China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1): 143-150.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.01.015

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Fresh Alfalfa and Full-price Pellet Feed on the Antioxidant Properties and Muscle Structure of Rabbit Stomach

ZHONG Hualing1, HE Congcong1, WU Bangyuan2   

  1. 1. Huai'an Bioengineering Vocational College, Jiangsu Union Technical Institute, Huai'an 223000, China;
    2. College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637000, China
  • Received:2022-06-07 Online:2023-01-05 Published:2023-01-04

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to compare the effect of feeding fresh alfalfa and full-price pellets on the antioxidant capacity of gastric mucosa and the structure of gastric muscle layer in rabbits, and provide basis for healthy feeding of rabbits and improving the income of farmers.【Method】 Twenty healthy weaned New Zealand rabbits of similar weight were randomly divided into two groups:Alfalfa and feed groups, with ten rabbits in each group.The rabbits in the two groups were fed with fresh alfalfa and full price pellet feed for 30 days, respectively.New Zealand rabbits were sacrificed by air embolization and dissected, and the length and weight of stomachs were measured.The antioxidant capacity of gastric mucosa, including the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the contents of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the gastric pH and pepsin activity were determined by biochemical methods.At the same time, the histological section technique, hematoxylin and eosin staining and image analysis were used to determine the thickness of muscle layer of gastric cardia, fundus, corpus and pylorus.【Result】 The body weight and gastric juice pH of feed group were significantly higher than that of alfalfa group (P<0.05), while the relative gastric weight, the concentration of pepsin and the antioxidant capacity of gastric mucosa in alfalfa group were significantly or extremely significantly higher than those in feed group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The thickness of total muscle layer in the gastric cardia, fundus and pylorus of alfalfa group were significantly greater than that of feed group (P<0.01).In the cardia, the thickness of longitudinal muscle in alfalfa group was significantly larger than that in feed group (P<0.05), and the thickness of circular muscle in alfalfa group was extremely significantly larger than that in feed group (P<0.01).The thickness of the oblique muscle at the bottom of stomach in alfalfa group was significantly larger than that in feed group (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the thickness of muscle layer in other parts (P>0.05).【Conclusion】 The gastric chemical digestibility, antioxidant capacity and gastric muscle layer thickness of alfalfa group were significantly higher than those of feed group under different feeding conditions.

Key words: New Zealand rabbit; herbivority; feed; gastric wall muscular; antioxidant

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