title: Effect of indigestible sugars on nitrogen utilization in adult rabbits.
abstract: To determine the effects of indigestible sugars on the digestibilities of nutrients and utilization of nitrogen (N) in adult male rabbits, 12 rabbits with or without a collar that prevented cecotrophy were fed experimental diets for 8 days, comprising 3 days for adaptation and 5 days for collection of feces and urine. The experimental diets were formulated by adding D-mannitol or citrus pectin to a commercial diet at 60 g/kg. In the rabbits allowed cecotrophy, mannitol increased the absorption of crude ash but did not significantly alter the digestibilities of crude protein (CP), dry matter and acid-detergent fiber. By contrast, the digestibility of CP was decreased by pectin. The ratios of retained N to consumed N and absorbed N were elevated by mannitol. In the rabbits prevented from cecotrophy, mannitol had no effect on N retention, but increased the N content of cecotrophs (soft feces) and the ratio of the N content of cecotrophs to consumed N. Pectin did not have any significant influences on N retention and the N content of cecotrophs. These results suggest that D-mannitol stimulates cecal microbial proliferation, thereby improving N utilization in rabbits.
authors: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Min
authors: Yuta
authors: Y
authors: Tsuzuki
authors: Ei
authors: E
authors: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002432:Cecum / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008353:Mannitol; D010368:Pectins; D009584:Nitrogen