Uso de ácido benzoico na dieta de leitões

Um experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de ácido benzoico (Vevovitall®) na dieta sobre o desempenho e a morfologia intestinal do duodeno de leitões de 28 a 70 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 160 leitões Dalland × Penarlan desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, separados por sexo. O experimento foi dividido em fases pré-inicial 1 (28 a 35 dias de idade), pré-inicial 2 (36 a 46 dias de idade) e fase inicial (47 a 70 dias idade). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental tipo blocos ao acaso com 5 tratamentos, cada um com 8 repetições de 4 animais, totalizando 40 unidades experimentais. Foram utilizados quatro níveis de ácido benzoico (0; 0,25; 0,50 e 0,75%) e um tratamento testemunha com ácido fumárico. Abateram-se, aos 70 dias de idade, dois animais por repetição para coleta de amostras do duodeno e estudo da morfologia intestinal e um animal por repetição para estudo de lesões gástricas. Foram avaliadas as características de desempenho (ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar) para cada fase e para o período total. Como características morfológicas, foram avaliadas a altura das vilosidades, a profundidade de criptas e a relação altura de vilosidades/profundidade de criptas. Avaliou-se ainda a incidência de diarreia. No período de 28 a 70 dias, o uso de ácido benzoico influencia o desempenho de suínos, que neste estudo foi melhor os níveis de 0,50 e 0,75%, e reduz a incidência de diarreia. Animais alimentados com dietas contendo ácido benzoico apresentam maior altura de vilosidade e profundidade de criptas.

Influence of egg pre-storage heating period and storage length on the digestive tract of newly-hatched broiler chicks

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different heating times of settable eggs of Cobb 500 (R) broiler breeders before submitting them to different storage periods on body weight, digestive tract organ weights, and intestinal mucosa morphology of newly-hatched chicks. Settable eggs were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement: pre-storage heating periods (0, 6, 12 hours at 36.92 degrees C) and storage periods (4, 9, 14 days at 12.06 degrees C). Body weight and relative weights of the yolk sac, heart, liver, proventriculus+gizzard, and intestinal segments were measured in chicks hatching at 480 and 498 hours of incubation. Villi height, width and perimeter, and crypt depth < im) were measured in duodenal histological sections. It was concluded that pre-storage healing for six hours of eggs stored for four or nine days increases small intestine weight of newly-hatched chicks, but does not influence the morphology of the duodenal mucosa. Pre-storage heating for 12 hours negatively influences body weight and duodenal mucosa development, and therefore this practice is not recommended. Storage length does not have consistent effect on body weight and development of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal dysmotility in 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis outlasts inflammatory process resolution

Aim To evaluate gastrointestinal motility during 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis. Materials and methods Wistar rats received 5-FU (150 mg kg(-1), i.p.) or saline. After the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th and 30th day, sections of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were removed for assessment of epithelial damage, apoptotic and mitotic indexes, MPO activity and GSH concentration. In order to study gastrointestinal motility, on the 3rd or 15th day after 5-FU treatment, gastric emptying in vivo was measured by scintilographic method, and stomach or duodenal smooth muscle contractions induced by CCh were evaluated in vitro. Results On the third day of treatment, 5-FU induced a significant villi shortening, an increase in crypt depth and intestinal MPO activity and a decrease in villus/crypt ratio and GSH concentration. On the first day after 5-FU there was an increase in the apoptosis index and a decrease in the mitosis index in all intestinal segments. After the 15th day of 5-FU treatment, a complete reversion of all these parameters was observed. There was a delay in gastric emptying in vivo and a significant increase in gastric fundus and duodenum smooth muscle contraction, after both the 3rd and 15th day. Conclusions 5-FU-induced gastrointestinal dysmotility outlasts intestinal mucositis.

Role of platelet-activating factor in the pathogenesis of 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis in mice

Gastrointestinal mucositis is a common side effect of cancer chemotherapy. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is produced during gut inflammation. There is no evidence that PAF participates in antineoplastic-induced intestinal mucositis. This study evaluated the role of PAF in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis using a pharmacological approach and PAF receptor knockout mice (PAFR(-/-)). Wild-type mice or PAFR(-/-) mice were treated with 5-FU (450 mg/kg, i.p.). Other mice were treated with saline or BN52021 (20 mg/kg, s.c.), an antagonist of the PAF receptor, once daily followed by 5-FU administration. After the third day of treatment, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples from the duodenum were removed for morphologic evaluation. In addition, myeloperoxidase activity and the cytokine concentration were measured. 5-FU treatment decreased the duodenal villus height/crypt depth ratio, increased MPO activity, and increased the concentration of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and KC in comparison with saline-treated animals. In PAFR(-/-) mice and PAFR antagonist-treated mice, 5-FU-dependent intestinal damage was reduced and a decrease in duodenal villus height/crypt depth ratio was attenuated. However, the 5-FU-dependent increase in duodenum MPO activity was not affected. Without PAFR activation, 5-FU treatment did not increase the TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and KC concentration. In conclusion, our study establishes the role of PAFR activation in 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis. This study implicates treatment with PAFR antagonists as novel therapeutic strategy for this condition.

The effects of glutamine-supplemented diet on the intestinal mucosa of the malnourished growing rat

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood and plays a key role in the response of the small intestine to systemic injuries. Mucosal atrophy is an important phenomenon that occurs in some types of clinical injury, such as states of severe undernutrition. Glutamine has been shown to exert powerful trophic effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa after small bowel resection or transplant, radiation injury, surgical trauma, ischemic injury and administration of cytotoxic drugs. Since no study has been performed on the malnourished animal, we examined whether glutamine exerts a trophic effect on the intestinal mucosa of the malnourished growing rat. Thirty-five growing female rats (aged 21 days) were divided into 4 groups: control - chow diet; malnutrition diet; malnutrition+chow diet; and malnutrition+glutamine-enriched chow diet (2%). For the first 15 days of the experiment, animals in the test groups received a malnutrition diet, which was a lactose-enriched diet designed to induce diarrhea and malnutrition. For the next 15 days, these animals received either the lactose-enriched diet, a regular chow diet or a glutamine-enriched chow diet. After 30 days, the animals were weighed, sacrificed, and a section of the jejunum was taken and prepared for histological examination. All the animals had similar weights on day 1 of experiment, and feeding with the lactose-enriched diet promoted a significant decrease in body weight in comparison to the control group. Feeding with both experimental chow-based diets promoted significant body weight gains, although the glutamine-enriched diet was more effective. RESULTS: The morphological and morphometric analyses demonstrated that small intestinal villous height was significantly decreased in the malnourished group, and this change was partially corrected by the two types of chow-based diet. Crypt depth was significantly increased by malnutrition, and this parameter was partially corrected by the two types of chow-based diet. The glutamine-enriched diet resulted in the greatest reduction of crypt depth, and this reduction was also statistically significant when compared with control animals. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral glutamine has some positive effects on body weight gain and trophism of the jejunal mucosa in the malnourished growing rat.

Weight loss and morphometric study of intestinal mucosa in rats after massive intestinal resection: influence of a glutamine-enriched diet

Short-bowel syndrome is responsible for significant metabolic alterations that compromise nutritional status. Glutamine is considered an essential nutrient for enterocytes, so beneficial effects from supplementation of the diet with glutamine are hypothesized. PURPOSE: In this study, the effect of a diet enriched with glutamine was evaluated in rats undergoing extensive small bowel resection, with analysis of postoperative weight loss and intestinal morphometrics of villi height, crypt depth, and thickness of the duodenal and remnant jejunal mucosa. METHODS: Three groups of male Wistar rats were established receiving the following diets: with glutamine, without glutamine, and the standard diet of laboratory ration. All animals underwent an extensive small bowel resection, including the ileocecal valve, leaving a remnant jejunum of only 25 cm from the pylorus that was anastomosed lateral-laterally to the ascendant colon. The animals were weighed at the beginning and end of the experiment (20th postoperative day). Then they were killed and the remnant intestine was removed. Fragments of duodenal and jejunal mucosa were collected from the remnant intestine and submitted to histopathologic exam. The morphometric study of the intestinal mucosa was accomplished using a digital system (KS 300) connected to an optic microscope. Morphometrics included villi height, crypt depth, and the total thickness of intestinal mucosa. RESULTS: The weight loss comparison among the 3 groups showed no significant loss difference. The morphometric studies showed significantly taller duodenal villi in the glutamine group in comparison to the without glutamine group, but not different from the standard diet group. The measurements obtained comparing the 3 groups for villi height, crypt depth, and thickness of the remnant jejunum mucosa were greater in the glutamine-enriched diet group than for the without-glutamine diet group, though not significantly different from with standard-diet group. CONCLUSIONS: In rats with experimentally produced short-bowel syndrome, glutamine-enrichment of an isonitrogenous test diet was associated with an improved adaptation response by the intestinal mucosa but not reduced weight loss. However, the adaptation response in the group receiving the glutamine-enriched diet was not improved over that for the group fed regular chow.

Protein synthesis in jejunum and liver of neonatal calves fed vitamin A and lactoferrin

Rates of protein synthesis (PS) and turnover are more rapid during the neonatal period than during any other stage of postnatal life. Vitamin A and lactoferrin (Lf) can stimulate PS in neonates. However, newborn calves are vitamin A deficient and have a low Lf status, but plasma vitamin A and Lf levels increase rapidly after ingestion of colostrum. Neonatal calves (n = 6 per group) were fed colostrum or a milk-based formula without or with vitamin A, Lf, or vitamin A plus Lf to study PS in the jejunum and liver. l-[(13)C]Valine was intravenously administered to determine isotopic enrichment of free (nonprotein-bound) Val (AP(Free)) in the protein precursor pool, atom percentage excess (APE) of protein-bound Val, fractional protein synthesis rate (FSR) in the jejunum and liver, and isotopic enrichment of Val in plasma (APE(Pla)) and in the CO(2) of exhaled air (APE(Ex)). The APE, AP(Free), and FSR in the jejunum and liver did not differ significantly among groups. The APE(Ex) increased, whereas APE(Pla) decreased over time, but there were no group differences. Correlations were calculated between FSR(Jej) and histomorphometrical and histochemical data of the jejunum, and between FSR(Liv) and blood metabolites. There were negative correlations between FSR(Liv) and plasma albumin concentrations and between FSR(Jej) and the ratio of villus height:crypt depth, and there was a positive correlation between FSR(Jej) and small intestinal cell proliferation in crypts. Hence, there were no effects of vitamin A and Lf and no interactions between vitamin A and Lf on intestinal and hepatic PS. However, FSR(Jej) was correlated with histomorphometrical traits of the jejunum and FSR(Liv) was correlated with plasma albumin concentrations.

Effects of starter diet supplementation with arginine on broiler production performance and on small intestine morphometry

The effects of starter diet (days 1 to 21) supplemented with arginine (Arg) on the production performance and duodenum and jejunum mucosa morphometry of broilers were studied. Male Cobb broiler chickens (990) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments in a complete random design. Measurements of 33 chicks per treatment were made in six repetitions. The treatments consisted of a basal diet with 1.390% digestible Arg (no supplementation) and four dietary levels (1.490%, 1.590%, 1.690%, and 1.790%), providing a relationship with lysine of 1.103; 1.183; 1.262; 1.341 and 1.421%, respectively. From the age of 22 days on, all birds received conventional grower diet. The data were submitted to regression analysis by polynomial decomposition of the degrees of freedom in relation to the levels of Arg. The Arg supplementation increased (P<0.05) the live weight and the feed conversion ratio without increasing the feed intake of the birds. However, no effect was observed (P>0.05) in the growth phase (days 22 to 42) in the absence of the Arg supplementation. The supplementation of Arg over of NRC recommendation during the starter phase may be necessary for the expression of the maximal weight gain potential in birds. No effect (P<0.05) of Arg dietary supplementation was observed either on small intestine weight and length at any age. However, the duodenum villus:crypt ratio increased and the crypt depth decreased in the first week in response to increasing dietary Arg. It is concluded that broiler Arg dietary supplementation in the starter diet improved production performance and small intestine morphometry, especially in the first week.

Effects of fumonisin B1 on selected biological responses and performance of broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of three doses of fumonisin B1 (0, 100, and 200mg/kg of feed) on biological variables (relative weight of liver [RWL], total plasma protein [TPP], albumin [Alb], calcium [Ca], phosphorus [P], uric acid [UA], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], gamma glutamyltransferase [GGT], alkaline phosphatase [AP], total cholesterol [Chol], triglycerides [Tri], sphinganine-to-sphingosine ratio [SA:SO], and C-reactive protein [CRP]), morphological evaluation of the small intestine (villus height [VH], crypt depth [CD], and villus-to-crypt ratio [V:C]), histological evaluation, and on performance (body weight [BW], feed intake [FI], and feed conversion rate [FCR]) of broiler chickens. Significant effects of FB were observed on BW and FI (reduced), on RWL, TPP, Ca, ALT, AST, GGT, Chol, and Tri (increased) at both 14 and 28 days evaluations. In addition, significant increase was observed on FCR, Alb, P, SA:SO, and CRP and significant reduction in UA, VH, and V:C only at the 28 days evaluation. Significant histological lesions were observed on liver and kidney of FB inoculated broilers at 14 and 28 days. Those results show that FB has a significant effect on biological and histological variables and on performance of broiler chickens.

Ação trófica de aditivos fitogênicos, glutamina e ácido glutâmico sobre a Bursa de Fabrícius e intestino delgado de frangos de corte

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytogenic additives and glutamine plus glutamic acid, associated or not, on histomorphometry of bursa of Fabricius and small intestine, oocyst count and lesion scores, and carbon turnover of duodenal mucosa of broiler chickens infected with Eimeria acervulina. A total of 450 male broiler chickens was distributed into a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of control diet (CD); CD + coccidiosis vaccine; CD + antibiotic performance enhancers and anticoccidial (APE/AC); CD + glutamine and glutamic acid (Gln/Glu); CD + phytogenic additives (PA); CD + Gln/Glu + PA. Birds on treatment CD + vaccine were vaccinated via drinking water at three days of age against coccidiosis. At 16 days of age all birds of all treatments were inoculated orally and individually with 500,000 oocysts of Eimeria acervulina. There was no treatment effect on lesion score in the intestinal epithelium of birds. The smaller number of excreted oocysts was observed in groups of birds fed diets containing APE/AC and PA. Were observed better results of villus height and crypt depth for duodenum and ileum of birds of treatments containing Gln/Glu at 7 days of age, and Gln/Glu and PA at 21 days of age. Higher percentage of cortical area from bursa follicles was observed in birds fed diets supplemented with Gln/Glu and PA at 7, 14 and 21 days of age. Increased turnover of intestinal mucosa was observed in treatments containing Gln/Glu, indicating acceleration in development and regeneration of damaged tissue. Glutamine plus glutamic acid and phytogenic additives can provide improvements to structure, and thus to intestinal function, as well as to better immune response against the infectious challenges. Phytogenic additives can be used for coccidiosis control of broiler chickens where the use of antibiotic performance enhancers and anticoccidials is prohibited.

Feeding manipulation elicits different proliferative responses in the gastrointestinal tract of suckling and weanling rats

Food deprivation has been found to stimulate cell proliferation in the gastric mucosa of suckling rats, whereas the weanling period has been reported to be unresponsive in terms of proliferative activity. In the present study we analyze regional differences in the effect of milk or food deprivation on cell proliferation of the epithelia of the esophagus and of five segments of small intestine in suckling, weanling and newly weaned Wistar rats of both sexes. DNA synthesis was determined using tritiated thymidine to obtain labeling indices (LI); crypt depth and villus height were also determined. Milk deprivation decreased LI by 50% in the esophagus (from 15 to 8.35%) and small intestine (from 40 to 20%) of 14-day-old rats. In 18-day-old rats, milk and food deprivation decreased LI in the esophagus (from 13 to 5%) and in the distal segments of the small intestine (from 36-40 to 24-32%). In contrast, the LI of the epithelia of the esophagus (5%) and of all small intestine segments (around 30%) of 22-day-old rats were not modified by food deprivation. Crypt depth did not change after treatment (80 to 120 µm in 14- and 22-day-old rats, respectively). Villus height decreased in some small intestine segments of unfed 14- (from 400 to 300 µm) and 18-day-old rats (from 480 to 360 µm). The results show that, contrary to the stomach response, milk deprivation inhibited cell proliferation in the esophagus and small intestine of suckling rats, demonstrating the regional variability of each segment of the gastrointestinal tract in suckling rats. In newly weaned rats, food deprivation did not alter the proliferation of these epithelia, similarly to the stomach, indicating that weanling is a period marked by the insensitivity of gastrointestinal epithelia to dietary alterations

Estudo morfométrico e estereológico digital da mucosa do intestino delgado de crianças eutróficas e desnutridas com diarréia

Objetivos: Testar a hipótese de que a mucosa do intestino delgado proximal de crianças com diarréia persistente apresenta alterações morfométricas e estereológicas proporcionais ao estado nutricional. Métodos: estudo transversal, incluindo 65 pacientes pediátricos internados no período de maio de 1989 a novembro de 1991, com idade entre 4 meses e 5 anos , com diarréia de mais de 14 dias de duração, que necessitaram realizar biópsia de intestino delgado como parte do protocolo de investigação. A avaliação nutricional foi realizada pelos métodos de Gomez, Waterlow e pelos escores z para peso/ idade (P/I), peso/estatura (P/E) e estatura/idade (E/I), divididos em: eutróficos = z ≥ 2 DP e desnutridos z < -2dp; eutróficos = z ≥ 2 DP, risco nutricional = z < -1DP e desnutridos = z < -2DP; e de maneira contínua em ordem decrescente, utilizando-se as tabelas do NCHS. A captura e análise das imagens por programa de computador foi efetuada com o auxílio do patologista. Nos fragmentos de mucosa do intestino delgado, foram medidas a altura dos vilos, a profundidade das criptas, a espessura da mucosa, a espessura total da mucosa e a relação vilo/cripta, com aumento de 100 vezes. Com aumento de 500 vezes, foram medidas a altura do enterócito, a altura do núcleo e do bordo em escova. O programa computadorizado utilizado foi o Scion Image. A análise estereológica, foi feita com o uso de arcos ciclóides. Resultados: Para os escores z P/I, P/E e E/I, divididos em duas categorias de estado nutricional, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto às medidas da altura dos vilos, profundidade das criptas, espessura da mucosa, espessura total da mucosa e relação vilo/cripta. A altura do enterócito foi a característica que apresentou maior diferença entre os grupos eutrófico e desnutrido, para os índices P/I e P/E, em 500 aumentos, sem atingir significância estatística. Quando os escores z foram divididos em 3 categorias de estado nutricional, a análise morfométrica digitalizada mostrou diferença estatisticamente significante para a relação vilo/cripta entre eutróficos e desnutridos leves e entre eutróficos e desnutridos moderados e graves (p=0,048). A relação vilo/cripta foi maior nos eutróficos. A avaliação nutricional pelos critérios de Waterlow e a análise estereológica não mostraram associação com o estado nutricional. Pelo método de Gomez, houve diferença estatisticamente significante para a altura do enterócito entre eutróficos e desnutridos de Grau III: quanto maior o grau de desnutrição, menor a altura do enterócito (r= -.3330; p = 0,005). As variáveis altura do enterócito, altura do núcleo do enterócito e do bordo em escova apresentaram uma clara associação com os índices P/I (r=0,25;p=0,038), P/E (r=0,029;p=0,019) e com o critério de avaliação nutricional de Gomez (r=-0,33;p=0,007), quando foram avaliadas pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. A altura do núcleo mostrou associação com o índice P/I (r=0,24;p=0,054). A altura do bordo em escova mostrou associação com o índice P/I (r=0,26;p=0,032) e a avaliação nutricional de Gomez (r=-0,28;p=0,020). Conclusões: As associações encontradas entre o estado nutricional - avaliado de acordo com Gomez e os índices P/I e P/E - e as variáveis da mucosa do intestino delgado mostraram relação com o peso dos pacientes. Embora estas associações tenham sido de magnitude fraca a moderada, há uma tendência à diminuição do tamanho do enterócito, seu núcleo e seu bordo em escova à medida que aumenta o grau de desnutrição.

Performance and intestinal mucosa development of broiler chickens fed diets containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall

Use of antibiotics as an additive in poultry diets to improve growth has been discussed in relation to bacterial resistance and the development of new products and management practices. This study was carried out to test the efficacy of a new substance (Saccharomyces cereviside cell walls, var. Calsberg- SCCW) obtained from the brewery industry, added (at 0.1 and 0.2%) to broiler chicken diets (based on corn and soybean meal), on performance and intestinal mucosa development. In Experiment 1 (carried out in litter-floor pens) the results revealed higher body weight gain,for the total experimental period and higher villus height at 7 d of age for the birds fed 0.2%,SCCW. In a field test using 44,000 broilers that,received feed containing 0.2% SCCW,. The results also showed higher body weight gain and better feed conversion for SCCW-supplemented birds. The present findings show that SCCW improved body weight gain in broiler chickens and that this effect can be attributed to the trophic effect of this product on the intestinal mucosa, because it increases villus height, particularly during the first 7. d of a chicken's life.

Morphometry and ultra-structure of the intestinal mucosa of broilers fed different additives

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the use of different growth promoters on the morphometry and ultra-structure of the intestinal mucosa of 42-day-old broilers. A total number of 36 male Cobb broilers was distributed in a randomized experimental design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, with 3 prebiotic and 3 probiotic sources in the feed, summing up 9 treatments, with 4 replicates each. There was a significant interaction (P<0.01) among the studied factor for villi height (VH) in all intestinal segments, and for crypt depth (CD) in the duodenum and the ileum. In the duodenum, higher villi were obtained in the control group, with the combination of B. subtilis and prebiotics, and with the single use of MOS+OA. No VH differences were observed between the control group and those fed prebiotics. In the jejunum, the highest villi were obtained with the use of the bacterial pool, followed by the control group, and by the use of B. subtilis. Higher villi were also obtained in the control group and in the groups fed MOS, when B. subtilis was used in combination with prebiotics, and when the bacterial pool was used individually or in combination with MOS. In the ileum, the highest villi were obtained with the individual use of B. subtilis, and when MOS+OA or MOS were individually used or in combination with the bacterial pool. As to duodenal CID, deeper crypts were observed in the control group and in those fed B. subtilis or MOS+OA. In the ileum, deeper crypts were also found in the control group and those fed B. subtilis. Deeper crypts were also found when the bacterial pool was individually used or in combination with MOS+OA, and with the individual use of MOS. It was concluded that the use of growth promoters was beneficial to Increase intestinal villi height when Bacillus subtilis was used in combination with prebiotics. The other growth promoters (MOS+OA, MOS, and bacterial pool), can be individually used in most situations. The tested growth promoters did not influence intestinal villi density.

Influência da suplementação de glutamina sobre o desempenho e o desenvolvimento de vilos e criptas do intestino delgado de frangos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)