Cello-oligosaccharide influences intestinal microflora, mucosal architecture and nutrient transport in weaned pigs

Effects of cello-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth performance, intestinal microflora, mucosal architecture and nutrient transport of weaned pigs were investigated. A total of 144 piglets, with an average weight of 6.13 ± 0.59 kg weaned at 21 ± 1 d age, were randomly allotted to four groups for two weeks. The four treatments were the control (basal diet), and the basal diet supplemented with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 g/kg COS, respectively. The results showed that COS supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on average daily feed intake, daily gain and gain/feed ratio. Incremental levels of COS increased Lactobacillus (linear P = 0.003; quadratic P = 0.007) and decreased Clostridium (linear P = 0.005; quadratic P = 0.007) in jejunal contents, increased villus height (linear P = 0.005; quadratic P = 0.007), villus height/crypt depth ratio (linear P = 0.000; quadratic P = 0.001) and villus surface area (linear P = 0.009; quadratic P = 0.012), increased RNA/DNA and protein/DNA ratio in jejunal mucosa linearly (P = 0.006 and P = 0.006) and quadratically (P = 0.017 and P = 0.009), respectively. The electrogenic nutrient transport from the jejunal mucosa in Ussing chambers showed that increasing COS level increased sodium-dependent glucose transport (linear P = 0.009; quadratic P = 0.016) and l-glutamine transport (linear P = 0.029; quadratic P = 0.080), respectively. The results indicated that COS has a positive effect on intestinal microflora, mucosal architecture and nutrient transport in the piglet small intestine after weaning, and the dietary COS offers a promising approach to alleviative post-weaning intestinal tract disorders in pigs.