HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Forder, R. E. A. Articles by Hughes, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Forder, R. E. A. Articles by Hughes, R. J.

Bacterial Modulation of Small Intestinal Goblet Cells and Mucin Composition During Early Posthatch Development of Poultry

R. E. A. Forder^*,2, G. S. Howarth^*, D. R. Tivey^* and R. J. Hughes

^* Discipline of Agricultural and Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, 5371, South Australia; and South Australian Research and Development Institute, Pig and Poultry Production Institute, Nutrition Research Laboratory, Roseworthy, 5371, South Australia

² Corresponding author: rebecca.forder{at}adelaide.edu.au

Mucins possess potential binding sites for both commensal and pathogenic organisms and may perform a defensive role during establishment of the intestinal barrier. To observe the effects of bacteria on intestinal goblet cell mucin production during posthatch development, differences in the small intestine of conventionally reared (CR) and low bacterial load (LBL) broiler chicks were examined. Jejunal and ileal goblet cells were stained with either periodic acid-Schiff stain or high iron diaminealcian blue pH 2.5 to discriminate among neutral, sulfated, and sialylated acidic mucins. Total goblet cell numbers and morphology of goblet cells containing neutral and acidic mucins did not differ significantly between CR and LBL birds. However, significant differences in acidic mucin composition from primarily sulfated to an increase in sialylated sugars at d 4 posthatch were observed in CR chicks, with greater numbers of jejunal and ileal goblet cells displaying this mucin type (CR, 0.5 ± 0.1 x 10³ cells/mm²; LBL, 0.04 ± 0.02 x10³ cells/mm²). This change in mucin profile in response to bacterial colonization suggests a potential role as a protective mechanism against pathogenic invasion of the intestinal mucosa during early development.

Key Words: host-microbial interactions • development • chick • goblet cell • mucin

¹ This work was supported by funding from the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, established and supported under the Cooperative Research Centre Program of the Australian Government.