Ontogenic Changes of Villus Growth, Lactase Activity, and Intestinal Glucose Transporters in Preterm and Term Born Calves with or without Prolonged Colostrum Feeding

Oral glucose supply is important for neonatal calves to stabilize postnatal plasma glucose concentration. The objective of this study was to investigate ontogenic development of small intestinal growth, lactase activity, and glucose transporter in calves (n = 7 per group) that were born either preterm (PT; delivered by section 9 d before term) or at term (T; spontaneous vaginal delivery) or spontaneously born and fed colostrum for 4 days (TC). Tissue samples from duodenum and proximal, mid, and distal jejunum were taken to measure villus size and crypt depth, protein concentration of mucosa and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV), total DNA and RNA concentration of mucosa, mRNA expression and activity of lactase, and mRNA expression of sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter-1 (SGLT1) and facilitative glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in mucosal tissue. Additionally, protein expression of SGLT1 in BBMV and GLUT2 in crude mucosal membranes and immunochemical localization of GLUT2 in the enterocytes were determined. Villus height in distal jejunum was lower in TC than in T. Crypt depth in all segments was largest and the villus height/crypt depth ratio in jejunum was smallest in TC calves. Concentration of RNA was highest in duodenal mucosa of TC calves, but neither lactase mRNA and activity nor SGLT1 and GLUT2 mRNA and protein expression differed among groups. Localization of GLUT2 in the apical membrane was greater, whereas in the basolateral membrane was lower in TC than in T and PT calves. Our study indicates maturation processes after birth for mucosal growth and trafficking of GLUT2 from the basolateral to the apical membrane. Minor differences of mucosal growth, lactase activity, and intestinal glucose transporters were seen between PT and T calves, pointing at the importance of postnatal maturation and feeding for mucosal growth and GLUT2 trafficking

Effects of the Probiotic Enterococcus faecium on Muscle Characteristics of Chickens

The use of antibiotics in farm animals is one of the main reasons for the development of resistant bacterial strains (e.g., zoonotic pathogens). Therefore, save alternatives are needed. Here, we examined how post-hatch application (day one to seven of life) of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium AL41 (EF) affects the development and tissue properties of the broiler pectoralis major muscle (PM). Expression of regulators, namely IGF-1, PAX7, and MYF5, was also investigated. At day 1 (n = 6), and days 5, 8, and 12 (n = 10), muscle samples were taken from control and EF supplemented chicks. From day 5 on, myonuclei number per fiber was elevated in EF chicks. Improved capillarization (from day 8), larger myofibers, increased body and PM weights (day 12) were found in the EF group. Part of our findings is explainable by higher intramuscular expression of IGF-1 and lower MYF5 expression in EF birds. In both groups IGF-1 expression decreases with age, thereby increasing the cellular myogenic potential. However, a strong increase in PAX7 expression and more PAX7-positive nuclei were found in EF chicks at day 12. We conclude that EF supplementation improves PM growth and health due to positive effects on bioavailability and fusion capacity of SATC progeny and better tissue perfusion

Rank of immunoreactions of GLUT2 in small intestinal mucosa of calves.

<p>¹Rank of immunoreactions of GLUT2 in apical and basolateral membranes were performed in duodenum, proximal, mid, and distal jejunum 2 h after feeding on d 2 of life in preterm (PT) and term (T) born calves and on d 4 of life in term born and colostrum-fed calves (TC).</p><p>²Values are means ± standard error, differences between two groups (within a segment, ns = non-significant) or between location (apical versus basolateral, * <i>P</i> < 0.05) are tested with Kruskal Wallis Test.</p><p>Rank of immunoreactions of GLUT2 in small intestinal mucosa of calves.</p

Gene expression and activity of lactase in small intestinal mucosa of calves.

<p>¹Measurements were performed in duodenum, proximal, mid, and distal jejunum 2 h after feeding on day 2 of life in preterm (PT) and term (T) born calves and on d 4ay of life in term born and colostrum-fed calves (TC).</p><p>²Values are means ± standard error, n = 7 per group, different values between segments (within one column) of each parameter are shown with lowercase letters (^a,b,c<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p>Gene expression and activity of lactase in small intestinal mucosa of calves.</p

Protein, DNA, and RNA content in small intestinal mucosa of calves.

<p>¹Measurements were performed in duodenum, proximal, mid, and distal jejunum 2 h after feeding on day 2 of life in preterm (PT) and term (T) born calves and on day 4 of life in term born and colostrum-fed calves (TC).</p><p>²Values are means ± standard error, n = 7 per group, different values between groups (within a row) are shown with capital letters (^A,B<i>P</i> < 0.05) and between segments (within one column) of each parameter are shown with lowercase letters (^a,b<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p>Protein, DNA, and RNA content in small intestinal mucosa of calves.</p

Histomorphometric measurements in small intestinal mucosa of calves.

<p>¹Histomorphometric measurements were performed in duodenum, proximal, mid, and distal jejunum 2 h after feeding on day 2 of life in preterm (PT) and term (T) born calves and on day 4 of life in term born and colostrum-fed calves (TC).</p><p>²Values are means ± standard error, n = 7 per group, different values between groups (within a row) are shown with capital letters (^A,B<i>P</i> < 0.05) and between segments (within one column) of each parameter are shown with lowercase letters (^a,b,c<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p>Histomorphometric measurements in small intestinal mucosa of calves.</p

Immunofluorescence analysis of GLUT2 protein in small intestinal mucosa of calves.

<p>Protein expression of GLUT2 is shown in duodenum (A) and proximal jejunum (B) of preterm born calves (PT), in proximal jejunum (C), mid jejunum (D), and duodenum (E) of term born calves (T), and in proximal (F) and mid jejunum (G) of 4-day old and colostrum-fed calves (TC). Immunofluorescence analysis was performed without anti-GLUT2 antibody in duodenum (H; PT calf) and mid jejunum (I; TC calf).</p

Effect of thymol and Enterocin M administration on biochemical, antioxidant and immunological parameters, small intestinal morphology and microbiota in rabbits.

To find natural feed additives with a beneficial effect on rabbit health, thymol alone and in combination with Enterocin M were administered in drinking water for 42 days (35 -77 days of age). A total of 48 rabbits based on their weight were randomly divided into four experimental groups: C – control (basal diet), T – thymol (250 mg/L), E – Enterocin M (Ent M) (50 μL/animal/day), T + E (thymol with Ent M). Ent M (p < .05) and thymol (p < .01) separately decreased malondialdehyde in the liver. Thymol separately and in combination significantly increased phagocytic activity in the blood (p = .0051) and lactic acid in the caecum (p = .0142) and decreased coagulase-positive staphylococci in the caecum (p = .0329). Ent M separately and in combination increased immunoglobulin A content in the jejunal wall (p = .002) and decreased coliform bacteria in faeces (p = .0002). Thymol and Ent M application separately or in combination improved the antioxidant and immune response of rabbits and demonstrated an antibacterial effect