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The study investigates the effect of dietary herbal mixture (HM) levels on growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits' performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemicals, and microbiological characteristics from 5 to 13 weeks of age. In this study, 96 New Zealand White rabbits (male and female ratio 1:1) were used, and they were five weeks old. The rabbits were at random allocated into four experimental groups (n = 24 each) comprising 12 replicates, each with two rabbits. The 1st group acted as the control and received feed without additional supplements. The 2nd group received 0.30% HM, the 3rd group received 0.50% HM, and the 4th group received 0.70% HM. As the concentration of the herbal mixture extract was raised, the inhibitory zones grew significantly. The addition of HM to rabbit diets at a 0.5% concentration significantly increased body weight and weight gain compared to the control diet and other treatments. The apparent digestibility coefficient of ether extracts and the rabbits' capacity to absorb lipids significantly increased with increasing HM levels up to 0.7%. In addition, the HM increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreased triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. Interestingly, when rabbits were fed varying amounts of HM, all types of bacteria significantly declined, yet helpful lactic acid bacteria increased. In conclusion, HM supplementation improved rabbit growth, blood parameters, and gut microbial balance, with a 0.5% level yielding the best results, indicating that HM has significant potential as a novel feed supplement for growing rabbits., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Animal maintenance and care adhered to Zagazig University's criteria for the care and use of laboratory animals and those of the Egyptian Research Ethics Committee. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The prelaying period is critical for laying hens, marked by significant physiological changes such as increased egg production, hormone secretion, and higher nutritional demands. These changes stress the intestine, which is vital for nutrient digestion, absorption, immune defense, and maintaining antioxidant and microbial balance. During this period, maintaining the intestinal health is essential for efficient nutrient absorption. Curcumin, a plant-derived extract, offers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory benefits, that can improve gut function. This study evaluated the effects of curcumin on the intestinal structure, immune barrier function, and cecal microbiota composition in laying hens during their early laying period. A total of 180 Snowy White chickens (154 days old) were divided into 5 experimental groups, receiving curcumin at 0 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg for 12 wk. The results showed that curcumin significantly improved the intestinal morphology (P < 0.05), increased mRNA expression of digestive enzymes (such as MGAM, SI, and ANPEP), and enhanced the digestive and absorptive functions. Further, curcumin improved the levels of antioxidant parameters (such as CAT, GSH-PX, T-AOC, and T-SOD) in the ileum, jejunum, and duodenum, and increased the expression of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) in the intestinal segments and serum (P < 0.05). Curcumin also improved the intestinal immune barrier function by increasing ZO-1 and Occludin expression. Furthermore, it altered the gut microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial phyla such as Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria (P < 0.05). At the genus level, curcumin supplementation enhanced the beneficial genera like Phocaeicola, Alistipes, Prevotella, Barnesiella, and Bifidobacterium (P < 0.05), thereby promoting the gut health and microbial diversity. In conclusion, curcumin supplementation during the early laying period of hens offers significant benefits by improving the intestinal health, immune function, and gut microbiota composition. Hence, curcumin serves as a promising dietary additive to support nutrient absorption and immune defense in laying hens during the early laying period of hens., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary purple sweet potato polysaccharide (PSPP) supplementation on production performance, egg quality characteristics, jejunal morphology, and gut microbiota modulation of Hy-line Brown laying hens. A total of 288 23-wk-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were randomly divided into 1 of the 4 dietary treatment groups, with 6 replicates and 12 laying hens per replicate. The 4 groups were fed basal diet supplemented with varying concentrations of PSPP (0, 1, 2, or 4 g/kg) for 6 wks. At the end of the feeding trials, eggs were collected for egg quality analysis, jejunal samples were collected for morphology assessment, and cecal content was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to determine intestinal microbiota. Experimental treatments did not differ regarding laying performance and egg quality. However, polynomial contrast analysis showed that there was a linear decrease (P = 0.042) in yolk color. The jejunal morphology did not differ among the treatment groups. The alpha and beta diversity were not different between the treatment groups. The cecal microbiota was dominated by Bacteroidota and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides at the genus level. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was increased (P = 0.012) and Bacteroidota was decreased (P = 0.009) in the cecal content of PSPP2. Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio increased (P = 0.005) in the PSPP2 group. Polynomial contrast analysis showed that PSPP had a quadratic effect on Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio (P = 0.004) and on the relative abundance of Firmicutes (P = 0.006) and Bacteroidota (P = 0.006). At the genus level, increasing PSPP level showed a pattern of linear increase (P = 0.046) in [Ruminococcus]&#95;torques&#95;group and linear decrease (P = 0.015) in the Rikenellaceae&#95;RC9&#95;gut&#95;group. It can be concluded that PSPP altered the gut microbiota, but did not influence jejunal morphology or laying performance and egg quality of laying hens. Further research is recommended to fully understand the potential and determine the optimal level of PSPP in laying hens., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The occurrence of heat stress in poultry houses is inevitable and leads to oxidative stress in the birds. Lycopene, a natural hydrocarbon carotenoid, possesses potent antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the impact of lycopene on growth performance, meat quality, cecal microflora, and liver metabolome in broilers subjected to heat stress. A total of 480 yellow feather broilers were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups: birds fed standard diet (Con), birds fed standard diet and supplemented with lycopene (Lyc), birds fed standard diet and subjected to heat stress (Hs), and birds fed with lycopene and subjected to heat stress (Hs-Lyc). As compared with the normal temperature groups, Hs decreased the average daily gain (ADG) of birds during d 1 to 28, lowered the pH value either in breast meat or thigh meat, increased the L* value of breast meat, and decreased the a* value of thigh meat. In comparison with non-Lyc feeding birds, Lyc supplement elevated the ADG during d 1 to 56, increased the pH of breast meat, decrease the L* and b* values of thigh meat, simultaneously increase the a* value of thigh meat. The L* of breast meat and pH of thigh meat exhibited significant differences under Hs-Lyc treatment. Lyc-treated birds exhibited higher elasticity, gumminess, and resilience in breast meat than those in non-Lyc feeding birds. The cecal metagenome analysis indicated that Hs-Lyc treatment increased the abundance of Phocaeicola salanitronis and Prevotella sp.CAG:1058, Bacteroides sp.An269, and Bacteroides sp.An19 at the species level compared with other treatments. The hepatic untargeted metabolome analysis showed that administration of Lyc upregulated 20 metabolites and downregulated 60 metabolites compared to the Con birds. Futhermore, the Hs-Lyc treatment upregulated 34 metabolites and downregulated 45 metabolites compared to the Hs birds. The correlation between the metagenome and metabolome showed that Lyc supplementation induced significant alterations in the citrate cycle, metabolism of butanoate, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate compared with standard supplement. In contrast, Hs-Lyc treatment induced alterations in the citrate cycle, metabolism of pyruvate, glyoxylate, and dicarboxylate, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, arginine, proline, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate compared with the standard supplement of heat-challenged broilers. In summary, dietary Lyc supplementation promoted the growth performance, changed the meat quality, modulated the cecal metagenome and hepatic metabolome in heat-stressed broilers., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effect of dietary oleanolic acid (OA) addition on broiler intestinal morphology, intestinal antioxidant capacity, changes in cecum microbiota, and the relationship between microbiota and antioxidant capacity. A total of 288 Arbor Acres broilers at 1-day-old broilers were reared, and they were randomly divided into four groups. The control and experimental groups were fed the basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg OA for a total of 42 d respectively. The results showed that OA does not affect the performance of broiler chickens. The OA supplementation increased the ratio between jejunum villus height and crypt depth (P < 0.05). The expression of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-PX and CAT) and antioxidant-related genes (HO-1, NQO1, Nrf2, and CAT) was significantly increased in the jejunum and cecum (P < 0.05). In addition, jejunal T-AOC activity (P < 0.05) and cecum antioxidant-related gene GPX-1 expression (P < 0.01) were significantly increased. The expression of oxidation-related genes (NOX and ROMO1) was significantly down-regulated in both jejunum and cecum (P < 0.05). The addition of 150 mg/kg of OA increased the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly and positively correlated with the expression levels of antioxidant-related genes. In conclusion, the addition of OA to the diet may improve the intestinal antioxidant capacity and modulate the intestinal microbiota of broilers. Moreover, OA improved intestinal antioxidant capacity by increasing the relative abundance of F. prausnitzii., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study investigated the effects of xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the production performance, intestinal morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and gut microbiota of laying hens. A total of 800 Lohmann pink layers, each 48 wk old, were randomly divided into 5 dietary treatment groups, namely XOS at 0 (CON), 100 (XOS1), 200 (XOS2), 300 (XOS3) and 400 (X0S4) mg/kg. The experimental period was 24 wk. The results revealed that the egg production rate and the number of eggs laid by each layer between 1 to 12 wk increased as the XOS concentration increased (P linear < 0.05). The sand-shell egg percentage decreased significantly from 1 to 12 wk in the XOS1, XOS2, and XOS3 groups (P ANOVA < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the 4 XOS dosage groups presented significant increases in the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum (P ANOVA < 0.05), whereas a linear decrease in jejunal crypt depth (P linear < 0.05) was noted. In addition, XOS supplementation significantly increased the concentrations of butyric acid and isovaleric acid in the caeca (P ANOVA < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA revealed that dietary XOS supplementation influenced the cecal microbiota. The alpha diversity analysis indicated that the richness of cecal bacteria was greater in the laying hens fed XOS. The modulation of the cecal microbiota composition upon the addition of XOS was characterized by an increased abundance of Firmicutes and Bifidobacteriaceae, and decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, dietary XOS supplementation resulted in decreases in the abundances of Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae&#95;RC9&#95;gut&#95;group and an increase in the abundance of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, dietary XOS supplementation improved the production performance of laying hens by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids and improving their intestinal morphology, which was achieved mainly through changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. The recommended level of XOS in the diet of laying hens is 200 mg/kg., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to investigate the effects of hesperidin (Hes), thymol (Thy), rosmarinic acid (RA) and their combined effect on broiler growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and cecal microbiota. A total of 240 newly hatched Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 chickens. The birds were fed a basal diet (Con group), a basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg Hes (Hes group), a basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg Thy (Thy group), a basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg RA (RA group), or a basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg Hes + 40 mg/kg Thy + 20 mg/kg RA (HTR group) for 42 d. The results indicated that dietary Hes and HTR supplementation enhanced average daily gain, final body weight, and eviscerated yield of broilers compared with the Con group (P < 0.05). Notably, the HTR treatment showed a decrease in abdominal fat yield and ratio of feed to weight gain (P < 0.05). HTR treatment increased ileal villus height, villus height/crypt depth, and number of goblet cells, decreased the crypt depth (P < 0.05), up-regulated the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin) and MUC2 (P < 0.05). Hes, Thy, RA, HTR treatment decreased the concentrations of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-8, IFN-γ and TNF-α), and down-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB (P < 0.05). Importantly, the supplementation of HTR increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Parabacteroides, Lachnosiraceae NK4A136 and Turicbacter) and significantly decreased the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria such as Colidextribacter (P < 0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of propionate and butyrate in the cecum were elevated in the HTR group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the diet supplemented with HTR improved the growth performance and intestinal barrier function in broilers by modulating the cecal microbiota and its metabolites., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Poultry is a ubiquitous and highly sought-after protein source valued for its accessibility, notable protein content, and lack of religious constraints. However, the demand for poultry has resulted in a surge in intensive production practices. The transition from subsistence agricultural practices to intensive food production resulted in the widespread adoption of antibiotics for both therapeutic and economic purposes. These interventions were intended to enhance meat yield, promote bird health, and enhance cost-effectiveness of production. However, this inadvertently contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Therefore, the need to explore alternative approaches to mitigate the problems associated with AMR has become increasingly pressing. In response, metal-based compounds have emerged as a promising substitute to conventional antibiotics. In this study, the effects of a water soluble metallo-antimicrobial supplement, ferric sillen core-linked polymer (FSCLP), on body weight gain, feed conversion, water intake, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, cecal microbiome and intestinal morphology in broilers was examined. The findings of this study suggested that the addition of the FSCLP resulted in better bird performance, even during a period of heat stress. Volatile fatty acids analysis of cecal contents indicated that there were significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of butyric and valeric acids. Cecal microbiome analysis confirmed significantly lower abundance (p < 0.05) of Proteobacteria (e.g., E. coli) and a significantly greater abundance of VFA-producing bacteria such as Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, Blautia and Lachnospiraceae. The intestinal morphology data showed supplementation with the FSCLP at 80 ppm resulted in a significantly higher (p < 0.05) villus height of the jejunum. This study emphasises the potential of FSCLP as a feasible solution to the issues faced by AMR in chicken production, providing insights into its beneficial impacts on performance, microbial composition, and intestinal health., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES At the time of research, SC, MP, TA RM, and KH were employed by Alltech. Alltech manufactures and markets animal feed supplements. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The study examined the impact of adding oregano extract and/or rosemary to broiler diets to counteract the growth inhibition caused by heat stress (HS). It also investigated the effects on the activity of digestive enzymes, microbiological composition, and the expression of antioxidant and tight junction-related proteins. Three hundred- and fifty-day-old male broilers, were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups, with each group comprising 5 replicates, and each replicate containing 10 chicks in a cage. The diets were: 1) a basal diet, 2) a diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg of rosemary, 3) a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg of rosemary, 4) a diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg of oregano, 5) a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg of oregano, 6) a combination diet containing 50 mg/kg each of rosemary and oregano, and 7) a combination diet containing 100 mg/kg each of rosemary and oregano. Dietary oregano extract enhanced the growth and feed utilization of heat-stressed birds, especially at a concentration of 50 mg/kg. Moreover, oregano extract improved jejunal protease and amylase activities. The extracts of rosemary and oregano significantly reduced IgG and IgM levels. Dietary 50 mg oregano extract significantly upregulated intestinal integrity-related genes including jejunal CLDNI, ZO-1, ZO-2, and MUC2. Dietary 50 mg oregano extract significantly downregulated hepatic NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expressions. Our results suggest that incorporating oregano leaf extract into the diet at a concentration of 50 mg/kg improves the growth performance of broilers exposed to heat stress. This improvement could be attributed to enhanced gut health and the modulation of genes associated with oxidative stress and tight junction proteins., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES The authors declare no conflicts of interest, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Honokiol is a multifunctional polyphenol present in Magnolia officinalis. The effects of honokiol as a supplement in broiler chicken diets, and the underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of honokiol on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal histomorphology of broiler chickens and to explore the underlying mechanisms. In total, 240 one-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments, with 6 replicate pens and 8 birds per pen. Birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (blank control, BC), 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg honokiol (H100, H200, and H400), or 200 mg/kg bacitracin zinc (PC) for 42 d. The results showed that H200 and H400 increased body weight gain (BWG) and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the starter period (P < 0.05). H100 and H200 increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in the serum and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) amount in the jejunum on d 42 (P < 0.05). Moreover, H100 increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in both the jejunum and ileum on d 21 (P < 0.05). PCR analysis showed that honokiol upregulated intestinal expression of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and downregulated intestinal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on d 42 (P < 0.05). The Shannon index, which represents the microbial alpha diversity, was reduced for the PC, H200, and H400 groups. Notably, honokiol treatment altered the cecal microbial community structure and promoted the enrichment of several bacteria, including Firmicutes and Lactobacillus. Higher production of short-chain fatty acids was observed in the cecal digesta of H100 birds, accompanied by an enriched glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway, according to the functional prediction of the cecal microbiota. This study provides evidence that honokiol improves growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of broiler chickens, possibly by manipulating the composition and function of the microbial community., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to examine the impact of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, jejunal barrier function, and cecal microbiota of broilers raised under stressful high density (HD) stocking conditions compared with normal density broilers (ND). A total of 432 one-day-old AA+ male broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal density (ND, 14 broilers /m 2 ), high density (HD, 22 broilers /m 2 ), ND + AEE, and HD + AEE. The results of the study revealed a significant decrease in the growth performance of broiler chickens as a result of HD stress (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.05) at both 28 and 35 d. Conversely, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of AEE resulted in a significant elevation (P < 0.05) of serum GSH-PX, SOD and T-AOC activity at both 28 and 35 d. Moreover, exposure to HD stress resulted in a considerable reduction in the height of intestinal villi and mRNA expression of tight junction proteins in the jejunum, along with, a significant elevation in the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). However, the administration of AEE reversed the adverse effects of HD-induced stress on villus height and suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory genes, COX-2 and mPGES-1. Additionally, the exposure to HD stress resulted in a substantial reduction in the α-diversity of cecal microbiota and disruption in the equilibrium of intestinal microbial composition, with a notable decrease in the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium (P < 0.05). In contrast, the addition of AEE to the feed resulted in a notable increase in the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and enhanced microbial diversity (P < 0.05). The inclusion of AEE in the diet has been demonstrated to enhance intestinal integrity and growth performance of broilers by effectively mitigating disruptions in gut microbiota induced by HD stress., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lipid metabolic capacity, feed utilization, and the diversity of gut microbiota are reduced in the late laying stage for laying hens. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) on hepatic lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota in late laying hens. The 216 Peking Pink laying hens (57-wk-old) were randomly assigned to experimental diets of 11.56 (HM = high ME), 11.14 (MM = medium ME), or 10.72 (LM = low ME) MJ of ME/kg, with each dietary treatment containing 6 replicates per group and 12 chickens per replicate. The HM group showed higher triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in the liver compared with the LM group; second, the HM group showed higher TG concentration and the LM group showed lower T-CHO concentration compared with MM group; finally, the HM group showed a lower hepatic lipase (HL) activity compared with the MM and LM groups (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the microbial community structure of the cecum between the HM and MM groups (P < 0.05). The decrease of dietary ME level resulted in a gradual decrease relative abundance of Proteobacteria. At the genus level, beneficial bacteria were significantly enriched in the LM group compared to the MM group, including Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, (linear discriminant analysis [LDA] >2, P <0.05). In addition, at the species level, Lactobacillus crispatus, Parabacteroides gordonii, Blautia caecimuris, and Lactobacillus johnsonii were significantly enriched in the LM group (LDA>2, P < 0.05). The HM group had a higher abundance of Sutterella spp. compared to the LM group (LDA>2, P <0.05). In conclusion, this research suggests that the reduction in dietary energy level did not adversely affect glycolipid metabolism or low dietary ME (10.72 MJ/kg). The findings can be helpful for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and increasing benefit for gut microbiota in late laying hens., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was to determine the effects of the mixture of glycerol monolaurate and cinnamaldehyde (GCM) supplementation on the intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant status and cecal microbiota of laying hens. A total of 1,120 healthy laying hens (Jingfen-1 strain) at the age of 14 wk were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates of 28 layers in each and layers were fed diets containing 0 (control group), or 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg GCM for 12 wk. The results showed that dietary supplementation with GCM significantly increased intestinal villus height and villus height/crypt depth, duodenal villus area, total superoxide disumutase activities in the liver and jejunum, jejunal glutathione peroxidase activities while decreased duodenal and jejunal crypt depth, hydrogen peroxide content in the liver and jejunal malondialdehyde content of laying hens aging 28 wk (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, GCM addition significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M concentration of layers at the age of 20, 24, and 28 wk (P < 0.05). Moreover, it was observed in the 16S rRNA sequencing that the addition of GCM elevated the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in laying hens. The predominant bacteria from each group were Bacteroidota and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Lactobacillus were the dominant genera. The composition and structure of cecal microflora were changed by the addition of GCM to the diet of laying hens. In conclusion, the addition of GCM (500-1,000 mg/kg diet) can improve intestinal morphology, immune function, intestinal and liver antioxidant status and intestinal flora of laying hens, thereby improving intestinal digestion and absorption capacity. These findings provide a new way to further explore the mechanism of GCM improving intestinal health., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E (VE) on laying performance, VE deposition, antioxidant capacity, immunity, follicle development, estrogen secretion, ovary metabolome, and cecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and twenty XinYang Black-Feathered laying hens (70 wk old) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (6 replicates of 20 birds), and fed a basal diet (containing 20 mg/kg VE, control (CON) group) and a basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg VE (VE group). The experiment lasted for 10 wk. Results showed that VE supplementation increased laying performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity, as evidenced by increased (P < 0.05) performance (laying rate), antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase) and immune (immunoglobulins) parameters, and decreased (P < 0.05) feed/egg ratio and malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, VE group had higher (P < 0.05) pregrade follicles, ovary index and serum estrogen levels than CON group. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that VE supplementation altered the cecal microbiota composition by increasing Bacteroides, Rikenellaceae&#95;RC9&#95;gut&#95;group, Prevotellaceae&#95;UCG-001 and Megamonas abundances and reducing Christensenellaceae&#95;R-7&#95;group abundance (at genus level), which are mainly associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids. Metabolomic profiling of the ovary revealed that the major metabolites altered by VE supplementation were mainly related to follicle development, estrogen secretion, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, phototransduction, bile acid synthesis, and nutrient transport. Furthermore, changes in cecal microbiota (at genus level) and ovary metabolites were highly correlated with laying performance, antioxidant, and immune parameters. In summary, VE contributed to the laying performance of aged laying hens by enhancing antioxidant, immune, and ovarian functions, promoting follicle development and estrogen secretion, and regulating gut microbiota and ovary metabolites. These findings will provide a new perspective on the mechanisms of egg production in aged poultry ovaries., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed at investigating the effect of hydrolyzed soya lecithin; also called lysolecithin or lysophosphatidylcholine, on growth performance, caecal microbiota and fat depots in pre-breeding primiparous rabbits does. For this, 60 V-Line primiparous rabbits does (5-6 months) were used in a 30-day experiment. Does were allotted into three iso-nitrogenous iso-caloric dietary treatments (n = 20/group) as follows: (1) CON received 0% soya lecithin, (2) LECL group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% soya lecithin and (3) LECH group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% soya lecithin. Growth performance indices were measured, caecum samples were collected for measurement of specific bacteria via qPCR, and several fat depots including periovarian fat were sampled for adipocyte morphometry and fatty acid profiling. Statistical analysis was performed using GLM procedures of SAS v9.4. Soya lecithin increased feed intake (p < 0.05). The abundance of caecal Bifidobacteria species, Ruminococcus species and phylum Butryvibrio-specific genes increased (p < 0.05) in rabbits receiving soya lecithin in their diet, soya lecithin increased the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in subcutaneous and perirenal fat (p < 0.05) and increased the level of monounsaturated fatty acids in periovarian fat (p < 0.05); additionally, the adipocyte area increased in periovarian and perirenal fat (p < 0.05). In conclusion, soya lecithin at a dose of 0.5% increased feed intake and energy storage in adipocytes and improved the fatty acid profile of periovarian fat., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenolic substance that has been widely used since ancient times for its multiple beneficial functions. However, whether CUR affects the growth performance of broilers by altering gut microbiota and metabolite and the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary CUR supplementation on growth performance, anti-inflammatory function, intestinal morphology and barrier, cecum microbiota, and metabolite profile of broilers. Sixty-one-day-old male broilers were randomly divided into the control group (CON, fed a control diet) and the CUR group (fed a control diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg CUR) after 2 d of adaptation. Results showed that after feeding to 52-d-old, compared with CON broilers, the CUR broilers showed improved feed utilization efficiency and growth performance. Furthermore, the CUR broilers showed an improved intestinal morphology, which was demonstrated by a lower crypt depth in the jejunum. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabonomics (LC-MS/MS) analysis results showed that the cecum microbiota ecology and function were significantly improved, and the abundance of beneficial flora and metabolites were increased, while the harmful bacteria and metabolites were significantly decreased. In addition, RT-qPCR results showed that CUR significantly reduced inflammatory responses, promoted the formation of the mucosal barrier and enhanced digestion, absorption, and transport of lipids and glucose-related gene expression in the intestine. These above findings demonstrated that dietary CUR supplementation improved growth performance, intestinal morphology, and anti-inflammatory functions, mainly by manipulating cecum microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites, which provides a credible explanation for the growth-promoting effect and anti-inflammatory functions of CUR and aids our understanding of the mechanisms underlying., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Acetic acid, which is one of the most abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in rabbits' cecum, has been reported to play an important function during various physiological metabolic processes. The present study was conducted to elucidate the effects of sodium acetate on growth performance and intestinal health by evaluating feed intake and efficiency, diarrhea score, serum and cecum metabolites, cecal pH and SCFA, histological staining, nutritional composition of meat and gene expression profile of cecum in rabbits. As a result of sodium acetate supplement, the feed conversion ratio, diarrhea score, and diameter of muscle fiber were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Additionally, dietary sodium acetate significantly increased in total area of muscle fibers and content of crude ash (P < 0.05). Dietary sodium acetate significantly increased serum glucose, total bile acid, and total cholesterol levels and decreased amylase, lipase, and tCO2 content (P < 0.05). Further examination suggested that sodium acetate supplementation enhanced the micro-environment of cecum, evidenced by significantly increased levels of total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, and decreased pH and amylase levels (P < 0.05). According to transcriptome sequencing of cecal tissues, differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in cell cycle, ABC transporters, and chemokine signaling pathways. Sodium acetate was further suggested to stimulate the proliferation and migration of rabbits' cecum epithelial cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, dietary sodium acetate supplementation improved growth performance and intestinal health in rabbits., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Plant essential oils are unstable due to high volatility and easy oxidation, while microencapsulation provides a potentially effective strategy for increasing the stability of natural essential oils and preserving their function. This study examined the effects of feeding coated oregano essential oil and cinnamaldehyde (COEC) compounds on growth, immune organ development, intestinal morphology, mucosal immune function, and the cecal microbiota populations of broilers. Three hundred one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were organized into 5 groups: 1) negative control fed basal diet alone (NC), 2) positive control receiving basal diet plus 50 mg/kg of chlortetracycline (CTC), 3) basal diet plus 150 mg/kg COEC (COEC150), 4) plus 300 mg/kg COEC (COEC300), and 5) plus 450 mg/kg COEC (COEC450). The supplement trial was continued for 42 d. The results showed that CTC, COEC300, and COEC450 treatments decreased the feed conversion ratio of broilers both in the starter and whole experiment phases, increased the height of jejunal villi at 21 d and the number of goblet cells and IgA-producing cells at 21 or 42 d compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Members of the COEC300 treatment group had a higher thymus weight index and jejunum length index than birds of NC or CTC groups at 21 d (P < 0.05). CTC and all COEC treatments decreased malondialdehyde content in jejunal mucosa at 42 d (P < 0.05). The population of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the cecal digesta at 21 d was lower in the CTC, COEC300, and COEC450 treatment groups compared with the NC group (P < 0.05). In contrast to the CTC group, COEC supplementation dose-dependently accelerated body weight gain, improved jejunal morphology, decreased malondialdehyde content in jejunal mucosa, increased numbers of jejunal goblet cells and IgA-producing cells, and decreased the E. coli population in cecal digesta at 21 or 42 d (P < 0.05). Thus, we concluded that feeding broiler chickens with 300 or 450 mg/kg in antibiotic-free diets can improve growth performance, enhance immune responses, and inhibit the proliferation of cecal pathogenic bacteria., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Inulin is a highly effective prebiotic and an attractive alternative to antibiotic growth promoters for increasing production and maintaining health in chickens. However, how inulin elicits its effects on members of the intestinal microbiota is unknown, even though their importance for energy metabolism and the health of chickens is well documented. A combination of 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing and transcriptomic analysis was used to investigate the effects of supplementing a corn-based basal diet with 1, 2, or 4% inulin or 400 ppm bacitracin on the composition, diversity and activities of carbohydrate-metabolizing organisms (CMOs) in the cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. We found that members of Bacteroides were the most abundant non-starch degrading CMOs, contributing 43.6-52.1% of total glycoside hydrolase genes and 34.6-47.1% activity to the meta-transcriptomes of chickens in the different dietary groups, although members of Parabacteroides, Prevotella, Alistipes, Clostridium, Barnesiella, Blastocystis, Faecalibacterium and others were also actively involved. Inulin and bacitracin inclusion in the basal diet did not change significantly the composition or diversity of these CMOs. Inulin supplementation at three levels promoted the activities of Bacteroides, Prevotella and Bifidobacterium, and 2% level appears to be the most optimal dosage for bifidobacterial activity., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of age and supplemental xylanase in corn- or wheat-based diets on cecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations of Ross × Ross 708 male broilers during weekly intervals from 14 to 42 d of age. Day-old chicks (1,500) were randomly distributed into 60 floor pens (25 chicks/pen; 0.078 m2/bird) and fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments (TRT) throughout the starter (1 to 14 d of age), grower (15 to 28 d of age), and finisher (29 to 42 d of age) phases with 15 replicates per TRT. Dietary TRT consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 diet types (corn- or wheat-based) and 2 xylanase inclusions (0 or 16,000 BXU/kg) as the main factors. At 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d of age, cecal contents were collected (4 birds/pen) for VFA analysis. Main effects of cereal grain source (P < 0.05) affected propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, valeric, and isocaproic acid concentrations at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d of age. Broilers fed corn-based diets had higher (P < 0.05) propionic, isobutyric, isovaleric, valeric, and isocaproic concentrations than those fed wheat-based diets from 14 to 42 d of age. However, broilers fed wheat-based diets had higher (P < 0.05) butyric acid concentrations at 28, 35, and 42 d of age compared with those fed corn-based diets. Individual and total VFA concentrations increased (P < 0.05) linearly from 14 to 42 d of age. Age and cereal grain interacted (P < 0.05) to affect propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acid concentrations. These results indicate that broiler cecal VFA concentrations are influenced by cereal grain source and age. In contrast, supplemental xylanase inconsistently influenced broiler cecal VFA concentrations. Therefore, future research evaluating factors affecting supplemental xylanase and cecal VFA production in broilers is warranted. Additionally, research investigating cereal grain source effects on cecal microflora development and fermentative patterns may be beneficial for optimizing cecal VFA production in broilers., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

The apolipoprotein ε4 allele (APOE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). APOE4 carriers develop systemic metabolic dysfunction decades before showing AD symptoms. Accumulating evidence shows that the metabolic dysfunction accelerates AD development, including exacerbated amyloid-beta (Aβ) retention, neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. Therefore, preserving metabolic function early on may be critical to reducing the risk for AD. Here, we show that inulin increases beneficial microbiota and decreases harmful microbiota in the feces of young, asymptomatic APOE4 transgenic (E4FAD) mice and enhances metabolism in the cecum, periphery and brain, as demonstrated by increases in the levels of SCFAs, tryptophan-derived metabolites, bile acids, glycolytic metabolites and scyllo-inositol. We show that inulin also reduces inflammatory gene expression in the hippocampus. This knowledge can be utilized to design early precision nutrition intervention strategies that use a prebiotic diet to enhance systemic metabolism and may be useful for reducing AD risk in asymptomatic APOE4 carriers., Competing Interests: Scott McCulloch is employed by Metabolon Inc. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

The development of nutritional strategies to improve microbial homeostasis and gut health of piglets post-weaning is required to mitigate the high prevalence of post-weaning diarrhea and subsequent growth checks typically observed during the weaning transition. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing piglet creep and nursery feed with a yeast-derived mannan-rich fraction (MRF) on piglet growth performance, cecal microbial profiles, and jejunal morphology and gene expression. Ten litters of piglets (n=106) were selected on postnatal day (PND) 7 and assigned to diets with or without MRF (800 mg/kg) until weaning (n=5 litters/treatment; initial weight 3.0±0.1 kg). On PND 21, 4 piglets per litter (n=40) were selected and weaned into the nursery where they remained on their respective diets until PND 42. A two-phase feeding program was used to meet nutrient requirements, and pigs were switched from phase 1 to phase 2 on PND 28. Feed intake and piglet weights were recorded on PND 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. On PND 28 and 42, ten piglets per treatment were euthanized to collect intestinal tissue and digesta. Piglets supplemented with MRF had 21.5% greater (P&lt;0.05) average daily feed intake between PND 14-21. However, MRF supplementation did not affect piglet growth performance compared to control. On PND 28, jejunal villus height was 16.8% greater (P&lt;0.05) in piglets consuming MRF supplemented diets. Overall microbial community structure in cecal digesta on PND 28 tended to differ in pigs supplemented with MRF (P=0.076; analysis of similarities (ANOSIM)) with increased (P&lt;0.05) relative abundance of Paraprevotellaceae genera YRC22 and CF231, and reduced (P&lt;0.05) relative abundance of Sutterella and Prevotella. Campylobacter also tended to reduce (P&lt;0.10) in MRF supplemented piglets. On PND 28 differential gene expression in jejunal tissue signified an overall effect of supplementing MRF to piglets. Downstream analysis of gene expression data revealed piglets supplemented with MRF had enriched biological pathways involved in intestinal development, function and immunity, supporting the observed improvement in jejunal villus architecture on PND 28. On PND 42 there was no effect of MRF supplementation on jejunal morphology or overall cecal microbial community structure. In conclusion, supplementing Actigen™, a MRF, to piglets altered cecal microbial community structure and improved jejunal morphology early post-weaning on PND 28, which is supported by enrichment of intestinal development pathways.

Agricultural by-products could be used as alternative raw materials in rabbit nutrition as they have been found to be highly nutritious and low cost feeding sources. The aim of this study was to estimate the nutritive value and potential use of bilberry pomace (BP) for growing rabbits. A total of 144 Grimaud rabbits (35 days old) were allotted to four groups and fed with a diet containing increasing level of BP: BP0 (basal diet), BP5, BP10 and BP15 containing 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg respectively. Growth trial lasted 48 days; apparent digestibility was evaluated, starting at 46 days of age, over 4 consecutive days. The nutritive value of BP was measured using the mean digestibility of the experimental diets. At 83 days of age, rabbits were slaughtered: blood, and liver and kidney samples were collected in order to determine the blood parameters and the antioxidant enzyme activities of the tissues. Moreover, caecal content was sampled and gut microbiota assessed by means of amplicon-based high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The digestible protein was estimated to 104 g/kg of DM while digestible energy to 9.44 MJ/kg DM for incorporation rate up to 150 g/kg. During the finishing period, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio showed linear response to BP increase (P=0.008 and &lt;0.001, respectively). During all the period, both parameters decreased linearly and quadratically with increasing BP inclusion levels (P&lt;0.001) up to 100 g/kg of BP. A significant effect of the antioxidant status was found in the kidneys and liver (P&lt;0.05) where the glutathione peroxidase activity increased as the BP increased. As far as gut microbiota is concerned, BP increased the relative abundance of the Clostridium, Oscillospira, Ruminococcus and Ruminococcaceae species which were clearly associated with the BP inclusion level. In conclusion, BP showed a potential use as an alternative protein and fibre sources for growing rabbits.

Provision of feed containing arsenic may cause intestinal flora imbalance and consequently, the dysfunction of immunological protection of the cock. To understand the intricate tuning of immune responses in the intestinal tract elicited by subchronic arsenism, a cock model (1-day-old Hy-line cocks) was established by subjecting cocks to different environmentally relevant concentrations of arsenic in the diet for 90 days. Intestinal cytokine and immunoglobulin (Ig) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were determined using real-time PCR on days 30, 60, and 90. Results showed that, compared to those of the control groups, the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-γ displayed increases on day 30 then decreases on days 60 and 90 dose-dependently in every tissue. Except for the decrease in the jejunum, the mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were increased in the duodenum, ileum, cecum, and rectum. However, the mRNA levels of IL-12β decreased in every tissue and every time point compared to those of the control groups. In contrast, chicks showed considerably higher expression levels of IgA, IgM, and IgG after exposure to arsenic. These results demonstrated that immune strategies of cocks were disturbed when suffered from subchronic arsenism, at least on the intestinal level.

The effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on gut-barrier function are still controversial in human and animal studies. Diet conditions would be a major factor for the controversy in animal studies. We fed rats a semi-purified (SP) or a non-purified diet (NP) with or without FOS (60 g/kg diet) for 9 (experiment 1) or 10 d (experiment 2). We assessed microbial fermentation, gut permeability, and inflammatory responses in the cecum (experiment 1), and mucus layer in the cecum, intestinal transit time and microbiota composition (experiment 2). FOS supplementation induced a very acidic fermentation due to the accumulation of lactate and succinate in SP, while short-chain fatty acids were major products in NP. Gut permeability estimated by urinary chromium-EDTA excretion, bacterial translocation into mesenteric lymph nodes, myeloperoxidase activity, and expressions of the inflammatory cytokine genes in the cecal mucosa were greater in SP+FOS than in SP, but these alterations were not observed between NP and NP+FOS (experiment 1). FOS supplementation destroyed the mucus layer on the epithelial surface in SP, but not in NP. Intestinal transit time was 3-fold longer in SP+FOS than in SP, but this was not the case between NP and NP+FOS. Lower species richness of cecal microbiota was manifest solely in SP+FOS (experiment 2). These factors suggest that impact of FOS on gut permeability and inflammatory responses in the cecal mucosa quite differs between SP and NP. Increased gut permeability in SP+FOS could be evoked by the disruption of the mucus layer due to stasis of the very acidic luminal contents.

This study investigated the effects of early antibiotic administration (EAA) on cecal bacterial communities and their metabolic profiles in pigs fed diets with different protein levels. Eighteen litters (total 180) of piglets on day (d) 7 were fed either a commercial creep feed or commercial creep feed + antibiotic (Olaquindox, Oxytetracycline Calcium and Kitasamycin) until d 42. On d 42, pigs within each group were further randomly fed a normal crude protein (CP) diet (20% and 18% CP from d 42 to d 77 and d 77 to d 120, respectively) or a low-CP diet (16% and 14% CP from d 42 to d 77 and d 77 to d 120, respectively), generating 4 groups, control-low CP (Con-LP), control-normal CP (Con-NP), antibiotic-low CP (Ant-LP) and antibiotic-normal CP (Ant-NP), respectively. On d 77 and d 120, 5 pigs per group were slaughtered and cecal materials were collected for bacterial analysis. With cecal bacteria, principle component analysis (PCA) of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile showed two distinct groups of samples from low-CP diet and samples from normal-CP diet. Real-time PCR showed that EAA did not have significant effect on major bacterial groups, only showed significant interactions (P < 0.05) with CP level for Lactobacillus counts on d 77 and Clostridium cluster XIVa counts on d 120 with higher values in the Con-NP group compared to the Ant-NP groups. Low-CP diet increased (P < 0.05) short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) producing bacteria counts (Bacteroidetes on d 77 and d 120; Clostridium cluster IV and Clostridium cluster XIVa on d 77), but decreased (P < 0.05) Escherichia coli counts on d 77 and d 120. For metabolites, EAA increased (P < 0.05) protein fermentation products (p-cresol, indole and skatole on d 77; ammonia, putrescine and spermidine on d 120), and showed significant interactions (P < 0.05) with CP level for p-cresol and skatole concentrations on d 77 and putrescine and spermidine concentrations on d 120 with higher values in the Ant-LP group compared to the Con-LP groups. Low-CP diet increased (P < 0.05) SCFA concentration (propionate and butyrate) on d 77, but reduced (P < 0.05) the protein fermentation products (ammonia, phenol and indole on d 77; branched chain fatty acid (BCFA), ammonia, tyramine, cadaverine and indole on d 120). These results indicate that EAA had less effect on bacterial communities, but increased bacterial fermentation of protein in the cecum under low-CP diet. Low-CP diet altered bacterial communities with an increase in the counts of SCFA-producing bacteria and a decrease in the counts of Escherichia coli, and markedly reduced the protein fermentation products., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The administration of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) beneficially modulates gastrointestinal functions and may enhance the metabolism of polyphenols. However, different polyphenolic components in the diet may have different influences on the activities of the digestive enzymes and microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, a 4-week study of forty-eight male Wistar rats was conducted to investigate the physiological response of the rat cecal environment to diets without and with FOS that contained two different strawberry polyphenolic extracts, specifically EP (polyphenolic profile 60, 35, 5, and 0% ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, anthocyanins, respectively) and EPA (polyphenolic profile: 50, 35, 6, and 9%, respectively). When combined with FOS, both extracts beneficially enhanced the acidification of the cecal digesta (P≤0.05 vs the groups without extracts), but the dietary combination of EPA and FOS elicited the greatest reduction in putrefactive short-chain fatty acid production and the lowest fecal β-glucuronidase activity in the cecum (P≤0.05 vs group EP). Moreover, the addition of dietary FOS elevated the metabolism of the examined strawberry extracts in the cecum and thereby increased the concentrations of the metabolites in the cecal digesta and urine (P≤0.05 vs the group with cellulose). Overall, both strawberry extracts modulated the effects of FOS in the gastrointestinal tract; however, the combination with EPA extract that contained anthocyanins exhibited greater beneficial effects in the lower gut environment than the EP extract.

Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) have been used in foodstock animals to reduce enteric inflammation and maintain intestinal homeostasis, thus improving growth and performance. Due to increasing restrictions regarding the use of AGP however, precise and high throughput enteric inflammation models and markers to search for effective alternatives are urgently needed. In this paper, oral administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d, 3-5 kDa) and its passage into blood was used as a marker for tight junction permeability. In experiement 1, broilers were assigned to a control group, a group which received 24 h feed restriction (FR), or a group which received dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) (0.75% in water for 5 d), and each group then underwent an oral gavage of FITC-d 2.5 h before sample collection on d10. FITC-d in serum and intestinal samples (duodenum and ceca) were found to be higher (P<0.05) after FR than in the DSS and control groups. In experiment 2, FR was evaluated for its effect on mucosal leakage and an oral dose of FITC-d of 0.5, 1.1, or 2.2 mg/chick was used to measure the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) permeability at 6 d of age. The amount of FITC-d remaining in the duodenal tissue of the control birds increased with dose, only the 1.1 mg FITC-d/chick dose resulted in differences (P<0.05) between the control and FR groups. No differences were noted between the control and FR groups, regardless of FITC-d dosage in cecal recovery of FITC-d. Additionally, FR increased FITC-d serum levels when compared to the control group and in a dose-dependent manner. Experiment 3 compared serum levels after administration of 0.55 and 1.1 mg/chick doses of FITC-d in birds treated with FR, rye-based diet (RBD), and DSS. Intestinal sections were collected for FITC-d recovery in the 1.1 mg dosage group. All inflammation treatments significantly increased serum FITC-d levels at both doses. Only FR resulted in increased (P<0.05) FITC-d recovery from duodenum, ileum, and ceca. In conclusion, FR, DSS, and RBD affected GIT tight junction integrity, suggesting their value for enteric inflammation models, and FITC-d may be a good indicator of permeability., (© 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of the leading causes of food-borne salmonellosis in humans. Poultry is the single largest reservoir, and the consumption of incorrectly processed chicken meat and egg products is the major source of infection. Since 2006, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has been banned in the European Union, and the dietary inclusion of β-galactomannans (βGM) has become a promising strategy to control and prevent intestinal infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various βGM-rich products on intestinal morphology in chickens challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis. To assess this effect, a total of 280 male Ross 308 chickens were studied (40 animals per treatment housed in 5 cages). There were 7 treatments, including controls: uninoculated birds fed the basal diet (negative control) and inoculated birds fed the basal diet (positive control) or the basal diet supplemented with Salmosan (1 g/kg), Duraió gum (1 g/kg), Cassia gum (1 g/kg), the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (0.5 g/kg), or the antibiotic colistine (0.8 g/kg). The birds were fed these diets from the d 1 to 23, except the animals in the colistine group, which were fed the diet containing the antibiotic only from d 5 to 11. The inoculated animals were orally infected on d 7 with 10(8) cfu of Salmonella Enteritidis. Bird performance per replicate was determined for the whole study period (23 d), and the distal ileum and cecal tonsil of 5 animals per treatment (1 animal per replicate) were observed at different magnification levels (scanning electron, light, and laser confocal microscopy). In the images corresponding to the treatments containing βGM we observed more mucus, an effect that can be associated with the observation of more goblet cells. Moreover, the images also show fewer M cells, which are characteristic of infected animals. Regarding the morphometric parameters, the animals that received Duraió and Cassia gums show greater (P = 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively) villus length compared with the animals in the positive control, thus indicating the capacity of these products to increase epithelial surface area. However, no effect (P > 0.05) on microvillus dimensions was detected. In conclusion, the results obtained indicating the beneficial effects of these βGM on intestinal morphology give more evidence of the positive effects of these supplements in poultry nutrition.

Dietary phytic acid (PA; myo-inositol [MI] hexaphosphate) is known to inhibit colon carcinogenesis in rodents. Dietary fiber, which is a negative risk factor of colon cancer, improves characteristics of the colonic environment, such as the content of organic acids and microflora. We hypothesized that dietary PA would improve the colonic luminal environment in rats fed a high-fat diet. To test this hypothesis, rats were fed diets containing 30% beef tallow with 2.04% sodium PA, 0.4% MI, or 1.02% sodium PA + 0.2% MI for 3 weeks. Compared with the control diet, the sodium PA diet up-regulated cecal organic acids, including acetate, propionate, and n-butyrate; this effect was especially prominent for cecal butyrate. The sodium PA + MI diet also significantly increased cecal butyrate, although this effect was less pronounced when compared with the sodium PA diet. The cecal ratio of Lactobacillales, cecal and fecal mucins (an index of intestinal barrier function), and fecal β-glucosidase activity were higher in rats fed the sodium PA diet than in those fed the control diet. The sodium PA, MI, and sodium PA + MI diets decreased levels of serum tumor necrosis factor α, which is a proinflammatory cytokine. Another proinflammatory cytokine, serum interleukin-6, was also down-regulated by the sodium PA and sodium PA + MI diets. These data showed that PA may improve the composition of cecal organic acids, microflora, and mucins, and it may decrease the levels of serum proinflammatory cytokines in rats fed a high-fat, mineral-sufficient diet., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

An experiment was conducted to identify the effect of whole yeast cell product supplementation in turkeys following an experimental inflammatory challenge. A total of 105 one-day-old turkey tom poults were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 0.1, and 0.2% whole yeast cell product (CitriStim, ADM, Quincy, IL). At 6 wk of age and 16 wk of age, turkeys were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 0 or 0.25 mg/kg of BW in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. BW gain (P = 0.31) and feed conversion ratio (P = 0.53; 3.13, 2.94, and 2.98 for the 0, 0.10, and 0.20% CitriStim treatments, respectively) at 15 wk of age were not significantly affected by the treatment diets. Yeast cell wall product supplementation had no effect on growth in control-injected turkeys but decreased growth in LPS-injected turkeys (yeast × LPS, P < 0.05). Splenic macrophages from birds fed whole yeast cell product and injected with LPS produced higher (P < 0.01) nitric oxide than the control group injected with LPS at both 6 and 16 wk of age. At 6 and 16 wk of age, birds injected with LPS (P < 0.01; P < 0.01) and supplemented with whole yeast cell product (P = 0.05; P = 0.10) showed increased IL-1 mRNA amounts in cecal tonsils. In birds not injected with LPS, whole yeast cell supplementation increased regulatory T cell percentage and IL-10 mRNA amounts, whereas in birds injected with LPS, whole yeast cell supplementation decreased IL-10 mRNA amounts at both 6 (P < 0.01) and 16 wk (P = 0.01) of age in cecal tonsils. Whole yeast cell product supplementation increased Lactobacillus (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01) and Bifidobacteria (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01) population at 6 and 16 wk of age. In conclusion, the effect of feeding whole yeast cell product on turkeys was dependent on the inflammatory status of the bird., (©2014 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

We have been investigating modulation strategies tailored around the selective stimulation of the host's immune system as an alternative to direct targeting of microbial pathogens by antibiotics. One such approach is the use of a group of small cationic peptides (BT) produced by a Gram-positive soil bacterium, Brevibacillus texasporus. These peptides have immune modulatory properties that enhance both leukocyte functional efficiency and leukocyte proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine mRNA transcription activities in vitro. In addition, when provided as a feed additive for just 4 days posthatch, BT peptides significantly induce a concentration-dependent protection against cecal and extraintestinal colonization by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. In the present studies, we assessed the effects of feeding BT peptides on transcriptional changes on proinflammatory cytokines, inflammatory chemokines, and Toll-like receptors (TLR) in the ceca of broiler chickens with and without S. Enteritidis infection. After feeding a BT peptide-supplemented diet for the first 4 days posthatch, chickens were then challenged with S. Enteritidis, and intestinal gene expression was measured at 1 or 7 days postinfection (p.i.) (5 or 11 days of age). Intestinal expression of innate immune mRNA transcripts was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Analysis of relative mRNA expression showed that a BT peptide-supplemented diet did not directly induce the transcription of proinflammatory cytokine, inflammatory chemokine, type I/II interferon (IFN), or TLR mRNA in chicken cecum. However, feeding the BT peptide-supplemented diet primed cecal tissue for increased (P ≤ 0.05) transcription of TLR4, TLR15, and TLR21 upon infection with S. Enteritidis on days 1 and 7 p.i. Likewise, feeding the BT peptides primed the cecal tissue for increased transcription of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β [IL-1β], IL-6, IL-18, type I and II IFNs) and inflammatory chemokine (CxCLi2) in response to S. Enteritidis infection 1 and 7 days p.i. compared to the chickens fed the basal diet. These small cationic peptides may prove useful as alternatives to antibiotics as local immune modulators in neonatal poultry by providing prophylactic protection against Salmonella infections.

1. Five dietary treatments were used in a 49 d broiler trial to assess the effect of xylanase on performance, nutrient digestibility and thermal profiles of the caeca and head. Treatments included an industry-standard control diet and four further diets where xylanase was introduced with or without a metabolisable energy density dilution either from day one or the introduction was delayed until d 28. 2. The addition of xylanase with no associated energy dilution from day one resulted in the most consistent beneficial effects on performance, with significant improvements in weight gain compared with the industry-standard to d 28 and at d 49. Addition of xylanase from d 28 (with no energy dilution) was the second most successful strategy and resulted in a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) from d 29 to 49 and overall. 3. Addition of xylanase improved ileal digestible energy values at d 28 by around 0.35 MJ/kg and ileal nitrogen digestibility coefficients by around 3%. On d 49 xylanase improved ileal digestible energy values by around 0.9 MJ/kg and ileal nitrogen digestibility coefficients by around 4.6%. 4. Thermal imaging of the head and caeca of three birds per replicate on d 49 revealed a significant increase in caecal surface temperature following xylanase addition with no effect on head temperature profile. These increases were particularly large (around 1.4ºC, or 3.9%) when xylanase was added from day one with no corresponding energy dilution in feed formulation. 5. It can be concluded that supplemental xylanase is effective in improving performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers given wheat-based diets. The correlation between the magnitude of this effect and the increased temperature in the caeca presents additional evidence that the hind-gut microflora may play an important, if yet unquantified, role in the outworking of these mechanisms.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of whole yeast (Pichia guilliermondii; CitriStim, ADM, Quincy, IL) cell product supplementation on cecal microflora population and intestinal immune parameters in broilers. In the first experiment, birds were fed 0, 0.1, or 0.2% yeast cell wall product for 42 d. Feeding yeast cell wall products decreased (P = 0.03) the proportion of Escherichia coli in the ceca by 31% compared with the control group. The group fed 0.2% yeast cell wall product had a 20% decrease (P = 0.23) in Salmonella population compared with the control group. In the second experiment, birds were fed yeast cell wall product for 21 d and challenged or not challenged with coccidial oocysts, thus resulting in a 2 (0 and 0.2% whole yeast product) × 2 (coccidial challenge and no coccidial challenge) factorial model. Supplementing whole yeast cell wall product prevented a coccidial infection-induced decrease in the Lactobacillus population (P = 0.09) at 12 d postchallenge. Supplementing yeast cell wall product prevented a coccidial infection-induced increase in the Salmonella population (P = 0.08) and E. coli (P = 0.12) at 12 d postchallenge. At 5 d (P < 0.01) and 12 d (P < 0.01) postcoccidial infection, yeast cell wall product supplementation or coccidial infection increased the regulatory T cell (Treg) percentage in the cecal tonsils, whereas yeast cell wall product supplementation in the coccidial-infected group decreased the increase in Treg percentage. At 5 d postcoccidial infection, coccidial infection increased (P = 0.01) the relative amounts of cecal interferon (IFN)γ mRNA. In addition, the yeast cell wall product supplementation in the coccidial-infected groups further increased (P = 0.15) the IFNγ mRNA. It could be concluded that yeast cell wall product supplementation decreased coccidial-infection-induced increase in E. coli and Salmonella colonization and improved IFNγ mRNA amounts after coccidial infection.

Resistant starch (RS) is highly fermentable by microbiota in the colon, resulting in the production of SCFAs. RS is thought to mediate a large proportion of its health benefits, including increased satiety, through the actions of SCFAs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a diet high in RS on luminal microbiota composition, luminal SCFA concentrations, and the expression of host genes involved in SCFA uptake, SCFA signaling, and satiety regulation in mucosal tissue obtained from small intestine, cecum, and colon. Twenty adult female pigs were either assigned to a digestible starch (DS) diet or a diet high in RS (34%) for a period of 2 wk. After the intervention, luminal content and mucosal scrapings were obtained for detailed molecular analysis. RS was completely degraded in the cecum. In both the cecum and colon, differences in microbiota composition were observed between DS- and RS-fed pigs. In the colon these included the stimulation of the healthy gut-associated butyrate-producing Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, whereas potentially pathogenic members of the Gammaproteobacteria, including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp., were reduced in relative abundance. Cecal and colonic SCFA concentrations were significantly greater in RS-fed pigs, and cecal gene expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (SLC16A1) and glucagon (GCG) was induced by RS. In conclusion, our data show that RS modulates microbiota composition, SCFA concentrations, and host gene expression in pig intestine. Combined, our data provide an enhanced understanding of the interaction between diet, microbiota, and host.

This experiment studied the effects of whole yeast cell product supplementation on broiler production parameters, fecal coccidial oocyst counts, and local and systemic immune parameters following an experimental coccidial infection. Birds were fed 0, 0.1, or 0.2% whole yeast cell product (CitriStim). At 21 d of age, birds were challenged with live coccidial oocysts. Supplementation with whole yeast cell product increased BW gain between 0 and 12 d (P = 0.01) postcoccidial challenge. Birds supplemented with 0.2% Citristim had better (P = 0.01) feed efficiency between 0 and 12 d postcoccidial infection. Supplementation with whole yeast cell product decreased (P = 0.01) the fecal coccidial oocyst count at 7 d postcoccidial challenge. Citristim supplementation at 0.2% increased (P < 0.01) macrophage nitric oxide production by 93 and 193% at 5 and 12 d postcoccidial challenge. Supplementation with whole yeast cell product at 0.2% increased cecal tonsil interleukin-1 mRNA amounts approximately 4.5- and 3.7-fold at 5 and 12 d postcoccidial challenge, respectively, over the group with no whole yeast cell product supplementation. Citristim supplementation downregulated cecal tonsil interleukin-10 mRNA amounts compared with the unsupplemented groups at both 5 (P = 0.01) and 12 d (P < 0.01) postcoccidial challenge. Supplementation with whole yeast cell product did not alter (P > 0.05) serum anticoccidial IgG contents or cecal tonsil CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell percentages at 5 and 12 d postcoccidial infection. It could be concluded that supplementing whole yeast cell product (CitriStim) to broiler diets can improve production parameters, decrease fecal oocyst count, and increase inflammatory cytokine production postcoccidial infection.

The benefits of inulin-type fructans for bowel health are well established, but less so for other fructan sources. In vitro data suggest that fructans extracted from cereals are readily fermented and produce favorable short-chain fatty acid profiles; however, whether this occurs in vivo is unknown. We hypothesized that in rats, fructans extracted from wheat stem and barley grain would have similar effects on fermentation as oligofructose (OF). Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 dietary treatments that contained either 2% or 5% fructan, provided by a barley grain fructan extract (BGFE), a wheat stem fructan extract, or OF or no added fructan (control). The duration of the feeding study was 14 days. Rats fed diets containing 5% fructan had higher cecal digesta weights; larger acetate, propionate, and total short-chain fatty acid pools; and lower pHs in comparison with the control group. In addition, only the 5% OF and 5% BGFE groups increased cecal butyrate pools, and 5% BGFE was the only group in which colonic digesta pH was lower than that of the control. Diets containing 2% fructan did not affect any of these fermentation end points. Whereas bifidobacteria numbers in cecal digesta of 2% and 5% OF were higher than that in the control group, they were not different from those in rats fed diets containing BGFE and wheat stem fructan extract. Barley grain and wheat stem fructans produced similar large bowel fermentation patterns to OF when fed to rats at 5% of the diet., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dietary fiber, maintaining the gut environment, contributes to better lung function among smokers. This study was aimed to investigate the role of dietary fiber on the anti-oxidant capacity and gut environment during exposure to cigarette smoke. The anti-oxidant capacity as well as caecal levels of organic acids and population of micro-flora in the gut was measured after 4 months' exposure to cigarette smoke in mice (C57BL/6NcrSlc) fed with a cellulose-free diet. Animals were divided into control diet (AIN-93G)/non-smoke, cellulose-free diet/non-smoke, control diet/smoke, and cellulose-free diet/smoke groups. The anti-oxidant capacity in plasma was significantly suppressed by the cellulose-free diet in the non-smoke exposed mice. The suppression in the anti-oxidant capacity further declined following exposure to cigarette smoke. Both these changes in the anti-oxidant capacity were accompanied with changes in some organic acids levels in caecal contents. The anti-oxidant activity was significantly inversely correlated to succinic acid / acetic acid levels balance in caecal contents. In conclusion the cellulose-free diet suppressed the anti-oxidant capacity in mice, and the suppression further decreased by exposure to cigarette smoke. These changes in the anti-oxidant capacity may be related with changes in the gut environment.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of CitriStim, a commercial killed whole yeast cell prebiotic, on broiler performance, regulatory T cells, CD4(+) and CD8(+) percentages, and IL-10 and IL-1 mRNA contents of the spleen and cecal tonsils. No immune challenges were imposed in either of the 2 experiments. One-day-old broiler chicks were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 0.1, or 0.2% CitriStim (ADM, Decatur, IL) for 35 d. At 21 (P = 0.03) and 35 d (P = 0.02) of age, CitriStim supplementation at 0.2% increased regulatory T cell percentage in the cecal tonsil compared with that of the 0% CitriStim-supplemented group. At 21 (P = 0.08) and 35 d (P = 0.01) of age, CitriStim supplementation at 0.2% increased IL-10 mRNA content of the cecal tonsil compared with that of the 0% CitriStim-supplemented group. At 21 (P = 0.13) and 35 d (P < 0.01) of age, CitriStim supplementation at 0.2% decreased IL-1 mRNA content compared with that of the 0% CitriStim supplemented group. CitriStim supplementation did not (P > 0.05) alter the IL-10 and IL-1 mRNA contents in the spleen. CitriStim supplementation did not (P > 0.05) alter the CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell percentages in the spleen and cecal tonsil at 21 and 35 d of the experiment. CitriStim supplementation increased regulatory T cell percentage and IL-10 mRNA content and decreased IL-1 mRNA content in the cecal tonsil to produce a net antiinflammatory milieu. The immunomodulatory effect of CitriStim supplementation was a local effect rather than a systemic effect.

The purpose of this 42-day study was to investigate the effects of dietary excess vanadium on intestinal immune function by histopathological observation of cecal tonsil and changes of the cecal tonsil T cell subsets by method of flow cytometry. Four hundred twenty 1-day-old avian broilers were divided into six groups and fed on a corn-soybean basal diet as control diet or the same diet amended to contain 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg vanadium supplied as ammonium metavanadate. In comparison with those of control group, lymphocytes in the lymphatic nodule of cecal tonsil were apparently decreased in 45 and 60 mg/kg groups. The percentage of CD(3)(+) T cells was decreased (p < 0.05) in 45 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in 60 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age. The percentages of CD(3)(+)CD(4)(+) and CD(3)(+)CD(8)(+) T cells were markedly decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in 60 mg/kg group from 14 to 28 days of age and were decreased (p < 0.05) in 45 mg/kg group at 28 and 42 days of age. However, changes of the CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio were not significant. Meanwhile, the cecal tonsil interleukin-2 (IL-2) contents were decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in 45 and 60 mg/kg groups from 14 to 42 days of age. It was concluded that dietary vanadium in excess of 30 mg/kg reduced the percentages of cecal tonsil T cells subsets and IL-2 contents, and caused cecal tonsil lesions, which impaired cecal tonsil function and impacted the local mucosal immune function of the intestines in broilers.

We examined the effects of fermented bean pastes derived from bean vinegar by-products on serum cholesterol in rats. The rats were fed boiled paste from adzuki (A), kintoki (K), or tebou (T), or fermented paste from adzuki (AP), kintoki (KP), or tebou (TP) for 4 weeks. The serum non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in all the experimental groups, except for A group, were significantly lower than in the control (CN) group. Likewise, the serum triglyceride levels in K and all the fermented bean groups were significantly lower than in the CN group. The levels of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase mRNA in all the experimental groups except for A were significantly lower than in the CN group. These findings indicate that fermented bean pastes also suppress cholesterol synthesis, resulting in a reduced serum cholesterol concentration. These effects might be related not only to the resistant starch but also to the protein or peptide in the fermented bean paste.

Modulating effects of high fat fish oil (HFFO) and high fat corn oil (HFCO) diets on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were studied in male F344 rats following 8 weeks of dietary treatment. The incidence of AOM-induced ACF was significantly lower in the proximal colon of rats fed the HFFO diets compared with rats fed the HFCO diets. No differential effects were found on enzyme activities that are involved in metabolic activation and detoxification of AOM. Activities of hepatic P450 IAI and P450 IIBI and hepatic and feacal levels of lipid peroxidation were increased by feeding the HFFO diet. Hepatic GST activity and plasma levels of PGE(2) were significantly lower in rats fed the HFFO diets compared with those fed the HFCO diets. These observations demonstrate that HFFO diets with high levels of n-3 PUFAs are also protective against preneoplastic lesions in the early stages of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis. It seems unlikely from our results that the inhibitory effect of a HFFO diet can be attributed to an altered metabolic activation and detoxification of AOM. Other mechanisms such as oxidative stress or reduction of PGE(2) levels may play an important role in the anticarcinogenic effects of n-3 PUFAs.

There is a need for better understanding of the roles of dietary fats and fibers in colon cancer risk. We examined the effect of different dietary fiber and fat sources on an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in rats. In a 2 x 3 factorial design, rats were fed a semipurified diet containing soy-derived fiber (Fibrim), alpha-cellulose (Solkafloc) or resistant starch (RS; Hi-maize) at 10 g dietary fiber/100 g diet, combined with fish oil (FO) or sunflower seed oil (SSO) at 10 g/100 g diet, and lard added to all diets at 10 g/100 g, to provide a total of 20 g mixed fat/100 g diet. Sprague-Dawley rats (28 d of age) consumed diets for 4 wk and then two doses of AOM (15 mg/kg body) were administered 1 wk apart by subcutaneous injection. Rats were killed after 13 wk of consuming experimental diets. Colons were fixed in formalin and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were quantified after staining. ACF counts were higher (+66%, P < 0.01) in rats fed SSO and RS, than in those fed alpha-cellulose and FO. Rats fed FO had 19% fewer ACF than those fed SSO (P < 0.05). alpha-Cellulose was associated with the highest cecal butyrate concentration (P < 0.001), the highest beta-glucuronidase specific activity (P < 0.001) and the lowest cecal water cytotoxicity (P < 0.001) relative to soy fiber- and RS-fed rats. There were inverse correlations between the number of ACF and cecal butyrate concentration (r = -0.33, P < 0.05) and between cecal water cytotoxicity and beta-glucuronidase activity (r = -0.70, P < 0.001). The greatest protection was associated with alpha-cellulose as the fiber source and FO as the fat source as measured by colon ACF numbers in rats.

This study first investigates the effects of mash diet, or mash supplemented with either 2.5% mannose-oligosaccharide (MOS) or palm kernel meal (PKM), on the microflora of the hen caecal contents. Second, it investigates the effect of caecal contents of hens (HCC) fed mash or mash supplemented with MOS or PKM on the major microflora groups of chicks, and their inhibitory effect on Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (PT4) colonization. Finally, this study investigates the effect over time of diets supplemented with MOS or PKM on S. Enteritidis colonization and the microflora of chicks. In hens, supplemented diets increased Bifidobacterium spp., while decreasing members of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp., compared with the mash diet. Chicks dosed with the HCC showed, on average, increased numbers of anaerobes, while the numbers of aerobes decreased including coliforms and S. Enteritidis compared with controls without HCC. In chicks fed the MOS-supplemented or PKM-supplemented diets, S. Enteritidis colonization decreased over time, compared with mash alone. Four-week-old PKM birds showed an increase in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., with a decrease in S. Enteritidis compared with week 2. Generally, the HCC and diets supplemented with MOS or PKM affected the birds intestinal microflora by increasing the Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., while decreasing the Enterobacteriaceae groups. They also reduced susceptibility in young chickens to colonization by S. Enteritidis.

Pectin is a soluble indigestible polysaccharide that stimulates cecal polyamine formation in rats. Bacteroides and fusobacteria, two numerically dominant bacterial population groups in the large intestine, were found to synthesize in vitro high amounts of spermidine and putrescine. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of pectin on the polyamine production by defined bacterial species in vivo. Germfree male Wistar rats (n = 18) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (i) monoassociation with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron + fiber-free diet; (ii) diassociation with B. thetaiotaomicron + Fusobacterium varium + fiber-free diet or (iii) diassociation with B. thetaiotaomicron + F. varium + fiber-free diet + 10% pectin. The cecal contents of monoassociated rats fed fiber-free diet contained large amounts (1.51+/-0.21 micromol/dry total cecum content) of spermidine which was the major polyamine. The cecum of diassociated rats fed the fiber-free diet contained even higher concentrations of spermidine (2.53+/-0.21 micromol/dry total cecum content) and also putrescine, which was now the dominant polyamine (putrescine 0.32+/-0.28 vs. 3.01+/-0.28 micromol/dry total cecum content; monoassociation vs. diassociation). Pectin consumption by diassociated rats led to an additional increase in the cecal concentrations of all polyamines: putrescine, spermidine and spermine were 40, 37 and 100%, respectively, higher in the diassociated rats consuming the pectin diet than in those consuming the pectin-free diet. Since the microbial counts in the cecum did not differ in the diassociated treatment groups, the elevated concentrations of polyamines observed in the pectin group must have been due to stimulated bacterial polyamine synthesis. The decline of individual polyamines from cecum to feces detected at the end of the study in all treatment groups and the high microbial counts in the cecum and in feces suggest that bacterial polyamines are absorbed in cecum and colon. Pectin stimulates intestinal microbes to synthesize large amounts of polyamines which may be utilized by the host.

We examined the role of the large intestine in zinc absorption in rats in three separate experiments. In the first experiment, we examined apparent zinc absorption in rats fed diets containing graded levels of zinc carbonate (0.015-0.535 mmol Zn/kg diet) and evaluated zinc status on the basis of the zinc concentrations in serum and several tissues. The zinc absorption and the serum zinc concentration increased with the zinc content of the diet up to 0. 153 mmol Zn/kg diet. Femoral and pancreatic zinc levels increased linearly up to 0.229 mmol Zn/kg diet. In the second experiment, a zinc carbonate suspension was administered into the cecum via an implanted cannula or into the stomach via an orogastric tube, and the rats were fed diets with or without a highly fermentable fiber, guar gum hydrolysate (GGH, 50 g/kg diet), with coprophagy prevention. The amount of instilled zinc corresponded to the amount of zinc ingested as a component of the diet by the rats of a control group, 0.229 mmol Zn/kg diet. Apparent absorption of cecally instilled zinc was approximately half that observed when zinc was administered into the stomach in both diet groups. Serum and femur zinc concentrations in the cecum-administered groups were approximately 50 and 25% lower, respectively, than those in rats administered zinc into the stomach. The results demonstrate that, in vivo, the absorptive efficiency in the large intestine is not sufficient to satisfy the rat's zinc requirement and does not change when the luminal environment is substantially altered by feeding GGH. In Experiment 3, the effects of cecocolonectomy on zinc absorption were examined in rats with gastric acid suppression. In the cecocolonectomized groups, serum zinc concentration was lower as a result of treatment with a proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, than in vehicle-treated rats, but not in sham-operated groups. These findings suggest that the cecum and colon contribute to zinc absorption when absorption in the small intestine is impaired.

Certain indigestible oligosaccharides may benefit gastrointestinal tract health via fermentation and proliferation of desirable bacterial species. The purpose of this study was to elucidate effects of selected oligosaccharides on cecal and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration, pH, total large bowel wet weight and wall weight, and gut microbiota levels in rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: 1) control diet; 2) control diet + 5% microcrystalline cellulose (5% CC); 3) control diet + 5% CC + 6% fructooligosaccharides; 4) control diet + 5% CC + 6% oligofructose; or 5) control diet + 5% CC + 6% xylooligosaccharides. The control diet consisted of (dry matter basis) 20% protein, 65% carbohydrate, 10.5% fat, vitamin and mineral mixes. The duration of the study was 14 d. The oligofructose- and fructooligosaccharide-containing diets resulted in higher cecal butyrate concentrations compared with the control, cellulose and xylooligosaccharide diets. Generally, total cecal SCFA pools were higher while pH was lower from ingesting oligosaccharide-containing diets compared with control or cellulose diets. Cecal total weight and wall weight were higher from oligosaccharide consumption, whereas colonic total wet weight was higher for rats consuming xylooligosaccharides compared with other treatments; colon wall weight was unaffected by treatments. Cecal bifidobacteria and total anaerobes were higher whereas total aerobes were lower in rats fed oligosaccharide diets compared with those fed the control diet. Cecal lactobacilli levels were unaffected by treatment. Dietary incorporation of fermentable, indigestible oligosaccharides, by providing SCFA, lowering pH, and increasing bifidobacteria, may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health.

Evidence supports a pathogenic role of arachidonic acid-derived inflammatory mediators within the gastrointestinal tract of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an ulcerative colitis nutritional formula (UCNF) containing oligosaccharides, fish oil, gum arabic and antioxidants on plasma and colonic phospholipid fatty acid and prostaglandin profiles in pigs. Twenty-four growing barrows in two replications were equally randomized among four killing times (d 0, 7, 14 and 21), and one of two diets, a control and the UCNF. Diets contained comparable levels of protein, fat, and nonstructural carbohydrate and met 100% of the energy requirements of the pig. Intake and body weight were recorded daily while blood, urine and tissue samples were collected at time of kill. Within 1 wk of ingestion of the UCNF, the composition of plasma phospholipid fatty acids showed an increase in 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3) (P < 0.0001) and a decrease in 20:4(n-6) and 18:2(n-6) (P < 0.0001). Similar effects were observed for the phospholipids in the colonic and cecal mucosa. Plasma prostaglandin E was unaffected by treatment, whereas thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha levels were significantly decreased after 7 d of UCNF ingestion. Ingestion of the UCNF resulted in a suppression in the synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins by cecal and colonic mucosal cells. Levels of colonic and cecal prostaglandin E, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 were significantly decreased after 7 d of UCNF ingestion. These changes may have been mediated by rapid increases of (n-3) fatty acids into cellular phospholipids. Dietary supplementation with the UCNF may prove beneficial for patients with ulcerative colitis by modulating colonic prostaglandin synthesis.

In the present study the effects of dietary galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on dietary fat-promoted pancreatic carcinogenesis in azaserine-treated rats were investigated. The aims of this study were to determine 1) whether GOS acts as an inhibitor of pancreatic carcinogenesis and 2) whether GOS interacts with dietary fat-promoted pancreatic tumor development. Four groups of 39 azaserine-treated rats were maintained on different experimental diets that were formulated as follows: 4.3 wt% fat-8.3 wt% GOS (low fat-low GOS), 3.5 wt% fat-27.4 wt% GOS (low fat-high GOS), 15.5 wt% fat-9.5 wt% GOS (high fat-low GOS), and 14.3 wt% fat-28.6 wt% GOS (high fat-high GOS). Autopsies were performed after 6 months (9 animals/group) and 12 months (30 animals/group). Five rats per group were treated with bromodeoxyuridine before autopsy. Parallel sections of the pancreas were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or with hematoxylin and a monoclonal antibody against bromodeoxyuridine and examined by light microscopy. A high-fat diet caused a significant decrease, whereas a diet high in GOS caused a significant increase, in absolute and relative weight of the cecum content. A high level of dietary fat caused a highly significant increase in multiplicity and incidence of pancreatic (pre)neoplastic lesions after 6 and 12 months of feeding. A high level of GOS in the diet did not influence the number of atypical acinar cell nodules or the tumor incidence in comparison with controls. Dietary fat and dietary GOS caused a significant increase in cell proliferation in atypical acinar cell nodules after six months. It was concluded that dietary GOS has no modulating effect on pancreatic carcinogenesis in azaserine-treated rats or on the tumor-promoting effect of a high-fat diet.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of turkey cecal droppings and relate them to intake of common dietary components, namely fat, fiber, and the anticoccidial, monensin. Experiment 1 involved collection and analysis of physical and chemical properties of cecal and regular droppings from commercial turkey flocks. Experiment 2 tested the effect of dietary fat, fiber, and monensin on growth performance and cecal activity in male turkeys. Compared to regular excreta, cecal droppings analyzed in Experiment 1 were higher in viscosity and fat content, and lower in dry matter, nitrogen, and fiber content (P < 0.05). High dietary fiber and fat significantly (P < 0.05) improved growth performance in Experiment 2. Prolonged feeding of monensin significantly (P < 0.05) reduced cecal evacuation. Results of chemical composition showed that higher dietary fat and fiber significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the fat percentage of cecal contents, whereas prolonged feeding of monensin increased the fat in both cecal contents and droppings. There was no significant effect of any of the treatments on pH, viscosity, and microbial counts of cecal contents. There is the need to identify and characterize the compound responsible for the high viscosity of cecal droppings.