Lactobacillus plantarum culture supernatants improve intestinal tissue exposed to deoxynivalenol

In the present study, histological, morphometrical and ultrastructural analysis were performed to investigate intestinal mucosa changes in piglets exposed to deoxynivalenol alone or associated with two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and the respective culture supernatants. Jejunal explants were incubated for 4 h in culture medium with a) only culture medium (DMEM, control group), b) deoxynivalenol (DON, 10 μM), c) heat-inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum strain1 − LP1 (1.1 × 108 CFU/ml) plus DON, d) heat-inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum strain2-LP2 (2.0 × 109 CFU/ml) plus DON, e) heat-inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum strain1 culture supernatant (CS1) plus DON, and f) heat-inactivated Lactobacillus plantarum strain1 culture supernatant (CS1) plus DON. Explants exposed to DON and DON plus LP1 and LP2 showed a significant increase in histological changes (mainly villi atrophy and apical necrosis) and a significant decrease in villi height when compared to unexposed explants. However, explants treated with CS1 + DON and CS2 + DON remained similar to the control group both in histological and morphometrical aspects. DON also induced a significant decrease in goblet cell density compared to control whereas CS1 + DON treatment induced an increase in the number of goblet cells in comparison to DON explants. In addition, ultrastructural assessment showed control, CS1 + DON and CS2 + DON explants with well delineated finger shape villi, meanwhile DON-treated, LP1 + DON and LP2 + DON explants showed a severe villi atrophy with leukocytes exudation on the intestinal surface. Taken together, our results indicate that the culture supernatant treatment reduced the toxic effects induced by DON on intestinal tissue and may contribute as an alternative strategy to reduce mycotoxin toxicity.