Zinc is a vital mineral for birds functioning elaborately in protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism and a part of many biochemical reactions. By using nanoparticles of zinc, the bioavailability of zinc increases due to increase surface area which improve intestinal architecture. Globally minute study has been documented on the supplementation of ZONPs in poultry and very rare is documented in Pakistan.
This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ZONP supplementation on histomorphometric parameters of small intestine and cecal tonsil in broiler. The study included 100 day-old broiler chicks which were randomly allocated into four groups (n= 25), each group having five replicates (n= 5). Group A was served as control group and was fed only basal diet (BD), Group B was supplemented with BD plus 80 mg/kg of ZnO, Group C was supplemented with BD plus 40mg/kg of ZONP and Group D was supplemented with BD plus 80mg/kg of ZONP for 35 days. Two birds from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered on day 35, birds were excised and samples from small intestine were taken from duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecal tonsil from ceaca. Paraffin embedding technique was used to process the samples which were stained by Haematoxyline & Eosin technique and combined Alcian blue- PAS. Histomorphometry was done by using software (ProgRes®2.1.1 Capture Prog Camera Control Software). The data was analyzed by using one way-ANOVA. Differences between the groups were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test and were considered significant at P < 0.05.
The intestinal parameters, villus height, width, surface area, crypt depth, thickness of lamina propria, muscularis mucosa and muscularis externa were measured. Acidic, mixed and total goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes were also counted in intestinal samples. In cecal tonsils length, width, area and total lymphatic nodules were measured.
Summary
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The results showed that in duodenum and ileum the villus height, width and surface area was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group C, while that of jejunum was greatest (P <0.05) in group D, the crypt depth of duodenum was deeper in group B. Total goblet cells count was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in group C and D in all three sections of small intestine also the acidic goblet cells of jejunum and ileum, while the mixed goblet cells count was highest (P< 0.05) in group C and D of duodenum and ileum. No significant difference were observed in IEL count between different groups. The length, width, area and total number of lymphatic nodule of cecal tonsils was higher (P < 0.05) in group C and D.
In conclusion supplementing ZONP at the dose of 40mg/kg in diet of broilers improved gut morphology and at the dose of 40 and 80 mg/kg improved the mucosal immune cells count. To know the actual mechanism of ZONP with relation to these findings further study is required to be documented.