In addition, the relative mRNA expression of toll receptors and cytokines was measured.Piglets fed <i>L. casei</i> Zhang showed significantly increased jejunum villus height, villus height-crypt depth ratio, muscle thickness, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin.The use of <i>L. casei</i> Zhang effectively reduced intestinal inflammation after infection.We found that <i>L. casei</i> Zhang feeding prevented the jejunum damage induced by <i>E. coli</i> K88, suggesting that it may be a potential alternative to antibiotics for preventing diarrhea in early-weaned piglets.
We examined the score of diarrhoea and the loss of weight after the 5-FU treatment and assessed the integrity of villus and the proliferation of small intestine crypt cells by haematoxylin and eosin staining and PCNA immunohistochemical detection.