Scanning electron microscopic observations on the intestinal villi in growing white leghorn and broiler chickens from 1 to 30 days of age

Abstract

1. To obtain intestinal morphological data demonstrating the faster growth rate in broiler (BR) than in White Leghorn (WL) chickens, villi of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were examined from 1 to 30 d of age by scanning electron microscopy. 2. At the first day after hatching, villi of each intestinal segment showed a finger-like shape in both breeds. Villi developed to a plate-like shape in the duodenum, a wave-like shape in the jejunum and a tongue-like shape in the ileum at 30 d of age via the common plate-like villi at 10 d of age. The fundamental villous shape and arrangement seem to be accomplished by 10 d of age; two types of obliquely elongated plate-like villi showed a zigzag arrangement, adjoining at an angle of 40 degrees to 60 degrees like an oblique T-shape. It is suggested that such a villous arrangement would be more effective for nutrient absorption by inducing a long zigzag flow of ingesta. 3. Compared with WL, even at the first day after hatching BR had many more developed epithelial cell protrusions over the whole apical surface of the duodenal villi. In WL the protrusions were not so apparent and located only in the central area of the villous tip. Furthermore, at 10 d of age BR showed more developed and larger villi, many wider microvilli at the apical portion of villi and more active extrusions of epithelial cells from the tip of the duodenal and jejunal villi. 4. These morphological characteristics of villi in early life in BR suggest a greater absorptive surface area and a more active intestinal function, permitting the faster growth rate of BR immediately after hatching.

Enteropathogenicity of Dutch and German avian reoviruses in SPF white leghorn chickens and broilers

“…On the contrary, it is likely that epithelial replacement occurs faster in broilers than in white leghorn chickens. Differences in the villus morphology and activities have been shown in that the villus epithelia develop more over the whole apical surface, have larger villi and wider microvilli [29] and show an earlier maturation in activities [30] in the broiler than in white leghorn chickens. Therefore, although the infected broilers had more severe intestinal lesions (at day 2 PI) because of the presence of more differentiated epithelia, the recovery might be faster due to a faster replacement of the epithelia.…”

Malabsorption syndrome in broilers

“…PATHOBIOLOGY Shapiro et al (1998) have shown that broilers are more susceptible to MAS than are Leghorn chickens and turkey poults. Contrary to layer chickens, broilers have a faster development of intestinal morphology and activities (Yamauchi and Isshiki, 1991;Yamauchi et al, 1992). The difference in severity of the intestinal lesions and the reduction in body weight gain among genetic lines of commercial broiler chicks reflected the difference in susceptibility to MAS between broiler lines (Songserm et al, 2002a).…”

Ontogenetic expression and regulation of Na+-d-glucose cotransporter in jejunum of domestic chicken

“…Although there is a lack of agreement on the pattern of development of these parameters in mammals (20), in chickens all reports (16,30) find these parameters to be increased during development.…”

“…At hatch, intestinal morphology (16,30), digestive function (27), and nutrient transport capacity (2) have attained a state of complete development. The maximal capacity per tissue weight to transport monosaccharides is reached the day after hatch and declines afterward until attainment of adult levels at the age of 5 wk (18,25).…”