The Effect of Substitution of Palm Fat with Linseed Oil on the Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidative Capacity and Intestinal Morphology in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

Simple SummaryBy changing the source of fat in the diet of animals, the fat content of animal products, such as meat, could be improved. The addition of linseed oil, with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially n-3 α-linolenic acid, is often used in animal nutrition. Rabbit diet manipulation is effective in increasing or changing the level of fatty acids such that meat could become a functional food for humans. Since polyunsaturated fatty acids are susceptible on oxidation, an effect on animal health could arise. Therefore, we conducted a trial replacing palm fat (saturated fatty acids) with linseed oil (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in the rabbit diet to compere the oxidative status and histology of intestinal tissues. There was no significant effect in the substitution of linseed oil on the malondialdehyde concentration in urine and plasma, antioxidative capacity of water soluble or lipid soluble antioxidants, or intestinal morphology. Therefore, with an appropriate dietary strategy, the content of rabbit meat can be improved without reducing animal welfare.AbstractThis experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different dietary fatty acids (saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids) supplementation on the oxidative status and intestinal morphology of adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Twenty-four “slovenska kunka” rabbits were randomly assigned to two different dietary treatments (12 rabbits per treatment) and fed the experimental diets between 80 and 102 days of age. The palm fat (PALM) diet with 6% palm fat and linseed (LINSEED) diets with 6% linseed oil were used. To evaluate the oxidative status of rabbits, the malondialdehyde concentration in urine and plasma and concentration of water and lipid soluble antioxidants in plasma were measured. The antioxidative capacity of the gastrointestinal tract was evaluated by measuring concentration of water and lipid soluble antioxidants in tissues and contents of the intestine. The histological structure of the small intestine and caecum was analyzed via histomorphometric analysis. No significant differences were found in either of those parameters. In summary, rabbits were exposed to high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a high predisposition to oxidation, but their health and welfare were not endangered.

Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Effects on reproductive and productive performance and meat quality in rabbit breeding

“…No differences were found with respect to the control group. The same was shown in other studies evaluating the effect of flaxseed at different concentrations between 3% and 9% on final body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio ( Benatmane et al., 2011 ; Bernardini et al., 1999 ; Bianchi et al., 2006 ; Eiben et al., 2010 ; Kouba et al., 2008 ; Matics et al., 2017 ; Trebušak et al., 2011 , 2019 ). However, a decrease in mortality between 5 and 11 weeks was shown in the study by Matics et al.…”

Thymol in fattening rabbit diet, its bioavailability and effects on intestinal morphology, microbiota from caecal content and immunity

“…Ten serial sections in total were prepared from each intestinal sample, stained with haematoxylin/eosin and observed under a light microscope using the method described by Žitňan et al (2008). The evaluated indices were: villi height (Vh, villi tip to base of villi), crypt depth (Cd, based of villi to bottom of crypt) and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth (Vh/Cd) (Trebušak et al, 2019).…”

Tff3 Deficiency Differentially Affects the Morphology of Male and Female Intestines in a Long-Term High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mouse Model

“…Histomorphometric analysis was performed on HE-stained tissue sections using a Nikon Eclipse Ni-UM microscope equipped with a DS-Fi1 camera and Imaging Software NIS Elements BR 4.6 (Nikon Instruments Europe B.V., Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands) as previously described [80]. The villus height was measured from the tip to the crypt-villus junction, and the crypt depth was measured from the crypt-villus junction to the base, as shown in Figure 1.…”