Effect of Effective Microorganisms on intestinal morphology and morphometry in Japanese quails

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation with Effective Microorganisms (EM) on the morphologyand the morphometry of the intestine, and on proliferation activity of crypt cells in Japanese quails. The EM group (16 birds) receivedEM for 30 days in water (3 L/1000 L of water) and in feed (5 kg/1000 kg of feed) mixed with standard diet. The second group (16birds) was established as the control group (no EM supplementation). Histopathological analysis revealed infiltration of lymphoidcells mainly in the duodenum and jejunum similarly in the EM and the control groups. The EM group showed irregular villus surfaceswhen compared to the control group. Morphometric analysis revealed significant differences in the EM group for villus width in theduodenum (186.0 µm to 170.7 µm; P ≤ 0.05), in crypt depth (129.2 µm to 110.7 µm; P ≤ 0.05), muscular layer thickness in the jejunum(70.88 µm to 57.44 µm) (P ≤ 0.05), and muscular layer thickness in the ileum (76.88 µm to 64.76 µm; P ≤ 0.05). Immunohistochemicalanalysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen activity was similar for the EM and the control groups: in the duodenum 90.82% in thecontrol group and 91.89% in the EM group, in the jejunum 93.32% in the control group and 94.53% in the EM group, and in the ileum92.53% in the control group and 93.92% in the EM group. Supplementation with EM resulted in improved structure and functions ofthe villi and changed their surface, height, width, and crypt depth.