• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1673-1679
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• 2003

Two hundred forty 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of Cu (II)-exchanged montmorillonite (CEM) or montmorillonite on the growth performance, intestinal microflora, bacterial enzyme activities and morphology of broilers. The chicks were assigned randomly into three groups with 80 chicks per treatment. The three dietary treatments were basal diet only (control group), basal diet +1 g $kg^{-1}$ montmorillonite, and basal diet +1 g $kg^{-1}$ CEM. The results showed that the addition of CEM to the diet increased significantly the body weight and feed efficiency, but a similarly significant increase was not found in broilers fed the diet containing montmorillonite. Supplementing the CEM in the diet of broilers also decreased the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli in the small intestine and cecum. The addition of either CEM or montmorillonite to the diet depressed the activities of $\beta$-glucosidase and $\beta$-glucuronidase in the small intestinal and cecal contents. Data of villus height and crypt depth for duodenum, jejunum and ileum indicated that dietary addition of CEM or montmorillonite improved the small intestinal mucosal morphology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2003

Ten barrows, weaned at 28 days (7.2$\pm$0.1 kg BW), were used to evaluate the effects of feeding extruded full-fat soybeans on intestinal morphology and mucosal cell turnover time. All pigs were fed corn-based diets with half of the pigs receiving diets supplemented with 15.5% soybean meal and 3% soybean oil and the remaining pigs fed a diet in which the soybean meal and oil were replaced by 18.5% extruded full-fat soybeans. The pigs were individually placed in $80{\times}150cm$ metabolic cages and fed twice daily an amount approximately equal to their ad libitum intake for a period of 14 days. On day 14, pigs were weighed and then injected intraperitoneally with $^3$H]thymidine ($100{\mu}Ci/kg$ of BW, specific activity 20 Ci/mmol) 6 h after the morning meal. A pig from each treatment was killed 1, 4, 8, 16, or 24 h postinjection and intestinal tissues were collected. Daily gains for pigs fed the soybean diet and extruded full-fat soybean diet were 0.24 and 0.31 kg/day (p=0.05) with feed conversions of 1.58 and 1.39 (p=0.05), respectively. In comparison with pigs fed soybean meal, pigs fed moist extruded full-fat soybeans had a decreased crypt depth in their duodenum and cecum (p<0.1), while the villus height in the mid jejunum and ileum and the total height (villus height plus crypt depth) of the ileum and mid jejunum increased (p<0.05). The villus width in the duodenum and mid jejunum decreased (p<0.05). The number of crypt epithelial cells in the upper jejunum increased but decreased in the ileum, colon and cecum (p<0.05). The number of villus epithelial cells in the ileum and the upper and mid jejunum increased (p<0.05). The time for migration of epithelial cells in the crypt-villus column decreased (p<0.05) in all sites except the upper jejunum, ileum and cecum. The mucosal turnover rate for all intestinal sites except the upper jejunum, colon and cecum decreased (p<0.05). From these data, we conclude that inclusion of moist extruded full-fat soybeans in weanling pig diets can improve the intestinal morphology and slow the migration rate and turnover time of epithelial cells of the small intestine, especially in the mid jejunum compared with soybean meal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.134-141
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• 2016

To investigate the role of polysaccharide from Acanthopanax senticosus (ASPS) in preventing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury, 18 mice (at 5 wk of age) were assigned to three groups with 6 replicates of one mouse each. Mice were administrated by oral gavage with or without ASPS (300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days and were injected with saline or LPS at 15 days. Intestinal samples were collected at 4 h post-challenge. The results showed that ASPS ameliorated LPS-induced deterioration of digestive ability of LPS-challenged mice, indicated by an increase in intestinal lactase activity (45%, p<0.05), and the intestinal morphology, as proved by improved villus height (20.84%, p<0.05) and villus height:crypt depth ratio (42%, p<0.05), and lower crypt depth in jejunum (15.55%, p<0.05), as well as enhanced intestinal tight junction proteins expression involving occludin-1 (71.43%, p<0.05). ASPS also prevented intestinal inflammation response, supported by decrease in intestinal inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (22.28%, p<0.05) and heat shock protein (HSP70) (77.42%, p<0.05). In addition, intestinal mucus layers were also improved by ASPS, as indicated by the increase in number of goblet cells (24.89%, p<0.05) and intestinal trefoil peptide (17.75%, p<0.05). Finally, ASPS facilitated mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor (100%, p<0.05) and its receptor (200%, p<0.05) gene. These results indicate that ASPS can prevent intestinal mucosal barrier injury under inflammatory conditions, which may be associated with up-regulating gene mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor and its receptor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.403-409
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• 2018

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a lipid-coated zinc oxide (ZnO) supplement Shield Zn (SZ) at the sub-pharmacological concentration on intestinal morphology and gene expression in weanling pigs, with an aim to gain insights into the mechanism of actions for SZ. Methods: Forty 22-day-old weanling pigs were fed a nursery diet supplemented with 100 or 2,500 mg Zn/kg with uncoated ZnO (negative control [NC] or positive control [PC], respectively), 100, 200, or 400 mg Zn/kg with SZ for 14 days and their intestinal tissues were taken for histological and molecular biological examinations. The villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) of the intestinal mucosa were measured microscopically following preparation of the tissue specimen; expression of the genes associated with growth and immune function was determined using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: There was no difference in daily gain, gain:feed, and diarrhea score between the SZ group and either of NC and PC. The VH and VH:CD ratio were less for the SZ group vs NC in the jejunum and duodenum, respectively (p<0.05). The jejunal mucosal mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and interleukin (IL)-10 regressed and tended to regress (p = 0.053) on the SZ concentration with a positive coefficient, respectively, whereas the IL-6 mRNA level regressed on the SZ concentration with a negative coefficient. The mRNA levels of IGF-I, zonula occludens protein-1, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-10 did not differ between the SZ group and either of NC and PC; the occludin and transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ mRNA levels were lower for the SZ group than for PC. Conclusion: The present results are interpreted to suggest that dietary ZnO provided by SZ may play a role in intestinal mucosal growth and immune function by modulating the expression of IGF-I, IL-6, and IL-10 genes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.188-199
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• 2002

Objectives : Banhasasim-tang has been clinically used to treat upper gastric intestinal discomfort. The object of this study is to examine the defense effect of Banhasasim-tang for acute duodenal injury of the mouse. Methods and Materials : Twenty-one rats were divided into 3 groups and treated as follows: the control group was untreated mice. The ADE group was acute duodenal-damage-elicited mice. The BST group was Banhasasim-tang treated mice before acute duodenal damage elicitation. The groups were examined with common morphology, paneth cells in intestinal crypt, absorptive cells and goblet cells in epithelium, cell division in mucose, COX-l as mucosal protector, COX-2 (which appears to play an important role in inflammation), IL-2R-inducing cellular immuno-chainreaction, and the distribution of apoptotic cells. Results : 1. Common morphology: the ADE group was observed with duodenal injury - loss of villi, infiltration of cells concerned to inflammation (lymphocytes, granular leukocytes) to submucosal layer - by hemorrhagic erosions, while the BST group was seen the same as normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. 2. Histochemical change: the ADE group was observed with noticeable decreased distribution of absorptive cells with microvilli, acid mucin secreted goblet cell, neutral mucin secreted goblet cell, paneth cells compared to the normal group. The BST group was seen to have distribution of epithelium cells resembling normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. 3. Imnunohistochemical change: the ADE group showed a change of factors leading to duodenal injury as reduce of cytokinesis, COX-1, increase of COX-2, IL-2R-. In contrast, the BST group tended to reduction of cytokinesis, COX-1, increase of COX-2, IL-2R- in proportion to increasing taking time before injury. 4. Apoptosis change: the ADE group showed increasing apoptosis cells, in contrast to the BST group which was the same as normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. Conclusions : According to the above results, by increasing the defense system of mucosal epithelium, Banhasasim-tang is thought to effectively protect tissue against ulcers resulting from acute duodenal injury.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.200-210
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• 2002

Objectives: Dojeckjiyu-tang has been used to treat Hwaseol & Jeokri. The object of this study is examination of the treatment effect of Dojeckjiyu-tang for ulcerative colitis of the mouse descending colon. Methods and Materials : Twenty-one rats were divided into 3 groups and treated as follows: the control group was untreated mice. The UCE group was ulcerative colitis elicited mice. The DJT group was Dojeckjiyu-tang treated mice after ulcerative colitis elicitation. The groups were examined with common morphology, paneth cells in intestinal crypt, absorptive cells and goblet cells in epithelium, cell division in mucose, COX-1 as mucosal protector, COX-2 (which appears to play an important role in inflammation), IL-2R-, ICMA-1-inducing cellular immuno-chainreaction, and the distribution of apoptotic cells. Results: 1. The morphology of colonic mucosa from UCE mice: the disappearance of epithelium and intestinal propria in hemorrhagic erosions were seen, but in the morphology of colonic mucosa from DJT-treated mice, the configuration of epithelium and intestinal propria were the same as normal. 2. The distribution of goblet cells and absorptive cells with microvilli in intestinal propria from UCE mice: a noticeable decrease of goblet cells and absorptive cells with microvilli were seen, but with the distribution of goblet cells and absorptive cells with microvilli in intestinal propria from DJT -treated mice, the configuration of goblet cells and absorptive cells with microvilli were the same as normal. 3. The immunohistochemical stain for BrdD in colonic mucosa and COX-1 in lamina propria from UCE mice: BrdU positive cells and COX-1 positive cells in the region of hemorrhagic erosion disappeared, but in the immunohistochemical stain for BrdU in colonic mucosa and COX-1 in lamina propria from DIT-treated mice, BrdU positive cells and COX-1 positive cells were seen. 4. The immunohistochemical stain for COX-2 in lamina propria, IL-2R-in lamina propria, intestinal propria and submucosa and ICMA-1 in intestinal propria and submucosa from DCE mice: a noticeable increase COX-2, IL-2R-, ICMA-1 positive cells were seen, but in the immunohistochemical stain for COX-2 in lamina propria, IL-2R-in lamina propria, intestinal propria and submucosa and ICMA-1 in intestinal propria and submucosa from DJT-treated mice, a numerical decrease of COX-2, IL-2R-, ICMA-1 positive cells was observed. 5. The distribution of apoptotic cells in epithelium and lamina propria from UCE mice: a noticeable increase of apoptotic cells in region of hemorrhagic erosion was seen, but in the distribution of apoptotic cells in epithelium and lamina propria from DJT-treated mice, a remarkable decrease of apoptotic cells was seen. Conclusions: According to the above results, Dojeckjiyu-tang has a moderate effect on ulcerative colitis in descending colon.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.5
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• 2015

The study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a lipid-encapsulated Zinc oxide on growth parameters and intestinal mucosal morphology piglets born to Duroc-sired Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire dams. Twenty-four 30-day-old piglets weaned at 25 days of age were orally challenged with $5{\times}10^8$ colony forming units of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 and fed one of the four diets for 7 days: (i) a nursery basal diet containing 100-ppm ZnO (referred to as BASAL), (ii) BASAL supplemented with 120-ppm apramycin (referred to as ANTIBIO), (iii) BASAL with 2,400-ppm ZnO (referred to as HIGH), and BASAL containing 100-ppm lipid-encapsulated ZnO (referred to as LE). All piglets were killed at the end of the experiment for histological examination on the intestine. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG), the villus height: crypt depth (CD) ratio in the ileum, and the goblet cell density of the villus and crypt in the duodenum, jejunum, and colon were greater in the LE-fed group that those of the BASAL (p < 0.05). Fecal consistency score (FCS) and the CD ratio in the ileum were less in the LE-fed group, compared to the BASAL-fed one (p < 0.05). The effects observed in the LE-fed group were almost equal to those of the HIGH-fed group as well as even superior to those of the ANTIBIO-fed group. Taken together, our results imply that dietary supplementation of 100-ppm lipid-encapsulated ZnO is as effective as that of 2,400-ppm ZnO for promoting growth diarrhea and intestinal morphology caused by ETEC infection.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.380-384
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• 2006

Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were fed a diet containing basal (control), cellulose (5%), or alcohol insoluble residue (AIR) (5%) extracted from the stem and root barks of elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai) for 4 weeks. The effects of the diets, on gastrointestinal functions and morphology were evaluated. The weight gains, food intake, and food efficiencies for the cellulose and AIR diet-fed groups were not significantly different from those of the AIR-free (basal) diet. The gastrointestinal transit times of the stem and root bark AIR diets were significantly reduced (p<0.01) compared to the basal diet, and were slower than those of the cellulose diet. The fecal weights of the stem and root bark AIR diets were significantly increased (p<0.01) up to 4-fold compared to those of the basal diet. The height of the mucosal villi, and mucosal and muscle layer thicknesses of the colon were greater and more developed in the stem and root bark AIR diets (p<0.01) than in the basal diet. The villus heights in the jejunum and the colon mucosal goblet cells were more developed in the order of cellulose > stem bark AIR > root bark AIR diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1659-1664
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• 2008

To study the working mechanisms for non-starch polysaccharidases to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, a 21-day feeding trial was conducted. Two dietary treatments were included: 1) wheat diet (the control); 2) wheat+xylanase diet (xylanase, Allzyme PT, Alltech, Kentucky, USA). There were 8 replicates with 8 birds each for each treatment and the experimental diets were given to birds from hatch. Feed intake and body weight were measured on days 7 and 21. At the same ages, samples were taken for the determination of selected groups of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, mucosal morphology, brush-border membrane (BBM) bound enzyme activity and ileal nutrient digestibility. The xylanase supplement increased (p<0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the end of the experiment but protein and starch digestibilities were not affected (p>0.05) by xylanase. Up to day 7, xylanase increased the counts of C. perfringens in the ileum and total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) in the caeca (p<0.05, p=0.07, respectively). By day 21, the counts of ileal lactobacilli (p<0.05) and TAB (p=0.07) were lower in birds given the xylanase-supplemented diet than in those on the control diet. No significant differences were observed in the counts of mucosa-associated lactobacilli and coliforms between xylanase treatment and the control at both ages. Villus height at the jejunum was not affected (p>0.05) by the supplement but crypt depth at the same site was reduced at day 7. Also, xylanase tended to increase the concentration of BBM protein (p = 0.09) and the specific activity of sucrase (p = 0.07) at day 21.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1011-1016
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• 2005

In this study, 90 crossbred weaned pigs（Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White）weighing - 7.86${\pm}$0.06 kg each were randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments. Control pigs were a fed corn-soybean meal diet with no additives. The two treatment groups were fed the basal diet supplemented either with 75 mg/kg Aureomycin or 0.4% fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in order to study the effects on performance, serological indices, and enteric morphology in addition to examining the content of volatile fatty acids in intestinal digesta. The results indicate that the diets containing FOS and antibiotics had a significant effect on feed conversion ratios (FCR) and diarrhea incidence, as well as increasing the concentrations of isobutyric and butyric acid and total VFAs in the caecum, and acetic acid, isovaleric acid, and total VFAs in feces. Supplementation with FOS also resulted in significantly longer mucosal villi height and a higher percentage of goblet cells compared with the control. No difference was found in crypt depth among the three treatments. While serum glucose levels were significantly higher following FOS supplement, differences in serum total protein, albumin, globulin, and urea nitrogen levels were not significant.