Effects of oligosaccharides on functional parameters of the intestinal tract of growing pigs

Feeding experiments were carried out in growing pigs using topinambur powde r or inactivated yeasts as prebiotic additives with an application period o f at least 3 weeks. At the end of the experimental periods the animals were killed and segments of the intestinal tract were used for measuring transp ort physiological parameters and for mucin histochemistry. Jejunal epitheli a were mounted in Ussing chambers for measuring electrical tissue parameter s, paracellular permeability and short circuit current response to mucosal glucose. Both prebiotics had no effects on basal or forskolin stimulated sh ort circuit currents. Total tissue conductances tended to be higher in resp onse to both prebiotics. Topinambur increased mucosal-to-serosal fluxes of mannitol in the proximal and distal jejunum, which could only be demonstrat ed for the distal jejunum when inactivated yeasts were fed. Mucosal applica tion of glucose induced higher current responses in jejunal tissues. From h istochemistry it could be demonstrated that both prebiotics increased the n umber of ileal goblet cells and the thickness of the colonic mucosa.