Effects of delayed feeding, sodium butyrate and glutamine on intestinal permeability in newly-hatched broiler chickens

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of delayed feeding, and supplementation with sodium butyrate or glutamine in drinking water, on intestinal permeability (IP) in young broiler chickens. Newly-hatched male chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to four groups comprising Control, 24 h delayed fed (DF), DF supplemented with sodium butyrate (0.1%) in the drinking water and DF supplemented with glutamine (1%) in the drinking water. On days 2, 4 and 7, twelve birds per group were randomly selected, weighed and orally gavaged with fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) at 2.2 mg/ml/chicken. Serum FITC-d concentration was analysed by spectrophotometry while serum diamine oxidase and D-lactic acid concentrations were analysed by microplate reader. FITC-d concentrations in the Control and DF groups were not statistically different on any day, suggesting that delayed feeding did not affect IP. Additionally, sodium butyrate increased IP compared to DF and Control on day 2 only (p < 0.05), while glutamine increased IP on all days, compared to DF and Control (p < 0.05). Diamine oxidase and D-lactic acid concentrations of all groups were not statistically different.