Effects of feeding deoxynivalenol contaminated wheat on growth performance, organ weights and histological parameters of the intestine of broiler chickens

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of moderate dietary concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) during a 21-day feeding experiment on the performance of broilers. Fifteen 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was fed non-contaminated diet. Another group of broilers was fed a diet naturally contaminated with 5 mg DON/kg diet. Deoxynivalenol had no effect (p > 0.05) on feed consumption, feed conversion, body-weight gain, live body weight or mortality. The absolute and relative weight of the organs (gizzard, pancreas, heart, spleen, colon and caecum) were not altered by the dietary inclusion of DON contaminated grain. However, both the absolute and relative weight of small intestine was decreased (p < 0.01) in DON fed broilers compared to the controls. No gross lesions were detected in any of the organs of birds fed contaminated wheat during the feeding trial. The microscopic examination revealed that, the height and the width of villi in duodenum decreased (p < 0.05) in birds fed DON contaminated wheat compared to controls. On the other hand the height and the width of jejunum villi were not affected (p > 0.05). This study indicates that feeding DON for 21 days to broiler chickens at a concentration of up to 5 mg/kg of diet influenced the weight of the small intestine as well as intestinal histology, especially the duodenum, as evidenced by shorter and thinner villi. In conclusion, diets with DON contamination below levels that induce negative impact on health and performance could affect small intestinal morphology in broilers.     

Effects of Cecropin and Synbiotics on the Intestinal Mucosal Morphology and Intestinal Mucosal Immune Cells of AA Broilers

In order to investigate the effects of cecropin and synbiotics on the intestinal mucosal morphology and intestinal mucosal immune cells of AA broilers. 480 of 1-day-old healthy AA broilers were chosen and randomly divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates per group and 30 broilers per replicate. The broilers in group Ⅰ(control group) were fed basal diet,while that in groups Ⅱ to Ⅳ were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% cecropin,0.3% synbiotics,0.5% cecropin+0.3% synbiotics,respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days. The result showed that compared with group Ⅰ,the villus height of duodenum and ileum in group Ⅳ were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).The crypt depth of jejunum and ileum in group Ⅱ,and that of small intestine in group Ⅲ were significantly or extremely significantly decreased (P<0.05;P<0.01).The villus height/crypt depth of small intestine in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ,and that of duodenum and ileum in group Ⅳ were significantly or extremely significantly increased (P<0.05;P<0.01).The villus width of jejunum in group Ⅱ was significantly decreased (P<0.05),while the villus width of duodenum and jejunum in group Ⅲ,that of jejunum and ileum in group Ⅳ were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01).The mucous thickness of jejunum in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly increased (P<0.05),while that of small intestine in group Ⅳ was extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).The number of the intraepithelial lymphocyte of ileum in group Ⅱ was significantly increased (P<0.05),and that of duodenum in group Ⅲ and small intestine in group Ⅳ were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).The number of the goblet cell of duodenum in group Ⅲ,duodenum and ileum in group Ⅳ were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).The mast cell of jejunum in group Ⅳ was significantly increased (P<0.05).In conclusion,both the cecropin and synbiotics could improve the small intestine mucosal structure and promote the small intestine mucosal immunocompetent cells proliferation in AA broiler, and the effect of combined utilization would be better.     

天蚕素和合生素对AA肉鸡小肠黏膜形态和小肠免疫细胞的影响

为研究日粮中添加天蚕素、合生素对AA肉鸡小肠黏膜形态及免疫细胞的影响,试验选用480只1日龄健康AA肉鸡,随机分为4组,每组4个重复,每个重复30只鸡。对照组（Ⅰ组）饲喂基础日粮,试验组（Ⅱ~Ⅳ组）分别在基础日粮中添加0.5%天蚕素、0.3%合生素、0.5%天蚕素+0.3%合生素。试验期42 d。结果显示,与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅳ组十二指肠、回肠绒毛高度极显著升高（P<0.01）;Ⅱ组空肠和回肠、Ⅲ组小肠各段隐窝深度显著或极显著降低（P<0.05;P<0.01）;Ⅱ、Ⅲ组小肠各段和Ⅳ组十二指肠、回肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度显著或极显著升高（P<0.05;P<0.01）;Ⅱ组空肠绒毛宽度显著降低（P<0.05）,Ⅲ组十二指肠和空肠、Ⅳ组空肠和回肠绒毛宽度均极显著降低（P<0.01）;Ⅱ、Ⅲ组空肠黏膜厚度显著升高（P<0.05）,Ⅳ组小肠各段黏膜厚度均极显著升高（P<0.01）。Ⅱ组回肠上皮内淋巴细胞数量显著升高（P<0.05）,Ⅲ组十二指肠、Ⅳ组小肠各段上皮内淋巴细胞数量极显著升高（P<0.01）;Ⅲ组十二指肠、Ⅳ组十二指肠和回肠杯状细胞数量极显著升高（P<0.01）;Ⅳ组空肠肥大细胞数量显著升高（P<0.05）。综上所述,天蚕素、合生素单独或联合添加均能改善AA肉鸡小肠黏膜结构,促进小肠黏膜免疫细胞增殖,联合添加效果最佳。     

葛根素对饲喂氧化大豆油肉鸡小肠黏膜屏障功能及抗氧化能力的影响

本试验旨在研究葛根素对饲喂氧化大豆油饲粮黄羽肉鸡小肠黏膜形态结构、紧密连接蛋白基因表达及抗氧化能力的影响。试验采用2×2因子设计,因子包括油脂质量（新鲜大豆油和氧化大豆油）和葛根素添加水平（0、750 mg·kg^-1）。选取健康1日龄雌性黄羽肉鸡360只,随机分成4个处理组,分别为新鲜大豆油饲粮组、新鲜大豆油+葛根素（750 mg·kg^-1）饲粮组、氧化大豆油饲粮组和氧化大豆油+葛根素（750 mg·kg^-1）饲粮组,每组6个重复,每个重复15羽。在28和56日龄时,每个重复随机选取1只鸡,取十二指肠、空肠、回肠检测小肠形态结构和测定小肠黏膜紧密连接蛋白基因表达及抗氧化指标。结果表明：1）饲喂氧化大豆油显著降低28日龄肉鸡十二指肠的绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度（V/C）、回肠V/C和claudin-1 mRNA表达量以及56日龄肉鸡3个肠段的绒毛高度及V/C （P<0.05）,显著升高56日龄3个肠段的隐窝深度（P<0.05）。饲粮中添加葛根素显著提高28日龄肉鸡空肠绒毛高度和V/C、回肠闭合小环蛋白1（ZO-1） mRNA表达量和56日龄肉鸡十二指肠V/C、空肠和回肠的绒毛高度及V/C （P<0.05）,显著降低3个肠段的隐窝深度（P<0.05）。2）饲喂氧化大豆油显著升高28日龄十二指肠还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量和空肠还原型谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性（P<0.05）,并显著降低28日龄回肠GSH含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力和总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）（P<0.05）。饲粮中添加葛根素显著提高28日龄肉鸡十二指肠GSH-Px活性（P<0.05）。饲喂氧化大豆油显著降低56日龄回肠SOD活性和T-AOC （P<0.05）,饲粮中添加葛根素显著提高56日龄肉鸡十二指肠SOD和回肠SOD、GSH-Px活性（P<0.05）,显著降低56日龄肉鸡空肠GSH含量、SOD活性、T-AOC和回肠T-AOC （P<0.05）。综上所述,饲喂氧化大豆油破坏肠道黏膜形态结构、降低紧密连接蛋白基因的表达量和抗氧化能力,添加葛根素可提高肉鸡小肠黏膜紧密连接蛋白基因的表达量,改善氧化损伤条件下肠道黏膜形态结构,提高抗氧化酶的活性而提高其抗氧化能力。     

枯草芽孢杆菌对肉鸡肠道消化酶活性、黏膜结构及肠道菌群组成的影响

将216羽1日龄罗斯308肉鸡随机分成对照组和处理组,每组设3个重复,每个重复36羽。对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理组饲喂基础日粮加枯草芽孢杆菌制剂。饲养期42d。结果显示：与对照组相比,处理组肉鸡十二指肠内容物中胰蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶和总蛋白水解酶的活性均显著提高（P〈0.05）;十二指肠、空肠和回肠绒毛高度显著增加（P〈0.05）,绒毛高度和隐窝深度的比值（VH/CD）显著升高（P〈0.05）;空肠和盲肠内容物中乳酸菌数量显著增加（P〈0.05）,大肠杆菌数量显著降低（P〈0.05）。结果表明,肉鸡日粮中添加适量的枯草芽孢杆菌能显著提高肉鸡消化酶活性,改善肉鸡肠黏膜结构及菌群组成,从而提高肉鸡的生长性能。     

Effect of probiotic supplementation on growth performance,intestinal morphology,barrier integrity,and inflammatory response in broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress

This study investigated the protective effects of probiotic on heat stress‐induced intestinal injury and inflammatory response in broilers. A total of 180 male broilers were randomly allocated to three treatments with four replicates each from 22 to 42 days of age. The broilers were either raised under thermoneutral (TN) conditions (23 ± 1°C) or subjected to cyclic heat stress (28–35–28°C for 12 hr daily). The broilers kept at TN conditions were fed a basal diet, and those exposed to heat stress were fed basal diets supplemented with or without probiotic at a dose of 1.5 × 10⁸ cfu/kg. Compared with the TN group, heat stress decreased (p < .05) the growth performance, reduced (p < .05) villus height and villus height: crypt depth ratio in intestinal mucosa, increased (p < .05) serum levels of D‐lactic acid on day 28 and endotoxin, TNF‐α and IL‐6 on day 42, and decreased (p < .05) serum IL‐10 content on day 42. Dietary supplementation of probiotic reversed (p < .05) all these changes except for the growth performance in heat‐stressed broilers. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of probiotic could improve intestinal morphology and barrier function, alleviate inflammatory response, but exert no ameliorative effect on growth performance of broilers under cyclic heat stress.     

乳酸菌和酵母菌复合制剂对肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能和肠道健康的影响

本试验旨在研究乳酸菌和酵母菌复合制剂(LS)及其与维吉尼亚霉素(VM)联用对爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡生长性能、屠宰性能和肠道健康的影响。选取1日龄健康AA肉鸡公雏400只,据体重相近原则分为4组,每组5个重复,每重复20只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加30 mg/kg VM(VM组)、15 mg/kg VM+1 000 mg/kg LS(VM+LS组)和1 000 mg/kg LS(LS组)的试验饲粮。试验期42 d。结果表明:1)VM、VM+LS和LS组的42日龄肉仔鸡体重显著高于对照组(P0.05);VM+LS和LS组的22~42和1~42日龄肉仔鸡平均日增重和料重比显著优于对照组(P0.05)。2)VM+LS组的42日龄胸肌率和全净膛率显著高于对照组(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,LS组21日龄空肠黏膜形态显著改善(P0.05),十二指肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度/隐窝深度值显著提高(P0.05);VM+LS和LS组42日龄十二指肠和空肠绒毛高度及绒毛高度/隐窝深度值显著提高(P0.05)。4)VM+LS和LS组的42日龄盲肠大肠杆菌数量和大肠杆菌/乳酸杆菌值显著低于对照组(P0.05)。综上,LS及其与VM联合使用均能改善肠道健康,促进肉仔鸡生长。     

Effects of three major protein sources on performance,gut morphology and fermentation characteristics in broilers

ABSTRACT

1. This study determined the effects of three protein sources (PS), each at two digestibility crude protein (DCP) levels, on performance, gut morphology and fermentation characteristics in the hindgut of broilers.

2. It was hypothesised that broilers fed ingredients high in indigestible CP, i.e. rapeseed meal (RSM) or maize gluten (MG), could potentially cause reduced growth, impaired gut health, and more protein fermentation products in caecal digesta. Increasing the DCP level in each of the indigestible CP diets may compensate for these detrimental effects.

3. In total, 288 one-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were used in a completely randomised 3 × 2 factorial design, with six replicate pens per treatment. Three PS: soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal (RSM) or maize gluten (MG), and two DCP levels: 15.8 and 17.2% were used.

4. Broilers fed SBM had increased feed intake and BWG and improved FCR compared with those fed RSM and MG diets. Broilers fed high DCP had better performance compared with those on low DCP. No significant effects of PS or DCP level were found on gastrointestinal tract development, caecal ammonia or volatile fatty acid concentrations.

5. Broilers fed SBM had longer villi, smaller crypts and increased villus height to crypt depth ratio compared with those fed RSM and MG diets. Broilers fed RSM diet had a lower caecal pH, and had 16.5% and 14.9% more branched chain fatty acid contents in caecal digesta compared with those fed SBM and MG diets, respectively, indicating more proteolytic fermentation.

6. Replacing SBM by RSM and MG negatively affected growth performance and gut morphology. Hindgut protein fermentation was substantially increased in RSM fed birds.

7. To a certain extent, retarded growth performance in RSM and MG fed birds could be counterbalanced by increasing the dietary level of digestible CP.     

微生态制剂肽菌素在肉鸡生产中的应用研究

将微生态制剂肽菌素添加到肉鸡的日粮中,通过测定肉鸡的生长性能、消化道生理和肠道菌群等指标,探讨肽菌素在肉鸡生产上的应用效果。结果表明:①金霉素和肽菌素均能显著提高肉鸡21日龄体重,1～21日龄平均日增重以及料肉比(P<0.05)。从料肉比来看,添加肽菌素和金霉素均有降低1～21日龄肉鸡料肉比的趋势,且肽菌素各组料肉比均低于金霉素组,但差异均不显著(P>0.05)。②肽菌素能显著降低21日龄肉鸡十二指肠、空肠和整个小肠的相对长度,显著增加回肠相对长度(P<0.05)。金霉素对十二指肠、空肠和整个小肠的长度无显著影响(P>0.05),但显著增加回肠相对长度(P<0.05)。42日龄时,肽菌素仅显著增加空肠的相对长度,对其他肠段无显著影响(P>0.05)。而金霉素则对42日龄肉鸡的十二指肠、空肠、回肠和整个小肠的长度无显著影响(P>0.05)。③肽菌素和金霉素对21日龄及42日龄肉鸡的十二指肠、空肠、回肠的绒毛高度、隐窝深度以及绒隐比值均无显著影响(P>0.05),但有提高的趋势。④肽菌素有提高21日龄肉鸡盲肠内容物中乳酸杆菌数量和降低大肠杆菌数量的趋势,各组间差异不显著;金霉素显著降低了乳酸杆菌和大肠杆菌的数量(P<0.05)。综上所述,肽菌素能提高肉鸡的生产性能、改善肠道形态、增加肠道中乳酸杆菌的数量和降低大肠杆菌的数量,且前期效果大于后期。     

Evaluation of the chicory inulin efficacy on ameliorating the intestinal morphology and modulating the intestinal electrophysiological properties in broiler chickens

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) belongs to plants of the Compositae family accumulating energy in the form of inulin fructan. Chicory, a prebiotic, is a fermentable oligosaccharide and oligofructose that may affect the intestinal mucosal architecture and the electrophysiological parameters. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of adding chicory fructans in feed on the intestinal morphology and electrogenic transport of glucose in broilers. Four hundred, 1 day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups (200 bird per group) for 5 weeks. The dietary treatments were (i) control, (ii) basal diets supplemented with the dried, grinded ground chicory pulp containing inulin (1 kg of chicory/ton of the starter and grower diets). In duodenum, dietary chicory increased the villus height and villus width and villus height to crypt depth ratio (p < 0.05), but the duodenal crypt depth remained unaffected (p > 0.05). However, in jejunum, the villus height, crypt depth and villus height to crypt depth ratio were decreased by dietary chicory compared with control birds (p < 0.05). In ileum, the villus height and villus crypt depth was decreased by dietary chicory supplementation compared with control (p < 0.05), but, the villus height to crypt depth ratio was increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary chicory relatively affected the electrophysiological parameters of the intestine but did not reach significance. The amount of ΔIsc after d ‐glucose addition to the jejunal mucosa was numerically higher for chicory fed birds (19 μA/cm²) than control birds (10 μA/cm²). The percentage of increase in the Isc after d ‐glucose addition (ΔIsc %) was higher for chicory group upto (90%) of the control group. In colon, the actual Isc value and Isc after d ‐glucose addition was numerically higher for chicory fed birds than control birds (p > 0.05). Moreover, the conductance of jejunal and colonic tissues after d ‐glucose addition remained unaffected by the dietary chicory. In conclusion, addition of chicory to broilers diet increased the duodenal villus height, villus width and villus height to crypt depth ratio and decreased the villus height and crypt depth in both jejenum and ileum. Furthermore, dietary chicory relatively modified the small intestinal electrogenic transport of glucose in broilers.     

Influence of fibre and betaine on development of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers between hatch and 14 d of age

An experiment was designed to determine the influence of fibre and betaine on the development of the intestine, liver and pancreas of broilers from hatch to 14 d of age. A total of 250-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were allocated to 16 cages with 15 broilers each. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design, consisting of 2 feed formulations (low and high fibre diets) and 4 levels of betaine (0, 1, 3 or 5 kg/t). At hatch, 10 birds in total were euthanised, and samples of the liver, pancreas, yolk sac and intestine were collected for reference of the analysed parameters before the start of the trial. On d 4, 9 and 14, 5 birds per cage (10 birds per treatment) were selected, euthanised and treated as the same as the birds at hatch. Villus height and width and crypt depth were determined on the duodenum samples, and absorptive area was calculated. The number of enterocytes in mitosis at the villus was determined by a positive reaction to antibody for Ki67 protein, and fused villus was evaluated visually. The relative weight of the yolk sac reduced (P < 0.05) as birds aged while the intestine and liver reached a maximum (P < 0.05) at around d 4 and the pancreas at d 9. Birds fed the high fibre diet had greater feed intake, lower relative weight of the pancreas and higher villus (P < 0.05) than birds fed the low fibre diet. Villus width increased (P < 0.05) at 4 d of age, and this was associated with fused villus. Betaine inclusion reduced (P < 0.05) villus width, increased (P < 0.05) villus size and absorptive area, and reduced (P < 0.05) the number of enterocytes with positive reaction for the antibody Ki-67. Betaine inclusion reduced the width and increased the absorptive area and the villus height of the duodenum of birds up to 14 d of age. The higher fibre diet increased feed intake and villus height, yet reduced pancreas relative weight, while not affecting body weight gain. This response was possibly due to a dilution effect of the fibre, reducing nutrient absorption and consequently stimulating villus growth to improve absorption rates.     

益生菌发酵棉粕对黄羽肉鸡小肠黏膜形态、血清T淋巴细胞亚群及肠道菌群的影响

本试验旨在研究添加不同比例益生菌发酵棉粕对黄羽肉鸡小肠黏膜形态、血清T淋巴细胞亚群及肠道菌群的影响。选用14日龄健康黄羽肉鸡320只,随机分成4组,每组4个重复,每个重复20只鸡,Ⅰ组为空白对照组,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别添加3%、6%和9%发酵棉粕,研究不同添加量对肉鸡生长前期(14～28日龄)、中期(29～45日龄)、后期(46～65日龄)各阶段小肠黏膜形态,中、后期血清T淋巴细胞亚群及后期肠道菌群的影响。研究结果显示:①与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅲ组黄羽肉鸡前、中、后期的十二指肠绒毛高度极显著提高31.90%、25.17%、49.41%(P<0.01),隐窝深度极显著降低9.42%、11.31%、10.83%(P<0.01),V/C极显著提高45.65%、41.19%、67.84%(P<0.01);空肠绒毛高度极显著提高28.72%、28.38%、27.61%(P<0.01),隐窝深度显著或极显著下降6.65%(P<0.05)、6.18%(P<0.01)、7.37%(P<0.01),V/C极显著提高37.84%、36.69%、37.82%(P<0.01);回肠绒毛高度极显著提高76.64%、40.36%、67.20%(P<0.01) ,隐窝深度显著降低4.09%、6.07%、6.02%(P<0.05),V/C极显著提高83.79%、49.27%、78.26% (P<0.01)。②中、后期Ⅳ组黄羽肉鸡CD4⁺/CD8⁺显著提高42.86%、34.95%(P<0.05)。③随着发酵棉粕添加量的增多,黄羽肉鸡的十二指肠、空肠、回肠中乳酸菌的数量逐渐增多,且差异越来越明显,除Ⅱ组十二指肠和空肠段外,其余各组的各肠段差异均显著或极显著(P<0.05;P<0.01)。大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量逐渐减少,且差异越来越明显,除Ⅱ组十二指肠段外,其余各组各肠段差异均显著或极显著(P<0.05;P<0.01)。综上所述,6%发酵棉粕组在提高十二指肠、空肠、回肠绒毛高度、V/C,降低其隐窝深度方面都优于3%、9%发酵棉粕组,而9%发酵棉粕组在提高CD4⁺/CD8⁺、肠道乳酸菌数量和降低大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌数量方面优于3%、6%发酵棉粕组。     

Influence of phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, on performance, apparent metabolisable energy, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology in broilers fed wheat-based diets containing adequate level of phosphorus

1. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of microbial phytase and xylanase, individually or in combination, on performance, apparent metabolisable energy, digesta viscosity, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology in broilers fed on wheat-soy diets containing adequate phosphorus (P). The wheat-soy basal diet was formulated to contain 4.5 g/kg non-phytate P and the experimental diets were formulated by supplementing the basal diet with xylanase (1000 xylanase units/kg diet), phytase (500 phytase units/kg diet) or a combination of phytase and xylanase. 2. Supplemental phytase improved the weight gains and feed efficiency by 17.5 and 2.9%, respectively. Corresponding improvements due to the addition of xylanase were 16.5 and 4.9%, respectively. The combination of phytase and xylanase caused no further improvements in broiler performance. 3. Individual additions of xylanase or phytase resulted in numerical improvements in apparent metabolisable energy (AME), but the differences were not significant. The combination of the two enzymes significantly increased AME. Addition of xylanase and the combination of the two enzymes reduced the viscosity of digesta in all sections of the intestine. Phytase supplementation reduced digesta viscosity in the duodenum and ileum, but not in the jejunum. 4. Enzyme supplementation lowered the relative weight and length of the small intestine. Additions of xylanase and phytase reduced the relative weight of the small intestine by 15.5 and 11.4%, respectively, while the corresponding reductions in the relative length of the small intestine were 16.5 and 14.1%, respectively. The combination of phytase and xylanase had no further effects on the relative weight and length of the small intestine compared with the xylanase group. 5. The addition of phytase increased villus height in the duodenum and decreased the number of goblet cells in the jejunum compared with those on the unsupplemented basal diet. Xylanase supplementation tended to increase goblet cell numbers in the duodenum and decreased crypt depth in thejejunum. The combination of phytase and xylanase increased villus height in the ileum and crypt depth in thejejunum and ileum. 6. In summary, the present results showed that the addition of a microbial phytase, produced by solid state fermentation and containing significant activities of beta-glucanase and xylanase, was as effective as xylanase in improving the performance of broiler chickens fed on wheat-based diets containing adequate levels of P. Improved performance with enzyme supplementation was generally associated with reduced digesta viscosity, increased AME, and reduced relative weight and length of small intestine.     

玉米-杂粕型日粮添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡免疫功能、肠道形态和微生物菌群的影响

试验研究在玉米-杂粕型日粮中添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡免疫功能、肠道形态及微生物菌群的影响。试验将480只1日龄艾维因肉公鸡分为4个处理组,分别在基础日粮中添加0、709、1 419、2 128 IU/kg的木聚糖酶,每个处理6个重复,每个重复20只肉鸡,试验期44 d。结果表明:在玉米-杂粕型日粮中添加木聚糖酶对肉鸡免疫器官指数和免疫功能有一定影响1,419 IU/kg组44日龄肉鸡血液E花环和淋巴细胞转化率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);添加木聚糖酶可不同程度提高22日龄肉鸡空肠和回肠肠道肠绒毛长度,降低十二指肠和回肠隐窝深度,显著增加肉鸡肠绒毛长度和隐窝深度的比值(P<0.05);显著降低十二指肠固有层厚度(P<0.05);显著增加44日龄肉鸡乳酸杆菌的数量。结果显示,在玉米-杂粕型日粮中添加1 419 IU/kg水平的木聚糖酶对改善肉鸡免疫指标、肠道形态及微生物菌群效果最佳。     

Evaluating two multistrain probiotics on growth performance,intestinal morphology,lipid oxidation and ileal microflora in chickens

An experiment was conducted to investigate the supplementation of two commercially available multistrain probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, lipid oxidation and ileal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 280‐day‐old ROSS 308 mixed‐sex broiler chickens with an average initial body weight of 42 ± 0.5 g were randomly divided into four treatments with five replicate cages of 14 birds each cage in a completely randomized design and fed with the following diets for 42 day: (a) control (CON) (antibiotic‐free diet), (b) antibiotic (ANT) (CON + Avilamycin 150 g/ton feed), (c) probiotic A (CON + Protexin^® 150 g/ton feed) and (d) probiotic B (CON + Bio‐Poul^® 200 g/ton feed). The results showed the broilers fed the ANT diet had greater average daily gain than broilers fed the CON diet during day 1–14 (p < 0.05). At day 42, two birds were randomly selected per replicate for evaluation intestinal morphology, lipid oxidation and ileal microflora. birds fed diet supplemented with probiotic A and probiotic B increased villus height and goblet cells numbers in the jejunum and villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus height in the ileum as compared to birds fed CON diet (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde value was reduced (p < 0.05) in the ANT, probiotic B and probiotic A groups compared with the CON group. The Lactobacillus population was increased and Clostridium spp. population decreased in the ileum of broilers fed diets containing the probiotic B and probiotic A compared with those fed CON diet (p < 0.05). The results from this study indicate that the probiotic A (Protexin^®) and probiotic B (Bio‐Poul^®) used in this trial may serve as alternatives to ANT.     

Effects of fasting and refeeding on structures of the intestinal villi and epithelial cells in White Leghorn hens

1. The fine structural alterations of villi and epithelial cells in each part of the small intestine were investigated in layer‐type hens fasted for 12 h to 20 d or refed for one day after each fasting period.

2. Within the first 24‐h‐fasting, villi of the duodenum showed a remarkable reduction in height and those of the jejunum revealed a gradual decrease; such a significant reduction of the villus height was not obtained in the ileum. After 36‐h‐fasting, villus height in each part gradually decreased with days of fasting.

3. All intestinal villus heights increased after only 1‐d‐refeeding of various kinds of diets following 3‐, 10‐, or 20‐d‐fasting. The duodenum especially rapidly recovered even after long‐term fasting of 20 d but the ileum showed very slow recovery, suggesting that the ileum seems to be inactive in absorptive function.

4. These variable alterations of villus height in the proximal intestine suggest that the higher intestinal absorptive ability is under the normal feeding, the more rapidly villus height is influenced by nutritional conditions.

5. Cell area and cell mitosis decreased after fasting, the latter showing a marked reduction. However, in spite of a remarkable decrease of cell mitosis in the proximal intestine after fasting, refeeding activated cell renewal and it soon reached control levels, demonstrating that the villus height mainly varied with the numbers of epithelial cells.

6. In the epithelial cells of the proximal intestine in chickens fasted for 20 d, large lysosomal autophagous vacuoles including mitochondria and dense bodies were observed. These were reduced in size by refeeding for only one day, suggesting that fasting may cause intracellular digestion through lysosomal autophagy.

7. These results lead to the conclusion that long‐term fasting for force moulting is possible, that a high protein and high energy diet can be fed immediately after fasting and that a cell undergoing lysosomal autophagy in normal chickens indicates undernutrition.     

Impact of mash and crumble diets on intestinal amino acids transporters,intestinal morphology and pancreatic enzyme activity of broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of mash and crumble pre‐starter diets on pancreatic enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, gene expression of intestinal peptide and amino acid (AA) transporters of broilers. Broilers in battery cages were assigned to different feed forms of pre‐starter diet from 1 to 10 days of age. Significantly increased body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and lowered FCR were observed in birds fed crumble pre‐starter diet (CPD, p < 0.05). Feed forms had no effect on whole and small intestine length, but relative intestinal length and relative small intestinal length significantly increased in the broilers fed a mash pre‐starter diet (MPD, p < 0.05). Feeding CPD increased the weight of pancreas (p < 0.05), but relative weight of the pancreas was not influenced by treatments. Pancreatic protease and amylase activities significantly increased in the broilers fed CPD (p < 0.05) but the activity of lipase was not influenced. Crypt depth (CD) and villus height (VH) were higher in broilers fed CPD (p < 0.05) but villus width (VW), villus surface area (VSA) and villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio (VCR) were not influenced by treatments. mRNA levels for peptide transporter 1 (PepT1), Na⁺‐independent cationic AA transporter1 (CAT1), Na⁺‐independent cationic and Na⁺‐dependent neutral AA transporter 1 (y⁺LAT1) and Na⁺‐dependent neutral AA transporter (B⁰AT) were lower in birds fed CPD (p < 0.05). There were no differences in mRNA abundance of Na⁺‐independent cationic and zwitterionic AA transporter (b^0,+AT) among treatments. Overall, the present data showed that feeding crumble diet during first 10 days of age, through higher FI, enhanced intestinal histomorphology, increased digestive enzyme activity is beneficial to growth performance of broilers. Indeed, dietary form can be an important factor in the expression of jejunal transporters.     

The effect of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate on small intestinal morphology,antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory effect in heat‐stressed broilers

This study was to investigate the effects of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory response in heat‐stressed broiler. A total of 192 2‐week‐old Arbour Acres broilers chickens were divided into four groups with six replicates per group and eight chickens per replicate: one thermoneutral control group (28°C, group TN), which was fed the basal diet; and three cyclic high‐temperature groups (35°C from 7:00 to 19:00 hr; 28°C from 19:00 hr to 7:00 hr, heat stress group), which were fed the basal diet supplementation with EGCG 0 mg/kg (group HS0), 300 mg/kg (group HS300) and 600 mg/kg (group HS600). The gut morphology and intestinal mucosal oxidative stress indicators, as well as intestinal barrier‐related gene expression, were analysed. The results showed that compared with group TN, heat stress reduced the villus height (VH), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD)and catalase (CAT), increased the crypt depth (CD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)content at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). After the heat‐stressed broilers were supplemented with EGCG, VH, VH/CD (V/C), and the activities of GSH‐Px, SOD and CAT were increased, and CD and MDA content were reduced compared with those in group HS0 without EGCG supplementation at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). The EGCG supplementation promoted the gene expression of nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), Claudin‐1, Mucin 2 (Muc2) and alleviated the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and lipopolysaccharide‐induced tumour necrosis factor (LITAF) gene expression compared with group HS0 (p < 0.05). Moreover, intestinal morphology was strongly correlated with antioxidant ability and inflammatory response. In conclusion, EGCG alleviated the gut oxidative injury of heat‐stressed broilers by enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting inflammatory response.     

Effect of taurine on intestinal morphology and utilisation of soy oil in chickens

1. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of taurine on intestinal morphology and utilisation of dietary fatty acids in chicken. One-day-old broilers chickens were fed with a maize- and soybean-based diet containing soy oil, and supplemented with taurine at either 0 or 0·5 g/kg. 2. Result showed that the total bile acid in blood and lipase activity in the small intestine were elevated in 3-week-old broilers given the taurine-supplemented diet. No differences were observed for total serum bile acid and lipase activity between the groups of 6-week-old broilers. 3. The development of the jejunum villus and ileum villus was inhibited, and the weight of jejunum and the relative height of intestinal mucosa were decreased in the chickens fed the taurine-supplemented diet. 4. The rate of diet fatty acid utilisation was not different between the groups of 3- and 6-week-old chickens. 5. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with taurine had no beneficial effect on intestinal morphology or utilisation of a soy oil diet in chickens.     

复合微生态制剂对肉仔鸡血清生化指标和十二指肠组织形态的影响

本试验旨在研究由鼠李糖乳杆菌和啤酒酵母共生培养物制备的复合微生态制剂对肉仔鸡血清生化指标和十二指肠组织形态的影响。试验选用1日龄健康艾维茵肉仔鸡240只,随机分为6个组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鸡。对照组饲喂基础日粮,抗生素组饲喂含600 mg/kg金霉素的基础日粮,4个试验组饲喂基础日粮,并在饮水中分别添加0.1%、0.5%、1.0%、1.5%复合微生态制剂。试验结果表明,复合微生态制剂能有效提高肉仔鸡血清钙、磷、总蛋白、球蛋白和白蛋白的含量(P＜0.05),能降低胆固醇的含量和白球比(P＜0.05),并使十二指肠肠绒毛密度增加,长度显著增长(P＜0.05)。复合微生态制剂对肉仔鸡血清中某些生化指标和十二指肠组织形态有一定的影响。