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 PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rehman, H. Articles by Zentek, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rehman, H. Articles by Zentek, J.

In vitro effects of alpha toxin from Clostridium perfringens on the electrophysiological parameters of jejunal tissues from laying hens preincubated with inulin and N-acetyl-L-cysteine

H. Rehman^*,1, A. Ijaz^*, A. Specht, D. Dill, P. Hellweg, K. Männer and J. Zentek

^* Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; and Institute of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University, Brümmerstr. 34, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

¹ Corresponding author: habibrehman{at}uvas.edu.pk

The present report demonstrates the effect of toxin from Clostridium perfringens on electrophysiological indexes of jejunal mucosa from laying hens pretreated with inulin and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (ACC), a mucolytic agent. In a first set of experiments, the effect of toxin with or without pretreatment with ACC on the electrophysiological parameters was determined when jejunal tissues from laying hens were mounted in Ussing chambers. The short-circuit current remained unchanged when toxin was added mucosally in the tissues whether pretreated with ACC or not. The change in the transmural tissue conductance (Gt) was higher (P = 0.18) after 90 min exposure of toxin independent of pretreament with ACC. The effect of toxin on Gt became significant (P 0.05) after 120 min of incubation. In the second set of experiments, the effect of toxin on the jejunal tissues preincubated with inulin (0.1%) was investigated. The effect of toxin was also time dependent, and Gt became significantly higher (P 0.05) after 120 min of incubation independent of preinubation with inulin. Inulin did not influence the Gt during the experimental period when compared with control tissues. In conclusion, toxin from C. perfringens can impair the intestinal mucosal barrier. The effect is obviously not dependent on the presence of a mucolytic agent nor can it be affected by direct addition of inulin under in vitro conditions. Whether there is an effect of inulin after long-term supplementation in feeding trials or it is due to fermentation bacterial metabolites remains an open question.

Key Words: alpha toxin • Clostridium perfringens • poultry • Ussing chamber • inulin • N-acetyl-L-cysteine