Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-jbqgn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-20T15:02:41.104Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Application of agar-fill method to estimate compartment capacity of gastrointestinal tract in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auretus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Osamu Sasaki ,
Hisashi Shinohara ,
Toshihiro Yamagishi ,
Akira Nishida  and
Yutaka Mizuma
Osamu Sasaki
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981, Japan
Hisashi Shinohara
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981, Japan
Toshihiro Yamagishi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981, Japan
Akira Nishida
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981, Japan
Yutaka Mizuma
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981, Japan
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In the present study we have developed the agar-fill method for the measurement of gastrointestinal-tract capacity (GTC) to replace the in vitro water-fill method. This would estimate GTC without using complex equipment and techniques, and can be applied to the measurement of GTC for small laboratory animals. We attempted to confirm the efficiency of the agar-fill method by investigating the relationship between dietary neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) content and GTC. The digestion trials were carried out using the Syrian hamster (Mesocricefus auretus). The trials were conducted using both sexes, two age-groups and three levels of dietary NDF with a cross-classified design. The size of each gastrointestinal organ was determined as tissue weight(TW)and GTC. The DM intake, digestible DM intake, DM digestibility, NDF digestibfity, aciddetergent fibre(ADF) digestibfity and digesta transit time were also measured. GTC increased with increasing NDF content of the diets. TW responded similarly to increasing NDF content, but the response was smaller than that of GTC. DM digestibility decreased with increasing NDF content of the diet. The digestible DM intake did not decrease with increasing NDF because DM intake increased with NDF content. Digesta transit time was not shorter of the high-NDF-diet group but DM intake increased with increasing NDF content. NDF digestibility did not differ significantly between low- and medium-NDF diets. ADF digestibility was low in the low-NDF-diet group.The digestion characteristics were highly correlated with TW and GTC, except for TW of small intestine. These correlations were higher with GTC than with TW. The results of the present study confirm previous findings suggesting that the agar-fill method is a useful means of estimating GTC for small laboratory animals.

Keywords

DigestibilityGastrointestinal-tract capacityRetention timeSyrian hamsters
Type
Animal Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 76 , Issue 6 , December 1996 , pp. 833 - 840
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1997

References

REFERENCES

Abe, A. (1988). Feed analyses based on the carbohydrates and its application to the nutritive value of feeds. Memoirs of National Institute of Animal Industry no. 2. Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, Japan: National Institute of Animal Industry.Google Scholar
Brown, R. C., Kelleher, J. & Losowsky, M. S. (1979). The effect of pectin on the structure and function of the rat small intestine. British Journal of Nutrition 42, 357–365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ehile, F. R., Jeraci, J. L., Robertson, J. B. & Van Soest, P. J. (1982). The influence of dietary fiber on digestibility, rate of passage and gastrointestinal fermentation in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 55, 1071–1081.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frank, G. R., Aherne, F. X. & Jensen, A. H. (1983). A study of the relationship between performance and dietary component digestibility by swine fed different levels of dietary fiber. Journal of Animal Science 57, 645–654.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gidenne, T. (1992). Effect of fibre level, particle size and adaptation period on digestibility and rate of passage as measured at the ileum and in the faeces in the adult rabbit. British Journal of Nutrition 67, 133–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herd, R. M. & Harrop, C. J. F. (1978). Estimation of stomach and caecal volumes in the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, and the rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. Australian Journal of Zoology 26, 621–628.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoover, W. H. (1986). Chemical factors involved in ruminal fiber digestion. Journal of Dairy Science 69, 2755–2766.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kass, M. L., Van Soest, P. J., Pond, W. G., Lewis, B. L. & McDowell, R. E. (1980). Utilization of dietary fiber from alfalfa by growing swine. I. Apparent digestibility of diet components in specific segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Animal Science 50, 175–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keys, J. E. Jr & DeBarthe, J. V. (1974). Site and extent of carbohydrate, dry matter, energy and protein digestion and the rate of passage of grain diets in swine. Journal of Animal Science 39, 57–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Komai, M. & Kimura, S. (1980). Gastrointestinal responses to graded levels of cellulose feeding in conventional and germfree mice. Journal of Nutrition Science and Vitaminology 26, 389–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mould, F. L., Ørskov, E. R. & Gauld, S. A. (1984). Associative effects of mixed feeds. II. The effect of dietary additions of bicarbonate salts on the voluntary intake and digestibility of diets containing various proportions of hay and barley. Animal Feed Science Technology 10, 31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pond, W. G., Yen, J. T., Lindvall, R. N. & Hill, D. (1981). Dietary alfalfa meal for genetically obese and lean growing pigs; Effect on body weight gain and carcass and gastrointestinal tract measurements and blood measurements. Journal of Animal Science 51, 367–373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, J. A., Murison, S. D. & Chesson, A. (1987). Estimation of the potential digestibility and rate of degradation of water-insoluble dietary fiber in the pig cecum with a modifiednylon bag technique. Journal of Nutrition 117, 1402–1409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sakaguchi, E., Itoh, H., Uchida, S. & Horigome, T. (1987). Comparison of fiber digestion and digesta retention time between rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and hamsters. British Journal of Nutrition 58, 149–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems (1985). SAS User's Guide Version 5, pp. 434–506. Cory, NC: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Stanogias, G. & Pearce, G. R. (1985). The digestion of fiber by pigs. III. Effects of the amount and type of fibre on physical characteristics of segments of the gastrointestinal tract. British Journal of Nutrition 53, 537–548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. (1984). Some physical characteristics of dietary fibres and their influence on the microbial ecology of the human colon. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 43, 25–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed