EFFECT OF AGED GARLIC EXTRACT AND ALLICIN ADMINISTRATION TO SOWS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION ON BODY WEIGHT GAIN AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT DEVELOPMENT OF PIGLETS: MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SMALL INTESTINE. PART II.

摘要

This investigation was undertaken to continue our earlier studies performed on piglets born by sows that were treated with aged garlic extract (AGE) and allicin during the last 24 d of pregnancy and during 28 d of lactation. To explain whether improved systemic development of piglets from sows treated with AGE or allicin observed previously is connected with changes of the gastrointestinal tract on microstructural level, the morphological properties of the small intestine were determined. Piglets were obtained from 18 sows and divided into 3 equal experimental groups. The experimental piglets were divided additionally into 8 age-differentiated subgroups, namely non-suckling newborns and 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, and 56 d old piglets. Starting from the 91st d of pregnancy up to the piglet weaning on the 28th d of their life, the sows were daily given per os AGE or allicin, whereas the control group received the vehiculum. Morphometric measurements of villus height, villus width at villus base, villus section area, crypt (gland) depth and mucosa thickness were performed automatically under confocal microscope. Moreover, villus number per cm of cross section of each investigated intestine sample was estimated. This study revealed that administration of allicin and AGE to pregnant and lactating sows induced beneficial effects on morphological parameters of villi investigated in different parts of the small intestine and during various developmental stages of their offspring. These effects seem to be dependent on the age of the animals and the examined part of the small intestine. The most readable changes in villus morphology were induced by AGE and allicin in piglets between 7 and 35 d of life. Moreover, the most significant response of the intestine toexperimental factors was observed in 50% and 75% of jejunum length as well as in the ileum. In conclusion, increased surface of the small intestine, as a positive consequence of allicin and AGE administration may be postulated as factors responsible fortheir improved systemic development. Moreover, the results obtained confirmed that improved nutrition at early stages of postnatal development, and as the major intrauterine environmental factor, may be beneficial not only after the birth but may have lifelong consequences, leading to the permanent changes of the structure, physiology, and metabolism of offspring.