scholarly journals Mammalian intestinal allometry, phylogeny, trophic level and climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1944) ◽  
pp. 20202888
Author(s):  
María J. Duque-Correa ◽  
Daryl Codron ◽  
Carlo Meloro ◽  
Amanda McGrosky ◽  
Christian Schiffmann ◽  
...  

An often-stated ecomorphological assumption that has the status of ‘textbook knowledge’ is that the dimensions of the digestive tract correlate with diet, where herbivores—consuming diets of lower digestibility—have longer intestinal tracts than faunivores—consuming diets of higher digestibility. However, statistical approaches have so far failed to demonstrate this link. Here, we collated data on the length of intestinal sections and body mass of 519 mammal species, and test for various relationships with trophic, climatic and other biological characteristics. All models showed a strong phylogenetic signal. Scaling relationships with body mass showed positive allometry at exponents greater than 0.33, except for the caecum, which is particularly large in smaller species. Body mass was more tightly linked to small intestine than to large intestine length. Adding a diet proxy to the relationships increased model fit for all intestinal sections, except for the small intestine when accounting for phylogeny. Thus, the diet has a main effect on the components of the large intestine, with longer measures in herbivores. Additionally, measures of habitat aridity had a positive relationship with large intestine length. The small intestine was longer in species from colder habitats at higher latitudes, possibly facilitating the processing of peak intake rates during the growing season. This study corroborates intuitive expectations on digestive tract anatomy, while the dependence of significant results on large sample sizes and inclusion of specific taxonomic groups indicates that the relationships cannot be considered fixed biological laws.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahfud Mahfud ◽  
Ihwan

Excessive hunting and poaching for commercial purpose of Varanus salvator in Indonesia can cause a decline in this animal population. However, the scientific information of this animal especially about the biologic of organ system is rarely reported. Therefore, this case opens up opportunities for researching, which aims to study the anatomy of digestive tract of water monitor macroscopically. This research has been conducted in Biology Laboratory, University of Muhammadiyah Kupang for 5 months from March to August 2016. The digestive organ of this animal that has been preserved in alcohol 70% was obtained before from two males of water monitors. Preservation process: the animal were anesthetized, exsanguinated, and fixated in 4 paraformaldehyde by tissue perfusion method. Observations were performed to the visceral site and morphometrical of digestive tract. The resulted data was analysed descriptively and presented in tables and figures. The digestive tract of water monitor consist of esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and cloaca. The dimension of each organ is different based on its structures and functions. The esophagus of water monitor connects the mouth cavity and the stomach and also as the entrance of food to the stomach. Water monitor stomach were found in cranial part of abdomen, in left side of liver. The small intestine was longer than stomach and it is a winding muscular tube in abdomen in posterior side of liver. The large intestine consist of colon and cloaca, while cecum was not found. This channel was extend lateromedially in abdomen to cloaca between left and right kidneys. The cloaca was the end of digestive tract which excreted feces and urine. From this research, we can conclude that the digestive tract of water monitor consists of esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. It’s difficult to differentiate small intestine and large intestine because there are no cecum.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 905-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. S. GOLFMAN ◽  
R. J. BOILA

Four Holstein steers with cannulae in the rumen, proximal duodenum (PD) and terminal ileum (TI) were fed diets containing: (1) no added Mo or S; (2) Mo added at 10 mg kg−1; (3) S added at 3.0 g kg−1; and (4) Mo and S added at 10 mg and 3.0 g kg−1, respectively, in a Latin square design. Effects of Mo and S on minerals in the digestive tract of steers were evaluated. The solubility of Cu was lower with Mo (P < 0.01) and S (P < 0.01) at the PD and TI, and with Mo plus S (P < 0.05) at the TI. With Mo more (P = 0.07) Cu tended to be excreted in feces. Effects of Mo: Mn, reduced (P < 0.05) input to stomach region and higher (P < 0.01) absorption distal to PD; Zn, lower (P < 0.01) solubility at TI with less (P < 0.05) absorbed from large intestine (LI); Fe, more (P = 0.06) absorbed from LI with lower (P < 0.01) fecal excretion; P, lower (P < 0.05) input to stomach region with a tendency for less (P = 0.08) absorbed from small intestine (SI); Na, less (P < 0.05) absorbed from LI; K, lower (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility. Effects of S: Mn, slight tendency for higher (P = 0.10) absorption distal to PD; Zn, lower (P < 0.05) solubility at PD; P, less (P < 0.05) absorbed from SI and LI; Mg, tendency for less (P = 0.07) absorbed from stomach region and trend for more (P = 0.08) absorbed distal to PD. Minerals other than Cu were influenced by Mo and S in the digestive tract of cattle. Key words: Cattle, molybdenum, sulfur, digestion, minerals


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Nurliana Nurliana ◽  
Anna Farida ◽  
Sugito Sugito ◽  
Al Azhar ◽  
Razali Razali ◽  
...  

This study aimed to determine the cellulase activity in broilers digestive tract after the treatment of soya wastes and palm kernel fermented by A.niger (AKBIS Prob) in the ration. This study used a complete randomized factorial design, which consists of two factors, namely the AKBIS Prob composition factor and the duration of AKBIS Prob. Twenty four broilers were divided into four groups by randomized and three replications of each. The feed supplement combinations were P0 (commercial), P1 (commercial and AKBIS Prob 2%), P2 (commercial and AKBIS Prob 4%), and P3 (commercial and AKBIS Prob 6%). The intestine preparation was taken at the 22 and 36 days to extraction and detection the cellulase activity concentration. Data were analyzed using variance analysis of factorial patterns. AKBIS Prob 2,4 and 6% was no effect (P 0.05) to the cellulase activity in the small and large intestine, while the treatment duration was significant (P0,05) in the small intestine but neither in the large intestine (P0,05) to the cellulase activity. The addition of AKBIS Prob 2.4 and 6% had no effect (P 0.05) on the concentration of cellulase activity in the small intestine and large intestine, while the duration the treatment was very significant (P 0.05) in the small intestine and neither in the large intestine (P 0.05) on the concentration of cellulase activity. The AKBIS administration in the ration for 22 days can increase the activity and concentration of cellulase activity in the small intestine of the digestive tract of broiler chickens.


Primates ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Clauss ◽  
Jelscha Trümpler ◽  
Nicole L. Ackermans ◽  
Andrew C. Kitchener ◽  
Georg Hantke ◽  
...  

AbstractDigestive tract measurements are often considered species specific, but little information exists on the degree to which they change during ontogeny within a species. Additionally, access to anatomical material from nondomestic species is often limited, with fixed tissues possibly representing the only available source, though the degree to which this material is representative in terms of dimensions and weight is debatable. In the present study, the macroscopic anatomy of the digestive tract (length of intestinal sections, and tissue weights of stomach and intestines) of 58 Lemur catta [ranging in age from 1 month (neonates) to 25 years], which had been stored frozen (n = 27) or fixed in formalin (n = 31), was quantified. Particular attention was paid to the caecum and the possible presence of an appendix. The intraspecific allometric scaling of body mass (BM)0.46[0.40;0.51] for total intestine length and BM0.48[0.41;0.54] for small intestine length was higher than the expected geometric scaling of BM0.33, and similar to that reported in the literature for interspecific scaling. This difference in scaling is usually explained by the hypothesis that, to maintain optimal absorption, the diameter of the intestinal tube cannot increase geometrically. Therefore, geometric volume gain of increasing body mass is accommodated for by more-than-geometric length scaling. According to the literature, not all L. catta have an appendix. No appendix was found in the specimens in the present study. The proportions of length measurements did not change markedly during ontogeny, indicating that the proportions of the foetus are representative of those of the adult animal. By contrast, width and tissue-mass scaling of the caecum indicated disproportionate growth of this organ during ontogeny that was not reflected in its length. Compared to overall intraspecific variation, the method of storage (frozen vs. formalin) had no relevant impact on length or weight measurements.


1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Moshtaghi Nia ◽  
J. R. Ingalls

The effect of heat treatment on canola meal (CM) dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) degradability in the rumen and digestion in the small and large intestines and total digestive tract of steers was determined. CM was moist-heat-treated at 127 °C for 15 and 45 min. The degradation of DM and N was estimated using small nylon bags in the rumen for 0.1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h. The mobile bag technique with an in vitro incubation in an acid-pepsin solution was used with a separate set of bags to estimate the digestion of each nutrient in the small and large intestines as well as the total digestive tract for rumen incubation times of 8, 16 and 24 h. Chemical analysis of heated CM showed a significant reduction in soluble N, sucrose and glucosinolate content while the concentration of ADIN increased. Treatment significantly reduced the degradation of DM and N in the rumen while the digestibility of DM and N in the small intestine increased with both treatments proportional to the decreased rumen degradation. Heat treatment had no effect on DM and N digestibility at the large intestine site. Total tract disappearance of DM and N were not affected by 15 min heating; however, after 45 min heating, DM and N disappearances were reduced. Moist heat treatment was effective in reducing rumen disappearance of CM nitrogen while it increased the N digestion in the small intestine. Key words: Heat treatment, canola meal, ruminant intestine, protein digestion


Mammalia ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.T. Santori ◽  
D. Astua De Moraes ◽  
Rui Cerqueira

Natural diets of Didelphidae species vary in the amounts of invertebrates, fruits and small vertebrates eaten. We investigated the digestive morphology of ten species of didelphid marsupials varying in food habits. The purpose was to describe and to compare the shape and relative size of the digestive tract portions among species studied and relate them to food habits. The form of the gastrointestinal tract in this family is simple, with a unilocular stomach, small intestine, large intestine and caecum.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Clauss ◽  
Jelscha Trümpler ◽  
Nicole L. Ackermans ◽  
Andrew C. Kitchener ◽  
Georg Hantke ◽  
...  

AbstractDigestive tract measurements are often considered species-specific, but little information exists on the degree to which they change during ontogeny within species. Additionally, access to anatomical material from nondomestic species is often limited, with fixed tissues possibly representing the only available source, though the degree at which this material is representative in terms of dimensions and weight is debatable. In the present study, the macroscopic digestive tract anatomy (length of intestinal portions, and tissue weights of stomach and intestines) of n=58 Lemur catta (from neonates to 25 years of age) was quantified, of which 27 had been stored frozen and 31 fixed in formalin. Particular attention was paid to the caecum and the possible presence of an appendix. The intraspecific allometric scaling of body mass (BM)0.46[0.40;0.51] for total intestine length and BM0.48[0.41;0.54] for small intestine length was higher than the expected geometric scaling of BM0.33, similar to literature results on interspecific scaling. This difference in scaling is usually explained by the hypothesis that the diameter of the intestinal tube cannot increase geometrically, to maintain optimal absorption. Therefore, geometric volume gain of increasing body mass is accommodated by more-than-geometric length scaling. Literature describes L. catta as being variable with respect to the presence of an appendix. No appendix was found in specimens of the present study. The proportions of length measurements did not change markedly during ontogeny, indicating that proportions developed in the foetus are already representative for the adult animal. By contrast, width and tissue-mass scaling of the caecum indicated a disproportionate growth of this organ during ontogeny that was not reflected in its length. Compared to overall intraspecific variation, the method of storage (frozen vs. formalin) had no relevant impact on length or weight measurements.


2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1323-1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko Nio ◽  
Yasuhiro Kon ◽  
Toshihiko Iwanaga

Galectin is an animal lectin that recognizes β-galactosides of glycoconjugates and is abundant in the gut. This study revealed the cellular expression of galectin subtypes throughout the mouse digestive tract by in situ hybridization. Signals for five subtypes (galectin-2, -3, -4/6, and -7) were detected exclusively in the epithelia. In the glandular stomach, galectin-2 and -4/6 were predominantly expressed from gastric pits to neck of gastric glands, where mucous cells were the main cellular sources. The small intestine exhibited intense, maturation-associated expressions of galectin-2, -3, and -4/6 mRNAs. Galectin-2 was intensely expressed from crypts to the base of villi, whereas transcripts of galectin-3 gathered at villous tips. Signals for galectin-4/6 were most intense at the lower half of villi. Galectin-2 was also expressed in goblet cells of the small intestine but not in those of the large intestine. In the large intestine, galectin-4/6 predominated, and the upper half of crypts simultaneously contained transcripts of galectin-3. Stratified epithelium from the lip to forestomach and anus intensely expressed galectin-7 with weak expressions of galectin-3. Because galectins in the digestive tract may be multi-functional, information on their cell/stage-specific expression contributes to a better understanding of the functions and pathological involvements of galectins.


1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1381-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Virgl ◽  
François Messier

We quantified changes in body composition, external morphology, and digestive tract morphology during the growth and development of muskrats from two marsh environments in central Saskatchewan, Canada. A total of 141 individuals were analysed, with body masses ranging from 20 g (newborns) to >800 g (prior to first reproduction). The growth rate of the digestive tract in nursing young was rapid, and at weaning juveniles had attained 75% of adult large and small intestine length, but only approximately 20% of adult body mass. At birth, muskrats contained no fat tissue, but accumulated fat reserves during the early stages of nursing. Fat reserves were then exhausted during weaning. Protein content also exhibited marked variation during the nursing–weaning period. As juveniles matured, the proportion of protein and ash became relatively constant at approximately 25 and 4.5% of body mass, respectively. Conversely, the proportion of fat tissue continued to increase with body mass, and was inversely related to water content. The accumulation of fat reserves from autumn through early winter was similar to that exhibited by adults and was probably associated with the presence of energy-rich food. Growth generally ceased in mid-October. Prior to the start of the reproductive season, juveniles had attained 77% of adult body mass and 95% of adult skeletal size. The growth diapause in juveniles from mid-October through March may limit their access to primary breeding habitat the following spring.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal diseases that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. [The digestive tract comprises the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. It’s responsible for breaking down food, extracting the nutrients and removing any unusable material and waste products. Inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract disrupts this normal process. IBD can be very painful and disruptive and in some cases, it may even be life-threatening.]


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