The influence of feed additive on certain morphometric indicators of the mucous membrane of the large intestine in piglets

This article presents the results of research on the effect of the feed additive “Globigen Jump Start” on the morphological and functional state as well as on the specific morphometric parameters of the large intestine in piglets, including the number of goblet and enterochromaffin cells. From the first day of life, two groups of piglets were formed – a control group and an experimental group, with 20 animals in each. Starting from the 5th day of life, piglets in both groups were fed a nutritionally balanced pre-starter compound feed, while from the 7th day of life, the experimental group animals received the prebiotic additive “Globigen Jump Start” at a rate of 2 kg/ton of feed, consisting of dry yeast and egg powder enriched with immunoglobulins. On days 7, 14, and 28, five animals from each group were euthanized for histological material collection while following the requirements of ethical animal treatment. In the course of morphometric research, on the 14th day, significant increases were established in the thickness of the mucous membrane of the cecum by 2.3 %, the colon by 13.4 %, and the rectum by 2.3 % in relation to these indicators in control piglets. Additionally, an increase in the thickness of the muscular layer of the cecum was recorded on the 14th day, specifically, a thickening of the outer longitudinal layer by 10.4 % and the inner circular layer by 3.9 %; for the colon, increases were noted at 7.7 % (outer longitudinal layer) and 4.1 % (inner circular layer); for the rectum, increases were 7.3 % (outer longitudinal layer) and 12.2 % (inner circular layer) relative to these indicators in the control group of piglets. A similar trend was observed on the 28th day. The number of goblet cells in the large intestine of the experimental and control groups of piglets did not significantly differ on the 7th day. However, by the 14th day, the density of goblet cells in the cecum, colon, and rectum of the experimental group piglets per area of 0.45 mm² was significantly higher compared with that of the control piglets by 37.9 %, 9.5 %, and 3.6 %, respectively. This trend was maintained on the 28th day. Histometric analysis of enterochromaffin cells in the large intestine of piglets revealed that the highest number was localized in the rectum, and the lowest in the cecum. On the 7th day, no significant difference was observed in the average number of enterochromaffin cells in the large intestine between the experimental and control groups. However, on the 14th and 28th days, their number in the cecum increased by 1.5 and 1.31 times, respectively, compared to the control group’s figures. A similar increase was noted in the colon, where on the 14th day, the number of enterochromaffin cells in the experimental group was greater by 14.3 % compared to the control group, and by 8.3 % on the 28th day. The use of the prebiotic additive “Globigen Jump Start” in the experimental group of piglets contributed to an increase in the average number of enterochromaffin cells in the rectum by 4.3 % on the 14th day and by 17.9 % on the 28th day in comparison with this indicator in the control group of piglets. The increase in the number of enterochromaffin cells synthesizing serotonin influenced the morphology of the intestinal tract, specifically the thickening of the mucosa and muscular layers, contributing to more intense smooth muscle contractions, ensuring effective reabsorption of water and nutrients, and facilitating adaptive responses to constant technological stress in piglets.