Can Nutraceuticals Affect the Structure of Intestinal Mucosa? Qualitative and Quantitative Microanatomy in L -Glutamine Diet-Supplemented Weaning Piglets
2006
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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