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The effects of Actigen™ and dietary threonine on nursery pig gut morphology
Author(s) -
Good Lindsay,
Samuel Ryan S,
Graugnard Daniel E,
Pescatore Anthony J,
Jolliff James S,
Mahan Donald C,
Brennan Kristen M
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.867.8
Subject(s) - goblet cell , threonine , crypt , mannan , biology , zoology , lysine , andrology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , amino acid , polysaccharide , epithelium , genetics , enzyme , serine
Adequate dietary threonine (Thr) is necessary for proper gut health in nursery pigs. Supplementing with a mannan oligosaccharide product, such as Actigen™ (ACT, Alltech Inc.), can aid in preventing bacterial colonization in the gut. This study was designed to determine whether supplementation with Thr and ACT had beneficial effects on intestinal morphology. Weaned pigs (17 d old) were randomly assigned to one of six factorial treatments: three ratios of true ileal digestible threonine:lysine (Thr:Lys TID): 57% (low), 67% (requirement), or 77% (high) and with or without 400g/T ACT. On d 42 of treatment, pigs (n=6) were euthanized and jejunal sections were fixed and embedded in paraffin wax for histological analysis. Sections (5 μm) were stained with Alcian blue‐periodic acid Schiff stain. Image analysis revealed that piglets fed 77% Thr:Lys with or without ACT supplementation had increased villi height (P<0.01), villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio (P<0.05), and goblet cell density (cells/μm2; P<0.04) compared to 57% or 67% Thr:Lys. Total goblet cell area (μm2) and goblet cell density were increased (P<0.05) in treatments containing ACT. There were no significant interactions, indicating that adequate Thr levels and ACT supplementation positively influenced gut morphology characteristics independently to increase absorptive capacity and efficiency. The study was funded by Alltech Inc. (Nicholasville, KY).