Role of the Caecum in Nutrition Absorption during the Different Growth Stages of Rats

Accession number;05A0876573
Title;Role of the Caecum in Nutrition Absorption during the Different Growth Stages of Rats
Author;KUROSAWA AKIRA(Tokyo Univ. Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, JPN)   IKEDA SHUHEI(Tokyo Univ. of Agric., Fac. of Agric.)   SUKEMORI SEIJI(Tokyo Univ. of Agric., Fac. of Agric.)   KURIHARA YOSHIO(Tokyo Univ. of Agric., Fac. of Agric.)   
Journal Title;Journal of Agricultural Science, Tokyo Nogyo Daigaku
Journal Code:G0291A
ISSN:0375-9202
VOL.50;NO.2;PAGE.41-45(2005)
Figure&Table&Reference;TBL.4, REF.18
Pub. Country;Japan
Language;Japanese
Abstract;This study aimed to examine the role of the caecum in nutrition absorption during the different growth stages of rats. Four caecectomized rats and 6 sham-operating rats were used in this study. Feeding period was 16 weeks, which was divided into the growth stage (6-13 weeks old) and the maintenance stage (14-22 weeks old). Digestive tests using the total faeces collection method were conducted twice at 13 weeks old and 22 weeks old. In the present results, body weight gain showed no significant difference during the growth period. But caecectomy significantly reduced body weight gain during the maintenance period. Feed intake significantly increased with caecectomy during the growth period, but no significant difference was shown during the maintenance period. Feed efficiency was significantly reduced by caecectomy in both test periods, with the difference in the maintenance period relatively large. Feces amount significantly increased with caecectomy in both test periods. But there was no significant difference in the maintenance period. Digestibilities of CP, ADF, and energy were significantly reduced by caecectomy during the growth period, and significant differences appeared in ADF and energy digestibilities during the maintenance period. These results suggested that the caecum plays an important role as a fermentation site for digestive matter, and has an effect on nutrition digestibility. While the numerical differences for feed efficiency were the same when those of different growth stages were compared, relative differences for feed efficiency in the maintenance stage were larger than those in the growth stage. Therefore the caecum is related to the utilization of nutrition prior to their digestibility. (author abst.)