TABLE 6.
Evaluation of essential oils (EO) and herbal betaine on morphometric analysis of the duodenum and ileum mucosa of broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress at day 42 a .
| Treatments | Villus height (µm) | Crypt depth (µm) | Villus width (µm) | Villus: crypt ratio | Villus surface area index (mm2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenum | |||||
| Thermoneutral | 976.7 ± 17.0a | 187.5 ± 70.4a | 179.8 ± 12.5a | 5.9 ± 0.8a | 538.4 ± 20.1a |
| Heat Stress | 706.8 ± 40.6c | 145.0 ± 70.7c | 140.1 ± 24.5c | 4.1 ± 0.6c | 381.8 ± 21.5c |
| Heat Stress + EO1 | 853.8 ± 53.7b | 160.5 ± 32.7b | 158.2 ± 90.3b | 5.2 ± 0.5b | 405.6 ± 23.0b |
| Heat Stress + EO2 | 838.7 ± 83.9b | 160.1 ± 37.8b | 161.8 ± 19.2b | 5.4 ± 0.9b | 438.5 ± 24.5b |
| Ileum | |||||
| Thermoneutral | 551.3 ± 52.4a | 118.6 ± 40.5a | 28.5 ± 81.7 | 5.9 ± 0.5a | 18.4 ± 7.2a |
| Heat Stress | 324.1 ± 94.1c | 206.7 ± 52.4c | 27.0 ± 81.0 | 1.5 ± 0.5c | 15.7 ± 8.1b |
| Heat Stress + EO1 | 431.9 ± 93.2b | 157.4 ± 33.5b | 29.1 ± 61.3 | 2.7 ± 0.5b | 16.8 ± 7.5b |
| Heat Stress + EO2 | 425.2 ± 94.2b | 149.4 ± 38.6b | 33.2 ± 30.4 | 2.8 ± 0.5b | 18.9 ± 9.0b |
a
Values were expressed as means ± SE, representing 8 birds/group and 10 measurements/parameter/bird.
abc Indicates significant differences between the treatments within the columns (p < 0.05). Cyclic heat stress started at day 10. EO1: essential oil of Lippia origanoides, thymol chemotype (45 ppm) and herbal betaine (150 ppm). Administration dose: 350 g/Ton food. EO2: essential oil of Lippia origanoides, phellandrene chemotype (45 ppm) and herbal betaine (150 ppm). Administration dose: 350 g/Ton food.