Influence of dietary supplementation with flaxseed and lactobacilli on the mucosal morphology and proliferative cell rate in the jejunal mucosa of piglets after weaning.
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of flaxseed and lactobacilli supplementation to the diet of piglets during the time period between 10 days before and 21 days after weaning. The morphometry of the jejunal mucosa and proliferative ratio of both epithelial and lamina propria cells were compared with those found in a group of piglets fed with the usual diet added with sunflower oil during the same time period. The addition of flaxseed oil to the diet significantly increased the crypt depth in comparison with both groups supplemented with sunflower (P < 0.05 and 0.001 respectively) on the weaning day. Moreover, the flaxseed addition caused a significant decrease in villus height (P < 0.01) and crypt depth (P < 0.01) 21 days postweaning in comparison with the sunflower group. The proliferative ratio of the epithelial cells in the sunflower group on the weaning day was significantly higher than in both flaxseed groups (P < 0.01). Paradoxically, significantly higher proliferative activity in the mucosal connective tissue in the group with flaxseed supplementation in comparison with the sunflower group was observed on the day of weaning, as well as 3 days later (P < 0.05 both). A combination of flaxseed with lactobacilli showed significantly lower proliferative activity in the connective tissue cells from weaning up to 7 days after weaning (P < 0.05 all) in comparison with the flaxseed group.
Faculty of Medicine, Pavel Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Zuzana
Z
Jonecova
Faculty of Medicine, Pavel Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Stefan
S
Toth
Clinica Medica I, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Rachele
R
Ciccocioppo
Department of Gastroenterology, Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Luis
L
Rodrigo
International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
Peter
P
Kruzliak
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Radomira
R
Nemcova
D000367:Age Factors; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019936:Probiotics; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
D008043:Linseed Oil
cell proliferation; crypt depth; flaxseed; lactobacilli; mucosal thickness; villus height