title: Influence of beta-glucanase-producing Lactobacillus strains on intestinal characteristics and feed passage rate of broiler chickens.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of beta-glucanase produced by transformed Lactobacillus strains on the intestinal characteristics and feed passage rate of broiler chickens fed barley-based diets. Supplementation of transformed Lactobacillus strains to the diet of chickens significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the intestinal fluid viscosity by 21 to 46% compared with chickens fed an unsupplemented diet or a diet supplemented with parental Lactobacillus strains. The relative weights of pancreas, liver, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ceca, and colon were reduced (P < 0.05) by 6 to 27%, and the relative length of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and ceca was reduced (P < 0.05) by 8 to 15%. Histological examination of the intestinal tissues showed that the jejunal villus height of chickens fed a diet supplemented with transformed Lactobacillus strains was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of chickens fed other dietary treatments. The transformed Lactobacillus strains were found to reduce (P < 0.05) the time of feed passage rate by 2.2 h. Supplementation of transformed Lactobacillus strains to the diet improved the intestinal characteristics and feed, passage rate of the chickens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. ccsieo@fsas.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sieo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000502:physiology*; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size
chemical_list: D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C028020:licheninase