Low inclusion levels of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in laying Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, Gould, 1837) diet improve the intestinal morphometry, enzymatic activity and caecal short chain fatty acids profile

One hundred twenty, 12 weeks old laying Japanese quails (JQ) were equally divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 5 birds/group). The control group (CON) fed a corn-soybean diet; TML1.4, TML2.8, and TML5.6 groups fed a diet where a Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TML) was included at 1.4, 2.8, and 5.6%, respectively. The trial lasted 54 days. The villi height (VH) and the crypt depth (CD) linearly decreased from the control to the TML5.6 group (P < 0.01) in the duodenum, while an opposite trend was observed for the Ab+ mucous cells count (P < 0.01). The highest VH/CD ratio was found in the TML1.4 group (P < 0.01). In the jejunum a lower VH was observed in the TML1.4 compared to the CON group; the Ab+ mucous cells increased (P < 0.01) according to the increase of the TM inclusion in the diet, while the highest VH/CD ratio (P < 0.01) was recorded in the TML2.8 group. In the duodenum only the L-ANP has been affected by TML (P < 0.001), with a quadratic and linear effect. The L-ANP is affected by the dietary treatment in the jejunum (P < 0.05), where showed a quadratic effect with the highest value in TML2.8. The % of butyric acid is maximized (P < 0.05) with the TML1.4 diet and that of the isobutyrate and valeric acids increased (P < 0.01) from TML1.4 to TML5.6. The use of TML at 1.4% in laying quail diets can be considered as a way to improve the intestinal health of the birds.

In vitro digestion of polysaccharides: InfoGest protocol and use of small intestinal extract from rat

Starch, dextran, pectin and modified citrus pectin were subjected to intestinal digestion following InfoGest protocol and a rat small intestine extract (RSIE) treatment. Gastric stage did not show any modification in the structure of the carbohydrates, except for modified pectin. Regarding intestinal phases, starch was hydrolyzed by different ways, resulting in a complementary behavior between InfoGest and RSIE. Contrarily, digestion of dextran was only observed using RSIE. Similar situation occurred in the case of pectins with RSIE, obtaining a partial hydrolysis, especially in the modified citrus pectin. However, citrus pectin was the less prone to hydrolysis by enzymes. The results demonstrated that InfoGest method underestimates the significance of the carbohydrates hydrolysis at the small intestine, thus indicating that RSIE is a very reliable and useful method for a more realistic study of polysaccharides digestion.

Oral exposure to the organophosphorus insecticide, Monocrotophos induces intestinal dysfunction in rats

There is limited experimental evidence to imply the role of organophosphorus insecticides on intestinal dysfunctions. Residues of Monocrotophos (MCP), above maximum residue limits (MRL), have been reported in fruits and vegetables from various parts of India. Hence, in this study, we investigated the potential of MCP to induce intestinal dysfunction in rats. MCP was administered orally to rats at sublethal doses (0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 mg/kgb.w/d) for 30 days. MCP at the highest dose significantly increased the unit weight of the small intestine. MCP increased the activities of intestinal brush border disaccharidases, intestinal alkaline phosphatase, glycyl-glycine dipeptidase, and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase while it decreased cholesterol: phospholipid ratio. Histology and scanning electron microscopy of small intestine of MCP treated rats revealed disruption in terms of congestion, increased length of villi, goblet cell hyperplasia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and necrotic villi tip. Further, the intestinal transit rate was found to be increased in MCP treated rats. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that repeated oral intake of MCP has the propensity to alter small intestinal structure and functions, which might lead to intestinal dysfunctions and abnormal nutrient uptake and thereby affect the human health. Although we have employed doses, which are higher than those likely to be encountered as residues, we speculate that further studies should be performed to determine whether MCP residues in foods in the long-term will interfere with the digestive capacity of the small intestine and thus exert adverse effects on the health of human.

Brush border enzymes and absorptive capacity in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction in children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Portal hypertension may affect intestinal functions, brush border enzymes and absorption parameters. Information about these in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) in children is limited and poorly reported. We therefore studied the brush border enzymes and absorptive capacity in EHPVO in children.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 52 children of EHPVO. The diagnosis of EHPVO was made on the basis of clinical presentation and ultrasound examination. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic tissue biopsies from duodenum were taken on aluminum foils and kept immediately at -20°C for estimation of brush border enzymes. Tissue biopsies were homogenized in sodium maleate buffer, 0.1 M pH 6.0, by a homogenizer and processed for the enzymes: lactase, maltase, and sucrase. Enzyme levels were compared to normal healthy controls (n = 20). d-Xylose test, stool acid steatocrit for fat excretion in stools and stool alpha-1 antitrypsin were done to know about the absorptive parameters.

RESULTS

Enzyme levels of lactase (6.21 ± 5.67 IU/mg) and sucrase (37.07 ± 21.06 IU/mg) in EHPVO group were significantly lower as compared to lactase (23.32 ± 10.48 IU/mg) and sucrase (95.96 ± 46.55 IU/mg) in normal healthy controls. Maltase levels were lower, but difference was not statistically significant in EHPVO group (56.90 ± 28.65 IU/mg) as compared to normal controls (63.28 ± 22.88 IU/mg). There was no significant difference of urinary d-xylose and stool fat in patients with normal or short stature EHPVO patients.

CONCLUSION

EHPVO leads to decrease in levels of brush border enzymes in small bowel but their absorption capacity remains normal.