative weights of pancreas and relative weights and lengths of small intestine decreased. However, the addition of 720 mg/kg enzyme complex had no effects on these parameters and increased crypt depth and epithelial thickness of the small intestine. The data suggested that suitable supplementation of enzyme complex was beneficial for the birds, while excess enzyme complex inhibited secretion of endogenous enzyme and destroyed the structure of the small intestine.