Effects of oligosaccharides on functional parameters of the intestinal tract of growing pigs

Feeding experiments were carried out in growing pigs using topinambur powder or inactivated yeasts as prebiotic additives with an application period of at least 3 weeks. At the end of the experimental periods the animals were killed and segments of the intestinal tract were used for measuring transport physiological parameters and for mucin histochemistry. Jejunal epithelia were mounted in Ussing chambers for measuring electrical tissue parameters, paracellular permeability and short circuit current response to mucosal glucose. Both prebiotics had no effects on basal or forskolin stimulated short circuit currents. Total tissue conductances tended to be higher in response to both prebiotics. Topinambur increased mucosal-to-serosal fluxes of mannitol in the proximal and distal jejunum, which could only be demonstrated for the distal jejunum when inactivated yeasts were fed. Mucosal application of glucose induced higher current responses in jejunal tissues. From histochemistry it could be demonstrated that both prebiotics increased the number of ileal goblet cells and the thickness of the colonic mucosa.