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Can Nutraceuticals Affect the Structure of Intestinal Mucosa? Qualitative and Quantitative Microanatomy in L -Glutamine Diet-Supplemented Weaning Piglets

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Abstract

Weaning piglets were fed an L -glutamine-supplemented diet with the aim of monitoring the effects on gut mucosal turnover and barrier function, to elucidate the potential preventive or therapeutic roles of glutamine as a nutraceutical or ‘functional food’. Sixteen female weaning piglets were divided into two groups, which were fed a control diet (Ctr group: n = 8) or a Ctr + 0.5% L -glutamine diet (G group: n = 8) for 28 days. In the ileum of group G piglets the villus height (V) and crypt depth (C) were increased, and the V:C ratio was decreased (p < 0.01). The PCNA and TUNEL immunoreactivities were also tested. The number of mitotic mucosal cells (M) was increased, and that of mucosal cells with apoptotic nuclei (A) decreased in such a way that the A:M index diminished (p < 0.01). The A:M index also decreased at the level of some components of the gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT), thus indicating a positive effect on the gut barrier function. This trial showed that L -glutamine supplementation influenced some morphofunctional characteristics of piglet ileal mucosa. These data corroborate the nutraceutical role of glutamine as a trophic agent for mucosal repair, improvement of barrier function and gut adaptation in the swine per se and as an animal model.

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Abbreviations

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

C:

crypt

DAB:

3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride

GALT:

gut-associated lymphatic tissue

HE:

haematoxylin/eosin

HRP:

horseradish peroxidase

LN:

lymphatic nodule

PAP:

peroxidase-antiperoxidase

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

PCNA:

proliferating cell nuclear antigen

PP:

Peyer's patches

NSS:

normal swine serum

TBS:

Tris-buffered saline

TUNEL:

TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling

V:

villus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Safety, University of Milan, Via Trentacoste 2, Milan, I-20134, Italy

    C. Domeneghini, A. Di Giancamillo, G. Bosi & S. Arrighi

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  1. C. Domeneghini
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  2. A. Di Giancamillo
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  3. G. Bosi
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  4. S. Arrighi
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Correspondence to C. Domeneghini.

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Domeneghini, C., Di Giancamillo, A., Bosi, G. et al. Can Nutraceuticals Affect the Structure of Intestinal Mucosa? Qualitative and Quantitative Microanatomy in L -Glutamine Diet-Supplemented Weaning Piglets. Vet Res Commun 30, 331–342 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-006-3236-1

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