Publication: Effects of a probiotic on the morphology and mucin composition of pig intestine
Authors
Desantis, Salvatore ; Mastrodonato, Maria ; Accogli, Gianluca ; Rossi, Giacomo ; Crovace, Alberto Maria
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
DOI: 10.14670/HH-18-106
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Although the use of probiotics in human and
animal medicine is growing, their mode of action
remains poorly understood. This study examined the
effects of a multi-strain probiotic (SLAB51™) on the
morphology and carbohydrate composition of mucins
secreted by goblet cells of intestinal crypts in growingfinishing pigs. Sections of duodenum, caecum and colon
from pigs fed for 12 weeks with an orally administered
control basal diet (No-Pro) or one with a probiotic blend
(Pro) were processed for microscopic analysis and
stained with (1) haematoxylin-eosin for structural and
morphometrical investigation; (2) conventional
histochemistry (periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian Blue pH
2.5, high iron diamine staining) for neutral, acidic nonsulphated, and sulphated mucin analysis; and (3) FITClabelled MAA-II and SNA lectins for α2,3- and α2,6-
sialomucin identification. Compared with No-Pro
samples, Pro samples displayed (1) increased goblet cell
numbers in all investigated tract crypts; (2) an increase
in acidic non-sulphomucins but a decrease in neutral,
sulphated and α2,6-sialomucin-secreting goblet cells in
the duodenum; (3) decreased crypt depth, an increase in
α2,6-sialomucin secretory goblet cells, and a loss of
goblet cell-secreting α2,3-sialomucins, which appeared
on the apical surface of crypt fundus epithelial cells in
the caecum; and (4) an increase in α2,6-sialomucinproducing goblet cells in the colon. Results suggest that
treatment with SLAB51™ induces region-specific
changes in the morphology and carbohydrate
composition of mucins secreted along intestinal tracts of
growing-finishing pigs. These changes could ameliorate
the health status of the animals, which displayed higher
growth performance and meat quality than controls
(Tufarelli et al., 2017).
Citation
Histology and Histopathology, Vol.34, nº9, (2019)
item.page.embargo
Ir a Estadísticas
Este ítem está sujeto a una licencia Creative Commons. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/