Effects of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi as probiotic feed supplement on intestinal transport and barrier function in piglets

The objective of the study was to assess the effects of feed supplementation with the probiotic Bacillus cereus var. toyoi on transport and barrier properties of pig jejunum. Sows and their respective piglets were randomly assigned to two feeding groups: a control group and a probiotic group in which the standard diet was supplemented with Bacillus cereus var. toyoi. At the age of 14, 28, 35 and 56 days, 5 piglets per subgroup were killed and tissue samples from the mid jejunum were mounted in conventional Ussing chambers. Absorptive and secretory properties of the jejunum epithelia were assessed by stimulation of Na-coupled glucose and L-glutamine transport and stimulation of ion secretion by PGE(2). Kinetic parameters maximal transport velocity (V-max) and Michaelis Menten constant (K-m) were calculated for glucose and PGE(2)-stimulated ion secretion. Mannitol fluxes and tissue resistance were measured to evaluate barrier function. With respect to absorption, glucose transport was not changed by treatment and only a slightly higher L-glutamine transport was observed in the probiotic group compared with the control group. The PGE(2)-stimulated the short circuit current (Delta I-sc) in the small intestine and V-max were higher in the probiotic group at days 28 and 35 compared with the control group. The probiotic seems to have a stabilising (decreasing) effect on the variability of the data. Changes of absorptive and secretory transport properties dependent on age were observed.