J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sneddon, J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Howard, C. V.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Sneddon, J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Howard, C. V.
J. Anim. Sci. 2006. 84:119-124
© 2006 American Society of Animal Science

ANIMAL NUTRITION

Mucosal surface area and fermentation activity in the hind gut of hydrated and chronically dehydrated working donkeys

J. C. Sneddon*,1, E. Boomker{dagger} and C. V. Howard{ddagger}

* Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom; and {dagger} University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; and and {ddagger} University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom

1 Corresponding author: J.C.Sneddon{at}livjm.ac.uk

The effects of mild chronic dehydration on fermentation rate and mucosal surface area in the cecum, dorsa and ventral colon, and descending colon of the hindgut were investigated in South African donkeys (n = 11) in agricultural work. Dehydration representing a 6% drop in BW (n = 6) was associated with increased fermentation activity in the cecum (252 ± 22.9 vs. 161 ± 13.5 µmol/g of DM·h–1, P < 0.01) and enhanced fluid retention in the ventral colon (0.81 ± 0.026 vs. 0.73 ± 0.034 mL/g gut, P < 0.05). Fermentation activity in the next segment of the hindgut, the ventral colon, of dehydrated donkeys was also greater numerically (92.5 ± 22.60 vs. 77.9 ± 10.40 µmol/g of DM·h–1), but this difference was not significant. Total mucosal and crypt surface area per unit volume of gut (Sv, µm2/µm3) was greater in dehydrated donkeys for the cecum (253 ± 23.0 vs. 161 ± 13.5, P < 0.01), the ventral colon (286 ± 6.2 vs. 171 ± 9.8, P < 0.01), the dorsal colon (276 ± 18.2 vs. 256 ± 11.0, P < 0.05), and the descending colon (260 ± 20.3 vs. 191 ± 15.2, P < 0.05). Enhanced fermentation activity and enhanced mucosal absorptive or secretory capacity within the hindgut during chronic dehydration was associated with an observed maintenance of appetite. These adaptations in the hindgut are valuable physiological attributes for working donkeys in semi-arid regions where they are frequently exposed to chronic dehydration.

Key Words: dehydration • donkey • fermentation • hind gut • morphology






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the American Society of Animal Science.