Table 5.
Comparison of intestinal villus height and crypt depth by treatment after 21 d.
| Treatment group | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (NC) | 2 (ZnO3-NC) | 3 (ZnO3-2) | 4 (ZnO6-4) | 5 (ZnO6) | ||
| Duodenum | ||||||
| Villus height | 742 ± 27 | 762 ± 45 | 811 ± 40 | 892 ± 42 | 824 ± 35 | p = 0.056 |
| Crypt depth | 205 ± 10 | 197 ± 8 | 218 ± 14 | 219 ± 10 | 215 ± 9 | p = 0.519 |
| V:C ratio | 3.66 ± 0.14 | 3.92 ± 0.27 | 3.77 ± 0.16 | 4.11 ± 0.15 | 3.90 ± 0.25 | p = 0.597 |
| Jejunum | ||||||
| Villus height | 639 ± 29a | 595 ± 28a | 678 ± 27a | 675 ± 28a | 804 ± 29b | p < 0.001 |
| Crypt depth | 163 ± 7 | 152 ± 5 | 169 ± 9 | 172 ± 5 | 169 ± 7 | p = 0.229 |
| V:C ratio | 3.94 ± 0.12a | 3.96 ± 0.24a | 4.09 ± 0.22a,b | 3.91 ± 0.07a | 4.81 ± 0.25b | p = 0.007 |
| Ileum | ||||||
| Villus height | 500 ± 26 | 462 ± 18 | 495 ± 25 | 493 ± 25 | 511 ± 25 | p = 0.672 |
| Crypt depth | 146 ± 6 | 138 ± 6 | 135 ± 6 | 134 ± 5 | 136 ± 6 | p = 0.562 |
| V:C ratio | 3.43 ± 0.11 | 3.35 ± 0.11 | 3.67 ± 0.10 | 3.72 ± 0.16 | 3.77 ± 0.16 | p = 0.134 |
NC = negative control; V:C ratio = the ratio of villus height (μm) to crypt depth (μm). Values represent mean ± SEM. Means with differing superscripts (a,b) indicate a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05).