Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of duodenum, jejunum and ileum at 21 days of age.

<p>Note: Scale bar, 500 μm.</p

Influence of Butyrate Loaded Clinoptilolite Dietary Supplementation on Growth Performance, Development of Intestine and Antioxidant Capacity in Broiler Chickens

<div><p>The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary butyrate loaded clinoptilolite (CLI-B) on growth performance, pancreatic digestive enzymes, intestinal development and histomorphology, as well as antioxidant capacity of serum and intestinal mucosal in chickens. Two hundred forty 1-day-old commercial Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to 4 groups: CON group (fed basal diets), SB group (fed basal diet with 0.05% sodium butyrate), CLI group (fed basal diet with 1% clinoptilolite), and CLI-B group (fed basal diet with 1% CLI-B). The results showed that supplementation of CLI-B significantly decreased (P < 0.05) feed conservation ratio at both 21 and 42 days of age, improved the pancreatic digestive enzymes activities (P < 0.05), increased the villus length and villus/crypt ratio (P < 0.05), and decreased the crypt depth of intestine (P < 0.05) as compared to the other experimental groups. Furthermore, the CLI-B environment improved the antioxidant capacity by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities (P < 0.05) in intestine mucosal, and decreasing the NO content and <i>i</i>NOS activity (P < 0.05) in serum. In addition, CLI-B supplementation had improved the development of intestine and antioxidant capacity of broilers than supplementation with either clinoptilolite or butyrate sodium alone. In conclusion, 1% CLI-B supplementation improved the health status, intestine development and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens, thus appearing as an important feed additive for the poultry industry.</p></div

Primer sequences used in quantitative real time PCR assays.

<p>Primer sequences used in quantitative real time PCR assays.</p

Effects of different treatments on development of duodenum and ileum of broilers chickens.

<p>Effects of different treatments on development of duodenum and ileum of broilers chickens.</p

Effect of dietary nano-ZnOs on zinc concentration in plasma, liver, tibia and feces.

<p>Effect of dietary nano-ZnOs on zinc concentration in plasma, liver, tibia and feces.</p

Effects of different treatments on duodenum, jejunum and ileum histomorphology of broilers chickens.

<p>Effects of different treatments on duodenum, jejunum and ileum histomorphology of broilers chickens.</p

Effects of different treatments of CLI-B on serum NO content and NOS activity of broilers chickens.

<p>Effects of different treatments of CLI-B on serum NO content and NOS activity of broilers chickens.</p

Effect of dietary nano-ZnOs on D-lactic acid, endotoxin and DAO in plasma.

<p>Effect of dietary nano-ZnOs on D-lactic acid, endotoxin and DAO in plasma.</p

Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of duodenum, jejunum and ileum at 42 days of age.

<p>Note: Scale bar, 500 μm.</p

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as a substitute for zinc oxide or colistin sulfate: Effects on growth, serum enzymes, zinc deposition, intestinal morphology and epithelial barrier in weaned piglets - Fig 4

<p><b>Effects of nano-ZnOs on total aerobic bacteria in MLN (A) and mRNA expressions of occludin, claudin-2, and ZO-1 in ileal mucosal (B).</b> Data are expressed as mean± SE (n = 6). For the mRNA expression, data are normalized to the CS group. ^a-bMeans for the same parameter with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05).</p