Table 2.
Cecal structural morphologies of control and cold stressed chickens.
| Timepoint (d of age) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion (μm) | 7 d | 9 d | 21 d |
| Muscularis externa | |||
| Control | 328.28 ± 16.64# | 343.97 ± 15.61# | 452.33 ± 26.23 |
| Cold stress | 307.46 ± 18.61# | 354.62 ± 14.36# | 499.51 ± 34.04 |
| Villus height | |||
| Control | 200.67 ± 7.55 | 189.77 ± 7.99 | 206.13 ± 9.15 |
| Cold stress | 185.55 ± 5.8# | 192.21 ± 6.12# | 239.45 ± 9.26* |
| Crypt depth | |||
| Control | 72.02 ± 1.06# | 70.95 ± 2.57# | 82.62 ± 3.22 |
| Cold stress | 71.51 ± 1.30# | 67.45 ± 4.26# | 88.14 ± 2.04 |
| VH/CD ratio | |||
| Control | 2.79 ± 0.18 | 2.69 ± 0.14 | 2.51 ± 0.12 |
| Cold stress | 2.60 ± 0.08 | 2.85 ± 0.08 | 2.71 ± 0.09 |
Abbreviations: VH, villus height; CD, crypt depth.
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM and were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA with Sidak's multiple comparison test. N = 8 chicken/group.
#
P < 0.05 vs respective group at 21 d (i.e. control 7 d or 9 d vs control 21 d; or cold stress 7 d or 9 d vs cold stress 21 d).
⁎
P < 0.05 vs control at 21 d.