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Poultry enteric inflammation model with dextran sodium sulfate mediated chemical induction and feed restriction in
V A Kuttappan1, L R Berghman2, E A Vicuña1
1Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
Poultry Science
|April 17, 2015
Summary
Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and feed restriction (FRS) effectively induce a leaky gut in broilers. These models show increased fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) in serum and altered tissue retention, aiding inflammation assessment.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Gut inflammation is a key factor in various gastrointestinal diseases.
- Understanding enteric inflammation is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies, including the use of probiotics and antibiotic growth promoters.
- In vivo models and reliable markers are essential for quantifying gut inflammation and evaluating interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and feed restriction (FRS) as methods for inducing and assessing enteric inflammation in broilers.
- To utilize fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) as a marker to quantify paracellular leakage and assess tight junction function in the gastrointestinal tract.
- To compare the efficacy of DSS and FRS in creating an inflamed gut model.
Main Methods:
- Three independent experiments were conducted using broiler chickens.
- Birds were administered oral gavage of DSS or subjected to FRS to induce gut inflammation.
- Fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d; 3 to 5 kDa) was administered orally, and serum levels and tissue retention were measured 2.5 hours post-gavage to assess gut permeability and tight junction integrity.
Main Results:
- Both DSS and FRS significantly increased FITC-d leakage into the serum compared to controls (P<0.05).
- FRS did not show a significant difference from DSS in terms of serum FITC-d levels.
- DSS and FRS affected FITC-d retention in specific gastrointestinal tract tissues (duodenum, cecum), indicating alterations in gut passage, absorption, or adsorption.
Conclusions:
- Oral administration of DSS and FRS are effective in inducing a 'leaky gut' model in broilers.
- These methods lead to measurable changes in serum FITC-d levels and altered FITC-d migration within the gastrointestinal tract.
- The study validates DSS and FRS as useful tools for investigating enteric inflammation and evaluating potential treatments in poultry models.

