title: Intestinal physiology and regulatory T cell response to immediate or delayed access to feed and water in Pekin ducklings.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of delayed access to feed and water on early duckling growth, selected aspects of intestinal physiology, and immune responses. Ducklings were assigned to one of 2 experimental groups. In one treatment group (referred to as the fed group), feed and water were provided beginning on d 0, and in the other treatment group (referred to as the withheld group), feed and water were withheld until d 2. The ducklings in the withheld treatment had lower BW at 2 and 6 d posthatch than ducklings in the fed group. At 8 d posthatch (6 d postfeeding), the BW of the ducklings in the withheld group was comparable to the BW of the 6-d-old ducklings in the fed group. At 2 d posthatch, withheld ducklings had lower absolute and relative duodenum plus pancreas weight than fed ducklings. At 8 d posthatch (6 d postfeeding), withheld ducklings had higher absolute and relative duodenum plus pancreas weight than fed ducklings at 6 d posthatch. At 2 d posthatch, mucin 5B mRNA content was approximately 2 times lower in withheld ducklings (P = 0.09) than in fed ducklings. At 6 d posthatch, mucin 5b mRNA content was approximately 2.5-fold higher in withheld ducklings (P = 0.07) than in fed ducklings. Delayed access to feed and water increased the CD25(+) cell number in the cecal tonsil at 2, 6, and 8 d posthatch. The IL-10 content of CD25(+) cells was higher in the withheld ducklings than in the fed ducklings at 2 and 6 d posthatch. In conclusion, delaying access of ducklings with no experimental pathogen infection to feed and water has no long-term effects on early growth parameters, intestinal physiology, and immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH 44601, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Loudon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shanmugasundaram
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lilburn
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004372:Ducks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014867:Water