Table 8.
Effects of Bacillus subtilis addition and dietary Ca levels on intestinal morphology and relative CALB1 mRNA level (79 wk of age).1
| Items | Villus height (μm) | Crypt depth (μm) | V/C | Relative CALB1 mRNA level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ca level (%) | B. subtilis level (CFU/kg) | ||||
| 3.5 | 0 | 1,234.90 | 267.20 | 4.59 | 1.22 |
| 2 × 109 | 1,473.66 | 298.03 | 4.99 | 2.73 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1,318.14 | 298.43 | 4.48 | 0.75 |
| 2 × 109 | 1,339.39 | 276.10 | 4.85 | 4.77 | |
| 4.5 | 0 | 1,362.08 | 294.00 | 4.64 | 0.40 |
| 2 × 109 | 1,475.81 | 273.42 | 5.40 | 1.55 | |
| SEM | 28.49 | 4.46 | 0.09 | 0.36 | |
| Means of main effects | |||||
| Ca level (%) | |||||
| 3.5 | 1,354.28 | 282.62 | 4.79 | 2.04a,b | |
| 4 | 1,327.54 | 288.51 | 4.65 | 2.76a | |
| 4.5 | 1,422.29 | 283.11 | 5.04 | 1.03b | |
| B. subtilis level (CFU/kg) | |||||
| 0 | 1,303.41b | 286.71 | 4.57b | 0.79b | |
| 2 × 109 | 1,433.06a | 282.76 | 5.09a | 3.02a | |
| P-value | |||||
| Ca level | 0.389 | 0.840 | 0.234 | 0.047 | |
| B. subtilis level | 0.021 | 0.663 | 0.005 | 0.001 | |
| Ca level × B. subtilis level | 0.266 | 0.022 | 0.635 | 0.082 | |
a,bMeans assigned different superscripts within a factor of analysis (Ca level, B. subtilis level, and their interactions) differ, P < 0.05.
Abbreviations: CALB1, calcium binding protein calbindin-D28k; V/C, villus height/crypt depth.
1
Data are the mean of 8 replicates with 2 birds each.