title: Selected lignosulfonate fractions affect growth performance, digestibility, and cecal and colonic properties in rats.
abstract: We determined the effects of lignosulfonate (LS) on nutrient digestibility and on hindgut fermentation characteristics using 80 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a control diet or a diet containing 3% (dry matter basis) of seven selected LS fractions. Lignosulfonate fractions were divided into three categories: two fractionated whole calcium spent sulfite liquors (CaSSL) and one low-molecular-weight permeate of CaSSL designated as WholeLS 1, 2, and 3, respectively; two extracted sodium LS (NaLS) fractions denoted as HighLS 1 and 2 (high percentage of NaLS); and two concentrated sugar solutions designated as LowLS 1 and 2 (low percentage of NaLS). All diets containing LS were less digestible (P < .001) than the control diet. Lignosulfonate treatment had a variable effect on short-chain fatty acid concentration except for LowLS 1, which tended to enhance butyrate concentration. Cecal organ weights were greater (P < .001) for LS treatments, but there was no difference in colonic organ weights. All cecal and colonic pH values, except the cecal pH for HighLS 2, were lower (P < .001) for LS treatment groups. Colonic Bifidobacterium increased (P < .005) with WholeLS 1 and 3 and HighLS 2 treatments. Cecal Lactobacillus levels were increased (P < .001) by WholeLS 1 and 2, LowLS 2, and HighLS 2. Results show that ingestion of selected LS fractions can modify digestive physiology and gastrointestinal tract characteristics of rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fahey
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002432:Cecum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008031:Lignin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; C001545:lignosulfuric acid; D008031:Lignin