Morfologia e proliferação celular do epitélio intestinal de leitões lactentes alimentados com dietas contendo óleos funcionais

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the use of functional oils (FO) of castor and cashew peels in piglets during lactation, with an emphasis on morphometry and intestinal cell proliferation. Forty sows of different birth orders were used. The experimental period was 28 days (6 days pre-delivery and 21 days of lactation). After delivery, the piglets were distributed in the treatments: NC: negative control, commercial diet without antibiotics for piglets and sows; FOPig: diet with FO for piglets; FOSow: diet with FO for sows; FOAll: FO diets for sows and piglets; ANTPIG: antibiotic diet (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) for piglets. Histological sections of the duodenum were stained with HE, for morphometric evaluation, and immunohistochemical reaction of PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) for counting proliferating cells in the crypts. The morphology of the duodenum wall was preserved in all treatments. In the NC group, congested vessels were frequently observed in lamina propria of the villus. The highest villus height was observed in the duodenum of piglets that received ANTPIG diets, followed by FOAll piglets. NC, FOPig and FOSow piglets showed similar villus height, probably due to the lesser effect of the additives included in the diet. ANTPig piglets, followed by FOAll, showed greater depth of crypts compared to other treatments. In the relation between the height of the villi and the depth of the crypts, no differences were observed between the treatments. The absorptive area of the duodenum was similar in the piglets ANTPig and FOAll, but larger than in the other treatments. Villus density was lower in the duodenum of piglets that did not receive antibiotics or functional oils (NC) compared to the FOAll treatment. The number of goblet cells was higher in piglets NC and FOPig in relation to piglets in the groups FOAll and ANTPig. The number of stem cells dividing in the crypts was lower in the FOSow and FOAll treatments compared to the ANTPig treatment. The FO promoted beneficial changes in the intestinal mucosa, as observed in the ANTPig treatment, such as increased villus height, greater depth of the crypts, greater absorptive area, greater villus density and fewer goblet cells when compared to NC, FOPig and FOSow piglets. Our results suggest that the castor bean and cashew husks can be an alternative to the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in suckling piglets, allowing them to better face the challenges they will be exposed to in the post-weaning phase.