Intestinal protein content in chicken: effect of sodium in the diet

The intestinal protein content has been determined in different segments of the whole intestine of 15 week-old chicks with a high-sodium and low-sodium diet. When the protein content was expressed as a function of the segment weight, the order was jejunum > duodenum > ileum > distal cecum > rectum > proximal cecum, irrespective of the sodium diet levels. The animals on a low-sodium diet show a higher protein content than those on the high-sodium diet, especially in the rectum. When the protein contents were expressed as a function of the weight of the mucosa in the segment, the differences were not so clear.