Identification of uncultured bacteria tightly associated with the intestine of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus (Lumbricidae; Oligochaeta)

The bacteria associated with the intestine and casts of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister, 1843, were examined by direct counts, culturability studies, 16S rRNA gene clone libraries, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A significant fraction, 24-47%, of the total numbers of prokaryotes remaining in the intestine after casting were tightly associated with the intestinal wall. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene clone libraries constructed from washed earthworm intestinal tissue suggested that the bacterial community was dominated by a few phylotypes that were either absent from, or in low abundance, in the casts. The specific phylotypes present depended on the date of sampling and included representatives of the Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, β-Proteobacteria, and one phylogenetically deep, unclassified group. Juvenile earthworms subsequently collected contained three of the four phylotypes observed in the intestine clone libraries. The Firmicutes phylotype was examined by FISH and was found to be a short rod that represented only a small fraction of the total population of the juvenile samples. These results suggested that the microbial community tightly associated with the intestine was dominated by a small number of phylotypes and that this association was opportunistic rather than obligate.     

Fatty acids,inflammation and intestinal health in pigs

The intestine is not only critical for nutrient digestion and absorption, but also is the largest immune organ in the body. However, in pig production, inflammation induced by numerous factors, such as pathogen infection and stresses (e.g., weaning), results in intestinal mucosal injury and dysfunction, and consequently results in poor growth of pigs. Dietary fatty acids not only play critical roles in energy homeostasis and cellular membrane composition, but also exert potent effects on intestinal development, immune function, and inflammatory response. Recent studies support potential therapeutic roles for specific fatty acids (short chain and medium chain fatty acids and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) in intestinal inflammation of pigs. Results of these new lines of work indicate trophic and cytoprotective effects of fatty acids on intestinal integrity in pigs. In this article, we review the effect of inflammation on intestinal structure and function, and the role of specific fatty acids on intestinal health of pigs, especially under inflammatory conditions.     

Expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 and nestin in small intestine tissues of human embryos

AIM: To explore the relationship between expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2)/nestin and development of small intestine in human embryos. METHODS: The expression of MAP-2 and nestin proteins was detected in the second, third and fourth months of fetal human embryonic small intestinal tissues by the PV method of immunohistochemistry. The positive cell counts and positive intensities were analyzed with Nikon imaging system (NIS-DR). One-way ANOVA was applied to compare these positive cell counts and positive intensities. RESULTS: At the second, the third and the fourth month of human embryos, MAP-2 positive expression was observed in the neural cells and neural fibers of the intermuscular nerve plexus and submucosal plexus in the developing small intestines. With the fetal age increasing, the expressive intensity of MAP-2 positive cells in the neural tissues of the intermuscular nerve plexus showed an uptrend. The results of positive intensity values of the MAP-2 positive cells detected in the 3 fetal age periods showed significant difference (P<0.05). Nestin positive expression was seen in all layers of the small intestine, and the number of positive cells was first increased and then decreased in the developing small intestines of human embryos with the increasing fetal age. One-way ANOVA results also showed significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MAP-2 and nestin regulate the development of small intestinal tissues in human embryos.     

Oral ingestion of colostrum alters intestinal transforming growth factor-beta receptor intensity in newborn pigs

Mammary gland secretion contains numerous bioactive compounds including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). The concentrations of such bioactive compounds are usually much higher in colostrum compared with those in mature milk. To investigate possible effects of colostrum-borne TGF-β on the suckling animal, newborn piglets were naturally suckled or bottle-fed with porcine colostrum, bovine colostrum, porcine milk, infant formula or water for 24 h and intestinal TGF-β receptor intensity was assessed using an immunohistochemical staining technique in combination with computerized image analysis. The intestinal structure was also analyzed by morphometric analysis technique. It was observed that newborn pigs naturally suckled or bottle-fed with porcine or bovine colostrum had significantly greater intestinal villous height and crypt depth when compared with those fed with porcine milk, infant formula or water (p < 0.05). The immunostaining intensity for TGF-β receptors in the intestinal epithelium, particularly on the apical membrane of the villous epithelium, was significantly lower in naturally suckled or colostrum fed piglets compared with that in piglets fed with milk, infant formula or water (p < 0.05). Such decline in receptor intensity is likely the result of receptor internalization and degradation following exposure to colostrum-borne TGF-β. These findings suggest that colostrum-borne TGF-β can modulate intestinal TGF-β signalling pathways and may play a role in postnatal adaptation of the gut in newborn pigs.     

断奶日龄对仔猪肠粘膜形态的影响

本文研究了不同断奶日龄对仔猪肠粘膜形态的影响。试验分17日龄（1组）、21日龄（2组）、28日龄（3组）、35日龄（4组）断奶4个处理组，每个处理3个重复，每个重复1窝，定时定点制杀取十二指肠、空肠上段、空肠下段、回肠作组织切片，观察其绒毛高度、隐窝 深度、绒毛宽度、肠壁厚度。结果表明，仔猪十二指肠、空肠上段、空肠下段和回肠的绒毛高度、隐窝深度、绒毛宽度、肠壁厚度均有不同程度的变化；断奶日龄越早，仔猪肠粘膜变化越大，其中绒毛高度下降幅度越大，恢复时间越长，一般在断奶后8－12d降至最低，随后恢复较快。1组仔猪十二指肠、空肠上段、回肠隐窝深度显著下降；绒毛宽度各组各部位均呈先变窄后变宽趋势，肠壁厚度以1组变化明显。从小肠各部位比较，绒毛高度十二指肠最高，空肠上段次之；隐窝深度、绒毛宽度也以十二指肠最深或最宽；肠壁厚度以回肠最厚。仔猪在29日龄时各组各部位肠粘膜指标降至最低水平，之后，随着日龄的增加，各指标增加显著。     

初生仔猪的肠管与动脉分枝间的相关回归分析

用乳胶加洋红颜料对32例初生仔猪的腹主动脉进行灌注,然后测量其小肠、大肠的长度、口径以及动脉分枝数目,利用微机处理得出,小肠的一级分枝与终末分枝、小肠长度与一级分枝、小肠长度与终未分枝有相关性,但小肠直径与动脉分枝无相关性。大肠的长度与终末枝、大肠的直径与终未枝有相关性。     

The binding of soybean agglutinin (SBA) to the intestinal epithelium of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fed high levels of soybean meal.

A lectin present in soya, soybean agglutinin (SBA), was identified in electrophoretic profiles and immunoblots of dehulled solvent-extracted soybean meal (DSSM), full-fat soybean meal (FFSM) and of aqueous extracts of feeds incorporating them in their formulation. A quantitative estimation was made of the proportion of SBA comprising the total protein in FFSM and a trial diet was prepared containing an amount of pure SBA similar to that in diets incorporating high levels of the whole soya product. Fish fed with this diet exhibited similar pathological disruption of the intestinal tract to that observed in fish given a diet with a high level of DSSM (60% of the diet). Furthermore, immuno-histochemistry revealed the binding of the SBA to the enterocytes lining the intestinal villi both of fish fed a diet incorporating pure SBA and those fed a diet containing a high-level of soya (60%). Our results suggest that SBA binds in vivo to the intestinal epithelium of fish and has a contributory role in pathological changes associated with fish feeds containing high levels of soybean proteins.     

Effects of human urotension Ⅱ on in vivo mesenteric microcirculation in rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of human urotensin Ⅱ (hUII) on in vivo mesenteric microcirculation in rats. METHODS: For recording of microcirculation images in the mesentery, the intestinal loop was mounted on the stage of an intravital microscope equipped with a TV camera. Video images of microcirculation were stored by a video cassette recorder. Temporal changes in internal diameter and microcirculatory velocity of microvesseles were measured by computer using the ImagePro software. The blood flow in intestinal wall was measured with PIMII laser Doppler perfusion Imager (Lisca Sweden). RESULTS: The internal diameters of arterioles and venules in control group were (21.4±2.3) μm and (38.1±3.6) μm,respectively. In UII group, the arterioles and venules contracted immediately after treated with UII and up to the peak at 1 min . Both microcirculatory velocity of arterioles and venules showed no significant changes in UII group (compared with control, P＞0.05). The blood flow in intestinal wall increased 1 min after treated with UII and up to high peak at 5 min(6.4±1.1 perfusion unit vs control 4.2±0.9,P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: hUII contracted mesenteric microvesseles in rats and increased microcirculatory blood perfusion in intestinal wall.     

HMG(High-Mobility Group Box Protein)在刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)肠道再生期间的表达情况分析

运用实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)技术,测定了一种核酸内非组蛋白类蛋白HMG(High-mobility group box protein)在刺参肠道再生第30分钟、1、2、6小时、1、3、7天的mRNA表达情况,结果显示,再生第6小时之前,表达量与正常刺参肠道相比无显著变化,再生第1–7天,其表达量显著高于对照组,并于第7天达到最大值。采用免疫荧光技术,分析测定了HMG在刺参肠道再生各时期的蛋白表达情况,结果显示,再生第2、6小时,HMG蛋白荧光信号弱,仅在浆膜层和黏膜层有少量分布;再生第1–7天,HMG蛋白荧光信号逐渐增强,再生第1天的HMG荧光主要分布在浆膜层和肌肉层,再生第3天和第7天的荧光信号最强,各层均有分布。结合HMG在其他物种组织修复再生中的作用,推测HMG可使免疫系统识别损伤信号,启动修复再生功能,调控细胞外基质(ECM)成分的降解与生成,诱导干细胞迁移、分化,并可能在伤口愈合阶段过后参与细胞免疫。