scholarly journals Structural Modifications of the Small Intestine of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse): Implications for Dietary demands and Improved Domestication

Author(s):  
Samuel Gbadebo Olukole ◽  
Olatunji-Akioye Adenike Olusola ◽  
Oluwaseyi Oyeniyi Owolabi ◽  
Oke Bankole Olusiji

The African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) is a wild rodent in sub-Saharan Africa widely hunted as popular meat delicacy. Domestication of this rat has been poor, probably due to nutrition among other factors. Developmental studies of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum as well as investigations of diet-based structural modifications of the small intestine were carried out in the rats using neonates, juveniles and adults with the aim of providing useful research information which could lead to improved domestication. The mean body weights of the animals were 39.67±1.45 g, 225.00±25.00 g and 742.90±62.13 g, respectively for the neonate, juvenile and adult rats. Significant differences were also observed in the villus height, villus width and crypt depth between the neonates and juveniles, unlike between juvenile and adult rats. These changes in intestinal morphology between the neonate and juvenile rats could be a measure of the neonates’ adaptation to shifts from digestion of maternal milk to the consumption of solid and semisolid forages. Respectively for neonates, juvenile and adult rats, 188%, 228% and 30% increases in villus height for the duodenum, jejunum and ileum respectively, were observed. This is suggestive of larger surface area of the small intestine for digestion and absorption. This study elucidates the structural modifications of the small intestine which can be applied to dietary modifications in response to age in an effort to achieve a more successful domestication of the animal.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 913
Author(s):  
Noah Joseph Murr ◽  
Tyler B. Olender ◽  
Margaret R. Smith ◽  
Amari S. Smith ◽  
Jennifer Pilotos ◽  
...  

Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite which causes malarial disease in humans. Infections commonly occur in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with high rates of inadequate nutrient consumption resulting in malnutrition. The complex relationship between malaria and malnutrition and their effects on gut immunity and physiology are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of malaria infection in the guts of moderately malnourished mice. We utilized a well-established low protein diet that is deficient in zinc and iron to induce moderate malnutrition and investigated mucosal tissue phenotype, permeability, and innate immune response in the gut. We observed that the infected moderately malnourished mice had lower parasite burden at the peak of infection, but damaged mucosal epithelial cells and high levels of FITC-Dextran concentration in the blood serum, indicating increased intestinal permeability. The small intestine in the moderately malnourished mice were also shorter after infection with malaria. This was accompanied with lower numbers of CD11b+ macrophages, CD11b+CD11c+ myeloid cells, and CD11c+ dendritic cells in large intestine. Despite the lower number of innate immune cells, macrophages in the moderately malnourished mice were highly activated as determined by MHCII expression and increased IFNγ production in the small intestine. Thus, our data suggest that malaria infection may exacerbate some of the abnormalities in the gut induced by moderate malnutrition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 472-474
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Bi E Tan ◽  
Jianjun Li ◽  
Ming Qi ◽  
Wenkai Ren ◽  
...  

Abstract Weaning-stress decreases the digestive and absorptive capacity of small intestine in piglets, resulting in reduction in energy intake for intestine cells and defects in epithelial structure. As glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (Asp) are major energy sources for small intestine; thus, this study was conducted to test the hypotheses that supplementation with Gln, Glu, and Asp in diets will improve the intestinal morphology and tight junction in weaning piglets. 198 weaned piglets were assigned to the following treatments: i) Control (Basal diet + 1.59% L-Alanine); ii) T1 (Basal diet + 1% L-Glutamine + 0.5% L-Glutamate + 0.1% L-Aspartate); iii) T2 (Low energy diet + 1% L-Glutamine + 0.5% L-Glutamate + 0.1% L-Aspartate). The small intestinal samples were obtained on 5 or 21-day-post-weaning. The results showed that basal dietary supplementation with Gln, Glu, and Asp in basal diet improved the final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) of piglets on 21-day of post-weaning. Supplementation with Gln, Glu, and Asp in diet with low energy decreased the villus height and crypt depth in ileum of piglets on 5-day-post-weaning, but increased villus height and goblet cell number in jejunum on 21-day post-weaning compared with those in control group. On 5-day-post-weaning, high mRNA levels of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) 1.1 in ileum and Kv 1.5 in jejunum were observed in T 1 and T 2 groups, respectively. Other indicators were higher than those in control piglets on day 5 or 21 post-weaning, including protein abundances of claudin-1, laudin-3 and occluding, and the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells in jejunum and ileum in T 1 or T 2 groups. Collectively, these findings indicated that Gln, Glu, and Asp can alleviate the intestinal barrier injury in piglets induced by weaning stress even under low energy diet.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 701
Author(s):  
Yi Wan ◽  
Ruiyu Ma ◽  
Anam Khalid ◽  
Lilong Chai ◽  
Renrong Qi ◽  
...  

One of the most important factors that determine feed utilization by chickens is the feed form. Although it is generally believed that pellet diets have a positive effect on chicken growth, there are some studies that have indicated no difference between pellet and mash on chickens performance. This study was conducted to assess the effects of feed form on production performance, egg quality, nutrient metabolism and intestinal morphology in two breed laying hens. Two hundred and sixteen 25-week-old Hy-Line brown (n = 108) and Hy-Line grey (n = 108) hens were selected. Each breed was randomly allocated into two treatments with 6 replications (9 birds in each replication), which were fed mash and pellet diets, respectively. Production performances were recorded daily and egg quality traits were measured every two weeks. At 42 weeks of age, one bird per replication from each experimental group was selected for metabolism determination and intestine morphology observation. Compared with mash diets, pellet diets improved laying rate (p < 0.05), ADFI (average daily feed intake, p < 0.05), egg weight, shell strength, yolk proportion and Haugh unit (p < 0.05) in both breeds and reduced the FCR (feed conversion ratio, p < 0.05) in Hy-Line grey. The apparent digestibility of DM% (dry matter) and CP% (crude protein) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both breed laying hens fed pellet than those fed mash. The apparent digestibility of P% (phosphorus) and Ca% (calcium) was higher in Hy-Line grey fed pellet and was higher in Hy-Line brown fed mash. Compared to mash diets, pellet diets increased the VH (villus height), CD (crypt depth) and VCR (ratio of villus height to crypt depth) of the small intestine of Hy-Line grey, and increased the VH and CD of duodenum and ileum of Hy-Line brown. Overall, pellet diets improved production performance and nutrition metabolism through positive changes in the laying rate, feed intake, egg albumen quality and apparent digestibility of laying hens. The current findings provided support for the advantages of feeding pellets during the peak egg laying period for the two popular laying hen strains, Hy-Line brown and Hy-Line grey.


1980 ◽  
Vol 186 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
P G Holtzapple ◽  
C M Starr ◽  
T Morck

1. Phosphatidylcholine synthesis in the foetal, newborn and adult small intestine of rats was studied by determination of cytidine diphosphocholine-1,2-diacylglycerocholine phosphotransferase (cholinephosphotransferase) and acyl-CoA-1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine acyltransferase (lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase) activities and the incorporation of [1-14C]oleic acid into phosphatidylcholine. 2. Cholinephosphotransferase activity was low in foetal jejunum and ileum, increased 3-4 fold in the ileum by 6 days of age and by 12 days in the jejunum. Jejunal activity remained constant throughout weaning; ileal activity gradually decreased to values 25% of that of the jejunum. 3. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activity was high in foetal jejunum and ileum, decreased 70% immediately after birth in the jejunum and increased to adult values by 12 days of age. Ileal activity decreased by 20% after birth, but decreased more rapidly at weaning to 30% of the activity in jejunum. 4. Initial rates and steady-state incorporation of [1-14C]oleic acid into phosphatidylcholine by jejunal rings of 10 day-old rats exceeded that observed in jejunal rings from adult rats by 2-4-fold. 5. In the postnatal jejunum, neither cholinephosphotransferase and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activities nor oleic acid incorporation were stimulated by cortisone administration in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-122
Author(s):  
Akbar Zamani ◽  
Farid Shariatmadari ◽  
Shaban Rahimi ◽  
Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi

A total of 144 ostrich eggs (24 per group) were injected with 4 mL of physiological saline solution [positive control (PC)], carbohydrates (CHO — 20% maltose, 2.5% sucrose, and 2.5% dextrin), β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), vitamin B6 solution, and vitamin D3 (vit D3) solution at 38 d of incubation. Injection of 4 mL physiological saline decreased the hatchability compared with negative control (NC) group (not injected eggs) (68.5% vs. 71.7%; P < 0.05). There was also lower hatchability and more number of embryonic deaths before piping in vitamin-injected group (72.2%). Heart, gizzard, pancreas, spleen and thymus, ileum, cecum, and rectum relative weight were not significantly different among treatments at hatch (P > 0.05). Carbohydrates group had higher duodenum and jejunum relative weight, whereas NC and PC groups had the least duodenum, jejunum relative weight (P < 0.05). Vit D3 injection increased bone strength, fresh and dry bone relative weight (P < 0.01). Chicks from HMB and CHO group had the highest levels of glycogen in the livers, whereas PC, NC, and vit D3 exhibited very low levels of glycogen in their liver (P = 0.014). Vitamins in ovo injected groups had the least duodenum villus height and also vit D3 group had the least jejunum villus height (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the use of CHO for the in ovo injection of ostrich hatching eggs would be practical in industry due to improvement in hatchability, bone characteristics, small intestine villus height and capacity, and also liver glycogen sources.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Amirahmadi ◽  
A.R. Safamehr ◽  
A. Nobakht ◽  
Y. Mehmannavaz

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thyme essential oil and enzyme supplementation on rations with two different energy (wheat or corn) and protein resources (soy or rapeseed meals) on gut morphology and protein digestibility of broiler chickens. Three hundred eighty-four male Ross-308 broiler chickens were used with a 23 factorial arrangement with treatments according to a completely randomized design. The morphological examinations of the intestine were carried out on 1-cm long excised segments from duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Adding wheat to the diet increased small intestine length in birds compared to other feedstuffs (P <0.05). Duodenum crypt depth and jejunum villi length were also higher in groups fed with rations containing wheat (P <0.05). Groups that received thyme essential oil and enzyme supplementation had increased length of the duodenum (P <0.05). However, the two- and three-factor interaction effects were not significant. Protein digestibility was not affected by treatment (P >0.05). Feeding wheat to broiler chickens may increase the surface area for nutrient absorption in the small intestine as compensation for the anti-nutritive activity of non-starch polysaccharides in wheat-based diets. Wheat based diets are expected to be acceptable for broilers when supplemented with appropriate enzymes or thyme essential oil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Karamik ◽  
C. Kop-Bozbay

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of in ovo and post-hatching supplementation with L-Glutamine (Gln) on hatching characteristics, performance, small intestinal morphology, and muscle development of broilers. At day 18 of incubation, 960 fertilized eggs were allocated to four treatments with six replicates. Eggs were i) not injected (negative control) (NC), ii) subject to the standard incubation procedure (PG), iii) injected with 1 ml sterile solution with 0.9% salt (positive control) (PC), and iv) injected with 1% Gln solution (IG). On hatching, the SC chicks were fed with 1% Gln for seven days. The remaining chicks were fed a commercial starter feed. After hatching, there were six replicates of 28 birds in each treatment. Hatchability and yolk sac weight were lower and yolk-free chick weight (YFCW), whole gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and breast muscle weights were higher at hatching for chicks from the IG treatment. At 42 days old, feed conversation ratio (FCR) was lower in birds that had Gln added to their diet than for the other treatments. The FCR was also lower in IG birds than birds in the NC group. The GIT weight, villus height, villus width and crypt depth of the birds receiving dietary supplementation of Gln were greater than those of birds in PC and IG. Thus, in ovo injection of Gln improved hatching characteristics except for hatchability. Further, in ovo and dietary Gln administration reduced FCR by stimulating digestive system development.


Author(s):  
Yuxia Chen ◽  
Yining Xie ◽  
Ruqing Zhong ◽  
Hui Han ◽  
Lei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) supplementation on growth performance, serum parameters, small intestinal morphology, intestinal mucosal integrity, and immune function in weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets with an average body weight (BW) of 8.82 ± 0.05 kg (28 d of age) were assigned randomly to 4 dietary treatments in a 28-d trial, including a control diet (CON), 3 diets with XOS supplementation at the concentration of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg (XOS100, XOS500, and XOS1000). There were 4 replicates per treatment with 15 pigs per pen. From d 1 to 14, there were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) during the different treatments. The different doses of XOS showed a quadratic effect on BW on d 28, ADG and G:F d 1-28 of piglets (P &lt; 0.05). From d 15 to 28, ADG of pigs fed the XOS500 diet was higher (P &lt; 0.05) than pigs fed the CON diet. During the overall period (d 1 to 28), pigs fed the XOS500 diet had a higher BW, ADG and G:F than pigs fed the CON diet (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, compared with the CON group, the XOS500 group had significantly higher serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels on d 14 and 28 (P &lt; 0.05). The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in the XOS500 group was also significantly higher compared with the CON group on d 14 and 28 (P &lt;0.05). However, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were not affected by the dietary treatments. Supplementation of XOS500 to the feed significantly increased the villus height (VH) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) in the jejunum and ileum in comparison with the CON and XOS1000 group. Moreover, the XOS500 group significantly elevated the expression levels of Occludin and zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) in the ileum compared to the CON group. The ileal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8 and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression levels in the XOS100 and XOS500 group were markedly lower than in the CON group. In contrast, the ileal IL-10 mRNA expression levels were remarkably higher in the XOS500 than CON group. In conclusion, xylo-oligosaccharides have a beneficial effect on growth performance by improving serum antioxidant defense system, serum IgG, small intestinal structure and intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets.


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