Dietary protein regime effect on the goblet cells, intraepithelial leukocyte count, and mast cell distribution in gastrointestinal tract of broilers

Abstract EN

Day one, Cobb chicks were employed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary crude protein (CP) on the distribution of goblet cells (GCs), mast cells (MCs), and intraepithelial leukocytes (IELs) in broilers gastrointestinal tract.

Chicks were randomly allotted to three treatments, containing CP 20%, 22 %, and 24 %.

At 42 days, three chicks of each treatment were slaughtered and the samples from the gastrointestinal tract were taken, processed, and stained with H&E and special stains.

Results showed that the GC count increased in the low protein (LP) diet and decreased in high protein (HP) diet, while the IELs increased in the HP diet and decreased in the LP diet.

Mast cell distribution was much more obvious in the LP and NP diets comparatively with the HP diet.