Histomorphometrical changes in intestine structure and innervation following experimental fumonisins intoxication in male Wistar rats.

Fumonisins are highly toxic metabolites produced by Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium verticillioides. Little is known about the effects of a chronic low level of fumonisins on intestinal structure and innervation in monogastric animals, even though the intestine is the first organ exposed to fumonisins. The influence of the most prevalent strains of fumonisins, FB1 and FB2, on intestinal and liver morphology, the enteric nervous system and intestinal epithelial cell prolif- eration was investigated in an experimental rat model of fumonisin intoxication. Adolescent (5-weeks-old), male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (C group) not treated with fumonisins or intoxicated with fumonisins (FB group). FB1 together with FB2 were daily administered intragastrically at a dose of 90 mg/kg body weight for 21 days. The damaging effect was assessed by determination of the activity of ALAT and AspAT. Samples from the small intes- tine and liver were taken and blood samples were collected to determine the activity of gamma- -glutamyl transferase (GGT) and amylase. The exposure to FBs resulted in histopathological degenerative alterations in hepatocytes, including mild vacuolar degeneration and ballooning. FB exposure was also toxic in the duodenum and jejunum, where significant changes in morphology, cell proliferation, collagen wall fibres and innervation were observed. Taken together, the results obtained strengthen the hypothesis that chronic exposure to FBs could induce intestinal damage, including damage to the enteric nervous system and may have consequences for general health.

Analysis of mechanical properties of bones and tendons shows that modern hybrid rye can be introduced to corn-wheat based diet in broiler chickens as an alternative energy source irrespective of xylanase supplementation.

This study focused on analyzing the effects of inclusion of modern hybrid rye to corn-wheat diet on mechanical properties of bones and tendons. A total of 224 broiler chickens were fed a diet without rye inclusion or a diet containing 15% of hybrid rye cv. Brasetto. The diets were either unsupplemented or supplemented with xylanase (minimum activity 1000 FXU/g, dose 200 mg/kg of feed). Each dietary group consisted of 56 birds. On day 42, selected chickens (n = 7 from each group) were slaughtered. Tibia were analyzed for mineralization, geometry, and biomechanical characteristics of bone mid-diaphysis. The mechanical properties of digital flexor III tendon were also assessed. Bone mineral density and bone ash percentage did not differ when both diets were given without xylanase. Enzyme supplementation increased bone mineral density (P < 0.01) in both dietary groups, whereas bone ash percentage (P < 0.01) increased only for corn-wheat diet. Rye inclusion had no effect on bone mid-shaft geometrical traits related to tibia weight-bearing capacity (cross-sectional area, cortical index, and mean relative wall thickness). Performed bending test showed no effect of hybrid rye inclusion on bone mechanical endurance. When xylanase was supplemented, bone length (P < 0.01) and weight (P < 0.05) decreased, whereas yield load (P < 0.01), stiffness (P < 0.05), Young modulus (P < 0.05), elastics stress (P < 0.01), and ultimate stress (P < 0.01) increased, irrespective of rye presence. The tendon tensile strain test showed that in corn-wheat diet enzyme supplementation positively influenced rupture force (P < 0.05) and tendon stiffness (P < 0.01). Xylanase supplementation increased the value of energy required to tendon rupture, irrespective of rye inclusion (P < 0.05). Study showed that modern hybrid rye varieties can be introduced to corn-wheat diets of broiler chickens in the aspect of animal welfare related to the development and homeostasis of musculoskeletal system, irrespective of xylanase supplementation. The enzyme addition positively affected biomechanical properties of bones and tendons.

Structural changes in the small intestine of female turkeys receiving a probiotic preparation are dose and region dependent.

Gut microbiota have been shown to play a critical role in the maintenance of host health. Probiotics, which regulate gut microbiota balance, could serve as an effective alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. Since changes in the gastrointestinal tract, caused by a variety of different strains, groups and amounts of microorganisms, may be reflected in its histological structure, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of rising doses of a mixed probiotic preparation on the structure and development of the small intestine of female turkeys. Eighty, three-day-old, healthy, female turkeys (Big-6 breed) were used in the current (16-week) study. The turkeys were randomly allocated to four weight-matched (59.70 ± 0.83 g) groups (n = 20), according to probiotic treatment dose (0, 107 cfu•g-1, 108 cfu•g-1 or 109 cfu•g-1, in 500 g•1000 kg-1) (cfu - a colony-forming unit). Three, non-genetically modified strains of probiotic cultures obtained from poultry, four bacterial and one yeast culture, were used. Histomorphometric analysis of the structure of the small intestinal wall of the duodenum and jejunum was performed. All probiotic doses used in the current study exerted a beneficial effect on the histological structure of the small intestine; however, the observed effect was dose and region dependent. Significant increases in villi height, crypt depth, villi and crypt width, mucosa thickness, epithelial height, enterocyte number, absorption surface and intestinal ganglia geometric indices were observed, specifically in the duodenum of birds receiving an intermediate dose of probiotic (108 cfu•g-1). The probiotic doses used in the current study differed significantly in their effect on the small intestine (P < 0.01), with the intermediate dose (108 cfu•g-1) significantly improving 58% of the parameters assessed, compared to the control. The duodenum was more susceptible to the favourable effects of the probiotic than the jejunum (56% v. 31% improvement in the parameters assessed) (P < 0.01). The weakest favourable effect was observed in the group that received the highest dose of probiotic.

Intestinal mucosa develops in a sex-dependent manner in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) fed Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1. The aim of study was to investigate whether the impact of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the histological structure of the intestine, innervation of the small intestine wall, and basal biochemical serum parameters in Japanese quail was sex dependent. 2. One-day-old healthy male and female Japanese quail were fed either a basal diet containing no yeast (control group) or the basal diet plus 1.5% (15 g/kg of diet) of yeast (S. cerevisiae inactivated by drying). Samples from the duodenum and jejunum were taken from each bird at the age of 42 days. Blood samples were collected at this age and the concentrations of glucose, total protein, creatinine, uric acid, lipid profile (total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) and triacylglycerols (TG)), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), amylase (AMY), calcium, phosphorus and iron were determined. 3. Female quail fed diets supplemented with yeast had significantly lower total cholesterol and amylase activity than the control females. The concentration of HDL was higher in the male quail than in the females, irrespective of the treatment. An opposite effect was observed in LDL. The diet treatments influenced the activity of AspAT, which was significantly less in the male quail fed diets with 1.5% yeast. 4. Supplementation with S. cerevisiae increased the myenteron, submucosa and mucosa thickness, villus length and thickness and size of absorptive surface, while the number of villi and enterocytes were decreased in the duodenum in males. Female quail showed an increased absorptive surface in the jejunum. The Meissner (submucosal) plexuses were influenced by the feeding and sex to a greater extent than the Auerbach plexus (in the muscularis propria). 5. The results demonstrated that S. cerevisiae (1.5%) in the diet caused significant positive effects in Japanese quail, exerting an effect on the morphology of the small intestine in a sex-dependent manner.